helen

I am sure like everyone you will continue to improve the longer you do agility, as long as you can go out and have fun I reckon

I taught Bella how to hold the dumbell (ie in the middle rather than by the end) using a clicker and holding the dumbell so she couldn't take it from the side. Once she knew where to hold it I just started playing with it and throwing it like a fun game with a toy and it worked brilliantly. The first time we tried the retrieve over a jump we used a solid jump, she went over grabbed it and like a pro just came back over the jump with it, she learnt all this very quickly and really enjoys it. I would never use a force retrieve (and yes I do mean never, after the first time I was taught the force retrieve, like you turning a dog off taking anything at all in its mouth).

It is too early to leave the mother IMO as with many experts, that is why registered breeders have a code of ethics stating pups cannot be sold before 8 weeks. There are so many good registered breeders who go out of the way to make sure pups are well socialised, receive proper worming at an earlier age to avoid the health problems your pup had and are correctly vaccinated, all anyone needs to do to find them is to either go to breed clubs, the dogzonline link above or their state's kennel club (Dogs Victoria if you are in Victoria). Anyway, luckily she now has all the medical help she needs with vaccinating and worming so you have done a good job. I think that because she has been taken from the litter so young and you cant guarantee her socialisation has been good what I would do in future is put in a big effort socialising her, with people, different situations and other dogs (of course at her age and with her vaccination status you are limited as yet, but at least get her to meet lots of different people have have them handling her). Have a look at the puppy links on this website as there is loads of useful information - http://www.k9events.com

The dogs should be measured, it will take a long time for the height card to arrive, I got 2 dogs done at the start of the year and still don't have the height cards. If you phone the trial secretary and ask them if your dog can be measured at the trial is the best option.

Another good food from Australia is Advance, my dogs thrive on this

I know several people who have been to both Kintala and Warringal and have been very happy

I would put a pup in a wire crate to begin with, especially as when training him to accept the crate he will still be able to see out. There are also some great training tips for pups including getting them used to crates on this website - http://www.k9events.com - good luck with the pup

If you switch from Advance Puppy to Advance growth you are unlikely to see much difference, but do mix and change gradually. The advance is a great food.

I wish, sounds like it will be a great seminar

WooHoo, go Holly

Finally a gundog person, and she isn't coming to Victoria

Glad to hear things have worked out so well

Good luck, hopefully you are on a roll now and we will be hearing about your new title

Congraulations Bear & Faxon

I am a pocket person myself but in the past have had black dog bag and a bum bag from the handbag shop

Glad you both enjoyed it

WooHoo - it is such a relief when they start to get the hang of it isn't it

If you dog is 50cm it would be jumping 500mm in an agility trial. Bella is 49cm and while practicing weaving with guards up (probably about 4-5 feet high) she jumped the guards from a standing start (that is not the way things were supposed to work LOL)

I think it depends on the club. I know the local club here will let you change classes if you are not happy, just explain to the instructor why and hopefully they will switch you

That is bad news. There is some information availble here - http://www.k9events.com/Pets_with_Disabilities.htm - has advice such as spraying things that she may bump in to with something smelly such as hairspray etc so the dog can smell them

In Tilly's case it did happen very quickly so it does sound a lot different

Same thing happened to Tilly recently, along with weeping eyes. In Tilly's case it is an auto immune problem that usually shows itself at middle age. Hopefully this is not the problem here but if it does not improve or the skin is sore or red I would check things out further. Tilly's skin was red and she started licking her muzzle a lot

If she watches you play with toys with your other dog that may increase her interest in toys. Give her some time to settle in a bit too. My girl Bella would not play tug with a person, only dogs until she watched a Border Collie play tug at an agiltiy trial and from that moment on she started playing tug with me LOL

Bridgiecat - that is so funny. Anyway, I have heard fish is very good to feed dogs. Let us know if they eat them or turn their nose up at it

I think it is the worst rule ever introduced and hope it might disappear in the next rule change. I have also seen a beautiful run with one quick glance to the owner being faulted and a dog that is known to have troubles with spinning being allowed to get away with it. I don't understand why either should be faulted and can't understand the rule. The worst refusual I have had is at the last obstacle, a jump. I lost my bearings and wasn't sure if Bella was heading in the right direction. I told her to stop and she did, right in front of the jump without turning around, when I worked out it was the right jump I told her to go over it but was faulted.