Sardog

Erny, what was the theme of Luke's seminar?

We, SARDA - Search & Rescue Dogs Australia, are bringing Tom Middlemas out from Scotland, arriving on Sept. 14th for a sar training workshop, assessment and re-testing the operational sardogs for their bi-annual upgrade. I have forwarded this thread (thus far) for his input. He lived with and studied a wolf pack in Canada for 9 months and produced amazing information back regarding the pack structure etc. He has extensive writings regarding same and has been approached to write "another" book on this topic but to date he has not made much progress. I hope he can send dol his input (probably via me) on this subject, if not, I will ask him personally as he will be with us for 3 weeks. He recently lost his wolf "Kai" at the age of 19yo (was domesticated to a certain degree). He went to live with Tom as a 5yo I think. His webpage refers to Kai. www.tommiddlemas.com

Try this link http://www.dogschool.com.au/Site/100689.asp

DD: Frank Neeson passed away in 2006. One of the Obedience/Agility/Tracking fraternities true gentlemen.

CJ: :D I rest my case now............

Three dogs & handlers, there were others without dogs

Way to go Joe......well done

CJ, how did you go in SA? We had a really enjoyable day yesterday, bit disappointed with the attendance considering that LL had nearly 40 emails ( I had a few) with initial spots taken. Must have been the weather that put everyone off, unfortunately Beaconsfield missed out on the downpour that other suburbs seemed to receive - I did get a bit wet on my search though! Thanks to LL for her great hospitality and we had a very interested attendance (only three with dogs) showing them the end result of dogs trained to a high level in Obedience trials, Retrieving trials and Search & Rescue.

I would like to say a big THANK-YOU to Lablover for her hard work and huge effort in putting on this day of fundraising for our unit and look forward to seeing all those who have indicated their attendance. :rolleyes: We have full catering (all day) and also for those vegetarians who indicated accordingly. The Sarda Search Dogs, Lablover's Retrieving Trail Dogs and the "Top Obedience Dog of the Year" and Handler all giving demonstrations.....will be a great day. We also have OB & Tracking Instructors for any questions etc. Kind regards, The Sarda Team

gillbear.......it would be fantastic to catch up with you again (in our southern state) Kavik......... ditto Tollersowned......."Lablover will be doing the retrieving part of the day .... it would be good to have...say.....Country Joe also grace us with his presence!" We will see what sort of response with regard to numbers, first in best dressed I'd say. We may have to have a cut-off but we would really love to accommodate everyone. I have had a great response from the trainers/instructors who have made themselves available for this really worthwhile cause. Lablover is away on an o'nite training session so that's why I have come in to answer any queries. Cheers, Sardog

Email Lablover by clicking on to her name in avatar.

Hi Wagalot (and others who indicated their interest), Final details of Training Day at Lablovers will be posted over the weekend. It will be Sunday April 29th and all will be revealed in the relevant post. I have to speak to Lablover tonight to discuss the day - we have a few things lined up. Cheers Julie

Hi NW, I'm not sure if you are referring to OS (Tom) in relation to your post but we were speaking to him a few nights ago and we discussed this topic at length. Similar thoughts and strategy. Border Collie 5-10 reps, Lab 10-12 reps, Golden 15 reps. This test was done worldwide and data from 1,000 professional dog "trainers"... Of course it all depends on what you are teaching/proofing and difficulty of exercise. We must catch up ...soooon please.

I have a friend who had smiliar problem and consulted K9Force. http://www.k9force.net/ Might be worth a try. All the best, Julie

Country Joe came 2nd with Jock and 3rd with Whisky today, what a fantastic effort :rolleyes: Yaay ...Go Terraway

Hi kavik, I guess you could refer to K9's "neutralisation" programme/solution he has detailed here often. The sardog has to work with a lot of distraction and the neutralisation was done from the beginning as pups and the results say it all. Do you remember when you were at our workshop at K9's back in April and those dogs were racing up and down the fence while River was searching? He didn't take any notice of them at all. ..... and I must admit I MUST HAVE BEEN NEUTRALISAED AS WELL as I didn't even see them as well Julie

I must totally agree with CJ on this. :rolleyes: The breeder is with the litter from beginning to end and if you are looking for working stock then they are the best judges. As CJ said, they change from week to week and the breeder is able to monitor this. The high drive is not the most important aspect, you do need biddibility and balance to be able to harness the drive into the direction of your chosen field. Over the years I have had "hit and miss" not only with my own but with others I have been involved with but you put it all down to experience and learn from that.

Hi Amphailte, What is the sar course you are doing??? Cheers, sardog

Our National SardaUK (parent organisation)standard requires the search & rescue dog to be "stock proofed". In the UK, Scotland and Wales the dogs are required to search the "moors" with stock grazing most of the time. We stock proof our pups with the negative value attached and we are lucky enough to be able to train in a very "rabbity" area. One example of this was put into practice was a few months ago we had our sponsors - Bayside Companion Dog Training School, 8 of their instructors come to spend the day with our team training at a disused school in GlenWaverley. We demonstrated the disaster discipline of our work which required the dogs to locate victims placed inside and outside buildings. Both operational dogs had very difficult searches and we, as handlers/trainers were very pleased with their expertise and accuracy and was hoping the onlookers had the same opinion. Sardog "Gus" was searching the outside of the buildings and was searching a small shed located in a remote part of the school grounds. Suddenly a fox shot out of the shed with Gus "right on his tail"...it was the element of surprise that made the dog chase and his handler blew his whistle and the dog immediately spun around and back to the handler. The dog then continued on his search. At the debrief, the instructors all made complimentary comment...not about the accuracy of the dog's search work, but "being able to call the dog off the fox!"....oh well, it was great anyway!

OMG... all these months I have been reading your posts and no idea who you were! As for the birthday card...."it's in the mail" late, but in the mail. Breed me another sardog please.

CJ: I am very interested in the search & rescue dog you have bred is? And also the lines of the retrieving trial dogs you have bred?

Well Erny, it looks as if there is not much pressure from the posts regarding this new pup.. :D You will be fine and we are ALL excited about this new addition - I too will be waiting with baited breath to find out if the mating has been accomplished. Can I have one??? can I, can I?????? I just loooove puppies especially Labs...like I need another one! More exciting news is that we are getting another new boy in the NSW team, dol posters M-J and Jade are the recipiants of a 12mo black Lab "Tag". We will keep all updates on his progress as well. In NSW, he will be under the expertise & guidance of M-J - so go girl! poor Jade & Tag.

From my experience in training the cocker spaniel in search & rescue you really need to have a VERY reliable recall. This is a must before you start any field work so to speak. Once they start to hunt....they just switch off and do their own thing but if you do have a realiable recall then you will have the ability to re-direct the dog on to the job at hand. Hope this helps.

NW.....great to hear from you. Your head will be spinning with all the international info you have collected. I heard recently they were moving to France, AJ has had that in her mind since I was there in 2001.....! Are you heading to Scotland now? Be great to hear from you when you return, looking forward to seeing the gear you have for me :D

:p Actually, speaking of "Bob"....Tim (tim999) is currently in the Netherlands at the 5-day symposium and he's staying with "Bob's handler. I hope all goes well for him...... we'll soon know! Sorry to hijack this thread - K9, you have such a good memory!