huski

And just what is correcting the dog for running off once you catch it going to do to proof a recall? If the dog is notorious for running away off leash then it shouldn't be let off leash while it's still unreliable at recall.

Perhaps I misunderstood you? I'm glad you found something that worked for you, but I personally would not use a method that involves taking the food away from a resource guarder as a way of teaching them not to guard. Again, leaving your hand on his food or on his bowl can make a resource guarder feel more threatened by you. It might work for some but it's a method I would personally not use. Do it to the wrong dog and you could get bitten.

It is definitely something that can be taught if the owners are willing to learn. Some people are more instinctive when it comes to dog training but those who aren't are still able to learn.

I can't believe the owners of the pup haven't patched their side of the fence up Surely you'd think that would be priority for them?? Having said that I would probably patch it up as best I could from my side anyway but I do have smaller dogs and am very paranoid about them getting out.

It's always the way... I never have the camera out when Daisy does her best work

You need to be careful taking food away or crowding over a dog while they are eating, especially if they are already showing food aggression, as you could end up reinforcing to the dog that you are a threat to his food and that you are going to take it away from them. To the OP I would give the Triangle of Temptation a go, it will teach your dog to look to you for permission to eat. I use this with all of my dogs and it's excellent http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=64101

YAY!! Congrats!!!! Video? :D Seconded

Susan are you near Perth? I've noticed a lot of DOLers recommend Kathy Kopellis McLeod. http://www.kathysdogtraining.com.au/ Personally I would drive out to see Steve from K9 Pro http://k9pro.com.au/index.php

Ruby looked great RS! Nice COP Wish you'd gotten Millie on tape!

Really? Would love to see those posts or know which posters would agree a dog should be mauled to death for barking at another dog. Of course, there is a difference between a friendly playful bark and an aggressive, 'I'm ready for a fight' bark. Any dog is capable of aggression, I wish owners would take more responsibility for DA dogs. Often they are in total denial about their dog's problem, and put it in a position where it is able to attack other dogs. You also see a lot of owners who have no idea how to read doggy body language. I have lost count of how many dominant, pushy trouble makers have "just been saying hello" according to their owner. Even the owners of the dog who attacked Daisy a few days ago tried to say after the attack that their dog wasn't aggressive - what further proof do they need??

Ah ok, thanks Ness, I haven't read the rules for other states So it does differ from state to state?

It bought a tear to my eye too!! Was so lovely to see! He looked great out there Nik Quick question, I noticed in the stays that the dogs are kind of in the middle of the ring and the handlers only have to walk a relatively short distance away from them. In all the QLD trials I've been to, the dogs are set up at one side of the ring and the handlers have to walk the width of it away. Is the distance you are required to be away from your dogs during stays different for each state?

Just to clarify, I have no problem getting Daisy's focus even when she's on a scent, but I don't really care about keeping her nose off the ground when we are walking unless I ask for focus. I guess I don't really see why you would want to keep sniffy noses off the ground for a walk, I don't view it as a problem and I am happy to let Daisy scent as long as she's not pulling (or I've given a command like look etc). I never stop to let her sniff but she will scent as we are walking. I agree it's not so much about the tool, I'm just not convinced that a head collar would be necessarily be "great" for getting a drivey beagle's nose off the ground, it certainly wouldn't have worked with Daisy. I don't see how a head collar would force a dog's head up off the ground if it wasn't pulling, and if the dog's drive to scent is strong enough they will pull on the head collar anyway - I see dogs pull on head collars all the time.

My next dog will be a puppy from a reputable breeder, who may or may not be listed on DOL. Probably 1-2 years away. Breed still mostly undecided although I really want a tri coloured male beagle to call Burt or a female to call Betsy. LOL Being on DOL has influenced where I get my dogs from in that being on DOL has really enforced the importance of buying from a good breeder.

You'll have to go to the next one Ash! Huge congratulations, the album is just fantastic - you deserve it

I'm not a fan of head collars myself, I did all our of leash training with a well fitted martingale. Like Erny I like to use walks as an opportunity to train. I wouldn't ask Daisy to keep her nose off the ground an entire walk, I don't think it would be possible for half an hour plus and besides, how boring! Knowing how strong her scent drive is, a head collar wouldn't stop her if she was determined to follow a scent. I am happy for her to scent on walks as long as she's not pulling, and that she focuses on me when I ask her to. I use walks as an opportunity to practice commands like 'look'. I like to test how quickly I can get her focus away from scenting/other dogs/x y z distraction and back on me and I like to reinforce quick compliance too. Remember that dogs learn to pull because we teach them that's how they get where they want to go, and a big part of leash training is teaching them that pulling will get them no where.

WOOOHOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOO Nik!!!!! I AM SO happy for you and Jedi! Well done guys!! Can't wait to see the video

Thank so much for all your help guys! Ended up with some passable pics on my little cannon

Ah ok, thanks guys. I might just have to use the pics I've taken with my little camera. Macka, I made sure it was on A not M and it doesn't seem to make a difference. Ruth, I've tried taking the photo from a distance but it will only focus really far away and I need an up close pic - too far away to zoom in when I edit it and get the result I need. You are probably correct and the lens just doesn't have the capabilities. I have no idea if this helps but the lens says 18-105mm 1:3.5-5.6??

Hi guys Bit of a random question and not sure if anyone can help me. We have a Nikon D90 at work and I am trying to use it to take some up close pics of an object. I am trying to use the macro setting but I cannot get it to focus at all. I've read the user manual and there is nothing in there that is helping me, I have no idea what I am doing wrong If I hold down the shutter button half way it doesn't even attempt to focus. I am only used to using my little canon ixus (it does have a macro mode) so I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Can anyone help? (quite urgent as the pics need to be taken ASAP, I have taken some with my little camera but the quality isn't as great as it would be with the DSLR).

I have no problem letting trainers I trust handle my dogs. No trainer should take your dog without making you comfortable with what they will do first. A trainer should explain their methods to you before taking your dog. I would never, ever hand my dog over to someone who I didn't know or wasn't comfortable with.

No, it is not the whole point. The point is that people want to use his methods for problem dogs on ordinary pets. The steps missing when you do that are having the experience that Cesar does to diagnose the issue and to know just how far a dog can be pushed. Most pet owners simply don't have that much savvy. As Patricia McConnell (who believe me, does not need to feel jealous) explains, Cesar's methods often take dogs up to and over their bite threshold. If you think inciting ordinary pets to bite you is an acceptable biproduct of a training method, then you have a different approach to dog training than I do. Personally, I think Cesar tends to perpetuate the myth (not directly but by inference) that most issues with dogs can be solved by dominating them. Ah, if only it was that simple. I've read Cesar devotees on other forums explaining that any disobedience can be resolved by pinning a dog to the ground. I tend to think training a dog is a better option. I think some of his messages are great - particularly on the importance of exercise. Others, are far more problematic. Totally agree

For me it's not about positive vs punishment, because no one who understands how to use punishment/corrections would use them in such a fashion that it becomes abuse. I have no problem with corrections etc but the examples in this thread are examples of abuse not examples of proper training methods. Raineth that story makes me really sad

Whether or not he solves problems is a matter of opinion

God those stories make me sick Tilly One of the biggest difference between obedience training and training a dog with behaviourial problems is that obedience is a choice you make to do something fun with your dog. You aren't doing it because your dog has issues that you have to learn how to work with and manage, you are doing it because you want to do something fun with your dog (or if you are like me and own a beagle you do it for the challenge too ). It is optional and is supposed to be enjoyable. When obedience training becomes about dominating your dog, forcing them to do something with harsh physical punishment, slapping them in the face for disobedience, etc etc then I have to wonder why on earth they are bothering in the first place. I have no interest in having a dog who has no joy or desire to work, IMO that completely defeats the point of obedience in the first place.