Sayreovi

Probably :) I don't think I will see you around though for awhile, I won't be doing any agility trials until April (Jovi comes in season March), so you probably would have made a decision by then. Can definately post pics and let you know what I like/dislike when I get them :)

Yes, I will be there for the flyball :) Didn't realise there was a cat show, might have to come have a look. Is there a catalogue/breed breakdown too see if certain breeds are there?

Hey LP, I am getting some puppy bars made and am currently waiting on them coming back from being powdercoated. I was very happy with the design and price. The issue you would have had with double doors (as I did) is because of the Xtrails weird back end the doors will be pretty small/slim. We spent ages measuring and going over it, and in the end too have double doors they would only be about 30cms wide. So I, like all his other xtrail people, have opted for a single door. I know you said single door (but just in case you were thinking of double door) it's the best way to go :) He has some on his car that you can look at and have a play with, I will get mine soon and you are welcome to have a look as well. I got mine measured and sent away within a week, hand made for my cars exact measurements, excellent price, awesome service.....can't ask for more :)

What horrible pictures! Hardly any of them looked decent The Toller is one of the best going around, she is a stunning dog but even in these photos looks bad. Seeing as it's already been raised....that GSD looks horrible The pasterns are nearly flat on the ground.

Bit of a brag from us as Jovi got her JDX on the weekend with a 2nd place :D Very pleased and a little scared that we are now in Masters though and I've been trying to put it off for awhile, as we have gone from novice to masters in 3 trials, nearly done it in two but I got lost Even on the weekend we only had one run in excellent (single trial) and she goes and kicks butt :p

I don't vaccinate my dogs any more past the yearly booster, the oldest two haven't had a vaccination in about 5 years. When my girl got KC (just after being vaccinated) they didn't get it at all even though they weren't seperated.

They are very pretty, but are pretty full on and are just as active and intelligent as Borders. Sounds like the OP wants a quieter more relaxed dog. Couldn't think of anything worse than 4 kids so young and a Toller puppy, they generally aren't an easy pup/young adult. :)

She is disgustingly gorgeous :laugh:

Not surprised really . Alot of dogs are taught to go fast and hard, and owners tend to forget about a proper box turn being one of the most essential things to get right and that it doesn't involve a dog slamming into the box and being forced into a turn that way. There is no point having a dog that is super fast going to and from the box if they spend 2-3 seconds actually getting the ball. I fell into that way of thinking with my first two many years ago, but with my girl I did so much foundation work with my new found training techniques that she has one of the best turns I've seen and has a style that will (hopefully) avoid any type of injury :)

Interesting reading, though I am going backwards, I am bringing my boy (8 years) out of "retirement" for agility and scaling back his participation in flyball even more to basically nothing very soon. He is still extremely fit and healthy but finding him enjoying flyball less and less, so will be participating in sports he will enjoy more. I've found agility to be alot less stressful on the dogs body than flyball. In agility at least the dog can run at their own pace and are able to collect themselves and take off/land correctly. Flyball it's a constant bounding strides and alot of pressure on the front if they don't have a good turn on the box. As long as he continues enjoying agility and remains fit then we will continue, though as he ages more I will be keeping a closer eye and may even start him in NADAC where he can jump lower rather than 500 in normal agility. I don't know of any sport that is policied in regards to the fitness of the dog (apart from ET but that's not really a ongoing sport)

Ohh ouch :laugh: I am wounded Must have been mere coincidence the content sounded like a reply to mine only a posts before :)

If that's directed at me sorry but :laugh: I never said anything about breeding champions.......I merely said it would be nice to know WHY the OP would want to breed.....for pets, sport, show whatever, I personally don't care but when they ask about others and don't give any info about themselves then someone will question them. Not the first time and certainly won't be the last that happens here. I was just as curious as to why they would love to breed Staffords, what would be their goal? Surely there would be some reason WHY they would love to just breed?

"Id love to breed dogs as a hobby." Like I said, maybe a bit more info about themselves like why they want to breed instead of just posting the above would have stopped other posters questioning them :) I think it's great they have come here to learn :)

I kinda agree with Cruzzi, the OP asked for experiences and then mentioned how they would like to breed Staffords with no info about whether they show/compete etc etc. There are thousands of 'pet bred' Staffords in Australia, there is no need for more (especially the "rare" blue).....well bred ones however are very hard to find! If someone came on with the same after thought with breeding Tollers and no further information I would be questioning it as well :) While Cruzzi has gone about it the wrong way, I think it would be beneficial for the OP to explain what they have done in dogs, why they want to breed etc etc. I did similar to what Cruzzi has suggested doing, I bought 2 boys, showed and competed. Eventually got my bitch, did the same, done all health tests (about $1500-$2000)and hopefully will have my first litter this year (10 years after getting my first Toller!) I've always wanted to breed but knew learning what I wanted to breed would take time and finding and waiting for the right bitch as well took 7 years. Otherwise this topic has been a nice read, I do like reading about how others started in their chosen breeds :D

Ohh this made me feel sick, those poor dogs They were terrified! Why on earth do that

Definately made my boy more interested in girls and knows exactly what he should be doing when they are in standing heat but otherwise remained the same. Though he has always been a fairly gentle, sweet boy with not a mean bone in his body and he was collected for the first time when he was 6 so doubt breeding would have changed him quickly.

Congrats to everyone involved! Sounded like a very tough and trying trial area, so great work everyone! Wish I had entered

You can do ground work with a harness on but as soon as you start jumping, it needs to come off. The last thing you want to happen is for the harness to catch on the side of an upright and bring the whole thing down on him........ Put the slip lead over your shoulder/body while running or place it close to the area you finish so you can run to the lead together and reward there, it's annoying but it's what you have to do if your dog doesn't stay between exercises and harnesses are too dangerous.

Not sure about how high they are, I don't have a sunroof and mine is a ST as well. CAn you post the measurements? I have a forester, so most probably won't fit any way.. Yep I will post measurements tomorrow. I'll send it by PM so I stop hacking TO's thread. Go ahead Mel :p I don't mind, though I am interested in measurements as well so can you post them in here? (if you don't mind? :)) There shouldn't be too much difference hopefully

How much were they? The main reason I haven't got Puppybars is the wait but umm I would have had them years ago if I had just gone on the wait list They are going to be around $700, and that's just for a double door thingy, no divider or false floor, too get a divider as well I think was $1200? Around that anyway. He has them in his car and I was pretty impressed, very sturdy and well made. He is a dog person (breeds, shows, judges) so am pretty happy with them being suitable :)

Wouldn't fit an 2008 would they SnT? I went out too look at them, and they look great, a few differences like the door openers and bar spacing (smaller) but looks good. Going back in tomorrow to get my car measured and I will have them within a month.....now to decide what colour to powdercoat them in :p

Two of mine do, very eerie and kinda cool, it's the only time I ever get to hear them howl. My little girl does it more, sometimes gets so into she wakes herself up and looks around kinda confused :laugh: Her father is more quiet but I've heard him do it a few times as well. Funny thing is both of them are extremely quiet when awake, they are definately more vocal when asleep :laugh:

Thanks guys! PME - I saw that one but doubt it would fit my car I've sent an email though as they have probably sold. ETA: Thanks SecretKei for the suggestion, going in to have a look at the ones they make and if I like them will get them measured up today They are around the same price as puppy bars so hopefully they are similar or better quality :D

So I know nothing beats puppy bars for quality, but has anyone had them made by someone else in Victoria? Or even know any for sale (anywhere) suitable for an xtrail? I am on the wait list for them, but if I can get them quicker and cheaper it would be great :)

Tollers can come in other shades/markings. One being buff and the other brown tri, both are extremely undesirable and parents who produce them aren't (generally) bred together again, buffs are more common than tris though. They can also have black fringing like Trisvens Fauves, generally they disappear and leave a rich red....sometimes not :)