huski

I totally agree, great to see happy working dogs but the crowding is an issue. and I'll get shot for this but I think the swinging arms are wrong that some people are doing. Its another signal to your dog when heeling, swinging arms move, still arms stop! IMO it looks more natural than a hand on your hip (for me personally - it is more natural for me as that is how I would walk down the street. I wouldn't walk down the street with my hand on my hip). If you have a dog that has strong handler focus, they won't see what your arms are doing as they are looking at your face, so it wouldn't work as a double signal.

In most states it is sadly still the minority to see 'up' dogs in the ring, but this is changing as more people want to learn how to make their dogs work with focus and drive. Part of what I love about training heel work is taking something many people see as boring (and many dogs too) and making it look like a bit of magic is happening!

Heelwork like the videos posted in the other thread is a product of the dogs having a lot of drive, focus and motivation. I've trained my youngest dogs heel work purely in prey drive - no food involved, but I did and do use toys and balls as a primary reward. If you want high end, stylised heel work you need to be able to use rewards that keep the dog highly motivated. For some dogs this is food and for some it's toys. Reward placement and having a good communication system is a critical part of training good heel work - for example I don't reward in position when training heel work, I release the dog to reward. Where you place reward can have a huge impact on and shape position.

Positions in motion look very cool when they are trained properly :D

Hehe cats always nail the "I am most displeased" expressions!

I'm the same BC, training heel work is my favourite thing, I love to watch great heel work.

My all time favourite obedience video - just wow. So inspirational. Amazing work.

It must be a beagle thing :) Even if I wave roast chicken around, I still get the stare. If anything it is more intense in a "JUST GIVE IT ME NOW!!" kind of way. Yes! Definitely a beagle thing. Gosh they make me laugh! Now I will have to make daisy pose in an Xmas photo just to demonstrate!

Yes daisy always gets made fun of for looking sullen in photos! The only time she smiles in pics is when she's panting lol. Exactly! But even if I talk to her in a happy excited voice - favourite things "car ride", "dinner" etc I just get the stare. If I am lucky she will at least tilt her head a fraction to indicate she is listening. LOL Even if daisy is really happy (ie about to get her favourite treat) she still looks super serious lol. Cracks me up

Yes daisy always gets made fun of for looking sullen in photos! The only time she smiles in pics is when she's panting lol.

Lol that beagle looks just like my beagle does when I make her pose for photos!!

Go Ziggy! Congratulations TSD :)

If you do IPO/Schutzhund then dogs need to be trained to bark for the bark and hold exercise. However we don't train dogs to bark in personal protection work.

100% agree! If you are a responsible pet owner there is no reason to worry about contributing to dogs in pounds simply because you keep your dog entire. Unwanted litters are created by irresponsible dog owners, not people who responsibly manage their dogs. If someone is irresponsible enough to let their intact dog roam or breed indiscriminately they aren't responsible owners IMO and wouldn't be even if their dog was desexed.

Karen hedberg in north richmond is awesome

I find beagle hair worse than Sibe hair. It is one thing that could put me off having one again!

I love sibes. Micha our family dog is 12 years old now and I will always have a big soft spot for the breed. They don't suit what I need or want in a dog now though, so I don't think I would own one again. But I still think they are awesome :)

When it comes to over excitement or over arousal, the most common reason can be lack of a clear communication system. Do you use markers in your training? Does your dog understand what is required of him to earn reward? Another common reason can be that you aren't getting the reward element right. Maybe if you post a video, we can give you some tips :)

MALINOIS :D

Aww I love a happy breed thread. It's so exciting thinking about what to get next! I know I will obviously have another Mal for my next dog, though I love beagles SO MUCH I don't know if I could live without one. However like TSD, I don't know if I could have another beagle because I don't know if it would be as good as daisy or if I would constantly compare them.

Can't wait to see what you end up with :) Oh my gosh, he is such a champ! How freaking cute was that puppy pic I put up on FB yesterday - love rotties :)

For some Thursday fun and entertainment, what will your next breed be and why? Include pics if you have them! :D

Oh no!!!!

You will have to post a pic of Didi in her new collar!

This is a very wide collar (so it can be used in agitation work) so it is more visible on coated dogs than normal collars. However having said that I do love having short coated dogs, I can put any collar on them! Lol