helen

That is great advice Leopuppy, that is typical Brittany behaviour LOL

You need a bin that she can't get to. With Cocker Spaniel and Brittany she is sure to have a good nose and want to get in to the bin. You will get better results managing the situation then trying to train her not to try and get all the yummy food scraps She has been allowed on the couch for a long time now so it will take time, consistancy and patience to teach her not to go on the couch, would be good to have a nice comfortable place for her to sit near you, one of those nice soft dog beds or some such thing. Teach her an alternate behaviour - sitting on her own bed and give lots of rewards for doing so. Telling her what you want her to do instead of simply what you don't want her to do will make life easier. I would suggest you look at the behaviour and training pages of http://www.k9events.com , especially the leadership under behaviour pages ( http://www.k9events.com/behaviour_Self_Control.htm ), and this page too - http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm here are some more good ones http://www.k9webs.com/patscott/management.htm Have a look under settle as well http://www.k9events.com/training4.htm http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryT...ry_no=1722#ct-3 Don't forget to have some fun and scroll down the training page a bit and go to the tricks Here are a couple of great fun scent games you could play with her which would be great to exercise her mind http://www.k9webs.com/patscott/findthecookie.htm http://www.dogscouts.com/scent.shtml#Find

Sounds good, but make sure that you phone the trial secretary to make sure this is correct.

I am pretty sure Geelong are running 4 separate trials, phone the secretary if you want to confirm this. This means you could enter in a CD class after doing a CCD class as you don't need a CCD title to compete in CD. The danger though is if you do not get your CCD title and have entered into CD you cannot ever go back and get the CCD title

I went to a talk recently from a vet who suggested what Pebbles said - for adult dogs, pups need their regular worming. I don't worm every three months but do a couple of times a year. My dog ate some cow pat on a track so I have just wormed my dogs. I also don't use flea treatment unless my dogs scratch. I do vaccinate annually, I don't have a choice due to training clubs etc but will often delay a month or so after the due date.

I have had 2 dogs xrayed and scored at Werribee University vets and was happy with them. You can, I believe get eyes tested there too. I got Chazer done locally only because I couldn't take the time to travel when I wanted to get his hips scored. I sent the xrays to Dr Wyburn because they are the ones who answered the phone and told me how to get the form and what details were required on the xrays (Werribee had an answering machine on at the time). I think Monash vets do hip scoring as well - and they do penn hip.

Woohoo, congratulations

How awful, hope she gets well very soon

The first thing I would do is become an incorporated association, this way members and committee would not hold personal liability for the club. See this website http://www.asc.gov.au/asic/asic.nsf/byhead...ns?openDocument Not sure about insurance You would need suitable grounds, some people willing to learn to be instructors would be a great help too, and of course you will need a committee

There are some people making lightweight PVC equipment (single hurdles, spread hurdles, hoops, united weavers and spike weavers). They call themselves Leaps n Bounds Agility Equipment, ph Chris 0419 469 802 or 59428250, email [email protected] I brought some spike weavers from them recently at a trial, they are great.

You know you want him Mooper - there doesn't seem to be anyone at the moment unfortunately.

He's in Echuca

This dog needs a home due to owners personal circumstances. He is 7 months old, has been owned and trained by an obedience instructor who was hoping to trial him this year. Would also be great for an approved home seeking to try showing a dog as well as obedience, there are plenty of helpful people around in this breed. - http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/mature/brittany.asp

Congratulations on the pass

I've recently been given some new shampoo to try, Dr Bruce's Vets All Natural pet shampoo. It is 100% chemical free and has the most beautiful smell. It is made from organic ingredients and contains, amongst other things, lemon grass oil, eucalyptus oil, lavender oil

I agree that it is usually the handlers fault so would not normally, but have done so 3 times. First time was when Bella was just starting out, she was deliberately running away from me to do the obstacles she wanted and would not come to me The 2nd time it was pouring rain, we were close to the end and I got lost on the course, I told the judge I was stopping as I got lost, she got me to do a couple so Bella thought she did a great job (which she did until I got lost LOL). The 3rd time was very recently with Tilly. She was sniffing the ground a lot, a few dogs had done their business in the ring where she was sniffing. I called her away before she followed suit (she does mark and tries to cock her leg), got her to do a tunnel away from the smells and finished on a high.

Thanks again. Erny - I have started my dogs on the standard amount and will see how we go Dr Bruce Syme actually did a seminar on natural health yesterday locally, so i went along. He suggests feeding a natural diet, best made by yourself as people feeding BARF would do. He made the VAN for people who like the idea of feeding a natural diet but don't want the hassle (like myself). He made it as so many of his clients who he suggested a natural diet for went well for a few months but then reverted back to feeding dog biscuits as it was easier. This sure does make it easier. He also suggested adding some grains to a natural diet, as matt said for anal gland problems (wholegrains) and things such as soaked oats, I think for carbohydrate.

Thanks, I hadn't seen the results. I saw a couple of the Brittanys did well too, one in particular, Wameika Echo Wild Bill AD JD who won 3rd place in the finals of excellent jumping, with quite a few good passes. He came from the same breeder as Bella.

After a couple of very positive PMs and the comments here I am definately going to try it for a while and see how things go, as I figure it must be better than kibble, time will tell. I did a bit more research on the website and joined which takes you to a page with more articles. The complete mix for adults contains 20-25% grains, less for pups. As it is also mixed with meat the mix is further reduced. He also talks about how the grain is crushed to imitate what would be in the stomache of prey. He also recommends feeding dogs bones as well. Erny - how much less do you feed your dogs to keep them a healthy weight? Flycow - you buy the complete mix and it is soaked in equal parts of water for 12-24 hours - after that it is mixed with meat (the packet gives proportions of complete mix, water and meat) . I phoned the company and that said the complete mix can last in the fridge for 5 days and it can be frozen if you make a large quantity. They also recommend you feed raw meaty bones instead at least 2 times a week.

Hi. I was recently given a sample of Dr Bruce's Vets All Natural Complete Mix to try. My dogs absolutely love it and I thought I might try it for a while, it is a natural diet but simpler that feeding barf. Has anyone used it and what did you think? This is a link to the website if anyone is wondering what food I am referring to http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au/index.html

I have just started feeding Dr Bruce's Vets All Natural, all Australian made and owned, but it is not kibble, it is a natural diet - http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au/index.html

It cracks me up to hear people worrying about pups not bonding with them, I don't know why they worry so much Chazer was born here, has hardly had a day away from his mother since birth and is more bonded to me than any of my other dogs, and he is 3 years old. He is very attentive and easy to train too Having said this though I wish I had taught him to be separate to the other dogs from time to time as a pup as he certainly doesn't like being left without any company, either dog or human

The funniest thing Bella has done in training was when we did some retrieving training. We were doing water retrieves, the trainer threw the dumbell, Bella retrieved it and came out of the water, the instructor took the dumbell from her and had it out of site. Bella realised she no longer had the dumbell, went running back in the water looking for it and wouldn't come out without it, the instructor had to throw it back so she could get it in order for her to get out of the water ;) The amount of people Bella visited in her early days of agility is not funny. If someone was near the end of jumps etc they were obviously only there to greet her.

I believe K9 Agility Club are still taking on a waiting list so would definately be worth trying.

In Melbourne there is K9 Agility Club which trains at KCC park on Thursday nights as well as Action Dogs which has already been mentioned. The 3rd agility club is Agility Dog Club of Victoria but it is at Altona. Not sure about anyone doing private training.