PAX

You can probably say 'yes' quicker than you can click you tongue. Good pet stores sell clickers, some vet clinics and you can try ebay.

Oops doubled up.

Most dog sport injuries happen due to overweight dogs. Fit dogs live longer, fat dogs die younger!

Metal spoon is nothing after greasy smelly car keys.

Well Kenzie is a highly intelligent BC, what else would you expect.

I once read and agree that a clicker is like using a fine paint brush for intricate work, and a praise word is like using a roller for painting. You can indicate exact, precise behaviours to your dog with a clicker that would be very hard to communicate with a verbal marker. Some people can do it but most of us can't. I think it is a great idea to clicker train some tricks and then decide for yourself the benefits of the clicker. I used and learnt about the clicker when I had no other luck training a retrieve, my dogs had a good retrieve in no time at all with the clicker and I have been sold on it ever since. Like others have said you don't always have to have the clicker with you but mostly use it by choice for teaching any new thing to your dog. It is just the easiest way for my dog to understand how to play my strange human games. Yesterday my dog was a bit bored from all the rainy weather over the last couple of days so I got the clicker, some treats and my car keys. In under two minutes I taught my dog to pick up my car keys and give them to my hand. When I finished I put the treats and clicker away but forgot and left the keys on the coffee table in the loungeroom. I started watching the TV with my backside to the gas heater when my dog went and got the keys and bought them to my hand. What a dog! She just wants to train all the time and it is mostly because of the clicker.

In NSW (at most trials) in CD and higher you sit/wait with your dog approx one metre behind the stay marker (usually at the ring rope) and remove your lead and wait for the steward to take it. When the Judge asks they will say 'take up position' for the 'whatever stay' and you move to the marker with your right foot next to the stay marker and have your dog drop or sit. At no time after the lead removal are you allowed to touch your dogs collar or manually position your dog until it is exercise finished. In CCD you are given a lot more slack.

Yep I think you are. :D

I did get a bit off topic.

I was having a bad night.

My dogs prefer to pull on the lead, should I let them after all I am not on some power trip???? Midol, get real.

removed by Pax

And he will know the difference because???? :cool:

shutting up now.

Maybe the dog just likes to be close to you, does everything have to be about dominance?

Nice photos.

Some people still use and prefer this method. IMO there are other ways that are fun for the dog and handler. :D

So Tony, she is sound and has a good conformation?

I have seen photographic evidence that Erny is very attractive. I thought she was living her life training dogs in trackie dacks with dog foot prints all over her clothes like the rest of us..........but no. A super model, move over Victoria Stilwell.

I am sure the Judge is meant to ask lame dogs to leave the ring, you could try your luck showing a letter from the vet to explain why. I wouldn't enter a lame dog, IMO it looks bad. People that see you and your dog will wonder why you are trialling and you don't want to spend the day explaining yourself, trialling is stressful enough.

Sweepstakes are just a weird QLD thing , you should contact your QLD CC and ask about it. I think you only need a sweepstake pass to enter Novice but not for CCD and only in QLD Novice Obedience trials. Enter in Northern NSW and you don't have to worry.

You need to plan and set it up so she will suceed, you want to make the retrieve a fun special job not a punishment. Don't do it yet where there are distractions and lock Rex in the house.

M, When you take it outside or somewhere different you have to go back to the beginning.

I was very busy clapping and cheering MrsD and Jarrah but I think Dagboy might of.

I thought you looked more like number four. Mrs D entered a DWD display with her lovely dog 'Jarrah' and they nailed it, his spins were even in perfect time with the music. He is such a clever boy.