huski

really?? Next time you are in Brissy let me know!

I think this could be part of it, probably one of the reasons I see loads of rude labs around too. I must admit I've not met many ill tempered or rude beagles, but I know what a handful they can be so I understand how it can happen.

LOL thanks Sammy, she's a cheeky bloody thing and I can totally understand why some beagles have bad manners and can be a bit full on to handle. A lot of people don't realise they are an active breed that needs a fair amount of mental and physical stimulation. But raised and trained well and I think they make great pets for the right person! And SO easy to run with other dogs.

Meet my well trained, well mannered nice beagle (well - mostly well mannered. She can be quite vocal LOL)

I have two relatively pack orientated breeds (a Siberian and a Beagle) yet I find they can both be quite independent and stubborn. If I took Daisy to a doggy play date, she's most likely to be the one off scenting by herself rather than playing with other dogs. My Siberian quite enjoys his own company and is not a dog who wants to be all over you - he's happy just to be around you. I find it interesting that they can both be quite pack orientated and do well in multi dog households but at the same time are quite independent and in some ways have less pack drive than workings breeds that aren't necessarily going to do as well in bigger packs.

Cherry came to me to start off my passion and love for dogs; she is the dog I waited and hoped and prayed to have for years and for the rest of my life, she will be always be 'the first'. Micha came to me to introduce me to dog training, it is because of Micha that I have met some amazing people and started learning more and more about dog training. He came to me to start my real passion for purebred dogs, and is the most wonderful, beautiful dog inside and out and will always have a special place in my heart. Daisy... well, I don't know how to even describe what she means to me. She is the most challenging, naughty, PITA dog who is also SO smart and driven and forgiving. I don't think I will ever own another dog who will teach me as much as she has.

MM - bedazzled posted a good how to vid but I'm at work and can't find it - will post it when I get home

Fran - there are two kinds of LATs that you can do - the round the back one or the one Nik and I do (and most others on this thread I think) where the dog turns with you. I prefer it to the around the back turn because the dog is staying with you and IMO when it's done properly it looks nicer. That is the benefit of doing back end awareness training stuff like the elephant trick I mentioned a few posts ago. Totally up to you as to which one you use as both are ok to use in the ring. I film all my stuff on my little point and shoot so I'm sure your DSLR will be fine!

Sounds like a very good idea!! Otherwise I'm sure some of us could set you some 'homework'! You just need to start putting some videos up! What Nik said

Nope - there's no set signal for anything, but there certainly are common signals. With turns the dog knows how to maintain heel position based on your body language and footwork. The only cues you can use in heelwork is "heel" (when stepping off from a stationery position only), "down/drop" and "stand". Everything else is automatic and you can't talk to your dog aside from those cues. Was just about to post the same thing! Have you done much backend awareness training with Luuka, Fran? I wish it was one of the first things I'd trained, we had terrible turns until I taught Daisy how to move her backend and now turns are so much easier and look heaps better too! I agree with others about the stand command - I use my left hand. Ptolomy Strauss is just gorgeous!! He looks so confident.

How exciting you're entering Myf in CCD! Which trials?

Awww, if only I was in VIC, I have a Beag and a Sibe!

Well we have entered a CCD trial but not title yet We've blown two quallies on our down stay so if we can get that reliable I am sure we can get our CCD title this year... well I hope we can! We also did well in a Novice mock trial, apart from the 3 minute down stay Daisy is working at Novice standard and if we get our CCD quick enough we will be entering a Novice trial this year too.

I think finding a positive outlet for his energy through something like drive training would be a great idea - I've heard of and met a few difficult dogs who are really just drivey dogs that have no positive outlet for all their natural energy and it's because they look for their own outlet for their energy that they develop behavioural problems or are hard to handle. Once it's harnessed in the right way they can become a real joy to own and train.

Thanks Dan! I've never seen one like that before, interesting!

Hey Dan, what's a snap around collar?

You were the one drawing comparisons I was just giving an example of why I do it the way I do it. My point was that you have no way of knowing which way would work better (i.e. rewarding every time for every command vs using a random reward schedule) if you had to ask the dog to work for an extended period of time whilst still keeping them in drive/interested/hanging on. When you have to work your dog for x amount of time with no reward, you have to find a way to keep them interested and anticipating the reward. I don't know if your way would work or not, because I haven't done it that way, which is why I asked. I do see lots of people whose dogs lose interest when they have a predictable reward schedule i.e. the dog is always rewarded at the end of the exercise, so they lose interest half way through.

Daisy now walks on a flat collar, when I was training her to do LLW I used a martingale collar but I don't need it anymore. Micha walks on a martingale because he head is very narrow. Both dogs are only ever walked on good quality leather leashes.

Ishy are you based in Brisbane? If so which training school are you thinking of using? You can PM if you prefer

Yay, a beagle puppy! I am so jealous any idea on names yet?? I agree with SecretKei and Staranaias

I totally get where you are coming from, I hope I didn't come across as bossy I just see a lot of dogs getting bored in class and I know it made Daisy think heel work was totally boring she was more likely to lose focus etc. Now if she gets really distracted I end the training session, pop her on a tie out and then when I bring her out again she is really raring and ready to work. A lot of classes tend to be geared toward pet owners more than competitors, which is why a lot of experienced triallers won't do them - that's not to say you won't get a lot out of it, just that the class structure is not always congruent with what we want for trialling. Altough I'm sure cos you are doing a lot of work otside of class you will be fine

Fran how long do your training sessions go for? Careful not to push her too far too soon, I started out doing sessions that were no more than 3 minutes long but I would ask for 110% and would always finish with the dog wanting more. I can train for a lot longer than that now but I wouldn't do an hour long class as I find the dogs can get bored easily. I'd rather 110% for ten minutes than anything less than that for an hour. Sounds like Luuka has lots of potential, just be careful that class time doesn't get too boring! Don't be afraid to pop her in a crate or on a tie out to give her a break.

Love that game Ptolomy! I play with Daisy where I get her in heel poisiton and hold a treat in my left fist with my arm down so she has to look right past the food to make eye contact with me. So cute the way she looks like 'ugh get that hand out of my way, I'm trying to make eye contact here' LOL

Do you train with food rewards Fran or a toy or both? If it's food what kind of food do you use? When she looks back up at you do you treat straigt away and that's when her nose goes back on the ground? Or can you say look and she will maintain eye contact until you reward?

It really depends on which state you are in. From what I've gathered QLD tends to do longer heel patterns. Here's one from our last trial; Heel on lead was almost three minutes long. LOL I can tell you all about scenting, how hard is it to get her attention back on you when she's scenting?