TC001

thanks everyone for the input..

We have a male Lab, 14 months old and we are thinking of getting another dog when he's matured. My son wants a GSD, wife wants a little toy poodle. What are the different breeds that you guys have ? ie a Lab & a GSD? a GSD and a retriever? Is it better to get another male or a female? or it doesn't matter?

My lab dog is now 12months old. He's still a bit short compared to other grown lab that I have seen. He's about 50cm high at the shoulders and weights about 32kg. Do they still grow taller after 12 months?

http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/flood...e-1225985113281

very bad news in Toowoomba, Ipswich hasn't been hit yet...Brisbane river expected to peak later this afternoon.

My dog has 3 types of walking; I'll list them:

1. Walking without pulling me along, she can be in front of me and sniff if she likes

2. Walking by my side in a very rough heel position

3. Walking in a precise attention heel for competition

(Well, she also has a 4th type of walking - pull like a maniac! But we try to discourage that one. ;) )

I'd never expect her to do either type 2 or 3 "heeling" walking the whole walk. It takes too much brain power & is boring for her. I do ask her to do type 2 walking for short bursts when we're going past other people or we are in a busy place (whether she's on or offleash I still ask her to come back & walk by my side), then I usually reward her by releasing her to do type 1 walking again.

Hope that makes sense! ;)

thanks...that makes a lot of sense, heeling the whole walk is a big ask I suppose.

we have been walking well ie heeling but he's only good for 10+ mins, after that he gets excited and start sniffing, goes off in front but still loose leash. Do you try to get 100% heeling during a walk?

Keen to catch up..... as long as you're wearing underwear!!!!!!!!

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/pp/road-trac...mbrocation/EMBR

don't forget to lube up..

Hey i didnt notice a age limit or minimum for dogs competing in the endurance test ? is there one ?? and it there any limitation in breed?

There is a minimum age (2) and a maximum age (8).

A link to the ANKC website with a PDF of the rules is here

TC001, hasten slowly with your young Lab and a bike - I'd not be doing any sort of distance for quite a while yet. His bones are still growing.

Second that advice. Strenuous exercise in a puppy can be quite harmful. Gentle excercise only up to 12 months. Introduction of extended exercise 12-18 months, 18 months + they can work all day.

If you give your puppy too much exercise you run the risk of strains, sprains, exhaustion, and in severe cases, dysplasia. Please take it easy.

That would be one reason for the 2 year minimum age level for the ET.

M

thanks for the advice. We do gentle walks ie 2km in 35mins. Is 2 walks a day too much for a puppy?

How old is the puppy and what surfaces? There is absolutely no way that I would take a lab pup 4km on a bike per day, the repeated percussion on hard surfaces would be awful for thier joints, especially a large breed, still growing and prone to hip/elbow problems.

6mths Lab. I walk on the footpath, he walks on the grass verge more than 50% of the time.

Hey i didnt notice a age limit or minimum for dogs competing in the endurance test ? is there one ?? and it there any limitation in breed?

There is a minimum age (2) and a maximum age (8).

A link to the ANKC website with a PDF of the rules is here

TC001, hasten slowly with your young Lab and a bike - I'd not be doing any sort of distance for quite a while yet. His bones are still growing.

Second that advice. Strenuous exercise in a puppy can be quite harmful. Gentle excercise only up to 12 months. Introduction of extended exercise 12-18 months, 18 months + they can work all day.

If you give your puppy too much exercise you run the risk of strains, sprains, exhaustion, and in severe cases, dysplasia. Please take it easy.

That would be one reason for the 2 year minimum age level for the ET.

M

thanks for the advice. We do gentle walks ie 2km in 35mins. Is 2 walks a day too much for a puppy?

I am a cycling nut. cycling 20km at 10-15km/hr is very slow, don't really need cycling specific lycra. There are also mountain biking cycling shorts that look like normal shorts if you need to wear one. Many years ago when I started cycling, I cycle for 10mins got sored & went home. The next week I extended to 15mins etc. It took me about a months before I could cycle 20km.

I have 5 -6 mth Lab, he is just begining to walk well. Last week end I introduced him to the bike, I push when there's an uphill/downhill section and just pedal very slowly along the flats. He took to it very well...saves my knees.

A budding ET competitor then?

The ET should be a breeze for you both by the time your lab is 2.

M

I am keen but I just read the rules...after the 20km run at 10km/hr some 2.5hrs , Willingness test is conducted after 15min rest. Anyone has a physical training program guide for this?

I am a cycling nut. cycling 20km at 10-15km/hr is very slow, don't really need cycling specific lycra. There are also mountain biking cycling shorts that look like normal shorts if you need to wear one. Many years ago when I started cycling, I cycle for 10mins got sored & went home. The next week I extended to 15mins etc. It took me about a months before I could cycle 20km.

I have 5 -6 mth Lab, he is just begining to walk well. Last week end I introduced him to the bike, I push when there's an uphill/downhill section and just pedal very slowly along the flats. He took to it very well...saves my knees.

I am quite happy with the walks now, most of the time the leash is loose and I only occasionally have to tug/release when he's too far ahead. He's about a body length in front of me most of the time ie tail on my leg. How do you get him to walk besides me? ie his head parallel to my leg? thanks.

sorry for a silly question...how do you correct a 5 mth lab walking too far ahead? He's on a check/slip chain, when he pulls & the leash get tensioned, I stopped. He either sit or turn to look at me. I walk , a few metres later he's too far ahead again. He doesn't get it and I have ran out ideas. I also tried walking the opposite direction but that also didn't work.

A check chain is a correction tool TC001, it's not designed for the dog to lean into it for it to tighten up. The check chain is designed for a sharp on off application so before the dog reaches the end of the leash whilst the leash is still loose, you correct with a sharp tug on the leash and let it off. The jolting action is what alerts the dog to alter it's path, not pulling forwards on the choker until the dog coughs and splutters. The same as direction change, you change direction before the leash is tight which applies a sudden jolt and done correctly, the dog will follow.

awesome advice Abed! many thanks. We went for a little walk this morning, the sharp tug & release works well.

been going to 3 obedience classes before resuming after xmas break, have been shown how to use the check chain. My Lab is very energetic and very excited when walking, sniffing and greeting everyone, everything and every dog. Yes, growing stronger by the day. The trainer suggested turning and changing directions...means we might be walking in a very small circle!

sorry for a silly question...how do you correct a 5 mth lab walking too far ahead? He's on a check/slip chain, when he pulls & the leash get tensioned, I stopped. He either sit or turn to look at me. I walk , a few metres later he's too far ahead again. He doesn't get it and I have ran out ideas. I also tried walking the opposite direction but that also didn't work.

many thanks guys. all every good advice.

My dog (5 mth Lab) is stubborn on recall, how do you train for him to come when called?

Hi

My dog loves wriggling under the cane lounge on the deck and will sleep happily in her little 'cave' for hours. Problem is, she's rapidly getting too big to fit through the gap! I would like to get her a cosy kennel instead but they are too big and bulky to fit easily into the space. She just needs some kind of cosy cubby for shade and security... Any ideas please? (I expect her to reach about Labrador size eventually.)

Thanks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tango62/50662...57625047859592/

like this?

I have a 5 mth Lab, he seems to be walking/pacing a bit quicker than I walk. Sometimes I will almost break into a little jog. Do I correct him and slow him down to my casual pace?

Simple answer - do you wish him to dictate pace or do you want to do it. He's only going to get bigger.

Teach him to walk on a loose lead regardless of what pace you are doing.

how far in front do you let the dog before corrections?

I have a 5 mth Lab, he seems to be walking/pacing a bit quicker than I walk. Sometimes I will almost break into a little jog. Do I correct him and slow him down to my casual pace?

How much time is a long walk?

Hi Wondering if I can get a copy of some photos that you have taken.

please send me a PM

Were there/are there any Akitas there this weekend that anyone knows of??

The program stated that there were 6.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tango62/sets/72157625525954782/

some photos of the afternoon