dogdayz

what classes are they YB mine are both in westernport advanced white - what does that make them - anyway to get them in seperate classes?

There is a Champion of Champions comp held in victoria for the dogs with all their titles done - not sure about other states

Kavik - yep we do teach article indication with short exercises, multiple socks on a short distance track again you get differences here, some people believe never place food under the article others do. The problem comes the dog knows the difference despite harnessing for both types of exercise, they love the distance tracks so getting translation of article indication from short obedience exercise to full track is the difficulty. Should say though my boy struggles because he is so enthusiastic - he doesnt even care when he finds the tracklayer and his motivator he just wants to continue - his biggest reward is being allowed to follow a scent trail. My girl much less enthusiastic learned article indication much better. Really it come down to how quickly and what you want to do - if you want to do tracking titles you need to pass both elements i.e. follow the track and indicate articles, without both you fail, which would be frustrating if you have a dog tracking brilliantly but you cant trial him because you need several more months to train article indication. I dont know the schutzhund requirements but they may well be different. Each dog is individual and training has to be tailored to the dog, dont get tied down to one system. Best thing is talk to lots of people, and if you can handle other experienced dogs you will see the difference in dog personalities/behaviours as well as breed traits. When you hit a problem refer back to the alternative methods other have told you about. Keep all the ideas in a notebook along with notes on each track you do each week and how the dog went e.g. what direction turns, surface type, bush or paddock, weather and wind direction and be prepared to have a dog that finds socks around the house and indicates them in expectation of a treat - by the end of last season my girl would steal a sock spin and sit waiting for reward - just a shame she isnt so keen to track as she is to indicate articles

I second what Gamby says..it is addictive...and it has been great the last few weeks to have the dogs back out tracking...cant wait for the trial season to restart...its worth all the cold dark early mornings....and the dogs love it too. Kavik in reply to your original question, that is pretty similar to how we started, though initially i was at the end o the track and the dog had to find. But talking to people there are all sorts of methods out there, and each has their own ideas on do's and do nots, as with any dogsport i guess. One thing i would say is article indications is important and imo best learned from day 1, beause if you get a dog like one of mine who adores tracking and is so enthusiastic it takes a long time to teach them to stop at articles on a track, they just want to reach the end. It has taken many months to get him indicating. Alison i did the same training weekend last year as you are planning to do this year i think - you will love it.

Sparty VICTORIAN HERDING ASSOC Inc Herding/Instinct Tests in conjunction with the German Shepherd DCV 34th National Championship Show/Restricted Obedience Trial Saturday 11 March 2006 Venue KCC Park, Dandenong/Hastings Road, Skye Vic (Mel Ref 128 J12) Entries: Ms R Sutcliffe, PO Box, Taylors Lakes, Vic 3038 Entries close: ? Judges: Ms S Gibson (wa), Mr G Cunningham (vic) TBA Start: 12.30pm with Pre-Trial demo GSD's may enter on the day

I will be around at some point to watch - i took foster pup to last weeks tests and she ran herself senseless watching all the other dogs getting to work sheep and she couldnt...and i got sunburnt

may come down and watch and lend some moral support.

wel i may show with skye next weekend - we really want midweek sessions but have to sign up on a weekend. So we may be in beginners adults.

Hi my lot would be in for that i am sure....the little pup has turned into a little barrell...doubt she could run after a sheep these days , but she now fetches moored boats Skye went herding at the weekend for an hour and actually remained enthusiastic all the way through

Yep, my two will run together this time - might inspire them after they both refused last time. And foster pup if she is still here - will need Banjie assistance - he is the only thing that can attract her to move more than 5m from my side.

Was a great night - now i know my foster is a thief, believe it or not despite running full speed for 2 hours at Hedds, she was still running flat out when she got home - must have been the sugar in the jam. YB - definitely in for autumn class - skye and beck should be getting ready to commence novice by then hopefully

My two are ready - currently doing high-speed practice laps in the backyard. Only question remaining is shall i bring the foster pup?

will remember in the next day or two...maybe...i am very forgetful :rolleyes:

Well at least last night you saw with my foster pup - just how well behaved your own dogs are in comparison - to think she is the same age as toby.

will be there tonight, but maybe late....at work , no dog food :p , need to shop , washing machine broke , have to go to freinds to use theirs , one foster pup confined to crate due to desexing stitches , other foster pup running wild :D will need exercise when i get home...those are my excuses.

and if they are not perfect what happens to us Heathers the following week will be great, i will bring miss foster pup along for exercise

You think you all have it hard with the tricks, try having a maximum size weimeraner weave between your legs - we look like we are doing som monty python funny walk sketch (apologies to thos too young or too australian to know what i mean). I thought break up was next week. Yogi - we need help here, just organising ourselves

All the above as far as class instructors go, i consider the most common failing is not remembering the dogs as individuals, not being able tell whether a dog has improved week to week or is consistently failing the same exercise. Have never seen a class instructor write notes on how each dog as a memory aid. Second i have never seen an instructor advise someone to go back a class or two - i have done so with my own dog but on my own decision because i could see the problem. i know most owners just want to move up, but sometimes its important and quicker if the dog goes back for a while. Particulalry important in group training as some may take a few months off during school footy season etc then return to where they left off.

The forum is a yahoo groups discussion board, you apply through yahoo groups to join in order to view. [email protected] Once you sign up you get a first email which is very long but well worth taking time over, it covers a lot of info on feeding and treatments for EPI and also SIBO that some of the dogs have in association with epi. After that feel free to ask questions - there are a number of regulars who have lots of info. You will find it is heavily american with some european, think i am the only current australian, but most are german shepherd owners so they will love you . You will find they dont know enzyplex, its australian and seems different in that when i spoke to the manufacturers it was bacterial derived. Consensus among the board is you need an animal derived enzyme to get good effect, but as none have tried out the enzyplex its worth a shot as it is cheaper than the animal derived. By the way americans will speak of pancreatin or viokase, the equivalent here is Creon (human drug that my dog has), unfortunately due to import restrictions we dont have access here to the cheap bulk ordering that the forum offers. Like i said before dont panic, now you have a diagnosis and that is the hard part over (took 6 vets for my dog). Many vets see very few cases so the extra info the group can provide is often useful, and they are now sending info to vets, to help with understanding. One other thing; they dont get into breeding lines despite the genetic evidence in gsd, so there is no bitching/finger pointing about breeders, its purely about helping the dogs and the owners deal with epi. Sure your dog will improve - just a case of experimenting with meds and foods to find what suits the individual best.

So long as you were having fun away from class Nat - collie rough with upset stomach is always a delight - fortunately Skye is indestructable in that area.

Tomorrow i will give you a link to a forum devoted to dogs with this condition (my weim has it). They have lots of experience and advice to offer. Dont panic if the enzyplex doesnt work, it didnt for mine but there are stronger alternatives that work well - my boy now has to diet because he is too heavy.

Herding Guy have PMed you. YB: Have to disagree the perfect pup is currently in residence at my place

My two will be there

hey you never said you were crossbreeding to get Pegasus