Has anyone any suggestion I have an 8 month old aussie who will not let you hold his collar to show him neither will he let me move his front feet to the correction position.  I have tried free standing him with tipbits but as he will not stand his front feet straight so that dosen't work and he jumps for the food.  I have never had this problem with the other breeds I used to show and just do not know what to do.

I'm new to this so won't presume to have any expertise but with regards to the food this is advice that was given to me.

Keep your 'show practice' treats in specific box that is always kept in the same place (it helps if these are different treats to anything else you use at other times).  When you are ready to practise get the treat box and put it near to where you are working.  As soon as your dog has completed what was asked then make a big fuss and give one of these treats.

I found that my dog really responded to this routine.  I always practised in his show lead and offered treats from his green box after we'd finished so when I went to get either of them from the cupboard he'd start to get ready, he didn't need to see the actual treat to know that one was coming.  A bit like using a clicker though I use a sound/word to tell him when he's doing it right and the treat follows shortly after.  My breed is stacked with head and tail held so I don't use food in the ring much, just give him something as we finish each element.  Hope this might be of some help :)

Try rewarding the smallest thing first and building up. Hold a treat in your hand let him know you have it by giving him a quick sniff of it. Tell him to stand.  As soon as he is standing, that's all for legs on the floor. Give him a treat. Don't worry about where his legs are just yet. As long as he stands and is not jumping or sitting then he gets a treat. do this for a few days till you are shore he knows what stand means. Then you can start asking him to move forward  bit to get his legs in a better place. I say "step up. concentrate on the front legs here. As soon as they look right give him his treat. In a few days you can then move on to the back feet. Getting the dog to move back and then step up. Make shore you always end the training on a high, so never end it just after he has got it wrong only when he's got it right.  hope this helps

At 8 months he is probably just trying his luck, seeing what he can and cant get away with.  You need to be forceful as by that age I would have one of my own dogs standing like a rock and allowing me to place them anyway I want.
Firstly you need to get him over the whole placing legs and holding collar.  Have him laying or sitting at home and hold one of his front legs but dont move it (you may want to keep a lead on him), if he pulls away sit him back down and do it again and again and again until he doesn't mind then do it to all his other legs even the back ones.  Once you have done this stand him up anyway you can and hold each leg in turn again.  If he moves you need to put him back where he was and do it again until he doesn't even bat an eyelid at you touching his legs then you can build it up to holding a paw of the ground and slowly build up to moving his legs.  Same with the collar, sit him down and rest your hand on his neck, then progress into resting it under his collar then holding the collar and give small tugs on it so he feels a little pressure, until you are holding the collar as you want.

This will probably take a while to do but it will work.

Emma

I would never ever be forceful with a puppy, aussie or otherwise.... Showing is like everything else, it is supposed to be fun for both owner and dog !!

It will come, but like anything it takes time and a good judge will not mind a little bit of puppyish behaviour...

I taught my aussies to stand gradually by placing front legs first and giving lots of praise when they got it right... Aussies are usually very food motivated so this should help... when they got used to having their front legs placed, I began to move my hands down the side whilst repeating the word stand... and gradually down the hocks to the back legs..
I also got other people to do it as well so the dog was used to other people, as Aussies can be wary with strangers... Patience and practice will help...

Are you coming to the Aussie Champ Show this weekend ?? If you are come and say hello.... There will be lots of people around who I am sure would be glad to give you some help...

Gabrielle

Are you expecting an 8 Month Old Aussie to stand still?

And what does he do when you Move his front legs?

Hi Gabrielle

Long time no see :)  Any idea what the entry is for the show on Sunday?  Is there a starting time, or a not before time, for bitches?  I've scanned the schedule but can't see any mention of a time for bitches.

I've entered my old girl as well as Poppy :) 

I've been lucky - my Aussies are sooo food orientated, they learned to stand pretty quickly.

My understanding is that you are trying to place the'feet', that can make many dogs skittish. Try standing with you hand pointing down the side of dog with your little finger level with the elbow joint, then hold the leg from there. At the same time you wrist & arm should lay down the shoulder, gently ease the dogs weight off of that leg 'slightly'. This will enable you to move that leg (& foot) wherever you want, you can also turn it so that the foot itself is correctly positioned.
For the rear, I hold the back leg on the inside curve by the hock joint, again taking the weight off and gently place the foot, with pad firmly on the ground not on tip toe as I often see ( try putting your own foot behind you on tips of your toes, then stand back with all your wieght on it)
Whilst doing this exercise , in a low slow monotone voice repeat the command 'stand, stay'. Gradually you will (if you want) be able to give the 'stand' command & your dog will know what you mean and automatically 'stand'. I have used this method with numerous breeds of all sizes with much success, however my personal opinion is that the dog must be relaxed, natural & enjoy what it is being asked to do. I hate to see a youngster standing like a stuffed toy, the character must be there & show through. Stay calm don't rush the dog, have respect for the dog & I am sure you will get there.
Good Luck

Hi Ridgielover,
                 I have PM'd you....

Gabrielle x

With Calida my almost 7 month old, she was the same.  I just ended up in a 10 minute timescale clicker trained her.  Just got her to come to me and when she stood I gave the command "watch"  don't know what I'm going to do with her gundog training though, but that's another matter.  I clicked her when she stood and then threw some food out.  Then she'd come back to me and as soon as she stood I said watch and clicked her and threw her more food out.  She now stands wonderfully and her tails wagging all the time.  Just got to get her to walk on a lead now :)

Yes will be at the aussie champ show but have dog so have go to be there early don't know what the entry is like, what is the name of your aussie entered?

Thanks for all the advice will try what you suggest and let you know

Will be there for 10am with some of my lot for the DNA blood taking for the Optigen 20/20 clinic.

Barbara,
          Come and say hello...... it is me you have been e-mailing all week !!! :-)

Gabrielle x

OOh did I meet you in the vampire room helping to hold the dogs?

No, twas not me :-) .... I was doing the HC and MDR1 swabbing but not until after lunch....
I was about this morning and had a brief hello with Treena but then I got caught up trimming dogs, feeding the baby and watching my dogs son go RBPIS so all in all a good day...
Hope the blood draw was ok and went smoothly.....

Gabrielle x

Well the 17 week old pup needed 4 goes to get enough blood, looked very fetching with her red ankle bracelets, but her Mum was  apiece of cake, and the girls were ace.

Interesting Treena was there with the imported boy, and the others being tested were his offspring and grandchildren.