huski

Hahahaha now I have to try and remember which video that was Ahhhhh so bad I have another one from very early module one where the cat just sits there watching us the entire time I look back on some of those and cringe soooooooo much ETA: Although admittedly I cringe watching ones I uploaded a week or two ago

Thanks ;) I can't wait to get her out in the trial ring! Not too long to go! I've already gone through highlighted the trials I want to enter this year We train in food drive and it took me ages to get the right technique. Daisy is my first trialling dog so it's a huge learning curve for both of us.

I don't even want to remember my first training session with Daisy Or actually most of the first module at all

Yep, but only cos I'm so bloody stubborn that I refuse to give up ;) I wouldn't be getting anywhere with Daisy if I weren't so stubborn! Dammit, beagles can do it just as well as any other dog, and I WILL prove it

I find Daisy won't even think about smells on the ground now when we are training - I am always quick to finish training leaving her wanting more, and I get good focus if she is nice and drivey and im the most exciting thing ever. You mentions she loves the two food game and gives nice snappy downs when you play it, think of making a similar game for heelwork so it too becomes really fun for her. What do you do when you start a training session? Do you rev her up and get her excited or play a game etc?

Maybe you can do some 'classes' with them when you visit them and teach them how to get the basics down pat?

Totally agree, Piper I know that there are some boarding/training centres out there that probably aren't bad, but I've heard so many horror stories that there is no way on Earth I would trust someone I don't know to take my dog and "train" it. You don't know what methods they will use, or how they will get the results you pay to see. They can also be hugely expensive and at the end of the day teaching basic commands is not hard to do and a good trainer can show you how to do it yourself. Training is about you the handler learning how to train your dog, and like Piper said, developing a bond between you. ETA: Ah see where you are coming from now WaH. I thought you were asking about boarding/training centres. Where are your cousins? It might be easier to get them to sign up to an obedience club or class near them.

Personally, I wouldn't send my dog away for boarding/training. Dog training is about training the handler as much as it is about training the dog. There's no right or wrong age to train a dog. The best thing you can do would be to have some one on one lessons with a reputable trainer, so they can teach you how to get the best out of the dog. ETA: The best time to train your dog is now

They crack me up too If you know how to harness that scent drive, they can be quite good at dog sports, I don't know why we don't see more of them around!

LMAO We should team up and take over the world with our mad dogs! Mwahaha! Yes. Evil mad indeed

Pfft, who wants a dallie when you can have a beagle???

If SK's videos are any indication Kei is going great guns

Daisy's the only dog I've ever trained for competition, she is desexed. I train Micha for fun and I find he's much easier going than she is! But that's his character - he's Mr Cool! I think they call girls bitches for a reason Daisy picks things up pretty easily and when she's switched on her focus is excellent irregardless of the distractions around us. She's definitely more intense than Micha. I would really like a tri colour male beag next (call name will be Burt) but then again I have a real soft spot for the girls, I have girl names I really love too :p Temperament is more important to me than sex, I like the pup with the spunkiest character, I don't really care if it's male or female.

I've just started taking Daisy back to obedience club for some distraction training (and to work on my handling skills) and it's ok as long as I make sure I don't follow an entire class. We generally do our own thing and it's a great opportunity to work on distraction training, stays etc.

I am training with a competition focus - still wondering how an IPO club would be able to help me?? Club training is not for everyone and not everyone has access to a good club.

Surely that would be dependant on the IPO and the trainers there? Again I would love to know if an IPO club would be happy to train myself and my beagle for obedience competition, using food drive not prey drive, dedicating the same time and knowledge to helping us (and believe me, I need a lot of help ) as Steve does. You can't possibly know that an IPO club would offer the same info and more as the K9 Force program without having done it.

Hi Neats Might be worthwhile posting this in the TOT thread or sending Steve an email - I am sure he will be more than happy to help

It wasn't your suggestion that people have questioned, but the way you said she would learn more at an IPO club and would get better results. How can you possibly know what is best for the OP and her dog?

But if you've never done the course how can you know a local IPO club would be better for anyone considering it? Would love to know if my local IPO would be happy to take on my beagle and I, give us the time and knowledge that Steve has. Are many of the instructors there experienced with the breed and happy to train in food drive not prey drive? And training at the IPO club is free?

Have you done the K9 Force program, Yesmaam?

Are you being literal, Jeff? I just meant that no tool should be used as an alternative to training, as in, no one should just chuck a tool on their dog without really understanding how it works and knowing how to use it properly. I see too many people chuck tools on their dogs without understanding how to use them. i.e. people who put head collars on their dogs and use them as a bandaid, with no understanding of how to use it properly - where as soon as the head collar comes off the dog starts pulling again and they become dependent on forever walking their dog on a head collar. Sorry post was made with tongue in cheek. thanks for being a tease, Jeff :)

Are you being literal, Jeff? I just meant that no tool should be used as an alternative to training, as in, no one should just chuck a tool on their dog without really understanding how it works and knowing how to use it properly. I see too many people chuck tools on their dogs without understanding how to use them. i.e. people who put head collars on their dogs and use them as a bandaid, with no understanding of how to use it properly - where as soon as the head collar comes off the dog starts pulling again and they become dependent on forever walking their dog on a head collar.

I actually can't stand head collars, I used one on Micha years ago and he found it highly aversive. I've never seen a dog trained properly on a prong react even close to the way he did on a head collar. Head collars wouldn't work if they weren't aversive, and IMO, have more risk of injury to the dog than a prong collar, because of the neck/spine damage they can cause. But that's getting off topic

Any tool should always be used in conjunction with a training program No tool should ever be used as a quick fix or as an alternative to training.

I think it's like I said earlier - most state canine control councils do not let member clubs use prong or e-collars. I could be wrong though, but I'm pretty sure that's the case here in QLD. Maybe someone like Erny will be able to clarify for us I personally don't see a difference between using a tool like a head collar and using a prong collar, both are a tool to help give the handler a bit more control so they can train the dog more effectively. Each dog is different and what tool works best depends on the dog, the handler and the situation Whether or not the tool is used properly and effectively depends entirely on how the handler is using it.