Jigsaw

Holee Rollers are good because they're squishy and bouncy and pups and dogs can get their mouths around them. When my dog was a puppy she enjoyed chewing on a few of the Pet Stages puppy toys. She liked this ONE

in particular as well as this one which is softer on puppies gums than some rope toys. They didn't last forever but were really good in the first four or five months.

I remember reading of someone who was having difficulties with their dog (I can't remember the reason) and it's association with their name so they called the dog "puppy" or something like that for several months and then went back to the name. it was a long enough time for the establishment of new associations with recall and life in general etc that the dog's reaction to the name when reintroduced was negligible.

Remember though that you do have a dog that has a behavioural history of this sort of reaction and when you're stressed she may automatically turn to this behaviour again, it may have become an ingrained habit with her, so it means a lot of work for yourself to be aware of what you are doing with your own voice and body. Importantly, forgive yourself if you do stuff up, laugh and have fun!!

A run with a roof is your safest bet. I had one client's dog that continued to go over the electric ping string or she dug under the fence. She had another dog for company too

He's a gorgeous pup. Going to be a stunner when he grows up!

There are some references to increase in white in coat colour in the Russian Belyaev Farm-Fox experiment. In that as the foxes changed with the generations there was an increase in white markings together with other morphological changes. http://www.hum.utah.edu/~bbenham/2510%20Spring%2009/Behavior%20Genetics/Farm-Fox%20Experiment.pdf

There is also discussion regarding hormones such as adrenalin and dopamine affecting melanin production

http://www.ratbehavior.org/CoatColor.htm

I thought there actually was some research into "nortie torties" as well but can't find it at he moment! Mine is not so much nortie but very good at letting you what she does and doesn't like!

Here is a clip of Prix and I doing some training on Friday night before Crufts.

Well done PAX! And Kamal!!! So proud of what you guys have done!! You're all champions!

Lead predominantly held in right hand - dog on left. This leaves the left hand free for use to encourage/pat/treat and does help in preventing the habit of dog curling across the front of handler's body.

"Stand" hand signal given with left hand.

"Drop" hand signal given with right hand - there's a switch lead to the left hand for this.

"Sit" hand signal can be given with the right hand - switch lead to the left hand for this. Mind you, I use either hand with my own dog, if I'm using a hand signal - it depends on the position of the dog to me. Also, I reasonably quickly work the by then learnt verbal commands separately to the hand signals, so that the dogs understand each independently.

*Note/question : are you permitted to switch lead hand in trials?

Beg pardon for the . I don't intend to veer this thread off the track beyond what I have already. Hope this answers your question Jigsaw :).

Aussie Crufts team, handlers and dogs, are on the plane and on the way home. Hope they all travel well. One of the dogs in the Aussie team did not complete their round as the dog became ill, vet diagnosed as jet lag, apparently not uncommon in dogs that have travelled as far as these dogs.

Well done to our Aussie Dog Team - what a great treck, effort and milestone just to compete at such a level. Safe trip home to you all .

Thanks Erny! Always interested how others train! I believe you can switch lead hands in trials.

Very nice work with the Lab!

Lovely to watch (nice looking Lab :) ) - the handler was great too (great footwork imho). I notice most handlers keep their left hand firmly on their left hip, something I've just started to do lately.

Just out of interest, why? I tended to keep my left arm up to keep it out of the way because my dog is tall, but that makes me feel as though I'm walking awkwardly. I actually like and feel better balanced letting my arm swing, although because my dog is tall I swing it out a bit - got that little tip off Mia Skogster :D

Nice looking lab and a great round. That sendaway apparently did a few dogs in.

Left hand on the hip like you see in a lot of the Crufts obedience dogs (and the Australian team) is based on the method used to teach the dog how to heel. Which is a target method. The dog is taught to target the hand out wide and then is gradually brought in closer and the hand target removed onto the hip, where it remains stationary except when giving a signal. The hand on the hip is not a target though as these dogs can heel no matter where the hand is placed eg on their head. :) I know a few handlers who have larger dogs and their hand is either waist leve (like the lab handler's)l or tucked just under the collar bone of handler (when handler is short and dog is tall).

Questions for Erny - which hand do you hold your lead in if you're using one? And which hand do you give signals with?

I'm not sure if the swinging left arm is seen much in Australian obedience. I don't see why you can't do it although some judges may not like it. I'd probably knock my dog out!

Aussie Crufts team, handlers and dogs, are on the plane and on the way home. Hope they all travel well. One of the dogs in the Aussie team did not complete their round as the dog became ill, vet diagnosed as jet lag, apparently not uncommon in dogs that have travelled as far as these dogs.

PAX is the reserve, but I believe she gets to do a training round during lunch, so she gets the opportunity to be in the ring. I know how much effort they have all put into training to be able to perform in the ring over there. Lots of nervous excitement from handlers the last two weeks! The dogs all travelled really well apparently which was agreat relief. Rounds will be up on YouTube in a week or two by Crufts unless someone else puts them up. The dogs have 30 days quarantine on their return.

BAT is a very interesting concept. While it's similar to most CC and DS programs, from my understanding is more reliant on the behaviour of the dog to the stimulus as to whether the there is approach or retreat to the stimulus, with the use of functional rewards such as negative reinforcement as reward ie relief from moving towards the stressor stimulus by moving away. Grisha Stewart, who developed BAT, is a true dog geek and admits it (she also has a Masters Degree in Theoretical Mathematics) plus a Masters Degree in Animal Behaviour and Psychology. BAT details

Orbee ball rope Ifind is crap! Too hard and comes undone too easily for me. I bought some bungee cord at a ship chandler's and threaded that through the ball, put a single knot in the loop and much better for tugging, especially on the shoulders!

Really lovely. So nice to see such affection and tolerance between them.

This is another good book -Barbara Handelman. Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook (2008).

This is a brief but good video

There is also a series by Jean Donaldson on YouTube. There are six parts, this is part one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VmWizZueFQ&feature=related

It's a lovely protein treat with singular attractiveness to dogs!

If you ever get to pick up some kitten poop, put it in the kitty litter tray, this will help scent it up for the kitten so she gets the idea of where she should be going.

Thank you Aiden!

Hope Sally's OK. Don't know of any ortho specialists to recommend unfortunately.

When I'm at home she is usually ok although she will try and escape and that's a big problem as she will ping off down the road. If I can catch it in time I give her a tranquiliser from the vet (I think it's ACE) but it's getting to be such a big problem at this time of year with so many storms around they blow through very quickly.

ACE is not normally recommended for storm phobic dogs. From my understanding it relaxes the dog but it may still be mentally alert and distressed by the storm but unable to react which can stress the dog even more. Valium is the drug that is usually recommended for storm phobia. Although it is an idea to try it first because in some dogs (as humans) they can become more amped up.

Maybe they're more into felting! :laugh:

That's so good that she was confident to follow your other dog in!! I love her vest and your harness and lead colour co-ordination!

I was going to say fly trap!! You would be surprised by the number it traps in a short time. My dog does "herd" flies, it can sometimes lead to a stereotypic pattern of behaviour e.g. a circuit around the backyard. I can normally predict when it will happen, so I intervene beforehand or if I miss it I interrupt and give her something else to do, like chew a bone.

I've noticed Nosework classes seem to be being introduced on a lot of US sites I've seen and talked about on FB. It seems to work on similar principles to scent detection with usually starting out with hiding a treat in a box and asking the dog to find it. Then making it more difficult for the dog. The Nosework trials look like fun, and a novel way of competing with your dog and probably less rigorous than tracking! Actually the kits don't look that hard to put together.

What a great bag! And what a gorgeous looking dog! Love his ears :laugh: (I have a koolie and get frequent remarks about bat ears and will she grow into them)

You might want to consider these for eye protection as well or instead of. My dog prefers these mesh dongles to the glasses style. Well when I say "prefers", everything is relative! :laugh:

http://www.australianpetshop.com.au/shop/products/1105.php

The council should have registered temperament assessors which will put the dog through basic temp test. Assessment by a behaviourist also will assist. I've sent you a PM.

Kayce Cover does something similar if I remember correctly. It's a while since I've read any of her stuff, but she feels communicating intentions assists the dog modify its behaviour. I'm on a super slow comp right now, so can't look for any links to help clarify my statement at the moment!