JulesP

Safeway are stocking the wings if that helps at all. I think i paid about $6.50 and got 8 wings.

Lol, yes he probably would be. He gets very, very upset if he thinks he has done the wrong thing. Is the third border that I have had and they have all got upset and 'gone on strike' if corrected. So good point. Should always think about what breed you are working with.

I tend to vary the praise given. So if the sit is a bit crooked but he has still come in for the recall then he still gets praise. If he does a brilliant recall and sit then he will get more praise. I don't straighten the sit after he has sat though. If I can see he isn't coming in straight then I will move myself (away from dog) or I will move backwards so that he does sit straight. The only time I would tell him that something wasn't good enough would be if he ignored a command.

I wouldn't reward for anticipation but I wouldn't correct either. To get the exercise to be better I try and use things like your stand over a muddy puddle idea! To my mind if you ask for a sit and you get a sit but it is a bit crooked, I would reward the same as a straight sit but then look at what I could do to get it straighter next time.

I don't correct a incorrect position at all. Or withhold the reward. I don't think the dog understands this and is likely to cause confusion and resentment (ok going a bit over the top!). I just try and work out why it wasn't good and work on fixing it. It is often the handlers position anyway. I guess this is coming from my horse riding training, reward the try and work out how to get it better next time.

And I never got close to charging what I pay at the hairdressers!

Oh and what about fleas! I remember doing one dog that was so flea infested that I looked down and my socks were crawling with fleas! It was disgusting. Have done a few dogs that smelt so badly I was gagging too!

I found the turkey wings yesterday in Safeways! Gave them this morning to the dogs, you should have seen their eyes bug out at the size of them!

I sooo want a hydrobath. I used to have a mobile grooming business and having to go back to washing in the tub is a total pain. I also have a bath with a shower over it, with glass doors, picture me holding a border collie and trying to get it in the bath as it holds on to the glass door for dear life!

Definately don't feed before class! Try different treats, my dog couldn't give a stuff about chicken and all the lovely tastey things in the beginning but I discovered that he looveeed the cat's kibble! Now he is used to treats anything is fine. Have you tried a toy?? Doggy starts looking at the birdies...mummy gets out rope toy and plays like a crazy thing! Mmmm mummy is more interesting than the birdies! You need to make enough of a fuss and be really excited though. Make a total fool of yourself in other words! Lots of smooching helps too. Anytime I am not doing an exercise I am patting and rubbing pups belly. This has all slightly back fired now that I am trying to send him away to do things. He doesn't want to leave mummy

Try wiping doggie over with a damp cloth when she comes inside, to get the pollen off. Avoid putting her out at around 6-7.30 in the morning and around the same at night as that is when the pollen goes up and then comes back down. Honey that is made in your area is supposed to help! You eat it everyday and it is supposed to fix hayfever, might be worth a try. Has to be local honey though. A lot of DOLers are using polaramine, a human hayfever tablet, which will probably work out cheaper than the doggie one.

I've found that supplements like that don't work unless the animal is deficient in the substance. Talking about horses here! And there are often other indicators apart from the behaviour in the show ring. Just had a look at Browns herbal www.brownsanimalherbals.com.au and they do a herbal formula for stressed doggies. It has valerian in it so that might work better.

I think this is a training issue too. Doggie has a good reason to be worried, he got squished! Unless he is very nervy all the time I don't think those supplements will work. They are also just masking the problem not fixing it. Lots of training with examinations is the key. Starting off very slowly with just walking past the dog and building up to the exam. My dog is rather soft and doesn't like leaning over his head, last week my instructor was doing an exercise with him were he moved his hand quickly over the dogs head, not touching him. And then treated him so he started to think that a hand whizzing past his head was a good thing.

Well I think we all have lucky doggies! Getting to do lots of things and spending time with their mummies and daddies! :rolleyes:

Well I have actually had obedience lessons with 3 diff people this week! Plus the herding dude!

Yeah, but I am a tart within that! As in I like to go to different trainers etc! Love learning stuff.

I just do obedience. Went to a herding thing on the weekend but that was so the doggie could play with some sheepies. Might have a play on the agility equipment but again it is just so the doggie can have some fun.

I went on the Saturday. Brock wasn't too sure that he was really, really allowed to chase the sheepies! He also thought that his job was to put the sheepies in a corner and not let them move at all. Paul thought he had 'plenty of work' though and that he just needed confidence. It is amazing to see the natural instinct come out. How did the Sunday go CTD? Slightly better weather at least.

I hold my lead in my left hand and do all signals with my right hand. I don't correct with the lead at all btw so I don't need two hands on it.

lol. Think I might be more interested in meeting Brock's relos! I forgot to tell you that Connor is Brock's Granddad! Jules I met you at Croydon very briefly a couple of months ago.

How about Eagle Pack? Sold at Pet Stocks. I like Pro Plan as well, sold in lots of pet supply places. Nutrience is another popluar one that is sold in a few shops, I got a couple of bags from Mega Pet Warehousein Ringwood.

I've been going to Croydon Obedience club for about 15 years on and off. It is a pretty good club and very reasonabley priced. Website is at www.cdodc.com.au

Yeah looks like I will be there for the Saturday! Hope Brock likes the sheepies!

Mmmm I don't like doing tricks and none of my dogs have been good at tricks! Must be related I'm sure. I actually really like heeling! I like the sensation when you and the dog move well together, when it just clicks. It is similar to riding dressage. All my dogs have liked heeling! And will offer heeling whilst loose in the paddock or garden. I had a private lesson yesterday and the lesson was very much about body language and how we effect the dog.