Weasels

Which as a bonus is reinforcing for me too :laugh:

I think NILIF & PILIF are both worth thinking about! I started off using fairly strict NILIF on my dogs but soon realised that because I have high energy dogs I wanted to reinforce calm, lying quietly on their mat, not following me around etc. and from the dogs' POV that is the same as a free treat. So I chilled out on it after that, and use a balance where most things have to be 'earned' but there is lots of 'free' stuff too (especially pats :))

I agree with others that for the majority of dogs the amount of time they get to spend with their humans is way more important to them than whether they can see sky or not. My dogs are mostly inside by their own choice, but I am almost certain they would be willing to trade that in for the kind of schedule that Mixeduppup described!

I would say yes :) I am the opposite, leashes annoy me so I have invested a lot of my training into off-leash reliability. I reward passive attention, "checking-in" with me, uncued heeling, I randomly pull out toys if they are near to me, basically put in a lot of ground-work to make being near me super-rewarding for minimal effort of my dogs' part (As well as recall training etc.). And in as many different locations as it is safe and allowed to let them off. I've also built up a "go-sniff" cue so they get a chance to explore their environment but only as a reward for doing something else first :) Just a few little things which might help, I sure others will have lots more suggestions

Aw bless :) So good for the soul when they start to trust you and learn how good snuggles can be :D

Aww ok but I still love it :) Part of that is sentimental tho because Weez wasn't too interested in pats (or people generally) when I got him, so to see him soaking up the attention gives me a serious case of the warm fuzzies :D

Yep she's a teeny tiny Flatout Aussie, I think I've seen her sister listed as IID from Sweden so that might be why she's a bit 'different' :p. It's amazing at herding training & trials, we have 3 working line imports and some more 'traditional'-looking Aussies, so people who visit practically call us liars when anyone says they are all the same breed :laugh:

Does she get called a koolie there too? ;)

Isn't she just It's almost worth going to herding just to get Mirri cuddles :p Why thank you I think so :D (not biased at all of course!) I love so many of these shots, but I think this is my favourite of Weez - just enjoying a little ear stroke :)

absolutely love them :D Especially the one of just the sheep and the one of Dusty barking in b&w :) (and all the ones of my dogs of course :laugh:)

Good luck triallers! My FIL came along to training with us yesterday, got some (I think) great shots :)

I completely understand CC! I have an inbox full of requests to do extra work too, and I'm very ashamed to say how long some of them have been sitting there unanswered I've put aside Sunday to deal with them tho, while the rest of my family go to Rotto

:D :laugh:

If a genetic marker is variable enough to detect differences between individuals and breeds, it will be too variable to amplify across species as distinct as dogs and humans. They would probably barely work on foxes. She may well have had a gene that predisposes to prostate cancer in males, and if she had a son he could have 50-100% chance of inheriting this risk - depending on the mode of inheritance of the gene - so that could be quite useful information. I'm not defending the breed tests because I don't know how they are done, just adding some info :) Edit - I just did a quick google and the known genes for prostate cancer risk are 3 autosomal genes (so sons have a 50% chance of inheriting) and one on the X-chromosome (so sons have a 100% chance of inheriting). None of the known susceptibilities are Y-linked (which would make them exclusive to males).

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. In this case discretion really is the better part of valour. People (including the OP) have stated they don't. Re-stating your feelings seems very unnecessary at this point. -- Thoughts are with your family Rozzie.

Why?

:) Happy to help.

Yep :)

+1 As someone with a dog who is reactive to normal, perfectly legitimate activities of others (and not to other dogs), my mindset is definitely one of taking full responsibility for any reaction my dog has, and sometimes the best tool in my toolbox is to walk or even RUN the other way (in an "it's a game!" kind-of-way). It sure would be handy if people kept their cats inside, never rode bikes/skateboards/scooters on the path and if old ladies never walked around our neighbourhood, but they will and they can, no point wishing different.

:) *nods* Very very much looking forward to pics!!

Good luck this weekend New South Welshies, especially Inevitablue I hope you find somewhere Primedogs, I love watching different breeds' herding styles :) We even have Bouvier des Flandreses in our trials :D

Yes :) We had a Ridgeback hanging out with the kelpies yesterday and after about 20 minutes we started calling her "Eeyore" :laugh: After having the intense "are-we-about-to-do-something-awesome?!?!" smile from the kelpies 24/7, a dog with jowls and less energy takes some getting used to :p