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I have to admit I was a bit against food training to start with, but was getting great results so took it on. I like the poker machine analogy - keep em guessing!! Smokeysue I use Supercoat Lix dried liver (from the supermarket) for two reasons, 1) my dogs a chunker who gets fat on the smell of an oily rag so the dried liver is probably as good as I'm going to get fat wise, and 2) because I can chuck them in my pocket without the plastic bag and not have a problem trying to find treats in amongst the plastic/treat bag etc. I'm a bit unco at the best of times so anything that makes it easier for me..... Found two pieces in the clothes dryer the other day.... must remember to check my pockets before I put them in the wash Many recommend kabanna, cheese, frankfurt etc (too fattening for Darcy plus it'd make a mess in my pocket :D ). The only issue with the dried liver is if she gets a bit too excited it gets stuck half way down her throat and she'll cough and splutter for a second, but she doesn't do it often! I tried smackos but Darcy wasn't as eager for it as she was for the liver, plus not a fan of the high salt factor! :D

No pressure Scope just whenever you can :D As I said earlier I'm willing to pay for it - you went to a lot of effort to bring gear and tape everything for the day, plus editing and consumables so if you need me to DD $$ earlier to help out I can!

Thanks for the info on the prey toy guys - don't like my chances of finding anything similar where I am! Sounds like the weekend was fantastic - don't know how you managed to do all three days, I was still processing it all when I got home late Friday night, another two days would've done me in I reckon So sorry to hear about your Mum Lablover - my condolences to you and your family at this difficult time

Hey while I think of it - did Steve say where we could get those "prey ball/stringy" toys from.... I thought I heard him say it was on the website but I couldn't find it..... I knew I should've bought one on the day ;)

Thats ok HR - having never been to a dog training workshop I didn't know what to expect... I'm not upset about it - I should've asked more questions before I went.... ;)

Because it stated in the information that we were welcome to bring our dogs. My understanding was that we would actually be working with our dogs throughout the day, not just for a few demonstrations. I misunderstood, brought my dog with me (as did many of the attendees) and realised that maybe I shouldn't. You live you learn. ;)

Isn't it a dominance issue? ;) Sorry I'm not much help but someone has told me that in past weeks!

Maybe we should've had an introduction session at the start with our AKA DOL names!!! Yep the young "lab" is Darcy - actually lab kelpie x but tending heavily towards the lab (as you could see by the doggie dimples on her butt!!!) ;) Clicking Mad I loved your Dal - how old is he/she? Scope can I get a copy please? Happy to pay whatever for it..... I didn't think I would but I realise I've missed out on a lot trying to keep Darcy entertained... ;) I didn't realise we wouldn't be working with them at all and in hindsight would've left her at home.... probably good for her to learn to sit still for the day anyway

Scope I figured that one out when you mentioned bringing Hudson for a demo But missed Fido, KMK and Nehkbet!! Haven was easy - as was Lablover (definitely cheating when people call them DOL name!!!!) I figured Erny out when I heard her mention Kal (sorry she's unwell :D ) and that's all at this stage.... maybe as more people "drop in" I'll figure them out! :D Funny how you tend to recognise dogs names and pics! :D

Wow I didn't realise just how many DOlers were there - I figured one or two out but just realised how many I missed! I wish I'd stuck around for the S&R demo - would've been great to see but it was an awfully long drive home so needed to get going.... awesome day though learnt heaps and gave me a lot to think about and try! Certainly inspired me to ask a little more of Darce and see how she goes! Your demo was awesome Lablover - I was very impressed!

Sorry to butt in here people but have a quick question or two... Starting to look at a different diet for my 6 m.o as I'm not real happy about feeding her so little puppy kibble and still having her slightly overweight (1.5 cups a day versus the 4.5 cups recommended!). My only issue with her is the weight, don't want to put her on "light/mature" kibble when she's not quite 6 months. She looks really healthy ATM, lovely shiny coat, but tending heavily (literally!) towards the lab side of her breeding! Someone on DOL suggested feeding some cooked pumpkin to fill her up a little and cut down on her puppy food... which is what I did today, minced a heap of cooked pumpkin and a few other vegies and put them in the fridge freezer for the 10 days or so. Now I had to cook them as my processor won't handle uncooked vegies.... So whats the difference between cooking it and leaving it raw - as much as my pups a guts I can't see her hooking into a lump of raw pumpkin! I used very little water to cook it and what water I did use ended up in the blended mash mix anyway. I also feed a fair few bones as I work full time and like her to have something to chew on while I'm at work. Are too many bones an issue for weight - she mostly gets lamb and beef leg and rib bones, and the very occasional chicken wing! She was getting a bone every day, but gets about 3 to 4 a week now. Thanks! Jess

True Morgan Or it could be a butt-covering exercise...... If you don't give people the option then they can come back and bite you if something was to go wrong! But if you give them the options based on IF something did go wrong, the owner choses not to take them up, somethings goes wrong then the vet can say "well we offered you the option but you knocked it back"

TD thats a great idea with the heeling! Will have to try it!!!

Thats alright Morgan I understand - normally would've waited until she was 6 months but a few people mentioned as she was growing so fast she might come into season early, and I cannot risk that at all as I have nowhere safe for her to be locked up! I have great fences in normal circumstances but given she's the result of an industrious kelpie climbing/jumping an "unclimable/unjumpable" fence I thought better of it.... plus far too many dogs are left to their own devices in this town! dog I figured a month early was a smaller risk than the early season! :D

Mmmmm I'm still not 100% happy about it but I don't know whether its worth making a big stink out of..... I don't think its worth cancelling over it and trying to get her in somewhere else..... not in a smallish country town and given this clinic is two blocks away!!! LM I dunno whether I'm 100% happy with the clinic - big animal vets are great, have limited experience with little animal vets but the times I've gone in for vacc's with her I haven't found it to be as positive as I would've liked.... Poodle wrangler I haven't asked that question -I know I should but she has to be done and its really non-negotiable if you know what I mean But yes I have considered it and chances are I will be hit for more $$$ given she's in overnight..... and I reckon you're also right capanash and hesapandabear - I can't see this clinic being staffed overnight... Morgan the instructions I've been given is no food no water from 6pm the night before!!!! So if she doesn't get done til late arvo, chances are she won't be interested in a feed til the morning after - 1 1/2 days without food! Poor little bugger - times like this I wish I got a dog!

I have my 5 m.o bitch booked in for spey next week.... drop in 1st thing in the morning, pick her up next morning..... Is this the norm these days? Our bitches have always been in and out same day - including one previously done at this same clinic.... I'm just a little worried to leave her overnight in a cage, she's never been caged before Discussed it with receptionists who said its non-negotiable! In fact I almost get the impression she'll get done when they get around to it.... "don't know what time she'll be done, depends on how busy the vets are and she might not get done until late afternoon" She'll be there from 8 am! I'm getting a picture of production line here..... Am I worrying unnecessarily? Or is the vet clinic being a little overzealous?

Agreed, but this one's just a case of no training and no idea....

Thats horrible Ruffles - I would be seriously offended at the trainers comments too - I think every dog probably has a bad day, just as we do.... To blame it on the breed and tell you you have no control over the dog after one bad class - we have dogs who play up like that in every class! I'll bet they've never been told that they're not welcome! I would seriously look at another club if you can get to one easily enough! Or take lablovers advice about a private trainer.... I think the confidence things important too! Good luck - I hope it all goes well

Touche Mel I couldn't agree more! Especially if you have a problem pup like we had in our first night.... And it doesn't even need to be inexperienced vet nurses - I know a vet with the worst behaved animal I can think of - imagine them teaching a puppy school!

Thats ok DL I'm still learning myself.... The club we attend has puppy preschool for babies i.e 9 to 16 weeks I think, then you can start puppy class. When you start with this club, if your dog is under 6 months, they have to go into puppy class, but if they start obedience at 6 months or older, they would go straight into obedience class 1. Its the same at another club I looked at attending... Once your pup is 6 months, they get assessed for which class they go to next, and everyone who was old enough last week got passed up to class 2. So as far as I can gather, puppy class is almost the same as obedience class 1, but they have a bit more socialisation and play time to give the pups a break. Hope thats helpful!

OMG I paid $70 for 4 weeks of puppy preschool, one-on-one instruction for 4 weeks, plus it gave me membership to the obedience club for the rest of the financial year (plus $2 a week training fee) We are currently doing puppy school, until Darcy turns 6 months and will then start proper obedience. We can't do obedience til 6 months unfortunately, even though Darcy is well and truly ready to go up! BTW The vet one I passed up was $40 for 4 weeks!

I loved PPS - and so did Darce! I had the choice of two puppy preschools - a vet run one 5 mins away, or the one at the obedience school we now attend (which is over an hour away! ) I chose the obedience school one - the instructors were all really good - there was one on one instruction, they broke it up so there was play time, toilet time and training time, and they were good at keeping play time under control so that smaller/shyer puppies weren't getting clobbered! I have a feeling that if I'd chosen the vet one I would've been very disappointed.... just some of the comments that have been made when I've taken Darcy in for vaccs.... I really only intended to take Darcy to give her a head start in obedience, but found she got far more out of it from a socialisation point of view than anything, and even with the obedience stuff I've learnt, I will definitely take my next pup to the same PPS! I think as long as you get the socialisation correct and make sure your pup isn't getting beaten up or clobbered (or vice versa!), then you'll catch up with everything else when you start at your obedience club! It is disappointing when you're trying so hard to give your pup a good start though! Good luck for when you start obedience! :D

I've heard citronella oil is a good chew deterrant, and a friend of mine uses tabasco sauce mixed with some water in a squirt bottle for her rottie.

Quite likely to be true CL - I've been told by a friend of mine (trained vet) that they spent very little time on nutrition. When you think about it they have an awful lot to learn about all animals, not just dogs, in a relatively short amount of time. Not just that, but then they also have to keep up with all the latest research and developments in so many different areas. Absolutely no criticism of vets here as there is some fantastic ones out there, but some seem to think that because they have a degree sitting on the wall that they know it all! I have the utmost respect for any vet (or professional) who is willing to learn and will admit that they don't know everything!

Thinking about the issue a little more - I think part of the problem is how seriously people take it and what they want from the obedience - some seem to treat it solely as a social occasion for them and their dog and don't seem to mind much that their dog is a ratbag (and thats fine providing it doesn't interfere with anyone elses goals!) Others are there to learn (and socialise) but take it quite seriously. I do take obedience training seriously because I have a lot to learn and I want my dog to be the best she can be... I travel 1.5 hours to do the classes.... I could have my dog misbehave herself in my own backyard for a lot less time & effort! Ironically I've found that the puppy group are better with their dogs in some cases than the adult dogs There's some great advice here and I think I will definitely take it on for our classes this week!