mollipop

Molly's ovarian tumour turned out to be benign. I am so relieved!! We can get back to training as soon as she has healed after the operation. She'll be very keen to get a birdie by then!

My 4 month Goldie puppy has just had her first Interceptor Spectrum. I'm not so worried about fleas at this time of year. Have used the large chewables for the big dogs for year - got medium for the puppy. It covers heartworm and intestinal worms.

Thanks for the kind thoughts for Molly. She was desexed last week after her discharge wouldn't stop. She was in a lot of pain for a few days and didn't move or eat but is recovering well now. Problem is, one of her ovaries was huge and very dark and evil looking. Once again we are waiting for lab results. Fingers crossed it is not what I'm dreading!

I'm in withdrawal also with Molly being sick. So far I've missed 3 weekends of trialling and there are not many more happening. Don't know how I will survive if she can't ever do it again. Zora is divine,RV. Congrats on your new arrival.

My son bought me some "Gundog" chardy from the Sydney food and wine expo over the weekend. It has a working Springer on the label. Can't try it yet cos it's Dry July!

Great work, Polo and sister! I have a small brag. My old girl, Poppi, got her 3rd RATG pass on Saturday at the MacArthur trial. So now we have 2 RATs in the family. She could probably do open if I got her a bit fitter. We were recently in Brisbane for a week and my dog sitter (my son) fed 3 dogs the same amount I was giving 5. Add that to no excercise for a week and I came home to very fat dogs!

I actually thought that the size and weight of the red dummies was an issue rather than the colour. I'll be buying some white ones and rubbing them in the dirt! Love your retrieving cat, FHRP.

I was a bit p...ed off about the dummies. I have my absolutely correct according to the rules in a camo type printed fabric. I was told that they were disadvantaging my dog and that I should make it easier for her. Someone even used some little bright red ones that would not have made the size or weight regulations. Thanks for the proper link. I noticed that he has just put an extra folder. The first dog working in that is Molly and the babies are my little stars. That is how they prepared for there general specials. While all the other dogs were locked up in crates to be kept clean, ours were out having fun. They will both do retrieving and obedience. We were lucky with photographers. There were 3 to cover everything. 1 stayed at the retrieving, 1 at obedience and 1 in the main ring. Don't know about the desexing - will be guided by our vet tomorrow and will fast her in the morning, just in case.

Just back Brisbane so didn't trial in NSW this weekend. We spent 14 hours in the car yesterday so it's good to be home and stretch our legs. We had a great time - a good National with lovely prizes and trophies. Molly won open RATG both days but did not qualify - Queensland still have placings so we got some lovely prizes including a fold-up crate for best over the 2 days On the first day she got very distracted by a muddy puddle on the way to the second part of the double rise. She got her 3 dummies on the second day but just didn't want to be there and didn't get enough points. There was a photographer in the field with a WHITE shirt which distracted her when she was coming back. He got some great shots though. Check out thepetphotographer.com.au (Brisbane) and look at the GR show link. Off topic I know, but if I can brag - my baby puppy bitch from my recent litter was entered in her first show (she was just 2 days over 3 months) as well as her brother that a friend of mine has. Well they both won their classes (huge classes with all the big name breeders out there) and had to run off for best baby in show. The boy won - my girl was so naughty and would not stand still. Just such a huge thrill that a small time breeder like me matched the big names at the Nationals!! I'll stop bragging now. PS: almost forgot - the girls were still both a bit off on Friday so we went to a local vet. Layla (baby) had a UTI and Molly has pymetra. They are on AB's and off to our vet tomorrow. Layla should be okay but Molly is a worry. Fingers crossed for us!

How cute is Em in her coat! I have my first open RATG next week. Any tips for the walk up excercise? Where do you put your arms if you don't have a "gun"? I'm finding that my dog is watching me rather than looking out for the mark - which is what she has previously been taught to do while heeling. Great photos of your dogs in the field, FHRP. Do the dogs work together?

Thanks for the recommendations re the boots. I have ordered some Muck boots online. I was very impressed to see that some of their boots have been tested with rattlesnakes!! RS, you are a very dedicated trainer. I am also training for UD at the same time. We had a magic moment last week. Molly finally caught on with the articles. She hadn't realised til then that she had to use her nose - she was waiting for something to be thrown or for me to give directions. Think I also use "fetch" for the gloves though it's probably just whatever comes out of my mouth at the time. Also had a break- through with her going straight into water. Sounds like Em is also going well, TSD. She is a Springer Spaniel, right? I'm thinking that I would like one, though it wouldn't be for a couple of years (there would be an instant divorce if I got another dog atm). Do you need to express interest with a breeder a long way ahead? I agree, you feel like a party when they finally "get" something. Aussielover, I mainly train by myself. I live in central Sydney so you can't even take a bird to Centennial Park. I go to Obed. training at Glenorie and use their land and river for retrieving. I could give you contact details for someone at Kurrajong who runs retrieving classes at all levels. I also do obed. training at the Eastern Subs DTC grounds with a PT on Wed. arvos and sometimes get him to throw dummies for me at the end of our lesson. I have a major problem atm - Molly is in season and can't go out anywhere for training. She is entered in her first Open RATG at the GR Nationals on the 15th and 16th June. Panic, panic!! Sorry about the long rave.

We camp on the grounds. There are showers and toilets there. Could you borrow a small tent and snuggle up with your dog.

Can anyone recommend a brand of Wellington boots? I would like something comfortable, that I could wear all day, ie with decent inners. I realise I would have to pay $150 ++.

Thanks for that info, Miss Maddy. I was wondering about the after effects "in the real world". She is an older bitch so I am probably going to have her desexed, just haven't had time (she works in obedience and retrieving and we have lots of entries in at present).

My bitch currently has an implant. I needed her NOT to be in season in the middle of June. She was showing all the signs but not quite coming in. She came in 4 days after getting the implant so it was the perfect solution for us. Apparently it is safer than the "stop the season" injection. She will be infertile for 6 months.

I can recommend the puppy school at VetMed in Frenchmans Rd., Randwick. Tom, who takes the class, is a professional trainer and not just one of the vet nurses. It is a 4 week course and there is one starting in about 2 weeks. I will be taking my new puppy. I also took her mother there when she was a puppy and was very happy with the course.

I took 3 different sets of dummies to a RATG and had them all rejected - had to borrow some. I have had them rejectd because of size and weight. Don't think they will change the dimensions for smaller dogs because they all have to retrieve the same sized game (eg birds or rabbits). We have had some excellent training over the last 2 weekends, learning the walk-up, etc for open RATG. Molly is entered in open at the GR Nationals in Brisbane in June (her first open tests). We had entered the retrieving trial at Taree but couldn't go cos she's in season.

There are lots of posts about bad puppy buyers and I certainly had my share of "trying" people with my last litter. However, a family who bought one of puppies has gone out of their way to make the little girl feel at home. They built this special ramp for her so that she didn't have to negotiate the stairs and compromise her little joints. What lovely people!!

Congratulations, 2BD's. That is a great start to your season. Good luck with the next trials. Love the photos of Ruby working. She looks like a star already. I agree, you should enter a trial. It's the best experience ever. Thanks for the tips, Fetchin. I have some very soft rabbits skins which I could roll up like a small dummy. I do obedience with my dogs and like to have the sit, stand and drop by an early age. I will look for the book you mentioned. Thanks for the congrats on Molly's title.

Sounds like everyone's training is going well. Hopefully I can do some now that most of the puppies have gone to their new homes. I brought a bird home from the Labrador Club show yesterday and tried my new baby (8 weeks old) with it. She had no trouble dragging it around and didn't seem to want to eat it. Any tips on starting a baby from scratch would be very welcome. Molly got her third pass in RATG yesterday, winning the novice trial. Her mother, Poppi, got 3rd place and her second pass. Our next test (and the first one in open) will be at the GR Nationals in June. Think we will be okay with the double rise or double mark but will need to learn the walk-up. Could any of you experts recommend a video or book?? What a shame that the Canberra trial had to be cancelled. I would have gone on the Saturday if I didn't have puppies leaving.

A great day and I loved your bubs, Woofen. Now I have to assess my 10 puppies anytime after Thursday!

Also had a great weekend. My girl got 3 birds on each day and improved over the weekend. We were so lucky with the weather. Apparently it was wet all weekend in Sydney but we were spared - just some very light drizzle. Glad you survived Charlie, FHRP. What great experience for you. Loved watching WO driving your little red car. Great to see you again, Rubyroo. Didn't get to see your boy work most days but sounds like he's making great progress. Your weekend sounded full on, Fetchin. I trialled with your Dascha over the weekend. She is looking good and working really well.

If it's not too late, could I please have 1.

Just my thoughts on Mason's problem. I would stop playing fetch with a ball or anything for now. I had this problem with one of my girls. She would hold a bird but dropped dummies at my feet. Gspx3 has witnessed this many times and watched my catching skills improve! Go away now all you nice people who will hate this, but one day I got really cranky with her and pulled her head down to the ground by an ear and told her to pick it up and never drop it again. Didn't pinch her ear, just pulled it. Well after years of dropping dummies the problem was solved by me being firm for once. Just love that photo of baby Polo, FHRP. Haven't seen those dummies but will keep a look out. Tollersowned, yes, no dummies means birds.

Competed in my second RATG yesterday and my girl got her second pass. I also entered my 10 year old granny just to help with the numbers (didn't need to though - there were 18 in Novice). Well, the old girl kicked butt and came 4th! She thoroughly enjoyed herself. Have entered the 3 retrieving trials in NSW this weekend. Hopefully the OH will give me leave and mind the puppies so I can go.