huski

I'm generally easy for most days on the weekend :D and I'm happy to drive within reason.

I think all dogs should have structured training to a point, but class training is not always congruent with how the owner may want to train their dog/s. I think it would be great to encourage more dog owners to go to classes, especially if more obedience clubs tailored lower level training for basic stuff like LLW instead of heeling, informal recalls etc. Because at the end of the day the majority of people at dog clubs are average pet owners who will likely never trial their dogs.

No updates for us really, I don't think we will even get our CCD this year.

I don't mean to say all obedience classes are boring, but at the end of the day, some dogs do not do best in a class environment. I would rather have my dog giving 110% for ten minutes than giving 60-70% over an hour. I might spend an hour or even two at obedience club, but I won't have my dog out for even half that time.

Not to get too OT, but just following on from your post Corvus, I don't think frustration alone is a bad thing. I also think frustration can build drive if it's used properly.

Brilliant brags everyone :D

A lot of the way classes are structured at obedience clubs means that you can only make it exciting to a certain point, as you still have to follow the overall structure of the class. It can work for some dogs, but I certainly couldn't make it that fun or interesting for my youngest dog. Training in drive works best in short bursts, it can be hard to replicate in a class when it goes for an hour, because when you rev your dog up that much and ask them to work at that level they get tired more quickly. Exactly my thoughts :D I don't know any top competitors who plug away at obedience classes, they might pop in to do some distraction work but I've never seen or heard of any doing a full class.

I go to my local obedience school but I hang out and do my own thing, run ring outs, distraction work etc. I can't envisage doing classes again with any dog I have because I find it boring and my dogs find it boring. It also doesn't gel with the kind of training I do. I'd do other kinds of classes (i.e. we are just about to start agility class) though.

I can't imagine why in any circumstance it would be desirable to have a working dog that feared the handler.

I am quite certain it's all me at trials. I know because I am nervous, I stuff around and make stupid handling mistakes I don't make any other time. I can take Daisy out to new places or places full of distractions and she will do perfect run outs under trial like conditions. It's just frustrating because you feel like you are letting your dog down.

I don't know, I don't think it has anything to do with Daisy or her breed, I think I just hate failing, and it makes me feel like a bad dog owner/handler. I think I would feel the same way regardless of the type of dog I was competing with.

I found it hard to watch too... what is the purpose of "training" the dog in that fashion? What is it achieving? Regardless of whether it is a police office or it's a police dog or what method he is using it's clear he is correcting the dog out of anger, it doesn't look like he does anything right in the vid at all.

I don't have any issues at all at training. Daisy can do great run outs anywhere other than the bloody trial ring because it's the only time I lose the plot with nerves! The last trial we did was so bad to the point where she was on fire just outside the ring, bombed when we went in, then a little while later when I took her out again and a few people, even our judge, walked by and commented on what an awesome dog she is if I can just get my nerves under control

That's me all over Jules!! It's sooooo frustrating. I actually better if Daisy is working well but it's a catch 22 because if I am beside myself with nerves, the chances are she won't work to her full capacity. And if one little thing goes wrong (i.e. she puts her nose down as we walk in the ring) I panic and naturally that makes it even worse!

Has anyone else seen this vid? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-mJUSk9LUc

We've done a mock trial before, actually the first time we ever did a run out under trial conditions was a novice mock trial and it is still the best trial we've ever done I was nervous, but not as nervous I guess? I was way more nervous at our first real trial for sure! I have a better strategy for what to do at trials now, as I have made a lot of handling mistake that probably compound the issue once we get in the ring, but I just don't really feel ready to get back in the ring. I don't know why, my dog is more than capable. I guess I still have that niggly feeling that we will fail again and as silly as it sounds, every time we fail a trial I get more and more nervous for the next one. I am not very good at dealing with it when we fail, unless it's on something silly or minor like Daisy sitting up in her down stay at in the final minute.

We've done a couple of trials, we have had some good ones and some atrocious ones where my nerves just got so bad I could barely shake the judges hand I am hesitant to enter more until I can work out a better strategy (I am getting there) because otherwise I am setting myself and Daisy up for failure. I have actually done a lot of public speaking and did theatre for years, I get a bit nervy before doing a speaking engagement nowadays but I really enjoy it and have no problems with speaking in front of a large group of people. So this trialling thing has me a bit baffled, I think a bit of nerves is natural but not to the point I get them (at least not for me!). I think the other problem is that in all those other situations, I've never had to worry about anyone else but myself. When I trial, it's not just me but Daisy and the type of training I do means that she is really keyed into me and what I am doing and if I am beside myself with nerves it really affects her. The other problem is that I am not very good at handling it if things do go badly

Maybe you need to try wine BEFORE your next trial!!! I'm a bit nervous about trialling tonight... got some crazy wind happening and am worried that it may cause Ella some trouble with her seekback... I guess we'll see in a few hours! Where is the trial tonight?

I am getting more and more nervous about trialling again especially with these new rules!! Grrrr It's so irrational, because Daisy is more than capable of working at a novice standard, I don't know why I am stressing about it. But it's not fair to compete with her when my nerves get to me so much because it puts her off

Happy birthday Naomi!

It will be interesting in trialling in the new year, I have had judges in CCD tell me off for standing too far away from my dog in the SFE. Thank goodness I usually go to the end of my leash for the SFE!

The only way I managed to do it was by building Daisy's drive, so she was so revved up and excited she 'forgot' about scenting. I have to be more interesting than the scents on the ground.

Yeah I think my chances of passing CCD are getting slimmer and slimmer although in all seriousness - I can see the benefit in that there are a few dogs I've seen pass that worked pretty appallingly and maybe part of the idea is that it will prepare people better for novice?? My dog can work at a novice standard so the changes shouldn't make a big difference for us.

Thanks SM! I was curious cos I don't have a proper SD article as yet, so I was wondering if it's most advisable to start out with a proper one from the get go.

I've seen beags doing agility and yep I will be starting with Daisy shortly, it will be entertaining if nothing else :D