The Spotted Devil

How Bitey Face develops... Zig started it... Em tried it... And loved it :)

You've had a wonderful year Tassie across so many disciplines - congratulations!

Lol - just get one the same colour....I tell Mr TSD that's what I'm going to do and he'll never notice! Yes, trialling is not for everyone and you don't need titles to prove a good dog particularly if you shoot over them. I couldn't shoot the broad side of a barn so prefer trialling :) Some states also have a lot of restrictions so the only option is trialling too.

If you've shot over them you'll have a fair understanding then! Have fun and good luck Luke - why not chat to your contact about NZ lines...I've heard there are some decent ones but don't know anything more specific.

Field bred cockers are tiny and crazy! Very busy little workers but are surprisingly different from the field bred Springers considering they originated from the same litters. Their differences lie less in their looks than in the way they work - although they certainly look different (less coat, shorter ear leather like the field bred Springers) there is more variability as the emphasis is on work. I saw some amazing working cockers at a Spaniel Hunt test in the US. I'm not sure about Field Spaniels - I don't know any here that are working dogs - much more show focused I think. If you want a dog to work, I would get as much exposure living with, training and working one before committing to importing or even breeding them. And I would suggest working Spaniels in gundog trials or rough hunting to really understand how talented they are - obedience and agility are great but don't rely as much on genetics. Even in retrieving trials that take a lot of control, I've learned so much by watching Em work the ground - quartering, using the wind, persistence etc. I understand how differently she works from other gundog breeds - strengths and weaknesses. The Springers really suit my personality and my home but they may be too soft for some - they don't like repetition and you can crush their spirit easily. I've not yet worked out the Cockers, appealing as they are - busy, busy, busy!!!

Both of mine sleep through storms...Zig does get a bit worked up over fallen branches and trees but that probably has something to do with the 3 or 4 that have fallen on our house the last few years. Funny thing though....Em loves gunshot but would happily crawl inside a hole when I use a cleaver to chop up chicken.

Em and I have had a break since the last trial...concentrating on thesis writing and agility! She has been missing retrieving though and went super crazy excited when I did a couple of short drills on Saturday. Sunday we found a long body of splash/swim water and ran it as a hot blind up the middle. She was really good. Then I added hand thrown game landing next to the water about half way up the channel. Took 2 stops and handles to get her back onto the dummy blind so didn't let her pick up the mark. Ran it again and she didn't need a whistle....although she did overcompensate and veered left to avoid the mark. Worked on some angle entries and then gave the dogs a HUGE swim across the dam purely for fun and fitness. She was a very happy little Springer and would happily have trained some more but I left it at that.

Glad to hear you are interested in retrieving Tapua - nothing wrong with obedience work for a retrieving dog but if you are keen I would catch up with some knowledgeable folk for some tips. Just too much to explain over the internet although there is a lot of info in this thread including how I started Em as a puppy. Ball throwing is not recommended for a potential retrieving dog as it's a completely different concept to marking the fall of the game. You need to introduce young dogs to cover, marking and water retrieves CORRECTLY - delivery to hand is great but is probably the easiest to teach from an obedience perspective. There was a thread on this forum about training classes in NSW - you might need to do a quick search. RATG novice is on dummies but they are starting to run open on game in VIC. I have seen many a dog come undone in Beginners/Novice retrieving trials that did well in RATG as the cover/distance/marking concepts tend to be more demanding. Have fun and let us know how you progress!

Titre testing is such an inexact science that I simply go with a C3 every 3 years (after the 12 month booster) with annual check ups and KC. Once the dogs and cats hit double figures I tend to not vaccinate - hopefully the science will catch up soon.

I find that persistent nippers lap up the inadvertent attention that results when you chastise them. My golden rule is Ignore, Ignore, Ignore. If you can turn your back and walk away, great - also super helpful if you start to train this whilst someone else holds a lead. If not, get up on a chair or table out of their reach. Set it up and practice when you have time rather than dealing with it on the run when you are busy. Add distractions like food and squeaky toys. Work on other impulse control games away from the issue (using food and/or tug). Video what is going on too - it's amazing how people don't realise that they are inadvertently rewarding the behaviour....I will often (with permission!) physically move a client towards and away from a jumping dog to show them the timing. I don't want to have a battle of wills or strength with a dog - I set them up so they have 2 choices and they quickly learn to make the "correct" choice voluntarily.

Thanks again BB - they were super helpful!

Thanks BB - will have a chat with them in store - hopefully they will be able to help.

There's a new walking path from 5 Ways up towards Olinda - all along Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd. You can park at Kalorama Lookout (I think? Close by nonetheless) and, if you're lucky (or not!) I'll be training Em on the hill below the car park :) There's a path that runs from Olinda proper towards Monbulk but it's not sealed and I'm not sure how far it goes. Going the other way from Sassafrass there is a walking path and another on the road on the way to Kallista but I can't think of the name of the road. Everything in between is National Park so no dogs.

Some boys are more appealing than others. My entire male Dally is an absolute hit with every bitch (entire or spayed) that he meets. Picture a very temperamental dog aggressive, older, spayed, off leash Kelpie mix bitch flying across the oval at an agility trial. Owner is completely freaking out as we appeared out of nowhere after a run. Aforementioned bitch flew up to Ziggy and...play bowed :laugh: It was just hilarious and every girl has the same reaction - it must be something about his body language and hormones as 99% of males (entire and castrated) hate him and will target him from afar.

Thanks Sway - something like this would be great. Doesn't have to be exactly the same but quality is paramount. It would be good to be able to get different sizes too...

*bump*

Congratulations to both of you gillybob It will get easier - relax and enjoy him! Looking forward to more photos and showing news :)

Agree with this. There is way more to it than a dog biting simply because it is entire. I suspect it's an associative rather than a causal factor. In fact "not kept as a family pet" and a consequent lack of socialisation may equate with an owner who is less likely to have the dog desexed. So being entire is reflective of owner choices rather than dog factors.

For the last month of Miss Brontë's life she had numerous vet visits and developed a "nervous purr" every time we entered the waiting room. This is not uncommon in cats. One consideration (out of many) for giving her wings was the type and duration of her purring. The first cat I euthanased was an emergency case and purred so loudly it was difficult to believe how much pain it must have been in. Purring is considered a care-soliciting behaviour rather than an emotional expression.

Cats that are very stressed will often become immobile and appear, even to people familiar with cats, to be coping well. Washing a cat as described in the OP is completely inappropriate. The cat should have been sedated in order to be groomed.

I still don't know whether I'll be going....there's a conference in Spain I'd like to attend in late July and the Retrieving National Championships (and associated trials) will be in SA in late August. I've also heard that there are Fire Ants at the grounds so not too keen on camping there or running the dogs if they are likely to get bitten....does anyone know about these ants? They have a fearsome reputation!!!

Nope! To me it looks like the Teams events are first in the ring in the morning (Ring 1 and 2) and then all rings have other classes.

Didn't think about those. What about tinned tuna? He vomits sardines, usually at 3am Tuna is fine. I only use Salmon as it suits my Dally's low purine requirements.

Just make sure you avoid any baby foods containing onion or onion powder. Tinned salmon and sardines also work well - very stinky and yummy!

I lost my Australian Cattle Dog when she was 17 years old. The night before I had her put to sleep (unknown liver tumour ruptured) she stole and consumed half a loaf of bread without us realising. And the plastic bag. Oh and I had to keep her on leash for her last 12 months as she was deaf as a post and would sprint down the beach like a bloody whippet! Great dog :)