Kavik

Do you want touch paw to hand or touch paw to something like a board? For touch a board, I've used paper or cardboard on the ground and paw target, so click when they get near it, gradually narrow your criteria til your dog is standing on the board.

Works fine with my working line Kelpie We use toys as well, but for some things the clicker is useful. I used the clicker for initial work for contact training (teaching 2o2o) and for dumbell work, as well as targetting.

That sounds like lots of fun! Too bad the weather didn't cooperate - it rained last time I went too! I hope the weather is better for the Sydney comp! Glad it got you free shaping How did the judge stop dumbell chewing with the clicker? I sometimes have this problem with Diesel. So far I have just stopped using the clicker for this part, and used calm pats.

I use Obstacles Over (jumps) Through (open tunnel) Up (A-Frame) Walk on (dog walk) See-saw Table Weave Tire haven't decided on closed tunnel yet, will be either Chute or Tunnel Directional Here Out Go Edit as I was trying to do too many things at once . . .

I'm in NSW but also looking for equipment

I use treats all the time and mine are certainly not fat!

I've got one I'm more than willing to lend . . .

Wouldn't one reactive with other non-reactive be better? Zoe, who is aggressive to just about everyone, can go to Diesel's breeder's and just be put into a yard with their other dogs, and she is fine. She stayed there for a few weeks several years ago when they tried to help me fix her aggression (worked for them, not for me ) but even now she is fine there, years later. Their dogs are non reactive, one of the reasons I got Diesel.

Hi There are many facets of your situation. A dog that is aggressive towards other dogs is not necessarily aggressive with people. Zoe doesn't like other dogs but is great with people and adores children. What is your dog like with other dogs generally, has he been socialised as a pup? Does he see many other dogs? The attacks happened on one of the dog's property, not neutral territory, may have something to do with it. The dog Bertie attacked was old. Sometimes dogs are funny with dogs that are weak or unwell. So it is not clear cut. I would see a behaviourist who can see clearly what is going on.

Thanks for the feedback - sounds promising! I assume the clicker rule is to avoid confusion.

I like using a clicker for new tricks - it is fun! You can be very precise in what you reward, though as I have pointed out in another thread, you sometimes accidentally reward the wrong thing which can lead to some interesting behaviours! :D My most memorable is while teaching Diesel to retrieve, he thought he was supposed to take the dumbell and throw it instead of bring it to me :D We fixed it but it took some time! I use food when I clicker train, you may be able to use toys, but I haven't tried that. I don't use a clicker for everything, and eventually fade it out, but at the start it can be useful and the dogs get very excited when they see it. Do your guys like food or toys? Edit: I train one dog at a time with a clicker - the other dogs are away so it doesn't get confusing.

Does anybody here go to Northern Suburbs Dog Training Club in St Ives? I was thinking of going down on Saturday with Diesel to check it out. I like Western Suburbs, but at the moment with the baby I think it would be easier to make it to a class during the day instead of in the evening. I called and talked to them, it sounds good. They train to trial, allow a variety of equipment (will allow check chains if I want), will allow me to use food/toys/spit food and clicker as long as clicker is not in class. I asked a lot of questions :D Any personal experiences, or people to meet up with?

Thanks. So not one of those dog days out with demos.

What time is the event on? Can we bring our own dogs?

I have borrowed it on video. Very interesting, shows food spitting and many other techniques, not all are positive techniques shown. The food spitting is what I took out of it. Shows people who are learning, so you can see handling mistakes too.

Very interesting.

He seems OK today. Really he is such a drama queen! I've never had a dog that can get into so much strife!

Kelpies have a lot more energy Faster, more agile, sometimes tend to act before they think More interested in food and toys than pats. Diesel LOVES pats Very cuddly. I can tweak his positioning eg heel easier than the Kelpies. He is not as fast but is a steady worker.

Here is a video of our updated contact training, we now use a ramp. In this one, he actually broke the up ramp ;) but it ended up being the best take.

You don't need THAT many hand signals ;) I have Diesel sit drop stand stay heel come shake touch/target hand

For Kaos I have a Rogz buckle collar, just looked and they have a much bigger range than I realised! http://www.rogz.com/home.htm Another that is good is Black Dog (I have martingales from there) http://www.blackdog.net.au/index.php?page=...rt&Itemid=5 I have leather collars on Zoe and Diesel, whenever I can find good quality ones! Hard to find!

What I have found helps is having good focus on you. Start at home with few distractions. I use food as Diesel doesn't have much prey drive. You can use a clicker or spit food, or many other methods for eye contact. When you have that going well to a command for a good amount of time, start using it on walks without other dogs. Once that is going well, start using it when you see another dog. I get my guys to sit on the side of the footpath when another dog comes and passes us. You may have to start some distance away from the other dog until you have good focus.

Thanks for the praise guys! Of course after such a good effort this afternoon he has gone and done something and is limping :D - he is so accident prone!

Here is a video of Diesel heeling. Not too bad, though he loses focus for a bit. Much better than I am able to get in a trial environment. Feel free to criticise!

Do you have to pay each time you go on top of that? If so $80 seems expensive! Most other clubs I have been to have a $20 or so joining fee + $2 every time you go. Agility has been more expensive but they have equipment etc.