Kavik

It certainly is a shame.

I'm not up on the rules for French Ring but I assume they are in the same sequence. They do have levels - Brevet, Ring I, Ring II, Ring III. I don't know the differences between the levels or the rules - haven't done that much research into it. They don't have it in Australia.

Not sure exactly what you're asking Lablover? There are a few different types of ringsport - Belgian Ring, French Ring, Mondio Ring. I'm not sure of the differences between them, some different exercises but I'm not up on the specifics. I assume that the exercises in French Ring would be the same regardless of which country the trial is held in as they would be using the same rules.

I use Aloveen shampoo with my itchy boy - gentle, oatmeal formula and it smells great too! I haven't tried Royal Canin (think I've tried just about everything else!) so might give that a go too Nekhbet!

Quite an impressive jump they have to do in French Ring! And French is quite a musical language if the commands given here are any indication.

Those leather leads are beautiful! Would love to get one - maybe for Christmas though I'm not sure how I could justify such a showy lead with my lot.

I think it's better to have an age gap between dogs. This allows you to get past the puppy stage with the first one (teething, toilet training, basic obedience) and also two dogs that are close in age may be more likely to fight later on especially if the same sex. I actually think 2 years is a good age gap.

Thanks! So the spacing is not the same in the US for weaving - there it is 18 or 21 inches.

I feed in the evening.

Oh I didn't mean it to sound like I let Zoe play with strange puppies I can introduce puppies into the household that are to live here (and have twice done it with adult dogs and Zoe for a short period of time, a few months, that was much more difficult) but that is when I can watch both and both are mine and it is different to letting them meet strange dogs on the street.

I agree with poodlefan, get a behaviourist to look at your dog and assess it with other dogs, they can read the body language well and tell you what is going on. One of my dogs does not get on with other dogs (Zoe). But I have managed to introduce other dogs into the household. Puppies work best in my case as she is not as worried about them, but they are carefully supervised together for quite a while. I would suggest getting help first though before thinking about another dog, that way you know what your dog is like and whether another dog is a good idea and how your dog is likely to react.

I use cheese as training treats, as Tess said it is a popular choice for training as dogs love it and it is soft.

Well done

I have family in the USA They visit regularly, are coming out end of this month and in November. I hope they have plenty of space as I hope to get lots of dog gear for my birthday on the November visit

Does anyone know what that is in inches? I am looking at some US sites and trying to work out if the spacing is the same there as here, as thinking of getting some US poles and spacers. I guess I could just get the poles and make my own measuring stick, but I am tempted to do the lazy option.

I have some channel weaves, and am thinking of getting some stick in the ground poles cause at training Kaos didnt recognise them as weaves as mine has a wide base thing. Mine are American and I was wondering if it would be the same spacing as here? What spacing do I want to practice with? On US sites they have the option of 18 inch or 21 inch spacing, one has 20 inch spacing? When I put into my calculator this comes up different to what I can find for measurements here. Not sure if that makes sense Basically I am confused.

Good luck and tell us how you go :p

This is where it is handy if the dog can do commands on voice only, and from random positions, including free time.

Though I've certainly never made it to UDX before I have taught this to Zoe (haven't practiced it in ages though). I started by walking slowly and giving the command and very slowly walking one step further. I think dogs probably see the stay command as superfluous so I'm not sure that using a stay command normally makes much difference. As you don't use a stay for things like drop on recall but you still expect the dog to stay there til you call them. ETA: There is a chapter on teaching this exercise in my Schutzhund book

I've been using a stay signal but I thought I had to to trial. I don't need to use it though for them to stay. I have taught the exercises in motion with Zoe, found drop the easiest.

Thanks for the clarification squeak. I'm glad I've decided not to go to that club anymore, as they picked on me for things you are actually allowed to do in a trial, just because I did it differently to them. I think that person in CCD probably should have been pinged for that - extra signal. But maybe they were being lenient as it was CCD.

cool. I always assumed you had to use a stay when you trial. I guess that's just how clubs tend to train. You wouldn't get pinged for just saying sit and leaving the dog? Considering I copped flack for putting my lead in a different hand or using different hand signals or finish, I bet one club I have been to would pick on me for that

If taught from the beginning sit means sit until I tell you otherwise, you don't need a stay command. However, I'm pretty sure they make you use one for trialling.

Bite sleeves and pillows are quite firm - my guys prefer softer stuff. Probably not genetically there for my guys either for that level. I am just glad I can get Diesel interested in anything at all, even if it is the squeaky Just did a great send away to squeaky with him. Tied him up, teased him with toy, put toy down on ground 15 paces away, held him and revved him up, then sent him! Very fast!

I also think it is about how the item is used - I think I act differently with the squeaky they love than the tug one of the things I need to fix, but I think I need someone to actually see what I am doing. All of my dogs love food, and I am more used to using food. They will take food pretty much anywhere (except Diesel when he is overexcited/stressed). I am enjoying using toys for the high energy it puts into the performance, but it is so different to using food!