ness

Here we go Mr Grey (hmmm will leave Ptolomy to let you know what his name is going to be )

Wahoo - do you want me to post a photo or two for you Ptolomy .

So the decision was which Ptolomy .

No trial brags but I took my two out for a training session this morning. Ness did some really nice UD work and was right on the money without having to reward each exercise so I have fingers crossed she can start replicating some of that in a trial scenario. And finally I have confidence back in her articles again .

Surprised you could remember your way around a course without a sugar fix . Any videos amypie??

go Kyzer and amypie. Never mind forgetting the treats hey .

Go Millie - I heard about it earlier but RubyStar told me that I couldn't go posting anything on DOL so I didn't . Off to watch the video .

Herding is fun bedazzledx2 - but heaven help me a sport where the dog knows more than the handler = BIG TROUBLE. Least Kenz seems happy enough to just keep balancing the sheep to me while I learn to get my act together . Kenz has been trained in the past with a mix of food and toys. She has always been more toy motivated then food motivated and would occasionally store food in her mouth until given a toy as a reward .

Ptolomy. On the distraction training front I think I can rule out ovals of little humans kicking footballs as being an issue. They now seem to have gone to the what I see nothing in the form of distraction category, mum can't we just play....... NOW!!!!!!!!!

think your a week early Ptolomy.

I had loan of a small puppy one that somebody made out of a PVC frame and a timber plank.

Thanks Vickie - I do think I tried to rush her a bit and race her around the course . And after that trial I do need to trust her on lead outs and not think she is like Ness and can't hold a startline. I still chuckle she made a real mess of the novice courses and seemed to handle the open course much better.

you should have seen mine at Kenz's first trial. ETA. Vickie if your around and happen to have a spare moment and want to pull my handling to bits it would be most appreciated Link to clip - Kenz's Debut Trial

Looks good Vickie - might have to set that one up at club training one night when they are looking for something to set up. Nice to see some videos of you running your guys . Your handling is so calm and smooth - something mine isn't .

I did the speaking in signals at the Adelaide Royal off the start peg last year but the judge didn't hear me so I got away with it . Not that it mattered we weren't on a pass anyway but we did pass signals .

I have a rolled leather seekback article huski. Number 1 rule I was told is always use a start peg. I actually had it suggested I could teach the concept with a soft toy if I really wanted to so what you use as your item doesn't entirely matter. Basically what I was told to do was have the dog sitting at heel at the start peg and drop the article in front of them. You then heel forward half a dozen steps about turn and halt then send the dog to get the article. You then increase the number of steps you heel forward from the start peg always dropping it front of the dog. Then you heel forward and add a left turn or a right turn (basically you do it in mirror images - so if you do a left turn then next time you might do the reserve with a right turn). You then build up the number of steps before or after the turn and add more turns. If you want to see what a full length seekback pattern is attend some trials and take note of where the article is placed and how many turns. I was told to build it up quickly. I then progressed to dropping the article behind my back but still at the start peg. Then at some point went to dropping it between the start peg and the first turn. By the time we worked through to that point we didn't have to many hassles taking it to the way it happens in the ring.

Ah well I am sure you'll getoverit .

Not sure TSD. I had Ness doing a full length one inside maybe a fortnight and she has only ever missed one in her entire life - lots of duck poo around and really long grass and I think only one dog all day managed that one. Her style has changed she definitely takes way more short cuts now. She has also found ones that other dogs haven't been able to find. I wouldn't worry about the bolting. Ness has occasionally shot off and then stuck her nose down.

huski your already on the dark side when you own a BC - or in my case maybe I don't actually own a BC apparently she is really a black and white malinois . And as for amypie - ner ner ner ner. I actually did think about using it 2 months ago but I had yet to work out a way to stake it to the ground so it went into the to hard basket.

amypie we have been busy training just not agility .

amypie I haven't even got mine out since I bought it .

Poor Ella think she definitely needs a new handler . Just as well you don't have to drop it at a trial .

None at all tiggy . I have some nice ones bookmarked on my youtube subscriptions page but I can't get that to work properly on my office computer so will find them and post when I get home.

I just plugged crufts and obedience into youtube and copied the first 2 links .

Cross posted from Social - Posted by Rivsky: Am hoping this is the best place to catch most of the Adelaide DOL members but please spread the word to anyone you think who may use the grounds. For all those that use the Dover Gardens football oval to exercise their dogs PLEASE be careful and perhaps use another area for a while. River ate something unidentified but which the vet have labelled "toxic" yesterday and ended up at the vet's overnight because of this. He is back home now and seems to be ok but would hate for it to happen to anyone else was awful seeing him so out of sorts I rang the Council to report it to be told someone had already done so and after checking found out it wasn't anyone who knew what had happened to River so am assuming another dog may have also come across something there I have emailed the obedience club to let them know what has happened as well even though they use the other oval for training.