The Spotted Devil

Season is well and truly done and dusted! Training wise we are working towards our big trip to SA for the lead up trial, State and Nationals so tweaking a few things and building confidence in others. Doing work on selection, memory, not cheating (cover as well as water), single marks (including hills and trees) plus lining across water and handling "back" into water for remote entries. Slipped in a double rise plus 2 bird today and she seemed to really nail the concept without much help from me - fingers crossed! Stopping and handling is pretty good and she is running hard. I need to do some LONG hot blinds just to ensure the forward momentum is there - perhaps Sunday when I go training with a friend.

Jules - not ears specifically… I have discovered that Em can't have dry food containing corn. She scratches and scratches within 12 hours of eating it and stops scratching within 24 hours of taking it out of her diet. However, one of my cats has been on Z/D for a month as she started madly plucking her fur out. I am introducing single protein sources in addition to her Z/D - she started having a chicken neck for dinner on Monday but this will continue for a month before we decide whether there is a problem or not. Lilly's diet hasn't changed and this is sudden onset - not uncommon I'm told.

No I haven't as yet - was going to try a few markets too but am really time poor at the moment and was hoping someone could give me a heads up. I have been told by one producer that they did not have a license to sell them and exported all their chicken feet to Asia.

Love your work Gus my main man :laugh:

Going crazy here Melbourne people - can't find anyone who sells chicken feet - have tried a couple of the bigger suppliers. Where do the restaurants buy them from I wonder???

Poor child has died in hospital http://www.oberonreview.com.au/story/2469486/tragedy-oberon-boy-airlifted-to-westmead-dies/?cs=2125

Thanks everyone - will keep asking around in Melbourne.

Tried to buy chicken feet today at a specialist chicken place and was told they don't have a license to sell them and export them all. Anyone know about this???? Would love to feed my lot a couple a day as a preventative.

Yeh, there's a few in retrieving trials too :laugh: Great - thanks so much Tassie - could be very handy as something to recommend!!!

Good one Sheena!

So, so sorry PD.

I feed once daily. At least an hour after training (retrieving or agility) or exercise - which means no earlier than about 6pm and as late as 10pm. Both of them sleep in as long as I need them to and rarely ask to go outside in the morning.

I thought as much Tassie - but might be a good one to recommend to folk starting out in retrieving perhaps? Thankyou!

As a retrieving person can I ask what the retrieve course is like?

Hey raineth! I love using the clicker but can I suggest that you ditch it on your walks? Apart from requiring extra hands :D it is such a powerful tool that if your timing is very slightly out (as in one second) you may be inadvertently rewarding the wrong behaviour. If you are using LAT try dropping a marker altogether - look away, look at you (repeat ad infinitum), treat.

Ain't that the truth!

And loving it no doubt!!!! Ha - it's gonna get worse before it gets better :laugh: Friend of mine's girl had 10 puppies recently....9 boys

Hey you asked :p And you all delivered Thanks to all who have posted. More suggestions welcome too!

Ptolomy - do you have another baby? I've lost track - haven't seen you around for ages!

Oh Dog. I've started making my own list of "must haves" now. You guys are such bloody enablers

Hey agility peeps I have a friend with a Dally who lives in a remote area and has no or very little access to agility clubs. She's currently doing obedience and is tempted to transition to the dark side :laugh: So hit me with your favourite agility DVDs and online courses please. I am biased towards SG's Handling 360 but it's probably not for everyone. Many thanks!

Clean Run is amazing but shipping costs will kill you now. I bought 3 Kong Wobblers for around $12-13 each! I was going to buy just the one but Mr TSD freaked out when he saw them in Petstock for nearly $50 and made me get 3 with free shipping :laugh:

Oh yes I forgot about the endless energy - my girl won a Top Trick Dog competition which had a bit of TV and radio coverage. People in the media were saying I'd dosed her up with red cordial first :laugh: At 17 you couldn't let her off leash as she'd run flat out and pull up so sore the next day. She pinched and ate an entire loaf of bread (including the bag) the night before I had her PTS for liver cancer. Crazy bugger she was :)

I have a road refresher type bowl in the car….it's brilliant but hasn't been road tested by a crazy pup.

Assuming he's outside...give him a clam shell full of water and toys to go nuts with and use blocks of ice in a metal bucket with a brick in the bottom. That's off the top of my head so think it through first :laugh: