Erny

..... I left them back home in Victoria. Didn't need them in sunny (warm) Queensland!!! LOL Thanks for the compliments, but . A bit overstated, IMO. Ummmmm ..... I'm like a horse? ..... If this is the case, I think my racing career would've been over some time ago!!!

This is correct. I think it is 29th-31st August. Hi Silvawilow. Managed to catch up with my agility friend. She's seen your 'ad' in the agility list. As it stands, she doesn't know of anyone (and she knows many within the agility trialling community) who would at this stage of the game be able to run your dog for you. Her point being that of the very many who are already booked to go to the Nationals, they'll most likely be wanting to concentrate on their own dogs, it being such a big event. If it were a smaller trial (in which case you would probably not be trying to find a handler?), it would be easier for someone to add an extra run into their schedule. That's not to say it is impossible - and maybe there will be someone who would be able to do this for you. In this she wishes you all the best. You just never know. But unfortunately she (nor I) can confirm that for you. But you never know your luck in the big city :D.

The treats should be very small ..... so there's minimal to no chewing time. Liver treats (very small pieces) are good for this. For a GSD, I'd give a liver treat no bigger in size than, say, my small finger nail. At most, then the size of my fingernail on my ring finger.

Hi Jessca - the "Take the GuessWork Out" Vic Tour 2008 run by Pro-K9 and K9 Force was held over the 16th, 17th and 18th May. Sorry - you've missed that one, but that's not to say there won't be another. Not sure when that would be likely to be though.

Always using high value rewards means that you'll be on an almost never ending search for even higher value rewards for those 'special' (ie high intensity) situations. What I would recommend is that you go on a variable reward schedule. So, when you're first teaching, reward with the higher value stuff. Then, when your dog is performing to the 'basic' level reliably, reward randomly with the lower value treats. Introduce this bit by bit. Eg. Dog did good (but no better than usual) ... give low value reward. Next time, give high value reward. Next two times, give low value rewards. Next time give high value reward. Continue this way, working on giving the dog the lower value rewards more and more inbetween the high value rewards. When your dog does something exceptional (ie better than he/she's ever done before), then give the higher value reward. Any of the behaviours (for the same task) not as good as that now only receive the lower value rewards. In this way, you are keeping those "high value rewards" exactly that - high value. If the way I've explained the above is too confusing to understand, think of it this way - ANALOGY : If I give you $100 per day for doing a mediocre job and then, one day, you did an excellent job but I still gave you $100, you'd wonder, "why bother with the extra effort". BUT, if I only then gave you $100 for the excellent job but gave you $50 for mediocre jobs, you'd be more compelled to make the extra effort. And I am no more out of pocket than I was before. And don't forget that praise and a pat is also a reward to the dog. As to what value is for you to conclude as only you know your dog. Also, after you've been on a consistent schedule of reinforcement (where your dog receives reinforcement EVERY time the correct behaviour is performed - normally done during the 'teaching' phase) it is also good to move onto an intermittent schedule of reinforcement too. If you remain on a consistence schedule of reinforcement, the skills/behaviour you've taught your dog are more susceptible to extinction.

Moving house can be quite an ordeal for a dog and definitely a time when her perception of you as "leader" is essential. (Food for thought - please consider it carefully as her age, ie 7 months, is about the time when maturation causes them to 'experiment' with their perception of who holds hierarchy). But, going by what you have written, I suspect "substrate preference" may be a good part of the issue here. This is where the 'trigger' for going to the right place to toilet is the feel of the surface underneath their feet. She's been taught and has become used to going on grass. Now there is none. Try using a piece of fake turf (or an off-cut of real turf) to see if this is what the problem is. She is out of kilter, I would imagine, with her new home. She may also not have been used to being taken out on lead for toileting, which may explain why it is not happening on the 'short walks'. Is there grass on those short walks? If there is, how much time is given for her body to relax enough to think about relieving her bladder? Patience is required and even though it might be cold (and I know it can be), rug up so you can spend the time needed. Your patience is probably what will win out. Even take her for longer walks first, and if she hasn't gone along the way, then wait patiently at the end, before you go back inside. And of course, when the "event" occurs outside, reward her well and try to take her back to that same spot each time, initially.

Could it be that you call her to you and pick her up to 'end her fun' (from her pov) ??? Avoid always ending a happy run session with one recall. Do plenty of recalls in between times and 'release' her so she may return to what she's been doing. The 'smelling' or 'licking your hand' sounds to me as though she's used to receiving a treat. Is that a correct assumption? Reward her for the recall with something she likes to do (or eat). To overcome the problem you have, initially work on a consistent schedule of reinforcement. But once the recalls are happening reliably, switch to an intermittent schedule of reinforcement ..... gradually increasing the number of times you don't treat her compared to the number of times you do. As others have said, perhaps back off on always picking her up.

I've put out some 'feelers' for you, Silvawilow, as I know some people who are well ensconced in agility (and jumping) trialling. Don't know how it will go but will post back here once I receive the call back that I am expecting.

In a nutshell, Rexiam, it is IMO going to come down to 'training' for your Dad's dog. By the sounds, your Dad's Kelpie is displaying fairly typical kelpie 'rounding' behaviours, but that's not to say it is appropriate or acceptable in this instance. Would you Dad be willing to commit to some training? One way or the other, your job is to protect your own dogs .... be their leader. Your lab shouldn't have to constantly be subjected to the kelpie's behaviour.

Is that all? ............................................................ ...................... Well done, LeoPuppy. Good show!!!

Jey .... KitKat is referring to the "brunch" option that is taking place in the morning after the MDBA Awards.

Here's the link to the QLD DOL BRUNCH (Post MDBA Awards Evening). It gives you the latest on the arrangements, which is as much as I know at this time too. Latest post suggests this arrangement : Post there, if you'd like to add in a suggestion or know more. I'm 'following the lead' on that one .

Geography of things. Sorry, couldn't resist. Shut up Jey.

Gosh KitKat ..... there's a brunch and then a dinner. If I ate anymore I think I'd LOL !!! I'm not sure if firm arrangements have been set for the brunch part of the 'meet' ..... but is there any way you could perhaps get away for that? It's on the Friday morning .... latish, I presume. But then I have no idea of the geometry of things so location might not be convenient. In fact, I'm not even sure where the brunch is going to be, period. Yet.

Kelpie-i ..... I'm thinking it should be run over a number of routine 'desensitisation' based exercises and from that, a selection of those dogs that might be deemed suitable for the 'get together with muzzle' exercise/s. Those who have dogs who aren't 'ready' for the 'get together' will lose nothing but still gain due to the initial more structured and on lead exercises they've gone through. It would need the co-operation and agreement of all participants that their dogs might not make the 'get together' group. At least not initially. Erny

Bambalam ..... sorry the dates don't fit. Next time, maybe. :cool: RottyLover01 - thanks. I understand Steve might be going to QLD for a w/shop at some stage, but don't know how far off that will be. It's not that long before you get to see him for your appointment, is it? That's not the same as a workshop, where you can add more learning, but it will be a good start . Ok ..... dinner is set for 6.30pm on Friday 27th June. Venue is being arranged atm. If anyone else would like to come, send a PM .... to ROM, 'cause she's organising the venue with the others here :D.

If your friend was simply made to 'sit out' and wasn't given explanation as to the why's and wherefores of it, then no learning occurred for either dog OR owner. But hopefully John won't allow George's training to become reliant on him having to show George a treat before he'll do something.

It could be, MsJames. All the other dogs need to be assessed to decide that but it wouldn't be without risk and that makes me a bit uncomfortable. Admittedly, my preference is to mix with another 'seasoned' dog who couldn't really give a rats. One dog first. Then two. Etc. This exercise, IF it comes off, needs very careful orchestration.

Great .... ROM and I will keep a look out on the thread for news ;). Look forward to seeing you .

Aaaaaghh!!! Frozen toes!! Ouch!!! You are too kind, MsJames. But that does not excuse you for your apparent absence from the training scene ..... nor for having not been keeping in touch with me with snippets of your dogs' happenings/progress. ;) Get cracking girl! I want to hear from you!! ...... cheque's in the post ..... don't tell anyone ....

Hey Huski Have included you in on the 'group' PM I've just sent around . Yes .... ROM and I will be there for the brunch I think - although not sure whether any definitive arrangements have been resolved for that yet? But we're also possibly doing dinner as well, as some here might not be able to make the mid-morning time get together. Would love to see you at either or both ;). Erny

I do not believe the method shown is for dogs with dog/dog aggro that is beyond, say "mild" (which in itself is a subjective term and open to interpretation I know, but I hope the individual's interpretation is not too far off the mark from which I intend it to mean). None of the dogs in that vid clip, you will note, exhibited aggression that was much beyond "mild". If any dogs in the "team" expressed aggression beyond that, IMO a separate and individual program would need to be undertaken until the aggression remaining was to a suitable level and threshold.

Yes .... although I do not envisage it as a "come bring your dog and muzzle down and lets let the dogs off" exercise. I don't for a second think you're suggesting that either, Kelpie-i. I would envisage numerous sessions with the group (on lead and working specific behaviour modification exercises) before (and if) the 'get together' could be possible.

Wouldn't matter Rar. Always here. Like to see dogs AND their owners smiling .

This puts him in the 18 mo age bracket when the signs became obvious to you (and were quite likely to have been there earlier, only perhaps more obscure that you might not have recognised them. That is not untypical of a dog that doesn't perceive your leadership as something upon which he can rely and who also may have uncertainties of other dogs.