Kavik

I didn't get to see them up close (should have pushed to do it though - that would have been awesome!). I tried to do too much that year to fit that in - apart from honours it was also the year I did the NDTF course, and they did not have a distance program then, so I had to trek to Melbourne all the time :laugh:

My current training methods (competition agility aimed) are derived from Susan Garrett, who is a positive Canadian agility trainer. Although she does not use corrections, I enjoy having the background, information and understanding that I gained through NDTF. I am glad that I was shown different methods and tools, including those that I am not comfortable using, so that I could make an informed decision based on knowledge, not just based on emotion. If I was into a different sport, say obedience, Schutzhund or service work, I would look up Michael Ellis http://michaelellisschool.com/index.htm, he is also incorporating scent detection with Andrew Ramsay, likely because they all produce DVDs with Leerburg. All fascinating stuff.

Ooh that is so cool! Almost tempting even :laugh: I did my honours thesis on the role and future of dingoes! (in history dept)

Also, I think NDTF has an elective on training assistance dogs (friend of mine currently doing course). You may also want to look into Assistance Dogs http://www.assistancedogs.org.au/ and I think Steve Austin is currently overseeing training dogs to help war veterans? http://www.steveaustindogtrainer.com/ Talking to these people may help you - maybe you could go and see what they do? or some volunteer work?

I did the NDTF course before it was certified Cert III. I enjoyed the course and am glad that it showed us how to use all tools and the method behind them so I could then decide whether I was comfortable using them. When I did the course the practicals were geared towards hands on placing dogs into position and no use of food or toys, emphasis on pet training and a lot of the instructors and participants were security guards (not sure if that is the case now). I thought it was a good starting point. Since then I have definitely expanded my horizon learning heaps about clicker traiing and markers and drive work, effective use of toys and food, arousal levels, engagement/relationship building - the latest probably being the biggest breakthrough for me - have learned so much since last year when I did SG's Recallers and now Contact Success! Certainly have learned there is so much that needs to be taken into consideration for training for competition, that I had no inkling of after doing NDTF.

I didn't know she was coming! Wow she does some cool stuff! Have fun everyone going!

I'm still working on nose targets too - my dog initially wanted to put his chin on my hand instead of his nose when moving to 6 o'clock! Getting improvement there though, almost ready to put it on plank/stairs. I got really frustrated with nose touches for a while too. If you can get ahold of a seesaw for at home, it would make that part so much easier - I don't know how you will get to do that at club! I have a seesaw (still need to get all the different sized tables organised though - need to be surfaced and painted, so have only done the plank flat) . Once you get the targeting in place, you should at least be able to do bang game and elevator game on the equipment at the club as that doesn't require them to move any tables or other equipment for you. ETA: wait a minute the bang game doesn't need the target! So you can do that one straight away.

Where are you up to with the contact course? The course is now up to week 11 and only now needing to use equipment (if you are up to that! we aren't!) so you can do all the other stuff at home and maybe just explain to them at the club that when it is your turn that you want to just do a little bit on the contact equipment. If the club has any SG people in it, they will understand, and if you have been there for a while most of the time they will give you leeway to do what you want if you show that you know what you are doing. The only thing I see being a problem at my own club is getting the A-Frame down to the low 3 foot height for the first few A-Frame lessons.

Sending healing vibes!

I'm so sorry Nekhbet Run free Boyan.

Another to Cosmolo - great explanation!

Another thing I just thought of - with his basic commands - sit, drop, stand - I assume they are fine at home? Have you tried making 'home' more exciting to simulate an exciting training environment? I found doing this has really helped Kaos. Like running with him and then asking him to sit, or waving treats and asking him to drop, or lie down myself and ask him to sit etc.

2 hrs Wow that is a long time. Even at agility, which is fast paced and exciting to keep their attention, if I am not working or just about to work Kaos, I put him in his crate to chill as much as possible. If the environment is really exciting, even just being there for a long time can wind them up. I do engagement exercises to keep his attention when we are waiting our turn. I prefer short turns where you can keep them totally focused on the job, and then relax/chill out time in the crate. Trying to keep their attention for so long is really tiring - I remember when I used to take Zoe.

Awesome that he likes balls 10 - 15 minutes is a LONG time! I would aim for short periods of good focus and then end it. Asking for an hour long stint at eg obedience is setting yourself up for failure. LAT and similar are a great idea in your case I think. The difference the click to calm ideas have made to my dog aggro dog are amazing! Before I did that a treat in front of her face would not keep her attention around other dogs even though she has high food and toy drive - she just couldn't focus. Now that I use Click to Calm ideas she will focus back on me by herself and get a food reward, so I am no longer trying to lure her and she has much better focus without the food in her face. Knowing your critical distance is, well, critical :laugh: to success :)

My 3 dogs were adults when I had the kids. I am (obviously!) the dog lover and main carer in the family! There was an adjustment period and in the beginning it is pretty crazy to get dogs done as well as kids, and OH will not walk or bath the dogs (will feed them if necessary). Luckily dogs are pretty flexible, and with practice you can slot in walks with the pram and playing/training when bubs has a nap and I walk when OH gets home from work, training one night a week etc. I did get PND with my son, and that was REALLY hard, but for me, the dogs were my saviour, the only thing that kept me remotely sane as my son did a lot of screaming in the first 6 months with colic. The beginning does put a lot of pressure on your reserves, you have no energy, and you are trying to figure out what to do with this baby! Maybe to take the stress off, can you have the dogs somewhere separate from the baby for some of the time? Mine spend a lot of time outside (I have a small house and a BIG yard!) which does make it is easier than always juggling them together in the same space, as always supervising can be stressful.

I'm so sorry I loved hearing about his antics. RIP Atlas

From looking at the photos - though they say they use positive methods, I see several dogs on check chains, including on the agility equipment (check chain and lead on A-Frame), which rings alarm bells. While I have nothing against check chains, most places which advocate clicker training would not use them, and they should certainly NOT be used on agility equipment. Personally I would either get more information on how they train and be wary. Some places do not do what they say they do in terms of methods. My mum had a bad experience with one boarding and training place.

Whereabouts are you? There are some great specialists in Sydney. I wish you all the best - I haven't had to deal with cuciate problems but have had a dog break a leg - injuries are stressful

Most of the ones I have met (and I have met a few through work!) have been pretty crazy, high energy and rather highly strung.

Diesel pretty much opens his mouth for pills :laugh: The very simple way of preventing any pill taking issues from carrying over into recalls is not to call them and then give them a pill. And make pilling a positive experience. But even if they hate having pills, you simply don't use their recall word and have them come to you to get a pill. You go and get them instead. Then it can't possibly be a problem.

I use treats and toys in training :) Like megan said - I wouldn't work for free! Don't forget that there are also environmental rewards - the opportunity to sniff, play, meet a dog or person, can also be used to reward your dog.

I am doing heaps at the moment, due to doing an online contact course. Including: Back up perch work handstand balance discs beg stand on hind legs ladder work 4 paws in a box and heaps more!

I am doing lots of body awareness exercises. Some of these work on core strength, others rear end awareness and a range of other things. Besides building strength, I think knowing how to use their body better will help them be able to negotiate an agility course safer. Plus, they are fun to teach

When Kaos is confident and going fast he single steps and head nice and low, when he is not so sure he will put the other foot down and a lot slower. He is a bigger sized Kelpie though (jumps 600).

I agree with Vickie. A general difference in performance/speed/confidence between training and competition indicates that more work on these areas will make a big difference overall. It is often the most noticeable with weaves as they are a long and complicated obstacle with many opportunities for the dog to get distracted. This is also something I am working on, as Kaos has run out of the ring at times. I think some may be related to my state of mind at a trial vs training as well as he picks up on that. The environment is also different at a trial. ETA: When I get really nervous at a trial and start taking it too seriously (which almost guarantees Kaos will bail :laugh: ) I am trying to remind myself that I am doing this for FUN! and that it doesn't matter if we get the qually as long as he stays with me and we get to give it a red hot go! He has only bailed once on me this year - of course it had to be at the Nationals which isn't surprising when I think about it - such a big event with a lot of buildup, I hadn't competed at that venue before, I was nervous and put pressure on myself to do well, and we only entered one day, not really enough time to get the bugs out.