Faolmor

Oh god. I'd forgotten about the loading and unloading nightmare. Why are we doing this, again? Someone remind me

Anyone have today's results?

Congrats MM, ST and Charlie!

So sorry to hear of the loss of your beautiful Luna Moon, Claire. Thinking of you. I know how much that lovely girl meant to you. Hugs.

Sway, you're such a star for posting these results and pics so we can all share. Thank you!!

Not going to get into the breeder or breed standard debate, but BigD I just wanted to say don't rule out looking interstate - even for a pet. It's not as expensive as you might think to bring in a pup, especially if you can find someone to bring one over as excess luggage. My bitch cost only $33 to bring over from QLD to WA, for example, as excess. Take a look through the listings of breeders on the Flat Coat breed section and maybe contact a few.

So sorry to hear about your handsome Riley. I hope you don't feel I'm being insensitive, but there is a way to get tennis balls out of dogs' throats which I've seen work a few times. You might have tried it also - not sure. But if it helps someone, I hope you'll allow me to post it here. You basically run both hands down and along the outside of the dog's throat until you feel where the ball is lodged. Then you push it back up by applying pressure from the outside, just beneath where the ball is lodged.

That is my point LOL And I agree. That's what makes it so sad.

So true, Angelsun, and a great article - coincidentally also just posted on another site I'm on. I have to admit, though, reading it is a bit like banging your head against the wall - it doesn't change anything. As long as their are dogs and dog shows, there will be those who frankly care less about conformation faults than they do winning with a flashy animal. There will be people who deliberately overlook these faults in their breeding animals - and why wouldn't they, when the judges have put them up time and time again? Obviously this makes the dog a good one...right?! This is evident itself in the number of photos in the breed sections of animals with clear movement and conformation faults, or faults that don't meet the standard for the breed. Legs going everywhere on the move, or dogs with poor forward reach and sickle hocks behind. Always amazes me that these are the pictures people have chosen to display! I never know whether to laugh, because they have highlighted the dog's faults to the showing fraternity, or cry, because those dogs also seem to be top winners. Who knows - maybe it doesn't matter any more if your dog is badly-made? If it's flashy, you can still be guaranteed to be the best. What I don't understand is why beauty now doesn't seem to equal well-made? Surely well-made PLUS well-presented is better than just well-presented? For me, it just means that the sport I love can never be anything more than bittersweet.

Yeah, not a fan of the constantly-wet runs, I have to say. Also not great, because my mad red missie has taken the skin off her tail, and it isn't getting any chance to heal in a small brick run... I don't mind the booking system for the exercise yards so much. What I'm not thrilled about is the limited days to visit. However, having said that - the drive to Byford from Ashby even 3 days a week is MAMMOTH - more than 485kms per week! Made harder by a bored 1 year old who doesn't appreciate having to spend her life in the car.

Glad to hear that she arrived safe and sound and is in fine form - I will be relieved when my little man touches down after his long flight. Unfortunately I have to wait 2 days before i can visit and a week before we can get him out into the exercise yard :p Yep, same. She arrived yesterday, and I can't visit until tomorrow! They didn't even phone me yesterday to let me know she was okay. Bit annoyed about that, considering what they charge per night...

:D can't wait to welcome Aneira to WA!! so glad it's "out" She's in the air! Yay! Unfortunately, she's going to get quite the shock arriving into Perth's cold, wet weather from 34 Deg C in Budapest... So is she doing her 30 days at Byford - if so - I might just see you there as my new little man flies in on the 21st July :D Cool! Well, she has arrived and is already tearing up her bedding in her kennel hehehe. Little cheeky monster. I can't wait to see her!

:rofl: ;) ;) ;) can't wait to welcome Aneira to WA!! so glad it's "out" She's in the air! Yay! Unfortunately, she's going to get quite the shock arriving into Perth's cold, wet weather from 34 Deg C in Budapest...

She will be 10 months old

Hehe, I'm sure everyone knew, anyway, ST. You know there are no secrets in the dog world in WA...

Think it's pretty much always rife at this time of year.

I've held out on this thread for a long, long time - too terrified I would somehow jinx myself. But, since my little surprise's arrival is now immanent, I'd like to introduce my probably not-so-secret, very soon to be arriving, very exciting baby girl!!! Garden Star's Ramblin Rose Already a European show winner, and with some FABOULOUS bloodlines behind her, I can't wait to get her home and welcome her into our family. Welcome, my beautiful Aneira!

Yep, my Irish Setter boy LOVES to play with other Irish, or Flat-Coat Retrievers.

Maybe I'm feeling a bit negative about the whole committee thing, lately, but I don't see too many benefits. Friendships can certainly be made outside of a committee situation, and I haven't really had any skills polished LOL (Except the skill of being abused and whinged at...) I guess I have learned more about what goes into running a show, and that has given me a greater appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work in a sport I enjoy. So for that, I am grateful

I'm a club secretary, and I always show my dogs at our club shows. Last show, I won a class in show, and I would be pretty damn horrified to think I'd won it because I was on the committee. (Mind you, I was pretty horrified at some of the judging anyway, but that's another story ) I think it's all very well to take the moral high ground and say no, committee members shouldn't be able to show their dogs - and in principle, I agree. Frankly, I don't think it does the club any good, at times, to have members see the committee getting wins, whether or not the judge genuinely likes their dogs. I can say from personal experience that I have known none of the judges we have picked for our shows. They are just names on a page to me. Other committee members have been around longer, and suggest judges based on their own reasons. We actually had a discussion about that very issue at our meeting the other night. I think conflict of interests should be declared in every instance, and if one exists, then it should be up to the committee member concerned to make the decision as to whether or not they show their dogs. Picking judges just for a win is despicable, no matter who does it. However, as others here have said, the show community in Australia is very small, and in some states (like mine) if committee members didn't show their dogs, the entry would be VERY low and thus the show would not be cost-effective. Cost-effectiveness is a reality for all committees, and clubs would fall very quickly if shows weren't making money. Committee members pay full price for the judge's opinion just like everyone else. We're there hours before everyone else to set up, we work all day AND have to get the dogs ready, and we're still there after everyone leaves. We spend months planning our shows, trying to please members and put on a nice day...and almost always, someone will have a whinge about something. And as Showdog said, 99% of the whingers are those who have never lifted a finger to help. At this same last show, I spent much of my day alone, running the show office with a baby on my knee. Not easy, and not fun for me!! And yet that's what it takes to get the job done on the day, so you do it and you smile at the whingers and you apologise for all those things you did to try to make their day enjoyable... Take our up-coming trophy show. The number of phonecalls I have had (before the show has even been advertised), whinging about where we're holding it, what if it rains, I hate that judge, blah blah blah... FFS. Either show, or don't show. But don't whinge in my ear at 9.30pm telling me how hard done by you are ON THE OFF-CHANCE it will rain and your dog might get its tootsies wet. Gah! People must think we deliberately try to make life hard for them and only them. Of course, the world does revolve around some people Hmm...that turned into a bit of a rant. There is a point in there somewhere. See if you can spot it, kids!

I have Irish Setters and BOY do they sulk.

Oh god...I can't imagine... ;) Jed, my thoughts and best wishes are with you and your animals. We are all here for you.

I hope she is okay! I know how much Sam loves that bitch!

That's a really interesting question, Charles. I hope you get some good responses I would be so torn. Like you, I would want my dog to be a benefit to science and to other dogs and owners. But the thought of it... Hard to get over. I know once they have passed, their doggy souls move on. But that was the body you snuggled, the hair you stroked. I like to think I would be brave enough. But I couldn't guarantee it. Great topic.

Her behaviour sounds like it has nothing to do with dog showing - you could replace the sport with any other and her behaviour would still be considered extreme. If you feel she could benefit from some help, by all means offer your support.