JulesP

You have totally no idea what was going on or if the dog even belonged to the person in the car. Talk about jumping to a big conclusion.

Steroid creams (neocort) aren't supposed to work on food allergy symptoms. I certainly found that the case with my girl. If she had itchies because of the wandering jew neocort worked but not when the itchies were because of food. Antihistamines are weird. They work on my pollen, air-born allergies but do totally nothing for my skin allergies. That includes the old generation antihistamines like Polaramine.

Border collie puppies!!

I had a private lesson with Basil about 20 years ago! With my first border who liked to eat my garden. I enjoyed the session. Other trainers with group classes would be: http://www.prok9.com.au/ http://underdogtraining.com.au/ http://www.fourpawsk9training.com.au/ Then you have various dog clubs over the place. I go to Croydon.

I'm afraid I wouldn't have returned the puppy to your sister either. I would be concerned about the stability of the home. There is probably still puppy hair etc in your sisters house that could be causing her problems. I actually didn't react to my cats until they got their adult hair.

Do your dogs ever walk backwards on their own accord? If they don't I am not sure how you can shape it as they aren't ever going to offer it. You are going to have to influence it in some way. I would spend some time watching them to see if they do ever walk backwards and see what it was that caused that. Maybe set that up and then click away. Not walking backwards is probably a safety thing and sensible

My dog didn't react to rice. Just don't use pasta as you want to avoid wheat.

I like this. I try to do this too. With the horse example I gave I sat and listened super hard during all the prior lessons and went in and immediately did what the guy wanted, therefore I did heaps more riding. I was also impressed with a girl on the weekend who listened to what I told the people in front of her and was already doing what I wanted when it came to her turn.

Can I just say at this point that this is not what I'm getting at at all. When I learnt how to ride a motorbike I wasn't very interested in how it runs, but if I wanted to know what would happen if I hit a bump while cornering I would ask my motorcycle instructor and I would hope they'd be able to tell me. And I wouldn't expect a definitive answer, I'd expect something along the lines of "If your tyres have plenty of grip left on them and are properly inflated and you weren't going too fast... But if there was gravel on the road as well as a bump... Or if the bump ran vertically along the road rather than horizontally..." and so on. And when I asked questions like that those were the sorts of answers I'd get. I'm not saying I expect to go to a training class and be taught why different training methods work the way they do. I'm saying I expect to go to a training class and be able to ask moderately involved questions about applying training to my specific dog (in a quiet time or after class) and get an informative answer. If the owner asks then I will explain. But I don't volunteer the info upfront as eyes glaze over.

Yes I would like to know your background. I like to know all my pupils so that I can give extra tips to people that want to compete etc. I would not want you to be having a theory discussion in the class as that would probably peeve the other people. No one likes it when one person takes up the time. But I always stay after class for shy people or any other questions. It would depend on how you were modifying the exercise. If I thought the modification was going to bugger up the end result then I would be objecting. We would discuss it. When I modify something (and I do) I usually discuss with the instructor first and explain my reason why. No one ever minds this approach and often it is used as an example to the class I am in. That you need to know your own dog. I am however open to what the instructor has to say about it. When I am looking for an instructor i suss out before the lesson whether they are going to be the sort of person I am going to like. For what you want Corvus word of mouth is important. Actually I can't think of any instructor I have gone to were I haven't got a word of mouth suggestion. I think you would also love clinics. Lots of theory in them usually.

My club (and the Delta instructor I used) teach the clicker a little bit differently from some others. Some people click and treat immediately. I do it to mean a 'yes that is right and a reward is coming soon'. Therefore you need to use classical conditioning to make the 'yes' or click mean something. If you click and treat immediately then yes I can't see CC coming into play as much.

I explain classical conditioning when discussing charging the marker word. It is usually met with totally blank don't care looks. The only thing that I talk about that does get interest is NILIF. This is with pet owners at a club in a group class. Maybe this is why I am frustrated with teaching at the moment.

i was getting at the fact that most people teaching stockwork are unlikely to be discussing much learning theory. I find it easiest to listen & try to do what they say, although I do ask the occasional question. Of course there is theory involved, as with everything...but good luck to anyone who thinks it will be discussed in any detail by the average Aussie stockperson :rolleyes: ;)

Rather than a sensitive skin formula I would try an elimination diet. The sore bum and ears sounds like food could be playing a part. To do an elimination diet you need to pick a protein that the dog doesn't normally eat and a carb. So maybe kangaroo and rice. Have the dog on just that food for about 6 weeks. Watch treats too. I found my dog cleared up in a couple of days. Then you just add ingredients back in one at a time. If you get a reaction you have found the thing the dog is allergic to.

Not sure were you live Megan but I've found Lilydale Lake pretty safe. I've only met 1 dog off lead in the on lead bit in 6 years.

I dunno about that Vickie. Corvus would have had a lovely time with the US herding instructor my herding group got out here and with the one that is here at the moment. It all peeved me a bit as it made herding way too technical and for once I was enjoying not being technical. It spoilt it for me a bit. I just want to go chase sheep around the paddock

lol your post did confuse me! Are the bitch & dog going to produce pups that are happy to chill out? Or will they be pups like the one your friend (Dasha?) had? If they are happy to chill then I don't think the skills thing would be an issue. I am a novice handler but would rather have a savvy dog than a dog with skills to equal mine I am willing to learn from the dog and not arrogant enough to think I am always right. Not sure if that makes sense?

I think you are being silly about the skills part going on your posts on here over the years. The time part is a different matter and does deserve consideration. What if there isn't a next litter? How will you feel then?

Get the puppy (if there ends up being one that suits) I got both Poppy & Amber this way. Wasn't looking for a pup either time. Just the matings were done with dogs I liked and each time there ended up being the 'right' puppy.

You are wanting something a little different than what the average pupil wants Corvus. So I agree you need to get smarter in finding instructors out there that will cater to you. I went to a dressage clinic once with the wonderful Manolo Mendez. I was in heaven. Some of the people got to do no riding at all as he just talked to them. Most people were really pissed off. I loved how technical he was. Funnily I got to do more riding then most people. Finding the right instructor for you is a very personal thing. You going to go through quite a few until you find the right one. I am talking private instructors here. All the trainers that are online are people that love to talk about training

I think I get you a little bit more now Corvus. I come from a horse riding background. I loved dressage. And omg did I love talking and reading about the theory of horse training. You would love it I reckon. Horse people can talk and talk and talk about theory. I got so bogged down in the theory I couldn't ride at one stage because of all the conflicting ideas So I can't ride and am doing dog stuff. Obedience was good but then I started doing agility. And Omg there was all this theory again!! It was so technical I loved it. Books, mags, dvds etc. You would love my clubs agility too, super technical and the instructors go to all the overseas instructors. Gosh they even use a whiteboard before lessons :D I haven't found anywhere that does obedience quite that way. I did have a Delta instructor who I loved talking to about training. Perhaps your instructors were conscious of talking too much and wanted to get you doing. It was something that was drilled into us at my club - don't have them standing around too much whilst you talk. Perhaps they didn't want you to feel like you had wasted your money with too much talking and not enough doing. Btw I told a new class about tricks yesterday and they all groaned and looked fairly pained.

According to the ingredients Black Hawk does have chicken fat in it.

Corvus I am interested to know whether this experience was with a dog school (volunteer instructors, low fee) or was with a paid instructor? I did a fairly intensive course to teach at my dog school but the whole course was about obedience training. We did theory and how to teach people too but it was all geared at obedience. Not at behavior stuff. I often get asked some pretty curly behavior questions and can usually have a good crack at an answer. These questions are usually asked after the class too btw. But I don't think I am there to tell a student how to stop the dog bringing snails into the house (for instance!!). I certainly never rocked up to dog school thinking I was going to get behavior help. The only time I needed that I went to a private instructor (he was good, no issues there). If it is dog school you are talking about I wonder if people have unrealistic expectations of what is going to happen at dog school.

I would also like an instructor that could give me those little tips about gaining extra points in the ring. Not really sure how an instructor can do that as well if they don't have an experience of ringcraft.