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I used the new wee-saw at a trial on the weekend and my dog LOVED it! Mind you she is part chihuahua so it's PERFECT for her. Don't know what all the other dogs will make of it!

I haven't seen a working ESS. Wonder where I can meet one in real life? The show ones are lovely but a lot of coat. Is Em from a breeder in Vic? What do you think the dog on the DOL rescue site is? He looks pretty keen to do something. Poor baby. Thanks for the link to those coolie pups. I did spot them and they are cute. According to the thread those pups are going to be rehomed pretty easily. Althou the plain coloured ones might not be as popular. When I wanted to get a rescue I didn't look at pups cause they tend to be in high demand anyway. It is the 6-12 month dogs that need help. I am going to take some time and look at more choices. I am going to the Spring Fair to compete next week so will wander over to the dog show to drool. BC Love If you live near Wollongong you are spoilt in terms of training for agility. I go to Dapto Wed nights. When I started there was a pretty intense training program that involved 5 levels with a "relationship" class (intro to rewards/play/tug) to start. It was hard work and basically followed the system of handling from Greg Derrett. The instructors who devised the classes are very experienced and one instructor will be coach for the Australian team going to Texas for the World Games. There are some changes about at the club at the moment but by the time your pup is ready something will be available. The obedience is Sat and in the area it is probably your best bet. I go to the other obedience club cause I can't wake up sat morning. ( Up too late maybe! :D ). I also go to Wollongong Dog Sports agility Monday night sometimes just for a chance to run my dogs. They aim for people who want to do agility more casually. Might run into you one day soon.

Good advice! thanks. TSD I could stop looking now if you could just send EM over. :D She did more running in that video than my dog would do in a week or more. She looks in great shape and she is smaller than I expected. How tall does she grow to ? Looks like you have done some great work training wise too. I did meet some Brittany's but not sure they were for me. I have noticed the rescue ESS in the RSPCA lockup in TAS. Shame he is so far away. "Milo" is on the rescue page here on this site. Dogs NSW article about ESS said that they could be more energetic than some people could handle. He looks so good,think he would play? but would he be "birdy" as he is so untrained. I do like Em ( a lot). And I must tell you that here in Wollongong we have a spotty dog called Poppy (rescue) competing who is just fantastic in agility. I've run her at training and when you release her she just lets loose.! Despite a few little distractions in the odd run she is just awesome! Thanks Woofen for the rescue dog site ..will look at that. I have only seen one aussie shep doing agility but it was funny because the dog was near my tent with 2 older people. The dog lazed round all day and was a fairly large build. Yet when the older bloke went to run her.... the dog was wild and so keen, I was really surprised. I saw him later to tell him how lovely she was and got the biggest cuddles. She sticks in my mind as a lovely dog (bit too big and fluffy for me to take home thou). Manchester Terrier - nice dogs but I want something a bit more med size this time. like a 400-500 dog. I like Amypie's dogs thou. I do know someone with a great MT pup but I'm sure she also said agility wise the pup is not turning out like she hoped. she thinks her rescue x working dog is going so much better. Amypie has hit the nail on the head with this thou... "You could get an adult rescue, you will have an idea of how the dog is temperament wise etc but there is so much foundation that is put into a puppy, you basically have a clean slate." This is my big choice really. I don't want to get a rescue if it puts me so much on the back foot to start with. I did consider a dog from a breeder at one time. I had a good mini poodle picked out, spoke to the breeder and was waiting to see the pup on a Sat. But the Fri before I was having second thoughts cause I felt guilty not getting another rescue. However when I rang to confirm my visit to the pups I found I had missed out anyway. Poodle wise if I did get one now it would be a toy bred locally as my friend has 2 from this breeder and they are good. poodlefan - in regards to individual dogs I've seen that I would take home Number one is Em now ;) But it would be a black GSP (bred by L. Hammer), the odd kelpie x bc, a brittany that was feral I met on the beach one day, short coat working bc my friend owns and a young crazy viszla ( bred in Vic somewhere). Surprises me what dogs I have picked. Funnily no bc on this list. Oops. Nice to be considering a new addition anyway. Ta for your input. Oops, sorry Corvus, your dog , Valhunds are great dogs. I love some of Lisa's dogs. Not for me as in body height too short for what i want. I know that they get taken for a corgi by some but they are def not corgi like. Lisa's dogs are real characters. Ta

HI Maybe I can give a little more info... I don't really have a fave breed as such but often will just click with a certain dog. Just one look and you seem to connect with some dogs. poodlefan - in the past I have fallen in love with poodles (all sizes) :D , kelpies and kelpie/bc crosses, .helties, brittany, ESS, foxy x's, GSP's , coolies. I am drawn to dogs that are people focused, lean, short coated, very soft and clingy ( maybe not so good in agility dog). And easily excited so that I get a wriggley bum thing happening. As a dog owner I provide the best care I can and is my job to give them a happy life. I brought a house backing onto a pony club ( private training land ) and when you walk over the creek about 6 playing fields. From here I can get onto miles of bike track around the lake. And the beach is nearby. Great place to exercise that more energetic dog. As a short exercise option I can throw the ball over the land directly behind my place. Dogs allowed inside etc. My dogs get walked very day for an hour, trained some days, agility twice a week and obedience if not competing Sat. As a trainer (try to be) I think I am pretty soft, excitable, emotive, positive and try hard. I think my trainer might say I was keen, talkative, soft Or maybe she'd say I am not as consistant as she would like. :D And I reward too much sometimes. But I do love my dogs as we all do. I understand JulesP's comments and maybe I should rephrase. Like FHRP posts - I don't mean a competitive dog who must win. But a dog that is capable of competing and might enjoy competing at higher levels. One that will be happy to run. So I can enter more runs at a trial. So I get to practice more skills! My dogs - I have a chi x. She is a very timid and it is a BIG ask for her to run in a trial situation. I am very happy if she decides she will run and she only has "not at all" or "flat out". I love running her but I only ask her to do it once each trial now. The other is a kelpie x chi who is 40cm and physically capable. However he is the most laid back dog. Even at home and on walks. He wouldn't be chasing balls or running around. He likes the odd play with a quiet small dog. I have just got him tugging. I struggle with building motivation. However due to good instruction at my club the handling is not so much a problem. Both dogs are easy to handle and read me so well. They both go where you ask them to. But neither dog would enjoy doing multiple runs. I adopted my dogs 7 years ago roughly and they are the best. They are so easy to live with (now ). They are no trouble and such a joy. And I think Iam extra proud of them cause they maybe didn't get the best start. Both dogs enjoy trials only cause it means they are with me. The chi likes the BBQ chicken reward but the kelpie would be just as happy on someone's chair ( or lap ). So that gives more background? If I get a different type of dog and it is not so motivated then I will smack myself and try harder. I don't know of anyone who rehomes their "slow" agility dogs. Which is why many have multiple dogs. If I didn't do agility I would probably not get another dog but foster. Or if I did it would be a failed foster or small JR/ foxy type dog. Thank you for the info on structure. I can see how conformation is important. I'm interested in what people have said about rescue dogs. As Woofen says I have heard that dogs in care take a while to show their true natures. Weasles - if I did go with a rescue i thought that I would try for a dog with tug and toy drive already. And not a timid nature. More dog social and confident. Thanks for your help everyone!

Hi all :D This OP has just bolted home from work and now have to go out. Tonight is a dinner to give our thanks to our two main agility instructors who are just going to have a little break from teaching for a while. The program of agility they devised was a great source of knowledge and some lucky people like me are so grateful. But thanks so much everyone for your replies. I knew it was hard to ask this question without coming across badly and some people do have the questionable benefit of knowing me. As soon as I can as I must fly I will re-read your replies and reply.

I would love to hear from others how you decided what dog was the right dog for you? Did you know what breed you wanted? Or did you get what you needed? What advice would you give someone looking for a second or third dog to compet with and hopefully learn more in their chosen sport? How did any existing dogs accept a new dog particularly if the new dog was a totally different kettle of fish? So many questions :D sorry I have 2 rescue dogs already and thought I would always get a third. I did go to look at a rescue dog the other day and it was a lovely young dog (re-homed fast). However i wasn't confident it was the dog for me. It made me rethink what I wanted in my next dog. Am I expecting too much for a rescue dog to be what I want when I am not the most experienced dog person. Should I be increasing my chance of getting what I want by getting a puppy? I am really keen on agility and wanted a dog that might enjoy agility and would be capable hopefully of running at higher levels. I enjoy agility and find myself wanting to learn more. Just want a dog that might enjoy running as much as me. Anyway, I would like to hear any advice you have to give. Thanks

I go to JJ Kelly sometimes. But mainly to give my dogs some social time. My dogs trained elsewhere and some methods at Illawarra are too harsh for me personally. Dapto is more up to date and meeting lots of dogs is good. Just keep attending and you should get there. Good luck and I might see you round!

Some methods of teaching contacts don't need club equipment till the end. I think I learnt like Kavik basically. Mrs Rusty Bucket --your method might also be hard to the dog as kelpiechick points out. In case this helps make it clearer....one method our club uses First we had a square of plastic (plastic clear as it is easier to fade!). Taught dog to nose touch square (target) anywhere. Had in hand but used to get dog really excited and keen to touch that target in any position! At the same time we were teaching superfast drops by using food in our hand and dropping the dog at our side. (both sides of course) Next step would be placing the target on the ground with the dog at our side. The dog ( as it has been practising) should drop as the arm goes down and he is asked to nose touch the target. We did this until the dog would drop on the target and give one or multiple nose touches as requested until asked to release. Then we introduced a travel board which is easy to make. The whole procedure is repeated but now the dog is asked to walk on the board and then do targeting at the end of the board. Repeated both sides and also with the handler in different places. Before we even started using equipment the dogs are released from any place and they should drive to the end of a board and target. When the dog knows the position we would simply remove the square of clear plastic and the dog barely noticed. My chi still drops and starts giving multiple nose touches when she is trying to get my attention or a treat. The rest is easier as you move onto longer boards instead of travel planks. I used a longer piece of wood at home and a shorter piece that I sometimes took to trials and used at the back of my car to remind one dog of his contacts before we ran. Just backchain the contact part of the behaviour. Our club did this using a board from the dog walk but you could do it yourself. Continue backchaining the behaviour on low dog walk plank and one piece of the A frame until dog is maintaining their contact behaviour at all heights. This method didn't need much equipment time until the end. I was lucky in that my club has a very experienced trainer who follows a very structured training system. At trials we were asked to always get the contact even if we had to stop and go back. Some others with more drivey dogs than mine had dogs who were simply awesome at stopping on those contacts. Two in particular were very impressive and used to get a audience. I wasn't taught contacts originally as i was told my dogs are small and didn't need them. Which isn't true as even small dogs can jump off contacts. So since getting more training I did teach them. Only to find as the dogs went further in agility that time is harder to get. And my little one is uncertain so I just let them run. With their size I can get away with it. But my next dog will be bigger and hopefully faster so I would teach contacts this way again. Has anyone used a method to teach running contacts. CleanRun has put some forward and I wonder if they will be a thing for the future. The automatic treat release machine looks like fun! ;) .

At the Dogs NSW Open Day recently they had a display that involved dogs ( in this case toy poodle) being sent out to a spot and asked to "herd" a ball in with their nose to the owner. So this is Treibball? I thought it looked like fun and reminded me of my mini poodle I had once whose fave game was me kicking him a soccer ball. He would take it and using his nose as a guide would run around with this ball all over the place. He then would bring it back to me so I could kick it again. We would have loved Treibball then! Looks fun!

Mrs Rusty Bucket When you say "maybe a nose touch on the ground (transfered from a hand touch" I am confused. I wasn't sure if you knew a easy ( using simple tools) way to teach contact behaviour. I wrote a long post on the way we were taught a "specific contact behaviour" and my new laptop just lost its connection as I finished. Crap!!!! So do you know a simple way to teach a contact behaviuor? We only used a target ( piece of plastic or lid ), a short plank of light wood and a thicker longer plank for the final end of training. I was curious how others learnt but I'm off before this bloody computor dies again!

Aussielover - What comments about coolies made you think twice? And I'm also swayed by looks. I'm too practical at times. I like short coated slinky dogs (like the ones I have ) and really can't see a full coated BC or aussie in my small house with 2 other dogs. I back onto a large bit of land and I like to be able to give the dogs a quick wipe if they end up in the lake, simply muddy or maybe rolled in pelican poo like my gold chi x likes to do.

Thanks for posting this topic.... interesting. Wish it was as easy as saying BC's are like this and kelpies are like this... I can't see which I would like as different dogs in each breed seem to vary a fair bit. And I get that if you went for a line you like you would stand a better chance of finding a dog you like. I was talking to poodle owners at a trial recently and most poodles were very focused on their owner which is fine. But I got a big kelpie hug from Kavik's Kaos. He is much bigger than kelpies I am used to so his paws can nearly wrap round my waist. And he really looks at you and makes eye contact. I like a dog that likes people. I told Kaos he was making it even harder to be looking at poodles with his big smile. I do hear that some owners say Kelpies can "blow" you off etc? I am not the most experienced trainer but I find when my kelpie x is running happily he really watches my every move and always goes where I ask him. Even if I stuff it up sometimes. I don't want a "hard" dog (strong minded, stubborn) if that makes sense but like the more slinky submissive kelpies. I think we need more koolies in agility as their colours are amazing.

If I lived near enough I'd come and give you a big hug. Very sorry for your loss. I would be heartbroken and we understand.

I love that ADAA has "not for competition" runs. You have the normal course time and you can do whatever you want. I see many people just doing it to be able to repeat contacts or obstacles they aren't confident on. Gives the dog (and you) a chance to run under competition conditions. Start lines stays are another thing you can work on. I used them to run a dog not so confident or drivey. I can do a few jumps etc and then reward. I watched a more experienced trainer work her young dog once in a NFC run. She did a great job training a young dog in the trial atmosphere and this is something I will definitely do one day. As to when to trial - I ran both my dogs and did OK but we didn't have much training. I thought we were going well and we qualified a bit. I moved elsewhere and started training using a handling system (GD's). Looking back at early runs I can see all these errors (pretty normal). All for fun I know but the thing is I was often running into my dogs path. I caused my dogs to be confused about where we were going and what was next. I also ran them with no contacts as I was told they were small and wouldn't jump off ( yeah, right ) Confusing the dog by inexperienced handling can make some dogs slow down or worry/ shut down. Some dogs couldn't care less. But you don't need to be perfect to run. Ask your club trainer for their advice. Can you take dogs to trials and let them get used to it? Working on focus around the rings. One hint is ALWAYS toilet your dog before you go near the ring. Lots of dogs when nervous decide they have to go in the ring. You'll get there and it'll be loads of fun! And lots of nice people

Well done to all you happy posters! :D I don't post normally but I am so happy with one of my dogs today. I was so impressed with her as I know she finds the whole agility thing hard in comps. Gemma is a chi x foxy and runs pretty hot and cold. There are no half arsed efforts - it is either won't start or goes flat out. She seemed to be going well and flying thru her jumping titles anyway ( harder in agility due to weave nerves ) Due to her really shutting down in her last 4?5 starts she hasn't left the start. I have been just asking her over one jump and thats all. I haven't even entered her in another trial now till I see how she feels. So today I was praying she would at least do one jump happily. But she lined up pretty good, flew over the first 3 jumps and so into the weaves - the rest flew. She did the AD course in 40 secs (SCT 70)for 1st. Small fry to what some dogs can do but I get a real kick out of her running like this! Happy training everyone.

Black rescue dog known as - Sooty! Couldn't think of anything else but "Jet" which he wasn't..... so stayed Sooty. Long story but I found myself driving home (2 weeks after getting Sooty) with a berserk frantic golden chihuahua x foxy who had spent the first 8 months of her life locked up. I swear it took from Sydney to Orange before she stopped going mental. When I finally got home she came out of the crate, jumped on the lounge and sat still with her mouth shut. Finally I looked at her and she was really seriously cute (when she wasn't screeching)... I told her she was a bit of a gem and suddenly knew she was meant to be "Gemma". Funny as with the first dog I had no idea, very whatever. But the second ,she was definitely a Gemma. We are weird.

The weather could have been better BUT it could have been a lot worse too. I had a lookie at earthdogs. Interesting thou don't know if my chi foxy x would think a rabbit worth the trip. Would be a sport some dogs are a natural at. Missed any herding if you don't count a cute working type BC trying to herd up dogs with eye alone at the food stand. I was hoping to look at 2 different breeds in particular and it was very interesting. I think you can learn so much more actually going to a show to ask about breeds/breeders. I patted my first kelpie puppy! Very cute from Glenrock kelpies. Owner was nice too. Sorry I missed you Woofen, found the kelpie stall a bit late after you'd taken the pups home. Spoke to Megan at the stand and she was very helpful. Gave her dogs lots of pats, could take Lily home with me. Not sure how many spectators were there due to the weather but everyone seemed to be having a nice day.

GLad to hear it is worth going to. I planned on going but have caught a cold instead.. If I can I'll make the effort as I am looking for a new dog and am sooooooo confused. Hope the weather holds off for the day too. :D

There was a pom or pom x doing agility with 3 legs in my area NSW. Ran in comps fine with no hassles. In ADAA there is a regular as well as a international program. For a dog that is not so physically capable or getting older, the regular has jumps a bit lower and has more time. I jump one dog as international but the other I leave at regular as she is happier jumping lower. The next height up seems too high. Little dogs seem to cope OK but not so sure about bigger dogs. Even just training is fun and you can do as little or as much as you want ( or the dog wants)! My friend has a very large breed dog who found normal heights too hard. At training you can still learn and have fun and just let your dog do what ever you feel comfortable doing. The dog doesn't know the difference.

I live in Wollongong now. I used to rent and it is possible. Of course it helps if you have a past history or references from previous renting with pets. Is your dog an inside dog? I came to the area for 2 days from a country area to find a rental place. Two days to get 2 dog friendly rental! I was so stressed. I looked at about 8 places in one day. Some places had a lot of people interested specially in close to the CBD. I went for a crappy place in a bad area and they didn't want me!! Found 2 good places and one dream house right near the beach. Due to my past history renting the real estate agents were happy to promote me. I was offered my dream house at Port Kembla near the beach but had to say no because dogs allowed only outside and I couldn't lie. Mine are allowed in. On the following Monday I was offered a nice home with dogs outside but then I was offered a older home at Port Kembla with the best view ever. The real estate told me dogs allowed inside as long as I signed a pet agreement. (Agreement is where you say you will pay for any pet damage and you pay for flea + pest spray after you leave.) So I took this one. Always good to be truthful. Specially in this case as the real estate agent who showed us the house lived across the road and he owned the house! Wollongong has limited rentals I hear now. Due also to the fact that it is nestled between the ridge and the ocean. Can't expand out much further. Lovely place to live! I think it is great as I'm a bit of a country girl and don't like cities much. PM me if you need any advice. I had a friend with mates in Wollongong who helped me know where to live and where not to look. However usually a walk round the street before you commit will tell you heaps. Good luck. I'm sure the dog will like the beach and there are plenty of dog training clubs here!

Funny when the dogs and cats are talking a different language. Mine wouldn't discipline as such. But the small female used to try and say hello to the old cat. She would get excited and tail would be going madly. Just like another dog, she'd go up to the cats front and try to be friendly. She would lie half on her back, lick at the cats mouth, hold her front leg up and wave it about. The dog was under 4kg but the cat was over 6kg. The cat would just look down at the dog. As much to say " what is your problem " and then calmly and slowly try to bite the dogs head. Poor dog would try harder to make up and the cat just didn't get it. The cat was not really playing. Spun me out at first cause the cat did eat rabbits etc and I wasn't sure the dog was going to come out without holes. Cyco the cat is gone now(at 20 years). Don't think the dogs even noticed he was gone.

Do you think so, Fuzzy82? In terms of being able to teach tugging. Can you tell me more? My friend is teaching her bc to tug. She is working really hard to get a tug at home and at trials. She has food and if the dog now hangs on to the tug for a while , she is allowed to release and get a food reward. My friend is good with her dog and will make sure she gets the tug for a while and then rewards. The dogs concentration has improved heaps already as before the dog was loosing focus in runs. Busy looking around. My dog tugs well in its lounge room!! For a minute! I am now trying to work on tugging too. At a trial on Sunday he grabbed a toy and seemed keen. Now he is in higher classes he is too slow to make time. At trials he does slow down. He is physically very capable of flying thru a course like he does at home or training. So far I am getting him to tug at home and once he is holding on and I can really feel him getting into it, I get him to "give" and treat. He seems to have gotten this tug - treat concept pretty fast. I intend to get this behaviour more and then start outside. Then try it on walks, out and about, at training and then at trials. Is this how it works? As he gets happier tugging I need less food reinforcement?. Tugging can get him excited which is good as he is the most laid back dog normally. I gave up on tugging ages ago and now I am having to face it again as I need to try something. And its all learning a new skill - more knowledge for dog number 3 :D

Ta Jess I will be at training tomorrow unless the weather is too wild. Will ask for help health wise. I will give her a bit of a break anyway. I'll work on her running with me. At trials coming up I won't run her, just work round the ring.. On Sunday we got to use a jump or two after the trial and that was really good. Maybe for a while she can just do one jump and reward to see how she goes. The thing is this dog either goes all out, flat chat ( for a chi x that is ) or won't move. There are no slow runs / half-hearted runs for her. Recently she froze and wouldn't go over jump one until I knelt down after jump 3. Then she took off and got her 4th JDX pass. I was going to stop running her ages ago as she was so timid but then we had some good coaching and she was going great. Only weaving was a big hurdle for her in the ring - outside the ring is fine, just in the run. I never (obviously ) got her as an agility dog and any run she 's given me has been a gift. I think I get the biggest kick when she does run. Any advice appreciated?

NFC runs are so useful!! NSW doesn't have them in ANKC. However I did 2 trials on the weekend and my little dog had 4 runs. Or was down for 4 runs She has some issue at the moment and is refusing to run with me. Not too weird as she is very timid and I put it down to the fact the runs are getting harder and she is over it. But in relation to NFC - the judegs I spoke to before I put her up bent over backwards to help. I didn't want to take too much time but the judges were so good about letting her go on course and trying some different things. They were all very helpful and 2 said that they had the same thing happen. I spoke to the judges later to thank them. One said his small dog went on strike for 3 months before coming good again. I was told not all judges can do this but it was nice to see people caring about a dog and trying to help so the dog is happy. And in terms of this issue - I put it down to my fault and a training thing. A little niggling thought today was what about her being sore. She is 7 and weighs just under 4 kg. And then I went for a walk this arvo. I had some treats left over from the weekend and had the dogs doing stuff during the walk to get them. We go past a tree trunk that in the past I send them to go thru like a tyre. She normally loves it but today she bolted to the tree but then stopped and didn't go thru. I was surprised and asked again but she was very hesitant to jump thru the tree. Now I am trying to remember how she has been lately. Do you just give your dog a break if you think it could be sore? Do you go to the vet and can a good vet see if the dog is sore? Do you go to the vet and ask for a referral to someone else who can help? Curious what others do?

Thanks for the info on weaves. No one in NSW put forward yet as a weave maker? Maybe I should try a sheet metal worker and just tell him what I need? Will look at the guy who did the weaves for Ness and kelpiechick. Vicki warned about dogs being put off when first using solid weaves after learning on stick in weave poles. At a trial on Sat a judge was talking with me and when the chat went on to weaves she warned about the same thing. Her bc learnt to weave very fast and easily BUT then had a major meltdown because she didn't like hitting the very solid poles when using solid base weaves. The judge just said that if I do use stick in poles - to go to a solid set ASAP. My dogs are small and I thought maybe immune to this problem. But looking back now my kelpie x used to fang thru weaves and at home he did move the poles a bit. Wonder if he noticed not all poles move from a shoulder? Happy weaving!