Southern Obedience Club, Kingston Tasmania

31/03/2026

Recess

I have the task of reporting the sad news that the Southern Obedience Club Inc. is going into recess.

The Kingborough Council has requested that we leave our current site at the end of May. Accordingly, there isn't any point in having a very-shortened quarter 2.

Up to this point, the Council has not provided an alternative site that is fit for purpose. So, we have no choice other than to go into recess.

Please keep an eye on this Facebook site.

I may post items that might be of interest to dog owners. And if and when the Council finds a suitable site, I will post that news here.

Keep training your dogs each day. They need and deserve to be mentally stimulated, even though our "school" is in recess.

Send a message to learn more

18/03/2026

Recess?

At the end of May 2026 work will begin on building another oval on our current site.

We will not have any grounds to hold classes once the works begin. We will need to clear the contents of the sheds and Club house, before the end of May.

Our lease was due to expire at the end of June, 2026.

The Club needs to hold a General Meeting to take a vote on whether we go into a temporary closure--recess is apparently the jargon--from the beginning of May. And to take decisions on any proposals from the Council for a new site placed before us. Finally, we will also need to deal with an issue of annual membership. I anticipate that we will need to decide on a set contingencies, which could involve the dissolution of the Club.

Since the meeting is so important we are holding the meeting outside class day, so that all current members can attend. The proposed meeting time is Saturday, March 28, 11.00.

We apologise for any inconvenience. But this is a meeting we must hold and need your input and participation. The location? Our Club house.

16/03/2026

The Unanticipated Noise Problem

I am experiencing some challenges in acclimating my puppy to my rear garden. The neighbour's two small dogs bark at every slightest noise. But it doesn't always happen. The two dogs do spend some time inside their owner's home. And for those blissful occasions my puppy runs zoomies around my lemon tree.

The following article casts some light on my problem. As I said yesterday in regard to the guide dog, dogs learn routines. So far there has been no routine for my puppy to learn. Sometimes the unseen monsters--she has no idea of their size-- launch into their cacophony. Other times there is silence beyond the back fence. Uncertainty is not something we mammals cope with easily.

Do you have a dog that is frightened of sounds? Is it the randomness that is part of the issue?

You might think fireworks are the main trigger for an anxious dog, but there's a greater problem at home, experts told Newsweek.

16/03/2026

Patterns

Dogs learn patterns. The following video offers an interesting insight into the training of a guide dog.

I did not know that guide dog trainers, at least in the USA, use military-speak for directions.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/187C17yvHx/

16/03/2026

Relocation of the Club Meeting: Link to the Meeting

I have a internet link if you wish to view the meeting with the Council tomorrow at 2.00pm.

I tried to send a bulk email with the link to all current members but the email failed. If you wish to receive the link please send me an email and I will send an individual email.

I have sent the link to Amanda and Mel.

Send a message to learn more

12/03/2026

For the Attention of Members: Meeting re Lower Longley

The committee recently advised Kingborough Council that the Lower Longley site is not appropriate for the Club's activities. We rejected it on a number of factors: poorer weather than our current site; lack of shade; inadequate parking, no inside space and/or balcony to train the puppies and other dogs in event of heavy rain; and distance from the bulk of our membership.

Kingborough Council via one of its personnel has just replied with the following email. As you will see, if there is a member who is not on the Committee and wishes to raise a specific concern, then that member is welcome to attend the meeting along with the Committee. Please advise me if you wish to attend the meeting.

Michael Brooks

"Following recent discussions with Dan, I’m writing to arrange a suitable time for the Southern Obedience Club Committee to meet with Council to continue discussions regarding the Lower Longley site. The purpose of the meeting would be to provide an opportunity to step through Council’s current position, outline the options available moving forward and hear directly from you and your members about any questions, concerns or considerations. As discussed previously, we wish to ensure there is a shared understanding as we work through the next steps of the relocation in a constructive and transparent way. If there are any members who have particular concerns, we would welcome their attendance and participation in the discussion.

We are available to meet on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon next week at our office at 98 Beach Road, Kingston. Please let me know what timing would best accommodate your committee and members".

Send a message to learn more

23/02/2026

A Positive from the Urge to Bite

My puppy is a canine velociraptor. My right hand and everything else are targets for her desire to eat the world.

I have taught her DOWN and SIT as ways of solving the jumping up problem: If she is sitting or down, then she can't be jumping. Getting raked by her claws is painful.

It was a problem to teach to DOWN. I was using the luring method and had to resort to wearing a glove on my right hand. While it did not stop all bites from getting through the material did offer some protection.

With find, Vito's game, sit, recall, and down coming along, I thought what else can I teach her.

Today, I brought out a dog dumbbell. True to form she went to bite it. At that very instant, I said the marker word. She let go of the dumbbell in order to get the treat that flew over her head landing behind her. By the end of the short session, she was at times lifting the dumbbell off the floor. I made sure I said the marker word as soon as she lifted the dumbbell.

So far so good. My hands escaped her needle sharp teeth.

She is now sleeping. Mentally exhausted from trying to figure out what behaviours would elicit the magic word YES and the following treat.

If you too have a velociraptor, then the retrieve might be worth considering.

21/02/2026

Canine Cough

Eastern Shore and Hobart Dog Clubs have notified their members of Kennel Cough in parts of southern Tas. A better name is canine cough. Kennel misleads. Dogs can be infected without having been in a kennel.

I called my vet in Hobart and the receptionist said their practice hasn't seen any cases, but has heard of the recent 'waxing' issue.

What to do?

Being your own water tomorrow.

Avoid close dog to dog interactions. Practise separation.

Do not bring your dog to class if it is coughing or exhibiting any other breathing issues.

Your dog can get infected even though vaccinated. Germs evolve.

18/02/2026

Seeking the Views of Past and Future Members

As some of you may be aware the Southern Obedience Club Inc. is being relocated as part of the Kingborough Council's AFL sports complex.

Up until a bit over a week ago, we thought we would be relocated to Dru Point, Margate. That option no longer exists.

The Council is now seeking our views on the dog training area at the corner of Huon Road and Hovingtons Rd, Lower Longley.

We are currently surveying current members, but interested in the views of past and future members. I don't have an up-to-date list of all past members. So, we are resorting to FB as the mode of communication.

We are particularly interested in whether the relocation to Lower Longley would have affected/will affect your decision to train with us.

Thanks in anticipation.

15/02/2026

Registered Accountant

The club is looking for an accountant who could perform an audit of our "books".

I have the expenditure and income entered into an Excel spreadsheet.

Is anyone able to recommend a suitable person?

10/02/2026

Focus and Engagement

I have managed to teach my very excitable puppy to sit and wait until I put the food bowl down. I am using YES to terminate the behaviour.

Here is a link to a video of Trish demonstrating a variety of exercises

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/185JUhhbgK/

09/02/2026

Utility Class

Here is a partial copy of the utility class assessment.

The advanced dogs are working on scent discrimination. We spoke yesterday about the application of a cardboard base and ties.

The directed retrieve, which is probably the option that will be trained by most of the members in the class, involves a retrieve of a glove.

You will recognise the group examination exercise, which in the past was my way of getting stand for examination performed expeditiously by the entire class. One notable difference is that the dogs will not be staggered.