Yesmaam

Can you expand on your comments please poodlefan? What exactly don't you like about the way OB is heading?

I heard that about the SA club called 'Warratahs Sport Dog Club'. My friend used to train there and said that they have hardly trained at the club for over two months and active members at training were very low.

I never really understood the purpose of the scent discrimination test in OB clubs.......... What does it prove????

With all due respect Erny, I think you will find that "Schutzhund" is not named as being a 'banned' activity in Victoria. The wording in the dangerous dog act makes it difficult to participate in one of the phases of the sport but the sport in general is not named at all. In fact, the only mention of the word "schutzhund" is in relation to an exemption to parts of the dangerous dog act for imported GSD's with Schutzhund titles and that's a bonus really. Re: SchH in Canberra - sorry no clubs in or near Canberra. Closest are in Syd - 2 with AUSC http://www.sportdogaustralia.com/ and 1 with SA http://www.schutzhundaustralia.com/ As far as I know the SA club is not very active anymore but you would have to check with them.

Nothing wrong with prong collars at all, just some of the idiots who use them......... But more idiots use chokers incorrectly anyway and the only thing that stops a choker from closing in on itself is the dogs neck.... If used correctly, the prong is the best collar on the market. Most look at them and gasp - they look nasty so they must be nasty - kind of attitude without any real knowledge on how to use them. They are far more effective than anything else on the market.

I don't think a course or qualification makes a person a better dog trainer over someone who isn’t formally "qualified", usually quite the opposite in my experience. “Hands on experience” is what counts. Anyone can talk the talk but how many of those people can actually walk the walk as well??? Is it essential - no, not at all. Me 2. I would go there as my first stop over anything else. Very very very last resort would be to pay someone.............

If you want to learn quality tracking try one of the IPO clubs. I looked into the IPO stuff, but it seems they only allow very few breeds to compete in this, so do they do training only for their tiny list of allowed breeds, or can anyone train with them for fun? Research the FCI IPO rules.

If you want to learn quality tracking try one of the IPO clubs.

We were told the pro dogs are not cross trained for different scents for this very reason. So in this case they would be either a cash detection dog or a drug detection dog. Another example is that they do not cross train for drugs and explosives. If the dog indicates on a bag, how will they know whether to evacuate an entire airport or check the bag for drugs? Sort of..... You are right in that the dogs are not crossed trained on explosives and drugs (for the same reasons as the Customs dogs) but the AFP 'currency' dogs are trained on both drugs and cash. Their repertoire is about 4 or 5 different powder drugs and a range of different currency from around the globe. They have only been online for a couple of years and prior to that they only had explosive detection dogs. More recently, AFP are now training their explosive dogs on firearms, making them Firearms and Explosive Detection Dogs or FEDD's (just like Customs). You asked, how would a handler know what the dog is responding to if it is mutli-odour trained ie: is it explosives or a firearm? Good question........ I'm not sure what the policy is for the AFP regarding a positive response to a bag in the airport environment but when you think about the limitations in training, scent pictures for the dog, any training associated problems ie: false response or handling issues, the amount or lack of live seizures the dog has actually found operationaly or has got across in 'live seizure training', training patterns the handler may have unknowingly set ie: reward times, work to reward ratio's etc... Add to this 'dead scent' (term for target odour contamination) from shooters or mine workers/ shot firers etc... the list goes on... The dog response could be caused by a number of reasons. Fingers crossed it is odour related but this is not always the case so evacuating the airport is not going to happen unless there is overwhelming evidence to suggest something different.

Why not combine the two when imprinting the scent?? Ie: scented toy next to target odour - example: scent up some toys (rolled up towels) with tea bags for example in a sealed tub for 3mths. Use these scented toys along with live tea bags for your imprinting...... It speeds up the scent association process 10 fold because as you are playing with the dog he is taking in scent from the scented toy...... Toys (or as we say, dummies) are only present in the intial phases of our training ie: odour recognition. Once the dog is responding consistantly to few different presentaions the toy can be removed leaving only target odour. It's a bit of a visual thing to begin with but it soon phases out. Expect a stand off or two the first time the toys are removed and remember you may need to help the dog learn by touching his butt so he sits....

**That would be fun, but as Nekhbet said and our trainer, money is the hardest to train as it has thousands of scents on it. This trainer is training dogs to sniff out money over $10k at the airport. Only $10k and over. Thats amazing.*** It's a little more complicated than that. Having a thousand different scents on money is not the issue. Trying to teach the dog to not hit on amounts less than 10K in a target rich environment like the airport is even harder. Example: Dog sits on 3K in a wallet.......... Shot gun, what do you do next???? Praise off???? You can't really correct the dog as smaller amounts of cash are still target odour.......... Then the dogs is receiving feedback and reward for finding smaller amounts and so the seeds are sown for the dog to ping smaller amounts....... This would be the more common occurrence in a place such as the airport. Example: dog sits on passenger. Intel was red hot for large amounts exceeding 10k. Handler blind subs. Referral examination only reveals 1k in wallet. And again the seeds are sown for the dog to sit on smaller than 10k amounts. It's more a case of those handlers being a presence than a capability in regards to 'cash detection dogs' in my opinion. The other drama is that those dogs are also trained on drugs so what would happen if the dog finds 1g of C on a passenger in a wallet with 2k cash??? Do you thrown in for finding the C??? you bet you do.... And again you have also just rewarded the dog for finding a lesser amount of cash....... Hope this has got you all thinking a little outside the square :-) Happy training.

It is very pleasing to see so many people from the ANKC world participate in seminars conducted by high profile IPO/ Schutzhund competitors. The string of seminars by Uta in Melb as well as the recent Mia Skogster seminar up in Brisbane has certainly left a positive mark on people. Hopefully, over time this country will realise the benefits the sport of IPO/ Schutzhund can offer, especially in regards to the proper temperament testing of working breeds.

Registrations are now closed for the Mia Skogster Seminar in Brisbane. Many thanks to those who have registered. With just under 70 in attendence it should be a fantastic event.

Last chance to register for the Mia Skogster seminar in Brisbane 26 - 27 feb. Registrations will close tomorrow midnight. No late registrations will be excepted.

AUSTRALIAN WINS German CHAMPIONSHIP All Breed State Championship Trial for IPO in Mettingen, Germany. On 25/26 September 2010, the State of Westfalen in Germany held its annual Championship trial, hosted by DVG (German all breed working dog organisation with more than 40,000 members nationwide) in Mettingen. Every year 19 German States each host a State championship trial, where the first and second place getters automatically qualify for the DVG National Championship in the year following. With more than 6000 members spread over 148 IPO (Schutzhund) clubs, Westfalen is the largest DVG State in Germany. Since October last year, around 1400 dogs (the majority being Malinois – considered the world’s leading working breed today) have competed at qualifications trials throughout the State in order to qualify for the Championship. Currently competing in Germany with their Australian selfbred and trained Malinois, both Jens and Alison Kollenberg were delighted earlier in the year, just to have qualified to take part at the Championship. But on that weekend in September it was “shock and awe” all round when the two Australian teams came out of left field to end up on the podium, with Jens and Nordenstamm Hassan winning 1st place - the only Excellent graded score at the event (98 points for Tracking, 96 points for Obedience and 94 points for Protection, for a total of 288 points), and with Alison and Nordenstamm Hannah winning the High in Trial Tracking trophy, earning a perfect score for the only 100 point track of the Championship. Alison and Hannah also won 12th place overall, with a total score of 276 points. NB: Each of the three disciplines is scored out of 100 points. Congratulations also to the second and third place getters, Christian Melchers & Ayros v. Blue Aitsch (285 points) and Thomas Wesselmann & Madonna from Mike’s Place (284 points). Last year’s winner, Peter Muller with his Malinois dog, Bart Nielenders, won 6th place this year with 282 points, and took out the High in Trial trophies for Best Obedience (99 points) and Best Protection (99 points.) The Mayor of Mettingen, Franz-Joseph Bresch, greeted the participants at the opening ceremony and was present again to hand out prizes at the award’s ceremony. The City Mayor praised IPO as the, “absolute performance sport for dog and man” and the event itself, together with the participants, as representing, “the highest level of working dog sport.” For the last 57 years, since the age of 15, the 72 year old Jens Kollenberg has trained competition as well as service dogs, including the 2004 Australian National Champion. He has lived in Australia since 1980, after marrying his Australian born wife, Alison, who is also a competitive dog trainer and was the 2008 Australian National Champion. Since arriving in Germany the couple so far have competed at 10 trials - flying straight from Spring on sunny Gold Coast into a colorful Autumn in Thueringen, East-Germany, where at their very first trial Hassan won High in Trial Obedience and High Protection and Hannah won the 3rd place overall. Before moving from the Thueringen to the densely populated Westfalen, Alison and Jens participated at two more large SV (GSD) trials, hosted by local German Shepherd Dog clubs in that state. At the first SV trial, Alison and Hannah took out the first place and her brother the second place, and then their results were reversed at the second trial - a 3 day event with 20 entries, and Hassan taking 1st and Hannah 2nd - their being only two Malinois present! The judge of the latter trial, Andreas Bender (who’d judged the German Shepherd Dog National Championship last year), was obviously impressed by the Australian’s effort, by taking Jens aside after the trial to ask about his “training philosophy.” Once arrived in Westfalen, and settled only 40 km west of the Dutch border, the Australians continued uninterrupted in their success in one of Germany’s strongest “working-dog” States. This included a number more wins, 2nd and 3rd places, topped off at the end of September by their success at the big DVG State Championship. Germany is, literally, the Mecca of Dogsport, with over 250,000 members competing in the multitude of working dog breed clubs and organisations found throughout the land. Worth mentioning is that during their short time in Germany, both Alison and Jens have scored near and above the “dream score” of 290 points, with 2 x 291 points. Jens and Alison planned to participate at two more German trials before flying home to the Gold Coast for Christmas. Accompanying them will be their two competition dogs, Hassan and Hannah, as well as a newly purchased German Malinois bitch, Lilo von der Kraehenschiede. Both Hannah and Lilo will be bred before leaving for Australia. The IPO/Schutzhund sport is widespread in Germany, as it is elsewhere in Europe, and now has also been fully embraced by The (English) Kennel Club and the American and Canadian Kennel Clubs, being regarded as no more “dangerous” than cricket is in Australia. In Australia, the sport is not so well recognised or widespread as it is elsewhere in the world, although through local media exposure it has been gaining a foothold in the psyche of mainstream dog trainers looking for a more challenging hobby and fun with their dogs. The ANKC has nothing to fear from joining the rest of the world in recognizing Schutzhund/IPO. It is not attack, police or service dog training, as it has been quite wrongly misrepresented to be by uninformed persons. It is a test designed for animals bred and owned by ordinary members of the general public who do not have access to specialist government dog breeding and training facilities. The regulations and assessment tools that already exist for service and police dogs in Australia have very different objectives and methodologies to those of Schutzhund/IPO. Schutzhund is the only internationally endorsed and accredited assessment tool for evaluating and filtering the domestic breeding of specific working dog breeds; and comes available in a universally accepted package without a need to justify what the rest of the world has already proven. In Germany it is such highly regarded test, that German insurance companies, local councils and other government agencies will either discount or waive their annual licensing fees for dog owners with IPO titled animals. The standards, infrastructure and administration processes of Australian Schutzhund have been repeatedly validated by FCI’s highest authorities; adequately demonstrated by the large numbers of Australian-trained dogs successfully titled under FCI Schutzhund/IPO/VPG judges, both at home and abroad. In 2007 the German Shepherd Dog Club of Germany (SV.e.V. / VDH /FCI) specifically sent a representative to Australia to evaluate the standard processes and administration of Australian Schutzhund Organizations, and to identify any problems. This representative, Mr Raino Fluegge, wrote a highly positive report on the sport in Australia, finding no criticism of our Australian systems and placing Australia, on a world wide basis, amongst the most advanced nations practicing the sport – a point aptly demonstrated by the recent successes of Alison and Jens Kollenberg and their Australian-bred dogs in Germany. As custodians of the Australian pedigreed dog world the ANKC should consider these facts, and what their own responsibilities to public safety are. The ANKC held a 5 year review on the sport, without, unsurprisingly, identifying any problems. Yet what proven testing programs can the ANKC truthfully point to and say they have available to the breeders and owners of the large numbers of potentially dangerous pedigreed working dogs proliferating in the public domain? Today their answer would have to be none. The ANKC needs to look at the IPO sport in Australia more objectively and realize that the sport’s objectives – i.e.: the preservation of the working breeds’ soundness, education, breeding transparency and public safety, are compatible with the objectives of the ANKC, which is standing for more responsible dog ownership. One step in the right direction would be that the ANKC not only recognise the FCI Schutzhund/IPO titles of dogs imported into the country, but also recognise the hard earned Schutzhund /IPO titles earned by Australians in their own country. To view full article with pictures download here http://www.nationaldog.com.au/current_issue.html

Jeff, it changed months ago and It has been well advertised. As I said, we have less than 10 spectator spots still available so If you want to register I would recommend that you do so sooner rather than later to save any disappointment. Registrations will close on 15 Feb and no late registrations will be accepted.

Hurry! Hurry! If you don't want to miss this event register NOW! Registrations will close on the 15 Feb, unless we reach our max number earlier. We have less than 10 spots available so get in FAST! No late registrations will be accepted. To register please go to http://www.metrodogsport.com

If you want an expert's opinion, get yourself to the 'Mia Skogster' obedience seminar at Metro Dogsport Club 26-27 Feb 2011. Mia is the 2010 WORLD FMBB Champion and is an expert in using the clicker training method. Hurry, because time is running out fast! http://www.metrodogsport.com

Please read above

What date is the seminar in Feb? 11th - 13th Oh ok. I won't be going then as I want to save my money for the Mia Skogster seminar held in Brisbane end of Feb. Can't beat training with the current world champ! http://www.metrodogsport.com/metro_2010_005.htm do both!!! I'm planning to! ;) Better hurry then as we are nearing our max number of participants. Closing date is now sun 13 Feb unless we reach our max number before hand. First in best dressed. http://www.metrodogsport.com Go to seminar page

I think you're still going at it too far too fast. Let him become a bit more reliably successful at the first step before you proceed with the next. I agree, you don't have good enough scent association yet. You said your dog likes toys, so I am imagining that he has a good amount of prey drive etc.... why are you using another strong odour (food) as your reward??? Hint: It is far easier to permeate rolled up hand towels (dummies) that are taped at each end, with tea bags (and I mean hundreds of them ie: a box of 500+). Once permed (at least a month) they should stink of tea. The initial rewards for the dog must stink of tea so that the connection is made between reward and odour. To help you with good scent association, I would get someone to tease up the dog with a scented dummy at the park to begin with while you are holding the lead then get him to throw the dummy and you let the dog run up to it, grab the dummy, and play a huge game with him. As you play with the dog, he is taking in odour at the same time, as the dummy stinks of tea.... Do this a few times before moving to tubs. Tubs must initially have dummy + 500 or so tea bags inside with lid on but good enough hole in top to allow access to odour without dog being able to get to it. You could have a line of tubs and get someone again to tease dog up pretending to hide dummy in multiple tubs (one of course holding the target odour). Give command to seek and let him run along line of tubs till he hits target. If your scent association is good he will smash it. Remember that wind and air currents play an enormous role in detection work so make sure your set up is in the dogs favour ie: pay attention to the wind direction when you line up your tubs etc..... you dont want the breeze blowing away from the dog. Even in buildings there can be wind and air currents, hint: a cigarette lighter works well... Your other problem is working out how you want to teach your dog to respond. Whatever tickles your fancy really but be consistent. If this was to be an operational dog you would need to find something that will tell you, as a handler, exactly where or what the dog is focussing to (which is why most people now use a passive sit/ stare response). For the purpose of your cert 3, whatever you want really just don’t let him mouth your articles. If you start to think down this road you will have better success.

Happy new year to all! Just a friendly reminder about the 'Mia Skogster' seminar to be held in Brisbane Feb 26-27. We have had an overwhelming response to this event and our max attendance number is fast approaching. If you are interested in going I would recommend that you register ASAP to secure your spot as registrations will be taken on a first in best dressed basis. Please provide your T-shirt size with your registration to receive your free 'Mia Skogster' T-shirt in your registration pack and don't forget to say if you're attending the sat night dinner with Mia. Registrations will now be closing Sun 15 Feb so get in quickly as time is running out. For more info please go to http://www.metrodogsport.com/metro_2010_005.htm

Just to let you know that spectator spaces are filling up fast. To ensure you get a spot please register at your ealiest convenience http://www.metrodogsport.com

So having your x-rays scored by Dr Wyburn is sufficient, is that correct? Will it be the ANKC that records the HD and ED score and permits the breeding to be registered then? If I have a good x-ray score from Dr Wyburn can that be submitted to the GSDCA for AZ stamp? Cheers