emilymarston

Hi karen15. Do you find stripping a better option as opposed to clipping for your cocker? My cocker has a similar coat to yours in the 'before' photo, but I would say it's a little thicker again and doesn't really feather. I've been unsure as to whether or not stripping would be better in the long run instead of shaving every few months. I've attached a photo for reference.

Thanks for the replies :) I think I'll look into the Wagl KM2 clippers, they seem to be just what I'm after.

Hello. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a brand of clippeds suitable for grooming at home? I'm wanting to start shaving my dog at home as opposed to taking her tp the groomers every couple weeks. She has a very thick and curly coat, so I'm wanting something that will be able to withstand it. Thanks

Colour coded collars and leashes for my pups too. Ally typically wears red, and Bonnie blue or purple.

Just a quick question, would it be better to buy a slightly smaller or larger crate? They'd only be used overnight to sleep in and possibly at a few agility trials.

My dogs aren't the type to try and get out of crates. But I assume they will paw at the doors initially, so I'd rather have a crate that can withstand a little bit of resistance.

Hi everyone! I'm looking into buying crates for my dogs. Any recommended brands or stores? And is there anything in particular I should consider when choosing a crate? I'm after a high quality metal crate that comes in smaller sizes (spaniel size to be specific). Thanks!

Hi! I'm wanting to take my dog to a chiropractor / joint specialist somewhere within a few hours of Melbourne. She has been having problems with her back legs / hips / lower spine and I really need her to be examined and possibly x-rayed by someone. We do agility, so it would be preferable for her to see someone with a some understanding of the sport. So does anyone know of a good dog chiro / specialist near Melbourne? All help will be much appreciated. thank you!

Bonnie and I Q'd 4/6 runs at our first agility trial!!! We had a blast! As you can probably see we're not perfect. Fingers crossed we might be starting some agility classes later in the year

Bonnie and I had our first agility trial last weekend!! We're not perfect, but we had a lot of fun! Q'd 4/6 runs! we almost possibly will be starting some agility foundation classes later in the year

I normally run the weaves along side her, but I didn't want to get in the way of the camera haha ;) but yes, I've noticed she does tend to pop out if I stay back. Thanks for the tips! will definitely try the random rewarding and square shoulders next time :) Great news If you get her running to a target at the end of the weaves it will stop her turning to look at you & popping out. Remember in competition you will have 12 poles. Sometimes put a treat on the target & other times run in & put the treat on the target as she is running to it. I used to train 12 poles. But since I moved house I don't have the space for it anymore. Bonnie can weave twelve poles, it's the popping out and entries that are the problem. I'll try the target idea tomrrow! I think that will solve our problem! Bonnie LOVES target training! combining this with her favourite treats should do the trick ;) thanks for the tips!

Yes I've had a flip through the rules. I'm working on weave entries now :)

I normally run the weaves along side her, but I didn't want to get in the way of the camera haha ;) but yes, I've noticed she does tend to pop out if I stay back. Thanks for the tips! will definitely try the random rewarding and square shoulders next time :)

Thought I should give a bit of an update. Bonnie and I will be competing at our first agility trial next month! it's a NADAC trial down in Altona. just look at how excited Bonnie got!! please excuse my handling haha

Is the training on a Saturday morning? if so I won't be able to make it Werribee sounded so good! guess I'll have to stay where I am for the moment. Hi, try looking at Werribee's facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/WerribeeObedienceDogClub?fref=ts to get a feel for the club. The club's web site is currently down and probably will be back up soon. Next induction day is coming up soon, but I am not sure the date due to the website being down. Werribee has Obedience, Rally O, Agility and is supportive of a lot of other activities. Agility generally is around the 11'o'clock mark and obedience from Puppy class and class 1 start at 1.30 pm, class 2&3 at 2.30pm and 4 & 5 pm at 3.30. Class times are 45- 50 minutes. If you do decide to come down and join in the fun, make sure that you asked to be assessed so that they can put you in the right class. As Steph M has said, they do a "fun walk" at 1.00 to help settle your dog down and help it relax a bit. The club also offers mid week training as well. I will hunt out my newsletter and give you the secretary's email addy so that you can contact her too. Cheers for now I can't commit to training on Saturdays. My dad is at work and my mum takes my brother to sport. I'd love to go, but it wouldn't work out

I've tried that and she was fine! we can work right next to the other dogs pretty well, but only once the class is over. once the class is over, Bonnie just switches on and wants to work. I was going all these awesome tricks meters away from the other dogs and trainers straight after our last class ended. it's just during the actual class when she plays up.

Is the training on a Saturday morning? if so I won't be able to make it Werribee sounded so good! guess I'll have to stay where I am for the moment.

I've always wondered what happened to them! they had some beautiful routines on Britains got Talent

Do Werribee offer agility classes? My mum said she'd be happy to take me there. But I don't want to go through another round of obedience classes before starting agility. also do they use positive reinforcement and clicker training? It would be great if I am allowed to bring along my clicker to training, Bonnie gets super motivated with clicks!

He sounds like an idiot not to put too fine a point on it. This may have been suggested before, I only read the first page and this one, but can you arrive 45-30 minutes earlier and start training before others arrive, and see how Bonnie does? Edited to specify whom I'm considering an idiot Yeah. I did that at today's lesson and it didn't help at all. I arrived about 15 minutes early. I was pulling out all her favourite tricks, but she just looked so sad and didn't want to work. The minute the instructor called all the dogs in to conclude the lesson, Bonnie got excited. She knew we were leaving. I did some tricks with her then in front of the class and instructor, and she was great! Not worried about the other dogs and people around her at all. Bonnie was almost barking in anticipation of a reward, which happened to be the same treats she refused to eat for most of the lesson. So I'm still confused about poor old Bonnie. But I will be talking to the instructor again (sadly he's the only one taking class 3, so I'll have to talk to him)

I went to obedience class today. Little to no improvement. I sort of forgot to change up our training during class, so of course Bonnie didn't enjoy it. But I did notice that she perked up towards the end, whether she was excited to leave or excited to work, I have no idea. But it was a slight improvement! I tried to talk about Bonnie with the instructor, about how she acts differently in class. And he said that all dogs are like that, and he called Bonnie schizophrenic. He said I needed to train out of home more often (even though I spent most of yesterday at a trial training Bonnie). Where we train isn't the problem, it's how and why we train... So hopefully next class I'll talk about it again. I didn't get to say everything I wanted to this time, because he cut me off almost mid-sentence. But hopefully it'll all get sorted next time. Thanks again for all the help everyone!

Great to meet you and Bonnie yesterday! I hope you had a great time and enjoyed watching the rings. Sorry I didn't get a chance to chat more - it's always a bit busy! We had an amazing time! The dogs were just so amazing to watch live, as compared to a computer screen. Someone had set up a few weaves and jumps behind the rings, me and Bonnie had a little bit of training on them. Bonnie and I loved it! she wasn't fazed by the other dogs around us and handled the jumps like a pro! she's still skipping poles, but she was happy and excited to weave. We shouldn't have used the equipment without asking, but the temptation was too much :) a big thanks to who ever left them out! It was really nice to watch all the dogs, especially the little cocker spaniel. I loved your run with your dalmatian in the far right ring!! it was awesome!!

That sounds like a good idea! I'll have to try it out :) thanks! don't know how the instructors will like clicker training at their club, seeing as they use negative reinforcement. No wonder she is shutting down....If I were you then, I would be 'ing That plays a big part of it. We (Bonnie and I) hate negative reinforcement. But this club is the only one my parents agreed to take me to.

Bonnie and I will be attending (not competing) at the Action Dogs trial at KCC park tomorrow!! Is there anything I should know, or do, before I go and watch the dogs? I'd like to do a bit of training with Bonnie around the other dogs to help her get used to the environment. And also, it just happens that Bonnie's half aunty will be competing at the trial! I'm so excited! So if you happen to see a shaved black cocker spaniel, it's probably going to be Bonnie :)

That sounds like a good idea! I'll have to try it out :) thanks! don't know how the instructors will like clicker training at their club, seeing as they use negative reinforcement.