Rileys mum

That's interesting. I don't know a huge amnt about target training. I'll do some research.

Very true. He is still quite immature I think and as I said, is the type to loose his confidence quickly. He tries his heart out but I think I need to maybe cut down my sessions. I have been generally doing around 5 min sessions so perhaps that's too long. I'll cut it to 1 min sessions a few times a day and see how we go too. The last thing I want is him distressed I had wondered if it was an excited cry too. I'll try calmly treating him. I hadn't thought about it but maybe my excited demeanour When I'm praising him is slightly distressing him. Thanks again guys.

I don't think so. I'm very aware of not pushing him too much. An example of today's session. I'm working on having him step into a box ( ground level 'box' made of a 1m by 1 m of PVC pipe). I have been happily getting two front feet in but today was looking for one hind in and was met with cries initially. I'm just seeing what he offers me and praising any advancement on out two fronts in. He offered me both hinds In today and stopped crying when he got what I wanted so I really do feel it's just him vocalising 'shit, I'm doing the two fronts why isn't that enough today?' He is the type of dog that easily looses confidence so I think u guys are right about making sure I keep sessions short and not push too much I try to keep things fun and motivating for him which is why I was alittle worried Cheers guys

Hi, thanks for the replies. Yeah I do alot of free shaping and do reward small interactions in a hugely positive way ( click, big fun praise and treat) as I said, once he recognizes what I'm after he's happy and will do it over and over happily. It's just when I stop the praise of that small response to see if he will offer something more that I get the cries. I just wanted to see if this was something some dogs do.... Vocally expressing their frustration

I am just wondering if this is a normal type of behaviour? I do alot of shaping excercises with my 11 month old dog. Recently I have noticed a trend in that when I begin something new he starts crying and fretting. I keep things 100% positive and wait patiently until he works out what I'm after ( which may even just be a nose touch on an object at the beginning stages) he will stop whining once he gets praised with a click and treat and will happily do that for ages but then will begin crying again when I try to stretch it to say a paw on the object. Is this whining just frustration and anxiousness because he is working out what I want?? He's fit and healthy in every respect.

For info guys, clean run has a new lot of items on free shipping. Mostly treats but also a heap of training DVDs including SG's success with one jump. :D I ended up getting the foundation training 6 disc set. Just waiting for it's arrival now. I'm really struggling to not buy the SG one lol.

I fed one last night. My guy is great with bones but I noticed it had splintered and I took it off him. ( hopefully the part he ate he crunched well) I probably won't feed it again only because I'd never forgive myself knowing that they splinter and I still fed it

Our local $2 shop sells them for..... You guessed it. Two dollars

I'm another GSP owner who would highly reccomend them if you are genuinely able to commit 2 hrs a day to excercise then you will find they tick all your boxes. I excercise my guy twice a day. One good off leash run/play and a second short walk with obedience training etc. In the evening. It's definately a must for their sanity and if they are happily excercised they are delightful to have around. Careful though.... You can't stop at just one lol I'm currently forcibly restraining myself from getting a second. They are truly beautiful dogs

My goals are pretty basic but hey, ya gotta start somewhere right 2011- graduate grade 5 obedience with awesome sit/stays and down/stays and recalls. Further Work on and establish our agility foundation work. Commence puppy agility and incorporate it with our foundation work. Learn as much as I can from those more experienced ( attend clinics, watch trials etc). Celebrate rileys first birthday in style

I keep forgetting it's not cold anymore lol. Have to get in the habbit of checking weather forecasts. Pretty safe to say it will probably be cancelled I'm guessing.

Mrs rusty bucket: Ive only been to a few Tuesday morning classes ( see what I mean about getting my lazy arse out of bed. FAIL lol) I'll be there tomorrow morning so I'll keep an eye out feel free to come say hi if you spot me around guys :D Love meeting new people

Ah ok. Awesome. I always watch the trialers train n think 'one day riley' lol. No I don't do agility there. My guy is grade 4 obedience at the moment and 10 months old. I work shiftwork so go to sadoc because they have day and evening classes which is awesome for us never have to miss a class ( in theory lol. Depends if my lazy arse makes it out of bed ) I'm sure you've probably seen Riley. Just listen out for the GSP winger having a tanty cos I won't let him play with the other dogs lol. Ahhhh he's a classic. Too social for his own good lol. He keeps me on my toes but I love it :D he loves having a job to do so I'm hoping he's going to take to agility well

Awesome I train obedience at sadoc. Might have already seen and met you lol :D

I've just started at para districts so excited to start the new year with my guy. I hadn't thought that people may borrow out their personal copies. Once I've been there a bit and got to know a few people I might see if I can lend a few :D cheers guys

Awesome. Thanks, I'll check it out

Oh damn you all for helping me put together a list of DVDs I want. I think I'm going to get poor very quickly. Lucky it's Christmas time. And here's me thinking i'd be richer after putting my competition horses out to pasture. Me thinks not lol. Out of interest, are there any places or stores that will 'borrow out' training DVDs??

Sheena : I was looking at getting that DVD set too. I've not purchased from them before. Do we Aussie folk just pay the price listed? Do we need to convert payment amts re exchange rate?? I couldn't find anywhere that did that on the site *shrugs*

Haven't had any furnature chewed ( luckily my boys not a big chewer) BUT my darling child broke through the side gate and thought it might be fun to chew through the wiring to my air conditioner. I'm shocked he didn't fry himself. I agree with others. The sprays don't work really well. My guy licks it off now. Roll on is an interesting idea though.

Wiskedaway: I think I was in class with you I'm the owner of the crazy pointer :-) Yayyyyy another agility addict I feel an obsession coming on. I'm crazy excited about it all too. Bring on next year.

Hi all. I'm currently doing puppy agility with my boy. He seems super confident on most things we tried apart from the a frame. It's down low but he's just not confident with it just yet. Are there any ways/ things I can do at home to help build his confidence up? Any tips appreciated I feel an agility obsession starting. Sooo much fun

Hi, thanks for the video link. It was very helpful. I've subconsciously been doing much of Whats in it which is good to know I wasn't completely on the wrong track lol. He's starting to show interest in the toys I'm using bit by bit so he's definately getting the idea :D

Thanks :D I'll bring it all back to basics with him. He doesn't consistently pick things up so I think, as u explained, I need to show him what I want cheers again.

Hi all. I'm wanting to try and teach my dog that retrieving and tug play is fun. At the moment he looks at me like I'm a complete fool as if to say " why throw things away mum. " he's 10 months old at the moment and I feel that he just doesn't understand the fun in what I'm asking ( because he doesn't get what i want) are there methods to teach him to play and enjoy retrieving and tugging? I've begun tossing and throwing a toy to myself and having a blast and Riley is starting to show interest in what I'm doing :D is this a good start? I'm not letting him play with the toy just yet. Thanks in advance

Wow thanks for starting this thread and for posting these recipies. I've been looking at ideas for new yummy training treats these are definately gonna get baked this weekend