DagBoy

The title says it all really. We went to the Uralla herding trial at the weekend and Ebony not only managed to get her two passes at HT, but we also got commended by both judges. Those of you that do herding will appreciate that HT is not really anything that impressive and those of you that do herding with GSDs will appreciate that HT can be bloody hard work for some of us I now have all summer to work on a decent and reliable stop. Cheers, DagBoy

Not strictly true. There was the time when Ebony was "vanished" from a picture that then ended up in your signature. Poor old thing - it was a bit like those photos that the Russians were so good at, where some member of the politburo was suddenly no longer flavour of the month and next thing you knew they were no longer in photos. Spot the difference. :D ;) Cheers, DagBoy

I missed it because I had to drive on to Toowoomba to rescue a friend (her car died on the way up the range). In honour of that, I will share my Toowoomba joke. Two Black African Doctors are in the staff canteen at the Royal Brisbane Hospital, having a heated argument. BAD1: I am telling you, it is T, O, O, W, H, O, U, M, B, A - Toowhoumba BAD2: No, No, No, it is T, A, W, O, O, O, M, B, E, R - Tawooomber BAD1: NO! It is T, O, O, W, H, O, U, M, B, A - Toowhoumba BAD2: It Is Not! It is T, A, W, O, O, O, M, B, E, R - Tawooomber BAD1: No! T, O, O, W, H, O, U, M, B, A - Toowhoumba BAD2: No! T, A, W, O, O, O, M, B, E, R - Tawooomber BAD1: T, O, O, W, H, O, U, M, B, A - Toowhoumba BAD2: T, A, W, O, O, O, M, B, E, R - Tawooomber BAD1: Toowhoumba BAD2: Tawooomber At this point, a nurse, who is a local Brisbane girl cannot help herself and has to intervene. Nurse: I think you will find it is T, O, O, W, O, O, M, B, A - Toowoomba. The first BAD looks at her, raises his eyebrows and says: Madam, I doubt you have even seen a Hippopotamus in the wild, let alone heard it fart underwater. Cheers, DagBoy

Busy at a herding clinic on Saturday and at the BARK Frisbee thing yesterday, so I was planning to go out with Ebony today (since we have not been since last weekend). Instead I managed to find other things to do, so no training for us At this rate I might have to start getting up early to go in the mornings :D Cheers, SlackBoy

I am glad I am not the only one who needed motivation. Ebony and I have started our training, but have not been out nearly as often as I feel we should. We started a few weeks ago with a nice gentle run up the road and back - about 2 or 2 and a half km all up. The running has to be at 10 km/h so I was not unhappy that we managed that in 20 mins - a bit slow, but then one of us was rather out of condition. I am preventing Ebony from doing too much by running with her - not cycling, so I am only ever asking her to run the distance and speed I can manage. So far, I have ended each run in a more distressed state than her (though I do not feel the need to stop for a poo half way through). We have now done the 2.5 km run about 3 or 4 times and have extended it round the block (3.5) once. Last time we went out, we did 5.5 and by the end of that she had actually stopped pulling like a freight train, so maybe she is getting a bit tired, finally. Last weekend I had a cold coming on, so we did nothing, but I will try and get out this weekend. I have not entered a trial yet, but I have my eye on the one at Ipswich at the end of July - which gives me a further 8 weeks or so. Anyone else planning to do that one? I used to train for the marathon in about 12 - 15 weeks, so 8 weeks to do a half marathon at an easy pace with two rest breaks ought to be achievable (that is what I tell myself, anyway). One of the reasons you do not need to train the dog with 20km runs, is that the actual trial is split into three shorter runs (8, 6, 6). Another reason is that by the time you can run 15 km comfortably, the extra 5 seems like nothing. I guess that is similar for the dog. When I used to run marathons (26.2 miles), the longest run I ever did in training was 21 miles - the adrenalin of the event carried you through the last 5. Most of my "long" training runs would be 17 or 19 miles. Cheers, DagBoy

I guess a lot of it comes down to the individual judges and their interpretation of the rules and the dog's behaviour. At our club's last trial I was helping to steward UD. During the group stand for exam a couple of the dogs moved a leg while being examined. While the competitors were all out of sight for the drop stay the judge was talking to me and she said that all the dogs had passed the SFE with full marks. The ones that had moved - in her judgement - had only moved because she had put them slightly off balance while examining them and had not moved because they were scared/nervous/aggressive/trying to move etc. At the trial before last, I was helping steward CCD and the judge was definitely giving the handler/dog teams a bit of leeway to allow for the obvious nervousness some of them showed, but still deducting points fairly across everyone. Cheers, DagBoy

I wonder if I could substitute a tree stump for Ebony for the sit stay? My embarrassment so far is limited to training, since I have not trialled yet, but each month, when the club is assessing us for promotion to the next class, Ebony seems to just "know" and acts like she has never even heard the commands I give her. Last night, for the recall are you ready? Yes. Remove your lead. And that was it - off she went at full speed back to the club house. She has never done that before Maybe she just likes class 3. Cheers, DagBoy

As far as I can see, you have paid money in exchange for a service. The service you expected was suitable training for your dog. You have obviously not received suitable training, so they should give you your money back. I do not claim to be an expert, or even particularly experienced, but as far as I can see, if they are trying to make your puppy work for over an hour, then they do not know as much about training as they might like to think, which makes them either ignorant or arrogant (or possibly both). If you are still unhappy with how they are handling your concerns, tell them. Tell them you want a refund and if they say they have a no refunds policy ask them where that was stated on any contract you signed with them. Don't let them bully you - be firm. Cheers, DagBoy

When I started at our obedience club (as an almost complete novice) they were always suggesting the halti rather than the check chain I had on Ebony, but they did not pressure me. MrsD has a lot of experience and helped me improve my timing so as to make it an effective training aid. I am still not the best and tend to err on the side of caution and be far too soft (i.e. she can get away with anything :rolleyes: ). This means my progress through the classes is talking longer than it might, but I don't really care - I just like spending time with Ebony and achieving something. One of the main factors that helped me decide to keep with the check chain was looking at the equipement used by the people in the club who were in the trialling classes. I do not know what their opinion would be of a prong collar, but I suspect they would rather not see it on the dog at club night. Not an issue as I do not have one. We have used an e-collar before - it was used at home to deter specific behaviours we were trying to prevent, including some behaviour that could have led to injury. As with any equipment, used correcty it is not cruel. For the OP - I think the way you were treated is shocking. It would have been simple enough to take you aside and have a little chat about the club's views. Cheers, DagBoy

Thanks all for the kind words. Mind you, seeing the dogs in the actual trials - I realise we have a long long way to go. Still, what is life without a few challenges? Cheers, DagBoy

I am happy to say it was worth MrsD and me getting up at 5.30 yesterday and today to go to the Belgian Shepherd Dog Club of Queensland herding trial. Ebony and Jonty and Jarrah have all now passed their two required Herding Instinct Tests. Well - I did say it was minor. I think we can now say the dogs are qualified to recognise the sheep and be interested in the sheep whilst showing no tendency to want to destroy the sheep Cheers, DagBoy

Obvious choice for me (because I drink the stuff) would be Cooper's Sparkling - or maybe Sparkling Cooper :D Or what about Cooper Ate (because doing obedience you will want him to) Cheers, DagBoy

I can see why people think it is unfair to award the best in trial to a CCD competitor, because it is "easier", but surely, the handlers and dogs that are entered in CCD are entered there because that is the level they are capable of. It is not as if people with higher level dogs can keep entering CCD just to get a perfect score so as to grab the award. It would be like awarding something to kids at school and saying we will give a prize to the child with the highest score in their maths exam, but we will not let the grade 1 kids win because their test was easier. Oh, hang on, the grade 2,3,4,5,6 tests were easier too - lets restrict the prize to grade 7. If you want to exclude CCD, then call the award best in trial, novice and above. Then there will be those who say that it is easier to get a high score in novice than UDX, so where do you stop? If club members are really upset (and I am guessing the ones most upset are the ones who were beaten by a CCD score) then why not exclude CCD and have a special award for the best trial score in CCD. That way you are recognising the new dogs/handlers and encouraging them, but also recognising the extra training and skill required for the higher level trials. Dunno really - just my 2c worth. Not sure what our club does (and as I am unlikely to ever be in the running for it I don't really care ;) ) Cheers, DagBoy

MrsD has covered her two - I just have the one, which is just as well because ... I train her nowhere near enough. We go to obedience club once a week and I try to do some training at the weekends, but during the week I just never have (or never make) the time. In an ideal world I would get up early and train her each morning, but in an ideal world I would like mornings. Here in the real world, it is as much as I can do to get up in time to be at work before 9.30. In the evenings, I usually get home too late to do anything in daylight. Maybe I need to rig up a floodlight so I can train at night. I find it hard to train just the one of them Ebony is 3yrs 4mnths (we were late starters) and is in class three at our obedience club, so just beginning to do the off lead group exercises. When we had our foster dog for a while I was taking him into class 1 first, which was OK, but I reckon it would be hard to have two dogs at the same standard if they were just starting out. If Jarrah goes up to class 3 next month, MrsD will have dogs in coinciding classes and will have to do alternate weeks or half classes or something. Even with just the one dog, I do not have enough time - it would be easier if I did not have to work This year I am going to try and pull my finger out and get a bit better organised because I want to get her CCD and ET. Maybe I will just have to start liking mornings. Just the GSD. Apparently, they are extremely intelligent, well focused, enthusiastic and excellent working dogs. If only someone had told Ebony that. I love her to bits, but I struggle to get her excited - she is very laid back - maybe she caught that from me. When we tried lure coursing, she watched the lure go past, took a few paces after it, realised it was still moving so gave up and trotted off back to the gate to the field. Her recall is at least reasonably enthusuastic - I just need to get her heeling a bit better. Ooops - another essay reply, just as well I don't have more dogs Cheers, DagBoy

I hope that's the one she means because the only way I reckon I will get Ebony interested in running is if she can chase Jarrah. She just does not seem inspired by the plastic bag. Cheers, DagBoy

Just to add. In our last house, I had fenced off a small corner of the verandah just outside our bedroom window that was just big enough for her bed and a water bucket and she would be locked in that when we went to bed and let out in the morning. The rest of the time she had full run of the house yard. In our current house, I built her a decent sized run which has her kennel in it (bed in the kennel) and she is locked in there at night - mainly because she used to be a bit of a Houdini and some of the fences round our yard were a bit crappy. She is far less inclined to wander off now and we have put in a fence to secure the back half acre of our yard, so there is no real reason to lock her in her run at night, but I still do - mainly so she and Jarrah do not spend the entire night chasing each other round the house. She never comes in the house when we are eating or watching TV (unlike the other two) partly because she is a clumsy bugger and walks round knocking thingts over, but mainly because she never has. If she is not locked away and we are watching TV she will often sleep on the verandah just outside our French Windows. The only time I feel a bit bad about her being outside is in the middle of winter when it gets a bit cold and this year I will probably sort out some way that she can get into the shed from her run so she has a more sheltered place for her bed that is warmer than her kennel (or I will make her a new kennel and insulate it). Cheers, DagBoy

Yeah.......I know it's around here somewhere, I just can't seem to find it! :rolleyes: .......Wanders off......... Well, talking of dedication - here is an update of my training so far. I thought about going for a short run with Ebony on Wednesday, but had to cut the grass. Yesterday i thought about it again, but it was very hot so I went for a swim instead. Today I got as far as going to the shed to see if I could find any of my old running shoes, but got sidetracked. Then I had to go out and when I came home I thought about it again, but had a beer instead. Ah well. There is always the weekend :rolleyes: Cheers, DagBoy

As far as I know there is only one 5.30 in the day - and that is going home time. Cheers, DagBoy

OK, I admit it - it might be partly me She was a very smart puppy - the breeder said she was the only one of the litter to have worked out how to get out of where they were and into the back yard when they were young. Unfortunately, she was bitten by a tick shortly after we got her and she nearly died. Personally, I think that affected her development, so we now have a sort of Forrest Gump of the GSD world - kind and well meaning, but sometimes a little slow on the uptake. Not that it matters - I love her to death and anyway - stupid is as stupid does. She is definitely not up to the standard of her father (Australian Championship - Conformation Title; Companion Dog (CD) - Novice Obedience Title; Companion Dog Excellent (CDX) - Open Obedience Title; Utility Dog (UD) - Utility Obedience Title; Endurance Title (ET); Obedience Champion (O.Ch) - Obedience Championship Title; Herding Instinct Test (HT) - Herding Title (Sheep); Herding Pre-Trial Title (PT) - Herding Title (Sheep); Silver Medal Winner (Obedience) - 2000 GSD National; Duel Performance Winner - Best in Show & Trial (Speciality) - 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000 & 2001; State Seiger - QLD State Breed Evaluation - 1998, 1999, 2000 & 2001). Cheers, DagBoy

I have a feeling that once a dog has its endurance title it cannot compete again, so maybe I will end up running with all the dogs from our club that belong to the less fit ;)

I will. I was just saying to MrsD that a 3km run would not be too far for a start when out of practice, so now she has challenged me to go out there today and run round the block and she will follow in the car to make sure I do not stop and walk. Being a bloke, I will probably have to go out and prove her wrong. Bugger. Cheers, DagBoy

And I am wearing the 14 year old T shirt to prove it. Unfortunately, a lot of beer has been drunk since then ;)

Oh, a couple of other things. Are the trials held early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the heat? And do they run the course from A to B or out and back or round a circuit a number of times? Cheers, DagBoy

Thanks for the link, WEIA, that looks good. I guessed it would be a case of building up distances like that - but like you, I was struggling to find any info. With luck I will be able to build up to those distances too, so both Ebony and I will be coming in knackered. Now all I need to do is get her to run on one side of me and not keep crossing in front of me and tripping me up. Cheers, DagBoy

I have been going to obedience classes with my GSD Ebony since June and although we are progressing through the classes, I have the feeling she is sometimes not the sharpest tool in the shed, so getting any kind of Obedience title is going to be an uphill struggle :D When it comes to running, on the other hand, she seems to have mastered the basics ;) so I was thinking that maybe we should look at doing an endurance trial. Has anyone got any advice on how to train for this? What sort of distance should we start with as a run and how quickly should we build up to the full distance? Has anyone tried doing endurance by running with their dog rather than cycling (I used to run, so I see this as a way for me to get fit again as well)? Cheers, DagBoy edited for typos