BOF

I'm very biased but my guys (3 x GSPs) just love doing Gundog Working Test. Not available in all states but if you are in NSW it is run quite regularly (in conjunction with obedience trials). My last 2 pups have competed at 9-10 months (successfully) so it's not hard to teach them. Have heard a rumour (??) that the Vizsla club of NSW will be having a training day next year. In summer time they all love retrieving from water which keeps them nice and cool.

Thanks, bordersrule, forgot to mention that. I just automatically put a towell in the bottom of the bath so the guys don't slip. I think the water temperature is something a lot of people don't think about. My guys really don't like the water too warm (they are a short coated breed, though). Maybe coated dogs don't have the same problem.

Also, make sure the water isn't too hot. Dogs can't tolerate really hot water so just take the chill off the cold water or use cold this weather. I never spray water over my dogs' heads either. Just use a face washer/moist cloth to clean their faces and ears. Mine get washed in the 'human' bath and I use a hair washing spray attachment to wet and rinse them. No trouble ever.

Very interesting, Rebanne, that you can interpret something that is not even written!!! I do know the difference between a swing and a flip finish - it's all in the way you move your arm to teach them and the height at which you move your arm. You must be a lot more clever than me as you can define without actually seeing the move.

Like FHR, my two older GSPs have taught themselves the flip finish doing retrieving work. I believe it's because it's the quickest way to get to heel and out to do another retrieve Will be interesting to see if the pup does the same thing. Maybe it's a GSP thing. I was so happy when the rule changed so that we could use the flip finish in obedience as my old girl was very slow at going around behind me and would inevitably sit crooked. To polish the flip finish for obedience work I simply swung a piece of food backwards in my left hand and then forward and up to get the dog to turn and sit.

Crikey, the things that happen when I have a day and a weekend off work. Poor Lou!!! Hope he is on the road to recovery now. We will have to have a discussion about vets next time I see you at the off lead area - although there are so many bindii there now that the guys can't even enjoy a run. Even the old girl with cast iron feet is reacting to them.

Great news - although I had every faith in the boy. Love to Andy too.

It's hard not to worry about the dear little pets. He'll be fine - just may take a little longer than Andy - even though Andy had a bigger op! Look forward to seeing them again in the park.

Cazz, I think you'll be surprised at how quickly the boys recover. Shimmer had a particularly long cut and 5 stitches but that didn't stop her (although I tried my hardest). She was running like a loon just 3-4 days after her op. Although, she is a girl so that might explain her quicker recovery

Miss Shimmer sends love and licks for Lou. She misses the boys at the off lead area - has no-one to run with ATM. Hope Lou is feeling better soon (I'm sure he will be fine). Shimmer has had her little op as well which is why we have been missing for a week or so.

Yes, if you knew me you would roflyao!!! Thanks K9 you responded as I knew you would. No more attacks!!! As I said - never the twain shall meet!!! We all have different goals in life and as I am on the downhill trend I am probably more set in my ways. If you believe they are wrong then so be it. I will just muddle along.

Thanks Nat My thoughts exactly. I have always held the belief that there are as many ways to train a dog as there are dogs - there is no one way that works perfectly with every dog. I have had many years of experience and have always found this to be so. Even though we don't realise it we are learning from every dog we train and every trainer we observe and we (usually) change our methods to accommodate this learning/experience. K9 can shoot me down in flames but I won't respond as I really don't care what he thinks - I have my ideas - he has his and never the twain shall meet. BTW K9 from all my 'sources' I believe that both e collars and prong collars are 'outlawed' in NSW which is one of the reasons I have very little faith in your methods. If you have to break the law to train a dog then I don't want to do it.

Well, as prong collars are not permitted in NSW I don't find that an alternative. I use a martingale and a cloth martingale on my boy for obedience. My dogs compete in obedience, agility and Gundog Working Tests so they are not a problem pulling on lead. I know how to stop that, but people are looking for alternatives so I simply put one forward. I simply pointed out the reason why I am so against check chains as an example for people. Not everyone who instructs is a good instructor same as not everyone who trains is a good trainer. Not meaning that personally as I have no knowledge of your methods - I am probably one of the worst trainers around but I have a lot of fun with my guys. They are very obedient dogs just not good obedience dogs. My biggest problem is that I teach my guys everything OFF lead so on the rare occasions they are walked on lead it is such a novelty that they get quite excited.

Yes, K9, I know that now but at the time I didn't. I will be eternally ashamed that I could have really hurt my old boy (although then he wasn't old). Don't jump to conclusions, please. I live alone so my time is extremely precious. I belong to many dog clubs - am serving on committees and trialling my dogs. This is my choice. Occasionally, I have to walk the guys on the street and I CHOOSE to walk them on ezi walkers as I have more control over them. It is NOT an option to walk one at a time. I am also very aware that you don't use check chains. There was never any inference that you do. We all do what we can to help our dogs. I am far from perfect and would never even think that what I do is the best - it is just the best I can do at the moment for my dogs.

Sorry, weimlover, didn't see the question on your last post. I was taught to 'rip him off his feet' and as I knew nothing about training and had this very willful 8month old GSP - I did what I was told . At 2 and a half he started having spasms and initially was diagnosed with spondylitis. I took him to our wonderful chiro and he spent the rest of his life being treated by him for extensive spinal problems (not spondylitis). He managed to get an AD (when that was the only qualificaction for agility) and TDX and CDX. He was far too 'creative' in the UD ring - used to play to the audience all the time but he always had a good time and in the end he died from a cancer somewhere in his head. I always knew he didn't have a brain!!! I can never forgive myself for the damage I did to him and therefore will never use a check chain again.

Yeah, Weimlover!! Well done

K9 Force. We don't live in a perfect world. As I am 60+ and female with bad back and knees, I use these harnesses as a safety measure. If my guys decide to take off after a cat I can prevent any huge rush!!! This is the only reason I use the harnesses. Am completely aware that they do not stop pulling but as I walk 2 dogs I cannot walk them at 'heel' position as one will always be out of position. As I still work full time I do not have the time to walk them one by one. They generally get their exercise at the off lead area (which they enjoy much more than walking on a lead). Personally, I would never use a head halter as I have seen too many people jerk the dogs' heads with them and I am sure they could cause more damage to necks than check chains do (but let's not get in to that argument)!!! Have never found a head halter to fit a GSP head correctly anway. As I ruined my first dog by yanking him around on the check chain I will never use one again. Which, of course, is my choice and I won't force it on anyone else.

Lablover, I think you are talking about car/tracking harnesses. These do encourage the dog to pull a lot more. The sporn type harness pulls up under the dogs 'underarms' and is quite uncomfortable for them when they pull. I use one which is called 'ezi walker' and I can manage my two GSPs quite comfortably with one hand when walking on the street (only place I would use them as they run off lead most of the time).

Anything by Gwen Bailey or John Fisher makes complete sense to me. Gwen wrote 'The Perfect Puppy' which should be read by every puppy purchaser (IMHO). Also wrote 'Leading the Pack' which is wonderful. She is a very quiet, soft lady and treats dogs with the utmost respect - they respond by doing anything she asks.

I think Lablover was referring to the USA/Canada Hunt Tests!!!! No gun required therefore no gun licence needed. It is definitely required in Victoria and NSW.

Only if you have earned the right to be boss. Just 'cos you're bigger doesn't make you the boss. I am the boss in my home too, but I do it in a way that my dogs understand - not in a human way. If you are asking the dog to look at you you should hold something at your nose and have the dog look at that not into your eyes. Just my opinion - and it has always worked for me. Doesn't mean I am right just that it works for me.

Eye contact is confronting to a dog. If your dog is the slightest bit afraid it will be put off by constant eye contact - BUT if you break eye contact after having taught the dog to look into your eyes then you create another problem. It's easier to never make eye contact. Just a habit I have used over the years and it worked particularly well for my extremely nervous girl. I have never had any problem with stays in competitive obedience - however, our heeling leaves a lot to be desired!!! (LOL)

Everyone I know does this and I am pretty sure that if you try it it will work.

No-one else has mentioned it but do NOT make eye contact with your dog while it is in a stay. Look over its head or to the side but do not make eye contact as this will guarantee the dog will 'break' the stay.