Mrsdog

Sutherland Obedience has an Agility tryout every second month when dogs are assessed for suitability. They must be 12 months old and able to work off lead, although when they first start they are on lead. I'll find out for you, but would think that the next intake will be February next year. Beginners agility is Wednesday night - 7.30pm. Canine Mans Best Friend class has a beginners agility component in it where dogs get to do all the various obstacles (on lead). I like to get the younger dogs through the tunnel and tyre early while they don't have any fear and they seem to remember this for later on. Before you flame me, this is all encouragement and no dog is forced to do anything. You wouldn't believe how rewarding it is to get that difficult dog through the tunnel. And then of course once he has done it you can't get him to stop! Their owners act like they've won the lottery. :D We do have such fun. :D

Norskgra - I guess you know the address: Waratah Park, just past the swimming pool at Sutherland, athletics and football fields. You'll see the clubhouse. The bad news is: 8.30am on Sunday morning. You would need to come about 8.15 the first time and bring your vaccination certificate. Dog must be four months old. There is a $20 joining fee and then $3 when you attend. We also train Monday and Wednesday nights 7.30pm but there is no-one to register you on these nights, only Sunday mornings. Promise you and your daughter will be very welcome, and doggy will enjoy himself too! Almost forgot - it is up to you if you want to use a check chain. We do have some viable alternatives if you want to try them.

K9 - when all is said and done you get what you pay for. I do private lessons too, but this is quite apart from my association with Sutherland Obedience. There is a place for all different facets of dog training facilities. Sutherland Obedience provides a solution for the vast majority of pet owners who just want a well behaved companion dog. AND we do have UD dogs in the club so there are no limitations on how far you can go with your dog. Anyone out there doing Agility trials will have noticed our large contingent of agility competitors. So I think we are giving good value for this $3 lesson. However, I would be the first to say that a one on one lesson from an experienced trainer is always good value.

Hi Myszka, I know you don't like us at Sutherland but we are really very nice and do our best to help people train their dogs. Remember that we are all volunteers and don't get paid for all the time we give up. We only charge people $3 per lesson, so it is affordable for many people who can't pay out large amounts but still need help with their dogs. Training covers all aspects from pet dogs to obedience trials, agility, clicker training and canine mans best friend. Next year we will be training for flyball. We also have a group of dogs going to nursing homes, performing at fetes and many more. At the present time we have several people finishing off Delta courses, and all instructors do an instructors course based on the Canine Council guidelines. This is just a thumbnail description and I would be only too pleased to answer any queries. By the way, Steve Austin is a former chief instructor of Sutherland Obedience and now and again comes back to talk to us. Something he said at the last visit that I always remember "There are as many ways to train a dog as there are dogs and I am still learning."

One more reason for walking them on both sides is that it straightens out their backbone, particularly for the dogs who have been trained to look up at the handler's face when heeling. This U-shaped heeling sometimes causes spine problems later - so I have read, and heeling them on the other side helps this. AND it does make it much easier for Agility! I have three dogs and while it is possible to walk them all on the left side it is much more convenient to have the biggest one by itself and two smaller together on the other side. Also saves me from having one arm longer than the other. :rolleyes:

Sorry Haven, not scaring them - just a light spray from a spray bottle, not a hose. Haven't had any bad results. Anyway just spray in their direction, would have to be very clever to get them! I am probably the softest dog trainer you will come across. No harm done here.

I really like the water spray bottle, even use it for dogs who get distracted at Agility and want to run off to see other dogs. Just have a strategically placed person with water bottle and they soon get the message. They just look at person with bottle and change their minds. I can tell you some really funny stories about water sprays Where did you decide to do your dog training? I think you are somewhere near me. Anyway, keep up the good work.

I'd like to come too, if there are any spots left. Sounds good. Oh, oh - just realised this is tomorrow - please keep me in mind for next time.

I found out my dog had HD when he was two, he's now five and managing OK. Just wanted to get this in first - it is not necessarily as earth shattering a disease as we think at first - not good but can be managed. He was looking at his hip and growling at it, so I took him to the Vet and had him x-rayed. One hip is quite bad and the other reasonable. I didn't have him hip scored so don't have any numbers to give you. In hindsight he was never a good jumper - even though he did get a couple of passes at Agility. So I think there was always a problem but dogs will always try to give you their best. I think you should take him to the Vet as soon as possible. The sooner you start treatment the better - AND it might not be this and you can set your mind at rest!