BC Crazy

I have Susan Garrett's crate games dvd. Which I have only just watched & was amazed at her ideas & the dogs enthusiam to get into their crates. Would loooovvvve to go to one of her seminars Mrs RB QLD is about a 10 hour car trip one way for us. Wonder if she's doing any others??? I am currently watching Control Unleashed by Lesie Dermitt I think it is. She is good too but I find her a bit annoying for some reason. That's not saying she doesn't know her stuff. But that's just me. I love Kikkopup on Utube. Really like her enthusiam & how she breaks everything down. I have learning difficulties so she is a godsend. Also think Michael Ellis is a legend. I am going to buy his latest DVD as he is another that explains it all thoroughly & his methods make perfect sense to me. Yesterday's short training session went a lot better. I kept it really very simple. We went outside where I tied Stella up & put her on her mat. Put Sonny on his lead & just practised walking around the b.yard. Whenever he stayed in a heel position, he was rewarded. I just went over all the basic obedience moves. while walking, if he went in front of me I just stopped, said nothing & let him re position himself into a sit/heel which he did quite quickly, then off we went again. He remained very calm & he seemed to really enjoyed it. No squealing or throwing tanti's I rewarded Stella as we walked passed her & she only whimpered a bit when I got out of sight which I ignored. After 5mins I swapped dogs & off we went doing the same thing. Stella is really good on lead, never goes in front etc but being very reactive she only has issues when we are out & about. Mowers. whipper snippers & on coming, medium size dogs that are acting up, barking, running off leash etc .Movement seems to be Stella's trigger. Anyway, we ended on a very positive note with a game of Flirt Poles, their favourite. This is going to be a very slow process but I believe we are all going to greatly benefit. I have set myself some goal's. For Sonny, I would really like a strong heel. Which in turn will help me to have him not pull on lead. Also a reliable Stay.. They are his 2 obedience weak points. Other than that I'd like to reteach fetch as he has started failing to return what I throw for some reason Stella, I am trying to help her conquer her reactiveness to movement. She is the fun police big time. I'd also want to help her not be quite as 'needy' as she is with Sonny & also myself. So gradual separation whilst training can only help I think. Gradually building time & duration. Hopefully I am on the right track. Time will tell I guess & I have plenty of that :)

I am not a groomer but suffer with extremely dry, cracked hands & feet. I also have very sensitive skin so smooth, moisturised skin is a constant battle for me to conquer. I don't use any soap on my skin at all, apart from shampoo/conditioner. I use DermaDrate foot moisturiser from Chemist Wharehouse all the time. Every time I wash my hands if possible. I also use Aristocort cream which I find very good. When my hands are really bad I smoother my hands in cream & wear cotton gloves to bed. I'm suppose to wear both cotton & rubber gloves not allowing my hand to get wet but find it difficult to do as they annoy me. The thing I have also found to really benefit me is Swiss hair skin & nails vitamin supplement. Taken daily my skin has improved 100%. I started by taking 2 per day for the first week or so to really kick myself off & then back to one a day. I can sympathise with you as it is such a painful condition & with your hands in water all the time very difficult to control. Hope I was of some help to you.

Great photo's. Wow !! Your cat is looking beautifully healthy for 20 & quite chuffed with herself & her grand meaty bone. Can't not comment on your daughter's lovely Border Collies. I may be a tad bias though :p & of coarse the little Frenchie as well.

1 medium size raw meaty bone here each daily. My guy's teeth are pearly white & their breath always odourless

You make some very interesting/positive points Mrs RB. Appreciate your input very much, thanks. :)

Even though Sonny seemed to get very frustrated during our training session the other day I made sure we ended on a happy note. I just took him back to very easy things, which he throws himself into & praised him lots, then finished. As I say I haven't one on one trained him for ages so I very well may of over whelmed him. Am going to try again with a very different, slower approach next time. See how we go. I am finding this thread very interesting. Not just because I started it lol but with all the feedback it is a learning curve for me as well. Keep them coming please.

I haven't trained today but hopefully tomorrow will give it a go. I have lost a bit of confidence so I must get back into it otherwise it will make walking them all the more difficult when I am able to. This is my fault as I haven't been well for quite some time, just allowing them to pull on lead a bit & it has become a habit that I now have to correct. They used to be really good but this has occurred so gradually that I didn't notice it to be honest till it became too much. Hopefully I can get my 2 back on track as it will be so much easier for all concerned.

So when he downs for example and you give the marker word does he hold the position? Or is he breaking before or just after you give the marker word? I would work on stationary heel position with him before adding any forward motion, once he understands the position well he will be a lot less frustrated and it will be a lot easier to get forward motion happening how you want it. No Huski, I give the marker word or use a click & reward his very thud like down but he breaks straight after. I can call him & hand cue him into a heel/sit position all day long. He does this extremely well. That is why I presumed he would walk in a heel position & he does but not consistently or with duration/distraction which is what I.

I say "yes" or "good" as a marker. I have also just started some rear end awarness training. Am trying to get him to put his front feet on a phone book & then move his hind legs round but is there any other exercises that I could try as he just lays down on it. Stellla is grasping the concept though.

Paddles ...Ouch alright !! Yes I may be going to quick for him. Oh poor Sonny I can see he is like, I am trying but I just don't get it.. I am trying to reteach heeling. I had him walking up the hallway against the wall but he kept popping in front or out of position after 1 or 2 steps. He wasn't happy, very frustrated unfortunately.

Hi Corvus, thanks for taking the time to reply to my questions. No 1. Yes I will take a few steps backwards with Sonny maybe before trying to teach him anything. He is just carrying on so silly. Like a spoilt child really. I'm quite taken back by it as he is usually very sensible & low key. I can get him to lay down & he does that like lightening but he wont stay there. He bounces up again as fast without me even having time to ask him to stay in position. Might give the pick a hand if I can manage to though. 2. I have been succeeding really well with our treadmill training 3x10 min each, twice a day. They both love it & I have Sonny on "milly" first & Stella laying down next to me waiting for her turn. I do randomly treat her & she doesn't make a sound. It's when I do other training with Sonny that she protests 3. Oh, maybe I need to link behaviours. Didn't think of that. Thanks will try it :) Atm Stella seems to be 'eyeing' my treat hand way too much for my liking. Sometimes she continually nudges it. Smart girl, but I don't want her doing that all the time.

That's a really clever/funny idea :laugh: Good on you HAR. I have been a supporter for there's for quite some time now. Was in a photo shoot with my 2 guys.A couple of the photo's going into a book that was then published with all the proceeds going to help out HAR. They do some really great work in our area for a small organisation

Poor little pup.... Some people never cease to amaze me, honestly. I hope the littely finds a nice home where he is loved. That is if he doesn't get run over first

Oh he is as cute as !!!!

You have sympathy too paddles. Hope you are doing O.K & are on the mend :) I did try to restart training with Sonny before going into hospital & he behavioured the same way. He has got me really stumped by the sheer frustration he is showing You may have a good point regarding training without Stella around. I have tried crating her inside but she gets herself into a anxious mess unfortunately.

Hi folks, I would like some help regarding training. Due to just coming home from hospital I am now on 6 weeks of doing nothing Anyway have decided not to waste valuable time with my guys & have started to do short training sessions with them. I really want to sharpen both of them up with their heel & their stay. Anyway, my boy, Sonny, who is almost 5 was taught both of these as a puppy & did them well but now seems to have completely "forgotten" both of them I think because since getting Stella I have had to focus all my energy & time on her as she's my other BC with special needs, for anybody who isn't aware, that I have neglected his tuition 1st question? I started yesterday trying to reteach Sonny with his favourite treats & to my surprise he carried on, almost like in frustration/ throwing a tanti, yapping & crying at me. Going through all the tricks he knows of his own accord but not listening to what I was asking him to do at all. I don't know what I have done/doing wrong??? I'm really worried & hope I haven't ruined him somehow Can anyone offer any suggestions/ideas or help as to how I can calm/slow him down enough so as he will listen to what I'm asking him to do, which is heel atm? 2nd question? I separate my 2 when training anything new. I always start with Sonny, while Stella is tied up but is still able to see both of us. She does yap at bit with excitment as she wants 'in' on the action & that doesn't bother me really & I ignore her but if Sonny & I go out of her sight she up's her volume & carries on a right treat. Is there anyway I can calm her? I always give her something to do eg. a toy/kong but she never touches them during this 5 to 10 mins. I am with Sonny. I have tried her thundershirt but too no avail. It makes it difficult as we have very unfriendly, non dog loving neighbours who wont hesitate to ring the council. 3rd & last ? I am having difficulty slowing down training session's with Stella. She is very fast at everything & usually nails it. I'd like her to hold positions longer though & also fade out the baits as she is way too focused on my hands & the bait which I want to faze out but am unsure how? Any ideas anyone? Sorry for the long post but these 3 questions needed some explanation. Many thanks in advance for any advice.

Oh that's such a funny pic Sheena :laugh: The handler's like, "please"... & pup's like, "I'm trying the best I can"... So cute :laugh:

Poor boy "Owners “ like this annoy the hell out of me. Such a waste of a dog's life with someone like this. I would take him to the pound I think or maybe try a rescue group?? No life for him atm, wandering around the streets in a flea ridden state. Such a shame to hear stories like this. Hopefully he will find a family that will love & care for him. Thanks for trying to help him Pailin. A lot wouldn't.

So sorry for the loss of your lovely "Bob".... Beautiful photo tribute of your boy & I bet he repaid you with love everyday for being kind enough to rescue him Run free now mate, RIP

Wow, looks like great fun to be had by all....... Adults, children & the beautiful dogs. I'm another who loves to see the kid's out there enjoying the outdoors with their dogs :) Fabulous

Oh thats so sad/dissapointing that you are seeing BC's frequently with coats in bad shape when a quick regular brush keeps their coat knot free. I groom daily, no knots here :)

IMHO I think it depends on a combination of lots of thing's. Good genes are a must to start with. Then, climate, nutrition, exercise. I think these are a few f actors that help keep them in really good overall health. Keep your dog on a good diet, don't over feed. Regular exercise but not too much hard work. Don't allow them to over heat. etc Just avoid extremes with them in short.

Doing a marvellous job !! Narla & little family are coming along beautifully.... :)

Loving the sound of that ness ! :)

Thanks Stans mum. I am really hoping to be home tomorrow. I am so missing my furry kids & OH of course. I've felt better but I just want to be at home. No wet nose morning kisses here :)