Kodiak

:rolleyes: Run free Koko Run free Demon Condolences and much sympathy to you TotemSpirit. So sorry that this was the outcome.

I can recommend Herding_Guy's training - I have done it twice with my Aussie. After doing the sessions you are also able to go back and organise some time with sheep on your own or with instruction. Very grateful for the herding training that allowed me to teach my Aussie to stop as well as have some fun herding! She was not safe off lead on our property due to cows and sheep next door and that second session made it easy to prevent her chasing stock.

The big issue I have here is no water... as it is we are almost out and praying for rain everyday. What sort of comb do you use Lea? I did once have one of the long swivel tooth ones and it did a pretty good job but it was still lots of work.

I don't think the zoom groom one is worth it TBH - but it does take off the hair left behind by hand pulling. So does my slicker but it gets clogged pretty quickly - the zoom groom is easy to unclog which is the main reason I like it. According to this - don't know how right it is - you need a wide tooth comb and a bristle brush. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=-43yBI...;hl=en#PPA49,M1 Personally I have found the bristle brushes annoying - they clog so quickly and are a pain to clean out (every 5 seconds).

I have used the coat king - and while I like how much it gets out I do find it strips the coat a bit. It doesn't stop my husky blowing more and more and more and more coat . When he is blowing his coat it seems to be a never ending process and I actually find hand picking and a slicker or zoom-groom (don't know if you can still get these - mine is years old and almost worn out) to take the last bits out neater but it takes much longer. I don't show my husky so the stripping coat bit is not a big deal but it does happen. Wish there was a husky hair magic wand - one wave and the moult is over (and all the hair neatly put in the bin) ETA you should come and join the sibe thread in the breed forum - you might get better answers there from people who have to keep their huskies looking stunning for showing.

Sorry blackwolf - I stopped checking for answers after a week. Basically the negative is old - this person would like to put their relative into a family photo so they have a photo and an unrelated negative if that makes sense. The idea is to "put" the relative into the photo like they were already there.

I haven't gone the boarding/training route but I did do puppy classes (and later herding) with 4 Paws. I found them excellent and so recommend them in a heart beat!

I had a lot of success training my Australian Shepherd to focus with clicker training and food rewards. I also use the TOT mentioned above and she will stare at me intently anytime I give her the command to "watch". I have had some success with my huskies but they are very easily distracted by anything that moves..... so it goes out the window if there is a good distraction around. What I like about clicker training is that it helps the dog focus on you and not so much on the reward.

It's so hard to lose a beloved pet and Fergy was obviously that to you. Run free at the bridge Fergus. Hugs to you Sammy... I hope you get some time to grieve and can find a way to pay tribute to the love that Fergy brought into your life. xxx

Sounds complicated... If I have a negative that I can scan and a photo I'd like to add the negative to... can this be done in photoshop? Actually asking for a friend because I know there are some awesome photoshoppers on here.

Rubbing a treat on the lead might also work to get her focussed on the lead so you can click the attention. I have Karen Pryors click a trick kit and that is how I got my Aussie to find my keys in the house, rub food on them so she sniffed them - any interest was clicked and now if she sees the keys anywhere she goes and puts her nose on them .

:D Tears for you Fifi... it's so hard to say goodbye to a heart dog... :cool: Run free Navarre

I am so sorry to read this news Cassie.... ;) Hugs to you at such a hard time... ;) Oakley... run free

for you GR... I know firsthand how hard that decision is... hugs Run Free Sambucca

I have a 16 mo Aussie Shepherd... she is a bit testing at the moment but it adds excitement to life!

I can't remember the price... I think Dave was talking about having herding sessions (pm) after the obedience sessions (am). I haven't done them so can't comment on how they operate (but must get around to getting my pup back on sheep before it gets too hot). The intro session is a line up style - but it's good because you learn a lot about how to behave by the mistakes others make.... the other sessions... don't know! I can recommend the training by k9 four paws - though I think Dave is a trainer you either love or hate (I think he's fantastic)... Dave does obedience in Diggers Rest too - he breeds and trains working Kelpiesn and seems to have an excellent understanding of the way other breeds work when herding. I loved the way my puppy was exceptionally excited to be going to obedience - they use play and food in training. I didn't see any correction there at all - the lead manners training they use a "niggle" on the lead to get the dog to stop pulling... it's not a particularly negative stimulus - just a tad annoying to the dog. Kelpie-i runs k9Four Paws and Dave is an arm of the business in Diggers Rest (he has property with sheep so you can get the opportunity to get your dog on paddock work there too). I am not sure what time frame is available now though - though I see there is a course next weekend!

http://www.fourpawsk9training.com.au/herding.htm From my experience a dog with some level of obedience is good - a good recall is a bonus - but the dog doesn't have to be trained to any particular level to participate. I would start with an intro session to see if your dog has some aptitude/interest and that it is also something that you would like to do and then take it from there. The Aussie Shep club of Vic also runs herding sessions (they are cheap and I have heard good things about them) but they are a long drive away in Cranbourne/KCC Park. I figured I made up the difference in price in petrol (I live out your way too).

I highly recommend K9 Four Paws.... they do herding training in Diggers Rest - very close to you. Dave is great and you can get some time on sheep regularly. Will find the website for you...

I can't answer your first question as I think it's one of those things that varies from dog to dog... if you have a dog that is very comfortable in the crate and that is his/her day sleeping time I think it would be okay... if you have a breed that is going stir crazy with being cooped up then it's not. I bought an attachment for our crate from a large pet warehouse style shop from the avairy section of the shop, mind you our puppy still managed to get the dish out and empty it. It was metal

Run free Sarg. Many hugs to you Shelly - how wonderful that you had such a faithful friend for so long.

Pippa. Hugs to you dogmad... Pippa sure was lucky to have found you!

Did anyone watch House the other night? He had a 17yo dog living with him that chewed up everything... I kept thinking if only he was crate trained. You'd think someone who is meant to be such a smart doctor could work out a way to contain a dog in an appartment! I felt like yelling at the telly "GET A CRATE YOU IDIOT!" Hi back at you Kelpie-i!

Thanks ARF Muttly and Dogmad. It means a huge amount to have Wolfie acknowledged.

I am glad I crate trained our last pup - it was a godsend when I had trips to do that I couldn't take our pup with me (shopping and the like). The crate was also very useful as a "time out" from our kids - it was always open and we had a rule that if our pup was in there she was out of bounds. So she could use it as a haven too. It was also very useful in introducing our dogs - the pup was safe while our other dog sniffed and took her measure. We introduced them with the pup in the crate several times before allowing them contact with each other and there was minimal fuss once the pup was allowed out with our other dog. When I have gone to herding training (several hours) I have been able to take the crate with me and pop her in to keep her out of harms way. Much safer than tying her out while other dogs are around - it meant I could concentrate on the training information rather than having to watch her closely.

Misty and Puppy (I can understand why she had a few families interested). How very sad for you Varicool.