JulesP

You do know that you have to be measured???

Thanks again! Someone said that you weren't doing herding training anymore??

Sounds like the cat should have bitten you too!

My dogs will retrieve our Birman? Your dogs might retrieve your Birman!! Mine just round em up!

Thanks for that link Kelpiechick

Thanks for that Herding Guy! I found if I made a shoosing type noise I could get her moving quite easily. She does have a good stop and did the recall. The only really problem I had was trying to get the sheep out of the corner. She wanted to keep them in there. But I don't think there are supposed to be corners in the lower levels! I originally fell in love with border collies from watching the sheep trials on the tv as a kid in the UK. So it is cool to be having a go at it.

Just interested in how much people are paying for their annual vaccination visits. Also interested in what the vet actually does during these visits. Do they just give your dog the vaccination or do they do more of a health check. I am a bit peeved with my vet's lack of attention during the last visit but it may just be normal.

I go to Croydon Obedience Club and they have an agility program. You need to pass the obedience test first and the dogs need to be about 15months old. Training is on Sunday mornings and Monday nights.

Yes I think you should have been standing on the same line each time. Same spot etc. If you chuck the toy before the dog has gone then you would be luring not rewarding.

The reinforcement line doesn't change. Just the poles change. You stand in the same spot and send the dog on the same line. The dog should think it is running the same line but it will look different to you, because the poles have moved.

Think Kavik is talking about the second step, so before you close the poles. You start off going straight through the poles, and then change to going on an angle (before you add the next set of poles). The dogs line doesn't actually change Kavik. You are supposed to rotate the poles, so the poles change not the dog. I wondered why she said to angle the poles!! Now I know. Did the DVD give much more info from the SS book?? Am about to start with Poppy.

But your first particular thing now sounds quite different. The first sounds like a dominant, smartarse thing and the second like a very worried dog. Without seeing the dog in person both of these assumptions could be totally wrong. Therefore the training advice given would be wrong and if someone carries it out could do more harm to the animal than good.

I don't do free shaping as I am too impatient and a bit of a control freak If you aren't 'in to' a training method though it will be hard for you to be successful at it. If free shaping doesn't speak to you then look for other methods.

This is why people tend to suggest getting help from someone in person! Your latest post paints quite a different picture from the first post.

Clean Run has lots of DVDs and books. It is an American site but lots of us have ordered from them with no problems.

Looking good Reddii! CK reminds me so much of my Brock! Brock jumped his full round at training tonight and went clear and just in the time. Yeah! Poppy also passed her first agility modules.

Yeah! My Airdog tunnel arrived pretty quickly, about a 3 day turnaround.

A dog that works well doesn't always breed well.

Why do you want me to read the extended movement section? Here it is so everyone can read it: Standard - The movement is free, smooth and tireless, with a minimum lift of the feet, conveying the impression of the ability to move with great stealth. The action, viewed from the front, should be straight forward and true, without weakness at shoulders, elbows or pasterns. Viewed from behind the quarters thrust with strength and flexibility, with hocks not close nor too far apart. When trotting, the dog’s feet tend to come closer together as speed increases, but when the dog comes to rest he should stand four square. Any tendency to stiltiness or to cowhocks or bow hocks is a serious fault. One of the characteristics of the Border Collie is to move with great stealth. This is best defined as “to pass by unnoticed”. While working it will seem as if it is crouching, the head and neck appear to become a continuation of the body. This is to help the Border Collie attract minimum attention to itself whilst working. It gaits with a moderately low head carriage - compared with most other breeds. The head is pushed forward and slightly higher than the level of the back. The Border Collie is an agile dog able to suddenly change speed and direction without loss of balance and grace. It should have a smooth, balanced, low action, displaying a minimum of up and down movement giving the impression of being tireless. The head, shoulders, back and rump should not appear to rise and fall with each stride. No reference is made to speed being desirable. Fast movement does not necessarily mean good movement. The dog should be moved at a speed that conveys the impression of a smooth, tireless gait with a minimum lift and maximum extension of the feet. When viewed from the side the stride should cover maximum ground with minimum effort. With correct extension and balance, an imaginary vertical line can be drawn from the nose to the extended foot - see page 21. The words “free, smooth and tireless” eliminates short-stepping, strutting movement. Judges should not expect a high-headed, high stepping dog as this is not typical of the breed. The only serious fault mentioned in the standard is “any tendency to stiltedness, or to cowhocks or bow hocks”. These would affect the dog’s movement and hamper endurance. Any deviation to a sound moving dog is also a fault, e.g. crabbing which is usually associated with a short coupled or square dog. Overreaching, lack of reach and drive normally also relate to incorrect structure. In final assessment, gait is an essential factor confirming physical evaluation. To appreciate the correct movement of a Border Collie it is preferable they be moved on a loose lead.

What would I do? Let us just say that the dog would know that I was not amused. It would then be put into boot camp - NILF & TOT etc Very rude behavior that I would not tolerate.

Not sure what a dog moving around a ring has to do with the standard? Don't think the standard says that the dog's gait should be tested in a show ring.

I've already said that I think that ear set and markings are a silly thing to have in the standard (unless a breed has a particular need for a certain ear set).

No point having a dog with brilliant herding ability if its legs are made in such a way that it breaks down at 5. All that training wasted. Conformation is not about appearance. It is about producing an animal that is sound. Anyone that doesn't get that is missing the point.

Is the standard at fault though? Or is it the way it has been interpreted? Or changed. The judges are at fault that don't judge to the standard. ie placing heavy dogs with massive coats. There are some things in the BC standard that are just plain silly, like pricked ears & colour, but a lot of the standard gives the picture of a sound dog that can work, leg shape etc. Just finished reading Susan Garretts Shaping Success book and her dog Buzz was not in good shape due to his conformation. There are always some individuals that can work regardless of bad confirmation but I can't see anything wrong with trying to breed animals with correct conformation.

A fair bit. Both are CD standard.