JulesP

Maybe your dog was in the pound because he was an escape artist and liked to bolt. Some dogs just seem to like to escape. I am constantly taking a little SWF home that lives near me. They have good fencing so he must just sneak out of doors etc. So I wouldn't necessarily think that your dog was trying to run away to get 'home'.

I had a silly horse who used to carry on about every single twig we went past so I figured that we would be safe from snakes. But no he didn't even notice the one snake that we did actually come across! Walked straight over it!

Yeah Poppy is loving the Rally training. I have to pretty much push her in the crate to give Amber a turn as she wants to keep going. From the video that you put up a bit ago your dog looked like it works very nicely Sarspididious.

Oh dear :laugh: I had spin in again today. Didn't bother with Poppy but Amber seems to think it is fun. Had a funny thing with Poppy though. My club is using round can lid type things to mark the distance for the distance signs. On the first recall today Poppy did a lovely touch/target on the marker The recall to heel is fun but I hope judges are nice and put the next sign at a decent distance as it is easy to run out of space! See lots of fun had just training!

They weren't 'allowed' to roam either. The little shits escaped. Considering the owner contacted the council when he saw it on the news I don't think he is irresponsible. Maybe that is why he was given the dangerous dog order. Sometimes bad things happen and no one is particularly to blame.

Not that you actually have to trial at that either :laugh: Both my dogs are working at Masters level now, still working on that walking spin! But they already did all the distance stuff. I just rock up to class each week and do run throughs. Out of all the things I've competed in I think herding was the most enjoyable. That might have been because I went through the levels with a great bunch of people.

If I am in any sort of 'mood' my dogs really pick up on it and everything turns to crap.

Asking this very gently and you don't have to reply. Is the dog unhappy because you are unhappy? Are you feeling the pressure of being in a pre-trial class?

When you see someone coming, get out of their way. Cross the road, move on to the nature strip, go up a driveway. Sit your dog. Have the dog focus on you as the person goes past. Don't get into a situation were you are having to wrestle with a lunging dog. I do this with mine btw. More because one of them is embarrassingly friendly than because of aggression.

The dog hasn't escalated to to barking/growling at people. It has already bitten the lawn mower man and attempted to bite the postie. There was another thread.

Oh Jules I am so sorry. RIP Renae

Fairly sure that you aren't allowed to leave dogs in cars anymore after a tragic accident.

Unless the dog has given some indication that she is going to get out then you are being silly. Sounds like you have high, sturdy fences.

Yeah there was this story on FB about this lovely black wolf that was hanging out near a town and going on walks with the town dogs. Of course I had to read up more about him and some sick f*** shot him. He was so pretty.

No, I haven't yet. So praising for anything is good? I won't make things worse? You are praising for the tiniest try so that he knows he is on the right track. And also so he knows he isn't being bad. You are having to undo training not just train. Even if he stretched his nose out to the ground I would be praising that. Anything that is not a show stack. I wouldn't be trying to move him forwards at first though as he would have been taught not to come forwards for food.

Have you tried to get him to move his feet like I suggested? You need to unstick him first. Side ways movements will probably be easier. Stick the lure right in his mouth and let him have a nibble on it before you start to try and move him. Something like a chicken neck might be a good lure for this. The second he moves any feet praise like crazy.

I don't enjoy trialing and after years of competing with dogs and horses I just decided to not do it anymore! It didn't make me happy and just caused stress. I love training though and will continue to train my dogs to a high standard. About to tackle the new Rally masters signs this year. Most people don't get it but that is their problem not mine. I get heaps of crap about it. I don't even care about winning. I've won stuff at the highest standard in horse showing and have been happy for the pony's breeder but not that happy for me.

I only buy small bags to help with the freshness. Poppy doesn't care but Amber starts spitting it out when I get near the end of a bag so she must be able to taste a difference in it. She is the world's fussiest dog though.

How does the dog go doing all the pivoting required? Then there is jumping at the higher levels. You would be losing points for crooked sits etc but a pass should still be achievable. I am just concerned about how the dog is going to go with some of the other exercises. Even things like side stepping are going to be challenging.

Thistle's Mum sounds rather overwhelmed and worn out. With all the stuff with your family I am not surprised. Can I suggest that you stop all training for a couple of weeks and just do things with Thistle that are going to make you both happy.

Has a vet run bloods?

Interesting the one I know had a dodgy temperament and was tricky to train.

My dog has all the systems of being very allergic. However her 'allergy' issues are caused by her liver problem. I wasted heaps of time with different diets that just weren't going to fix her. So if the dog hasn't had full bloods done I would suggest getting that done to make sure nothing else is going on.

Croydon starts this Sunday.