JulesP

The ANKC trials that I have been to in Vic have been at KCC Park, Skye.

Erny you done any Tellington Touch stuff? I did a couple of horse clinics and I reckon the body wrap might help. A figure 8 of material that goes around the animals chest and hindquarters. It really seemed to help the animal realise that they had a backend. TT also uses poles that aren't level, which I reckon might be better for you than a ladder. I would also be backing the dog in a channel so he can't go crooked.

Is there a reason that you want to work on his backend?

Check out Susan Salo's jumping DVDs on Clean Run She is a show jumper that has applied jumping techniques to dogs. Can't remember anyone talking about ladder size Erny.

Poppy heels on both sides. You just need to think about your left about turns. If you do the behind the back turn then you can run into problems with the dog just changing heeling sides instead.

1. Yes you need a decent recall as you need to show a recall in HIT & HT. But unlike obedience you don't have to just give one command, you can get a bit more excited about it. 2. Most of us are talking about the ANKC trials on here. There are also open yard trials. 3. Instinct test - you are in a pretty small area. You walk in with your dog on a long lead. You need to show a 'stop' which is a sit or drop. You need to show a recall. You need the dog to show interest in the stock. This can all be done on the long lead. 4. Not sure on details about QLD. Start with your state ANKC body perhaps.

The people I have seen doing it like this are not using just a normal treat. The dog often gets to scoff the whole container of treats. I seem to remember dogdude having a tin of dog food as a jackpot. Can't say I have seen many people using a whole tin of food as a normal treat!

Some people let the dog know that the jackpot is there, say outside the ring. This is where IMO it sort of becomes like TOT.

Erny you can buy Ariat shoes in Horseland shops. Not sure which models they are selling.

Yep jackpot and then finish training. And I don't mean finish training and shove them away. At home it is finish training and get dinner. Out it is finish training and then get patted lots and play etc. I really want the work prior to the jackpot to stick in their minds. I guess I do it like this because this is what I did when riding. Get something super from horse and immediately get off and feed horse.

If I consider something good enough to earn a jackpot then I tend to finish the training session then. I save jackpots for super special things.

It is serious and the wrong, well meaning advice could see you get badly hurt.

Think you need to see someone in person about this. I would be taking it very seriously.

Congrats to everyone

Congrats guys! Gooo Kinta!

You know you dog. If you think that it is her time to go then it is the right time. Some vets do seem to push treatments. Don't let the vets make you feel like crap.

At 20 months old I reckon you can just go for it! If the dog turns and runs away when you come out to do training then you will know that you have over done it.

The problem is - how do we let people that aren't mental dog people know all this?? Most people have no idea about puppy farms or why pet shops are bad or health issues. It is really rather depressing. Then when you steer them towards a breeder it can get quite tricky if the breeder is difficult. Much easier to just go and buy a pup from a pet shop.

I had Moss put down at home. It was very nice and peaceful, he wasn't a fan of going to the vets. I then buried him at home. Fern I will take to the vets as she will enjoy that.

I normally get my coats from a horse gear shop. Horseland would be one to look in. Did get a really light coat from Anaconda that has been pretty good, only cost $40 too.

Have usually heard of this with Cocker Spaniels. I was on a American Groomers forum and Cockers were one of the breeds that worried them the most. For no obvious reason the dog just goes totally nuts. It is normally referred to as rage syndrome.

Can you use a verbal jump command? Even if you can't in comp I would be tempted to use one for training (with the visual command) and then fade it.

Yes trying to get one of my dogs to tug would be confrontational to him. Or it would upset him. He is too polite to tug.

Pax's idea seemed to work tonight with my agility sending! I could not get Poppy to go away from me over jumps unless sending to a treat bowl. Within a short period of time I had her going over 2 jumps by doing the back chaining! I was even able to stick in some rear crosses, much excitement! So thanks Pax!

When you go to new places just work on getting focus first rather than doing any 'training'. And for a while that is all you might do! Once you have the focus you can start teaching her some stuff.