Lja1302

Hi, I am having a humping problem with my 5month old BC. Ollie doesn't hump inanimate objects though, just other dogs. He did it once when he was 9 weeks at puppy preschool and I nearly died of embarrassment Our school said that he's too young to know what it actually meant and that he's just overstimulated from playing. I was told to just pick him up and calm him down for a little while and then he can go play again. This seemed to work but recently I've noticed that he's started doing this more and more frequently but only with dogs that he knows he can beat in play. He has never tried to hump bigger dogs, only smaller ones, is this a dominance thing? I'm not sure how to train him out of this and it requires me to watch him like a hawk when he's playing with other dogs. He's being desexed next month, should this have an impact? Thanks! Lauren

Hi, I've been looking around recently for some basic agility stuff for my BC pup to try and came across the RSPCA courses. They have a pre-sports class starting at 6months about drive and the basics and then two levels of agility classes. Has anyone tried these? Thanks!

Thanks guys! Ill look into the books and DVDs- its a shame they have to post it all the way from the US! Im heading down to the Agility Trials at Durack next weekend to have a bit of a sticky beak as well

Yeah the boys of the household voted for Spin (Mainly because they want to make the command word 360 lol)

Clicker training (or shaping) is so much fun & my BC just loves it. Basically you need a clicker & some small yummy treats. First charge your clicker (put value on it) by tossing a treat & when pup reaches it..click just before he picks it up...keep repeating this & soon he will associate the click with the treat. Then you can use the clicker/treats to shape behaviors. ie. if you want to teach him to shake..1/ click & treat when he sits..2/ touch his front leg, click & treat when he starts to lift his leg 3/ repeat clicking only the behavior you want until he is putting his paw in your hand when you offer it. You are basically shaping his behaviour tiny bit by tiny bit until the light bulb goes off, then party, party. When you are sure he knows what you want then you can put a verbal cue to it. Of course you don't do all of this in one session...break it up. You will probably need a bit of patience & go slow with the first trick, but after that being a BC ;) he will catch on to the game & offer behaviors when he knows it is "clicker time"....that is why I never taught my girl to toilet using the clicker method lol!! That could end up a little messy I might pick one up tomorrow and have a go with him. They haven't mentioned anything at puppy preschool about clickers but they didn't go into a lot of detail with crate training either which I thought was a bit odd. I will let you know how we go with using it for shake but, we've been trying to work on his water issues this week (I have the only border collie in history terrified of water I'm sure of it! ) We're slowly making improvements, in the mean time I have a grubby puppy

I've had a look at some of the local ones but the earliest is 11months to take him to start properly. I wasn't sure if there was something that lays down the foundation before they start jumping etc.

Hi, Im looking at getting my BC puppy into agility and maybe flyball (later on down the track). He's only 17 weeks at the moment and has been doing pretty well at obedience classes. Is there a step between basic obedience and agility (Is he still too young to be jumping that much?) I'm only learning about it all so if there are classes that's a bonus I appreciate any advice on this...Thanks!

What about shake hands...that's easy. I am finding Bow a bit hard to teach my BC even though she knows a bag full of tricks. Are you clicker training him??? No, I've never tired clicker training, we've just been working with hand signals and fading the lure. I'd like to learn more about it though. How did you get into clicker training? I think shake hands might be a good place to start tomorrow, he's tuckered this afternoon after working so well for me this morning for me at preschool lol.

Hi, I have a 17week BC and next week in Puppy Preschool we need to bring a trick along with us. Just something simple but I'm not exactly sure what to teach Ollie. I was thinking maybe a bow or a beg. He already sits, lies down, stay's and goes to his mat on command. Any suggestions?

There's a great "mobile animal chiropractor" in Qld - might not be a breed problem but the mum may have just stepped on the pups in the litter as the symptoms being displayed sound like those associated with having a pinched nerve (slipping over, being dropped, being stepped on...can cause this) and once pinched nerves are released with chiropractic adjustments movement will return to normal. With pinched nerves nothing else will release them apart from chiropractic adjustments....well not that I've had success with with my dog! I would always get any new dog that I have come into my life adjusted by my mobile animal chiropractor from 3 months of age to ensure they grow properly and dont adust the way they walk to avoid pain and end up with muscle wastage....best of luck! Thanks so much, I'll look into him for Ollie. I'll feel better being safe than sorry.

Thanks so much everyone. Im going to give him a month or two and see how he goes. He doesn't do it all the time so i just going to keep watching him. Yeah, we're thinking of getting a second BC in two years (provided we're ready for one) and we'll definitely go through a registered breeder next time. It will just give us that piece of mind i think.

Oh my goodness puppy Elbie was adorable!! How did you ever say no to those eyes?

I've noticed lately that when Ollie (my 14wk BC) starts to run that his back legs run a little sideways i guess. That doesnt really explain it very well. We've taken him to the vets a few times (getting immunised etc) and she seems to think he's fine. I'm not sure if its because hes just excited and his back legs are running faster than his front ones lol or if there is something wrong with him We bought him from a backyard breeder so his parents weren't hip scored- i dont know if this is why ive even noticed it and im over reacting a little or not. If anyone has any input that would be great. Thanks

Thanks everyone! I will get started with him tonight lol. I wish this rain would stop, we gave him a bath only yesterday and this morning he looked like a mud monster

We have a 10 week old BC and he answers to his name, sits on command (and off command with a "do i get a treat for this" look lol) but we are trying to teach him stay and I'm just not sure on how to go about it? I can take one step away but then he just runs towards me and sits again lol. Any ideas?