ness

Yep I do use a marker word but it has little impact in that situation and yes pip that is what I am doing at training when she doesn't pay attention - sort of. Only sort of as the club we train at doesn't understand that approach to training and suggest you make them cooperate. She isn't as bad at training as she is in a trial. Part of the issue at a trial is the lack of reinforcement whereas at a training at least she is being rewarded so I don't tend to get the drop off in attention.

Yep can you explain more JulesP. The dog has good attention until the judge says are you ready and then the dog seems to decide to go nah I am going to look at what is happening elsewhere. I have tried conditioning a word to have her pay attention but its not working for me.

Since I might as well post a problem into this thread - any ideas on getting attention at the start peg. The dog can be paying perfect attention outside the ring and the moment we go into the ring she starts to sticky beak around and every time we go back to the peg between exercises its the same. Its almost become a cue to switch off if you like.

Shame on you Ptolomy - I didn't even think you wouldn't have taught your kids to target . Not sure if you would want a nose target or a paw target - either would work. I made my target out of astroturf or otherwise you could fade to something like a clear plastic lid.

If the dog was moving forward I'd be placing the reward behind the dog and sending them back to get it. Also working them on a step so they can't come forward to condition the response I wanted.

Could you mix it up ala UDX change of positions or would that fry Bean's brain. ETA. Think Erny and I are on the same wavelength - they just beat me to it .

How far sideways is she going - is it obvious on the UD video - should I go and have a look . Can you go back to luring her into a drop and then building distance back? What happens if you give a NRM for the sideways movement.

Hmmm I know Scoota works with open treat containers I am not sure how Beans does but could you place a jackpot container so that moving to the right is moving her away from the jackpot container. A bit like placing the reward behind the dog so that the dog doesn't come forward. Maybe even placing it to the left so she is having to go left a fraction to counter the going right behavior.

Ptolomy - hmm seems odd posting a suggestion to solve one of my obedience guru's problem but here goes... Have you tried progressing reducing the size of the "barrier". What is she like with something that isn't as imposing as a cone or a post. Have you tried it next to a broad jump board turned on the edge (got to find a use for them somehow ) or even a thickish bit of rope. Then leading to a thinner bit of rope and fading it that way. Is the problem distance related or does it happen even if your standing directly in front of her? Oh and what would happen if you tried giving a sit and then a down - I know that isn't what happens in COP but is only issue sideways movement on the down from the stand? Ah just like you always answer a question with another question ;) .

Now if only I could loan a bit of Kenzie's "up" to Ness .

OMG not sure we can trust either of them Ptolomy . That concept is positively scary. Somebody pointed out to me today that I could have done medicine and become a specialist in the length of time I have spent thus far at uni - er lets not go there.

Wahoo go Ptolomy's daughter .

I am seriously starting to wonder if that isn't what is bothering Ness at the present time and why her performance at the last trial was more than average and why whenever I get her out to do something its like dragging a horse to water and trying to make them drink . No more emails with Jedi and Beans Ness .

... Bloody DOL gremlins.....

Awww but it is Ptolomy you know that, I was just stirring . ETA. I just want to ship my two to Ptolomy and she can return them when they are trained .

I agree leopuppy and Ptolomy's rounds also make my handling look shitty as well .

And for once the camera person actually managed to video the darn thing .

Would it be to greedy to ask for a full UD round next year . Where does one put in an order. Our closest round to being bottled this year would be one that caught me completely by surprise and where I thought she was flat but walked away with some absolutely super scores. I think what makes my Royal round worth bottling was not just Ness's performance but I finally lifted my game to get my handling spot on :D . Caffy and Ptolomy your dogs (and your handling) are supurb and something us mere mortals aspire to . RubyStar I know how much hard work you put in prior to the Nationals and it definitely showed up in the standard of Ruby's performance . Way to go.

Hmm her Royal show round was memorable for another reason but we prefer to forget about that but it did prove to me all my hard work had paid off and to think she came oh so close and worked her little black and white socks with only two interloper WA dogs to put in a better ring round :p then she did on that occasion.

not often when it comes to Ness I have plenty I would prefer to forget about and nothing in the same league as your guys. But possibly these two might be worth bottling: Ness's 2008 Adelaide Royal Show Open round And her March 2008 SAODC trial Please Santa can I have a round like Scoota's :p .

Poor Chip. Yeah Kenzie did that once and then decided it was worth racing back up just to see if the same thing happened again Well Kiesha strange hoomans are spooky but hey all you have to do is stand still and focus on the mumma human and then she rewards me with my favourite ball toy. Not perfected yet but she has come a long way from a time where I couldn't have a hope in hell to standing and managing one perfectly on at least 3 occasions with 2 different people, one who is an obedience judge . Lots of stand stay proofing and hanging outside the local shopping centre doing nothing other than shovelling treats while people walk past. Not even asking for a stand. We still have a way to go but hey I never even thought I'd get to point where she could manage one for anybody this year so that is a huge step forward.

Rivsky that was my holiday homework for Kenzie last year - didn't do nearly enough of it mind you. As for 40 degree days least this morning was nice and pleasant.

And since Rivsky was suggesting that I hadn't posted my training plans - here goes: Ness after our final trial in December will get the entire holidays off with no training. Not sure what she will be up to next year and no point flogging to much over Christmas. Kenzie: Agility: Susan Salo Jump Grids/GD flatwork and box drills, some one jump/two jump work and proofing her 2o/2o contact behavior on her plank Obedience: Duration heelwork so she is all set for next year, want to get to work on some of her UD exercises and hopefully have her people issues well and truely sorted. Should keep us busy - in between time at the beach and ball at the park.

Ooooh you gonna build a see-saw can we come play too and as for a SFE if Kenzie can do one so can Kiesha .

Following on from a conversation I had with somebody else last night - what do people have planned once the trials are over for the year (mostly from early December until late February here). Are people giving their dogs a break from training or do people have any specific training plans of things they want to achieve over the "holiday" period.