the money bits are in $ can we not do it here, i was quite interested, would be good motivation to do more with phoebe

I think you can still use a card online, even if its in dollars. I would however, check that they will post to the UK first.

KG; Here is a dog/video that got novice
http://www.youtube.com/user/SHAKTISh.../2/70PNELlmHcc

Here is a page showing titles (a lot more than three!)
http://domorewithyourdog.com/pages/titleholders.html

Edit; Here is his Intermediate video
http://www.youtube.com/user/SHAKTISh.../1/M6TLwWRs25c
I think $20 is a bit much?(per cert)

Taken from the site.

After that its a become an instructor type of title.


I'm not sure money wise BUT I think maybe it is worth it (depends on individual I suppose) Work commitments mean I cant go to a club to train for WT's and so this is still something we could work towards together as a hobby. He can already do about 20+ tricks. It sounds so much but its nothing really, I only even know that cos I sat and thought hard as I listed them then gave up but I don't put much into it so this is something we could polish up on and work on.....

Do you want me to sort out one for Dogsey?

rune

yeah!

yes please, i want proof that phoebe is not as stupid as people think

Sorry - I obviously didn't make myself very clear. I wasn't suggesting that people shouldn't do it if they want to. It's just not for me.

I agree that for kids or people who for whatever reason don't go to a training class, it's great to have something to work towards with their dog so they can achieve something.

But because of what happened to Zane when he went running towawrds the road, I just think it's more important to train things like down from a distance that teaching them to give paw and jump through hoops.

Also, I get very cynical when I see things like this on the internet. In the US do they have any regulatory body for this? It does state in the site that one can work towards their versatility title (?) with this. I haven't heard of this so assume we don't have it here.

Also, there's nothing to stop someone over here doing something very similar, without being regulated. They could earn a lot of money from people who if they have to send in videos, mut be good at dog trick training but if what they get at the end of it is worthless, they've wasted their money.

My friend in Spain has just titled his Dog & become a listed instructor via this site. I think it's a good thing for people who live in countries where Dog training groups are far & few between, or people who live out in the sticks.
I looked on there to get some new trick ideas to try over winter & was surprised to see we're already doing some of the advanced behaviours as part of ordinary training.

yeh, thats the thing though you actually do gain a lot of stuff like that through trick training! You are relying on the dog to perform and as you get better at it (together) the dog can be 'working' a good distance away and all from using the most subtle of signals that an audience may not even see! They become very attuned to their owners and of course obedience becomes fun! For example, you need down before a rollover, you need a hold/take it before a put the toys away, fall and break your arm and its not so bad if the dog carries the bag for you......the list is endless. I am, of course, no where near this and those are only examples. But even when we got jammed up in a busy bus a 'turn' came in useful as did 'back' 'go' etc

A trick dog can do a contraband search as can a 'working' dog, I don't see one as more important than the other for a pet dog.

As for regulating it, you wont get anywhere using harsh methods anyway and the girl knows her stuff. I have watched her videos of her competing and winning in competitions in the states then onwards from there. Basically all they are doing is providing a certificate from an independent body to say your dog can do this...

If someone chooses to do it here what would it matter? Would it make a difference if it was the kennel club or a trick trainer with experience that set it up?

Trick training is much bigger in the states so I think that may be a breed clubs versatility award? Like over here where a breed club may record points for a 'dog/bitch of the year' type thing? I don't know if its actually anything to do with the AKC, I haven't looked into it much.
They have programmes dedicated to it etc, we dont really have anything like that on our screens much.


Good for him!
Yep, a lot of the 'big tricks' is just pulling behaviours together in sequence.

We are very much beginners and its something that we just do as a little thing now and again...you know how it is, but its fun and the dog likes it so I see it as a good thing. If they like learning and they dont mind what they learn then why not tricks?

We are not the most elegant or exact with ours but so what, he doesnt mind