Weasels

I would hate that too For us, all the kelpies and one of the other dogs bark a fair bit, the worst anyone's ever done while I was in the ring is move the dog further away from the yard. If I see one of the other dogs going off like a frog in a sock I go give it massage and attention/distraction :) Edit: although the neighbours at our training are a piggery and a compost factory, so we don't have to worry about that aspect so much! Have you ever heard a piggery at feeding time!? Barking dogs are lyrical by comparison....

So glad Razzle had fun! Would love to see pics Oh dear ours would be out on their ear in nothing flat! Fortunately these days ours are ok off lead around sheep so we just play ball with them in between runs, but if I have to tie up one and run the other they bark constantly The only comfort is that they aren't alone in that at our training :laugh:

Thanks guys! :) We got a backlog of High in Trial rosettes from previous trials too, so they walked away with quite a haul Plus I think Chessy is still in line for 2 more reserve high in trial rosettes, but no-one could remember off the top of their head who they were supposed to go to :p Emery if you get in contact with Steph you will be able to book in a training spot - the times and amounts are a bit out of date on that site though, the most recent info I have is - It's within a quarantine area so you'll need to get directions from Steph :) I was thinking about Kenz a lot yesterday, glad she's got a bit more freedom and hopefully she'll strengthen up from here :)

Actually I probably would enjoy that, the main reason I prefer ducks is because then I don't have stock attached to my butt :laugh: 99!! That's a big day!

Thanks Inevitablue :) Sent off my next trial entries today, bring on the ducks! :laugh: Agree! Even just watching Intermediate my brain can't grasp training a dog to that level, Advanced is just a foreign language to me Good luck with your Started run Inevitablue! Loving the pics by the way :D

Pomchi - if you are SOR there is a small-dog-only park in Kwinana, it's called Parmelia Peace Park.

Thanks RS & CC :) lol at the turtle shell :D Curse those rusty old panels! *shakefist*

Ness You're just worried I'm going to start bugging you to do your corrections in person!

Thanks Piper & Rev. Jo! :) Sounds like a big couple of weekends with the Borders Piper - Congrats for all the big and small wins :) We're looking pretty set to move back to SA this summer, so I might see you both at some trials next year We even have preliminary plans afoot to get some of our own sheep, so we'll see how that pans out ....... I just made out our entries for the next trial and we'll have 6 runs all up It'll be our last A-course trials for the year though (as I understand it), then the last 2 trials will be B-course and I don't think we'll be ready for those :/

Looking forward to seeing CC's pics from herding yesterday :D It was a good day out, and the kelpies got titles to boot! Was great to meet you again CC, sorry I was so distracted by the noisy crazy dogs! :laugh:

Both our kelpies got their HSAs yesterday :) The second run wasn't pretty for either of them, Weez got very confused and over-stimulated when one of the sheep dropped down lame and he had to finish the course without it But they squeaked through, and the foxdog even got high in trial for the morning runs:) Fingers crossed for HSAd next month!

Another video that got sent to me last night, couldn't help but share :p

PM sent :)

ooh ooh herding trial CC! :D Bedfordale tomorrow morning :D

Oh Rommi so sorry to hear Oso Thinking of you both.

Please do! I hope you have a great time :D

Ah well, it's just a nice extra - I only had Weez for ~2&1/2 months before I started herding with him so he didn't know much of anything :laugh:

CC I was thinking of Louis when I posted that one - I think you should be grateful he doesn't show that much ingenuity, nothing would be safe! I'm wondering whether that's a real cactus or a toy one, although he does seem to have some trouble with biting it at the start :laugh: Edit: I just re-watched and it sure looks like a real cactus - silly puppy!

Oh please give it a try Dandybrush, it's an awesome sight to watch a dog 'switch on' like it's suddenly realised what it's put on this earth for! I've never needed to use any physical or leash corrections, only voice, and like I said most of them are just to snap the dog back to reality and listening to me :) Edit: if you have a good 'stop' and/or 'down/drop' under distraction you are already a big part of the way there, if something goes wrong you can just down your dog.

I am pretty fussy too :laugh: But if you can find a trainer you trust it is great fun :D

Dandybrush - I am the same and I absolutely prefer positive reward training wherever possible. The thing about herding tho is that you are responsible for the welfare of both the dog and the sheep. An out-of-control predator is a risk to the life of one or more of the sheep, which can occur easily if the stock panic and break their neck on a fence, sometimes you need to shut the dog down fast. The other thing is the dog is in high drive and deeply focussed - what would be a scary aversive in 'normal' life is just an attention-getter when the dog is working. My boy Weez is scared of innumerable things normally and a raised voice can send him running, but I can shout 'til I have a sore throat in herding and he just looks up like "What? Oh sorry I was just eyeing these sheep here, be right with you" :D He only shuts down when he's confused. It took me a little while to realise it (even tho I got told a bunch of times, I'm just a little slow :laugh:), but training herding is not like any other sport, either in technique or in the dog's mind. BUT having said all that, IMHO you have to be careful to pull out too much harshness on a dog that is just starting to gain interest and build drive. Maybe if you could observe a training session first and decide for yourself if you want to have a go or if the trainer is too full on for what you want :)

Just a couple of cute & cheeky videos for a cold winter day

This has been my experience with Aussies too - absolute smoochers :D And dead keen to do whatever is going on, as long as they get to spend time with their human. If you were looking for a border collie temperament with a short coat there are always kelpies ;) - it just depends on what you want to do with your dog while you are out and about. Herding dogs tend to be more reserved (but focussed) once they're adults, whereas more labs seem to retain a healthy curiosity for the world (dogs, people, sniffs) around them. I spend my mornings jogging, training and throwing a ball, but because my dogs are fairly aloof with others there isn't as much socialising with other dog-owners as I would do otherwise. Plus you can't go wrong with a good dose of lab cuddles!

Aussie3 you said you've had success training a reduction in barking already, can you use the same method with some 'staged' homecomings, with one person inside to do the training and one person coming and going? I like Burke's method but then I realised I have a dog that can happily bark with a toy in her mouth too :laugh:

I wrote my last post at work, then tonight on the drive home I was behind a car branded "Kerry's Pawsitive Dog Training" on the freeway! Perth is such a small place :laugh: I think getting a trainer out will be a huge help to you. Anxiety, fear, over-arousal, frustration and attention-seeking can all look quite similar, so having a professional to have a look and let you know their opinion should make it all seem manageable and make sure you're on the right track When I adopted my girl I was recommended a trainer who did post-adoptive settling-in sessions for shelter dogs, and the information I got has been really helpful many times since :) If you can get a video of the behaviour that might help you get the best out of your session maybe?