flyingduster

for scenting I've heard of the idea of making the wrong ones smell strongly of something not nice (a strong alcohol was used in the example I'm thinking of!) with the one item wanted smelling 'normal'. It was supposed to help the dogs that weren't using their noses and didn't understand that that's what we wanted of them (rather than just retriving "something", we wanted the RIGHT 'something'!) it made it very black and white from the dogs perspective that there was OBVIOUSLY two different smells there, and it was the one smell you wanted back... Now I've never taught scent (yet) so I don't know how succesful this would be, but it sounds like it'd make sense really, especially when they're not 'getting' the smell thing...? I don't think it'd matter too much what the pugnant smell was, but you'd want it something rather strong and unpleasent to the dog. Perfume or something springs to mind too, something that really stinks and the dogs avoid!

here's my winter training in my living room last weekend... I'll try get some more of trials over here in NZ sometime!!

hmm, I'm thinking I should have posted my link in this thread instead, but for some reason never spotted it before! lol! I'm across the tasman in NZ doing both obedience and rally, with a touch of agility on the side. This is my first competition dog, and I didn't get her as a pup (though have had contact & influence in her life since she was a year old, we didn't start training till she was just over 18 months and she didn't live with me until she was 2.5) but I'm having a lot of fun figuring it out as we go!!! I had some basic classes for 6 months to get me hooked, and then they fell out so I spent a year trying to teach myself but not really getting anywhere. I've just joined another club and started over again with a new trainer and LOVING it! It's bought back the 'bug' and I'm itching to do more and get back into another competition to see how we're going now!!! lol. I made a wee video of our training the other weekend, we're still VERY basic at the moment so be nice, I know there's plenty of mistakes! We're both muddling through much better with a good trainer now though! I'm *hoping* to be able to get to the NZ national dog show this year to compete in obedience... could be fun! Or scary.... though I'm sure Paris will make me laugh regardless, the goof!

ugh, I'm in NZ, but getting to auckland is still tooo much! It's generally cheaper for em to go to Oz than it is to Auck!!! *sigh* I have a seminar with Kamal Fernandez next month though! :rolleyes:

I was doing a little training last week, and decided to record it, cos I can... lol! We're only in special beginners (the basic of the basic classes!) but we're having a lot of fun, and it's possible I might even be able to get to the NZ national dog show this year and compete there!!! Scary, but could be fun... LOL!

please please everyone note that MOST harnesses out there are only suitable to restrain your dog (in the same way tying your dog up by it's collar to a lamp post restrains it in public), but are NOT seatbelts and are NOT safety features to prevent your dog from getting injured in a car crash. In a small ding they will probably hold, but in a serious crash they will simply come apart with it's plastic buckles and poor stitching. Would you trust your child in something like that? Hmm There are two brands that are actual saftey seatbelts, there is more info on them here: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=188699 for more info

haha, CUTE!

The signs are exactly as you see them in the rules really, with the words and the symbols. If you have read through them and understand what they mean, then you'll be fine on the day! And because you can all walk the course you can go over and over any particular sign you want if you're having trouble working out your footwork or something. Also note that everyone in the class will be right there working it all out while walking it too, so you can work together on remembering the signs etc. And, especially because it's so very new, the judges are right there too, as they have designed their course and they KNOW which signs they put out there, so you can definitely ask them for help on working out the nitty wee details about any sign you're not sure about. I generally walk the course once, working out all WHAT the signs are today (remembering if there's a halt (sit) or not etc), and just sussing out in what directions it all goes in. I then go around it again, doing it 'properly' imagining my dog beside me, saying the commands I'd say to her, working out my footwork etc. I then go over it at least once or twice more to get it right into my mind, basically until I can confidently walk the course pretending I have my dog, do the sign, and make the correct turns without having to stop and go "ummm...." anywhere! lol. I can easily do as many 'walk throughs' as needed in the time given before the class starts. And yeah, it's all laid out on the ground with the whole signs in FULL display infront of you at every marker, so no trying to memorise which signs were where or trying to remember if there's a left turn or something. No need to worry if you can hear the steward or anything for the incorrect turns either because there's no one telling you where to go AT ALL, you just follow the signs, in your own time, exactly as you did when you 'walked the course', except this time you DO have your dog with you instead of just pretending. hehe! Jak and Saffy have now got their Rally Advanced title too, and I'm looking forward to our first advanced course soon!!!

it sounds to me like Bitty is slightly above Bud. They aren't an obvious dominant/submissive because they don't need to be (they're beneath you, that's all that really matters) but it does sound like Bud will bow down to Bitty more than she would to him. It's not that she is a bossy dominant dog and demands that he give up the spot by the bed etc, but if she DID, I bet ya he'd give in to her! When confronted with a clear choice of who gets first option of something, it seems to be Bitty who takes it? I'm talking about something THEY choose though. See if you told Bud to do something first, he would, because you're the boss, not Bitty. In saying that I'm sure Bitty would happily let Bud have something good if she didn't want it much too! lol. Eg they didn't muscle each other for the icing because you were there; you have the right to take it first. When you didn't, Bitty stepped in above Bud. For me I had two girls, both spayed. Riki my terrier was the boss initially, because she was my original dog and had always been the top dog [of the dogs, not the people!] of the house (my personal pet, slept in my bed, was allowed throughout the house when the big dogs weren't etc) and for a long time she remained the boss over Paris, but slowly I have realised that Paris is now dominant. Riki is older, and now she's used to Paris, she simply doesn't mind Paris anymore, and Paris has quietly and easily moved up a notch without me even realising! lol. Both dogs will share the water bowl at the same time, but Paris will barge in if Riki is drinking, where as Riki will edge over to it or just wait if Paris is drinking. Riki rolls over a lot when playing, Paris rears up. Paris will push past Riki etc without any grumbling or anything from her (which she previously did tell Paris off about) But in saying all of that, Paris is such an easy-going dog, she doesn't care if Riki is charging about or anything either, and has never ever ever told Riki 'off' for *anything* (whereas Riki can be very vocal and tell Paris off a lot at times!), she simply assumes she's better, and Riki conceeds. lol!

Well I can say that poodles are awesome dogs to own, and yes they are incredibly smart and not a total 'lay about' dog, they are definitely not as difficult to live with as say a border collie (yes I know there are plenty of BCs that are easy to live with and are fine too!) but yes, they do NEED mental and physical stimulation or they'll be liable to be destructive and difficult. In saying that I just spent 15 mins playing about in the back yard for the heck of it and my girl is now snoozing behind my computer chair happily. If I get up, she'll be on my heels ready for more playing or snoozing, whatever I throw at her. She used to be a destructive difficult dog to live with for her previous owner though, but since I got her she comes to work with me every day and has never been a problem even though we don't actually go out for walks much! And you can groom them however you want, no need to have the whole poodle look, you can leave them with a beard and shave their eats and tail down so they look like a terrier or something; whatever! :D

over here there aren't any regulations on the colour of the dumbells at all, and I don't expect it's any different over there.... Any colour and style goes, as long as it's still a dumbell!!! An interesting link re: the colours dogs see: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/canine...dogs-see-colors Perhaps find out if it's outdoors (grass?) or indoors (concrete or other coloured floor??) and go for a contrasting colour AS THE DOGS SEE IT. ie if outdoors on green grass, dogs supposably see green as a pale yellow, so go for a blue or purple dumbell that will be seen as bright blue against the pale yellow....? Interesting anyway!

Well, there's a lickle smoochie faced Tibbie girl that a good breeder wants to retire to the best of homes! Wearing her full fur. ;) Seriously it was amazing you picked the breed minus fur....when most people can't pick a tibbie a la natural. awww Mita, I guess tibbie tooooo! lol, and I'm pretty sure someone else guessed right as well!

lol Kirislin! I'm afraid that took me a while to work out it was supposed to be a glassblowing studio though!

oh gee, that plant pot on his head is soooooo funny! A lil 'pot head'!!

ears are cropped under anaesthetic before they're 12 weeks old. Basically the ear is cut into the desire shape/size (varies from breed to breed, as well as personal differences) usually from very close to the side of the head, up to the tip of the ear, or less. the edges are stitched or can be glued, and they're put into a 'brace' of some style to keep them erect while they heal. Stitches removed after a week or so like usual, but the brace stays on as the dog grows until they stay up by themselves. Dogs with bigger ears (like dobes & danes) might need the brace on for a couple of months until they're standing properly alone! Gimmie natural ears any day!!! I'm so glad it's been illegal here for so long. I'm on the fence for docking/dew claws (it's done fast at a few days old), but I certainly don't like docking (which takes so long to finish, while the pup is much older!)

I know of a beardie down here who LOVES aglity; she used to do obedience a lot more too, but the dog just loves to jump and finds obedience boring! lol. I only have a pic of her jumping in the rally class the other week rather than in agility, but it's still a happy beardie jumping! she has another beardie who is coming over from Oz soon too. OES seem a bit heavy in the body to be much good at jumping, but I do know of a couple of rough collies who do agility too, and of course other generic 'working dogs' and huntaways too.

ears can also help give it away, as well as the overall focus of the body and eyes; even when laying down! When laying down, the body can still become rigid and tense, and if the offending dog being stared at didn't back down from the stare, they'd be quick to get up and use their body language to accentuate the dominance they're conveying. But generally, if it's laying relaxed and simply lifts it's head to stare at something, it's just staring at something, not being dominant. honestly, a dominant dog stare is so different to a dog looking or even staring at something, their whole body language *oozes* dominance!

lmao, I love your avatar pic of him!!! It sounds like he's slotted right into your life, and in another month you'll wonder what on earth life was like without him!!!

I have heard the theory if it being taken from mum too early, but so many who do it were definitely not taken too early so I do doubt it. It's generally a comforting thing, as they obviously enjoy it! I don't have anyone who does it myself, but it's adorable to see others!!! Love all the pics!

Abbigail Abby AJ Alika Alchemy Amber Amelia Amy x 2 Anais Annie Anastacia (Annie) Angel X 4 Anishinaabe Annabelle Annabella April Arizona Asante sana Ashka Askari Astro Audrey Aura Ayla Baba Baci Bailey Beans Becky Bella x3 Bit Blaize Blossom Bonny x 2 (Bonnie) Bonita Brandy Bree Bridie Buffy Cally Cassie Casper CC Cedar Chelsea Chevy x 2 Chloe x 2 Charlotte Cider Cinta CJ x 2 Claire Claudia Clover Cleoparta Coco x2 Cossette Daisy Dallas Delilah Delta Demi Dexta Diazz Dinky Durham Dyzney Ebony Echo Elizabeth Ella Ellie Ellie x2 Emily Emma Erin Evie Faith Fanta Finta Fleur Froggy Gabby Gemma Genie (not exactly a girly name but I thought it suited my goldy) George Ginny Gita Glitter Grace Griffin Gypsy x2 Harlow Hayley x2 Heddy Heidi x2 Holly x 5 Honey Honour Hope Imme Imogen - Imy Jade Jane Jay Jay Jenna x 2 Jess Jessie x 2 Jezebel Jindi Jodie Juliet Kara Kari Karma Karmen Kaos Katie Katy Kayla Keilani Kelli Kelsey Kenzie Kiesha Kiri Kiri-Lu Kirra (agility name Kiz) Kizzey Krissy Kuean - (Queen) Lacey Layla Lea (lele) Lexi x 2 Libby Lily x 2 Lobo Logan Lola x 2 Lottie Lucy x5 Luuka Mable Maddison Maggie x2 Mallee Marie Claudette Marlo Meg Meisha Merrique Mia Milla Millie x3 Minnie x 2 (Mynni) Minouche Mischka Mitzi Molly x5 Molly Coddle Moochie Mya Nala Narla Natasha Nena Ness Olivia Paris Paxy Pearl Peggie Pebbles Phoebe Pip Polly Popcorn Porridge Prada Quince Rani Reba Rebel Reno Rhoda Riki Rizzi Rogue Rommi Rosey Rosie Roxy Ruby x3 Sabrina Sadie Saffron Safire Sally x2 Sarah Sarah Jane Sascha x 2 Satu Savannah Scandal Shae Shandy Shannon Sharnie Sheba Shine Sinta Sienna Skye SkySnow Sophie x2 Sophia Springy Spook Stella x2 Stimpy X2 Storm Sue Suzie Sybill Tara Tasha Tayla Teegan Tess x 2 Tessa Texas Tia x 2 Tilli Tilly x3 Tinny (tin tin) Tori Tully Tyra Vada Voodoo Winter Wilhelmina Xanthe Zillah Ziva Zoe x 3

lmao, don't ya love the wrinkles!!

Definitely poodles do well in all dog sports, and not as neurotic as border collies (as much as I love 'em!) but just as smart and fast!! And so pretty.... I am a little biased though.

hahaha, ok so it might be a while till I get to OT then! I will come find ya when I get there though...

Hurry up and post more so you can come into OT! Theres a whole rat thread in there :D oooo, now, how many posts do I need to get into OT?? I can't find the info anywhere... Now, I have FALLEN OFF!!! This morning at some un-godly hour I woke up and nearly swore out loud waking DH; I'd forgotten to take ANY photos yesterday! Ooops. I was doing so well too. lol! Ahh well, I took some today!! My fav is a lil shihXlhasa I was looking after earlier, doing zoomies: but the setters running up to me were cute too

yay for another ratty pic!!! I was wondering if anyone else on here had any for a while.... lol