Re: Hoops DIY Thanks, Julie, Where do you think I should go for more info on placeboards? Is there a current definitive guide, would you say? Is it the Ian Openshaw DVD? Maybe boards are the way, but for the weight issue, I could go for mats.
Re: Hoops DIY Sorry, I can't help - I'd love some more info too! I went on a week's course a couple of weeks ago, got an overview of the purpose and the basics etc. plus clicker trained my dog to sit on the things etc. I get the next instalment in October! It's an old concept in the US, I understand, and I've found a few videos on American sites, but that's it. Let me know if you find any resources.
Re: Hoops DIY Thanks, Julie. Really nice to 'talk' to you. It's just great to have a bit of a dialogue with other people who have similar interests. It's a journey and no better time to have an enthusiasm for training with your dog. So much information and we don't have to rely on what someone else has told us when we are really uncomfortable with it.
Re: Hoops DIY Joining in on this a bit late, but a very interesting discussion! Tina, I didn't really find I needed a place-board (or hoop) until I was sending the dog away from me. Then it got really useful. It's great for teaching direction control. I did some videos of me and my dog a while back which are in this thread: http://www.thelabradorforum.com/index.php?topic=6331.0 My set-ups were bit poor then as I was only starting out and have since actioned the feedback I got. What I do now is have the place board in the middle and then dummies straight left, right and back. When she's retrieved one, I can send her back to the board before choosing the next. But you're right, they're not very portable. I've been thinking I might get her to sit next to her coiled lead so I can do it easier out on walks. To be honest, I don't think I'd use hoop or place board with my current dog if she was coming back right next to me, although I think it can be useful if you can delivery issues to show the dog where it needs to be coming to.
Re: Hoops DIY Hi Kath, I love those videos. You and your dog have such a nice rhythm. I should've checked out that thread before, but will now go back and read it all. I love this collective learning and development. The internet is fantastic, so thanks for posting and helping us all. At training, we have used a doubled lead lying in front of the dog to indicate an area to sit behind, in fact a line not to cross (oh, that's sounding a bit aversive), so suppose your coiled lead is a similar thing, but no doubt without the aversive connotations(!)? My real concern though, as I said, is I don't want to lose steadiness when I start tossing dummies in different directions that he's actually allowed to go for, as opposed to just sit and observe!