Adelaide K9 Force Seminar - 8th May

[MsKatie]

I don't feel so bad now huski - I have bought Earl a new chewy toy and a squeaky duck so hope that will keep him busy and content in his crate - we will probably all be very over the squeaking of the duck very quickly though

ETA - must remember the drool towel

Edited May 5, 2010 by KelpieHoundMum

[Pete.the.dog]

I haven't even figured out how to assemble the crate I borrowed for Pete - to the best of my knowledge he's never been in one before - so there is a very real chance he will go nuts in it!!

I'm nervous too - really praying I don't get singled out at the least competent with the worst behaved dog!!!

[Red Fox]

Oh come on SecretKei no negativity about any of it . Just think how brilliant Kei will be and lots of good positive thoughts .

LOL, I will do my best Ness ...Kei is brilliant!! :D (but only when no-ones looking )

SecretKei you're i-squeaks made it back to Adelaide in one piece and have put them with the tickets so I shouldn't forget them!

Looking forward to seeing everyone there

Yay:cheer: Thanks Rivsky I'm really looking forward to seeing Zuma in action!

I don't feel so bad now huski - I have bought Earl a new chewy toy and a squeaky duck so hope that will keep him busy and content in his crate - we will probably all be very over the squeaking of the duck very quickly though

ETA - must remember the drool towel

LOL, Earl can have an i-squeak if you want KHM. I'm sure I dont need 3 of them Oh, and I'm sure lunch will be fine

[Red Fox]

I haven't even figured out how to assemble the crate I borrowed for Pete - to the best of my knowledge he's never been in one before - so there is a very real chance he will go nuts in it!!

I'm nervous too - really praying I don't get singled out at the least competent with the worst behaved dog!!!

Nah you'll be fine, and if not well we will probably be in the naughty corner too so at least you and Pete wont be lonely . As for the crate there will be plenty of doggie people there to help you set it up if you have trouble Did you get a soft crate or a wire one? I'm worried Kei will bust out of his soft crate but there's no way I can fit my c-crate in the car It will be interesting that's for sure!

[Pete.the.dog]

I haven't even figured out how to assemble the crate I borrowed for Pete - to the best of my knowledge he's never been in one before - so there is a very real chance he will go nuts in it!!

I'm nervous too - really praying I don't get singled out at the least competent with the worst behaved dog!!!

Nah you'll be fine, and if not well we will probably be in the naughty corner too so at least you and Pete wont be lonely . As for the crate there will be plenty of doggie people there to help you set it up if you have trouble Did you get a soft crate or a wire one? I'm worried Kei will bust out of his soft crate but there's no way I can fit my c-crate in the car It will be interesting that's for sure!

ohhh the naughty corner! Let's hope Steve works his magic on any misbehaving dog and they are all instantly cured of all problems (kidding Steve!!)

I borrowed a wire one - it's pretty big but I'll be borrowing OH's 4 wheel drive so I should be able to fit Pete + crate

[Red Fox]

You should be fine with a wire crate, they are pretty indestructable

We are driving down to Adelaide in the morning so I have to make sure I have enough room for my stuff as well as dog + dog gear lol. And no 4 wheel drive for me either

[Bully]

That and the worry that lunch will be horrendous and everyone will hate me and wish they had brought their own :D :D

Don't worry, I'm sure that the lunch will be wonderful and there won't be any leftovers for Pele and Ness

[MsKatie]

I'm worried Kei will bust out of his soft crate but there's no way I can fit my c-crate in the car It will be interesting that's for sure!

I have a K9 soft crate so at least if Earl eats his way out of it I can tell Steve its because his product is defective - not because my dog is feral

I'm sure that the lunch will be wonderful and there won't be any leftovers for Pele and Ness

I hope so - but at least if there is lots left we have willing mouths to eat them :D

Edited May 5, 2010 by KelpieHoundMum

[Zug Zug]

Just wanted to say thanks to KelpieHoundMum for arranging the food. I'm sure it will be great, and it's really nice of you to make it so easy for the rest of us!

And for the record, anyone who thinks their dog is going to be the least well-behaved has not met Zamba (my favourite cranky bitch).

But who cares we're there to learn something aren't we? We learn more when we make mistakes, so bring it on!

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I've got the 9am session tomorrow, if anyone wants a laugh. Then again they are supposed to be "private consults".

I've made chocolate fudge slice to keep my sugar level up. And I've got chopped roast chicken for my evil hound. And I haven't had the crate set up in months, so she's not going to enjoy that. We did the mock trial at Para last Sunday, and she was on a tie out peg for the first time ever, and the first time I walked away she pulled it out the ground. Eddie put it back somewhat more securely than Nugget requires. And there was a lot of ear shredding offended? squeally barking when I was walking the course.

Of course she's very happy if she gets to stay in the car. My big crate/handbag. But if it's sunny, that can be a problem. Last time, car was 35'C inside when it was 25'C outside and sunny. Although tomorrow's forecast is for possible showers and 19'C ie about the same as today.

It will be an interesting session if the first thing she does when off lead is play "nyah, nyah, can't catch me". Will be interesting to see how Steve handles that. And be really annoying if she doesn't do it because then I won't learn how to deal with it. That would be just what I need, a perfectly behaved dog, with nothing to correct and nothing to learn. Sigh. Some days are better than others.

At least I know the dunnies should be open or home is not too far for me.

[Red Fox]

Good luck with your consult tomorrow MRB Mine is on Friday afternoon :p

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

practical info for private consults.

Steve parked on the West side of the club rooms. And used the veranda on the footy club & oval side, so we could see our cars from that side. You can't see that space from the car park on the East side.

I didn't get a chance to eat or drink anything. I was glad I got there early enough to do a couple of laps around the footy oval and get my dog toileted and me toileted - for me, we used the disabled toilet - big enough for the dog to come too and very clean. Well now there are dog prints on the floor but clean enough.

There was a lot of just sitting around for the dog, the tramp bed was helpful. Concrete is cold.

A mixture of treats and toys was helpful, just to find out what she liked best. This morning - beef chips which were a tad inconvenient as training rewards, and metwurst won. They beat the ball on a rope.

It will help if you have a cushion or camp chair, the chair that Steve chose was made of metal and sucked heat out. We didn't use the camp table. I didn't get much of a chance to write anything but idid use my lap as table when I needed.

There was a fitness class for an hour on the dog club side. We didn't really notice. And there were several SWF being walked including two that rushed Frosty while their owner said "sorry" but clearly didn't mean it. If Frosty was dog aggressive, both those fluffies would have been dead. Frosty rolled over.

Several other dogs were walked during the time we were there, but did not cause too much of a distraction. Except a boxer that Frosty thought she knew. But she stayed on her tramp and on lead. Frosty also ignored other dogs during the practical session but was pretty keen to find food scraps.

A small family of "locals" wandered through with no sense of personal space. I put Frosty in a drop in case the toddler wanted a pat. Steve ignored them but also suggested I tell them to keep their distance so they don't get bitten. I said that can be bad because there is a lot of bad history with cattle dogs and "locals". Anyway the mum had a good look around the footy club rooms and then cleared off without us saying anything. I've been there several times before and that's the first time I'd seen anyone like that there.

[Pete.the.dog]

Great stuff Rusty... but what about the actual training!?! :D

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

Great stuff Rusty... but what about the actual training!?! :D

It's all "secret" and not to be discussed on internet forums.

Isn't that in the blurb you received?

"Secret" isn't exactly the right word. "Commercial in confidence" maybe?

I'm still not really sure what happened if that helps. And it wasn't exactly fun either. Like a uni lecture in a subject you desperately want to pass but don't quite understand. Frosty gets it better than me. DIMITO - dog is more intelligent than owner.

Edited May 6, 2010 by Mrs Rusty Bucket

[Pete.the.dog]

Great stuff Rusty... but what about the actual training!?!

It's all "secret" and not to be discussed on internet forums.

Isn't that in the blurb you received?

"Secret" isn't exactly the right word. "Commercial in confidence" maybe?

I'm still not really sure what happened if that helps. And it wasn't exactly fun either. Like a uni lecture in a subject you desperately want to pass but don't quite understand. Frosty gets it better than me. DIMITO - dog is more intelligent than owner.

Oh sorry I didn't realise!!

I'm just coming to the big group thing, couldn't afford a private lesson

Like a uni lecture in a subject you desperately want to pass but don't quite understand.

:D ohh dear

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I think the same thing applies to the big group thing too. Then again I could be wrong.

It's in a "training agreement" but normally applies to anything where people make money out of what they know rather than a hands on tangible thing they sell. Although you're still expected not to go out and copy the thing they sell and sell it too.

It's very common in the IT industry.

Anyway hopefully the followup support will clear the fog for me.

[Kynan]

Thanks for the tips Mrs RB :D I would not have thought to take something for the dog to lie on at the private consult. Will definately take Kynan's mat tomorrow for our session. Glad that there where a few distractions there and hopefully there will be some for us tomorrow as that is one of our problems. I am very excited about seeing Steve tomorrow but also a little scared. Perhaps I might get my OH to come too so he can be my scribe and take notes for me.

[Bully]

That would be just what I need, a perfectly behaved dog, with nothing to correct and nothing to learn. Sigh. Some days are better than others.

Murphy's Law isn't it :D Good luck and enjoy, and should I say that hope Frosty's on her worst behaviour :D

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

I think I would have liked a recorder, because Steve talked so fast.

I found nothing to be scared of. Steve is friendly. Frosty liked him, which is always a good indicator to me.

We didn't do much practical with distractions. Then again Frosty isn't always naughty. Only sometimes. The "locals" were more distracting for me than Steve or Frosty. We did test Frosty with toy and food, and I was able to get her attention with food from Steve. Didn't try swapping it. Then again she is my dog, so if I can't distract her from him, I'd regard that as a problem.

Eddie - my agility instructor said "I'm taking Frosty home", last night, and I said "off you go" and he said - "oh she's coming with me, too" and I said "is she?" and walked away, and that was it, Frosty tried to pull his arm off. I can't be sure she'd do that every time with everyone though. She has learned to sit quietly with anyone while I go inside the dog club. We've practiced that one. But she was only happy to go with Eddie as long as I went too.

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

Frosty behaved very well and didn't try to nick off once. And came every time she was called.

If only Steve had seen our effort in the tunnels run last Sunday.