huski

Corvus I think the problem is for some, there is only so much that can be explained over the net. Far easier to talk about it and show in person. Bedazzled: Ella is Seita's dog From memory, Seita is training her to compete in UD this year - she has some videos on her youtube channel

What is a remote reward?? Is it placed ringside at a trial? It's when you place the reward outside of the ring. You train the dog to work away from it and release the dog to it when you're finished. This helps the dog maintain drive even betweeen exercises.

I don't know - I wasn't referring to your dog, just dogs in general. I'm sure there a people who don't use my definition of drive who train their dogs in drive (like yourself who uses different words for it). But to me a dog who is in drive can be different to a dog who is simply interested in the training. A lot of people who train in drive use remote rewards when trialling, there are quite a few who train in drive (or, who call the training they do training in drive) in the obedience ring.

It took me ages to put two and two together, Dyzney :D :p

IMO, it's not as simple as judging if the dog is engaged/interested in training. I've seen dogs (including my own) interested in or engaged in training who aren't working in drive. Drive is an adrenalin fuelled behaviour and involves the dog going through a drive motor pattern, which gives them a chemical reward (an endorphin flow). In fact sometimes when I teach things to Daisy I intentionally do so out of drive, and whilst she's still interested and engaged in the training, she's not giving me the total focus and energy she gives when she's working in drive. Obviously we all have our own perspectives on it, and to you it might be about her level of interest. IMO though, a dog working in drive and a dog being engaged in training are not necessarily the same thing.

Corvus, it's the way my dog is behaving and their body language that indicates to me that they are in drive.

Thanks Ness! That's really interesting. Would be fun to do something similar with Daisy.

Hey Ptolomy - I never realised that UK obedience allowed the handlers to reward their dog when they are in the ring. Looking on Steve Davies' website now - so handlers reward their dogs during an exercise as well as in between?

That's one thing I learnt - I always used food in training from day one, but it's how I've used it that's changed. On the subject of heeling, I found Daisy's heel work improved 110% on it's own once I had good focus and drive. Bashing around the paddock at obedience club made it boring for her.

You two work so well!!!!! There's still more to do Haha yep, and most of it is me improving my handling skills I need to learn to walk in a straight line and all that other hard stuff I am also mindful of entering only when Daisy is ready, atm she's not. I want to enter the Metro trial because it's known grounds for us as we train there, but there's no point doing it if Daisy and I aren't ready. I'm also not sure if I will have her papers back in time, I have had to do a transfer of ownership and I don't know if I will get the new ones back by the time entries close.

Daisy's three years old too, Tiggy If I'd started her on Steve's program earlier she would have been in the trial ring before now. I'm hoping she'll have her CCD by the she's four in October and if we're lucky maybe on her way to CD

I will definitely be there Tiggy at least spectating, at this stage I probably won't be entering as I have too much to work on with Daisy at this point... will see how we go though Will say hi if I see you, Kathq!

If you are keen to go and watch a trial, there'll be a trial at Metro on the 27th of Feb I think it starts at 6pm.

Because she knows that if she gets stuff off the counter you will take it back/yell at her/discinpline her etc. She's just learnt not to do it in front of you, not that it is "wrong".

What about if you're not there though? Benson has occasionally got a brush out of the grooming bag when I've been outside....he's seen his chance and taken it....and hidden it in his little bolthole. It's only been later when I've gone to groom the dogs or tidy up the laundry that I realise the brush is missing. How does he know he has to hide it if I'm not there for him to read my body language? And other items he's never nicked before but seems to have an uncanny knack of knowing he's not supposed to have? He stole a lens cap out of my camera bag one day when we were out, and took off across a footy oval with it. He'd never been near my camera bag before so he would not have known that it was out of bounds. And yet HIS body language showed that he knew he wasn't supposed to have it, and I never even realised he had it until he was halfway across the ground. Daisy will "steal" things she's never touched before when unsupervised and she runs away with them and "hides" them in her crate. It's a game to her, something fun to do - dogs don't have a moral compass so they don't have the ability to understand when something is what we would deem right or wrong. They are opportunisit and will do what they know or think will work for them. What body language did Benson display that made you think he knew that taking somehing out of your bag was wrong and that he wasn't supposed to have it?

I agree. I think they go off our body language however subtle it may be. Dogs are opportunists and IMO have no idea what stealing is. I think it's the same way Daisy "knows" that I'm going to clean her ears, and runs to hide in her crate even if she can't see the ear cleaner or I've only just got off the couch and haven't even gotten it yet. She's not telepathic, she can just read the most subtle of body language! Daisy eats fast if she knows I'm going to stop her

Hey Beth Not Kelpiesrule, but I've been a Metro member for a few years now. Wasn't there much last year but will definitely be back with Daisy this year for some distraction work/ring run outs

OMG So sorry to hear that. RIP Cruise

I don't think that's far from where Steve at K9 Force is http://www.k9force.net/ I agree it's best to go straight to a behaviourist for some one on one work first, and then look at obedience club once you've had her assessed and know what the problem is and how best to deal with it.

Whereabouts in Brissy are you? Depending on what you want to do with her, clubs can be a good place to start to get a general idea of what is involved but you'll find many triallers don't actually train at clubs much themselves (at least, not in the sense that they take their dogs through all the levels or entire classes). I found obedience club most valuable from a socialisation perspective, it was great to get Daisy out amongst other dogs when she was a pup in a controlled environment.

Ok, I take back what I said about Micha. He's no where near as keen to train as Daisy all he wanted to do when we went to the park this afternoon was walk around and then we sat together on the grass and he just wanted to chill out Maybe he's getting older (he turned seven last year)

OMG Hillary they are just adorable!!!!! I would love to meet a tan and white bitch that was easy going hehe, total opposite of Daisy. She was into everything even at eight weeks.

Micha is a bit like Bubby. He is so well mannered and easy going, he does not need as much mental stimulation as Daisy who is much more difficult and no where near as well mannered He has pretty decent food and prey drive, and if it wasn't for his fear aggression and had I known more about dog sports when I got him, I would have loved to done agility and/or obedience with him. I totally admit I spend more time with Daisy because we are going to trial quite soon () and I do feel guilty I don't spend as much time with Micha. Although he is such a good dog, he really does enjoy training, and I wish I had more time to do some with him. Actually this year I would really like to spend more time with him on training, just for fun. Hopefully I will find the time between trialling and training Daisy. I don't know how those people with multiple competition dogs do it! ETA: I feel I should add that the only thing Cherry knows how to do is sit

Nah not mean I heeled her right up to it and she didn't notice she was standing on top of the treat bag

She has great drive Laeral!! I wish I had a dog with awesome prey drive (well, I do, but he refuses to tug ). PMSL I am literally doing the same thing right now!! Just waiting for the damn thing to upload