NaturallyWild

Excellent topic. Discussed this with my GF on what type of dog she would prefer - one wih neutral associations with most things (mainly dogs/people) and main focus on us or a dog that is eager to have a romp with other dogs. She chose the dog who wanted to play. I suppose i would enjoy the same thing but i realise it generally means more work in training to get the extra control from these distractions. She made an interesting point of what happens if the owner of a dog that is neutral to all things but them dies or permanently incapacitated. How difficult is it for that dog to recover with the loss compared to a dog that has regular positive associations with other dogs and people. Also agree that it would be very hard to find neutral dogs to be able to work along with but i'm sure if we searched hard enough we would find them.

I'll be taking Stoli with me. Can't wait.

My dog has a mad water digging obsession - more so in the clamshell outside (thank god we got that) than the water bowl inside (water goes everywhere). He also has a very funny habit of blowing bubbles in the water. Just rests his snout in the bowl then after a few seconds starts blowing bubbles. Funniest thing ever. Looks like he's trying to smell out something. Tim

The next lure coursing that the Rhosedian Ridgeback Club is doing will be at Nillumbik Pet Expo on October 23 10am -4pm. at Marngrook Oval Diamond Creek MELWAYS 11A6. Hope to see some of you there. Tim

I will be planning to vaccinate every three or so years after the first years booster. Hopefully with an increase availability of titre testing the necessity for vaccination will be kept to an absolute minimum and state of health as high as is possible. The law (Victorian at least) is that dog that attend boarding kennels and training establishments (even if a 1on1 at the dog owners home - how silly!!!) have their full C5 each year. I recently enquired with the department of primary industries in Victoria as to whether there could be a change to this law considering the available evidence and that the major vet hospitals in America are now adopting a 3yr booster scheme. I got a reply asking what my motives/reasons for this were. I responded with some of the evidence and directing them to some useful websites and they eventually responded that they would look further into the matter by contacting the AVA and also the producers of the vaccinations as well. I will be following this up (several times I'm sure) to hopefully get a result. I urge anyone who feels the same to contact (email, letter, call etc) their state department for natural resouces and environment and query the law and ask for the change. The more people asking the more likely it will happen. Cheers

Haven't done any of these courses but have done a lot of research into it. In victoria there are organisations who are approved to assess dogs for the Government obedience certificate under the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Regulations 1996 are: Victorian Canine Association (VCA) Professional Dog Training Association Australian Association of Gentle Modern Dog Training Instructors Whether Delta or NDTF come under this i do not know and these details would obviously be different in each state. This may mean that although the course is 'nationally accredited' it may just actually mean a piece of paper that says you have education rather than being a government approved trainer - not 100% on this. My opinion on any of these courses would be to find out how effective you find their style of dog training (find trainers who have done those courses and watch them put it in practise for all levels - puppy through to advanced) and if it compliments how you wish to train dogs. Also the other education you may get out of it ie. more complex components to training such as scent detection etc, and the amount of practical hours you will get (do they provide you with the hours or do you have to find someone to work with). I personally don't think a "qualification" means a thing it's how effect a trainer you become. The most important part of learning dog training would be the style of training (and how effective it is for you to use) and the experience and knowledge that you get from the practical hours you do. Delta - positive - 18months - $2500-3000 plus travel to melb. - nationally accredited as a education course. Widely recognised name - distance learning plus intensive part 2*1week. www.deltasocietyaustralia.com.au NDTF - positive and negative - 8months - $2500 (unsure of distance learning) - nationally accredited as an education course. Becoming more recognised. www.ndtf.net.au Australian Association of Gentle Modern Dog Training Instructors - conducted through the Kintala club - positive - 5-6months - ~$900 - trainers recognised by Vic government for obedience cert. - no distance learning. www.kintala.com.au Professional Dog Training Association (AAPDT) - conducted through dog trainer school: Dog Obedience Guidance Systems of Australia (Command Dog Training School) - postivie and negative - 5months part time or 8 weeks full time - $2000-3000 - trainers recognised by Vic government for obedience cert. - no distance learning but intensive 8week. www.dogtrainerschool.com.au

There is a dog club in melbourne that already does all of this. Called The Kintala Club. Founded by David Weston (Association of Gentle Modern Dog Training). At the start of the day there is a free romp for all dogs (40 dogs all off lead is a sight to see). Then the training side begins with most of the dogs still off lead. They are purely positive trainers concentrating on food rewarding (also clickers along with that). You can visit their web site at www.kintala.com.au. enjoy.