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I'm not that close to Ballarat, probably 90 mins away, for a private consult. But I can travel to Ballarat whatever day required for one. What kind of area is appropriate Steve? Would the Dog club area be suitable?

Slightly off-topic.... can anyone tell me what it costs to do the course? Have emailed NDTF but waiting on reply.... just keen to know! :D PM me if you don't want it published on forum

Book me in please for a participant spot please!!! Also interested in having a private lesson if Steve is doing them. Will PM you the moment I finish posting this.....

I feed Darce twice a day - bone for brekky and main meal at night, for two reasons 1) to help keep her metabolism up because she's a bit chubby, and 2) so she has something to do while I got to work (mind you it only lasts her 30 mins at the most!). Dog training Sundays she misses her brekky bone, she gets treats at school and then a Pal Dentabone or pigs ears as reward on the way home in the car! I reckon I've heard/read Steve (K9 Force) refer to a fast being good for them, especially with training

Drumsticks are an issue because of the thin pointy bone that runs along it. Other than that raw chicken is fine (I remove the wishbone from a carcase though - the cats share that! )

I don't notice the funny looks these days :D My neighbours must reckon I'm nuts for talking to the dog all the time. Squeak - I've found a few "funny looks" have been followed by comments on Darcy's good behaviour... I had her in the laundromat one day while putting my clothes in the dryer and I walked out with her on lead. An older couple watched me walk out and continue up the street with her, here I am thinking "oops busted with the dog in the laundromat". It wasn't until I stopped and Darcy auto-sat at the corner that I heard them say "oh look at her she even sits before she crosses the road" that I twigged they were watching how well behaved she was..... I had a big grin for the rest of my walk that morning ;)

Erny - what I was referring to is the people around me.... i.e those within a 1.5 to 2 hour drive of me. I would love to have the opportunity of people like those on this forum at my fingertips "face to face" - but I'm a 3 hour drive from the city. As a result, I have to rely more on people at my "local" dog traning schools (45 minutes away ATM - my last was 1hour+) for the regular "face to face" information and hope to god they are correct in their teaching. I've so far learnt that they aren't always right. As a newbie dog owner back in January (before I joined this forum) I had no idea who was good and who was not so good in terms of books/dog trainers etc... as a result I have several books in my "doggie library" which I've since found are in the not so good category.. i.e Bark Busters Guide to Dog Training :p Which is why I said "good thing I have this forum" Since I have joined this forum, thanks to some good recommendations I now have some very informative books and DVDs, and some idea on who to go to should I decide that I will have a private lesson. Sadly, I have contacted several people on this forum for training/lessons etc, out of 3 people I have attended one workshop several months ago (Thanks Steve!), the second never bothered replying and the third was going to check dates and never heard from again.... Bring on November!! :rolleyes:

Everything - walks around the lake and at the beach, playing, soccer, obedience and agility (will probably drop agility for a bit to work on more basics). Favourite trick - haven't done much trick work but Darcy does do "give me 10" - was supposed to be high 5 but dogs can't count apparently She sits in front of me, I hold out my left hand in front and she launches up and lands both front paws in my left hand..... she just decided that both paws was much more fun Main method of training.... ummm still learning myself so I'm using yes as her "clicker" word, mostly positive (toys and food) and working on drive. I'm not really sure what the difference is between luring/shaping/targetting/capturing so I wouldn't know

Easier said than done, you can also pay heaps for private lessons that are supposedly 'good', only to discover the so called expert was no expert at all and the cost of the private lessons are going to be much more than Adam Katz' book. Touche Pippi - completely agree. Easier said than done to find people who can genuinely help, without waiting months/travelling miles or both. Its certainly not easy to find good information, whether that be in book format, DVD/video or private lessons. Good thing I have this forum....

Thats hysterical :D Thats what he gets for teasing the poor little guy.... where theres a will theres a way!! I remember when I was much younger (farm kids figure it all out pretty quick) a shettie stallion trying desperately to scrabble up the rear end of a clydie mare..... dunno whether he succeeded or not but he was trying his hardest Also a friend just had her ShihtzuX Malt bitch desexed, she was in pup to the mastiff x staffie (only dog that could've done the deed )

I'm happy to take a day off work to attend, means I don't miss my usual Sunday obedience ... also would like to do a private lesson if he's got time! If you're looking for more numbers I can put a flyer up at Warrnambool DOC, some people might travel up.... Wouldn't be until the 13th August though.

Shows that they're not much of an instructor! Given how hard it is to get people to educate themselves and take a dog to obedience, thats disgraceful!! :D Thank god the owner persisted.... she deserves a big for that!

Tell me about it... especially when I'm still having trouble with my left and right

I think with people in lower classes, sometimes they don't know any better, or stuff it up from lack of experience. I know I stuff it up more than I should, often realising just as I've said it and think "bugger - wrong command" or wrong hand signal But as long as we learn from our mistakes In the higher classes, and with more experienced dogs, I reckon people get complacent and then wonder why the dog goes backwards. I believe consistancy is king, regardless of what animal you're training!! My instructor was a bit shocked at how little "training" I do with my dog.... maybe she's just very smart and I'm lucky, but I reckon 5 mins of effective training plus consistant behaviour guidelines is far more effective than 30 minutes of training and then letting the dog get away with murder for the rest of the week..... IMHO anyway

From what I know of drive - sounds like your pup needs more work on drive at home before exposing him to distractions out and about. The distractions are more rewarding than the toy... Initially I found the food more reliable as well, but thats because I cheated and did very little drive building. I still don't do enough - I'm lucky Darcy lets me get away with it! But she can now do a full agility class in drive. I use the toy for agility and food for obedience - don't know whether thats right or not but it seems to be working well at this stage.......

I love that story HR - found it was highly relevant to a group of people I was working with at the time

Thanks Tiggy - Air Dogs now has both on DVD..... have put in my order

If thats the same club I'm thinking it is Clover, they made an announcement about that at the last day I went, that people needed to get in, pay for class and head out of the way because there had been some complaints. I don't know if it would've made any difference or not...

At my previous club you could start agility as long as your dog was 12 months and over. I'm not sure what that included.... At my current club, we have a beginners agility class for young dogs from 6 months up. We're doing basics like focus, following hands, motivation and reward, equipment familiarisation, contacts, tunnels, hurdles (on ground), tyre (on ground) etc. Not allowed to do any jumping until they're 18 months. We also spend some time watching the more advanced dogs and learning things like body language, following courses etc. We're told to erase the word NO from our vocabulary The most important thing is that the dogs enjoy it

Well I didn't end up buying one.... mentioned to Mum what I was after and she gave me her old food processor that she doesn't use anymore. Will see how its goes this arvo....

Is there anywhere I can get the Greg Derrett videos in Australia?

Ok just need to add another "bad" to my club...... The fact thats its not indoors - we got drenched today - I LOVE horizontal rain.... so much fun for training dogs in!

Currently using a blender I had sitting in the cupboard but 1) have to add too much water and 2) its probably too much work for it. What does everyone else use to mush vegies etc for their dogs. Any ideas for something thats not overly pricey.... hoping to get something while in town tomorrow....

I read on here somewhere that its 1 ml per 10 kg bodyweight of linseed oil.... dunno if its the same for fish oil?

I didn't think I'd like it, which is why I didn't start with this club at first..... now I reckon its great!!! 4 weeks on, a few weekends doggy school free (good for you and the dog!) and then another 4 weeks. Because you sign up for the 4 weeks, people take it more seriously and don't miss classes all the time. Highly recommend it! LOL @ noisymina!!! ;)