The Spotted Devil

There's an Agility Australia FB page? :laugh: I love being out of the loop sometimes :D

It can definitely be abused but used properly they are fantastic. I use crates as part of training (drive and impulse control), as a rotation system when I'm training multiple dogs (although I'm teaching self control with open crates at the moment), as a way of separating pup and adults or bitch in season or when I can't directly supervise (eg baby puppy or kids visiting). If I can put a dog outside or in another part of the house I will and pup would only get put in there for sleeping, travelling or fun games. Maximum 4 hours during the day and pup would be ready for a big sleep after training/exercise. Longer than that and they'd be in a big pen as well. Love being able to crate a youngster next to my bed at night as they always sleep soundly with very little fuss. I don't put my pups in tiny crates either - they have lots of room to move around.

Ask what their cleaning protocol is perhaps? Thing is there is always risk - you can bring diseases home on your shoes! It's just about managing acceptable risk.

I'm all for socialising but I'd call a pet shop high risk. I'd be carrying my pup only....even if the staff told me it would be fine.

Probably should add my lot to this although I'm a bit late! Thornfield's first litter of (field-bred) ESS. Liver and white boy, 2 black and white boys and my wild child, liver and white girl. Due 22nd April. Born just before midnight and into the early hours of 23rd April.

I love agility because it makes me work REALLY hard as a trainer and handler PLUS every run is different. I like obedience but I do find it a bit repetitive. Retrieving is incredibly challenging and rewarding but you need a Gundog for that!

Yep! Perfect! Well done!

She is a WILD little bundle of fun! You know they say you get the dog you need? I'm not sure I would have been ready for her several years ago. Now she's just perfect! Wild Child!

Agree. They need to be a kilo. Seven weeks will just mean people push it to 6 weeks.

Sorry Megan If it's any consolation Ginny is penned separately from my two for about 90% of the time. Zig's not as excited about pup biting his feet as he used to be and I don't like Em and Ginny spending too much time together. They get supervised play time though which is hilarious.

She is super cute alright. Playing hide and seek on the back block today. She's smashing through cover - it's just divine to watch her tackle anything in her path.

I think one boy is spoken for but I'm still looking for the other two. Have had a few enquiries but not quite the right homes. They will be lovely, drivey dogs I suspect! And they are all the biggest snugglers.

How could you not! Yes I know Whytewood - do join the Dally Club too. It's great meeting other owners!

Oh pretty! Who from may I ask? Yes, agree with the advice given. Relax and enjoy! I am doing a year long puppy course with my youngster. Lots of building motivation and self control plus lots of recall work. Fun, fun, fun! I don't train formal control positions but pup works them out as we go. She offers a sharp little sit when she wants to play tug!!!

Same here Gruf.

I'm getting a car organiser but it does get complicated with 3 dogs and 3 sports lol. I have a training bag that I keep stocked up with tugs, Dumbbells, dry treats plus bowls, water, hand cleaner and I take that with me. Unless I'm agility trialling the back floor always has gumboots, dummies, game bag and a white shirt for retrieving training. Agility I have to pack the car.

It's never exclusively genetics or environment. Always both. We have enough scientific evidence showing what happens when you don't handle puppies between 3 and 16 weeks. I just popped my baby puppy in her crate, put her crate in the car and went to buy chook food. People who sold me the chook food patted her and had a cuddle. Popped by the post office, vet and Physio on the way home. Met a minimum of 10 people, watched a whole lot more walk by and saw a whole lot of new stuff - walking sticks, tradesmen, bike, motor bike, cars. That's how I do it as everyone I know is as busy as I am!

I won't leave my adult dogs unsupervised with a puppy, let alone a baby!

I actually set up the whelping box in the living room surrounded by a LARGE playpen (initially so I could sleep next to the whelping box) and hung sheets and blankets so there was no visual contact between Em and my other dog/cats. She was incredibly protective so this worked really well. It's been freezing up here but the central heating has been just wonderful. As pups got older and Mum didn't want to stay with them much and we wanted to turn the heating down at night I put a snuggle safe in their (open) crate.

They are all rather special aren't they Sorry CBD - big thread in OT just evolved from a road trip into puppies :laugh: Almost didn't want to jinx it

Would love the details if you don't mind:):) There's nothing really near you unfortunately BUT I did travel to Hastings from Brighton for agility for a few years! Now I live in the Eastern Suburbs I go to Croydon & Districts Obedience Dog Club which is probably your closest. My absolute pick would be private small classes or one-on-one with Awesome Paws. They are a long drive to Cranbourne for me but seriously worth it. Agility is about relationship building and lots of flat work (ie no equipment) and the jumps etc are the icing on the cake!

Could I run around in them comfortably anyway, say for training or general dog running? They aren't too stiff? No they're not stiff - they are quite loose but I would find them a bit noisy to run in maybe? Wish you were closer so you could try them out!!!

I wear Frogg Toggs but not for the 30 sec in the ring itself.

Thanks Snook - as you can imagine Mr TSD is a bit smitten...with all of them actually :laugh: The boys are learning that "sit" = "please" :D

Thank you - I am delighted with all of them actually but I'm glad I am keeping this wild child :laugh: Her registered name is Thornfield Empower :D