leopuppy04

LOL - Thanks Shelly Beggs - I love Kinta but the judges didn't this week . Frustrating coz she comes so close - I think this is her 4th or 5th Reserve Challenge in a row (good, but no points!). Both judges on the weekend were tossing between her and the other girl(s) - but always went to the other Yeah - Cricket is her 1/2 Brother - both are sired by "Gr CH Leesway Smokin Ash"

I won't be there tomorrow but make sure you come and say hi to me - I have the two aussies staked outside the trial ring ;)

Connor is gorgeous! I didn't know he was Brock's Grandad! Their other BC Daina is a real sweetie too.... But i'm a sucker for the aussies

How long after she jumps off the couch are you rewarding her? If immediately I have a feeling she is doing it to get your attention - not to mention - she is one very smart cookie that has learnt to link behaviours together..... Mum not paying attention to me - jump on couch - get attention - get a reward. So even though it has a slight negative connotation to it, jumping on the couch is still a little rewarding for her. Try rewarding her around the house for doing things that YOU want her to do - lying quietly, on a mat, chewing the right toys etc. If she jumps on the couch - give her a stern "off" or whatever command you wish and ignore her after she gets off until she settles in the "right" spot and then lavish her with praise. make sense?

Don't forget to spot all the gorgeous Aussies too

I highly recommend CDODC

Yes, I find that too Amhailte - Often people wonder why my dogs have soo much fun but I take regular breaks with them in class and we play hard ..... I think seeing one person do it though encourages others too as well....

Curious question.... I have noticed that some people say that their dogs *hate* obedience or never really enjoyed it.... I am sure many of you have heard that before too.. Why do you think that is? Do you think it is actually the dog not liking it or the handler having a reservation to doing obedience itself?

Great for training treats - they are good coz they don't get too mushy and the dogs love 'em. Easy to cut up / freeze too Your hands do get a bit smelly though.... but that is the only way I have used them

In this, I do see the practicalities that can be attributed to 'real life' - well, at least part-way assimilated to it anyway. I often used a sit or drop stay with my girl. I've used it at an off-leash park so that I could literally body-guard her from a seemingly ownerless dog who was trying to "go" her. I've used it so I could catch another "ownerless" dog in another park. I've used it so I could go over to speak to a person and their dog, but didn't want Kal in too close to that dog. I've used it to let people in the gateway to my property so that she didn't accidentally get in the way. The "line-up" of other dogs and handlers bears some reflection on a dog in "stay" when other dogs are around and when other people are around (distractions). I've used the sit and drop stay whilst other owners recall their dogs to them from that line up. IMO, there is nothing wrong with this type of training and it can apply itself in practical ways in 'real life', provided that in the training "real life" assimilies are proofed for. But with the "heel" - I don't see the practicalities of a dog who can't see what it might be walking into or falling over, for the want of looking to the clouds. I don't see the practicalities of a dog who is working in opposition to its natural skeletal and muscular design. I don't see the practicalities of a dog who 'wraps' to the extent that the owner is inhibited in any way (physically and mentally). Not wishing to go completely but just wanted to answer this :D. In terms of the stays - yep - I agree that you want the dog to be able to do that - but it is unlikely, except in a training sense that you would have a line of dogs in a stay with a line of handlers looking at the dogs (whether directly or not..).... You almost always ask your dogs to 'stay' in preparation for you being distracted (going to talk to someone else, retrieving another dog, cleaning up/ putting up equipment etc). So because you are constantly moving - not standing there 'staring' (ie: standing still and looking in the direction of the dog) at it, the context has changed .... thats my opinion anyway I do understand what you are trying to say Erny - but I guess I see the heelwork as a 'teamwork' building exercise - the dog must trust you that you aren't going to walk into them, lead them into a brick wall, down a hole or whatever else you may come across ... To me it is the 'ultimate' trust that the dog will be willing to focus purely on you (and no, not necessarily in 'wrapping') and trusting wherever you lead them. In terms of the skeletal and muscular design - ok - again, for extended periods it could pose a problem.... but the heelwork exercise in the ring is all of 2-3 minutes (although it does feel like 2 hours in there !).... training also wouldn't consist of long heeling patterns. Lots of breaks in between etc. On top of that - as PAX said - you strengthen the muscles in the neck - and heel on both sides.... all you end up with is a dog with very strong neck muscles I guess. I find that once dogs find the 'heelwork' rewarding, they will naturally want to look up at you also - and it is something I encourage. I would only use this form of heelwork in training and the ring. If I wanted my dog to walk close to me in a public outing, i'll just tell them 'with me' which limits the extent they can venture away from me- whether off lead or on. Also - perhaps I haven't been around enough - but I honestly haven't noticed a dog with an unsteady gait from this form of heeling, unless the owner has actually taught the dog to 'prance' (and some do!). Just my thoughts ETA - just to clarify - the type of heeling I am after is one like Kavik's pic

ugh - those weavers

The ASCV run a herding clinic once a month - but I think it is on hold for the time being - any 'herding' breed is allowed to come - abut $20 for the day :D. Usually at KCC park. http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/vicherd...yguid=221876055 yahoo list dedicated to herding

Exactly the same as a ribbon trial (but you have to be members of that particular club) - you get ribbons/ trophies etc, but the scores don't count toward your title

Amhalite - yes - the NZ work is based heavily on UK - i'm learning about it through a training friend who recently moved to NZ from Oz (well... UK if you want to get technical :D). I agree - what part of 'obedience trialling' is practical? I don't see it in a 'practical' sense - I mean - when is a dog ever going to be sitting there waiting for you to call them? Likewise - when will we every command a sit-stay for 1 min with a whole line of other dogs and a line of handlers at the other end ! It is a sport to me - something that we can use for a 'basis' of control around the home.... but definitely not a sole 'practical' exercise. In arguments to other sports - I find that my dogs distinguish between what we are doing - be it agility, showing or obedience.... or even tricks for that matter ;). It may take a little extra training on your part, but it works

would have loved to but can't - entered in 2 shows and didn't have the finances

OMG - how exciting!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS Weisnjac oh - and what Sway said !

Completely forgot about this thread! :p More aussie brags from the weekend!!! My 11mth old girl - ELLAGANT FULL OF ANTICS aka Kinta walked away with a Reserve Challenge and *PUPPY IN GROUP* on our Saturday show. What is even better is her 1/2 brother (on the sire's side) walked away with a BEST IN GROUP!!!!! It was a huge thrill for his owners - and the first Aussies that has won a BIG at a show I have been at .... very exciting. here are some piccies (from the Aussie photo thread): Cricket: Kinta:

Bit further out from blackburn - but Croydon obedience dog club is really good: www.cdodc.com.au

Me too Kavik - it looks lovely! i've never had a problem with focus in agility either - they aren't looking at me etc, but he is very aware of my body language :p

But if THEY ALL came up NQ's then no one wins. You can't say you won if you were NQ but still had the highest score. Thats like saying you won you show class, but you were the only one in it Steven Bradbury ring a bell anyone Sway - obedience/ agility scoring is very different to showing. In showing they are against a standard, so naturally a 6pt-er doesn't feel like much coz you didn't have to beat anything to get it But for agility and obedience, ONE minor error and bang - you are out! For example - Leo ran brilliantly for me at our last agility trial, yet only got one qualie coz in every other round he clipped ONE bar..... frustrating, but that is life. Same with obedience - one minor error and you are out. If your dog shakes in the middle of an exam in the show ring, or moves a foot - you aren't penelised - If your dog does the same thing in the obedience ring - you can kiss the pass card goodbye. Particularly in the higher classes, it is not uncommon for NO dog to gain a pass - it is Bl**dy hard work! I still think they should be rewarded for their efforts witha 1st, 2nd or 3rd as they are still the top 3 dogs there ON that day . So this is a members trial - introducing the members to the world of trialling. I say GO COSMOLO for doing so well (pass or not!) and I can't wait to see you around the trial rings. Now you know that she CAN do it and once you fix up/ proof those minor errors you will be blitzing the rings . As for nerves - I am incredibly nervous too - almost sick to my stomach. I find that agility is not as nerve racking coz you are actually moving with your dog and can't 'dwell' on the mistakes. So Agility my nerves are at bay. Don't worry what anyone else thinks of you - anyone trialling knows how easy it is to miss a pass - i'm sure most people will be sitting there in awe of how good your dog is :p ETA; in terms of you getting 198 & 2nd place and the two other rings scoring lower, or even NQ - you can't compare the scores - different judges judge differently. You can't really compare as their heeling pattern might be a lot harder, their scoring more strict etc.... If I came home witha 198 and 2nd place - I wouldn't be crying about the 2nd place, I'd be yelling and screaming coz I got such a darned good score!!! Just be happy with what you and your dog can achieve and see it as a testament of your hard work!

Me too - I couldn't live with myself if just coz I missed the worming (ie: did them every 12mths etc) that my dead dog was my fault

Hmmm... don't think a club NEEDS to be affiliated with NDTF - there are many, many training bodies. I agree with what Kavik said - it depends on what you want to do . I train at a club that is affilited with the VCA - can't fault them You will find one main difference... clubs associated with NDTF will usually have qualified trainers from the NDTF course. Clubs not affiliated, particularly if they are with the VCA - means they are more likely not-for-profit and have volunteers - doesn't mean it is any less quality as some 'volunteer' instructors might be breeders, trainers themselves or have been trialling for 20+ years!!

Once the entry dates have closed - you can't change your class (catalogues written etc). So if you got your CCD on the Sat - you would either enter CCD again on Sun or scratch. That is how I ended up with 5 CCD passes . nothing like absence nerves making you work better ;! lol yep i didnt word that very well. i ment that say if u needed 1 pass and got it ,scratch on sunday or do ccd again just for the fun of it.. lol ohh der u obviously couldnt enter novice of u hadnt got the last pass..lol 5 ccd passes. lol well done LOL - yeah i knew what you meant - but you can enter Novice before getting your CCD title - it isn't necessary, but a good 'step' before going in the 'off lead' bits . but If you did get your title on the Sat for example, you can only move up a class if entry dates haven't closed... that make more sense?

Once the entry dates have closed - you can't change your class (catalogues written etc). So if you got your CCD on the Sat - you would either enter CCD again on Sun or scratch. That is how I ended up with 5 CCD passes . nothing like absence nerves making you work better ;!

bear - novice only has a 1min sit-stay also