lab +poodles

When I came to this West Island over 10 years ago from NZ, the first thing that worried me was the fact that Police all wore guns. If the crime rate is quite a lot lower here than over in NZ why the guns? I don't accept that the Crims here are "tougher", either!. The next big schock was seeing a Security Guard with a Gun. Believe you me this one seemed to have trouble walking, and I think he would have had to take his socks off to count past 10. I was SCARED. Anyone who knows me, knows this is a very rare reaction. Now I am sure most listees would have a great deal of responsibility, and would "install" an excellent off switch for their dogs, but I really don't trust the average run of the mill Schutzhund trainer to train a stuffed dog, let alone a real live one with good guarding instincts. Hence I want to see Schutzhund trained dogs treated legally exactlty the same as a dangerous or Guard dog.I.E. different colour collar, notices, secure fences and a muzzle in public. I looked at the list of where some of these Scutzhund clubs are, and they often appear to be in areas where there are a lot of socio-economic issues. Tracking is the best dog sport in my opinion. Look up the Victorian Tracking Club if you are looking for some help in this sport. This style is a bit more breed aware, and won't penalise Gun Dogs etc for following towards one side of the track as they often do. Footstep tracking as exhibited in Scutzhund seems even more remote from real life situations such as SAR or Police style tracking than Obedience allied tracking. If you are a Lab or Gun Dog owner, and you have a driven sort of dog, let it do free style tracking (no lead, no human following) againgst a name Schutzhund breed one day. THe results are usually very interesting! One may ask why Labs are used for SAR so often elsewhere, but not so much in this state? I also note that Gary Paterson is quoted on one of the sites. He must be one of the last trainers to advocate the use of a pinch collar for tracking. Myself, I prefer simpler equipment such as a can of sardines and a long lead.

I thought I would lighten the tone up a bit. My only problems with animals with my lab was when I came home and found him cuddling up to next door's sheep!. He is pretty keen on chasing cats, but has always dropped when told to. I do find more than normal voice is required in these situations! On a more serious note, I did come across the rotten chicken method in one of Koehler's books. This same book suggested strapping a dog which was tied up for 5 minutes if it chased after a car or a bike. I am sure this would have been %100 effective if the dog lived, as it would have too scared to itch it's own scratch. but I guess that might have been the trick. Koehler also suggested ear pinching for a dog that was a bit hesitant about a corner when teaching tracking. I had an instructor who did this to my dog, and I wish she had to spend as many hours as I did undoing the damage. She never even got here dog through TQT! He did get through though, and like a lot of labs, was no great footstep tracker, but very commited and reliable. Just once in a while he would react like a headless chook (no pun intended) when he came across a corner.

I was interested to read about SAR training of dogs. I was blessed with a Lab with High Prey drive but who I didn't train until he was 4 years old. On his first track he just took off, and accepted a play with his toy when he finished. I changed training methods, and would give him a substantial reward at the end of his track,(a tin of sardines was a real favourite) and his motivation increased even further. His drive was so strong he would ignore any food, (and objects) on the track. He obtained TD. I then trained him further, but due to my study commitments we never trialled again. Most observers seemed to be confident that he would have achieved TDX. He has been succesful at obedience, having trialled at UD, and I have found most of the things mentioned to be useful. I use a verbal marker, and train quickly and smartly. I never lose a chance to take advantage of his pack drive, and make sure that my side is a great place to be. Paying attention is always rewarding for him. Since he was 5 years old (when I changed training methods) he has only experienced a strong mouthful a few times, and time out a bit. Judges have remarked on his speed (for a lab) and how happy he is. Once I hear this, I really couldn't give a dam about the rest. Now he is twelve, and still coming with me to dog school to show them how to do it, he has figured out that he might as well eat the cat food, and go to the toilet ready for the door to be closed for his time out. He still won't touch any of the groceries (including his bones and meat) in the car, even though he has never been told to do this!