PAX

There's a few nice Staffords trialling in NSW.

Thanks DD, we have trialled a couple of times now, brill' heelwork but can't get through the SFE, oh well, thems the breaks with a timid dog. It takes the pressure off us I guess and I am sure we will get there one day, in the mean time we are having heaps of fun training. The new pup is on her way training and she is not timid at all, thank dog.

Heres mine, but I am slack too, and rarely get out the video camera so they are all a bit old.

Not much help, but the reason I started crate training was to stop my dog hunting Possums all night long, they drove her nuts and she drove me nuts, my other non hunting dog would run after her barking. Ever since, all dogs are crated indoors at night.

With my Koolie I noticed when we were in heel position, as soon as as I would go to make my drop signal she was already on the ground. Made me realise and appreciate how responsive dogs are to movement and body cues, so I guess she trained me to get rid of those awful extended signals.

Have really yummy treats, you are going to need treats or toys that are more interesting than all the other dogs and new place. I would even go as far to say give her a very small dinner the night before so you know she will be really hungry, if food is her highest reward. Public trainig is like asking kids to do homework at Dreamworld, needs to be very rewarding of it's not going to happen. Often treats or toys that they love at home with no distractions just dont cut it when they are out. IMExperience home cooked food is better, you need food that she can swallow quickly and easily, chopped steak, sausages, cheese, liver, devon or what ever she goes nuts for and something that doesn't crumble and drop everywhere. I find a mixute of all of the above works well. If you are going to use a halti in class, train her to get used to it at home this week. If you are not happy to use it, tell the trainer and they 'should' come up with another plan for you and your dog. Does your dog love toys? She looks like a breed that should.

If only? :D

Too funny. My friend and trainer has very nice left turns on his young dog, I asked "how did you teach X those tights turns' his reply was we both watched the DVD. :D If only my dogs had better DVD comprehension. :D

It is sad when people take a public forum a place to make personel attacks....and to take the original post so far Off Topic. Makes you wonder how their dogs are treated?? There is a PM function you know. :D This topic is about heeling on the right hand side. :D

Hi Erny, and I so get you and this problem, are we putting to much into this agilty stuff? Agility is doing my head in. I am lucky enough to be training with Vickie and I am trying not to think too much and just do what Vickie tells me but ARRGGHHH. I think my dogs already have really great hind end awareness but Vickie set up a jump grid for my dog and it was very difficult for her to master. She has fantastic rear end awareness on perch work, backing up, etc, but a juimp grid really challenged her. I am an old horsey girl and the jump training with horses seems very irrelevent to all this IMO.

Oops, sorry Moses. :D

Josh was hilarious , work smarter not harder, a boy after my own heart. Polo and Brock were sensational. ;)

So Huski, are you an Insomniac like me?

There is no way I would use VIP roll as a training treat, my dogs aren't high food drive dogs so I know that would not cut it for them. I am not knocking VIP rolls as I think it is a great product, I just know my dogs would be very disappointed if that was the reward....lol.

Well good for you for having a different word to help Daisy know the difference, and a word the family can't flatten.

I don't think that's funny, just shows where the value for your 'here' is. If you put the reward value into a word/command and don't flatten it by not rewarding, it is a valuable command, as it should be. Dogs don't understand words, only value for particular words after multiple repetitions of the word paired with reward.

That's funny as that is the word I use and have no problem with. If you read the ANKC rule book it says one word, one syllable in English so that word is perfect.

The only real difference for me is I never use the word come, only in training and trialling when I know it will be 100% successful. In the paddock I say here pup pup pup or here or just a whistle up, they always come but I never want to flatten my 'COME' battery. There is one more, If I want the dogs to lay down in the house and have a rest I say lie down, in training when I want a precise drop I just say down. Dogs are so smart, they quickly work out the difference if you are consistent. Forgot to add that I love Sheila Booths book.

This could of been my old Dobes forte, great pics Ruth and thanks for sharing them.

Just as well.

You better visit me or there will be trouble!

I think this is more a judge to judge thing rather than State by State. Some judges are happy for you to second signal or look at your dog, some are not, some judges are happy with close heel work some are not. The rules are very open to personal interpretation which sucks, but as you trial more often you get to know what different judges want or like.

Study the rule book so you will know what you are and are not allowed to do. It explains what is a minor and major deduction. As others have said, have fun, it is only a trial and judges really want you to pass. If your dog is struggling, help it, at the end of the day you take your favourite dog home.

You should set her up at the correct distance from the box right at the start, put her on a stand stay, you need to stand right near the box and click and treat her box entry. As she gets more proficient at it, you slowly move back towards her, always having her run the correct distance. The only difference to the picture is you are gradually moving closer to her on her stand stay, you need to heavily reward the box with her highest motivator.

Seita, I would love to see some video of your girl doing heelwork, she sounds awsome.