Recent content by HopeShelties

Weave poles!!! Especially using the 2x2 method... and for the very reason you dislike training the teeter. My favorite to train is a running aframe!

To me, it sounds like she needs more information faster, and more training so she knows what you are asking. I would highly recommend Developing Jumping Skills and Developing Handling Skills books. They will help with some of the issues you mentioned. Barking will likely curb itself once she...

The key here is there is a difference between just being able to survive and actually THRIVING on a diet. Technically I could throw my dogs a Chicken leg daily and they could survive. It doesn't mean they are getting everything they need from that one chicken part.

No. Dogs are carnivores and need meat as part of their diet. I think it is unwise to impose a human diet choice on our dogs. There are stories out there of dogs and cats becoming very sick due to being forced to eat a vegan/vegetarian diet.

Hitting is a cruel, old school training method. Dog training has evolved, and hitting is not going to accomplish anything but to shut a soft dog like a Sheltie down. It is also unfair to use physical punishment for something that is not the dogs fault. Dogs can only reflect what we teach them...

I agree with Clantyre as I have seen it. A lot of the chasers will turn off when asked to do more than chase. My Athena will settle in and actually work. Same for Fury though she at a year old has less training with my limited time with stock. Of course it may change next year as I have been...

"My criteria are the dog should be able to do the job as a worker, day in and day out, with the drive (attitude, athletic, high energy) to want to do it, and bidability (willingness) to do it for the owner, even if tired or stressed (heart). I also want a dog stable enough to be able to entrust...

My young dog Fury is related to that dog that just got the advanced b course sheep title... She has a lot of instinct and work ethic too. Just won't ever make it all that far in herding as I don't have regular enough access to stock to be successful training with anyone that I care to work with...

As a note not all intact males who are bred mark. Mine don't. They are taught early on it is not acceptable. The problem is a lot of breeders keep their dogs as kennel dogs and it is something they never learn not to do. Neutering does not automatically eliminate the behavior. At this point it...

I believe it is the same across all venues, as far as permanent measurements. I couldn't see any venue expecting all dogs to be measured at every trial. That would be a major time suck.

I posted this to my facebook, but thought I would post it here as well for those not on my facebook. It looks like they are starting to do some testing for alternative measuring methods. Breeze needed two official measurements, and with the normal measuring, they also measured the upper part of...

I have a new puppy :) Well, she isn't really new, but I never posted.... I put off posting as Andromeda is one that I bred and didn't want it considered as an advertisement. She's now 14.5 weeks old though, is staying, and was a singleton anyway. She was born July 9, 2014. Andromeda- Andy for...

DOB --DOG NAME -- GENDER -- COLOR -- YOUR NAME -- RELATED TO (if applies) -- LIVES WITH (if applies). 12/31/13 - Lacewood Skywalker Jedi Knight (Vader) -- Male -- Bi-Black -- Phebe*DD (Margaret) -- related ??? -- Full-time Annoyance to Phebe 01/05/14 -- TLC's Just The Way You Are (Bailey) --...

As someone who swims their dogs, yes I do use life jackets. I use the outward hound ones petsmart sells. They are very affordable, durable, and keep the dogs safe.

Only a handful of trials hold them. Around here, the cluster was one, and the Cleveland one is the other. It adds some nice challenge. Breakdown in height is really weird. Anything under 13.75" is 14", 13.75-16.75" is 18", and everything else is 26" :P Kai is a 12" dog but did 18" in the past...