sidoney

I will try that, thanks.

The Kelpie is chasing the rag (her favourite currently is a tiny strip of swimsuit material that I cut off the end of her larger plaited tug toy when I was trimming it). She is also offering me behaviours in trying to get it. I am having some issues with triggering a prey instinct in the Vizslas - occasionally it will be there, but they seem to often not be interested, particularly the older one - they have both chased rabbits and are interested in the dried rabbit skin I have, so I'm hoping that a more rabbit like item will get them more interested. Fast moving rabbit like item, of course.

Well I have bought it. I'm planning on cutting it up into strips and plaiting up some tugs to see what they think. I also have a rabbit skin that I got from a road kill that still smells strongly like rabbit that I can also make strips from and plait in. You don't know until you try.

I am trying to imagine it ... what on earth could be very different about him? Were the other two already there when you got her? Yes that it be an aversive rather than a reward!

Wabbits are nice. My sister has 2. Ebony scared of one of them? Really? In what way? And not worried about the others? Actually I have heard that some boy wabbits can be a bit stroppy but am assuming yours aren't. I used to own wabbits many years ago but they got myxo and I don't ever want to risk that again. Don't think inside would be an option with husband and besides, we get mozzies inside. Anyway, so hopefully they will like a rabbit skin/fur tug toy.

I don't like throwing things for them all together since one is always more keen than the others and it puts the others off. I also have a dog that would rather chase dogs with balls than the balls. I don't like to encourage that. I prefer the chase and fetch game to be one on one.

Why not a good idea Nat? Got pet Wabbits? I'm trying to get my dogs more interested in tug, chase and so on. Especially with the hunting dogs, Vizslas, I'm hoping that I can cut this up and make desirable tug toys out of it. They are kind of interested in balls etc. but more interested in things that remind them of birds and wabbits. BTW I used to have not Wabbits but Pinny Gigs and the Vizslas pointed at them for ages before they decided they were "family".

Cool trick! I searched for "dog tricks moses" and that way I got all of his. Lots and lots!

Plaited rabbit skin/fur tug toy, here we come!!

Oh that's a worry. I'd rather a dog that looked at me because it wanted to.

That is the handler not fulfilling the responsibility of making sure the dog is safe when heeling like that. I wonder if the dog became uncertain after that.

In right side weaving the dog has a different target than to left side weaving: go around the end pole and get in. In left side weaving the dog has to pick the gap between the first two poles. Many dogs seem to find the right side target easier.

That is wonderful news!!!! What a relief!!!

Hope all is OK.

I would say that the collar is set to a tone as well as the stim so that the trainer can hear when it's on and when it's off, so that the trainer can monitor its use and students can get feedback about their timing.

Used at training level I don't think it can be classed as aversive. You can barely feel the thing. It's more like a communicative marker really. If there is any aversive in it it's a very low level.

Heya Boxagirl, I know you weren't against them, but I wrote that for anyone who might read the thread and misunderstand the use. As someone who didn't understand myself, and thought that it was a higher level (I've touched way too many electric fences over the years), I had preconceptions and I understand those preconceptions, so I thought I'd put that in before it was brought up and maybe got away.

Not used one. This is how I understand it. It's a remote communicative training device. A very low stimulation gets the dog attention and says, check for cue, and removing it says, yes that's it, reward coming. And yes I've felt one now. And no they don't hurt and they are not cruel; I could hardly detect the sensation. They should be used on the lowest possible sensation that the dog can detect. In the wrong hands a flat collar can be cruel. BTW I was anti them until I understood them.

Gosh, so glad everything ended up OK. Enjoy that red.

Gosh that sounds pretty dreadful.

This sounds interesting, Vickie.

Struth, a jade whistle costs a few bucks! What about a metal one? There are a few here and here. Is there anything about jade ones that is better than other whistles? (Not that I'm going to buy a jade one! Too 'spensive! And I'd worry about breaking it!)

Alas, that won't work. It has been that long for me, but I was "driving" my husband's car one time when it was caught by a camera and he had a high level of points. :D

Those plastic whistles! I can kind of get some sound out of them but it's not pretty.

Can happen in a small club too. Depends what the people are there for. And what the club focus is. I don't think you CAN have the quick fix and get it right. Those people may teach the right way on their next dog. I think it would be good to have a group of people who set the right kind of role model. Trainers whose own dogs show the effects of good training. Then people might want to put in the right foundations.