JulesP

POW I started off with similar very short bursts of heeling. I am currently building duration with long straight lines and big circles. I was pleased yesterday with how Poppy kept going with the heeling.

I am not liking watching when the dog's gait is weird, they sort of look lame.

I liked that video! Fast but controlled.

I've always quite liked the progression of training through the levels. Maybe because I've done dressage. ie I am CCD so I am working on this stuff, now I am CD so I am working on this etc.

Ok I didn't ask for a score last night. Maybe I'll do that. We passed all the exercises.

Yeah DD, I think this pup is gooodddd! First time around trialling I was happy just to pass. This time I want to do well. Ness people were hassling me about trialling from about 7 months. Mind you alot of people are getting Poppy mixed up with Brock and don't realise that she is a youngster. She works so nicely that they are assuming it is the older dog.

Yeah, home trial. Would actually feel more pressure! Would like to sneak off somewhere where no one knows me! But if I look at it as a 'training day' then that is different.

Hey Kelpiechick, this is my other border that I am looking at doing obedience with. Brock may never get to an agility trial, lol. Good advice though! Poppy has only just turned 1 so I don't feel the need to rush. Have only just gone into the trial class so I would like to spend at least 6 months training in there but I am pretty cautious about these things. It was a judge that said she is ready.

Ok so you are training your doggie, when do you decide to enter a trial? When you think the dog is working at 100%? When you think the dog could pass the next level up? Or do you just give it a go even though you are not sure of the outcome? Just been told Poppy is ready to trial . I like to really cement the work though and at the moment I think she might pass or might fail, lol. Failing might be good for me btw as I have nerve issues and need to see that failing is not the end of the world!!

You could go total BARF or raw meaty bones. A couple of us are using Great Barko at the moment, it is around the $30 mark for 22kgs, there is a thread on it. Then there is Bonnie or Coprice. The Coles own brand is apparently the same as Coprice. From the supermarket I prefer Purina to Optimum. I don't really like Hills anyway and prefer Eagle Pack or Proplan.

I use my hands to guide to the straight position. So that visual cue was missing as she came in.

Poppy came straight away, did a 360 around me before sitting infront at about 11.00.

Thinking, thinking...I think Poppy will present in front but I don't think she will be as straight as she normally is.

I food/clicker train but I don't do much (any) shaping Ptolomy. Am too impatient for that!!! Perhaps you need to ask people if they do shaping? Focus is the first thing I teach though. And border collies like to stare! During a 3 min stay Poppy's eyes don't leave me unless I look away first. She does also look at me if I am not looking at her (for DD). Yep good challenge Ptolomy! I was narky because dog school wasn't on because of the Melb Cup and this entertained me!

40 secs with food on me! So the same. If it helps your research Ptolomy I would say that even though I train with food that my girl is more pack driven then anything else. If I spoke to her and asked her to watch then she would just go on and on watching.

1 yo Border Collie, no treats - 40 secs. Postive trained with food, clicker & marker word. Will try with food tomorrow.

I've had my black dog pouch for about 3 years with no problems. Maybe go and check out bum bags, Luke.

Join up at your local dog school. Our puppies go from puppy preschool into the puppy class at about 16 weeks.

I am testing too! The dogs seem to enjoy the taste. I haven't noticed a drop in condition/coat yet. The only negative I have so far is that it must be quite a hard kibble as my old girl looks like she struggles to chew it a bit. On the positive side the younger dogs take a bit longer to eat it! They seem to chew it rather than swallow whole! I am loving the price!

I think that you should go to the classes. They might not fix this particular problem but they are great for socialisation and general obedience. The general day to day training of your puppy (your sits, stays, recalls etc) helps create a well balanced dog that knows were it stands IMO. I have done dog school with all my dogs and they are lovely to have around. You might also need one-on-one help but I would see how you go at the next grooming session. I am an instructor at a dog school but I usually refer such issues to a private instructor.

It sounds like the problem happened when they took her out of the crate? Dog grooming can be very scary for some dogs. (I used to be a groomer). I would probably have insisted on staying with her for her first grooming. Groomers often don't like that but too bad. Rather than crate training it sounds like she needs more socialisation to lots of different things and people. It is not a totally unusual reaction though. I found that grooming really tested a dog's tolerance levels. Could have been worse - she could have badly bitten the groomer!

It is funny Vickie, my borders are very 'biddable' but that doesn't seem to be a desired trait anymore in dog sports. My borders are considered 'too quiet'.

Very nice! I just plait up some polar fleece

My 1yo border collie girl has developed a rather naughty habit of resource guarding. She is fine to meet other dogs. Will happily heel through a crowd of dogs but if I stand around talking to people then I start having a problem. If I am standing talking and the other dogs approach then she will dart in front of me and snap at them. There is not a lot of aggression in it. Doubt it would actually result in a fight. She also guards my bag. She does it at home with the other dogs. She has also tried to stop dogs going up to their owners!! And if a dog near us at school is acting up she wants to go and tell it off. None of the other dogs have reacted at all aggressively to her doing this. Some ignore her. Most just back off. She is very much warning rather then wanting to go them. I have a warning prior to her snapping as she eyeballs first. She is good off lead with other dogs as long as I am walking. If we stop to chat she will then come and 'guard' me. Beyond me having to keep an eye on her it isn't a major problem. She is desexed. She obeys a 'leave it' command or 'no' command. Is interesting behaviour though. Has anyone else had this?

A small brag - Poppy passed her basic 2 today! Woohooo. Now into the trial class!