Kavik

They will probably get tired and then lose interest for a while.

Thanks K9! That description is a big help! So sort of make it jump a bit? I just tried it with the toy on a string (I tried with a string on stick- I am not coordinated enough to use that - he catches it too easy if I give him too much rope ) , made it jump and hop, seemed to work, he was interested and keen! Maybe there is hope for him yet!

I think I get more tired than Diesel with drive building exercises OK so I backtie him and frustrate him with the toy. What do I do if he stands there, and only moves to lunge at the toy if it comes close to his mouth? When do I know to give him the toy?

OK, so I've been going about it the wrong way? But what do I do when I run myself ragged and he just sits there and watches me? I just did a bit of work with him, and got him reasonably interested, just chasing the tug (once he gets it he is happy to tug for a long time, but chasing it he is still slow), but still not as fast or as worked up as I know he can be. I must really be doing something wrong? I need to get a copy of that building drive DVD for ideas!

I know what you mean about too controlled, but what I don't know is how I did it! Or if it is possible to undo it? Probably working on it too much . . . I guess what I should do is forget about obedience in drive for now and try to build it? Or is it worth it? Maybe I should stick to mainly food with Diesel and use prey for the next dog?

Unfortunately, I am still not having as much success as I had hoped with training in drive. I am having problems keeping Diesel's interest, sometimes he will not even look at the prey item! It is very frustrating. When he is interested it is great, but he is not consistently interested, and if we're out and about on a walk, there is just about no way it works. In class, I am using prey drive to success in breaks from exercises, getting him to drop in drive, and when I release him, but not so much at other times. So until I can figure it out more, I am still mainly using food.

I am not recommending dogtrainers.com.au due to my experiences with them - with a Beagle my parents had and had issues with. By the way he acted both with the trainer and at home afterwards they did not appear to have used positive methods My preference for a boarding/training establishment is Hanrob if you feel that option is the way to go.

IMO I would NOT recommend dogtrainers.com.au It sounds to me like attention seeking/possibly high prey drive behaviour (grabbing and tugging anything the pup can find). Redirecting the behaviour to a more appropriate item might help (toy, rag, tug or bone). NILIF would be a good idea too. Obedience training is the way to go Something to keep the body and mind busy! Even something seemingly trivial like trick training will help keep the dog out of mischief as well as helping leadership. I would either be joing an obedience club or finding a private trainer. Sending the dog away can sometimes help but remember YOU still have to be trained and keep up the work, it is not a magic solution! K9 Force is a good one to ask on behaviour issues - you may find a new way to motivate your dog too!

I would treat the cat as a training opportunity. I treat everything as a training opportunity My dogs are both fine with cats, although Zoe does like to chase them (but she listens to me around cats) - Diesel is only curious.

I'll give question 1 a go :D So your dog is in a drop 1 metre from a cat. What I would do is heel the dog in the opposite direction so she doesn't get a chance to chase the cat. Keep it nice and happy and bouncy. Then reward when away from the cat. Not sure about 2 and haven't tried anything like your road example.

I have instructed at two clubs and both in some ways trained differently to me. One club had uniform instruction across instructors and one had a variety of methods depending on the instructor's preference. One club had a lot of security guards and their dogs, and so the method of instruction there was different to the other club which was run for pets and competition obedience (although even in that club there was a difference between pet and competition people in the way they instructed and trained). I understand why they have different methods of instruction and training due to their aims and respected that, although the variety within the one club that did pet and competition would be confusing to beginner handlers as they would at times be given conflicting advice. Where I am at the moment as a member (not instructor) is a compeition obedience club, with training methods and aims specific to that exercise, but with flexibility to allow members different approaches (I am the only one spitting food LOL :D )

If it works for you - use it! Does he enjoy having the halter on? My dogs get really excited when I bring their training collars out, and will stick their heads into them, but Zoe hides if I bring out the headcollar (we no longer use the headcollar for this reason).

I have never tried a horse halter on a dog. I have found that many dogs really do not like head collars - they try to rub them off and even hide when you bring them out (Zoe did this at one point). More than any other type of collar/control device I have used they seem to get a negative reaction from the dog. Is there a reason you chose a horse halter instead of dog head collar?

If you decide to use a muzzle, best to go wire as people have suggested - much more comfotable for the dog in warm weather and giving treats etc. I wouldn't combine halti and muzzle, but would use a collar instead. Most likely either a martingale or check depending on dog and club. If you cannot control the dog on a martingale or check than I would use a pinch collar, but they are not allowed in many clubs. I think using a muzzle would rule out using a headcollar as it is too much equipment on the dog's head/mouth and the headcollar would not work properly.

This was the first trial I have seen in real life and not video, so I am not sure what the standard usually is, but I thought it looked impressive. The Belgians were quicker and fierier than than the Sheps. I also would have liked to see some of the other breeds there - maybe an Am Bulldog or Cane Corso or Amstaff would have been really cool!

Did you choose to leave or did they ask you to leave? I have never been asked to leave a club despite Zoe's dog aggression (and we did both obedience and agility for a while). I haven't gone to a class with her for a while because I found it stressful. She is good at obedience but prefers agility (the faster pace suits her better :rolleyes: ) The club I am at at the moment is really good in regards to giving people space if they need it, and don't push you to do something you don't feel comfortable with. I am going to ask and see if anyone there has a nonreactive dog to help with Zoe's aggression problem. There are a few Goldens that I'm hoping might help.

I haven't heard of Complete Canines. Did you like them? Hope you enjoy your session with Steve :rolleyes: I am thinking of trying to organise a seminar on aggression with him (haven't asked him yet, talked with myszka about it earlier today) - would you be interested in coming?

Which behaviourist did you see out of interest?

I thought it was great! The Mals and Shepherds really did work quite differently. You could tell which exercises must be more difficult to train. You could tell when the dogs were really having a good time! Were you there today malinwar? Did you see me - I was wearing a green raincoat.

I do fish oil capsules as well.

This is exactly how I feel about Zoe ;) It is the hardest when people who have no idea what to do have a social dog in class and you don't. Although I don't know if it is fear or dominance with her - sometimes it seems to be one, sometimes the other. I was so hoping to be able to compete with her, and she is so good at agility especially.

I want to see the protection! And some obedience too 6am for tracking - well that is WAY too early for me! At the moment it looks like it will probably be Sunday as I may be working on Saturday. So maybe I'll see you there myszka?

Yes she is a long legged pretty girl :D I get asked if she is part greyhound sometimes

Is anyone here going to the Schutzhund Nationals next weekend at Horsley Park Showground? I am planning on going and would love to meet up with anyone else interested. I am not sure what day yet or time, so am open to suggestions at this point!

Here is one at my parent's place showing she CAN be social with other dogs when she wants to The old dog is Belle my 15 yr old cocker cross and the Beagle is Robbie who my parents had for a little while. They had had him about 2 weeks when we took the photo.