gsdog2

I understand what your saying Huski - and for Indi, the ball only ever happens with me and only when we're training (and only when she gets the marker "yes"). I wouldn't like to say though, if someone took the ball from me and waved it around her face, that she would ignore it. When I'm actually in the ring with her, I would like to reward her between exercises - and that's my reasoning when I say I need to make 'myself' more rewarding (of value). I'm probably not explaining myself very well lol - I'm just a little frustrated at the moment and have been rethinking how I'm training Indi.

The other thing to remember is that, as with food, you don't rely on the toy. I have seen a number of people who carry the ball/tug ALL THE TIME while training - and whether it's hidden or not your dog knows you have it. The dog looks so focused because it knows you've got that ball and it's coming at any time. This will work until you step in the ring (in my case Obedience) and your dog won't work because it knows you don't have the ball. This is my problem - my dog has great 'focus' as long as she knows I have her reward, but she's very erratic in the ring (good scores some days, dreadful scores other days). During training I have left the ball on the side of the field and she will work but this doesn't work during a trial.

This is only my experience but I think I would try and make 'me' more important (rewarding?) rather than food, toy or ball with my next dog.

ETA Denise Fenzi has some video's on YouTube that might interest you

Another suggestion, if your thinking about working with dogs, is fostering a military working dog puppy. The Defence use GSD's (not white lol) and you get an insight into their style of training. I know this is a bit different from the above suggestions but worth thinking about :)

This has been going on for years. I worked in a vet surgery in the 80's and it was standard practice when a greyhound was brought in to be pts. They were were considered the lucky ones as they were given an injection - I'm sure you can guess the alternative. These dogs were going to be pts anyway but in the process could possibly save another dog - I honestly never saw anything wrong with what the vets were doing. I would also occasionally bring my own dog in to donate blood when we had a dog that required a transfusion

Recently read 'Until Tuesday' by Luis Carlos Montalvan.

"A highly decorated captain in the U.S. Army, Luis Montalvan never backed down from a challenge during his two tours of duty in Iraq. After returning home from combat, however, his physical wounds and crippling post-traumatic stress disorder began to take their toll. He wondered if he would ever recover.

Then Luis met Tuesday, a sensitive golden retriever trained to assist the disabled. Tuesday had lived among prisoners and at a home for troubled boys, and he found it difficult to trust in or connect with a human being - until Luis.

Until Tuesday is the story of how two wounded warriors, who had given so much and suffered the consequences, found salvation in each other. It is a story about war and peace, injury and recovery, psychological wounds and spiritual restoration. But more than that, it is a story about the love between a man and dog, and how, together, they healed each other's souls."

Beautiful true story.

Warning: You will probably cry... more than once.

This looks like a lovely story. I've just bought it (eBay) and now i'm waiting for it to arrive :)

Something to remember when adding two litter mates to your family is that they will also be two elderly litter mates together. This could mean double the expense of an elderly dog and also, sadly the chance of losing them within a short time of each other.

Denise Fenzi & Deb Jones Dog Sports Skills - Developing Engagement & Relationship

Is it any good?

I'm about halfway through - and yes, I'm finding it very good - but then I like the approach of both the authors to training. I'm in the middle of an interesting discussion about stress.

Denise Fenzi & Deb Jones Dog Sports Skills - Developing Engagement & Relationship

Is it any good?

I'm about halfway through - and yes, I'm finding it very good - but then I like the approach of both the authors to training. I'm in the middle of an interesting discussion about stress.

I'm not that far into it yet, but what I have read is great. I have a dog with an injury atm (no trials for 4 maybe 6 wks) and I'm reading about recognising when there may be a problem with your dog. It's so relevant to our circumstances and I find I'm agreeing with everything I've read.

It's also very easy reading

Awesome! Is there an excerpt somewhere? I'd like to have a quick look. (although I'm sure I will make the investment LOL)

If you Google it you'll find heaps of info :)

If you're doing any sort of competition with your dog it's definitely worth getting

Denise Fenzi & Deb Jones Dog Sports Skills - Developing Engagement & Relationship

Is it any good?

I'm about halfway through - and yes, I'm finding it very good - but then I like the approach of both the authors to training. I'm in the middle of an interesting discussion about stress.

I'm not that far into it yet, but what I have read is great. I have a dog with an injury atm (no trials for 4 maybe 6 wks) and I'm reading about recognising when there may be a problem with your dog. It's so relevant to our circumstances and I find I'm agreeing with everything I've read.

It's also very easy reading

Denise Fenzi & Deb Jones Dog Sports Skills - Developing Engagement & Relationship

Nice meeting everyon on Saturday! Roscoe was a good man, even with his nervous handler :p

Sunday is in action now! Woohoo

I didn't notice you all being nervous, I was too busy watching the awesomely handsome man Roscoe in action :love:

I couldn't tell you were nervous....you were both awesome!

I second this. Roscoe is a stunning boy and you two made an awesome team!

I use frontline as we have cats and young kids. I therfore wont use advantix or collars.

Although I worry about efficancy after reviews on this site..

The cat thing I understand, but not the kid thing. Do some reading on Fipronil. Unfortunately for any of these products to truly be effective there is usually some level of toxic material. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I'm also looking at Advantix. Is this not a wise thing to use on my two dogs if I have a cat?

When I had my Rav4 Nelsson used to sit at the back facing the back window looking out. I only got to see the back of his head :laugh: Used to crack me up. Funny when I used the rear wiper as his head would follow the motion back and forth

Our Goldie does the same thing - he eyeballs the people in the car behind us :laugh:

here is a diagram from a husky forum regarding heat and double coats.

The diagram looks pretty much like the diagrams we draw regarding thermal insulation for a house, EXCEPT they failed to show that the heat escapes more easily when the insulation is removed (ie, shaved dog). They show only the incoming energy from solar radiation. If a dog is too hot it will get out of the sun, so unless you're exceptionally cruel and give your dog no access to shade, that one is only semi relevant, and the yellow sun rays can be taken out of the diagram.

Bottom line, heat flows from warmer regions to cooler regions. If the air temperature is below 38 to 39 C, the insulation of coat serves to retain heat for your dog.

Think about your own comfort seeking behavior. A dog's coat behaves like a jumper or coat or blanket. Would you put on a coat to insulate yourself from the heat when it's 35 C?

When air temperature goes over body temperature, we're in trouble, regardless of species. Cooling measures like sweating, panting, seeking cool shade, etc. kick in bigtime.

Thanks for sharing this sensible explanation

So what double coated, long haired breeds were actually breed for warm to hot climates?

My parents are Dutch and they tell me my grandmother always had Newfies, beautiful dogs with thick coats - for the cold weather. Yes, these breeds have a thick coat to insulate them ........ against the cold.

My Annie from Sweden says, 'Thank you!' :)

I can't generalize from one case, but a Brisbane tibbie boy, imported from Singapore, had a silky coat with no undercoat. He was purebred, registered with the Kennel Club there. Made me wonder if that's what breeders in that v. hot climate had catered for.

I live in Qld and our temps in summer can reach 45+ degrees. I would not like to have a dog with a long double coat here. I just can't see how a coat like that will do anything against our temps - it doesn't make sense??

So what double coated, long haired breeds were actually breed for warm to hot climates?

My parents are Dutch and they tell me my grandmother always had Newfies, beautiful dogs with thick coats - for the cold weather. Yes, these breeds have a thick coat to insulate them ........ against the cold.

I've seen these two recommended in here before

Jane Harper

http://www.dogsontrack.com.au/

Craig Murray

http://www.dogschool.com.au/

They can recommend someone else if they feel that's for the best.

I've tried both Craig & Jane and found both sincere and willing to help. The difference is Jane is available (Craig's a 6wk wait) and will write up a program for you. She will also come to you where Craig prefers you go to him - might be different if you use one of his trainers.

Jane has also helped my sister with her barking dog - the result is the dog doesn't bark anymore and my sister and her neighbours are happy :)

I get heaps of advice... I listen politely, use any I think will be useful, discard the rest... I might try some things, see if they work/ etc.. anyone who tells me to harm my dog, tends to be politely told then that I do not believe in violence.

me too!

Just thinking about the waiting around thing. This is one of those situations where having the dog able to chill out in a crate or trolley (covered if necessary) is really valuable. My guys spend a lot of time in crates (and the occasional show boy in his trolley), so they're not at all fussed by having to spend a day waiting round at a trial. It's just a matter of getting them out for toilet breaks and then toilet and warm up just before going in - works for obedience, rally, agility and tracking. I think it's really important that they can relax in that situation. I hate to see people wandering round with their poor dogs all day - maybe it suits some dogs, but I thinkmost appreciate the rest time.

ETA Not saying it's what you guys do - but I see it over here sometimes.

Don't feel too sorry for the dogs that aren't crated - maybe they're happier walking around with their owner. My girl sleeps in a crate every night (at home) and I also have a soft crate for trials but I find she seems to stress in a crate when we're at a trial. Maybe because she can hear lots of noises but doesn't have a clear view while in the crate - so instead I use a peg and she sleeps on a blanket beside me (the crate usually stays folded up in the car)

I've struggled over the years, and now am planning to enter an obedience trial again (after bombing out so badly last year) so the question has arrisen, who trials, but doesn't attend an obedience club? how do you manage it? is there any advice you can give? or resources you can share?

I train Indi at different parks ( a different park every day) and also at work (lunch time). I also train her in a park next to a fenced off lead park (for distractions). I must admit I have gone back to our local Obedience club, but only for ring work to see where we're at. Basically I'm always on the lookout for potential training sites whenever I'm out - even going for a walk around shopping centers for distraction.

Just realised I had a typo and can't fix it cos I was quoted I meant Bridging the Gap!

Are you enjoying her class, gsdog2? They're great, aren't they! Some things she's said in the discussion forum has been a moment for me!

I'm loving her classes RubyStar. Yes, I've had a few of those moments too - which is motivating me to look closer at all aspects of our training :) .

It's a bit frustrating in Bronze because I have things I'd like to add to some of the discussions and I can't ............... so next time I'm thinking I'll at least have to start at the Silver level :laugh: . The Bridging the Gap course looks like a great follow-on from the course we're doing so now I'm waiting for enrolments to open :)

paddles, did you go to a Denise Fenzi seminar?

You should look up her online classes, I am certain you'd find one that would benefit you guys :)

http://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com

I'm currently signed up for her course Confidence Building for the Obedience and Rally Ring at bronze level (so basically just auditing). I'd like to do her Bringing the Gap one next as silver or gold level. It isn't too late to sign up and I reckon the confidence building one would be great for you guys. Come and sign up as a bronze member like a few of us already have :)

If you get a chance at some stage the Denise Fenzi online courses really are great

I'm doing the same as RubyStar, but there's something for everyone depending on where you're at with your dog and training. The lectures are VERY easy to follow and video's demonstrating the lecture content are included.

You'll enjoy Steve's workshop, he explains training in drive and will show you how to get the best out of your dog with the right motivation :)

Thank-you! All the judges were really friendly & helpful - I was under the impression that judges were kind of mean lol!

Congrats on the rally-o, what a great score!

And don't be so hard on yourself with the obedience - we've all been there. It was a learning experience for you and you've already figured out what you have to work on.

I've always found Obedience people (judges & competitors) to be both friendly and supportive - that's one of the reasons I enjoy competing

Nothing I can add to the above comments - they're all more experienced than I am. All I can say is my dog now has her CCD and we're heading into the CD ring next month. Yes, I'm nervous but I'm also VERY excited and looking forward to trialling Indi in Novice and finding out whether I'm on the right track with her training. The nerves will be there but I think it also increases the bond you have with your dog - you're in this together - a team :)

We have an old chap in our area with a black Lab......I remember he was a puppy in 2000 and his owner was still working.......the dog would be 13 and the owner 70+....as a young dog he walked him rain hail or shine used to walk him every night in the rain....owner wears a black rain coat.......the other night I saw the old chap and his dog in the rain, black raincoat, dog is quite slow now very greyed muzzle the owner still looks quite fit for his age......this pair have been pounding the pavement every night without fail for 13 years......I wonder what the old chap will do at his friend's departure

We had an older gentleman in our neighborhood who did the same - walked his Goldie rain, hail or shine (for years). One day I saw him walking on his own, I'm guessing his Goldie had died as I didn't see him in his yard either. That was a few years ago and now the gentleman always walks on his own ......

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He sounds like the perfect owner for a senior dog! There's no reason why a 'new dog' needs to be a puppy, there are plenty of older and old dogs in rescue who would be perfect for a home with an older person and a lap to cuddle up on.

Yes, this is a brilliant idea. Emgem this might be worth mentioning :)