Helen's Page

Hi Helen, Thanks for your post. I don't get hugely into internet chat either - I think it could suck away your life. However...I have had the same problem when I get Jed clipped - he is just recovering from a clip such as you described. I am going to change 'clipper' and am thinking that maybe I will take along a photo of 'ideal Jed' to stop them overdoing his face, clipping off his eyebrows and making his legs skinny. An alternative is to download some labradoodle clipping info from the internet. As for training - I find that he responds best to 'bark busters' training. They teach you to deliver a small negative sound when he doesn't do the right thing (they recommend a sharp growl, but I find a sharp 'tsshhh!' works just as well) and praise/ pat when he does. He's not food-driven so the reward system seems to confuse him. The most useful commands I have found are: 'go away' - I know it sounds awful, but it is useful - (ie when you have friends over and you are all eating) and 'heel' (which he will do on recall when off-lead now) and the cutest is 'cuddle' - and he puts his head onto your lap. My biggest problem is trying to make sure that the kids use the same commands and in the correct way, so he doesn't get confused, at least until he is sure about the command. Mostly of course, he just follows me around the house. Is Banjo a standard? Liz

Hi - just wanted to let you know that Banjo is gorgeous. Not that you need me to tell you!

Hi Helen and Banjo, great name :) I have a chocolate female, can't wait to see pics of Banjo, is he a standard or mini? Ours really like the obedience classes too, check out the Obedience group when you get a chance.

Welcome Helen! Another Australian..fabulous! We'd love to see photos of Banjo =)