Lablover

This is the site, scroll down to mouse training. Cool!!! We have it easy. Reminds me of Bob Bailey DVDs. http://mouse-agility.com/

Enjoy your posts. My reply includes looking at every training opportunity and resultant criteria. Ranging from search and Rescue, Guide dogs for the disabled, field, retrieving, protection, sports etc and then marry it all up. Mind you at the end of studying them all, the KISS (Kiss it simple stupid) method may be best. Dogs do not lie, watch them closely. Trust what you see. Try to think like a dog.

Off topic a little, forgive me. We all have our views on leadership. Is 100% obedience PERFECT leadership? What is 90% obedience - poor leadership?

http://il.youtube.com/watch?v=txq_BogA1NM

Phew.

Ask 7 people and you may receive 7 different opinions. Trust your instincts and stay out of politics. Welcome back to the world of dogs........good and bad.

GSdog2, Sounds good. 20 years of experience with the breed and you have done your homework. Dog will be going to work with you. Lucky dog. Visiting the pups once or twice, may be OK, but limited, as the pups may be just been fed, had a play etc., so may not be at their best. Asking the breeder WHY they felt their bitch was suitable to be bred may be worthwhile, as well as asking why they chose that particular stud. It might even be worthwhile taking the dam off site and checking her responses and retrieving ability. How long she stays focused for. If none are timid, simply close your eyes and pick one. The acorn generally does not fall far from the tree, so to speak. Too high drive normally means too little handler. As mentioned by K9 force and others have mentioned nerves/temperament is important. Conclusion: LOL. Sounds like a lucky puppy.

M-J, 31 dogs!!!!! Are these pound dogs? Or permanent residents-in breeding kennels? Dogs feel less comfortable barking in the drop position. 31 dogs dropping all at once, on a verbal cue would be kinda cool!!!!

Sin binning is difficult as timing has be very very very good and be consistent. Also related to age etc. Dogs are experts reading body language. IMHO, people need to keep their mouths closed more often, at least keep cues/commands simple.

I think someone could make a fortune (abet a small one LOL) designing ear plugs for dogs. Make more sense from a (dogs) stimulus on point of view? Restricting eye sight???? What will "they" think of next?

As an extension to Reddi advice, you have trained your dog to ignore the recall. If he is "obsessed" by the reward, use it, to your advantage. Cheating? Bear in mind the three D's: Desire, distraction, distance. For interest what is his toy?

This is the thing...when he goes out he is generally calm, waits for her to sit, plays for a long time, sometimes up to an hour and then she'll do this. She's not in super excited state before she does it. But I think generally the behaviour would be classed as a nervous/submissive type act? I don't know if reprimand was the best word. He tells her no and then leaves/ignores her to reinforce that this is not a beahviour that I guess will get her attention. His timing maybe off, resulting in stress. I am not big, in "waiting" for behaviour, I think especially problematic for non perfect (but who is, LOL), trainers.

She sounds submissive/nervous/excited. Some dogs never change, but can be improved significantly with safe outings, more human contact which includes being in the house more often, friends visiting., obedience creates communication also. Being mainly an outside dog some owners do not have the opportunity to notice urinary infections. A vet visit may be in order. Have you rung her breeder to discuss these issues. Other owners may have noticed nervous siblings.

This video was taken over the last 24 hours. The US Open -Texas, (mainly professional trainers/handlers) but a few dogs like this particular dog (BTW owner/handler lives and trains 95% of time in his home state of Alaska) - which is rather cool, in more ways than one. HA!!! The mechanics of the test, might not be too clear.....nevertheless it shows two hidden birds, one rather simple land with a diversion, and a water blind, being retrieved. Hope you enjoy the link: http://www.working-retriever.com/08nrc/Vid...mp;3series.html

Lets try not to confuse the issue with our thoughts on racing greyhounds but rather on the problem solving ability etc, ie would this dog try to cheat again, could running close to the rail be a problem in the future, would future speed ability be curtailed (1st race against 10th - experience). http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=UP4QCFQncoM&...feature=related Go...............

Rick spoke favorably of several of the dogs that he saw. I think the biggest difference was cosmetic in terms of tail carriage and action. America is unique in the gundog world in their love of "12 o'clock" tail. (Tails that stand straight up when the dog is on point). They also breed for very active tails when the dog is working. Rick commented on the lack of tail action of our dogs. When I first saw American dogs I thought "man that tail is wagging the dog". Also when you approach a dog that's on point with a 12 o'clock tail, you get a pretty good look at their poop-shoot, personally I'd prefer that remained covered by the tail. So it's a matter of preferring what you're used to. Oz/NZ dogs are the same. There is a lot of movement of dogs back and forth between the two countries. As for American dogs, Rick spends most of his time training hunter's dogs in the US and they are much the same as hunter's dogs here. It's the US high end field trial dogs that are a whole different ball game. OZ/NZ are the same? I was rather astounded how many retriever breeds were imported from the US and UK. Yeeeeeeet, another question please. You don't happen to have a book by the name of "Snakefoot the making of a champoin" by Bob Wehle?

Add distractions and generalise everywhere. Maybe with a helper, who can stand in as a judge and steward. The stand in, can correct the dog. Correction will depend on the dog. Small steps aiming for success every time.

Monah, It is difficult to buy a book related (or even mentioned) to Australian retriever trialling (and training), as the two I know of, were published years ago, and not really relevant with the transition of tests. Training has improved ....some say to a more obedient/controlled dog to the detriment of a pure marking dog. Picture 3 gloves, say 150 yards away in the most difficult cover/water you can find. Then add one glove being thrown, and expected to be ignored, while being sent for a hidden/blind retrieve. I suggest attending a retrieving trial. I have only attended ONE yes one, field trial as an observer. My husband is the hunter in the family. I could not hit the side of a barn. Hopefully WS or others will reply. Thankyou WS for your reply. Correlates perfectly. Yet another question, what did Rick think of the drive of Australian dogs, compared to US and NZ?

WS, question- did Rick mention his cousin Ronnie, he also being great at canine psychology.

Yeah, pics are great. (I didn't take any of them) Expensive digital camera (not sure of details) but big zoom lens for close up shots that can be hard to get in the field. LL is into retrieving trials big time, this seminar was on field work (rather than retrieving work), still with gundogs, but different focus. PS You're correct, the dogs had a great time too!! I had not entered the Victorian Retrieving Championship to attend the seminar. The field (whoa, steadiness, hunting/quartering) focusing did not particularly concern me, as I feel no matter, the training and trialling criteria, if one idea is learnt or reignited, it is worth its weight in gold. One of my US friends had travelled to New Zealand with Rick, so their opinion was also sought. As well as NZ triallers of both field and retrieving. Not that first time I have been fingered as being thorough..or is that phobic ha ha. Alas, early on (the) Friday, a friends husband passed away. I have heard the seminar was very successful. Teaching teaching teaching was mentioned numerous times. Useful for every endeavour!!!!!!!

Amen to that RottyLover. I'd very promptly tell anyone who interfered in the game my dog and I were having and started lecturing me to bugger off and find something constructive to do with their time. True, but sometimes we cannot help at least thinking while watching other people train their dogs. Simply put, animals behave for one of two reasons: to acquire desirable outcomes or to avoid undesirable outcomes. My dogs are so biddable, am I am sure while they are sleeping around me, they are dreaming of driving me to training. How often have we heard my dog has a mind of its own. What the heck does that mean - whose mind can it be??????

Wow you have water in your dams? If I was in your shoes I would be sending my husband (in with thick waders being a kind soul), to clean up. Might not be too healthy for your husband, but great for conditioning dogs.

Well. (ha)......if one looks at the Merriam-Webster online dictionary: Biddable (1) Easily led, taught or controlled (2) Capable of being bid As we all know many breed standards include biddability. Interesting topic. Sometimes my dogs are so easily led, taught or controlled, sometimes NOT LOL. Control during handling to hidden retrieves, against seen retrieves especially when out of sight and their ability to work on their own. Makes life interesting.

I suggested a veterinary chiropractor rather than a muscle man for a reason. My reply was not personal. A few friends have great faith in some chiropractors. I have seen too many injured dogs, due to genetics, sports or simply accident. Dogs are normally so stoic and I wish some would at least offer pain relief via their vet.

Its Friday night, I am more confused than ever. Are Montu, Gizmo and Lily all huskies?. Never ceases to amaze me, WHY sled dogs pull? And their satisfaction, as a result.