SkySoaringMagpie

It sounds nice but in this instance I disagree. A number of aspects of RSPCA ACT's operations are matters of fact, not opinion. If you have genuine criticisms to make of an organisation, you do your cause no favours by putting up additional accusations that have no basis in fact. I might put forward an opinion that the moon is made of cream cheese but I'd be wrong, and I'd expect that others might tell me so.

No, no. I like you because you have a sighthound and consequently you are clearly a person of superior taste and intelligence.

.......whoosh..... that's the tongue in cheek bit flying over my head. There's a really good horse training website that stresses that the use of the terms "positive" "negative", "reinforcement" and "punishment" in the OP quadrants aren't about being "nice" or "nasty".. I honestly wonder how many folk truly grasp that sometimes. That's why, like you, I don't use it in classes at all. While useful for people who understand it, the language is very counter-intuitive for the uninitiated. Being even less sophisticated I talk about "good stuff for dogs" and "bad stuff for dogs" because the other thing people don't grasp all that well is that what a dog experiences as rewarding or aversive may not be what a human thinks is rewarding or aversive.

It's just the purely positive trainers, is it? I don't think we have a purely positive trainer in this thread but primarily positive trainers will get dogpiled if they express anti-correction views in this forum. If you want to see the reverse in action, have a look at the LiveJournal community dogsintraining when some poor sap unwittingly goes in with pro-correction views. The difficulty is that these discussions boil down to some emotive base concepts. Underneath it all one side usually feels that they are being called dog abusers, and the other side usually feels the methods are abusive. There's no easy way to get through that kind of discussion even if those elephants in the room are studiously ignored. Having had the opportunity to participate in two forums that I consider are populated by intelligent people but which as groups espouse quite different views I have seen that with enough weight of numbers, almost always the writer in the minority cracks first. That tells you nothing about whether they had something useful to say, it tells you a lot more about the group dynamic. It's why I posted earlier on that ultimately you have to make peace with yourself about your methods and bugger everyone else, because everyone else is not going to agree, especially in a thread titled NDTF vs Delta. If I worried about the fact that other people thought I was abusive/incompetent/soft I'd never sleep at night because there will always be a critic somewhere. Disclaimer: I use correction sparingly, and I think Delta as an organsiation verges on cult-like behaviour.

I think I'm going to go buy chocolate frogs for my class next week in gratitude. Haven't had anything like that to deal with.

Yep, I use this technique with one of our bitches at home because she has a strong sense of "space" and will attempt to use it to her advantage and guard it. For her it is not good for us to cede space so either we come in to the space or she goes out of the space. With one of our attention bunnies tho', withdrawing has more of an impact than coming in. I think most of us make a snap judgement based on the size of the dog, what we know of the temperament of the dog, our own physical fitness and abilities and what we think the handler might do. PF and I can have a robust discussion about it on the weekend, but the other thing I factor in is my relationship with the handler and whether I'm instructing at the ime. I will avoid physically correcting a dog that isn't mine if I can help it.

Was mostly just driving by with another idea people might want to try. With the strong ones that's where I find twisting can shift their centre of gravity and put them off balance enough to break the hold. On reflection you would need to understand using ground force to make it work effectively to shift their weight or you could go a over t. I agree that some of the big humpy dogs are like wombats in terms of being solid compact little pile drivers.

by Twist around rapidly 180 to shake its hold and swiftly step out of range? It's a manoevre I learned in martial arts class to deal with a human hold, and its usually pretty effective. Perhaps not suitable for those with lower back problems. Have to say tho', it's been a long time since a dog tried to hump me.

As someone else mentioned, everyone can pull stories out to suit their own particular agenda. Anecdata are not fact. In the long run each trainer has to take a cold hard look at themselves and be happy with what they are doing. Things one might consider are one's methods, the consequences of one's advice and one's own biases and shortcomings. People who are religious either about not using punishment or insisting that people approve their use of punishment without question might want to take another look.

Can't remember where I read it, but apparently dogs who live completely outdoors or in kennels their entire lives have shorted life spans.

Poor Howie!! Still, at least it will be an honorable scar. Give him a get better soon pat from me. Always need tent staff at Hound Club so you and Mr Howard would be more than welcome to camp in the Secretary's tent as he won't be shown.

Baker girl before having surgery of any kind I would get an opinion from a well respected orthopaedic veterinary specialist. As you have found out, sifting through veterinary advice is hard when you have vets trying to over-treat and vets with biases about natural remedies. A true specialist tho' is where I would go because apart from anything else, if I do have to put a dog through that kind of surgery I want the best. We did this years ago when our Afghan puppy was diagnosed with a skeletal development disorder and the local vet was saying "surgery, now!". We drove to Sydney and saw Tony Black. We were concerned about putting a young puppy through a such big operation so young. Tony did xrays, accurately diagnosed the problem (and there was a problem) but he advised AGAINST surgery. It was an expensive consult, but it saved us a whole heap of trouble and unnecessary pain for the puppy and expense for us. We still have the dog and he is active and happy 7 years later.

no salukis today Hmm, that's a surprise. Shame there was no chance at all I'd get today off work.

Does anyone know what was BOB in Salukis?

Do you feed her before her classes?

A trainer of dogs, or a trainer of people with dogs? If we're talking dogs: really good observational skills, timing, patience, emotional self-management, open-mindedness. It's something about being prepared to deal with the dog in front of you without taking refuge in self-delusion of one sort or another. If we're talking people: patience, people skills, the ability to "let it go" when you want to strangle someone but it isn't in the dog's best interests to do so.

Thanks yarracully. Yes, the vet did let me know, she is going back in 4 weeks to check that it has worked!

Exercise is a good suggestion for any dog but it has to be appropriate. Large breed youngsters should not be over exercised - you risk affecting their skeletal development. Also, I often see exercise suggested to "tire a dog out" and people saying "a tired dog is a good dog". That's fine if the dog tires at about the same rate as their human, but some are energizer bunnies and they go and go. In those situations, you have to teach the dog how to be calm.

We have 6 dogs, of those two are resource guarders and one is an opportunist who needs his weight controlled. So we feed separately - mixture of crates and rooms/the deck. I figure training them all to eat nicely in a nice little line would be lovely if we had the time and didn't have other more pressing training priorities. As that's not the case, it's management for us, and really, it's a pretty safe option.

Mr Ken Hodge is no longer able to judge Hounds at the National Capital Kennel Club All Breeds show on Friday 23 April. Mrs June Weston has kindly agreed to step in at late notice to judge the Hound Group.

Short answer: No The steward should assist the judge so that the rings run properly but if it doesn't happen you make the call in the ring about whether you make a fuss in the ring or let it go. Personally I'd let it go, sometimes the judge knows what they want already and it's not my dog!! I'd think about whether I wanted to call attention to that before making a fuss. If your concern is preventing it happening again then it's up to you whether you think a politely worded piece of feedback is worthwhile. In this case, the Secretary is highly unlikely to be appointing the judge again in the short term so has little power to do anything about it. You could contact the Canine Control who MAY issue a reminder to clubs but who equally may not if they are up to their eyeballs in aggressive dog reports and code of conduct hearings.

Thought I'd put this in here, because it specifically relates to help I've received as a newbie breeder. Last week while I was working late in the city we had a mismate. I was pretty pissed off but this thread is not about relationship counseling The good thing tho' is that our community of support really kicked in. The breeder of OH's dogs did a sterling job of talking OH through on the phone them while they did the deed. The breeder of my kids phoned me straight back after getting my panicked voicemail and was sensible and calm and double checked my vet's advice with her vet. I was due at an all breeds committee meeting after work so I went - no point rushing home after the horse has bolted. Everyone else there were very experienced breeders and judges and they calmed me down with "You think that's bad, let me tell you about the time..." stories and bought me a white wine or two. You all know who you are and you're all awesome. Thank you so much. And yes, my girl has had her two appointments with Mr Alizin so hopefully all will be well. Also, thank you to the other lovely breeder in my breed who bought me a subscription to an overseas breed magazine for my birthday. I don't have any of her dogs, but she's been such a great supporter of my efforts. Anyone else got some thank yous to make?

Looks like Gundogs are still open on OzEntries?

Just a note for those having trouble spelling Nahgfa Images - it's Afghan backwards. Anyone know if Trafford is coming to Canberra?

Should be fine, will check for them tomorrow - our* official closing date is this Friday so a bit of time there for them to arrive *Edited to add that by "our" I mean Hound Club only. For all the other shows you'd have to check with the respective Secretary but I think you'll be fine for the All Breeds anyway.