Inevitablue

The level of training you do should override all other things which offer value to the dog. Agree with JoeK and Huski that a dog not distracted by outside influences is faster to train. But the way I see other dogs is that it's just one of many activities I allow my dogs to do. I take my dog to a park and she gets free time, she might choose to interact with other dogs, chase a tennis ball or follow smells. It's her downtime. Most Beagles I meet place higher value on satisfying their olfactory sense then interacting with other dogs. I have watched your videos Huski and you have done what people 10 years ago said was impossible but I'm sure she still loves using her nose. You have trained her that when you offer work, it beats everything else. That's what I am working towards, that when I offer the chance to do training it beats anything else that life could offer at that time, but when nothing is offered, and she is given her release word then she can amuse herself (within reason of course) and that might be interacting with her own kind. Sorry this topic has strayed more towards raising competition dogs.

And what do you study when studying zoology? I have always wanted to ask someone that... does it mean you have knowledge in ALL animals? Or do you pick one to study? Or.... something? lol Corvus got it quite spot on, we also got to study spider behaviour (yay.....feeding spiders with tweezers) and learning how to catch and wrangle kangaroos. My all time fav (insert sarcastic smilie) assignment was to do ethology maps for the dingos at the zoo for a day...in the rain. 9am sleep, 9:10am sleep.....3:40pm sleep. Oooohhh yay 3:50 pee

I work in lab when needed processing cells for dogs with osteoarthritis, did a lot of lab work at Uni. Work with our trial vet a fair bit and mainly manage the vets around Sydney who use us. Its amazing some of the things I see at work, it gives me goosebumps. We still have so much to learn about biology. In the next few months some of the diseases we are going to be able to treat will excite every dog owner. It's tough though breaking through the skepticism but the results will start doing the talking

Foremost I'm a dog lover After that I am or have done- Obedience competitor with one of my old dogs - stopped early when I discovered agility Agility competitor with last 2 dogs - one titled Showing my current dog Zoology/behavior undergraduate degree Groomed for 3 years part time while at Uni Ran puppy schools/adolescents classes Bought into a training franchise that I'm too embarrassed to say (starting a business on your own is not that hard- joys of hindsight) got out as soon as I could. Vet pharmaceutical rep Which has led to my current job - working in canine (and equine) regenerative medicine- immensely exciting. Oh and a super keen Herding student and still a sponge when it comes to learning Edit! Something that I think we all are - professional money spenders on our dogs!

He is a very handsome, masculine looking poodle. Haha, and I'm trying not to sound surprised

Any DOL's going? I'm really looking forward to it OH and I will be swagging it (bbrrrrrrrr)

Hehe like when he buys everything you need at the supermarket...

Trying to take the best of both positive associations/ skills to communicate with other dogs and neutralization do you guys think it's feasible to take the young dog and allow them to associate with others in a controlled environment and then work towards total handler focus? With my last dogs I kinda learnt all this in a backwards manner (trial and error!) Correcting the dog for running off wouldn't be a negative association towards other dogs but a negative reinforcer to disobeying a command.....? I know JoeK that you don't want to waste valuable training time on a task that won't be beneficial in the sport dog world but the need for dogs that fit into society, and hence such a good thread to have, can make it time well spent? Completely agree that it is up to the owner to protect a dog that has a temper/ poor social skills from conflict (the chasing away the other dog) but the responsibility of that owner towards society in general has just increased dramatically. They are now the owners of literally a loaded weapon. We have seen that owner struggling with their dog in public and thought to ourselves 'it's only a matter of time before that dog is involved in something' By desensitizing the dog to others jumping in it's face, wouldn't that just be proofing the dog further in it's work?

Over the years I have learnt pretty good self control of my body language as having the dogs so cued to different tasks sometimes led to confusion "nooooooo!!! I didnt release you.... Oooops my fault" I suppose I'm lucky that the cattle dogs thrive on having set tasks

Adding to my post, how beneficial do others think it is for dogs to learn to freeze in unpleasant experiences. Whilst flight and flight is instinctual, freeze appears to be a learnt behavior.

I find all this interesting, as I am going through these decisions with my pup who is now 21 weeks. Exposure to different environments has been a given, and my pup got no shortage of this. I want this pup for obedience etc but I am also aware that the ACD has also been used in the same sentence as BSL so I weighed up the option of teaching her life skills and perhaps maybe losing some of her focus on me. I enjoy having my dog in public, walking, parks, beach etc. What I have done is made things site specific, she has her park that she gets to play with other dogs. I dont want a dog that doesn't know how to deal with a variety of situations. She has learnt that if she wants her whippet friend to stop chasing her she stop, drops and rolls, if she wants her stafford friend to stop overpowering her she lies still. I don't want to have a dog that for the next 12 years I have to worry about her getting into minor scuffles. Unfortunately I have to acknowledge that with my dogs if there is an incident then the accusation could be unfairly skewed towards my breed. As part of the site specific training she goes to shows, show training and when out in public generally she is focused on me by playing the drive games and by allowing no play at all. Im going ok with this method. JoeK, I like your posts, but how would you go about training/ managing a dog like your wife's but one with a temper? For the dog that doesn't like others in it's face. I just wouldn't like to have to manage a dog like that constantly, wouldn't be a pleasure for me.

Sheree 84 your pup is stunning. The colour combination is so striking. Teething, I think Tess is 19 weeks now and has only just lost her first tooth yesterday. Her gums were swollen for ages, but it was just last night I noticed her being sooky and sulky and on her swim this morning she had floppy ears. I think she is a very slow teether! Her sister already has her adult teeth

$11 per class

If your free in the daytime, Luci has classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11am.

Hi Katie I cannot recommend Austral enough, I sit on the M5 for over an hour just to get there. My girl and I have learnt so much and her polished performances I believe have helped her fantastic results so far. Really and try to get to a few lessons out there, nothing like Luci's honest way of teaching as well!

Sorry if OT, I am really keen to enter Melbourne Royal, what do interstaters usually do for accommodation? It will just be myself, OH and 1 minor puppy.

How about FREE coffee AND cupcakes! Pleasant surprise yesterday in the rain at Erskine Park.

I rang about going tonight for the first time though because of Syd Royal it isn't on now till after the 1st of next month. Prone to blonde moments at the moment so can I ask if it's next week training starts back?

At our 2nd show, the County of Cumberland one at EP today. 34 ACDs entered and we won Best Baby Puppy again The Baby Puppy Dog I thought was stunning so it was a real thrill for her to get the nod. Waiting around now for my first ever Group class. Quite exciting!

Thanks for the updates, the iPad is down to 19% now Was there a top 4 for the puppies?

I think Thio Bromine is the ingredient in chocolate that makes it toxic as well for dogs

Wow, Puppy bitch was BOB for the ACD's. I have seen her at Luci Ellems and she is lovely.

Reading another thread, is it correct that the male TRD sent to NZ was immediately used to breed crossbreds because of the money a TRDx can command? If it is true I find that really sad.

Sad, it was a brown snake that got my gorgeous Gwen. Would have she heard it if she had hearing? Probably, but she had the most wonderful life, agility, horseback riding, swimming at the beach. She learnt well over 20 hand signals. She just fitted into life and was never any drama. People at the dog park never knew most of the time. For someone willing, some dog sense and a fair dose of common sense a deaf dog is no drama at all. We always did joke though that a deaf ACD was easier than a dog with less sense of self preservation

CL79 if you already have a well trained dog then you will find having a deaf dog much easier.