Lablover

I have one of those, but she is the most wonderful companion. If she ever makes it back into the obedience ring she will probably just scrape through. My dogs are firstly pets. They live in the house and I don't own a dog run. Also once they arrive they are here for life. I was just trying to point out that there is a difference between training for a high obedience score and training for a dog that is good to live with, and I believe it is possible to have both. No problem. Both you and your dogs are happy. That's good.

At retrieving trials, I expect to win, place.......at the very least finish. Train smart, work hard, read the dog, gain confidence as progression and experience helps. Spend money training with the best LOL LOL. Look at the great handlers/trainers. They know their dogs and more often than not, are so focused, can help the dog so much, especially at obedience trials, which IMHO, are ..........ummmmmmmmmm, easy. Running for cover now!!!!!!

I do not feel a dog (the old high drive, sound nerves, line LOL), with good training burns out. Correct diet, vet care/health, and LUCK with injuries helps as well. Many often than not, say at obedience clubs, the owners become bored. Also most attendees do not wish to trial. Short, frequent, consistent and good timing training sessions are BEST.

Poodlefan, I must love dog hair!!!, my lot are in the house, when not being trained. Well......the two youngsters sleep in runs during summer. Years and years ago, the mainstream working retriever trainer and owner, were advised to keep working dogs in runs. All the dogs various satisfactions, were achieved through training. As my dogs are pets and working dogs, it does take a lot work and CONSISTENCY,on my part, to have them in the house. My dogs understand the difference in working time - down time. We have all heard the words: A dog cannot learn in its run. But then I suppose, look at dogs in backyards learning unwanted behaviour. Some dogs also, need to be contained, before being trained. Lets face it some dogs have the drive of a garden gnome and can be very frustrating to help train. Interesting topic.

This thread, has begun my poor old brain, to work again, LOL, regarding the ideal age relating to "when" a dog learns............obviously wanted behaviour!!!!

Poor CTD. Make negative comments, and us mere humans, will jump to our chosen breeds defence. All the same, gundogs are the best LOL LOL LOL. I would be very interested to meet Tia, all the same.

PF, I agree, the two are not incompatible. I tell you, my US import, needs certain tune ups, from want of a better term, from time to time. EEEEECCK.

I recently had a force/avoidance trainer visit from the US. She observed my dogs over a couple of weeks. Her timing was excellent!!!! I applied her non force methods........well a few avoidance also.......and higher leadership to good advantage. My dogs stopped barking as a result at training. Training partners were gobsmacked with their overall improvement. I must be lowering my standards, as recently, a couple of my dogs have been vocalising again, while I train others. Not happy!!!

AndoriaI, I suggest, time out. Take a deep breath, settle down. After all its Friday afternoon. Mere humans make mistakes. Heck, just visit any obedience club, any weekend, and see confused dogs.

Does it matter? Did not her partner post in general? But then again.......I would like to know ALL Melissa's business. Melissa what did you have for breakfast, on 1st January 1992. Strike me nelly!!!!

Sorry, wrong thread.

My dogs do not want to play or be released to do their own thing. They know, where their satisfaction comes from. Me. But then again, I may not be understanding your question, release........to do what?

Can I reread the book next week before I reply. I am so over this heat. For some boring information, I was supposed to have already left to go to a retrieving trial, my first for months, but after training, while packing the caravan, I decided it is not worth the dogs being hot, after we arrive, in a non powered paddock. Barking dogs, all the same, drive me crazy. I go to so much effort to stop my dogs vocalising. At the very least, I feel barking while in their crates, may affect their overall obedience. Many steps to build a staircase type of thing. If anyone has suggestions, how to stop a dog drooling (as I train my other dogs, NOT WHILE TRAVELLING), in their crates, AND I MEAN disgusting drooling, let me know!!!!! Edited again: My cellulite is burnt. My head aches and I am sweating, again. LOL. The dogs are fine, they swim while training. Heck more often than not I cannot wait until my dogs deliver an article and shake off the excess on my legs. And trust me, wearing shorts is not a good look.

I commend you, for your post Melissa. From a personal view, the only positively trained dogs I have ever seen, who have obtained high standards, are owned by SARDOG, who posts on DOL from time to time. Heck, even guide dogs for the blind are trained, by methods which would be considered non positive by some. All the same corrections, need GENERALLY, to be conditioned. The dogs have to know, how to change their behaviour, to escape/avoid such.

CTD, I thought the book, would be excellent for agility people. She certainly did not seem to take any short cuts. Sometimes I often wonder, if most dogs "mistakes" are more often than not, simply NOT repeating, repeating, repeating each behaviour required. We all wish to train smarter, using time restraints.

That's fine. People are not my primary care............its the dogs.

Thanks again. Tony. I agree with you and PF. I apologise once more, for changing the subject matter.

I agree, with lightening up. Unless, one sees, what the posters dog is like and how the poster handles and trains the dog, we cannot judge. All the same...........someone sending hundreds of abusive Emails. Eeeck. A long tale.......tail?

Riding a riding school horse after a well trained horse -------------Thankyou!!! I liked high horses ( I used to buy mine straight of the track - fun, sometimes), just like a prefer high dogs.

A friend has lent me a book, titled Shaping Success, by Susan Garrett. Those who have read the book, what did you think?. I was a little suprised Buzz, one of her dogs, the main focus of the book, continually barked. I understand he was a working line border collie, but all the same.....................

It's interesting that with a dog the expectation is that the dog will resist the pressure whereas with a horse the horse will yield to pressure. Predator v prey response I suppose. I'm pretty sure that horses have an opposition reflex just as dogs do. Changing the topic, sorry. Did someone mention horses LOL? A past time which interested me greatly years ago. Is hardmouth caused by poor training, or is a horse born with hard mouth? I used to have dressage lessons by international trainers, during fundamental training, we all had to listen for seemingly hours on the use of avoidance/compulsion, using tools like spurs and whips. Many a lecture would include, "riding a horse without tools is like a ballet dancer without shoes." Back to topic. To the original poster...............dogs do what works for them. Does your dog pull, when practicing in your yard with no distractions? How often is your dog walked?

I did not send hundreds of Emails. Actually I sent none. LOL. What a thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know lots of so called trainers though who I consider idiots. Heck, sometimes I call myself one.

Thank you, for the unexpected laugh. Glad to see the mere humans did not break their stays. Actually I quite like the concept..........of......using any type of distraction, in this case, young "umans". Still smiling. Thanks again.

Not that I am disagreeing with you Erny, but thyroid is the cause for many health/behaviour problems. Many other symptoms may apply. I did pause before adding my reply, as the dog is under veterinary care, and surely (maybe LOL) the vet is the best to judge?

Very nice dog. Lovely roses too!!! BTW, you are tall, like me, and I have to make an effort with flip finishes to bend straight down (as much as I can) and hold my hand lower as a result, otherwise, my labs like your dog, jump UP while flip finishing. Sometimes every point helps when competing!!! Just an idea.