Kavik

I had distraction problems when I first started with Kaos (among other ones regarding him running off, placement and delivery of reward - my fault). I have found that with time and more training he has improved a lot as both his and my confidence in our training and handling has improved. Our biggest issue at the moment seems to be kids on the side of the ring (he has left the ring to visit a couple of times and gotten distracted by a baby crying as I have a child). The trial atmosphere is distracting and I think in itself is one of the challenges of competing.

I'll be at the Festival of Agility ;) Have entered the Jumping day - JDX and JDO. Can't wait to watch the JDoY runs - last year they were spectacular! And the winning dog last year (who I have seen a lot this year too ) amazing lead out and control as well as speed

Agree with labsrule - Labs can be HIGH energy and HIGH drive and destructive while puppies. And they shed A LOT. Greyhounds and whippets have a very short coat that I don't think sheds much. I haven't met many Ridgies so don't know much about them. ETA: Secretkei - give me a Vizsla over a Lab any day! Labs are solid!

Maybe people think I am being silly, but I don't see the benefit of suggesting a herding breed (Koolie OR Malinois) when the OP has said she doesn't want that sort of exercise and stimulation requirements Either the breed is good for herding/dog sports/SchH type activities (ie HIGH energy) or it is less active, I don't think you can have it both ways and Chewy, while GSD of all colours are lovely dogs, they do shed like there is no tomorrow Seriously about 100 times more than my Kelpies

I don't see how that is different to other working breeds - good ones have an 'off' switch but if she doesn't want something as energetic as an Aussie, BC, Kelpie or other working/herding breed, I don't see why a c/Koolie would be any different? They were still bred to do the same job, and would still have the same exercise and stimulation requirements. Unless somehow magically not being an ANKC registered breed makes them different to all other herding breeds that are still doing their original job.

Still a working dog that needs lots of exercise and stimulation

I can think of heaps of tricks that would be more suitable to teach a puppy! Bow, walk backwards, spin, play dead, roll over, high five Something in preparation for that trick - to catch a piece of food thrown at him (this is a skill too! Can take a while for them to get it, some quicker than others. Even my GSD figured it out) Remember patience is a virtue in BOTH of you Sometimes it is better to prepare to ground work well to make it easier later on

I always wanted a GSD when I was growing up. I used to have an imaginary GSD that followed me and kept me safe when I travelled the trains by myself I finally got my GSD when I moved out of home, albeit with a few health problems, and having discovered and fallen in love with the adrenaline rush of agility, I don't think I will be getting another one.

I taught this trick to my previous dog, who could balance it on her nose and then throw it up and catch it. I would wait til your pup is a bit older to teach it - some tricks are much easier to teach when the dog has a bit more maturity, patience and self control. I tried to teach Zoe at one point but we weren't as successful as with my previous dog

Well done!

What I would have done differently: Not take her to off lead parks Not take her to puppy classes More careful and controlled socialisation with calmer older dogs

Kavik - I am really interested in your issues with Zoe - what methods did you use and what would you have done differently? What I have found to help is using methods from the book Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive Dog. Clicker training attention and looking at the other dog, then looking at me. This has calmed her down considerably, but I still have to be aware and in position as if a dog takes us by surprise she will still react. But if I can give her enough space we can have another dog pass us without her reacting. What I tried previously are more conventional methods - from luring with food, calling her name to get her attention, walking dog past dog in obedience etc to corrections for reacting.

My problem is that I tried to deal with it at club level for too long - until it became a REAL problem that has never really been totally fixed She has improved heaps but she will never be OK to meet strange dogs on the street and if I had my time over I would have done so many things differently.

Unfortunately poodlefan that does not mean you won't have problems I took Zoe to classes from the time I got her (puppy classes, then obedience from 4 months) - she still developed aggression problems.

I trained an automatic drop on the table and the first ANKC trial he dropped beautifully and we also got a qually However while he still drops at training, he now wants to stand on the table at a trial . I haven't come across a table in an ADAA trial yet (it is optional at all levels).

Pretty sure they have to drop on the table at ADAA but not ANKC.

I don't find heel work all that exciting, but it is nice to know some people do I think it is great there is a variety of sports to choose from Although I am not training running contacts, this video takes my breath away - WOW wish I could train for that sort of speed!

I think it also depends on how you are training your obedience. I know someone on this forum who has a WL Malinois and plans to compete in obedience with him. He is very drivey and a lovely boy (lots of us would love to steal him for agility ) and the way she is training him I think he will be spectacular at obedience and certainly not bored as he gets lots of work and stimulation and exercise. If you want to get the kind of attention and behaviour that you see in the SchH obedience routines, you also need a good level of drive.

I've seen both breeds do well in obedience In agility there are more Belgians around than Aussies. I like the Belgians, but then I am partial to my prick eared dogs

Trialling in which sport?

They are not the same squirrels as are found in the USA everywhere - I can't remember what species of squirrel they were. But not the big grey ones that are pests in the USA. These were much smaller and more finely built. EDIT: did a google and think they are northern palm squirrels? I found this on environment.gov.au - looks like they've been in Australia for a while, and only now making it to the pet trade, so they didn't have to jump through hoops to import them (I didn't know they already existed here) The Palm Squirrel is considered a potential pest species in Western Australia and has been a Declared Animal (Vermin) in that State since 1973 (Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia 1985). A few of these animals, inadvertently translocated, have been found (and destroyed) in remote areas as far as 140 km from Perth. It is a common commensal in northern India, but does not seem to be a major problem. In the United States, the Grey Squirrel is the third most important game animal, with millions being taken annually for meat and pelts. In the United Kingdom, it is declared vermin because of its damage to forests (particularly hardwood plantations) and its presumed replacement of the indigenous Red Squirrel (Madson 1964; Barkalow & Shorten 1973). There is a potential pet trade in Palm Squirrels and because of the zoo population in Melbourne, there is a possibility a feral population might be established there.

Yeah I'm pretty sure they said they are desexed before being sold. All legit from what I can gather. I couldn't believe it though when I first saw the sign Not sure about the price - I didn't ask.

SLightly OT but My local pet shop is selling squirrels as pets. I thought after what happened with rabbits that you weren't allowed to import new species like that which could take over. I know you can't get hamsters or gerbils here (which are very popular pets in the USA) - I assumed for that very reason? The squirrels are very cute but not as easy to handle as more domesticated species (I asked the owner of shop).

I think Kramar sell them?

Not only in America - there are similar ones in Sydney http://pawpaws.com.au/