huski

I would if I lived in Sydney

LOL Ness - I'm waiting for my awesome new trial leash :rofl:

LOL what is aversive to one dog is not necessarily to another! For Daisy it was more the shock/surprise of a short burst of water hitting her when she was not expecting it. I wouldn't have done it if she was barking out of fear/anxiety, but she was barking because she thinks that's how she can get her own way.

I didn't have the luxury of time (we had a lot of work to get done ASAP so I couldn't hang around for days dolling out treats) and I hid under our deck and squirted her so she didn't see where it came from

I had a similar problem with Daisy the other day. We had to spend the day clearing the yard up and had to have the dogs locked on the back deck/inside. Daisy barked and barked and barked wanting to come downstairs. I agree yelling at them to be quiet is very ineffective, so I sprayed her with a water bottle a couple of times when she barked and it worked and she was quiet for the rest of the day

I have to be careful with Daisy - as Ptolomy experienced when we met her when she was last in BrisVegas, if I let Daisy off leash to run around and scent it is harder to get her to switch on for training. She does get into training more if she has zoomies though and if we are somewhere highly distracting and therefore very exciting/arousing for her she is also really keen to train - same as if I let her have a quick play with another dog then call her back to me.

I must admit the part of our walks I look most forward to are the parts where we stop to train

I love Sibes because they are independent and happy just to be around you without being clingy; love exercise; have the loveliest temperaments; don't get stinky despite all the hair; and for me personally - Micha whilst being an active dog is so calm and well mannered and just a pleasure to live with. I was attracted to the breed not just because they are beautiful but because they have a great temperament and fit all my requirements re size, exercise etc. I ended up with my beagle because I wanted a smaller dog that could still keep up with the Sibe, an active dog with an outgoing temperament but a good nature, nothing too high maintenance coat wise, and obviously something I liked the look of! After owning a beagle for three years now I just love the breed, I think they have great potential as dog sports dogs and Daisy is nice and food driven which makes training fun. She is quick to learn and loves to work. I will definitely have another beagle (probably my next dog) and another Sibe, although I won't have more than one Sibe at a time.

Aj don't you worry about injury if she lunges after bush turkeys on the head collar? Or do you find she doesn't Lunge after them when she's wearing it?

LOL ness it's not Daisy I am worried about, but my handling when I get nervous! Daisy has been working quite consistently lately, her SFE and stays are really coming along. We're at a point now when there's not much more I can do to prepare her, we just need to get out and trial and see how we go.

I'm sure it will be a most entertaining tale, for all the wrong reasons

Maybe but I'm a nervous wreck about it so I am undecided about sharing the date it will be next month some time if that's not too vague :rofl:

I think I will do COP when we get to novice, Daisys dumbell is ok but her COP is better. We should be pretty right to go straight in to Novice from CCD.

how exciting Kath! Which trial? We might be there too

Having done a massive trial and error with Daisy I feel confident with the next dog I will start by teaching position and back end awareness. There's nothing worse than seeing people put their dog in heel position and start walking forward when the dog didn't even have focus at heel or lost it after the first step or two. I would rather have a dog who really knows heel position and can 'find' it well, and gives a few steps of 110% focus than a dog who loses interest and only gives sporadic focus throughout a heel pattern. Take it slowly and make it a fun game.

I agree - I am not a big fan of luring the food up to my face. I want the dog to choose to look to me as IMO it builds better eye contact as the dog knows the key to getting the food is solid eye contact.

Ok well what I do, once I have built up a few seconds of solid eye contact, is wave the food around in a distracting manner and reward only for them maintaining my eye contact instead of following the food around. Once I've marked the behaviour and/or released them and give them the food I don't really care if they look at it.

:D Did you see Bedazzled's earlier post about putting the food in your hand, holding your hands out and rewarding when the dog makes eye contact with you? That's what I did and I find it useful because it teaches the dog to look to you for the food.

what bloody idiots Well you can add me to the bloody idiot brigade! I've had this recommended by one vet and okayed by another. It's not something I use unless desperate, but when you've got a dog who won't drink in hot weather, if diluted powerade or gatorade gets her to drink then so be it! Sorry if I offended you Jess, I just had images from Nic's post of people giving their dogs bottles of gatorade etc to their dogs to attempt to improve their performance. Perhaps feeding heavily diluted power drinks for health reasons i.e. the dog won't drink and you are desperate, but I am sorry, I don't understand it purely from the perspective of "enhancing" the dog's performance.

I have a gutso here (a beagle not a staffy) - I think she would eat until she exploded. She's ALWAYS starving. Or at least she thinks she is LOL

Seems like a good idea but I don't think I can afford it at the moment This thread might be a good place to start ;) Not sure if you've already read it? http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...c=43795&hl=

what bloody idiots

What makes you interested in trying them? Are your dogs lacking energy or drive etc? ETA: just saw your above post. Remember that dogs are different to people, I always work my dog on an empty stomach. If he's working well I wouldn't be worried.

I train a look command to use for times other than when we are doing heel work I.e. When we are out for a walk and I want to get my dogs focus and attention for whatever reason.

Hey GG There will be demonstration dogs there but you won't bring your dogs to this one ETA: Some info on T-Touch When animals don’t do what we ask or expect of them it is usually because they are physically, mentally or emotionally unable to do so. Tellington TTouch was developed by American Linda Tellington-Jones using a combination of touches and ground exercises to improve an animal’s physical, mental and emotional balance and wellbeing. Improving self awareness and releasing tension can help with behaviour problems (such as lack of confidence, fear, defensive behaviour, fear of thunder, excessive vocalisation, inappropriate chewing and other destructive behaviours); dysfunctional movement patterns and decreased performance potential - allowing the animal to reach its full potential. Tellington TTouch is a very gentle therapy, suitable for all animals from the very young to the very old and frail.