Maverick

When we are on holidays, visiting OH's mother in Melb, we take the dogs for a trip to Altona Beach and then on the way home, they all get a dipper of Vanilla Ice Cream in a cup each as a treat Plus, they get to lick the empty ice cream container at home.

Wow what great pics... Had a great day today (except for the bitch in season) and learnt heaps. Thanks Gillbear for the pic of Maverick

Can't wait Maverick and I will be there :D

There are some great agility dogs that are CKCS. Very easy to train and reliable to boot

Snoopy.. no, not doing the Pet Expo this year. Not sure when I will be back at training. Too much work on at the moment. Many thanks for the doing the CD, can't wait to see it!

Both of my guys are from Vi Catley.. Kistenwales There is 3 Kistenwales dogs out doing agility at the moment.

I totally understand what you are getting at Erny. I have often wondered it myself as I don't have a huge desire to show. I will show my dogs and have them examined by friends who breed and show cockers to determine if they are still of show quality. I have got a few mentors who I turn to for help. I plan to breed with the breed standard in mind but the best dogs might not be show quality and vise versa. My breeder who is out at Bathhurst is a great mentor for me and guides me in right or wrong. But the main thing to remember is that the majority of puppies go to pet homes and temperment is of first priority.

Both of my guys come from Show lines.. Maverick's father is a Grand Champion. My breeder breeds for temperament first and foremost. One day I will start breeding for myself, Maverick being my foundation sire, and I will be concentrating on temperament and working ability.

I hope Vicki doesn't mind but I think a friend of her's took this photo of Maverick. Taken about 2 weeks ago at a trial where he came 4th in Open Agility.

I do clicker training and I find it fantastic. My guys do mainly agility training and trialling but I plan to do a bit of obedience next year as well. I doubt I will do field trials as I don't have the time to train it.. Agility takes up too much time. A friend of mine who posts on here is currently looking at trying to do some field work with her cockers. She tells me not alot of cockers do field and when they had an open day a couple of months ago, she was the only cocker person there. Whereabouts are you ? The names speak for themselves.. Kistenwales Ice Maiden ADX JDX GD Kistenwales Disco Kid AD JDM JDO GD SD SPD ET (One of the best cockers in NSW, if not in Aus in agility) (and they are just there ANKC titles, not including ADAA, Agility Dog Association of Aust) Ok, I will stop boasting now

Cockers make the best agility dogs. My two are both in Masters and Maverick my young boy, is quite good. Very smart, quick on his feet and just loves agility One thing you must remember is that they are gun dogs. Prone to smells and any sort of bird. Also, they suffer from selective hearing Very easy to train, highly food motivated and just love to please you.

A great weekend was had by all.. pity mine yesterday was such a complete bummer my own fault tho.. I am getting Eddy to set all the equipment back up in the back yard and I am going back to training my contacts again.

Sounds great! Congrats to both you and your daughter My out command is my washing line :D We started in Flyball earlier in the year and Maverick was showing great promise, I just haven't got round to going back. Too many other things on my plate.

I clip both of my guys. Got sick of paying someone else to do it, so I bought a pair of Osters and taught myself. I get comments on my lovely clipping all the time.

Yes, we are going

Sometimes... and that course was especially hard as you kept going over the same jumps different ways.

Just a brag.. Here is a video clip of my boy Maverick in Masters Jumping on the weekend. Course time was 41 seconds, we did in 36 seconds and it was based on 4.3 metres a second, which is faster than FCI World Championship speed. Just to prove that cockers are really dumb and slow http://s75.photobucket.com/albums/i311/Mai...mgAnch=imgAnch1

I clip my cockers in Summer and Spring and roll them over once a week for a comb through their bellies and feathers. Those lovely combs with the rotating pins ... *sigh* fantastic gadget. If my guys get itchy or dirty, I find matts. Mai especially matts easier than Maverick. Also, a good leave in conditioner like Laser Lites is fantastic for helping getting those matts out. And I feel terrible when I find a matt in their arm pit after a week and have to cut it out. I know of someone who doesn't even groom their sheltie..

I think 1yo is fine, depending on the breed. Large breeds I wouldn't start till later but a Staffy at 1yo would be ok. Are they carrying any excess weight ? That would be my only concern.

All your dog hears when your run is babble.. you are really only speaking for your own benefit. I only talk when I want the dogs attention and always call it by name. I don't say come, I say 'Maverick'. If you say the dogs name it will look at you for a cue, but if you just say come 9 time out of 10 they will ignore you. The dog will always look at your body or your feet. If your dog takes an off course, look down...

I am doing the ET with my boy in August. We started training a couple of months ago and we can do 10km easy. I don't think I will have a problem with 20km. The ET in sydney is held around a dirt track, so I have been training at my local showground.

For some reason my boy's drive has increased. I haven't started any work but when I get home, we get the tennis ball and the minute I pick it up, he runs down the hall and drops in an instant. This is a dog who doesn't really give too hoots about balls. Fastest drop I have ever seen on this dog. Will get the camera out this weekend.

He thinks he is king. He sleeps on your bed and I expect you feed him before yourself. Unfortunately you need to knock him down a peg and put him at the bottom of the pecking order. No sleeping on beds, always fed after you and your family, you must go out the door first, pats only when you want them. Obedience training as well. Where abouts are you ?

Laser Lites ... Lanolin Shampoo and Conditioner. I do add a hint of Silk in with my final rinse with the conditioner and have lovely silky coats. With a Sheltie, you may need a different type of shampoo. Laser Lites have all different types to suit different dogs. www.laserlites.com.au

There is a place in Armidale that is dog friendly. The name escapes me at the moment but they have cabins and caravan sites.