Cosmolo

Yes if you are going to hire one for a short period only- use a dummy collar for some time first. I wold also suggest you have someone show you how to use the e collar correctly.

I think everyone makes great points- Its no good being a great trainer if you can't impart knowledge to an array of people and personalities, dogs and temperaments Its no good being a great communicator and teacher with poor handling and training skills I think looking at a trainers dogs can give an indication- but you need to know what the dog is trained for. I might bring out a crazy, nut bag beagle (i hope to one day!) who jumps and pulls on the lead- and is the most fabulous scent detection dog. Someone else might bring out a naturally calm and laid back dog who sits next to them quietly- does that make them a great trainer? So many criteria need to come into play- results count for sure, but how the person gets there is important as well.

Thanks guys- we loved having the dogs part of the wedding and we got the one of all of us blown up to put on the wall- raised a few family eyebrows Love this thread- you all have beautiful photos and dogs

Thank you for that- would love to attend both days but unlikely that we could fit work around it.

Kathy Koppellis McLeod- Kathy's private dog training is the only behaviourist i'd recommend.

Do you know if you can just attend the Sunday?

I think this is my absolute favourite..

Well done- great effort!!!

No cue word here either although i do 'rev the dogs up' before i take them in a class- to be honest its probably more for me than then as i need to make sure i don't drag my feet and find 1 hour classes boring (as my normal training sessions would never be anywhere near that long) or suprise surprise my dogs do too! I do use a cue word for Cosmo's scent detection though.

I have found a good permanent solution in laying chicken wire, properly pegged under a layer of mulch over the garden beds (with holes cut out for the plants) as well as then proving a sand pit with toys for the dogs in another area in the backyard. You can do this underneath lawn as well but i'd be hesitant to do this with a puppy if you couldn't cover the wire with something so that the puppy couldn't rip it up. Poop in holes din't work for my dogs but has worked for maybe 30% of my clients with simple digging problems. Lots of interactive toys are a must- treat balls, nylabones etc as well as short bursts of training, games and puppy pre school to keep the pup stimulated mentally.

Where is she digging- in the lawn, garden beds?

Dr Michael Righetti at Glen Eira Veterinary Clinic Ormond- about 20 minutes from St Kilda. He is absolutely wonderful, as are the vet nurses there.

Collar will stop working or not charge properly.

So sorry

PM Willow- she'll be able to recommend somewhere good in that area

I use these collars regularly. I find the IUT 300 to be really good with one problem- I have probably used about 30 of the collars and 5-10 have had issues where they ahve needed to be repaired- this has been done promptly at no expense by innotek but can be annoying. They are the only streamlined collars available and fit well, hence i put up with some of the 'teething problems'. In every other respect, i find them very good.

I'm so sorry dogmad :D

What Staranais said.. again :D

I use lots of different techniques and methods. And i have changed a fair bit in the time i've been training to incorporate even more options into our training- for example a few years ago i wouldn't have tended to use a no pull harness as i hadn't seen them work very often. I now use them with certain dogs and think they can work really well. Having so many different tools and techniques helps me IMO to give the best possible service and advice to people with their dogs. Yes, clients can and do influence some of my decisions, provided its still in the best interests of the dog and we still make progress.

The kennel training will run as normal for NDTF students- this is different to the prac sessions that NDTF students completed at ADT- there will be other options for them to complete their practicel training.

I will enforce the command in some way or remove something the dog wants. Off lead recalls or commands at distance are not given until they are proofed properly and the dog understands either a verbal correction and/ or a no reward mark.

Lablover- they can gain practical experience through training at Wellington park Kennels as well as other training centres around Melbourne.

Just had it confirmed- its true