Staff'n'Toller

I have been there several times (sans dogs) but actually haven't seen the penguins yet. Have you been on the Koala Night Prowl? That's pretty cool too. :D

PM k9katz, I think they are the main distributor and I remember them having some advice in regards to that question in a previous thread.

I don't live in NSW or QLD and never have, if you'd like to PM me with actual names of trainers or names of clubs I may actually be able to find out some further info. But using statements like The Delta Main Instructor isn't particularly helpful.

Anyone stayed in a great house down in Phillip Island where dogs are allowed indoors? All dogs are crate trained but I have 1 small and 2 medium (1 a bit hairy ) just finding wading through the Dr Katrina site a bit brain frying! A lot of them say 'Pets Welcome' then in the fine print 'oh only outside btw'. Need 3 bedrooms too. Would be great to get a recommendation. :D

Pets @ Home and some Petstock places have Vet Clinics within the shop....that doesn't sound like your case though? Maybe they are using a travelling Vet to come once a fortnight or once a month to administer them? There are a few Vets like that here in Melbourne.

Most of page 2 of this thread was to explain that whilst the certificate is the same, trainers experience before and after maketh the trainer, it's not all about the 15 months spent gaining the Cert IV. Delta is NOT A FRANCHISE it is the course provider- just like Precise Training is the provider for the NDTF - just like Box Hill TAFE is the course provider for my Vet Nursing Certificates. Not every Veterinary Nurse is a carbon copy of the next, I am not the same as a nurse who works in a referral centre, or an emergency centre, or a specialist eye practice such as Elfin on this board. My knowledge base and skills are different depending on my exposure in the workplace and further Ed. If you knew your dog wasn't food motivated perhaps you should have spoken to the trainer about what reward system they did use before you turned up to class. I'm not taking the side of trainer b/c I have no idea who they are, but most businesses have web pages these days and the information is generally there in front of you. Oh....and just for the record, I only use one particular macca's in my area b/c the other ones make soggy fries. ;)

You can put her under to have an endoscopy done if you are really concerned there is still something in there, that would be the least invasive way to check out the stomach. Two years ago we opened up my Stafford girl to remove a small intestine tumour that we knew was bleeding and found one of the toy plastic mice for cats - no fur on it - just the plastic core, have no idea how long it was there. ;) It definitely was there for a while though, but miraculously it hadn't made it past the stomach. She loves the catnip in them, I have caught her chewing on them in the past but thought she always spat them out!

Do you teach Rally using corrections Angelsun? I thought the whole point was so you could verbally or otherwise reward your dog in the ring. Why would you need to use corrections in a Rally ring other than an NRM? ;) Some Delta trainers here in a Melbourne club have been doing Rally for years.

You'd have to take that up with the course Co-ords, quite frankly.

For mine we had to do write ups of case studies of dogs that we identified may need further expertise. It would be interesting to clarify that point. AFAIK she would still need to be attending regular classes, doing write ups of those classes, assessing those classes (at different levels) and analysing her involvement in those classes. So RSPCA is one component but she should be submitting quarterly diaries of weekly classes she is involved with, no? ETA there: I do remember speaking with someone directly involved with the course and apparently there was some major hiccup with the training of the shelter dogs due to ethical approval. This was 12 months ago so I'm sketchy on the details but I'm pretty sure that was the reason. Same here, I also know how to use positive punishment and negative reinforcement. I take exception to being tarnished (and this is not aimed at you Kavik ;) ) with the 'Delta' brush here on dol that means I know how to use food bribes and that's about it....

Apparently someone asked Delta to post details of the conference on the Delta "forum" (which is for instructors and students) and they apparently refused... though this information is 2nd hand to me - unclear as to the reason. However, there were several people in attendance on the second or third day wearing bright yellow Delta t-shirts. I think that would be because Delta has nothing to do with NDTF and vice versa. I doubt it would have anything to do with Lindsay's methods or reputation. Whilst they both run courses within the NQF, they are still private providers, private businesses don't advertise for other private businesses, just not the way the world works. Some posters are misinformed about what is actually taught i.e. methods and the referral to Veterinary Behaviourists but I am wholeheartedly sick of posting the same replies every time. There are certainly some trainers who go through the Cert IV and perhaps don't have the practical expertise to back themselves up, but that is not entirely Delta's fault. NDTF will find they have the same issues in coming years, now that their course is via distance. Delta has been running the course since 1996 and NDTF are very new to the correspondence scene. It's a constant source of worry for the course co-ordinators and as Black Bronson said, anyone can set up a business. Dog handling is actually assessed in the Cert IV and people who show a total ineptitude for it are asked to defer their course whilst they gain more practical experience and decide whether it is really what they want to do. There are plenty of fantastic Cert IV trainers out there and I find it quite offensive that the same people here love to 'jump on the bandwagon' every single time one of these threads come up. I spent 4 years at ADT training my own dog to advanced obedience and protection, I then spent another 6 years gaining experience in class taking and working 200+ B & T dogs and undertaking a course not unlike NDTF's (it's just not nationally recognised). Then I went to study the course provided by Delta as I felt that in the future people would be looking for trainers with a real piece of paper. I train using positive motivational methods, it's a CHOICE I made. I know how to fade food rewards, and my clients get plenty of information and encouragment about how to do it, if they choose not to follow the program then so be it. If clients don't want to use food then that's fine, we'll find something else. Sometimes I do refer to Veterinary Behavourists if I feel that the client will get faster results with one-on-one classes or that setup will work better for them and their dogs. It's all about the client frustration index. I can deal with aggression issues but geez...liability is a bitch these days! If you think you can work with problem dogs that's great, but don't think you won't ever be in court one day with a Veterinary Behaviourist on the stand testifying against you and your methods if it all goes pear shaped down the track. Best of luck. Mel.

That's one funny pic.

Is the offlead area fenced off? It sounds like a lovely walk, you seem to have gone a good day for a walk, and entertainment. No, but it's bordered by a steep bank and off lead flat area on the Lake side, and a walking track with lots of trees and a carpark on the other side. The creek is lovely! When the rain is good it's quite deep too, a lovely place for the dogs to cool off in summer.

Congrats Luke! I've had a few Blue Roans through my puppy classes lately, and I always talk about how there's a great dog called Barkly at agility!

My dogs wear them and I have never had one come apart. I don't usually have them on lock either, in case I need to get it off quickly. My heaviest dog is 22kg but he can pull against it very hard when he wants to.

Sometimes patient confidentiality is a biatch.

They were at Melbourne Pet Expo this year. Maybe you guys should just wait for cheap fares to Tas...

Email your resume and I will redo it for you.

LMAO had to pull this one out - I'm always telling her to just go work in ANY job for now!!!

We tend to use BIPS these days or ultrasound. The question about whether to do surgery on the dog is entirely up to the subjective signs of the dog and up to the Vet. It's one of the riskiest and more expensive surgeries in terms of post-surgery complications so we often wait just to see for 24 hrs. Puppy may have eaten something that is moving through slowly, or may just have a stomach upset so the decision to go in should not be made on a whim.

Delta accredited instructors run the test after clients have been in a minimum of 6 weeks of training with them but mostly it's for intermediate obedience dogs. It's quite different to the pet partners testing and a basic dog from a traditional club would probably not be at a good enough standard (depending on the criteria of the club's level of course). I don't believe the majority of clubs know much about it, so therefore they are not encouraging handlers to go for it. It's also a general knowledge test of the owners on dog health and responsibilities, if this was the bare minimum standard for owning a dog here it would be a great thing! Unfortunately not a recognised title here but I believe the society were trying to get it through.

Try here I use their kong stuffing info. If you don't like any of those I have a good one on my hard drive that I can find. Crate games is a super cool dvd if they are happy to part with some more $$.

I would work the cheekiest and most outgoing, and the quietest, and then take one in the middle. That said though, when you have access from pre - 8 weeks I find you get a favourite and then you can't deviate from it.

I'm pretty sure that RC use it for the reason quoted. Their Skin Support formula is the only one developed for generalised atopy and helps to strengthen and support the skin barrier AFAIK. I had excellent results with Gypsy on it but after two attempts she stopped eating it after a period of time, since you can actually see that it contains a good amount of turmeric we surmise she just got sick of the taste! I would have suggested it earlier to you Erny but I know your preferences as far as raw and didn't want to push something on you that you weren't interested in, however I would be VERY interested in knowing whether it would have an effect on Mandela, I can send you their product profile for that product if you wish. Just PM me a postal addy.

I thought you were a spammer for a minute there. Wondered what sort of pics we were going to see.