paddles

she's fast... I'll give her that... still dropping that butt. I'm having to lure the stand. otherwise she just sits there looking at me! at this stage, i'm just working with her in front of me, in the lounge. might try a few gentle heels outside tonight.

hmmm... more asking about the drop on recall stuff (so much to learn) how do you use the 2 food game to teach it? I know the 2 food game, and use it, but can't see how to put a drop in there?

you are so lucky! there are some good obedience schools down there, I love westernport (kcc park) I found them wonderful, and so positive, just remember, baby steps, and steady constant training, and you'll do so well

where are you based Mocha?

the video where I first saw it is pretty close, look for anything that teaches pivot turns, it's an extension of that...

Man flu? that's no excuse...

Awesome! what more can be said?

Come on folks, where is the videos of your dogs?? several of you I know could do similar! oh, and Rubystar, I just had the back yard bulldozed and turf laid, prior to that it was a minefield of holes etc

lol... that would be my racing budget for the year... I'm in this for the fun...

Close enough? :rofl:

I have accepted a challenge to get my older, totally untrained bitch trained and enter her in ccd next year, game on! she is a smallish English springer, whos main purpose in life is to be cute and loving. she sits, and drops, more or less on command, however, she's quick! those who know me, know I'm used to larger, slower moving dogs, so now, I'm stumped, when I give the "stand" command and signal, and try to prevent the drop/sit reaction to me halting, she's so fast, or I'm too slow (it's a long way down) she's VERY food motivated. this morning I've switched to luring her back up into a stand (saying "stand, good stand") then treating, but wondered if there was a better way.

I don't train with any particular club, certainly not a local one, it is possible. In my personaly experiance, one or 2 lessons with a "good" trainer, is worth a dozen or 2 with a mediocre trainer. you tube is great too. If they "insist" that you use a halti, and you do not want to. go elsewhere.

Don't freak out Paddles, besides you will have your private consult before the workshop, you will be a pro by the weekend! :) :p huh... not sounding to wierd... but I'm extremely nervous now about the private consult...

I know what you mean... I'm freaking... am I ready for this? am I going to look like an idiot? are my dogs going to look totally untrained (particularly against everyone elses perfectly trained dogs)

I noticed that there is a lot (and I mean a LOT) of fluff hair, and not a lot of guard? hair? I know what you mean, we started clipping because I couldn't be bothered keeping her combed out, but circumstances change, and she is older and less active, so maybe we can keep her combed out. she kind of looks cute all fluffy too, but, if we get constant matts under her armpits, we'll have to go back to clipping.

Yes, I must admit, i'm very tempted to go back to clipping, I got so much hair, just from her ears yesterday, today I shall work on her forelegs, I'm finding, not a lot of hair is comming off her back now, I wonder if it will now just be time? for the lighter stuff to come out, and with regular combing, the darker hair will begin to come??

Hi, I have a 5 yr old english springer, who has been clipped in the past, I am trying to grow out her coat, I comb her nearly daily (I won't lie and say I do it every day, but pretty close) so, she seems to matt a lot, and I'm still getting a reasonable amount of coat/undercoat in the comb daily, but i'd like to ask about the "fluffy" brown on top of her back, it looks like the dry deadcoat, that in theory should come out in the combing, but it is not, it doesn't feel like there is excessive coat on her back, so what is the best I can do now? continue to just comb it,? use a mars comb? Hand pulling is not really an option, since in past experiance, I can't figure it out... Thanking you all in advance

Hi all, let me begin by saying... we had this down pat... and now it's fallen apart! when I bring Milo into a stand, he shuffles his feet, and then when I "leave" him for the stand for exam, he's shifting his feet!!!! he doesn't move any "distance" as such, he's not technically "breaking the stay" but it is enough for penalty in the stand for exam.. How do I fix this... IN ONE WEEK!!!!

I'm currently trying with 2 ?blocks? one big enough for him to stand/sit/drop on, but he has to be relatively straight, and one at heel position (front legs only) but he's inclined to swing into heel at the least provocation, we're slowly getting the front sorted (I guess) on the block (for one days work) but i know from past experiance that once I remove the block it can all go to heck with him. at the moment, I"m actually having issues with him, when not getting rewarded for swinging into heel (as an offered behaviour) he swings further round behind me, rather than accepting the lure to shift forward... I have to say, I'm starting with him away a bit, standing at the end of the platform, and trying to get him to come onto the platform, but if he doesn't come on straight, he's resisting straightening up.. I think I'll have to take a video.. I'm pretty certain I'm signalling wrong?? (like when he was crossing in front of me) but I just can't see it.

hmmm.... I'm not explaining correctly.... so, I ask a dog to sit in front of me, if he's not straight? I back up? and ask him to reposition? or use blocks?? at what point do you put a command on it/?

I have recently been trying to teach my dogs to come in straighter, and it has been suggested that I teach "front" as a formal command.. I've missed something here.. who teaches "front" as a formal command, and what "criteria"? do you have for it??

Hmmm, I've never thought as using "front" as a recall, but you are right... Now.. to teach them "front"

I must be able to reach his collar if I wish to. (this doesn't mean I will, but if I want to reattach the leash, I need to them to come and sit by my feet.

I have 3 commands... I have "come" which I require the dog to return completely to me, I have "close" which I'm asking the dog to stay closer to me, and I have loudly screamed "get back here you little *&^%" they all work to varying degrees... (this was put together from photos during our last trial)

I was always taught this too, and for stopping, I've been told, i "stop" on my right foot, and bring my left up, in a half step, to the halt... this gives you time? to signal the dog what you are about to ask for. (ie drop, stand etc) I was also told recently, that my hand signal should not be any further forward than my right knee... we train the dog to stay by our left leg...