The Spotted Devil

Thanks again SSM - clean room, comfortable bed and very nice hosts. I didn't arrive until after reception had closed so they gave me instructions to pick up the key and find the room and left the light and heater on :)

Congratulations fetchin' That's wonderful!!! Back to retrieving training for us after concentrating on the Agility Nationals for a few weeks. Em went completely nuts when I got some game out of the freezer today...will see what she has remembered!

Here she is! Novice Jumping 400 final at the 2012 Agility Nationals. Em was really quick out of the blocks and I nearly got caught out on that first front cross.

I'll cross post mine also :) This was a NQ Novice Agility run of Em's - she was very overwhelmed early in the week so I was thrilled with her effort. So much more enthusiasm, she attempted the weaves and didn't sniff the ground at all Thanks E for filming it

OOOOOO.....I hardly ever go there...can you put them here as well so we can keep them all together :) ETA... I just had a look in Off Topic & couldn't find it I would love to see it. Sorry - been driving! They are in here....can post the vids in this thread when I get home if you like! http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/238398-zig-ems-excellent-adventure/ Have a nice flight home amypie and Trixie

I've got a few videos of Em in Off Topic :)

SSM - thank you SO much! I will ring them ASAP

Hoping someone can assist and showies are pretty knowledgeable. I'm heading home tomorrow from the agility nationals in Sydney to Melbourne (via Yarra Valley). I was going to break the journey at Zig's breeders as I did on the way up but he's gone and brought their bitches into season, the great Romeo :laugh: So I may as well drive a bit further but I'm too tired to do the whole trip plus it's just me. I'm looking for a clean place to rest my head - don't care about much else. If the dogs can come inside in a crate, fantastic, otherwise car is fine as they are both pretty exhausted. Maybe Albury???? But pretty flex. Thanks in advance.

Go Trixie - she will be great! Especially after last night's positive experience in Open! Congratulations amypie

Wahoo Go Trixie!!!! Especially with all the distractions out there! Can't believe I had to read this on DOL

Nice one amypie! My youngster is a bit overwhelmed indoors as well. Am running her in JDO - will turn it into an easy JD confidence builder. I'm hoping outside will be easier on her too. LukeW - Barkly is running sooo well! I have seen Portugese Water Dogs also

What details do you need? Results will be on the website nightly if that helps :)

Was it The Big Merino that got you in? :laugh:

I'll tell you tomorrow :D But they look pretty well drained - if they are slushy today it will be a worry as there will be no let up. Fingers crossed!

Just popping in to say see you in Sydney amypie Yes you will see me there, with the only Mannie, awww The one who stil won't be trained for the beepy table since training is cancelled tonight due to storms :laugh: Oh well! Don't stress - I played it for my dogs and they cocked their heads to one side and then focussed on the cheese at hand :laugh: There will be 3 Dalmatians which will be very exciting!

Just popping in to say see you in Sydney amypie

Thanks wuffles - think we will play it by ear! Took the dogs out this morning for some distance challenge work as Em really isn't ready for Open and we run it for fun. Had a great time with both dogs and it really helped their understanding. By the time we added in some weaves we were all MUD from head to toe :laugh:

Good. I'm glad to hear it :) Any idea how long the trial will run? I'm trying to coordinate catching up with a few people. The owner of Em's sire can't get there until 3pm - would we be done by then?

I don't doubt they do! I'm going overseas for 6 weeks soon (mostly work) and they bloody better miss me because I don't know how I'm going to stop myself cutting the trip short to get home to them

How did Ava pull up? The owner of Em's sire may bring him down to watch on Saturday too which would be great. Agility training was cancelled last night due to the pouring rain so I set up a nice little jump - weaves - jump training session this morning to practice those angled entries and tempting early exits. What fun! Oh and we'd suspected it for a while but Em has NO trouble jumping 600. She's easily a 400 dog :laugh:

I really do miss the good old days :laugh: Prior to the 2000 Olympics I flew with my dog and cat several times out of Sydney. There were always building works going on and I had to line up with the regular passengers to check in. We were constantly waived the fee once the check in staff met them and we were always pulled out of the queue and treated like we were flying first class. Then they'd ask if I would like to put them on the plane myself so I'd walk out on the tarmac with a crated cat plus dog on lead and her empty crate. Oh the days before security was a priority!!!

My working ESS is like a little shadow....inside dog but she gets a lot of exercise and does a lot of training. Spaniels do like to be with their humans so that bit is not unsurprising. Firstly, if he destroyed a crate it sounds like you had a soft crate rather than a wire crate. I wouldn't put ANY youngster in a soft crate and would be disappointed if they didn't try to get out! I like a smart puppy :) I started with a wire crate - left the door open, tossed treats into the crate, made it the most rewarding place to be in the world. If she wasn't training she ate every meal in there - also stopped the cats and older dog pinching her food but that's another story! She only ever was let out of the crate when she was quiet and calm. All this was going pretty well when one night she found her voice and barked and barked and barked to be let out. Oh the noise!!!!! I tried not to laugh because she was SO persistent and had clearly found some confidence in her ability to manipulate us! She kept barking so we ignored her, ate our own dinner and turned the TV up LOUD to drown out the noise and our fits of giggles. As soon as she was quiet, I let her out. It took a few weeks of pushing through this period as she improved then regressed and then improved again. But we never gave in. I always made sure she was very well exercised (mentally and physically) before being crated. I extended the periods she was left in the crate being quiet. We upgraded it to a much larger wire crate that she now adores - when she sees me getting dressed to go out she gets very excited and hops in her crate waiting for her Kong. I've started leaving her in the lounge room with the rest of the Zoo as she is past the destructive phase but she gets so disappointed that she won't get to have her treats in her crate. She's usually asleep in there when I get home anyway. I still have a baby gate to the rest of the house as she has a penchant for cat toys.....and I suspect the dogs would be up on the beds asleep with the cats if I gave them half a chance! I would never get another dog to deal with separation anxiety - there is little evidence that it helps anyway. Dogs need to learn that there is a time for exercise, play, training and resting. It is very hard for a dog to rest if he doesn't have enough exercise, play or training.

Well done bedazzledx2 Queens Birthday wasn't it? As an ex WA-er I remember that long weekend being different from over East.

Oh I hope Ava is ok Do come say hi if you are there on Saturday - I think we'll be pretty easy to Spot :) Forecast minimum is -5 so I'm glad I'm not camping

Wahoooooooo! Way to go Congrats on all the Rally quallies too