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gcv-border

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Everything posted by gcv-border

  1. I wonder if you have spent too much time teaching him extension and running sequences with mostly extension jumping required. I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. With the 6 year old, I started mostly with extension jumping, and it wasn't until I started running sequences/courses that I asked for turning to go to the next obstacle - which, of course, requires that they listen to you BEFORE they decide to jump and rush to the next obstacle they see. It has been a hard row (and it still is) to try to stop that default behavior of jumping in extension. Yes, he will turn, but it usually results in a very wide turn, if not an off course. In contrast, my 2 year old is more tuned in, and I attribute that, in part, to the fact that her foundation training incorporated earlier introduction of turns, rather than flat out running. If you think this might be part of the problem, I suggest going back to early foundation training for teaching turns and then incorporating them into very short sequences to build up a behavior that requires him to pay attention to you. Just my 2 cents.
  2. Welcome. Thanks for joining. And thank you for your work helping rescue dogs.
  3. I also second (or third) the advice from GentleLake. Protect the older dog. It is fine if the other dog wants to play - very helpful in dissipating some of that puppy energy, BUT if the other dog doesn't want to play and the puppy still has energy, it is your responsibility to play with your pup. Also, if you don't remove the pup, you could be setting yourself (your dogs) up for future problems since the CKCS will begin to resent the puppy to the point that the pup will trigger negative feelings any time he sees him. They may never have a good relationship if you don't intervene.
  4. When my dog had a pulled iliopsoas muscle at 15 months of age (due to crazy BC play), the rehab vet suggested that fetch games can be slowed down by throwing into weeds so the dog has to slow down and hunt for the toy. Another exercise is to keep your dog at your side while you throw the toy (again, into high grass or weeds) and then release him after the toy has landed. It is a great training exercise in impulse control and may take a while to achieve that level of impulse control.
  5. Agree with both GentleLake and D'Elle on being patient. I do believe he was too young to try to jump between watercraft and falling into the water has made him super cautious, but there is no reason why he can not become comfortable around water again with appropriate desensitization, but it may take a while.
  6. I second Gentle Lake's warning about frisbee play if it involves jumping for the frisbee. Ground rollers are OK at this age, but jumping for the frisbee should wait until about a year old. (Any type of repetitive jumping should not be engaged in at this age.) Moderation for the number of ground rollers should also be practiced. As another poster said, a 6+/- month pup is roughly equivalent to a teenager. The general advice is to go back to foundation training and be consistent when the pup seems to forget previous training.
  7. Confirming D'Elle's and Urge to Herd's excellent advice: Do all you can to get this dog into a rescue - preferably a labrador rescue, but it doesn't have to be a labrador rescue, just a reputable rescue. NOW is the time to act because it sounds like Coco is still enough of a puppy to be very attractive to potential adopters, and she should be adopted into a home quickly and able to start her new life. I volunteer for a border collie rescue, and I am heartened by how a dog can blossom in a new home when the match between adopter and pup is right. Check out local/regional rescues to find a reputable one. For example, at the rescue I volunteer for, we ask the potential adopter to fill out an application, then we check their vet reference AND 3 personal references, and we also do an in-person home evaluation, in addition to often a long conversation with the potential adopter to discuss the dog, their lifestyle and daily schedule, and any other topic as appropriate. After volunteering and fostering for almost 10 years, I am strong believer in rescue (done appropriately). It is a win-win for dog and adopter. It is often the best thing that can happen for the dog.
  8. D'Elle, I call those "screw-up cookies". LOL My dogs get screw-up cookies. If they have given an honest try, but it didn't work out -> screw-up cookie. If momma made a mistake (wrong command, late cue in agility) -> screw-up cookie Just for the heck of it, or because you love them, or they are extra cute right then -> screw-up cookie It can really motivate a dog. (and yes, I also withhold treats when training as appropriate, but an extra treat or a few, are not going to mess up the dog.)
  9. SS Cressa, I think that you will often find that one skill leads into another. Keep trying by mixing in toy play with something he really, really loves. And don't worry about being judged when acting silly with your dogs. Do it when you are alone. One of the better agility instructors I know is constantly playing and acting silly with her dogs, but it is done with a plan in mind. Her dogs are awesome.
  10. Congrats on your future puppy! Just responding to your training question in the last paragraph: Consider shutting one dog in another room while training the other. You can also train both at the same time by working on stays with one and commands with the other, then swap them out. (This is a very advanced exercise and will take quite a while, but it is a goal to work towards. I know of someone with 4 dogs: 3 stay while she works the 4th. Then she swaps out.) Keep training sessions SHORT - 15-30 seconds in the beginning. Even now, with a 2 and 6 year old, I like to keep training sessions short: 2-5 minutes.
  11. Very nice photo. I don't know. I think 5 minutes of toy playing in pretty good. In fact, I would stop toy play before he loses interest. (I am sure you have heard that before.) I am a big fan of very short training sessions.
  12. Condolences on the death of your mom, Gentle Lake. My step-dad had to be hospitalized a couple of months ago. I am 12 hours away. Needless to say, I couldn't travel to see him. His kids, who live local to him, were able to go and 'see' him once he was transferred to a ground floor room in a rehab center for about 10 days because they could stand outside the window of his room while talking on the phone. Yes, here in Virginia, we are seeing the hazy skies and the red sun as a result of the Western fires. Very scary.
  13. Hangin' in there too - although because both my husband and I are retired, we do not have to go 'out' to mix with the general population. I have realized that approximately 75% of my daily activities are basically uninterrupted by the pandemic. Most of the other 25% I wanted to change anyway. (DH likes going out to eat lunch almost daily. I think it is a waste of time and money.) That said, my heart is heavy with the worsening conditions and attitudes this country is facing. I don't want to get too political, but I was looking a real estate in Canada online. After about 10 minutes, I slapped myself up side the head, because I remembered that we are basically prisoners in our own country. I am missing attending dog activities (lessons and trials) because that was my main socialization, but my dogs are fine without them. I am taking an online agility class and hiking. Both activities make the dogs, and me, happy.
  14. I liked James Rebanks. Donald McCaig used to be an active member of these boards before passing.
  15. I agree that a different opinion is required. I don't think you vet is taking your seriously. I am surprised that, at a minimum, s/he didn't take X-rays. I would consult with an specialist (orthopedic vet/ certified rehab vet).
  16. What was said above. A lot of great suggestions. Re: agility. I now try to use a game training approach to teaching agility. All (or as much as possible) of the 'teaching' is done through games. A lot less pressure on the dog to PERFORM since he thinks he is just playing with you. And with regards to trick training, sometimes one has to just ask for the tiniest bit of incremental performance toward a completed trick. Many people try to achieve too much of the final behavior. For example: give a paw. Usually people will expect the dog to pick up the paw or will grab the paw before treating. I have sometimes grabbed the paw to show the dog what to do. It may or may not work. Try to think outside the box. Perhaps just a weight shift from one paw to the other is enough in the beginning. One dog I taught to wave (similar to giving a paw but higher) by holding the treat next to his nose so he tried to bat at it to get it. Worked fabulously for him. Not so much for a couple of other dogs.
  17. I don't do flyball, but a search for national flyball organizations should have a list of clubs by state. Or just search for (your city) flyball club.
  18. Just seeing this. Lovely short film. Thanks for posting.
  19. Good Luck with Cressa. Like others, I have more experience with felines that have kidney disease. I never used Rx diets for them (against the vet's advice), but did pay attention to posphorus levels in the kibble, added water to their daily 2X feedings (which I do now for all my pets regardless of age) and gave subQ fluids. Both cats lived another 3 - 3.5 years of quality life until close to the end. One hint for subQ fluids if you ever go in that direction - warm the fluids in body temperature water. It is so much more comfortable for the animal. One cat would visibly relax, then go to sleep in my lap, when I started his alternate day subQ fluid administration. This cat had very high blood chemistry values for kidney disease when initially diagnosed, and was tested every 6 months. Each time, the vet would shake his head in disbelief that his values remained fairly stable for about 3 years. He thought that he would have been gone within the first 6 months after initial diagnosis. I have one 13 year old border collie with values indicating beginning kidney disease. I will have to begin educating myself about the canine version.
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