penstar1000

nope, that link just says content not found. I guess I can't see it if I'm not on Facebook. Sometimes opting out of social media is a disadvantage!

For some reason I can't seem to get on the SA Herding Facebook page, is it private? I can't even find it when I search Facebook. Have either of you heard of/been to CANDO herding at Meadows?

OK SA dog sport people, I need some help connecting to the herding community. I've tried the Dogs SA contacts, they are out of date. I've tried asking around the agility circuit, nothing yet. What I am really after is someone who does private lessons, does anyone have any names or contacts? Failing that how do I find out about the come and try days before they actually happen? Thanks!

Yes huski I use a clicker, he gets excited even just seeing the clicker come out. The way I understand it though is that I'm supposed to wait for him to offer behaviours (which he does), it's just that his behaviours are pretty full on, I need him to take it down a notch! I suspect I do have a communication problem though, I'm learning too :)Maybe I just need to break it down a bit more so the rate of reward is increased, but then do I risk rewarding him for being silly? And how do I switch him from full on to calm so I can train the other dog?

Hi all My 11 month old BC looooves training, sometimes a little too much. I know I can only expect a milisecond of attention from him at this stage, we are working on building on that, but he quickly gets to a point of excitement where he just isn't concentrating. His stress relief behaviour at this point is to hump my leg....sigh, or to mouth me or bark. When he does this I say 'no, that's it' or something like that and stop the session. I give him a minute or two to reengage his brain and then we try again. Is that the right strategy do you think? Any other ideas? I am about to start teaching him some agility foundation things, and I literally thought he was going to break my tunnel the other night he just kept smashing into it. I would prefer he didn't break all my newly purchased agility equipment! My other girl understands 'steady' and 'careful' - she just picked that up, I'm not sure it was anything I did! My other problem with his excitement is that it makes it hard to train them both together. I need to get to the point where I can leave one of them in a stay and work with the other and then swap, rather than having to lock him inside and listen to him barking to get out, doesn't make for a peaceful session with my poor girl. If I leave him on a tie- out he'd probably strangle himself or something. Can any of you with multiple dogs tell me how you shuffle them for training? And how you've got them to understand that they need to wait for their turn? Thanks!

yes I know teela, I do appreciate that I have options! I have some jumps (probably need a few more) and some weavers, so I certainly can practice myself. I just find it really beneficial to have someone watch me and tell me where I'm going wrong, because it's always me and not my dog!

Does anyone know of someone doing private or small group agility classes anywhere south of Adelaide? I'm happy to travel, but Gawler is just a bit far out of my reach

Definitely come out to West Beach. No obedience prerequisite other than that you have some control over your dog off lead, and it's ok around other dogs. The club has a couple of great instructors taking the Intro and Beginners classes. It's starting to wind down for the year unfortunately, we finish up at the end of November, classes start again in March. No reason you can't come down now though and see what you think. Thursday nights 7.30, I'll be there!

Thanks so much guys, some great ideas there. I shouldn't have made it sound like I had to catch her, her recall is good, she'll come down from upstairs even if she knows its for bedtime. Just once she's downstairs she starts the performance of looking like she wants to escape, again if I tell her to stop she'll just hunker down and wait to be picked up, but she has a very sad expression on her face and she makes herself as heavy as possible! Throwing treats into the laundry room doesn't have any effect, although admittedly I haven't waited for too long. I'm sure food is the key to her heart, I'll try some desensitising by feeding and playing with her in there, and save the peanut butter kong for bedtime. I might try the leash as well. You're right, I want my dogs to go where I ask cheerfully, unfortunately she now thinks there might be a choice! Lesson learned by me!

Hi there DOL experts I need some help and ideas to work on a nervous/fearful behaviour which has developed of late. My BC girl sleeps in the laundry room, on her bed, with the door closed. It's a normal laundry room, not huge, but bigger than a crate, and she has many layers of bedding so shouldn't be cold or uncomfortable. We only put her in there when the whole household is going to bed too. Up until a couple of months ago she would trot on in there when told, sometimes getting a treat, most often not, and we wouldn't hear a peep out of her until I let her out to take her for her morning walk. A couple of months ago I had a lapse and let her sleep upstairs with me for one night. I know, wrong thing to do, but what can I say, I felt bad that I'd had a late night/early morning and had left her, plus I was on my own and needed some company.... Anyway, from my best calculations that was the start of the new issue with bedtime. She now starts exhibiting nervous behaviour when the bedtime routine starts, and will not go anywhere near the laundry room when asked. We have to pick her up and put her in there, usually after chasing her around the living room. I try to make as little of a deal of it as possible and just be very matter of fact about putting her to bed, and don't yell at her obviously. Once in there she is fine and sleeps all night without a problem. I am not letting her get away with this as I don't want her free ranging in the house all night (which she would obviously prefer). So far I have tried luring her with food, which is no good even though normally she's an absolute garbage guts. I have also thought about trying a different area for sleeping, but I'm assuming it is resistance to being locked away from us for the night, not a fear of the laundry room, which is the problem. I would much rather we return to the time when she was as happy to go to bed as she is to do most other things! Any ideas how I can help her? Thanks!