Kavik

Western Suburbs train at Bressington Park in Homebush. Pet obedience classes are Saturdy afternoons and the trialling class is on Tuesday evenings. http://www.sinch.com.au/wsdtc/

I agree that really what you need is one on one lessons first My Zoe is aggressive towards other dogs and I wish I had gone to see someone straight away rather than continuing to go to a club.

If you let us know where you are (general area) we can also point you in the direction of some good places for training You want to look for a place which uses rewards (food and/or toys). Any training for now I would do at a distance to other dogs, do not get close enough that he will react.

I think you should get some help from a behaviourist. They can give you a program to help deal with other dogs. For now, I would avoid off lead parks as they are making the situation worse. If he is uncomfortable around other dogs, then lots of dogs running around like crazy and possibly getting in his space is going to make him stressed and he will get aggressive.

Thanks guys It was great having a walk where she was well behaved around other dogs, especially when the other dogs were being naughty!

Looks alright to me I sometimes get the skinny comments too about my dogs (and once about me as well in a training class ).

As most of you know, Zoe is dog aggressive. I gave up on the idea of trialling her in agility, and no longer take her to classes. She turns 9 yrs this month. I have been doing some work with her on walks from the book Click to Calm: Healing the Aggressive dog by Emma Parsons. Modified focus work. Lately she has shown some improvement, and I have been able to pull into a driveway when we see another dog, and work with her. Often she will look at the dog, then look back at me for a click and treat Today, we were able to walk past two dogs without her getting aggressive! One was a pair of Beagles that were tied up right at the light crossing so we had no choice but to pass them (and they were making a ruckus, as only Beagles can ) and another was a crossbreed at the shops where there was nowhere else to pass. She just walked calmly past! I'm so happy!

pics would be great ATM for stick in the ground I found some on Clean Run - my mum said she can bring them over when she visits in November near my birthday She is also coming on Sunday for my son's first birthday (can't belive he is 1 already )

Vickie, I have that problem with my current set It is on a base which slides so you can adjust the width of the channel, but if they bump it it widens and has to be reset. Kaos does bump the poles, but not like Diesel who can really barge through Because mine are PVC with two PVC base lines with the poles, Kaos does not realise other types of poles are the same obstacle yet Why didn't I realise that would be a problem when I got the set! That would be great poodlefan

I have used the channel method so far with my guys, have got the channel at home pretty small. Haven't really tried other good methods (first method I tried with Zoe at the club was luring through with guides which I didn't like as it was very dependent on me being there and the guides and she was very slow, she sped up once I changed to channel). Have had a play at 2 x 2, haven't given slanted poles a go. In a way I'm leaning towards stick in the ground as there is versatility there - can put it in any configuration you want. I haven't found anything made in Ausatralia for channel weaving yet.

I am hoping to get some new weave poles for Christmas/birthday and was going to get stick in the ground poles as they are versatile and my current ones have a really wide base and are flimsy and Kaos doesn't recognise more conventional looking poles I am on a mailing list for affordable agility and just got sent some info on their newest weaves, what do people think? http://www.affordableagility.com/versaweaves.htm

I did the NDTF course in 2000, it has changed a lot since then. I am currently looking to upgrade my certification to Cert III. What I liked about NDTF is that it discusses all training methods, and that there are guest lecturers in all fields of dog training including scent detection, behaviour, security etc so you get to learn about the different things you can train dogs to do, and how they do it. There is also Delta, which teaches positive reinforcement. I don't know if they have guest lecturers? You'll have to ask someone whose done that course.

Monelite - tic tac not a bad idea - since I spit food, it might even help get his attention

Bummer they only took internal people poocow. I am still waiting for NDTF to get back to me about upgrading my qualification to Cert III as I did the course before it was Cert III.

The reason I think tracking might work with Diesel is because of less handler input I find scent work of any description fascinating but difficult because of course we have no idea what it is exactly they are smelling, and you have to trust the dog and your training.

You could always do tracking and put that sniffing to use

Leopuppy - same with my next dog! Drive building and foundation work only as a pup!

I think with Diesel he is definitely picking up on my body language - I know I act differently when we're at a big event (dog day out, trial) than I do at training. I get frustrated because he can be so good at training, and I struggle to get him to work at all at a busy place. He will not ever tug consistently, even at home. He is getting better with the squeaky toy that Kaos loves. He is generally very good with food, but even sometimes that will not work and he will shut down. I have found that simply going and clicking and treating for any attention has helped with focus. He is now 4 1/2 though, and I can't help but feel that we have given obedience a fair go (though not entered a trial) so may scrap that idea, maybe it just isn't for him. I am hoping that tracking, being a more independent sport where he can work it out himself, and only having to focus on the track instead of the many things in obedience may work. We are going to give it a go anyway. It may be that when things start to get complicated in tracking we run into the same problems. But for now, at the beginning, he is keen and happy when he knows we are doing tracking, and that is all I can ask for

I am reading this with interest as I have this problem with Diesel. Though am thinking of ditching obedience and trying tracking instead, as I have problems getting him to focus on obedience when in a busy place.

I prefer crating Kaos and harness for Diesel. Diesel is very good in the car and will relax, Kaos, well, he gets rather excited At the moment with the baby in the back as well, Kaos has to be in a harness, and tends to get rather tangled in it, slowly getting better though.

Western Suburbs train at Bressington Park, Homebush. Saturday afternoons for pet classes, Tuesday evenings for trialling classes. If they are having problems with control, I would probably go to the trialling class regardless of whether they intend to trial or not. They are a lovely bunch of people http://www.sinch.com.au/wsdtc/

I'm spitting cheese

I just open their mouth and pop them in. Diesel, who gets more tablets due to skin problems, will open his mouth for me to put them in

This is Diesel's flip finish - sorry about the angle! This was one of the earlier videos we took Here is one with the recall - the sound is out of synch - he does not do everything before I ask! I don't know how to fix the sound

I've only taught one kind of finish to each dog - Zoe I taught behind, Diesel I taught flip. Kaos I am teaching behind for fun.