grumpette

Kritta I am so sorry that it was time for Gypsy to go to the brigde. Hold on to all those great memories of fun times and know in your heart that she is not far away. RIP Gypsy :D

I used mainly distraction by going into obedience mode or getting her to watch, and in the beginning I was very aware of her critical distance. I am also aware that if I am calm then she is calm. I cannot use a correction using a correction collar or flat collar as this only loads her and escalates the aggression. I also cannot use the command “leave” as this also escalates the aggressive behaviour. These reactions I believe are due to the fact that this is what I did during the three attacks. Now when she goes into avoidance and shuts down around other dogs that are reacting or boisterous I cannot use verbal correction as she shuts down further. I can get her back into working/listening mode if I encourage her and lighten up. Yes there is handler error as I am so not used to this. She is food motivated but has extremely high prey drive that can take a lot of pressure. The two extremes are hard for me to comprehend.

I have a question for those that have used click to calm to deal with dog aggression. Dee developed DA as a result of three separate dog attacks when she was 7 to 13 months old. She is now just over 2 years old. For the last 9 months we have been doing obedience training and calm walking in safe areas of the neighbourhood (ie around controlled, contained dogs) to increase her confidence and mine and regain her trust that I can deal with any danger. Over this time she has been able to gain her CCD title and one pass in Novice. She is able to be around other dogs of various breeds without too much stress and very little aggressive reaction. However, she has now developed avoidance as a coping mechanism when around excited/barking dogs and tends to shut down to the point where she will not follow obedience commands. So my question is will the click to calm method be of benefit to both Dee and myself? She loves to work and be out and about, so I want her to be able to continue to enjoy these activities, as this is our one on one time. Where can I get more information about click to calm?

OMG I am so very sorry for your loss Phillipa and Ian and that the time has come for Evie to go to the bridge May she live forever in your hearts and fill your minds with beautiful memories. RIP beautiful Evie and happy Smurf hunting over the bridge

What a brilliant weekend you guys had. A huge congratulations to: Bedazzled & Brooklyn and Ptolomy & Scoota at the Adelaide Royal Ness - you cannot keep an old girl away Smoothgirl and Bronte - one of many I am sure Sas and Dante - the Dane challenges are paying off brilliantly, even if he does not look impressed with his ribbon FHRP and Rogan - a stunning photo

No dogs that participate in ANKC recognised events like obedience, agility, herding, flyball, tracking and retrieving are allowed to participate in the program. Dogs that participate in any sport that involves bite work are not allowed to be in the program.

Excellent result Seita. They do love to surprise us

Brilliant effort and congratulations. At least Ruby did not get told off for stealing the judge's marker like Dee did

Weibritty congratulations on a brilliant result especially this weather Well done xena and Gabby, and good luck for tonight.

Luke well done. :D I am so glad that I am not the only idiot handler who trialled today. We had Sunbury's double obedience trial today and if I did not have to pick up dog meat I would not have gone. The conditions were feral with constant wind and rain and the grounds under water. We did have sunshine for about 10 minutes though in the arvo. Dee and I were in novice. We came third in the first trial with a score of 120/200 All of the seven dogs (4 scratchings) had a lot of trouble dropping (not surprisingly) and sitting and 5 dogs totally lost it in the figure of 8s. Dee got 12/40 for heeling, yep lost it in the figure of 8, 20/20 stand for exam, 28/40 recall (stood up and shock the rain off just as I was about to call her), change of position 0/40 (would not drop) and stays 60/60. First place was a GSD with 186 and second place was a BC with 180. Both of them worked beautifully. Second trial we came second with 147/200 Again all of the seven dogs (5 scratchings) had a lot of trouble dropping (not surprisingly) and sitting. Dee got 18/40 for heeling, yep lost it in the figure of 8 and would not drop, 16/20 stand for exam (anticipated the stand), 13/40 for recall (did not sit after the lead off, came in crooked and sat behind me on the finish), change of position 40/40 and stays 60/60 . First place was the same GSD from the morning with 157. Then on the way home we got hit be a landslide with a falling tree that took out my left hand side mirror and had to pass 4 flooded creeks/river (Bruces creek twice which was just starting to flow over the road, Plenty River which was at the roads edge, but had flooded the oval and Lions park on either side of the road, and Scrubby Creek which was just about to go over the road, along with the aqueduct). Needless to say we will not be going anywhere tonight or tomorrow.

An excellent letter that is succinct, and clearly states one of the possible implications of this action with regard to Victorian laws.

bedazzled congratulations on such fantastic scores for Open and UD. I love stewarding for UD, it is the class where I do the most work, so you stay nice and warm. It is also the closest I will get to a UD ring for many many years.

Beautiful work RubyStar A level definately to aspire to

Zeph is entered in Herding Started A course this weekend and I am not very hopeful at all. He and I were absolutely shocking on the weekend :D I am hoping to just remain standing and not loose any boots to the mud. Good luck ladies for the weekend

Will ring you

Trudy really showed me that the best work comes when we are balanced, so if I move to the left then Zeph moves behind the sheep to the right side. He was so pleased with himself at the end of our session

The thing that I learnt the most about was balance and pressure points. By listening to Trudy I was able to get Zeph to start working wide again and flanking properly. It was so well worth the drive and time.

My boy Zeph is 16 months old and has not started formal obedience training as he has the attention span of a gnat and a boy brain to boot. He does however have manners, knows sit and wait, and has a 90% recall. His activities in life are socialising with other dogs at obedience and while out and about, lots of play with commands while distracted/ in drive and his favourite activity herding. Having control while in drive is the important thing for him at the moment. My girl Dee on the other hand is 24 months and has been doing competitive obedience for the last 8 months, gaining her CCD title and one pass in CD so far. The reason for this is so that she can gain confidence and remain calm around other dogs after being attacked on three separate occasions while on lead out walking. Obedience is her activity along with lots of play with commands while distracted/ in drive as she has extremely high prey drive. My old girl Baylee had her CD title by the time she was 3 years old and still loves to work and play games, although the body is not as willing anymore. So as you can see different dogs require different training schedules for various reasons, but I believe that basic obedience and manners should always be present.

TerraNik beautiful pace on the heeling and Abby was focused for most of it. As with most working breeds they hate slow pace. A brilliant recall. Love the speed.

OMG Orbit is gorgeous

I love photo two and photo four. They really show the dogs without ignoring the urban background.

Leopuppy Dee's next trial will be the double obedience at Sunbury on the 4th of September. I have two herding workshops with Zephyr the next two weekends and then the Ausssie Shepherd Herding trial at the end of August, where hopefully he will get his Herding Started Title.

TerraNik the enthusiasm of your dogs is fantastic Hi Leopuppy I was finally able to put a face to your name on the weekend. Your dogs work beautifully, with such precision and joy. I will say hi next time we are at a trial.

Thanks RubyStar she does look like she is head butting me. I am really proud of my girl. She has come a long way. She was 7 months old when the fires happened, and she got attacked by roaming dogs on three occasions whilst we were out walking onlead. This caused her to be nervous around lots of people and she became DA and hypervigilant while walking on lead. Obedience training over the last 6 months as increased her confidence in me as a leader and her confidence in herself.

Recall