PAX

Glad you could understand my jibberish

Am, I also put my arms in the finish position when i leave the dog because i have forgotten to move them before i turned to recall and got a deduction for a double signal. I also hold them high, probably on my heart as i leave my dog. I joke to my friends that i pray as i walk up to the recall spot. I keep my hands high because i train him often with a toy held in that position and he is a big dog. Lisa

Sorry Sidoney, I thought you did. A am a crappy writer but here goes. You make a perch, I used a piece of plywood about a big as a dinner plate (this would vary for the size of your dog) and about an inch thick and you clicker train the dog to put its feet on the perch. First one foot then increase the criteria until he confidently puts both feet on the perch. When they can do this you start using your body and legs to get the dog to move its hind quarters around and pivot on the perch and click for small steps. It takes really no time until they will pivot back and forth around on the perch just with your shoulders queing them. Eventually they will pivot from just moving your head slightly. When all that is down pat you put a centre line down, i do it on a paved area and use the lines in the pavers so i know where my centre line is. You get the dog to pivot around and click it when it is centre on the line so the learn a straight front. It was a fun easy thing to train it it helped my dog stay straight.

Do you work for a Pet food company?

I teach straight fronts with the Susan Garret method of perch work and a centre line, Im sure Sidoney knows. Then you can eventually move your legs to straighten them, then shoulders then just eyes to get them straight.

It was great ot meet some DOL faces......Hi Kavik I have no problem with my dogs photo on DOL Myszka

I did the ET in July and the judge was saying that maybe they might change it in future and let people use a springer, fingers crossed. If you decide to run it it is a lot faster than a brisk walk, it a good steady jog. When i did mine the judge had no problem with the dogs pulling but said if they lagged more than once he would eliminate them. I have heard other people say they are not allowed to pull, my two dogs pulled all the way and passed no problems. Ruben wasn't even panting at the finish.

That would be "Caslero", she has a great ET story on her web page

The obedience is really basic, it is on lead just heeling and a couple of turns and a come back/recall on lead. It is not to test obedience just to check the dog is behaving the same at the start and finish. I forgot to say they do it before the run and at the finish. Everyone should do it, it is really a fun morning out apart from a sore butt

Sparty, Its very easy to do 20kms on a bike. It is in three legs so you get a little rest. 20kms sounds a lot but it really isn't.

I would say a Lab but as the other posters have said it depends. My familys choice is a Dobe but i would not recommend them as family pet for most people.

I think thats me I really dont think my dog would chase because he is big girl and wont leave his mummy. I might come for a look see

I have bought them a couple of times when i have needed someone else to feed my dogs. I found them to be excellent but a little expensive for every day.

I am so happy you are switching back to BARF, and i bet Ralph and Charlie will be saying a huge thanks Lisa In your post i get the impression that Ralphy didnt have hot spots until you put him on kibble..........so feed Barf just cut it back

Mumof2labboys, Just a tip for you. I use the zip lock lunch bag for freezing the dogs vegie mix. I find i can pack them into the freezer better.

Yep whole fish, whatever hubby catches and they love it. At first they didnt but i started on whole raw pilchards ( the sort you use for bait) and now they eat any fish without any problems, heads and all.

I am another who says go to BARF. My dog couldnt handle any dog foods, i think it is the cereal in commercial dog food. Since on BARF he has never looked better and i constantly get asked what i feed him, I have even been asked by four different vets. I also do not feed him any pasta, bread or rice IMO dogs were not designed to eat it.

Yes they are important. If your dog gets heartworm and you do not treat it you can years off your dogs life and they die a pretty awful death. The treatment is also very unpleasant for the dog. It is much easier and kinder to use heart worm prevention. If your dog can be bitten by a mozzie it can get heartworm.

The new drug for arthritis is called "Previcox". My two friends dogs that are on it cannot believe the improvement, and thats all i know Lisa

There is a new arthritis drug, its only recently released. You should ask your vet about it, it is supposed to much better than Rimadyl. I know two friends thats old dogs trialled it and they could not beleive the difference in the dogs. I will get back to you with the name.

I think dogs are basically scavengers. My dogs take passionfruit off the vine and eat the whole thing and lots of other different fruit that grows in their yard so they are adding their own fruit and vegies to their diets. Maybe there is no fruit trees were wolves live

I used to train a life time ago and have been out of it for years. When i got my dog (now two) i got back into it big time. I was very lucky that i got the opportunity to go to a trainer that introduced me to toys and working with drives. I am also prepared to drive hours to go to other seminars to learn more. I find it really hard to go to my club now, they have only just introduced food lureing and frown at toys, clickers and play in training. The president told me she hates tug......WhatThe, they think it is disruptive to the class. It makes it hard because i feel like going to club is teaching my dog to be disinterested and i want to teach him heeling is great and great things happen when we heel..........anyways I just do what is the right thing for my dog and feel sorry for the other dogs, luckily they have never known a better way. I would like to go to the club for group stays and probably will but thats about it. Luckily i am confident enough now in my training to say no to club methods and group heeling.

What about Premium made by Iams. I think it is around 60 - 70 dollars a bag

I am interested Could do Sydney or Melbourne

Thanks Ellz, I have never used it but always here that its great for just about everything and i saw it in the supermarket today. I think i'll give it a try.