mollipop

Thanks for reminding me of the nightmare! We got absolutely soaked and there was 1 person in the stands near us watching. Got another soaking walking back the carpark and shivered all the way home. A hot shower and a few drinks later, I was almost back to normal. We just laughed too, not much else you could do.

Thanks. My work computer blocks all the interesting bits, like photos. I'll have another loof when I get home.

Congratulations to Pam, FHRP and all who did well at Canberra over the weekend. Extra congrats to Pam and Shimmer for gaining the first title. Shame it was a GSP and not a Goldie!! Just kidding, of course - just remembered Pam is judging this week so I'd better be nice to her. Love it when the RATG is not just on the grounds of a park and there is different terrain. Where dummies used? It's a pity there are not more tests done using game - it would be good to test their "mouths" as well as their retrieving ability.

Had Evie there in a crate last year cos she was in season. The crate fitted up on the bench but some people leave them on the floor. They are good for transporting all the goodies you buy back to the car!

Hi FHRP. Would that be the fabulous Mr O? He has done so much for the sport here in NSW by encouraging newbies such as myself. He has us at his place for training- such a generous man. Don't tell him I said so though! Might see you briefly for vetting on the Monday. Just wondering, Fetchindawgs, do you have Flatcoats?

Are any of you trialling at Easter? I have entered the 3 days but will have to convince my husband that it's a good idea. He will have to mind the puppies. They are 3 weeks old now and gorgeous - getting to the "interesting" stage. I'm going to try them all with a bird before I pick my girl. Can't see the photos on my work computer so I'll have a look tonight.

Okay, thanks for that. I just keep my own records and don't need qualifying cards, right?

What is that, FHRP? Don't think I have heard of the QND.

Just a pic to show the great property that we trialled on. Note the city dogs checking out the big black creatures.

We also had a great weekend. The weather was perfect, cloudy but no rain. I still managed to get a very red nose though. There were 13 competitors in novice. On the first day after the first run, there were only 3 dogs left, 1 of which was my girl! Sadly she missed the 2nd bird but did a great water run for her 3rd. On Sunday she got her 3 birds so I was thrilled about that. We have overcome her breaking problem - I simply changed the "wait" to "stay". I apparently lost points for not "shooting from the shoulder". It's a bit hard to practice shooting a gun in the middle of Sydney. I also had my young male entered and he was hopeless, though he did manage to get 1 bird over the weekend. He is an entire male and just wants to run around and pee everywhere. Any tips to stop this ? On Saturday only 1 dog qualified in novice but on Sunday there were 8 or 9, so we all improved over the weekend. At the moment there are a few very experienced handlers in novice with new dogs. The prospect of gaining 3 wins to move on seems quite hopeless while competing against these people. The best I can do is just let my dogs enjoy the sport and learn as much as I can so maybe I can be competitive with a new puppy.

I forgot the photo.

So sorry, Snofyre. It's hard to imagine how this happens. I was hoping to swap you a Goldie for a Lappie - love them. Congrats, Yarrowfell. Your bubs must be so tiny. Hope all the other litters are doing well.

What great actions shots, FHRP. Hope you are around with your camera somewhere, sometime whern I'm there. Love your photography. I was in Novice, Rubystar. My girl has been working in Open but doesn't have a Retrieving title so it was back to Novice. Our marks were from the base of a steep grass bank. The dogs had to run up to near the top and the dummy was in really thick cover. It would have difficult for dogs used to the usual dog grounds runs which are usually on the flat and with not much cover. I had also enterred my young male who failed cos he just had a "boy look" and was confused by the long grass. After the second mark we had to take the dummy, send the dog to heel and walk back from the "firing" gate to a starting gate, as you do a retrieving trial. We did the obedience exercises later so that the retrieves were over before dark. They were very pedantic about the dummies and checked weight and size. The dimensions are included in the new rules. Ask away if you have any more questions.

Great pics, FHRP. Wish I had somewhere like that to train. We survived our first novice RAT last night. It was surprisingly difficult - on the side of a hill with lots of cover. 4/12 passed novice and 1/4 passed in open. My dummies weren't "acceptable" so I had the borrow some which was a bit of a handicap. So now I have 1/3 of a RAT! After getting home I spent the night with my girl in labour. She finally had 10 puppies between 4am and 10am.

Golden Retriever puppies born this morning, 5 girls and 5 boys. All is well so far, touch wood. I'd love to be able to list lots of colours like the Greyhounds and Border Collies, but sadly mine are like "peas in a pod". Sorry for your loss, gapvic. That's a huge belly, Yarrowfell!

Well I've entered some RAT's and a retrieving trial at the end of March. The first RAT is this Saturday evening at the Hornsby trial. I have a girl due to whelp so hopefully she'll hold off til her due date on Monday so that I can actually go. It's going to be very embarrassing if my very experienced Open girl fails Novice. Think the club has a good number of entries, especially in Novice. Is anyone elso here going? Or maybe to the Gundog Society trial on 26th and 27th March??

Congrats Woofen and Abby. The puppies are here safely which is the main objective. Lucky you reacted so quickly and got them out into the world. Hope you get some sleep soon! We had out vet check on Friday and a large litter is predicted, maybe 10+! Scary stuff!.

You are making me nervous, Woofen. My girl is enormous and has almost 2 weeks still to go. We are having a vet check tomorrow so I'll have my eek moment then! Sway's whelping supplies have the little collars. I have a set ready to go. Goldie babies look very similar, which is an under-statement.

Congrats, Fanuilos. Hope you and the new mum are resting well today.

My girl with 2 weeks to go. Good luck with all the other March litters and best wishes for next time to those who missed.

The dog will need to have his hips and elbows xrayed then sent away for scoring. Only dogs with low scores will be considered for use in breeding programs by reputable breeders. He also needs his eyes examined and cleared of hereditary disease by a specialist and his heart examined by a cardiac specialist. The dog needs to be seen out at shows or obedience trials to be noticed. There are many sought after dogs out there so the competition is fierce. The stud fee is approximately the same price as the cost of a puppy but there are many different arrangements made between breeders. It would be helpful to join the GR club in the state that she lives in.

My girl was scanned at 30 days and very obviously pregnant. Reckon it was a waste of money though cos I could tell by looking at her. Try again later and good luck.

Confirmed by ultrasound, Golden Retriever puppies due about 15th March. Every crossed for the next 4 weeks!!

It's a small world, FHRP. I looked at your photos and saw that you were at the Cooplacurripa Cup. That is where we went training weekend before last. It's a fantastic place for dogs. I was a bit nervous about snakes though. Sounds like a great trip, Lablover. Sorry to hear you have had health issues. You are right about the travelling. It's the worst part of retrieving weekends.

Just got a parcel from Dogs Afield and can recommend them. I got the Roy Gonia Meg Whistle and starting my whistle training - 1 blow for sit and 3 for come. The dogs need to face you whe they sit so you can give them directions. Think I'm going to use the whistle in the new RA tests too so it naturally leads on to non slip. I don't think you should play tug or snatch things from a working gundog - could teach them to hold on tighter ad develop a hard mouth. Bought a Dead fowl duck as well. The guys love it. It's realistic cos the head hangs loose like a dead bird. Dummies are hard to come by. I just made rabbit skin ones but now they cant be used. As FHRP said, be careful with the postage costs. Dogs Afield have some books and videos about training. Great idea for a thread. Just need some photos now. We went gundog training last weekend with my 2 younger dogs. The old girl was busting to have a go and did a very nice mark, over a river and up a hill on the other bank. She nearly got washed down stream but brought the bird back.