Kavik

Well done TerraNik and smisch!

When I worked at a dog daycare, we walked 3 to 4 little dogs together or 1 to 2 big dogs (depending on the dogs in at the time).

Also to ponder: Do you plan on walking more than one family's dogs together? How do you plan to deal with other (strange) dogs on your walks (other people out walking)? On leash or off leash? Length of walk + Cost of petrol/time to get from one house to the other and the amount you are going to charge? How will you deal with aggressive dogs? In NSW the limit a single person can walk is 4 dogs

I've only seen a few fawns - at least one at agility. Certainly the blues aren't all that common. I have seen more creams than either of those.

I've seen the odd blue, and a friend has bred a blue/tan working line Kelpie. I also remember seeing a spate of blues in the rescue/pound threads a little while ago. So they are around. What seems unfair to me is that the creams are not allowed in the show ring - they crop up in working line litters a bit, not as common as red/tan or black/tan, but I have seen quite a few now and seen several on breeder websites, and it is definitely a historically appearing colour.

Herding types are not quiet, and some have more of a bark than others - some like a bit of bark for working stock. My dogs don't bark when we are working/training/competing (some do) but can be vocal at other times - when they think I have been talking to someone long enough on a walk for example My oldest girl is the worst and has a real piercing quality to her bark, Kaos's is a bit deeper so not so bad.

My dogs only get toys for training rewards and are never left unattended with them. I have Kelpie, Kelpie x, GSD Mine love the Ruffians toys - similar to Cuz Older 2 dogs love tennis balls, but the GSD will break them very quickly so I only use the dog friendly balls with the older Kelpie X, balls on a rope with younger Kelpie For tugging mine love things that flap around, and like real fur or fake fur tugs, fleecy ones, and more recently a leather rag tug Kong Wubbas - for fetch and tugging(use mostly with GSD, sometimes younger Kelpie)

Mine get blue tongues

Here is a site on Kelpie colours, if it helps at all http://www.hnrworkingkelpies.com/Coat_Colors.html

Interesting idea - might be worth a go with Diesel - anything to help his poor skin!

ok fun tricks spin beg/sit pretty walk backwards bow hold object target your hand with nose/other objects with nose target things with paw more complicated put object in box retrieve object more obedience oriented drop on a mat sit or drop while you are moving/at a distance stand for exam front/come fore (come and sit in front of you) finish (go to heel position - fun to teach! either around your back or swing/flip into position)

Training does not have to take a lot of time, is fun and will help with your problem, you can do them at home in your spare time. I did a short session with all 3 dogs this morning before it got hot . Tricks and games are lots of fun, and can be useful too. There is a trick section on the forum I think, or people can give you ideas. I am currently doing SG's Recallers - a new game 5 days a week to try!

Kelpie :D Malinois Siberian Husky GSD (working line) Basenji OK so I like my prick eared dogs

i always mix it with water first as otherwise it is hard to spread through a GSD coat! Don't measure how much though. I also use Aloveen conditioner afterwards. The vet wants me to wash Diesel twice a week I am not able to wash him that often though.

I initially created too much focus on looking at me with Kaos, and had to do a lot of work to get him focussed on the equipment. I really like SG's Success With One Jump DVD for teaching this As ness said some of the exercises need no equipment, others need one jump. Reminds me I should do some more work on this, all the SG Recallers stuff I am doing is handler focus oriented, probably need to balance that out.

I think they need to rethink a lot of their training. If the other titles were gained with minimum scores, they need to evaluate what they are doing, if they want to go further. Their reward system, how they work with the dog, their relationship with the dog, how well the dog is working. It looks like the problem is not necessarily the retrieve. Obviously they need to stop feeding the dog before training if they want to use food rewards. Not sure what effect force fetching will have on the dog. Here is a good site for shaping the retrieve with a clicker. It is useful if the dog already knows how to offer behaviours for shaping first, if not probably best to do that first with some tricks and then come back to the retrieve. If they don't understand shaping it will take longer and be a frustrating process. http://www.shirleychong.com/keepers/retrieve.html

I really wanted to do the field trip, but the only people I found on my walk was a family with small children, and while Kaos is good with kids he can get a bit excited as I have two little ones, and I didn't think the parents would appreciate me coming up to ask for help with my dog when they were looking after the kids. I will try another time when I find someone who isn't so busy looking after little ones I have asked random people to help with recalls before with my GSD - thought I was a bit mad but hey at least they weren't scared of him

Tried the new one Game of Deke today and was surprised how well we did I am able to do this one with tugging too! Hide N Seek II went well as well - was surprised as he just stands there looking like I am mad with Hide N Seek I lol.

My old girl (12 years) is dog aggressive but has accepted dogs into the household. I have found it easier to introduce new dogs to her when they are puppies, they are less threatening and won't react to confrontation. I haven't had any major issues as the other dogs got older. The biggest issue I faced was my older dog (female) not wanting my GSD to come close to me, this got sorted out though and he is a non confrontational dog.

Roova My chosen breed is the Kelpie, and I prefer working line dogs. These dogs are bred for working ability, of which intelligence is a part, temperament is very important and certainly something I research when looking for a breeder. I am interested in dog sports and training. Good breeders know the characteristics of the dogs in their breeding dog's pedigree (temperament and physical characteristics) and some dogs are well known to others in the breed. Certain lines are known for certain things and knowledge of this is crucial for breeders and can be helpful for buyers as well if you like to research.

In their crates in the kitchen.

Wow look at them go!

As this thread has gone way off topic . . . what about working line Dobes? Surely must be some good ones, here or import from o/s if they are serious about getting good bloodlines and don't like what is already here.

My dogs were adults when I had the kids, and while some of my dogs may jump on adults at times they don't jump on the kids (they can reach the fun parts without jumping lol). I think it would be easier with an adult dog than a puppy - I envision jumping on the kids will be more of an issue when I at some point get another puppy than it was with my current adults dogs as puppies are more exuberant and are smaller and easily aroused, and kids can be exciting for puppies. I would suggest not getting a breed that is really small or fragile/delicate as they could be easily and unintentionally injured or scared by children who don't always understand how to be gentle with animals (they don't understand their own strength).

I think to avoid confusion it is easiest to train them to toilet where you want them to go as an adult. So if you want them to go outside only, teach outside only. I've never tried the bell idea - generally you can learn to read their signals. The key is to take them out often and lots of praise when they go and supervise when inside or confined when you can't supervise.