PAX

I will be camping (yes in a tent and I have never camped) so come and say hello.

I might get to meet you then. I have a black merle Koolie called 'Chill'.

Is anyone going to the Mary Ray seminar at Camp Tailwaggers in OCtober????

They are fantastic, they were on TV not long ago and I have seen them do demonstrations. Some of the girls from VIP are into doggy dancing and are awsome.

I don't think it is, I have friends there and they have never mentioned it.

I don't think this one is good enough to use.

Only have side on photos.

I would love it as an OOB, do you remember the great ones that Vickie did? Chill would never have her back to sheep, you must watch the evil sheep at all times. You're very clever.

Thanks Freckles. Can you make the dog come out of the frame on to or after sheep? Will you come to my house and teach me??

Thanks Harminee

Can some one clever OOB this photo for me, or anything else you like. This is 'Chill'.

If they could a find her a home with very responsible, knowledgable dog owners and no children then I would rehome her but I don't think those sort of homes are easy to find. IMO a BM should be excellent with kids and I would not have an iffy BM around children fullstop, no matter what the reason.

I always try to use it three days before and after a bath, I have always recommended this to others. I always thought because it is systemic that it was better to have some oils in the coat before use. I only ever use it on the back of the neck as you don't want to use it in any areas where the dog could ingest the product. It is a systemic drug so it goes right through the dogs system.

Can you imagine all the things vets have to learn when becoming a vet, all the different species of animals etc, etc. Being a good vet is much harder then being a good GP. GP's only have to deal with the one species. It is best to see a specailist vet in your area of chosen animal.

Lol, perhaps that is true for the tracking bit. But when I threw the pieces of kibble in the short grass and encouraged him to find them, he knew exactly what he was trying to do. Understanding and motivation wasn't a problem, but he was still quite unable to locate a single piece of kibble without my help. Thanks for the thought though. Hi Am, Perhaps he gives up looking for the kibble as he knows you have on you and it is easier to get it from you. Maybe the area has so many kibble smells that he doesn't try as hard as he could. Does he go and look for the kibble on the lawn after you leave? Is he toy motivated? You might have more luck teaching him to track for something he considers high level like an orbee ball or Kong if he is into them (or another male dog...kidding).

Has anyone stood if front of your dog and said the release word without moving or giving any other information to the dog? If you test it out it is amamzing how many dog don't know the release word but cue off our change in body position. I have been caught out on my relaese word 'ok'. I have had the dogs on stays in the yard and my kids have told me xxx is on the phone and I have replied with 'ok'.

I agree, it's all just ways to add guilt to the owner and bump up the fee. If she needed any of those things they should just be done and not an option for the owner. GAWD that annoys me, and the guilt trip they do about pain relief. If the dog is in pain surely they should just include it and charge for it, it should not be an owner option.

You should let the trial secretary know as often people tell them they are looking for a SP partner.

Very cute, my dogs want Heidis pool.

No big deal Jbbb, after all she is a highly intelligent Dobe. Good Job.

If you're worried about 'shake' and 'sit' sounding the same you can always use a different word. I use 'paw' for shake.

OMG Naughty Libby, I would be scared she will injure herself. She must have springs for legs.

I don't remember that bit, I think you should reward and then bang your head on the wall. Glad you liked the DVDs.

I meant to write in my reply that I do reward in position. Then after reading LP's post I realised that often I don't, like the phone book and other things but that would be after they have a grasp of what got the click. I also don't think that the click ends the behavoiur. Sometimes I will click and delay the reward and my dog will repeat the behaviour so in my mind the click hasn't ended it. LP you always start these thought provoking topics.

I love the clicker and use it to train all new things. Once they understand all parts of the exercise I change to a verbal marker. I don't think my dogs give a toss what I use but I find the clicker much more precise at isolating what it is that I am trying to teach. I taught my dog to get my car keys in a couple of sessions with a clicker, I'm sure I wouldn't of been able to help them understand as quick with a verbal marker. I did teach them to get the clicker with a verbal marker........lol. I also think it is really fun. I don't like them for new handlers because as PF mentioned it is just another thing for them to hold and fumble. I have always wanted to do a class and let people clicker train each other so they understand how to use it better. When I first started using the clicker I practised on my son to get a better concept of it. He was a very good training partner. I am not so sure about free shaping. When I say freeshaping I am talking about when people sit there with a container of treats and click what they like while the dog is frantically offereing different behaviours. I have seen dogs do this and appear quite stressed.