leopuppy04

Btw I didn't know you had a pup!!! Do share the goss

I've had worse AD! I've been actively training my dogs in the park with various things that it was VERY clear my dogs were working. People will happily let their dog run zoomies around yours while they are working and then go off in a huff because I won't let mine play... very frustrating!

Love the pics Terra! Your dogs are so awesome LOL yes, Grumpette, do come over and say 'hi' . When is your next trial?! Thanks for the compliments :D

well done grumpette!! I was there too

Well done BB!!!

Any video of today's trials? unfortunately not as we were all called into the rings at the same time wish there was as I would really have liked to see how they worked, especially kinta who eveyone tolde worked nice

No luck for me today! Kinta did a lovely round again and still managed to only lose 4 pts even after she jumped on the steward which is a good friend pity she missed my retrieve signal and failed to get the dumbell Leo did well again today even though the score board didn't reflect that. I was SO pleased with his seekback but alas he was about 5 mrs to the right of it. His heelwork fantastic and the rest of his work also pleasing so I'm going home very happy and proud of my two puppies. I couldn't have asked for better work from either of them!! Terra, boronia, twoblackdogs and everyone else - congrats on your lovely achievements

works for me :D Nothing like a trial in good company ;). Hehe - it never really botheres me what trial I go to though Glad the kiddis pulled it off... heres' the vid, but the sound has gone on holidays not sure what happened there, but the comments by the videographer were quite amusing.... Please don't pick on me too much ETA - is the video in slo mo or is it just my computer?!?! Really not working for me tonight No video for Kinta as we were all one after the other ;)

well I entered my first obedience trial for the year today. None other than the good 'ol State trials :D Leo did me REAL proud and got some lovely scores in UD. Seekback - well I'll let you guys be the judge of that ;). off he raced, picked up the scent, went out the ring, picked up my scent out of the ring and brought me back his toy which I had left *on the ground* just out the ring . OOPS! Judge and I had a good laugh at him. Can't really blame him coz he DID pick up the scent after all Everything else was really nice, although the numpty handler zero'd on the metal article as I dropped it I was so so proud of him. Ended up with 2nd place NQ. Kinta entered her first open trial and again worked really nice. I didn't think she worked that great, but everyone said it was nice outside the ring . Came away with 194, 2nd place and our first open quallie Guess the kiddies get dinner tonight ;)

I often wonder for those not as obsessed about their animals as we are, the detriments to the dog whent he bub comes . Yup - I see a lot of this happening and have no issues with it. I think it's a normal, natural progression I have issues, when the dog drops about 100 rungs on the ladder and has gone from being a devoted family member to an 'outside only' pet that 'might scare the baby'!! Not that any of us on here are like that, I just worry about the poor doggies that have that happen to them

Thanks for the tips guys :D melody - that would be great!!!

Am only looking for plush toys though as I don't want them having the cheapo vinyl stuff ;) eta that's why I'm looking for the cheap kids toys and not the doggy toys

Hi Guys, My kiddies are pretty gentle with their toys and it takes them a long time to rip them or destroy them. Now that I've left home, my poor Zara dog is left with almost none because I took them all for my kiddies (Zara is living with my parents ). I also want to get a whole bunch of new toys for my lot too... I know op shops are a great place to get toys, but all the ones that I've been to don't sell them in 'bags' like I've heard many on here saying they can get... so I must be looking at the wrong ones ;) anyone got recommendationds?!?! Just cheapies that I dont' care if they kill, but give the dogs a bit of variety

Looks fantastic Cosmolo

Hi All, I know that some of you are as into doggy toys as I am - so thought you might like to check this site out :D http://www.aussieagility.com.au/index.htm A lot of products from CR that are now available here... :D Ptolomy - maybe even contact Nikki to see if she can supply i-squeaks for you to the toys though :D

I think Hound/ Gundogs tend to go well together Working dogs tend to group well together with other working dogs or in smaller pack sizes (were bred to work with 2-3 other dogs)... not so good in larger packs or perhaps breeds that don't appreciate stalking . generalisations here I notice more the difference in how the respond to each other - eg: I notice BC's and Sibes are BIG ones for when they sleep they like space between each other. Whereas Aussies, Goldens etc literally love sleeping ontop of each other . Again... generalisations ETA - observation only - I find that 'working' dogs tend to love their 'pack' or well known dogs, but perhaps are a little more of a 'snob' to unknown dogs or random dogs in the park

What about a tri and tan and white beagle pair? ;) Those come after the Aussies ;) Or when I find a millionaire husband that will let me quit work, we buy a yuuuuuuuuuuuge property, and I can have my farm of dogs I'll put my order in for one of those too please (the millionaire hubby ) Ptolomy - wish I had the video on me when I put the disc down that I use for rear end awareness on the ground to explain how it works. Was about to put Z dog away (then 12wks) and bring out Kinta. Only as soon as the disc dropped, Z dog ran up to it, put her front feet on and started going round and round like a pro my friend and I stood their dumbfounded (she hadn't been trained to do this at all) and then I said to her "THATS what I use the disc for"

I agree cosmolo! Your trick sounds great well last night we tried to teach Leo how to roll himself in a blanket. We got the roll, we got the blanket hold - he just can't do both together!!! Boys!!

Good luck Leopuppy - let us all know how you get on and I hope the seekback gods look after you ;) PS - Dare I ask is it another Aussie you are planning???? Of course Ptolomy. Is there any other breed I toyed with the BC idea for a little while, but I just love my aussies too much . Hmm... might even include a trip to WA.... We'll see :D Oh I will act like I got a perfect score if Leo finds his seekback.

I hope you are right guys because sometimes it can be downright frustrating . My next is in 2 weeks Heaven help us all!

LOL - I think the thing that wins me over with Kay is the detailed info about teaching heeling. I used to refer to it for ideas on how I would attack the 'training/ teaching' phase of heeling. As per my usual style - the way I teach now is a collaboration of ideas that works for us - but I did love it for that

Superminty - I think you make a valid point. Certainly the method of using the start peg/ teaching a dog to track forward first are the two 'techniques' that appeal to me the most. If anything, I think this thread has really highlighted that I didn't stick to the foundations long enough for Leo. Without the motivation to 'find' the seekback, it's all too easy to have a 'fail' or get confused or just 'give up' when you can't find it nice and easy. So as per good training techniques, with Kinta I'm really going to spend LOTS of time on the foundations, because as with anything - good foundations means that the advanced stuff comes easy. Just like with heeling . So we are back to basics with her (not that we ventured far away from it) with hide and seek games, and maybe a spot of tracking games etc to really make sure she understands it's rewarding to use her nose. Leo is still going well, although I have to say I think the place where I let him down the most was 'not enough' hide and seek games so therefore I don't actually believe he has the persistence in him to keep looking.... so he'll be going back to do that with Kinta too A few questions for those who seem to have no troubles at all: *Did any of you teach scent games/ tracking games as a pup before the more 'formal stuff'. Even if you didn't - would you with your next dog? If so - what type of games?! I'm possibly getting a 3rd dog at the end of the year, so I need to start thinking of these things too For those that teach the 'start peg' method: *Do you add turns straight away or do you do straight lines (maybe up to the length of 30 paces) straight away? How quickly do you progress and why did you choose to do turns/ straight lines first? Did you ever find that you reached a point early on where the dog *didn't* return to the start peg but rather just look at you - eg: Say I do a really long stretch and the dog runs out, then turns back without going the distance - gets confused etc etc. Just trying to think ahead and avoid some issues that run through my head thanks again for all of your collective ideas :laugh:

C'mon guys - surely you are more creative thanks for the ideas already guys - but lets think of something challenging... something that will get all of our cogs turning AD - might have to try your stair idea - my dogs REA sucks

I hardly refer to it. It's good for a beginner, but I think there are far better books out there Once you get past CD level it really isn't as good as it seems . I like a book that can take me 'all the way' and I can continue to refer to it. I love Kay Laurence's book "Clicker obedience" But I also think that Chris Bach's books/ DVDs are miles more helpful than MS

Not sure if this thread has been done before or not (my apologies if it has) but I'm looking for some ideas and games to play with your dogs on a rainy day. Particularly the more 'advanced' tricks given I've done most of the basic ones already. So - list up your favourite trick and a brief 'how to teach'.... I figure this can be a great place for those to look when they are stuck for ideas I'm particularly looking for those that are a little left of field (eg: the handstand ones). If you can get a basic vid up that's even better :D