The Spotted Devil

I had trouble teaching Em to stand - ended up having her sit side on to the lounge so she couldn't move sideways. Gently tickled her back leg around the "knee" until she kicked back into a stand. Yes! Treat! Rinse and repeat :)

There is a trial in Pittong (near Ballarat) this weekend.... Otherwise I'm sure you could come along and just spectate - make sure you drop Prue an email and double check though :)

That's something we will definitely discuss - I don't expect youngsters to be able to focus for too long. Quality not quantity :) In all likelihood I will be taking the raw beginners so look forward to meeting you all!

Thanks BBJ - I've been in touch with BB also. Much appreciation for everyone's help

I'll have a couple of long lines - don't stress too much :) Clown puppies are the best

Thanks Jed - i was hoping you'd pop your head into this thread :D There will definitely be no pet shops/byb.

Yes I know! And Dallies were used the same apparently. In the US the only dogs that can compete in retrieving type trials are the official "retrievers" so my Springer could only do Spaniel trials. I think Poodles can do hunt tests over there though?

kirty I would love to say yes but I think it is restricted to gundogs only as only Group 3 dogs are allowed to participate in trials. Sorry! Poodles are a bit like Dallies in that respect - lumped into Group 7 with all the other "don't know what to do with" breeds.

You would be welcome to bring your youngster - we start training our pups quite young! They don't need to do a lot of work on the day :) You can always bring a long line if your pup doesn't have a great recall and I will bring a couple also. I might be taking the raw beginners for their session, depending on numbers.

Just google "Clean Run What Ships Free" :D Not that I have done that...

How close does she get to the dog before she reacts would you say? Keep up the training!

My very wonderful vet is considering a CKCS for his family. I have met his 8yo daughter and she has done all the reading up on breeds - there were a few breeds that were too active or needed too much grooming but everyone in the family agrees that a CKCS might suit them well. I know they are definitely after a puppy as they have a cat that tends to be frightened of dogs. I would say a breeder in Vic would be preferable but I'm sure I could convince them to look further afield if the breeder came highly recommended. He has his own practice and so I can't see him getting to shows on weekends to meet breeders. He's a truly fabulous vet, very sensible and extremely caring. I'm sure he and his family would make great owners. Plus they'll have me as back up :D Any suggestions would be most welcome. I know I can look for puppy listings on DOL but I would prefer personal recommendations as every time I've asked for help previously it has been a fantastic outcome for all.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that :) However, what I would probably do is use it to your advantage and only use it as a reward for walking calmly past another dog (obviously at a distance below your dog's reactive threshold).

I'm sure you would be welcome to come anyway - we could get you properly hooked and give you an idea about the things you need to look for in your pup. Maybe even have a play with a dog that knows what they're doing :D If you do want to go it's the other side of town but, provided I drive up that morning rather than the night before, I will have a spare seat in my car

My last girl looked amazingly content in the shelter - she was quite young, an amazing mother and her (7) kittens were about 1 week old when I took them home. I thought she looked a bit 'bulky' in her abdomen when she came home....overnight she literally filled 2 litter trays, urine and faeces - she must have been holding on for quite some time. Cats do funny things when they are stressed and are often good at hiding it. How's the hubby coming along Loreley? :D

Heh heh...I'm not sure you'll get away with disguising her as a Golden Retriever though :laugh:

Raw beginners are absolutely welcome! Just let Prue know when you RSVP via the email address above :)

I like the I-clicks from Blackdog Wear. Photos please :)

Congratulations Tassie

Life has been a bit hectic lately - what with work, Uni, agility training/trialling and a very sick little cat to care for in the last week - so I've just been squeezing in some retrieving training where I can. Selection seems to be improving - have just been throwing 3 dummies on our bush block and mixing up the pickup order. Yesterday I had planned to spend a whole day out training with a friend but my little cat took priority. By the afternoon she was looking a little better (and eating - yay!) so Mr TSD offered to throw dummies for Em. Which was just as well as she has been shredding paperwork all week - agility and running hard on the block barely takes the edge off. Started with a moderate warm blind channel swim with a very short easy memory mark to test selection. That all was really good - she handled well, eyed off the local birdlife but held her line. A couple of long walking singles with trees/hill blocking part of her view and I was happy with those. Then a couple of marks on top of a hill requiring her to cross paths and vegetation. Lines up the hill were really good - the first one I don't think she saw at all (I suspect sun glare) but she hunted like mad, used Mr TSD as a reference point and then handled really well when I realised she had no idea where it was. Second was much better. Next one we did a double across water. Short memory mark landing to the left. Last mark down was up on the hill and landing behind some trees. She tackled the water without hesitation and picked up the first mark very quickly. I was a bit concerned about a roaming dog so wasn't concentrating and didn't line her up for the memory mark at all well - she took the line I gave her (duh!) so I had to handle her to the memory mark but that was cool. Need to do more work on overs but they seem to have improved quite a bit without my help! If the hail looks like staying away I might try to get out with her a bit later. Think some 2 birds and double falls might be the go seeing as Mr TSD will be around.

A couple of pics from the Nationals... Em coming back with the 2 bird in the 2nd run... http://s904.photobucket.com/user/flatcoat2/media/DSC02406_zps0403304d.jpg.html?sort=6&o=37 Returning to the starting pegs with gun, game and a super happy Springer... http://s904.photobucket.com/user/flatcoat2/media/DSC02414_zpsb4711820.jpg.html?sort=6&o=36

This is a fantastic opportunity for Victorian gundog owners to try their hand at retrieving, whether you are training for RATG or retrieving trialling or even if you have absolutely no idea! If you are a raw beginner please let us know (see email address below for RSVP) so we can organise the appropriate trainers. The last training session had 2 novice groups that rotated between land and water retrieves plus a more advanced group for dogs approaching Restricted standard. I had a great time and there were lots of positive reports from the novice groups aswell. RSVP is essential as the experienced retrieving people volunteer their time and it's good to ensure there are sufficient trainers for the numbers that turn up.

you should drag him along to our whippet fun day, you're not far away, we're having one next Sunday, but Neko (my puppy) wont be there. She's not fully vaccinated so I've decided to let her spend the night back with Marcus and her brother Sparkey. I showed Mr TSD the puppy pic and he immediately identified it as an Iggy When I expressed surprise he said "oh no they're very different to whippets. Fantastic breeds both of them." He has expressed an interest in the fun day, Kirislin - I might be away though and I'm worried he'll bring several home :laugh: DD, Mr TSD reckons he could learn to multi-task :D

Also, you can pick up a really cheap scratching tower for them and Mum - the cheap ones are not very stable - I just lay it down so they can climb all over it and scratch it when they are old enough. I keep Mum and kits confined to one room as I have other cats that don't really want to know that I'm harbouring a fugitive :) I put all the curtains out of the way and kitten proof it so they can only climb and scratch what I want them too - good training for rehoming. Once Mum has gone for rehoming I introduce the kittens to my Dalmatian - he and Dizzy the one eyed foster failure kitten lie outside the door - Dizzy playing footsies with the kittens and Zig just waiting for the first chance at meeting them...they freak out at first of course but end up climbing all over him and playing with his tail.

She's just darling I am SO not showing Mr TSD....he loves whippets so I reckon he'd fall for a pup like that in an instant! She looks so fragile and delicate! Definitely watch those chookies....they are up to something!!!