tlc

Mawson you are Awesome!! I really appreciate your input, always the calm voice of reason!! Thank you!!

Pandii, you must have only read part of my post, I also said we have older dogs and they are assessed before they start lessons with us. Our local rspca recommends our training school to rehomed dog owners because we practice the modern method which can sometimes be easier on rehomed dogs that are a bit sensitive or have had a hard trot before they go to thier new homes. We have had quite a few success storys with rehomed dogs from the RSPCA who have excelled using the method we use.

I didnt know what a martingale was either, never had the need to use one, I had also never seen a prong collar till I watched Cesar Millan.

nice couch!! Ams, Millie looks so sad!!

Nice doggies everyone!!

You are right there for sure, The point of me posting this thread was out of curiosity to see what other clubs do and what they offer as far as different methods. I dont have any input as to the methods our club use as they were set in stone before I got there, I do however voice my opinion if i think a dog needs a different method of training other than what we offer and try to help people get the best training for thier dog. Our club is more geared towards new puppy owners starting out rather than older dogs who are just beginning although they are not turned away they are usually given a one on one lesson to see if they will be suitable for our club, which I do agree sounds elitist but like I said we are just not equiped to deal with problem dogs in a major way and as I said they do have the option of another club or two around the area so they are not just left to thier own devices. Id like to see all clubs allow all methods of training so people have a bigger choice and can do the best by thier dog training wise as they can!

Ness, I like it!

Nice shots everyone, mine for this week, it just wasnt happening so I settled for this one.

Great shot Huga, hope the storm has passed!! Your tanks all blend in to one another, like your day by the sounds of it I hope you can go diving again soon too, whihc reminds me i havent seen any of your underwater stuff for ages, I just love your marine life shots they are awesome!! mine for today, Cooper so over photos, and these were the first ones I had taken for today, but he just wasnt into it! boringgggg!! and Awww Mum Im so over photos, (I used this one in my 52 weeks as well)

the land looks so dry, how long since you have had any rain?? Love the dust behind the truck!!

Grumpette I totally agree we encourage people to be more vocal, it is amazing the amount of people that don't even speak or encourage the dog at all to begin with. It is a great tool with my lot and I keep a secret high pitched word up my sleeve for special occassions... Lol

No where in any of my post ever have I said that prey drive is the same as aggression. I DO know the difference, now back to the topic at hand. This thread was not started for people to slag the club off. I am only trying to better what we do, hence the reason for starting this thread to get ideas in general. Lucky for people in town who prefer other methods there is another club they can use.

Pandii, the club has obviously changed a lot int he last 4 years since I have been there. A change of managment to the club for starters, Im not sure how long ago you went there but in the time I have been there none of what you posted has happened to my knowledge apart from the CC thing which is the point of this thread and a lady with a very aggressive Rotti was asked to leave, it had bigger problems than we knew how to deal with, I think you are well aware of the dog in question. Not sure about the repetition thing as none of our classes are what I would class as repetitious as the dogs get bored very easily and it is far better to be doing different things with them than to do repetative stuff. As far as employing private trainers to help with problems are you refering to general obedience problems or something different? Im sure plenty of people who have been to obedience clubs have also sought the advice of a private trainer for other matters aside from obedience, haven't you??

The bit I have bolded is exactly what I have been trying to get across at my club, I think you really hit the nail on the head with this section of your post the bold part especially, I think also as trainers it is good to help the people understand what it is each particular dog needs and helping them recognize that. Our club has turned away problem dogs that really need more effective methods of controlling thier behaviour which is not good because if they don't seek out other forms of training then the problem dog just escalates. Our club is really not equiped to deal with problem dogs which is a pity, we are a very small club, non profit with all volley trainers. What we aim to do is start people off on right track from the start with puppy classes and hope they continue on, and some do some dont, but more often than not the positive method works when it has been used right from the word go but it is up to us to teach the correct way. We try to have the reinforcments greatly reduced by the time the 6 weeks of puppy school is finished so the pups are doing the desired behaviours without needing the food every time. One of my girls who is a really cluey little toad, she will work brilliantly for food, she will work brilliantly even if she knows Ihave food in my pocket, but if I dont show her that I have the food I might as well give up Not sure who is at fault there, my training method or doggy to clever (and a little foody) but it doesnt matter with her I only have to show her the food and she works great just in the hope she gets a smidgen at the end (which she does) I guess it is definatly all about finding a balance or what works for what dog and getting the average Jo to see what the dog needs, which is sometimes impossible, how many of you that train dogs get soooooo frustrated with people who just dont get it and or dont understand either that or dont have the coordination to pull it off. I am pretty level headed and calm and dont loose my cool easily and consider myself a very patient and layed back person but gee some do test your patience!! On the other hand there are some that just have it!! I always try to think back to my beginning and how I must have been when first starting out. Some great replies guys I am so interested to hear about how different clubs work, thanks!

No what Happened, Oh Im so sorry to hear this, how devestating!! RIP Rocco, run free big fella.

More great photos everyone, I havent picked up my camera today and that reminds me I havent done my 52 weeks of Cooper shot for this week either, must get a move on. Ill be back!

Yes good post I agree, I use a few of Cesars little tricks with my lot, fantastic when you have more than one you have to be on your game to have everything flowing nicely!! Its all about finding what works best for your dog!!

NicGSDlover, this is the sort of thing Im talking about, you know what is available to you and you have choosen the method that suits your dog the best and you also know how to use that method to its fullest! Huski Im with you about the Gentle leader and haltis, really they along with CCs are all corrective methods. but not everyone sees it that way, supposedly the Gentle leaders and Haltis arent as harsh as the CC but if you are using a CC in the right way then its all the same really. If you are contantly pulling and correcting with a CC then clearly it is not having the desired effect. I cringe when I see people using CC on dogs that have no idea how to even put one on let alone how to make it work properly. I'm off to walk the dogs but will be keen to see some more feed back when I get home!! Thanks guys.

The thing is with our club they are not allowed in the class if they want to use a CC and if they are adamant about it then they are told to go to the other club because that is one of thier methods. I guess because we have the other class in town there is that option for people that really want to train using the CC. I guess what I am really wanting to pursue is to be able to give people all the options and also for the ones that think that CC are the only way to train a dog try to change that perception. so it goes both ways really.

Thats great Huski, I guess Im trying to rack up ideas on how to diversify our club a little more and give people all the options instead of just one if they need it. Our club does allow haltis and gentle leaders but usually only if the modern method isnt catching on where loose lead walking is concerned. Just realized I maybe should have put this thread int he training section?

Hi guys, I was wondering how many obedience schools out there around Australia, DON'T allow chocker/check/correction chains?? It is just curiousity on my part really. I am an assistant trainer with one of our local obedience clubs and we use the Modern Method, all positive reinforcments and no CC allowed! All my lot were trained using the positive method on flat collars and it has worked fine for them and me. I do however realize that Check chains have a place and are widely used and I have no objection to that at all, each to thier own and what method suits one dog doesn't suit all dogs. So what I wondered was if your club doesn't allow check chains, do you still have people come and train with you without the CC and then when they are away from training use the CC? Also have you had people go and find another club that allows CC? We have had new puppy people come to class expecting to use CC because they think that is the only method you can train a dog with, they are very pleased and suprised when they see how well the modern method works, which is great as I think it is all about giving people all the information available so they can choose the best method to suit thier dog, especially for new puppy owners. The first club I went to told me I had to use a CC and I wasnt impressed about this as I thought there had to be another way to train a dog, so I found the other club in town and we never looked back. I would just like to say also that I am not against correcting the dog in a way that suits the dog if need be, but it is tough as I cannot enforce this at training, I have to stick with the program and it is tough sometimes when it is clear to see the dog needs another sort of training method than just the strait out positive reinforcement. Living in a reasonable small town it is impossible for me to go to another club as we only have two. Do most obedience clubs have strict poilicies on what method is to be used for training or are they open to using different methods for different dogs? Any feed back would be great however small or large, thanks for reading.

Sorry, Offtopic but what do you call GSP's in conversation? I saw a beautiful solid liver pup at the park and was talking to his owner and couldn't bring myself to say "I love the liver German Short Haired Pointers"- it was such a mouthful to say!! I say GSP most owner's should in theory know what you mean ;) One of the bosses at work lives with his mate and her girlfriend and they have a GSP, in conversation the other day I said "how is such and suchs GSP doing" and he goes "whats a GSP" ;) when I told him it was an abreviation he said well that makes sense German short Haired Pointer is quite a mouth full!! Pandii, what about a Cocker Spaniel, or Springer Spaniel?

Oh Kja, love the kitty shot, very cute!! That bee shot is great too kirislin,

Oh No thats terrible, RIP little puppy.

great shower shot TN, you are very game!! Loved all your SP this month! Excellent work!! Kirislin, that bee shot is fantastic, and I love how the sky is not all the same color in the back ground too. Ness, Love your tired doggy shots, similar to mine today! Here is mine, Cooper is the type of dog that goes and goes and goes if we are out and about but as soon as we are home, he goes into relax mode