Kavik

I would add crate games to that warning as well. I saw a few dogs recently at an agility clinic that found the crate more rewarding and after 1 sequence would turn and run full pelt back to their crate. If only they had the same enthusiasm for the equipment! I have also seen dogs where crates games was done well and it can be great :) Same as many things - the key to it is getting the right balance for your dog to keep them at the level that you want them to be. Definitely the key is balance!

Rear end awareness is part of body awareness/proprioception so we want them to learn how to best use their body and to be able to use their body effectively. Sometimes dogs don't think about what their rear legs are doing, they just follow the front legs, so you can do specific exercises to target and help them think about using their rear legs separately. Eg with people - I played the piano a lot when I was younger. Some of the exercises were designed to help you use each finger individually, as some fingers tend to just follow others and are quite difficult to try to use by themselves without exercises designed to target that specifically - eg your ring finger.

And Crate Games

This explains Its Yer Choice

definitely NO MUSIC! or animated mouse trails. Easy to read, easy to navigate. I like being able to read about the temperament of the dog, and good photos. It's also nice to have photos of other dogs bred by you - esp action shots if your dogs do sports/working/activities Video is also very nice to have, especially again if doing sports/working.

I think a Lab would be more suitable than a Cavalier? Or Golden if they don't mind the hair.

Yes the one I had did not have a reliable recall . . . but I was only 10 years old so my training knowledge was not that great :laugh: Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to bring him when my family moved here from the USA

I had one as a kid, lovely lively little dogs, on my 'one day' list of breeds to own again :)

So sorry pers

All of my dogs are black :laugh: I didn't plan it that way, it just happened. I obviously like black dogs though :D The next one may be black too - not sure yet, waiting for it to be born :D

SG's Crate Games and It's Yer Choice help with self control

Walk backwards Perchwork 4 feet in a box Balance discs

First you might want to make sure it is a snake - you don't want to call them out and have them unable to find anything at all, that would be frustrating for everyone.

Have fun at the LOH seminar!

There are lots of foundation games you can play for agility! Here are some of them: * Build your reward system/engagement/relationship building * Circle work/shadow handling * Body awareness/rear end awareness - walk backwards, walk through a ladder, perchwork, balance discs, all paws in a box * Wobble board * Send to a toy or food reward * Shaping skills - can be done in a lot of the above * Recalls, especially restrained recalls and other speed work Some useful DVDs: Agility Foundation Training - Greg Derrett Success With One Jump - Susan Garrett Crate Games - Susan Garrett Also Greg Derrett and Susan Garrett often run online training programs. I have done two of Susan Garrett's - Recallers and Contact Success - they are awesome and there is a huge amount of material covered, not just what the title suggests. Susan should be running another Recallers soon I think - I know she said she was going to, but I haven't heard it announced yet.

Zoe doesn't like storms and fireworks. If she will settle in a crate, under the table or under the bed, then that is where she usually ends up when there are fireworks on - whatever will keep them settled. Under the bed tends to work when nothing else will settle her.

Actually, it wasn't that group, but a breed type specific group. Not a group you would think of as cowboys. They have the dog in foster care now. I find it worrying.

Tell that to pet dog owners I see struggling to control large, reactive bull breed mixes that they 'saved' from destruction. Dog ownership should be a pleasure, not a struggle. On my last visit to my local dog club awards day, I saw a number of such owners. They've bought the message, saved the dog and now, to their credit, they are sticking by an animal that causes them constant stress and worry when outside the home. And the pounds are full of such dogs - poorly bred inadequately socialised and frankly, unsuitable for many families. Yep there are some great dogs in pounds and there are quite a few that need a savvy owner and a hell of a lot of work. How does your average novice dog owner tell the difference and God forbid that someone actually bothers to temperament test - oh how evil and uncaring. *insert rolly eyes here*. And on Facebook yesterday a rescue group patted itself on the back for gathering resources to save a dog aggressive dog with seizures. Talk about rehoming a dog that is potentially going to cause a well meaning person stress and worry!

I've found the phone to be the most reliable way of contacting breeders. Sure, it takes courage to call, but I think you get a better feel for them and them for you if you call rather than email, though email is certainly easier as you can phrase exactly what you want to say.

Where the Red Fern Grows - about a boy and his coonhounds, but also sad

Running with food and delivering the food while you are moving is good, and running and changing direction suddenly with food, throwing food, restraining and making use of opposition reflex is awesome (for both food and toys), restrained recall etc. I've found being active helps to keep the dog's attention on me in exciting evironments. Keeps you fit too :laugh:

Lots of dogs don't like being 'eyed' by another, including Kaos. I am always concerned if the owner can't recall or adequately control their dog.

I think that depends on what the owner wants to do - I think engagement work and providing a drive outlet, and a game liket LAT would work, rather than quashing the dog's drive. But like you said, you like your dog to walk calmly, I like that mine are bouncy and keen. If I want calm I can always walk my GSD :laugh: I like a bit of energy with my Kelpies. Even my 13 year old Kelpie has a good spring to her.

Your notion of 'understanding' is different to mine. A dog that cannot follow a command under distraction is (in my opinion) a dog that does not understand what heel means. There are different means in which to teach this, but I recommended the Koehler Method specifically because it teaches the dog by using distractions as cues to focus. But as I said, there are different ways to teach this - each to his own. I also think it depends on your aim - how you want your dog working with you and walking with you, and what type of methods you wish to use. I like the ears up, tail up, engaged, happy look I get when working my dog with rewards. I'm not sure that a Kelpie would work as well using Koehler.

Don't worry, I feel your pain on that one! :laugh: It has been quite a journey to get Kaos working well for me - we are now in Masters Jumping and Masters Agility but he has made me work for it :laugh: