RubyStar

Oh I too agree about building reward for something the dog doesn't value and to use what they like best. For example, Millie flat out won't tug. Rather than waste my time teaching it to her, then getting her to value it, I am just using her most favourite thing in the whole world - her squeaky ball! But it's a bit different with Pippa because she DOES love to tug. I don't want her to rely on food so much for various reasons. One is for the obedience ring, but the other is because rewarding with a toy in agility is so much easier IMO. Love being able to throw a ball. Pippa doesn't highly value a ball so that's out, but she does love tug, so she just has to learn it is also a great reward as well as food! It's sometimes hard to "rent a friend" because they are busy training themselves.

I don't think Pippa is quite ready for party trick entries Let's wait a while before we confuse the poor dog :p I guess I could get her used to driving to a container of food. Was thinking about getting one of those $50 reward system things when they were free shipping on Clean Run, but wondered if I'd ever truly use it. Maybe I should have got it Was quite a bargain, it was like an el cheapo Manners Minder!

Hmm, no I don't think she is, or else she'd be doing the same on my left? One thing about training the Labs over her that I prefer, is that my two will work eagerly for a toy reward (not tug, though), while Pippa is all about SHOW ME THE FOOOOOOOD!!!! She tugs like a demon at home, and can do a bit of tugging on the training grounds with enthusiasm (with her play growl to boot ), but offer that as a reward away from home and she doesn't want a bar of it. So I also want to work on getting her to accept tug/toys as a reward cos it's a PITA throwing food with jumping, she just doesn't see it. I taught the weaving to start with in the backyard with a toy and she was happy to accept that, but move that away from home and soon she wanted the food. I gave in Bad me. So lots of work to do to undo that reliance on food!!

More great input, thanks ness I haven't tried her running them with a target at the end, but I think I will try that. Only problem is if she pulls out, she can easily self reward as she'll beat me to it! I did test her out on driving forward on the dogwalk last night to a target at the end, which she did, so one step for progress I thought about adding another 2 each time instead of the 6 and 6, but instead just went the whole hog I will however go back to 4 or 6 poles and as I said, work the entries and exits but also try have her driving forward without me running next to her. She already takes off to do them without me (as can be seen in part 2 video ) so I don't think she'll have much issue driving forward without me. We'll see :) I try not to run too close to her as I don't want my body to have to support her, but your idea is great so I'll try that, too :)

Thanks, Tassie, I actually think I will do exactly that I know she can do 12 now, so yes I will take the physical pressure off having to do all of them just to proof things like entries and exits. Her entries are actually pretty good, can work the arc but still not to the full degree, which is another thing I want to work on without having to do all 12. Up there for thinking, you! I obviously don't have a lot of it going on up there at the moment

Thanks, guys, she's a lot of fun to train So enthusiastic about it - that was her letting out a little excited squeak each time I sent her to the weaves 2x2 :) Except she just wasn't getting the whole 6 + 6 with a space between it, so I went stuff it, just gonna put them all together and let her work through it. Didn't take long at all for her to do all of them once she was already doing 6. One issue though (which I had, and sometimes do still have with Millie), is weave Pippa on my right and she gets to about #10 and gets unsure and either pulls out or really thinks hard about it and slows up. It is obviously me if Millie did it too, but buggered if I know what I'm doing The only thing I can think of is they are both primarily used to working on my left for obedience, so being on my right throws them? I know Pippa's stronger jumping side is still on my left, but we haven't done a lot of jumping yet. I've been too busy concentrating on weaves and contacts to really do a lot of jumping work yet Will be changing that, though, and my focus will heavily be on jumping skills over the next few months. Lots of Alphabet Drills and short simple sequences But it wasn't all wasted training, as she's got the best contacts out of my Labs which is very embarrassing

Been very quiet in here! Thought I'd share some videos of little Pippa. She finally got 12 straight poles tonight

Had to be Labradors (or Goldies, but think they were Labs). I had to laugh cos this is so something my lab Ruby would do, if she ever got in that situation. She would have taken a "present" out to all of them with that look of pure joy on her face of all the people she could visit

RS, where did you get the broom from? I've never been able to find one. Bunnings, and also Target. I got mine from Target :)

I have leather seats, can't live without them and Labrador hair!! Saying that though, try a Decor electrostatic broom (or brush, for cars or small areas). They are magic with dog hair in fabrics!

Nawwww so adorable! Lucky you

That's great service from Ranford. I think the next time I need a vet I might take the dogs there, as I need a new vet anyway! Nice horsies, mirawee! This humidity, YUCK is all I can say!

Is there a gluten free dry diet for dogs?

One of my Labs and my mum's Mini Schnauzer are on Black Hawk and doing quite well on it. I prefer the lamb to the chicken, though (don't think THEY mind which, but I think they do better on the lamb). Shiny coats, no dandruff, no excess stools, no funny tummies. Meanwhile, I have my other Lab on Earthborn Holistic (grain free) and she's doing well on that. I'd love to feed both my Labs the same food, but Earthborn Holistic is too expensive to have the other on when she does fine on Black Hawk, and I can't have the other on BH because she is prone to ear infections and the grain free seems to be helping in that regard. She's been on it for about 6 months and ears are all good *touch wood!!!* so we'll stick with that for now. Raw diet became too hard because the one who does well on BH, did horribly on raw (was either vomiting up bones or badly constipated) so I canned it for both of them. Probably should do raw for the one with ear problems again, but while she is doing well on grain free, we'll stick to it because I'm too busy and unorganised for the whole raw thing! Plus I'm really not sure if she could have a food allergy to chicken/lamb/whatever causing the ear problems, without doing an elimination diet, so grain free ocean catch is so far the winner

It is just under $15 and only comes in 3 kilo bags at the moment. Someone did email them and they said they were looking at bringing it out in larger bags. Thanks :)

Any idea on price range for VIP grain free?

I'd be interested in grain free alternatives. My girl gets yeasty ears but since being on Earthborn Holistic Coastal Catch Grain Free, touch wood we haven't had a flare up. It costs me $90 for 12kg though, a bit pricey Even though that is already at a discount! Want to keep her on grain free but interested to see what alternatives are out there :)

JEALOUS MUCH!!!

Wow that is amazing in these temperatures - lucky dog and lucky owner :-) Returned in dubious circumstances with change of collar and not hungry but hey!! - awesome outcome. Sounds very suss but yay for the people "looking after" it having a conscience and returning to rightful owner (with a full belly!) :)

I think that's the last thing Caz would want!! And to have to pay ANY money towards that "service" again, what a joke! I'd be devastated and be so ridden with guilt if I lost a dog on my watch like that, and would more than likely close up shop voluntarily and seek a new career. Just can't believe it

OMG what a tragedy and completely unavoidable! I am incredibly sorry for your loss. I feel sick, poor Buddy. Run free fella xx Hope you get some answers!!

Hopefully. She only was brave enough to go up to her chest yesterday, and that was because she was desperate to say hello to a kid wading in the shallow water! Where are these photos by the way? Need proof that she actually swims! To those who don't know, Willow is my sister's new 7 month old Whippet.

Nah, just let it come good on its own. Based on Ruby, it's usually better in a couple of days. I'll most likely be heading down again next weekend, want to try and make it a weekly thing until the weather dictates it's too cold for humans to swim, too! Let me know if you want company and we'll go when you go :) Pippa has been swimming now, it's too cute! Yesterday she even went to retrieve the kong wubba, but got within a metre of it and decided she was bored of that game, and returned to shore

Went to the beach yesterday and while the dogs had a blast, Millie has woken up this morning with "cold tail". Poor girl thinks it is the end of the world. She started screeching and indicating her back end and after a lot of going over I discovered her limp tail. She stopped the drama queen act as soon as I gave her some cuddles Ruby has had it plenty of times and has never made a fuss, but Millie is a bit of a sook with a low pain threshold and this is her first time. I'm sure it's very uncomfortable for her and by the sounds of it from her reaction, maybe a little painful. Poor dear

horty, I'm usually up for a DOL meet. If you organise one I will be there if I can :) mirawee, I am heading there this weekend, not sure what day though. Probably Sunday. Will probably go most weekends now, so if you want to meet up at anytime just give me a shout :)