The Spotted Devil

A friend does some work with an animal talent agency, which is how we've come by a couple of jobs. On other occasions it's word of mouth - when someone is looking for a Dalmatian, for example, they might contact the state breed club and then we get asked. It helps that both dogs are known to be reasonably obedient. Most of the time anyway :laugh:

Agreed! My Dally competes in agility and obedience whilst my field bred ESS competes in retrieving and agility. She also trains for obedience and could probably put together a DWD routine if I had the time! Yesterday Em spent the entire day retrieving dummies and game. Tonight she ignored the birds to run an agility course :) I tend to focus on one sport for each dog as a priority (agility and retrieving, respectively) and the rest are as we can fit them in.

Lucky girl, Lucy Talk about land on her paws :)

Just a scan of the newspaper :)

Em is not showing any signs of fame getting the better of her anyway.....back out doing what comes naturally yesterday...

Awesome! What did Rocko have to do? Do you have a link?

That's me and The Spotted Devil alright :) It was not the easiest of shoots - Ziggy was in with the Weim bitch right in front of him and I was a little concerned about the body language of a couple of the entire males in such a novel situation. But everyone kept an eye on what was going on and everything was fine. Zig was supposed to be sitting but he his front feet kept sliding forwards so we switched him to a stand which worked much better. And yes, stans mum, that is definitely a "Zig! Watch!" :laugh: Josh Thomas was fantastic with the dogs and changed into a black and white suit so he could do a shoot with Zig on his own - that photo turned up in the Canberra times (and the Green Guide)....Ziggy is staring adoringly into Josh's eyes.....or that could have been me on the stool just out of shot :D

I love this Not even my cats are that lazy!!!

Em and I had a brilliant time at the VGC's retrieving training day yesterday Special thanks to all the experienced handlers who turned out to help the raw beginners, novice dogs and those of us who were looking for a bit more. The GSP club also ran a Beginners test in the afternoon which had a good entry - hopefully we have a few more dogs and handlers hooked on our great sport! After so long away from the trialling scene it was great to catch up with everyone when I arrived at the property at about 8.30am. After lots of talking we split up into 3 groups - one group worked on beginners/novice land marks, the second group worked on beginners/novice water marks (these 2 groups swapped over half way through the morning) and the third group worked on transitioning from novice to restricted. Em was one of 4 or 5 dogs in this latter group. We basically built a "run" and ended up with a triple by the end of it! First it was a hot blind across very rocky ground with a couple of suction points either side - contours and paths. Em was just about exploding with excitement so I worked on heeling her to the start peg as well....a couple of times she was bouncing ahead so I'd stop and just say nothing until she realised she had no shooting partner and would reverse quickly into position :laugh: At the starting peg I had her sitting facing the blind - a handler came down and dropped a dummy on the pile. Then I treated it as a blind: "Blind. Yes. Back!" She ran a really good line, didn't fall for the suction traps, picked up the dummy and delivered to hand very nicely. GT suggested sending her again to solidify the exercise which I did. However, the helper didn't realise I had sent her and walked to the blind pile. Em was really confused and hesitated - I stopped her, waited until she was looking at me nice and square, then sent her back. GT said I was probably too quick to handle and he would have left her to it. Anyway, she picked up the dummy and delivered to hand. I actually thought Em was running quite slowly for her and was a bit concerned.....until I walked out a whole heap of dummies to the pile and saw how difficult the terrain was. I'm impressed that she ran at all!!! Next exercise was to add a mark from the Bumper Boy up on the ridge that landed at about 70 degrees to the blind pile. Pick up the mark, then get the blind. Em's marking was a bit sloppy on that first one - she overran it and didn't want to hunt on the face of the slope which is pretty normal for an inexperienced dog. She kept working the top and the bottom and just didn't get in a position to take advantage of the light breeze. She didn't give up at any point though. Had to handle her into the area as I didn't want her to get sucked in by the blind. All fine in the end and picked up the blind fine too. Next, we ran the same mark and blind but as a memory mark. Much improved on this - Em had no problem on selection, picked up the blind and picked up the mark much more quickly even though it didn't land in quite the same area as last time. Finally, we ran the same mark, send for the mark (easy!), then GT hand threw a 2 bird (I was late in whistling Em off it but she didn't swap), leave the 2 bird, pick up the blind and then pick up the 2 bird. No whistles required and she was just as enthusiastic as on the first run, despite the heat. I have a lot to learn in terms of incorporating the breeze/contours into my handling - had lots of tips and have plenty to think about! In obedience we'd call it "ring craft". I took Em down to the water - let her pick up a couple of dummies to cool down and wandered back for lunch. On the way back I found an excellent small, dry, rocky gully and practiced sending Em from further and further distances. She attacked it really well - no hesitation, nice and straight there and back. After lunch we walked down to watch the Beginners Test - couldn't see too much from the hide for the land run so chatted with a few newcomers. Em could see the arc of the mark though and was super excited. For the water run, the judge was kind enough to let Em pick up the game when the handlers were shown the run. It was a nice opportunity to put some pent up excitement to good use and cool her down. She also got to play pick up dog on another occasion - the game had floated right into the trees/logs so I treated it as a blind and she really had to clamber over some timber to get it. Super pleased with herself and would have happily picked up a dozen more :D A nice photo of her playing pick up dog.... And another snatching a snooze at lunchtime...

For sure RB :) I'm running a few training classes in the evening and working on papers/data analysis during the day so pretty flexible at the moment. Weekdays are better - let me know how you're going...we will need to do some driving :D

Thanks griff :D DD - yes, that's a rather fun part! The trick is, though, to focus 100% on the dog - in the right place, doing the right thing, looking the right way, reward the right behaviour (makes the next 10 takes easier :laugh:) and keep them cool and relaxed under the hot lights and around lots of unfamiliar people/dogs. This is a "making of" video of the shoot Ziggy did with Josh Thomas that you might enjoy. It always amazes me the "vision" the director/designer/photographer has....feels nothing like that on the day!

I tend to prefer books over DVDs but really love getting help from those in the know - thus I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's training day So...my little film star is just doing her usual thing :laugh: On Thursday night I took a "Puppy Games" class at my club so turned up half an hour earlier than usual to squeeze in some drills on novel grounds. 3 leg lining drill was great - nice long runs and she had to deal with some frustrating distractions that I asked her to work through - including a kid that just wandered in her path out of nowhere. The parent thought it was great that their child was nicely distracted *rolls eyes* Another wagon wheel, working on some tight angles, was all we had time for. Yesterday Mr TSD helped me with some marking drills at the oval.....started with an X marking drill with 6 dummies at a decent distance - all very good except the first angle in which Em over ran...the second angle in was spot on though. Then we did a long-ish double, both thrown to my left. Ran it as 2 singles first which was fine. Then as a double - it was getting a bit shady, the first dummy was black and the throw was a bit flat so got lost in the trees - I don't think she saw it at all. Picked up the second dummy which was a better throw (saw the arc only) but I had to treat the memory mark as a blind. A bit confusing for her (my fault) but she picked it up ok - definitely handler/thrower errors!!! A bit slack today as I've had a long day at work....might just have a play with a few things before the sun goes down :)

Bump!

I currently have just the two - I had another youngster here for a few months and that was full on but only because he was a puppy. I think 2 or 3 in active training is the absolute limit for my lifestyle. Each dog competes in at least 2 sports and retrieving, in particular, is incredibly time consuming. For that reason mine are moderately spaced out age wise. If I bred Em and kept a bitch that would be more than enough! ETA: I should add that we have 3 cats and they also have a lot of one on one time. Add in a litter of foster kittens (sometimes with Mum) occasionally and that's enough for me!

DD - regarding the Rainbow Bridge scene, it was actually fine (to my surprise) because I was so busy concentrating on Em that it really didn't dawn on me. That scene was shot in a vet clinic so space was tight! I was flattened up against a wall trying to keep out of the way but in the best position to give her visual cues and look in the right direction.

I knew dog people would understand Thanks everyone :) Of course I'm dreadfully biased but she really is a darling little thing. I just hope this new found stardom doesn't go to her head! It's tough enough having Zig being Josh Thomas' new best friend :D Can you imagine the state of the red carpet by the time they've finished with it - oh the mud and the hair :laugh:

Last year, my Em was cast in a short film and I've just seen the final cut. Of course, I was delighted that her scene opened the movie but was surprised and impressed with the creativity of the director/producer Nick Barber. It's a sweet story about the relationship a family has with their pets. Em plays the role of Nick's beloved spaniel on his last trip to the veterinary clinic. A scene of me playing with Em in between takes is also included but it's really natural so it didn't freak me out too much :laugh: Em nailed just about every take and I was delighted with her - it was quite an overwhelming setting for a dog used to doing a lot of distance training! Special mention must go to the actor who played Nick, Zak Marrinan, who took the time to get to know Em and was happy to back chain a few moves with her prior to filming - his extra effort made everything go more smoothly. I can't share a link to the film as public screenings would make it ineligible for Nick to enter it in film festivals. However I can link to the Facebook site: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieTheFilm?ref=ts&fref=ts These photos are from Em's shoot: And here are some lovely stills of Em doing her very best "sad" face: Keep an eye out for screenings and feel free to like the Facebook site :)

Nice to be back, RS, and good to see you in here too :) That's a tough one alright - not something I've really had to deal with but am very conscious of it nonetheless. Certainly a genetic component to having a soft mouth but a heck of a lot of learning/coping behaviours too. Just wondering if you can incorporate a little of the bird work with your other obedience - for example, nose touch - hold bird - give - nose touch - reward. Just to take some pressure off and put an easy behaviour beside the difficult one. However, you've got some good people out West you should be able to give you a hand. Good on you for keeping on it - the difficult dogs always make you a better trainer!

And it can be very specific....both my dogs adore our 3 cats - they wrestle, chase, play and snuggle with Dizzy, love to annoy Brontë but ALWAYS defer to Lilly. Even with food. An unfamiliar cat is a different story - it's just pure instinct and chase! Em will seek out and deliver to hand (if possible) any rabbit or bird. Both dogs are excellent with puppies and it doesn't take long for a new pup in the house to learn not to mess with the cats! Lilly just has a "look" that burns right through them :)

The English Springer Spaniel Club of Victoria Inc. will be holding a Retrieving Ability Test for Gundogs (RATG) with Novice & Open Stakes on Sunday 24th March 2013. The test will be held at Ryans Creek Reserve, Melton, Vic 3337. Judge is Barry Kavanagh (Vic). For more details please see the attached pdf. ESS RATG Schedule March 2013.pdf

Love it Tassie! Hope I get to meet the feral Miss K one day.....I suspect Zig would be in

For a while there, Em thought agility start line stays were a cue to backwards weave through my legs. I couldn't stop laughing :laugh:

For the same reasons as above I'd have my ESS - her life revolves around retrieving game. There's nothing she would rather do than hunt. She's also a great little hot water bottle on a cold night! My Dally would be there purely for his entertainment factor :laugh:

It was awfully humid last night but Miss E was driving us a little crazy so took her out for a brief session.....3 leg lining drill on novel ground. Not too bad actually, considering we were interrupted by a very rambunctious Lab who wanted to jump on Em and then steal all her dummies! She was NOT impressed but she bounced back to pick up the last dummy. Also did a wagon wheel with 6 dummies, so 3 were at right angles to each other and the rest were at 45 degrees. Easy peasy, she really enjoyed that!

I'm finally home so time to make some goals for 2013.... Agility Whilst Ziggy is clearly more experienced and confident on trial day, Em is coming along nicely... Ziggy and Em: Independent contacts Continue with the success of independent weaves from 2012. Keep it light, fun and work on speed. I'd rather a fast, fun NQ or DQ than a careful Q. Me: Remember how different these 2 dogs are....Ziggy's idea of supportive handling is Em's idea of feeling crowded and stressed. Work on trialling like we train. STOP BABYSITTING Retrieving With 2 Novice wins and a massive confidence boost for both of us, 2012 was a wonderful year. One more win and she'll be in Restricted but, on the advice of a fellow competitor, we will train for beyond that. Em and Me: Aim for All Age. Keep working on handling and marking drills, particularly in water. Tighten those sits up. Stick with doubles at the moment but progress to triples by the end of the year Keep whistle in my mouth. Always. Slow down - Em is running faster and harder so I need to take my time sending and casting. Steward at the Vic State and National Trials. If Em is absolutely firing I'd consider entering the State Trial but won't have to make that decision for another 6 months. Obedience No pressure on this one - much depends on how much time we have. Zig is ready for Open and put in a nice round at the Dally Nationals. Need to proof his dumbbell retrieve (ironic when you consider Em's retrieving skills :laugh:) and his stays. Would love to do Novice with Em but really not sure that we can find the time.....might save this for when she slows down one day :)