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The Spotted Devil

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Everything posted by The Spotted Devil

  1. I'm glad you like her, skip - I think she's just perfect so I won't be sending her over just yet ;) Em looks like she will be a 400 dog (which will be good for me with Ziggy in 600 - time to catch my breath when they are both in Masters!) Remember that she is a working line ESS, which is just about a separate breed from the show line ESS. They tend to be smaller and slightly longer than they are tall, with much less feathering and coat. The show ESS tends to be more square. Then there's the drive level - I have no doubt there are show ESS that are high energy but it's like a whole different world with a working line pup. There's a determination and focus that is incredible to have in a training partner - she blows my mind! She has been so much easier to train than my Dally but part of that is due to me learning from Zig - who, by the way, is one of the most fun dogs I've ever had the privilege to train - just completely different! In agility Zig is really picking up speed and is gaining in confidence but he needs my support, very clear handling and no hesitation on my part. Em will need very clear handling and no hesitation because otherwise she will have finished the course before I've thought about where obstacle 2 is She is very relaxed at home - at the moment she is restless because, being in season, I can't take her out and train her as I normally would, but normally she's just happy to curl up on the couch with the cats or give Zig the sh!ts. They can be shy puppies and need time to mature and approach new things at their own pace - I think flooding would have a bad outcome. I had people say "don't fuss over her" "leave her be" but I understood my pup and took things slowly with her. I've had people call it "weak nerve" but I think that's bullsh!t. Em's confidence has gone through the roof the last few months and now I am working on stand for exam without mugging the person for cuddles. They are bred to be disinterested in other dogs and are very submissive - when you see spaniels playing together you understand them much better. Em screamed blue murder when she first saw Zig (poor lad just loved her on sight but he is rather overwhelming) but she is now completely feral with him - bites him until he relinquishes his place by the heater and plays with her. If you're not sure that you want such a high energy dog but you like the style, you could look at the Welsh Springers or a show ESS but the latter probably have too much coat for what you are after. Happy to answer any more questions you have. Just like my Dally, the working ESS is not a dog for everyone but they both suit me down to the ground. Perhaps that says more about me than the dogs
  2. ktb - this is how I trained a retrieve -for both my retrieve-mad Springer and my couldn't-be-less interested Dalmatian. I've gone back to square one with my Dally because he was mouthing the dumbbell. At the moment he is so excited about retrieving that I'm going to have to re-train the "wait" Below is something I wrote on another (retrieving) list - I just copied/pasted to save time - if you need some clarification please yell. Loudly ;) Any mouthing and the dumbbell is gently removed and I said in a light voice "ah well, try again" - i.e. you've lost your chance to earn a reward but let's have another go! Back-chaining rocks :D Firstly I pictured the exact 'front' position I wanted and shaped that until it was second nature for her (which also gives me a lovely recall for obedience!) Then I sat on a chair, legs slightly apart and called her to 'front' and rewarded that - I only use her dry food in the house - save the good rewards for high distraction areas. If they get silly when there is food (like mine does), I tend to hide it. Then I brought out the obedience dumbbell and, whilst holding it, went through the sniff, mouth, no chewing criteria of shaping it. I started using the clicker on this one but moved to a verbal 'good' as she was flying through the steps and it was hard to keep up with my hands full. As soon as she had the hang of that I quickly introduced other objects - the wood, leather and metal objects from obedience for example - but the more different objects you can use to generalise the hold/present the better. Start holding the object to a hard angle to the left and right so they have to collect it and then consciously straighten themselves up for the present. I hold the dumbbell on it's end so she is tempted to not pick it up in the middle - ah well, no reward for that one, try again! I didn't even train this with the dummy but she generalised it without a problem as she truly understood the exercise. Also, shaping really depends on your timing and your dog's ability to think laterally so video your training sessions and also try some free shaping to get the dog relaxed and confident about offering new behaviours.Don't forget to reward when you are doing the drills - if you think about it they're not all that exciting for the dog and some are really difficult concepts. As I was told by one of our trainers at an obedience seminar....if your dog isn't doing what you want him to, he's either confused or underpaid.
  3. Thanks Kavik - she's just wonderful and funny and enthusiastic and perfect for me. Hey Bec This one's for you.....I thanked her breeder for sending us the "feral" one and she said that was all part of the plan :D She's coiled like a spring, waiting for me to say "OK!", so she can hoon up the hill again. Be careful what you wish for
  4. I have to say I also find this perplexing. After a fatal attack and also a serious attack of several other people. I would have though euthanasing the dog would be automatic. i dont think it is being assessed as to whether it will avoid being PTS or not...it will be, they have stated this, but i would imagine it is being assessed to see what triggered/caused the attack, THEN it will be PTS. The police stated that forensic evidence would be collected before the dog was PTS.
  5. Odd about the video - can't be helped. Yes, I'm interested in how the ESS and Britts differ from each other but I suspect some of it comes down to lines. Are the Britts bred to hunt close like the ESS is? Em will quarter and hunt all day if you let her - in fact that's how I'm exercising her now that she's in season. She is very, very determined to do what you want her to do - but they are very good at problem solving as well. This probably won't work either....
  6. Odd wuffles Here's one of her and Ziggy (and Dizzy) doing perch work...no music so should be fine...you can see the difference in training/application styles between the two dogs...
  7. Oh, Kavik - are you watching on a smart phone? That would be why - as there is a copyright song on it and it won't allow viewing in some countries so they ban it on mobile phones
  8. Apart from a little feathering on the legs and ears you've described my Little Em to a tee. But I would call her incredibly focussed when working and very snuggly at home, rather than clingy. A lot of people have trouble with the "birdy" nature of spaniels (esp from working lines) and Em is over the top nuts about birds - however......when we are training she ignores them as I've worked on that from the beginning. Here she is at I am currently preparing her to compete in a novice retrieving trial (waiting for my firearms license!), novice obedience and has just started agility prep class (but came into season). She turns 1 today
  9. Not much at all.... Ziggy is afraid of not being comfortable enough and Em is afraid of being left out of a training session
  10. Not only do I like a challenge but I'm a sucker for elegant and pretty dogs Thus, I selected a non-traditional breed for obedience and agility (my Dally) and I'm just loving competing with him. And in a very competitive retrieving scene that, in Victoria anyway, is dominated by working-line Labs (and I had the option for a pup) I went with a working ESS instead. I just love the ears At the end of the day, I found wonderful breeders of dogs that I thought would suit not only me but the rest of my household.
  11. Your description of Ren sounds like Ava. Add Em to that! Retrieving, in particular, is serious business and her whole demeanour changes.
  12. I have one of those as well that I use for Ziggy (agility only) - it's a little hard on the hands though, especially after Em's lovely biothane lead.
  13. I bought a beautiful limited slip lead from Clean Run as Em's retrieving lead but it doubles as an every day walking lead and will be used in agility. Feels soft like leather but will not rot and only needs a wipe down. Perfect for a dog with MUD for a middle name Will post a link later - feel free to remind me if I forget! ETA: http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_id=2689 (I bought a pink one - it's elegant and pretty without being fussy.....now I want a red one for Zig)
  14. Oh well done Molly Sounds like you had a great trip fetchin! Day 13 and all going well. Em is so full of energy that I'm not sure who is having worse training withdrawals - her or me Zig is behaving like a real gentleman all things considered although he was a bit hyped up tonight....took a bit of effort to get him to concentrate on his training ;)
  15. My youngster started barking really loudly when I was training my Dally instead of her - she is normally very quiet so it was quite a shock I staked her close by and tossed her pieces of cheese when she was quiet - didn't care about where she was looking, just that she was quiet. She soon worked it out ;)
  16. I have no idea but they never go without - dogs and cats are fed good quality diets and the dogs have regular Bowen treatments but to me that's also preventative. I don't go silly with leads, toys, training tools etc but I do buy for quality so they tend to last a long time. If my time and energy is worth anything they get an awful lot of that and I did essentially buy the car for the dogs I wouldn't count trial entries a) because I consider that my expense for my enjoyment, and b) because I really don't want to know :D
  17. I wish Day 13 now and Em is MAD as a hatter still. Definitely no loss of appetite....Zig just approached her crate for a sniff of her nether regions and she just lay defiantly on top of her marrow bone so he couldn't have it :D Even Dizzy the cat has given up trying to steal the bone unless she's out of her crate!
  18. One of my cats wrestles with both my dogs - it's like WWF but not as scripted ;) If he gets worked up after playing, take him outside for a wee afterwards.
  19. Entire male here who is a HUGE marker but never, ever inside even with a bitch in season. I would deal with the cat urine first - get a black light and look carefully for residue - you may be surprised at where you find it! Clean up with Urine Off or similar. When Zig was young and starting to mark (or when we moved house) I would take him outside to wee (on command) every 15 mins and reward like crazy. Outside he knows not to mark on the deck or close to the house. As he started to relax in the house I stretched the time out. If I couldn't supervise I would pop him in his crate. Worked for me ETA: I've always done a lot of training/exercise with my lad - much easier for him to relax if he is mentally and physically exhausted :D
  20. Gee they are! They're a nice little bag - Zig received an Aussie Agility voucher for a 1st place so I didn't take much notice of the price
  21. Don't forget our local supplier! http://www.aussieagility.com.au/
  22. Not all breeders have all their breeding bitches on their property either - some have bitches out in co-ownership - in pet or working homes. Bitches come back to be mated/rear puppies and then go back to their usual homes. 2 or 3 litters and dog is desexed. I think that's a great system if you have a good relationship with your (often repeat) puppy buyers. I wouldn't have a problem if Em's breeder wanted a litter even though I own her outright - although unlikely as she kept her sister, I will still double check before having her spayed. As for the original question, 1 is too many for some. I judge each situation on its individual merits.
  23. Jess, that is fantastic Congratulations - it's very competitive in VIC so to even get a look in is sensational!!!
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