The Spotted Devil

Oooh, could you describe how you do this? It sounds fascinating. Also sounds very useful for teaching the long (55m) send aways that we need to train for UD over here. Happy to Star, but if you can hang out a couple of days I'll video it? Might make more sense and I wanted to take some more vid of Em anyway. You could substitute the dummies for plates of food too but maintain the integrity of the drill.

Just reading the rules of this exercise again - what are you all using for the multiple retrieve articles?

That's a tough one for sure and I understand the dilemmas associated with the exercise. I might start experimenting with a few things and see how we go. A bit silly that the dog can't use it's eyes OR it's nose - ESP perhaps? ;)

Snooza D1000s here (plus blankets) for both dogs - the only bedding without a tooth mark :D Well worth the investment.

I think it really would - it's not the distance (which you can train for) but the dog learning to trust that there will always be a 'pot of gold' at the end of the rainbow. Does that make sense? The drills develop the dog's ability to take the line - and it's done with white and orange dummies. But it's not an easy exercise and something I train just about daily.

Had a lovely weekend and have a head full of things to try. I am much more confident about moving forward with Ziggy's training now. Had fun camping with the dogs too and was grateful for my brilliant tent and cosy set up when it poured with rain on Sunday night! Great to meet m-j and kallistar - sorry for the brief chatting but I had to fill the breaks with training so my lot would settle during the seminar. Very much enjoyed seeing the variety of breeds. Turns out that the wire hair viz pup (OMG so drivey!!! ) belongs to a friend of a retrieving friend. Small world! Also fell in love with the red and white setter youngster. Drool included :D Sam's Aussie was wonderful to watch - such a happy little worker. Also caught up with one of the nicest people in the Dally world whom I met at last year's Dalmatian Nationals. Really interesting what I focussed on this time around - last time I took away much more about the bigger picture. This time my expectations of my dog are higher (not just a difficult Dalmatian which is the message I had been getting from others), I have a very different youngster and I was really interested in the small details. I'm already looking forward to the next SH seminar.

Condidering the amount of time I put in to training blinds with Em I'm hoping that's one exercise we won't have to worry about I have an idea I'd like to try with Zig so we will see how that goes

You could ask, kallistar! I'm not bringing a camera...got enough in the car with all my camping gear etc!!! I'm heading off tomorrow so see you on Saturday

TO - that's what I'm doing. They will be out of the way of course

It took me ages to bond with my Dalmatian - it was partly him (he could be a right little turd at times ) but I think it says more about where I was at. I think he's just perfect now and love training him. I bonded with Little Em much more quickly - I was more patient and much more relaxed about making mistakes. Less pressure lets you concentrate on the fun things. They are chalk and cheese and just brilliant.

m-j I am very lucky to train with LL regularly and have also handled one of her dogs in novice and restricted. We can also talk training theory until those cows come home ;)

Not sure if I can fit the ET in this year but Mr TSD bought me a bike today for my birthday So no excuses now

Getting excited! Now traveling up a few days earlier to train with Lablover as well as on the way home :D

Thanks gals - really nice of you I'm enjoying everything about training/competing with Ziggy at the moment - we are both learning so much and I am much more relaxed about the end result. We also train with some great people

Your Dalmatian? I love them, not sure I would love the little white hairs everywhere though and like you said I think they could be slightly more energetic than I would like. I want an active dog, but you know how some breeds have that slightly more over the top, manic kind of excitability? Just slightly reigned in from that would be lovely :D Sorry - I meant my English Springer Spaniel! Em is working lines (or 'field bred') so much less feathering than a show ESS (I only brush her for my own pleasure or if she has been playing in sticky mud) and a little smaller but incredibly active. I took her out this afternoon to KCC park and she was much more content training (retrieving and obedience) than doing meet and greet with the people/dogs. Not anti-social, just better things to do! Yes, I believe there is Dalmatian hair in the houses of people who have never owned a Dally Ziggy is pretty full on but he suits me beautifully. I know others on DOL have Dallies that are more laid back than him but I love the madness for dog sports. Dals are in Group 7 - Non-sporting.

Thank you! It was horrid weather SG - I didn't even bother setting up my gazebo. We had nearly 50mm of rain at our place the night before! Unsurprisingly, Ziggy is still in bed

Any of the smaller gundogs might suit but just beware of energy levels.....speaking from my current experiences Em is perfect for us but only because I put a lot of time into her exercise and training. Obviously she is at the extreme end but it might come down to looking at different lines within a breed.

Just popping in to brag about my mad Spotted Dog getting his JDX today. Tough conditions for a dog that hates the cold (it was freezing!) and rain (every time we stepped in the ring!) - we didn't have the best start (both of us were mentally still near the heater at home I suspect ) but finally gained a really lovely pass and 2nd place. Ziggy also did a fantastic Open run in the afternoon but just tipped a bar coming home - he was really focussed and fire-y which was fun! I don't feel quite ready for Masters Jumping yet so will start running ADX and ADO and continue having fun in JDO. I think his breeders will be wrapped when they get my email as Ziggy has had quite a busy year thus far! Yarrowfell High Society CD AD JDX (pending!)

Wonderful! I suspect you will enjoy the weekend. I have been to her workshops before but I'm coming at this seminar with fresh eyes.

Just hand Em over to Sue and she'll be ready for All Age in a weekend Actually, so would Ziggy Now that IS funny m-j - looking forward to meeting you. I don't have a working spot but will have dogs in tow as Mr TSD will have enough on his hands with 3 cats and a couple of foster kittens that won't make weight for desexing by Thursday

I will try to pack light to free up my passenger seat :D I'm probably heading home via Violet Town for retrieving training and a few glasses of vino with Lablover. I'm sure Sue would be up for that! I would even let her train Zig up for UD

Next weekend (21st/22nd May) is the SH seminar in Albury and I'm really looking forward to it. Any DOLers going? I think I'll be pretty easy to 'spot' with Zig and Em in tow

Would it be worth taking one traveling i.e camping??? or are they not robust enough.

I put pup's crate next to my bed - she felt comforted by being with her new family and if I heard her get restless or whine during the night I could get her outside to toilet. She learnt to sleep in if I did too

I have always mouthed my own dog (not that I have shown much). The international judges do seem to appreciate it more.