Lablover

Me? Eeeck. Now lets see. I returned home last weekend from my latest trip to the US. I attended the American National Retrieving Championship which was held from 14th to 20th November, Vicksburg, Mississippi. One week of eye candy....observing 97 dogs compete in the biggest game of retrieverdom in the world. 96 labradors, one golden retriever. Apart from 3 (one of who was an retired professional)amateur handlers, all others had been trained by professional trainers. Rubystar, re Western Australia - my US import came second in the WA retrieving championship, a couple of months ago. SD, has kindly offered to add her training.

Friday humour sorry, don't forget an umbrella.

Interesting her mother was similar, until "broken". Can be explain broken in herding training please?

These threads give me a headache. Too much theory for my tiny brain. PS I have an oversensitive reward system - to food. My dogs too - they are labradors.

You will do fine. You love camping and travelling also. Travelling and travelling and travelling!!! That said all, you will be surprised how much can be done at a quiet park and with a training program in short amounts of time. SD, starting walking singles next week with Em! (Gaining confidence/success at a young age is very important)

Has anyone signed up?

Dump the toy? Do not reward, being the simple answer. Its easy for me I suppose having natural retrievers. Mind I start-like everyone else...... short with low distractions. They learn how "to play the game". Trying to find an easy available link.

What are they like with food? Is focus, motivation and control achieved? Some dogs simply are not .......................tuggers.

Corvus, It may be worthwhile concentrating on recalls for a while.

Could someone please explain why some judges ask for dogs to be exhibited (is it called stride tested???, sorry not a show person), while walking on a loose lead not trotting/stridding out?

Thanks Bigdogg for posting a photo, I sent another just in case the front air vents needed to be shown, also the air extractors. Not finished yet, but can be used, as is. Tested with my husband inside, before dogs allowed. Dear man. Reversing camera to be organised. Rubber on draw handles as they rattle (smallest job ha ha). Electrics, fans, lighting, (2nd battery) in car, and in time shelves in the spare area. Water containers under tray. Any questions please feel to ask. Made by a tool box company. Poor people nearly went mad, with our additions. Side windows etc. Every cm. counted. Could have ended up much higher than vehicle.

We have a canopy on our hilux tray which has 5 crates, draws and other storage area (for my remote throwers). Electrics still to be organised, fans, lights etc. We also have (3) semi permanent crates in our Troop Carrier. I have photos of both set ups, if someone can Email me, and add to thread. I am hopeless on computers and it would take more forever to add snaps.

tlc, you have four dogs, so many of the other options are not suitable. Might pay to expand the budget a little. On the other hand, a dog trailer is a relatively cheap option (compared to a canopy with all the extras).

After looking today I definatly agree, I would have definatly given the Suburu more consideration had I only had 2 dogs for sure. I do like the fact that the wagon has lots of room for them if they all want to lay down and sleep. Next door neighbour has the Commodore Sportswagon for work. Not as big as the old Commodores but he says roomier than it looks. A Liberty or Outback with the seats down would be OK. You'd need a roof box for your stuff though. They drive well. Or email Honda and ask them to import the Honda Element - it even comes in a dog friendly variant but they don't plan to bring it here atm. ;) We have found the Holden viva on the net and wondering if they are the sports wagons, it is hard to see how big they are from a picture. if we go away we put our stuff in the rear and the dogs go in the back seat all clipped in. I fashion the back seat so that it is built up behind the front seats so they have more room, worked well on the trip we have just done. We looked at one twin cab, little bit out of the price range for the year we want, but is a possibility although I do like the dogs with us. Definatly not restricted to one brand. Only a ford I can't have. When I first started riving the one I have now, It took a long time to get used to the size compared to my Rav 4 but I'm used to it now. It is ok on a long trip fuel wise but a bit of a guzzler around town. Shell, you will love the xtrail, we didn't see any of them on our travels today at all. I really loved my Rav 4 it was brand new when I bought it, it still had the 4 cylinder motor but it was a 2.4 not the 1.8. Just not practical and big enough when I kept accumulating dogs hence the Wagon. Your V6 model sounds awesome, my dream car, now just to win tattslotto. What is the benifit of the false floor? is it a space to put stuff? Thanks for all the replys False floors are to die for. I love love love love love mine. May I repeat I love my false floors which have metal slide out DEEP draws. O I am in heaven, so easy to organise nowadays.

As we have five labradors, we have a Hilux xcab tray 4 x 4 with a custom made canopy with internal crates and draws.

I think so. Overseas I observed FF, which varied, depending on the trainer from excellent to TORTURE. One of the most enjoyable conversations regarding negative reinforcement I have had was with a famous (horse) dressage trainer and one of his grooms.

Why am I not surprised Brooklyn is an Australian Shepherd. That, or a border collie.

Knowing when and how to simplify. Knowing when and how to complicate. Knowing (as far as humanly possible) how dogs think. Buying the most suitable genetics.

My dogs are intrinsically rewarded by retrieving.......rerevving normally takes little effort. I prefer short multiple training sessions...the dogs may not agree. I do vocal cue "all gone", but they are still expected to heel back to my vehicle.

Congratulations to all. PAX, could you add breed of dog for interest?

Corvus, not sure if I understand the reason for your question. Heck, one of my labradors is known to ejaculate before training and trials. Not related to sexual "drive". That said, I have a sensitive bitch at the moment, who dislikes multiple repetitive blind (hidden retrieve) drills, but is excellent in water and her marking ability is outstanding. With experience I can gauge her as she is loosing interest, so stop training at the first signs and end on a good note.

As you mentioned retrieving is strong/rewarding, why practice about turns with no reward/glove? Are you placing all three articles in EXACTLY the same position? What is wind direction? Try raising glove one and three on a stick or whatever helps for your dog to focus. Spread the gloves? Try a Noon, 3 o'clock drill, 6 o'clock, 9 o'oclock drill/game (you in the middle). Shorter distance to gloves may help also, as others have indicated? Making one and three impossible to retrieve/non rewarding (depending on dog). Number one question: We..ask..ourselves in retrieving circles, do dogs lie...? When your dog is in EXCELLENT heel position, does she focus on the glove you indicate? Watch the eyes CAREFULLY!! I vocal cue good, when correct and have no hesitation due to training-game history, saying NO. So many questions sorry. Are all the the gloves the same white or fabric?

Corvus, I am so tired. Visit,- at the moment have 3 entire males (entirely different so called dominant), one speyed female and one "in perfect timing/progestone tested" female. O and one sick husband, with a staph infection. My life is bliss.

Has he been published and/or peer reviewed? Nice books all the same. Good coverage.