bridgie_cat

very odd sounding... off lead run before you got there? why did he have to restrain her in the first place (or are you referring to her pulling on the lead?) If she went down there happily (ie not trying to go home the whole time) and had a sudden desire to run home - me thinks either got frightened by something OR heard something/saw something that needed chasing behind you and then went all the way home... if it was a FEAR reaction - that can be harder to train a recall on... - if it was a "OH - that looks like more fun than you - im gonna go chase it!" - then certainly this will/should stop with propper training...

haha - discount one vote from the 3mnth section! I meant ASAP and assumed youngest would be at the top (note to self: read ALL the answers! ) The basics should be started as soon as you get the puppy home! It is not about teaching it anything specific at this stage - but it is teaching it about listening to you & developing the correct mentality towards training - sorta like all that learning to learn poop they teach you at school - but you are teaching the puppy how to train - doesnt matter what it learns - just that it DOES learn something! Bridget

FOUND IT!

just remember that IF you fluff it DONT pull out of the rest of the stuff! All of it is experience! AND no matter how bad you or your dog goes (and most will be really distracted at their first trial) stay positive and finish REALLY happy! Make trialing FUN! Goodluck if you decide to go despite the weather!

go - maybe weather will clear up - you never know - but also, most ppl dont do much at their first trial due to inexperience, nerves etc etc (not because the dog isnt trained!) - me and Lana certainly did that - so go for the exp and get the first daunting one out of the way!

would be interested to hear if anyone has healthy & IRRESISTABLE treat ideas - I use bbq chicken & sometimes sausage (although sausage in moderation because of the salt) - found these great jer-hi treats that were made out of chicken meat but came in easy to use sticks - Lana loves them - but I think being a jerki type meat they must be full of salt.. does not have salt content on pack which is annoying... as far as recipes... would have to say the most successful for me has been Norskgra's liver bread... is on a thread somewhere but not having any luck finding it atm Bridget

JP - what method are you using?

I am not dead against FR - just would prefer a dif method. Both I think would work with Lana - where some dogs I think would not do FR and some would not learn by the clicker method.

our club does the forced method - and Lana being the slightly more outgoing, headstrong sheltie that she is would PROBABLY put up with this - but it would not be a happy training for either of us and I would much rather that she was keen to do it than that she did it because I said so... thus we are just starting now with the clicker training - dont technically own a dumbell yet but got my first set of scent items the other week and am rotating her on these things (ie metal, wood, leather) just getting her to grab them and hopefully will build time as she builds confidence with the exercise...

are you saying your pup is from a singleton litter? or that he is the only puppy in your house?

we fed our last dog a fish eye when we were little... the other eye from that fish was eaten by our visiting cousin on a dare... :D

not sure if you are refering to my comment about the overweight dogs... but will reiterate in here anyways the majority of the dogs, the majority of the time, will jump a height that is under what they would jump in competition. The weeks coming up to a trial (now we have trials at the start and end of the year which is why we have pre-trial weeks, unlike all year round trials like in the city.) the dogs will then jump their own height. ALSO dogs that are infamous for dropping bars will jump at their own height during training. This is both so they dont get lazy on a lower height and also so dog and handler get used to lining up jumps correctly to minimise chance of dropping bars. Bridget

certainly we have overweight dogs coming through our club and the instructors always talk to the owners about adjusting diets etc. We had one such dog training in agility - the dog was not stopped but the instructors made sure (through constant nagging) that an effort was made to take off the extra weight. dog clubs should be about educating owners in how to look after their dogs (like diet etc) as much as it is about training them. Whilst there is the damage being done to ligaments through jumping an overweight dog, I think the importance of keeping dog and owner in a positive learning environment outweighed this - had they been stopped from training in agility it is highly likely that #1 the owner would have gone home and made no effort with the weight prob as there was noone checking progress/nagging etc AND #2 would have gone away with a negative attitude towards the club and would be unlikely to come back, which is bad for the dog because training would also be exercise, socialising & further education for the owner! we do train at lower jumping heights than would be at competition for each dog up until pre trialing weeks as a general rule (exceptions being the fit dogs that are already trialing and have bar knocking tendencies)

Hello! I was hoping that someone might be able to explain the different back end titles in america... ie what each stands for, what order they are earnt in and how they are acheived (like ours = three passes but I think Eng requires a win somewhere?? etc...) Thanks! Bridget

first off - all manner of dogs at dog schools - ie rescue, show, working etc and if anything you will get praise for rescuing! Most instructors should have enough sense to not allow dogs to jump on each other in class... but if you are worried then go along to the school you are thinking of joining and watch the beginer class & what is involved etc - of course the way to stop other dogs from jumping on your dog is to make sure you keep a safe distance from the ones that lunge etc... ie dog sports - is all about finding what motivates him... you CAN build toy drive if you want him to chase balls as a reward for doing agility or similar... but as a starting point you should find a toy he already LOVES or a food he will do backflips for and use this in training... Dif schools use dif training methods & clicker training is something that (if you dont already know how) needs some instruction to be done correctly so I would go along and let the instructors show you how they train & if you are interested in a method they are not teaching in class then ask them about it - a lot of experienced trainers know the other methods even if they dont use them on their own dogs or teach them in class and they should be happy to explain them to you. as to pulling on lead... they will teach you how to get the dog walking on a loose lead - after that it is all about consistency on your part. If you dont want him pulling the lead EVER, then never accept his pulling. Go back to the training method each time he pulls. If he never gets away with it he will try less and less. This is the same with any behaviour/house rules/doggie manners. You say what goes and be consistent and he will learn the rules. Lower grades are full of dogs & puppies that know nothing so there is not such thing as too early to join. Bridget

agility training is fun even if you dont get to trialing ever... obed can be done much older obviously. Whether you start now or in 6months really isnt a huge difference. As far as how old is too old - each dog is different (there may have been a thread on age earlier?? not sure) and it is definitely a thing that you will be able to tell for yourself when she has had enough of jumping. Either way I think it is worth giving a go once things settle with your baby! Dont stress about the break in training (no. 1 you will have much bigger things on you mind!) - it is amazing how fast they get back to their previous level after a long break! Otherwise, is your OH interested in taking her to class at all? Wouldnt have to be full on training, but just enough that she doesnt get rusty? Anyways - dont stress! Bridget

Hey again! So despite the fact that we are NO WHERE NEAR being ready to pass an agility course... I was planning to go watch & decided since im gonna be there... may as well have a run! More interesting competing and watching than it is just watching! Definitely just for my experience & focus will be to make sure I dont make it a negative one for Lana! Anyways - since the main objective is to go and watch the smart doggies do it... who will be there from DOL? We are entered in everything novice... but may or may not run them all - depends on what she feels like! Bridget

:D so sorry to hear about this hesa. My thoughts are with you and Cara's family. I cannot imagine (and do not want to imagine) what they are going through at the moment. Bridget

ok so we competed today (couldnt be bothered opening new topic so thought I would chuck it in here!) oh it was heart breaking stuff... we were on top score after the heel work (27) and would have ended up equal first... she did a perfect stand even though she was a little sus about having this new judge pet her... but... the recal called her name... then a dog in a yard behind her started barking (ok a well trained dog should be able to ignore - but not Lana!) - after that she wasnt watching... waited for a bit... tried the call... nothing! It took three calls to get her to come - and when she realised she came racing in! but it was a DQ. Oh well!

haha - breathe? I keep forgeting that bit nah - my club only does the local stuff & a couple of the bigger agility trials (if I waited for a friend I wouldnt be doing first trial until the end of the year!) - not too many keen enough to travel for obed... only 2 that are just got CD so not trialing in next grade for ages!!! im destined to be a nige! oh well... Ness - good luck at combined - we are not trialing again until august as after this w/e we are going on a holiday to Sydney and QLD! THEME PARKS! WOOHOO!!! ... in aug im thinking... herding instinct test on the 4th... maybe agility same day?? not sure - depends on timing... but also GSD obed trial on the 5th! eta - CCD judge = mrs K Mitchell

yup - Lana did this once... she is big on the scrounging through the rubish thing and someone accidentaly put a soaky thing into the recycling which is easy access for a determined pooch - watched her etc but she didnt seem to have any side effects - no idea what is in them though! was very worried at the time...

thanks CM but noone from DOL is coming?! NOOO - IM GONNA BE A NIGE!!!

Chello, Just wondering if any DOLers are going to compete... or watch... the gawler trial on the 1st july... me and Lana are entering out first CCD (first ever trial even) so should be... interesting at least! Bridget

can photoshop be downloaded or is it on a CD? thinking we had it at some point... but not on this computer...

similar prob here but dif behaviour - Lana jumps up on me all the time but not mum - simple reason is that Mum made it clear (not by being overly forceful etc - just wouldnt put up with it - ignoring, pushing down, saying "NO") from day 1 that she was NOT to be jumped on. So Lana knows this is not ok with her - I may tell her no... but I dont really mean it! and she knows it! But not such an issue as the biting... just = dirty clothes if shes been playing in the mud! How this relates to you... just stick to your rules and be consistent and she will get it eventually - as you say she likes playing with you etc - as soon as you are bitten in a game... the game stops. If she bites you any other time - she is put outside... her actions must have a consistent consequence - doesnt have to be overly extreme - just consistent. It can take time depending on how stubborn the dog - but eventually they will get it. DONT hold grudges. The biting has a punishment and then after a short time she is given another chance to have fun and be in the good books. When it happens again - just a NO and she goes back outside.