Cala

There are quite a lot of components to a Fo8 so they need separate training from plain heelwork.

Have you done any rear end awareness work with Milo, for example platform work? For Fo8 the dogs (especially big dogs) really need to understand that both their front and rear ends need to stay in heel position, so they need some rear end awareness. That would be my first point of call :)

I started off as Cleo says, telegraphing my moves in a huge way - then phase out the telegraphing as you cannot do it in trials (although I still make sure my shoulders turn with my body).

When a dog is on the outside, they need to speed up, and when on the inside, they need to slow down (and to complicate matters, we need to stay at the same speed!). So I also trained an exaggerated speed up/slow down. I would speed up when the dog was on the outside and throw rewards forward to encourage faster movement, then slow down with the dog on the inside and reward in position or slightly behind the dog. Of course once again, I then needed to phase out my speed differences.

Also, practice Fo8 without the dog. Make sure your speed is constant, your hands stay in the same place, your eyes are focussed on where you are going and your shoulders move correctly with the rest of your body. Video yourself if you can and be surprised at how you look :laugh:

And just one more tip re: the food in the hands... if you haven't already, start doing some training with remote rewards (eg. in a container in your bag, sending him to them) so that he gets the hint that he can still get rewarded without the food being right there in your hands ;)

Feed from your left hand. Have food in left pocket. Do not look at the dog when walking, when you do that the left shoulder drops and the dog will anticipate your next move and be lagging back awaiting a turn. Practice when the dog is on the outside going around the post ( I use the garbage bins) at a quicker pace, dog on the inside go a bit slower. Try and taper off the rewards. Reward at the end for a good try.

There are quite a lot of components to a Fo8 so they need separate training from plain heelwork.

Have you done any rear end awareness work with Milo, for example platform work? For Fo8 the dogs (especially big dogs) really need to understand that both their front and rear ends need to stay in heel position, so they need some rear end awareness. That would be my first point of call :)

I started off as Cleo says, telegraphing my moves in a huge way - then phase out the telegraphing as you cannot do it in trials (although I still make sure my shoulders turn with my body).

When a dog is on the outside, they need to speed up, and when on the inside, they need to slow down (and to complicate matters, we need to stay at the same speed!). So I also trained an exaggerated speed up/slow down. I would speed up when the dog was on the outside and throw rewards forward to encourage faster movement, then slow down with the dog on the inside and reward in position or slightly behind the dog. Of course once again, I then needed to phase out my speed differences.

Also, practice Fo8 without the dog. Make sure your speed is constant, your hands stay in the same place, your eyes are focussed on where you are going and your shoulders move correctly with the rest of your body. Video yourself if you can and be surprised at how you look :laugh:

And just one more tip re: the food in the hands... if you haven't already, start doing some training with remote rewards (eg. in a container in your bag, sending him to them) so that he gets the hint that he can still get rewarded without the food being right there in your hands ;)

I have a Mars coat king, would never use it on a Border Collie, really great for Siberian Huskies in full moultI wrecks the coat of the Border Collies. I use a soft pin brush and a MP brush, I use a stripping comb for excessive ear hair, also thinning scissors. I have a double sided comb, fine teeth one side wider the other. Very partial to it, have used for years. I use a dermal on the nails, after I have tipped them.

Bathing is done monthly unless dogs are being trialled or shown, then it's weekly.

Love the Paw shampoo and conditioner. Because tails can be really thick, I use quite a bit of conditioner on them, find it keeps them and the rear furnishings manageable.

if blow drying I use a mix of conditioner diluted in water as I blow dry.

Small pair of scissors used on the feet.

Hope this helps.

On my Poodle I am using Paw shampoo and conditioner, on the Border Collies it varies with what I am doing with them. I have recently been using Hartz. Only because I bought 6 bottles cheap!

Advance used here, and one of the cheaper foods for the 2 desexed girls, lower in protein.

I groom, a big male desexed border collie, he had a beautiful coat, easy to groom, very few knots, and only needed a bit of thinning out on the longer hair of the hind legs just to make it easier on his elderly owners, sadly when I was hospitalised they couldn't find a groomer for him, took him to the vets and had him clipped off sadly he now has a coat like carpet underfelt. very little left of what you would call top coat. So now the only real option is to keep clipping it as it will never grow properly again.

I know some borders who are clipped in the summer and left to grow a half decent coat over winter, this depends I think on just how dense the undercoat can become on some dogs.

Last time I bought a bag of Paws, in the red bag. When opened up the contents were BLACK and stank to high heaven.... went straight back to the supermarket. YUK...

If that's what the owner wants then I will clip the dog for them, personally I don't clip my Border Collies off, but if people are not prepared to look after the coats then I will certainly clip them off, more hygenic than a heap of mats and s**t clinging to the coat. I use a Oldfield dryer on the dogs.

Sorry to hear the sad news Melissa. Seem like we are losing all are wonderful champions of our breed.

We certainly are. It's been such a sad sad year.

So very sad Melissa, you have had a rough time of it in the last 12 months, Webster was a handsome lad. Focus on the memories. xxxx

If I am having a bad training session I put the dog away, let myself chill out and then get them out later and ask for something relatively simple.

Yep! Same here. No point getting all hot and bothered about it!

Once learnt I think either can look quite polished, all that the dog has to do is to stay as close as possible to your body on the left about turn (Pivot) we call the other the U left about.

Easiest way to teach the Pivot is to have the dog sit in front of you, (on lead) really close (nose to your knees) Take a step backward with your right leg, tell the dog to heel and change the lead behind your back to the other hand. Easy if your dog has already learnt the 'heel position' sometimes a step forward is needed to help him/her around. Once perfected your feet will remain still. I find that most dogs pick this up very quick. Especially if you use food! :D

This is particually good if you have big dogs, danes, mastiffs, wolfhounds etc; which don't do a 'flip' comfortably.

Hope I have explained this well enough.

Wahl 2 speed are great, also have a pair of Osters, but they heat up too quickly.

It's a big NO from me too!

Birth defect, Maybe?

I am hoping someone can help me with a problem I have with my Standard Poodle. He has recently been to new groomer but since he had come home he is very uncomfortable - he is wanting to sit down all the time and he is carrying his tail to the side. He is really miserable with it. When I told the groomer she intimated that she did nothing wrong and does not know what is wrong - I suspect she does as she gave me some soothing lotion for him . I dont know the name of it as she decanted it into a very small container for my use -'Paws' brand I think. It does not seem to be helping him. I would appreciate advice on how to help him.

Hi Macksmum, just check that he hasn't been nicked on the anus by the clippers, I have seen that done before, you could put some vitamin e cream on him, hopefully he will be okay by tomorrow.

Sorry for the double post, I don't know how to delete it!

I am hoping someone can help me with a problem I have with my Standard Poodle. He has recently been to new groomer but since he had come home he is very uncomfortable - he is wanting to sit down all the time and he is carrying his tail to the side. He is really miserable with it. When I told the groomer she intimated that she did nothing wrong and does not know what is wrong - I suspect she does as she gave me some soothing lotion for him . I dont know the name of it as she decanted it into a very small container for my use -'Paws' brand I think. It does not seem to be helping him. I would appreciate advice on how to help him.

Hi Macksmum, just check that he hasn't been nicked on the anus by the clippers, I have seen that done before, you could put some vitamin e cream on him, hopefully he will be okay by tomorrow.

I have a Oldfield heated model too, brlliant.

So very sorry for you loss Noisy,

R.I.P and may you meet again at Rainbow bridge.

Very good news, so please he now has a forever home.

Congratulations to everyone who participated you all did great

Should eventually grow back, maybe slower because of stress to body.

Just place a plank of wood the lenght of the broadjump, place it on the jump to the right hand side, also a pole placed at the end of the jump(once again, the right hand side) and just watch your hand signal too.

Looks to me like she needs a good conditioner put through, and use something like Mink Oil, before you brush her through, Have had some good results with Plush Puppy "Reviva Coat" Just see how the coat comes up first before you start stripping out the coat. I would never use a coat king on that type of coat.

Sometimes a teaspoonful (smaller amount for small dogs) of tomato paste (not tomato sauce) added to the dogs food will help with the tear stain yellowing, all it does is change the ph balance.

If not try the ACV or a change of diet.

$50 is good. Don't think it's too much to pay.