huski

Hi fatsofatsoman TBH I don't count multiple entries, so if someone comments more than once I wont double up and if I can tell that someone is posting under multiple log ins (ie using their dogs pages) I won't count that either as it's not fair IMO

Just bumping this as the last three days of the giveaway comp starts today We've got a K9 Pro premium leather collar and leash set to win today!

Love them!

I'm sure your skills are great, but that wasn't what my previous post was about. Training something different to what you normally do is a challenge. I wasn't saying that means that having a high drive working breed isn't. All I said was I said that training a breed that isn't ideal for dog sports challenges our handling skills, not that training more "traditional" breeds is unchallenging. I also went on to say I understand why people don't always want a challenge like that, as every dog presents it's own set of challenges/difficulties. ETA: The only reason I would personally want to challenge my handling skills would be to widen and improve my skills and because, well, I like a challenge and I like to do different things.

I said that "every dog regardless of breed comes with it's own challenges" so I am certainly NOT saying that high drive dogs are not a challenge - but if you only ever train the one 'type' of dog, how does that really challenge your handling skills? From a training perspective I am not saying one is easier than the other, just different. However, I also have to be honest and say I personally find handling higher drive dogs that are of a more naturally handler orientated breed easier in some ways than handling lower drive dogs who are not as naturally biddable. There is no doubt that there are many advantages as a competitor to training a dog that naturally wants to work with you. Personally my experience has been that instructors/competitors that have only ever trained one type or breed of dog do not have as wide a range of skills as those who have trained a variety of breeds or dogs with different levels of drive, temperaments etc - though I am sure they are not all like that. Funnily enough they are the same people who asked me why I'd bother trying to train and compete with my dog BTW - I agree with the sports car analogy. That's why I call my friends dog the sports car and Daisy the Daewoo Lanos ;)

I think that it definitely challenges our skill as handlers when we train dogs that aren't necessarily "ideal" for dog sports. However I can also understand why people don't want a challenge like that, and IMO, every dog regardless of breed comes with it's own challenges. I am glad I had a more challenging dog for my first dog sports dog but when it came to choosing what breed for my next pup I intentionally picked a breed I knew I would enjoy training the most and would be most suited for the style of training I like to use. But I also didnt want any of the more "common" obedience or agility breeds you see around so that made it interesting!

If I could go back in time (and for future puppies): - I wouldn't worry so much about teaching lots of different commands, but building good foundations and teaching my pup how to earn a reward - I would do a lot of drive building so I had a puppy who would respond well to a trigger and marker words and understood how the 'game' works - I would do a lot of shaping so my pup could learn how to learn

Yeah she does enjoy it, we've only done a handful of classes though really, but she loves it so far. Hope you can get your issues with Quinn sorted, she and you definitely have stacks of potential!

We've missed agility for the last six weeks because I was in a car accident and my stupid insurance company has been stuffing me around for weeks getting my car repaired Finally got it back so I thought we'd make it this week but now it has to go back to the mechanic tomorrow because they stuffed something up! Grrrrrr! Then Daisy and I are off to Sydney for a week so it will be a couple of weeks until we are FINALLY back at training. Really miss it so can't wait to get back into it!

Dogs are by far my favourite. But I couldn't live without a cat either

I really like a lot of the Kyjen toys and the Planet Dog stuff (orbees etc) are Micha's favourite.

Just to clarify I definitely don't think physical corrections are bad, but I don't really see much use for them when training dog sports like obedience. I also think there are lots of ways to give corrections other than physical corrections i.e. NRM, removal of reward, ending the game etc.

Seita here on DOL is based in QLD too and she is one pass away from her Obedience Champion title and her training, like mine, is strictly about reward and having lots of drive Ptolomy and Bedazzled who are based over in WA have OCs on their dogs too and they don't use physical corrections either and train with food! IMO more and more people are moving away from using physical corrections in obedience, though there are still a lot of 'old school' trainers around.

thanks guys, I might look up the threads on buidling drive. Its hard to get around check chain training as the lady who is pretty much the backbone of our club has won national UD titles years ago and absolutely hates food etc, but maybe I will just give class training a miss for a while and do my own thing, as I have had some experience with food and clickers. Someone told me about a Susan Garrett method for heeling, which involves what was said above, but had someting to do with hand position also. I am just a bit bummed now as he was quite successful in CCD! Whereabouts are you based Puddles? I plugged away with obedience club training for two years until I found other methods, because my dog had no interest in training and training her felt like I was fighting her the entire time. I am sure we can give you a long list of people just on DOL who do well in the obedience ring getting UD titles and competing successfully at a national level etc who don't use physical corrections in training :D Often I see dogs who are trained with more 'traditional methods' who do alright in the lower levels of obedience but struggle as they progress.

Well done to everyone who has brags!! HUUUUUUGEEEE congrats to you Kath!!!! I know how much you wanted that first UD pass :thumbsup: The next two will be just around the corner I am sure!!

Totally agree with DD and TN!

Oh no, I only just saw this. So sorry to hear about Benson, Gayle. Run free handsome boy

LOL thanks Steve! And thanks for letting me giveaway all your products Thanks Cass I really enjoy it I was wondering if you were a DOLer!! Congrats, I have one of those bowls and they are fantastic - I use it every time I take Daisy out!

LOL no it's cool ask away! I do all the comms stuff so FB, the newsletter etc. We 'announced' it on FB a little while ago and it was also in our newsletter a couple of editions ago. I am still based in Brissy so I'm not at K9 Pro HQ (except for next week when I'm down for the Sydney workshop) - I am very lucky to have been given the opportunity and it's lots of fun to do

Hey Cas - yes I have for a little while now Bad luck with today's comp - another DOLer took it out! But there's still another seven days to go and we have some stellar products to give away

We have fun doing it We've got one of our own treat bag up for grabs today

Brilliant dog!!! Thanks for sharing!!! LOVE his waggy tail!!

My pleasure Emma!! Let us know what you think of it

Oh, my mistake. I assumed both Soaks and Fable were dogs that were bought with an intention to compete in dog sports with them. Well, obviously communication is crucial. Hence why I contacted the breeder I liked and met her dogs a good year before I am going to be ready for a puppy. I am not saying that I won't communicate with the breeder or ask for their opinion (not sure where you got that impression from) just that I won't solely rely on the breeder's opinion when it comes to selecting my puppy. That's not what I said. I said I'd walk away from a breeder who only gave me the choice of one pup that they selected for me. I don't want to have no choice in the selection of a dog I am going to live with for 10+ years. That's not what I said. If a breeder I really liked only had one pup left I'd have a look at it (as long as the rest of the litter was there), but that's different to a breeder saying 'you have the pup I choose end of story'.

Have you even read my posts? I just said that I wouldn't buy a pup from a breeder I didn't trust but that doesn't mean I have to be happy taking wahtever puppy the breeder "decides" to give me. There are VERY few breeders who train their dogs with the same methods I do, the breeder I am getting my next pup from has many successful dogs in working and sport homes - if I didn't trust her breeding I would not be getting a pup from her - but I still wouldn't take a pup that she gave me without assessing it first to make sure it is what I want. But of course I am sure you know far more about how to pick a great competitive dog sports puppy than I do Brendan