superminty

Hi all. I have half an idea to train for and do an endurance test with my kelpie some time this year. I am considering purchasing either a Springer or a Walky Dog attachment for training (yes I know they can't be used in the actual test) and am interested in the pros and cons of both. Has anyone got any experience with either of these? A search of previous threads on this topic didn't shed any light on the safety features or indicate any preference for one over the other. For general information (if it helps), my dog is well behaved on lead, does tend to run a little in front of me (when we jog) but doesn't pull or lunge (for the most part). He gets in a "zone" when we jog and pretty much just ignores everything around him, just concentrates on his stride. Can either of these attachments be set to stop the dog getting in front of the front wheel? i.e. can you set the length of lead the dog gets? Any feedback much appreciated. Cheers Superminty

I have an associate: Minty CD AD JDX HSA(s) (2 passes towards JDM and JDO) and a working kelpie: Cash Me if You Can PT I love that Minty has more title letters than letters in her name!

My boy will not back sheep - he'd rather go under. If you put him up there, he dives off asap. He does "ride" sheep sometimes though but the back feet always stay on the ground

My kelpie spends a lot of time on top of the picnic table in our yard. My theory: it enables him to survey "his" domain. He is very territorial. We have a gate that stops the dogs running down the side after Cash made a habit of barking at passers by. So now he stands on the table and barks at them over the gate. Having said that, both dogs sleep on the table in the sun from time to time. Best sunbaking spot in the yard

Love it when they say this - I usually look baffled for a bit and then it dawns - oh yeah, we did HEAPS of work (NOT!!) I reckon my dogs read training books secretly over summer - they always come back to training knowing things I swear I never taught them Case in point (and the whole reason for this post): Cash had his first go working ducks on the weekend. I have always been nervous about putting him on them as he is a bird catcher at home and thought we might end up with more than ruffled feathers. Well: proved me wrong didn't he? He worked like a superstar - he was relaxed and serious and thinking about what he was doing. Got to balance and held it (something he rarely does on sheep), adjusted himself as necessary with no help from me, backed off when he needed to but was happy to come in close too. He just seemed to find the exact amount of pressure required to get those little quckers moving without panicking them. And when he needed to cover he took the pressure right off, all on his own. And no duck munching He also had a go on cattle and had a ball (although having 30 head of not very small beasts heading your way is a bit nerve wracking ) So we may have a chance to trial on ducks this year. I was really impressed. If only he worked like that on the sheepies! Brag over, hopefully more to come though

I got one too, you're not alone My boy IS dominant, arrogant, you name it. Aversives didn't work to stop his jumping as he was more likely to respond with back chat - sort of "come on, make me stop jumping!". Checking the leadership did the trick with him - no greeting him until he was calm, I initiate all contact and ignore him if he's being a pest. Initially if the jumping persisted, I walked away, no eye contact, no reaction at all, he lost his chance to interact for a few minutes (my dogs live outside so this is easy for me, I just go inside). I would then try again, call him over once calm and ask for a sit/drop/whatever. He now throws sits at me for attention (smart dog still knows how to manipulate me ) and only jumps (on me, that is) when invited. He will still jump on anyone that shows him the slightest encouragement, even if that is only eye contact. When we greet someone, I ask them to please completely ignore him if they dont want him to jump on them. Then when he is calm and offering sits, they can greet him. My elderly aunt (who is not dog savvy at all and is actually a little afraid of them) is able to spend time outside with the dogs without getting knocked over using the method I did. Mind you, all you really need to do is carry a tape measure with you and the kelpie runs a mile! Scary

Thanks for your replies everyone. dogdude: I was planning on picking both your brain and Rino's at training in the near future but was hoping you'd drop into this thread and give me some ideas, thanks. It was watching you guys at training on Sunday that prompted me to get a move on. Interesting that you say Oscar isn't super drivey as he looks great when he's working and has the kind of attention I am after with my boy. Be prepared to be interrogated in the near future

Hi all Just wondering whether anyone could recommend some resources (books, DVDs etc) that cover: 1) building food drive and/or 2) teaching competitive heeling using food. I have a 2 year old kelpie who isn't that interested in toys but loves his food, however the few attempts I have made at shaping/capturing the heel position (using a clicker) have resulted in him lagging. He also side tracks which drives me crazy! Thanks!

Is Steve going to do any private consults while he is down?

;) :D :D :cool: Does that quite express how I feel after meeting and working with Lynn? It was the most amazing experience of my doggy life, I learnt more in 2 days with her than in the last 12 months. Seriously amazing! Wow. I have been getting mighty frustrated lately, not knowing what I needed to be doing with my boy to get him past a few sticking points. Within the first 2 hours with Lynn, I understood what we needed to do. Some of the stuff Lynn talked about seemed so obvious when she pointed it out but no-one has ever made it clear like she did. I don't think my jaw got off the ground for the entire 2 days! I think I am a little in love Wow. Can't wrap it up enough. Weather: must've been 35 + on Tuesday and around 13 on Wednesday ;) At least with the rain (constant) on Wed, there were no flies!

Yep, I went. Had our first run in encouragement sheep and got 86, he worked ok. The judge was just saying how keen Cash was when he jumped the fence into the holding pen as I was closing the gate Little devil :rolleyes: It was sopping wet on Sunday so we didn't stick around, as far as I know the trial was still running but it was going to be pretty miserable. Shame coz I was gonna enter novice sheep, city slickers, VCA style and dog idol (had some great tricks to show off) A lot of people had a look on Sunday and left again, just too rainy.

Congrats Mrs D on your qually in A course! Nerves are the worst, aren't they? I have to just stop talking as I forget all my commands and end up confusing my dog. Kinda lucky Cash doesn't have commands on him yet so I have to just let him do his thing. Do tell about B course, c'mon, I want to know what free standing penning is like as I hope to do B course with Cash in the new year. Please?

If you can, try and get along to one of the herding clinics run by Four Paws - they are geared at those just starting out and will teach you a lot about what YOU need to do to help your dog (coz the dogs know most of it already!) Four Paws herding clinics Take your Mum Get her in there working the dog, she might get the bug too, ya never know Once she sees Abbie working, she might change her mind. That dog's got it!

Yep, yard trials are on the cards once I have more time. I still don't think the ANKC style of stock work is really his thing but it's good trialling experience. I need to work on his distance, he works quite upright and in too close, but that may still be the puppy in him (only 18 months after all). Still VERY immature! He's a lot better in the yards, much quieter. Gets a little loony out in the paddock with only three sheep. Might enter encouragement at Welshpool this year just to see how he goes. And city slickers again, of course

Well, another beautiful day for sheeping! Cash got his two PT passes, although he was a bit feral and did at one point get a spot of sheep-humping in He then got high in PT under Colin Webster and overall high in PT for the day. So I'm pretty proud of my clever boy. Good to see indi_dog again and got to meet t(ad)pole and her lovely super-star-to-be, Abbie! She rocked, once she worked out there were sheep in the ring! Good job Aussie Shep club, very nicely run. jesomil - how'd you go Saturday?

We're going Sunday, entered in PT x 2. Cash hasn't seen sheep since the last trial, so I think he may be a little feral

Don't know about anyone else but the main reason I use a crook is to keep my hands busy so I don't give my dog too many mixed signals, me being the novice I am. Chucking hands out left right and centre only confuses the dog and happens all too much in trial sitations where the nerves get the better of you. I prefer to allow Cash to learn to read his stock and work them accordingly. Once he has that down pat, I will impose my will upon him more often I haven't put sides on him yet so I use it to keep him off the head (he is known as a "heading" dog, so always wants to be there, regardless of whether the "head" is "heading" nicely into the pen ). I use it in training as a arm extension/command enforcer (and no, I don't hit my dog with it ). Cash has soooo much drive and enthusiasm that I would have a lot less control without it at this early stage in his training. Later down the track I will certainly give it the flick once we've established a bit more control and got the commands happening. Technically however, the crook is an aid in moving stock and really has nothing to do with the dog

I am able to pick my own up but have a very small car and nowhere to store them so probably can't pick up anyone else's.

Any updates? Anyone heard anything? Natalie, I have PMed you twice.

Thanks indi_dog. Cash is swanning around the yard looking all pleased with himself coz he proved Mum wrong - he CAN stop! He always does this, just as I convince everyone that he is the devil incarnate, he comes out and does something right! You've got a lot of dog to work with Indi there, she's super speedy! Sure you'll be right with those stops once the footing gets a bit easier :rolleyes:

Here are a few videos of Cash doing his tricks. These are all a work in progress - all free shaped with a clicker/treats, just aiming for consistency and reliability now. At the moment he tends to offer them to me all at once, one after the other, or combined (very entertaining!).

Any news on the turkey necks? Cheers

I've entered Cash in PT on Sunday only, should be interesting, he really is a livewire. Been working really well but just will not stop! I've been getting pretty fit though from chasing him around the paddock trying to catch the little bugger See ya there! Fingers crossed for weather. Mud makes it even harder to tackle slippery kelpies ;)

Just bumping this up in case anyone else is interested. Looks like we will be getting a delivery to Melbourne as there are a few of us that are happy to share petrol costs.

I'd like a 15 kg box of necks. Happy to pick up myself but if there has been any more interest from other Melbournites, am also happy to share costs of petrol to have them delivered.