Cleo's Corgwyn

Thanks Aziah, I've read all the Dr Google stuff, and my vet has been pretty good at giving me info. We're off to see a specialist immunology vet next week to see if we can get at any underlying problems.

My Cardigan Corgi girl, Shandy, has been diagnosed with Masticulatory Muscle Myositis (MMM) the primary symptom being pain in her jaw. She's been on the conventional treatment, quite large doses of cortisone, which seems to be controlling the pain in her jaw, but she's been relapsing anytime we try and wean her down from the higher doses. We've now added Imuran into the mix, and she's on antibiotics for a secondary infection she developed. We're off to see a specialist vet in a week, and our vet in getting concerned about how she is responding to treatment. Has anyone else dealt with MMM, and have any other suggestions? Our vet has also suggested we add in fish oil to her diet, which she was getting semi regularly anyway, so we've upped that to a daily dose. My research also indicates that Milk Thistle Extract is good for supporting the liver, so I'm thinking of adding that as well. Any other suggestions?

Yep, I'd suggest looking at Obedience Clubs. Our clubs in the ACT generally don't cost much more than that for a year's membership, but as others have said, the quality of instructors can vary. But it sounds like you've made a pretty solid start and just need to give your dog some more practice with distractions, in which a class situation should be ideal for you.

Lovely music and routine, BC4Me. But what was on your pants leg that he kept getting distracted by? :D That was alovely use of a simple prop too. Congrats to Tassie and her guys - that's a pretty impressive way to start off titles! We had our workshop with the lovely Kamal Fernandez on the weekend. He is just amazing, what he can achieve with a dog. I cam away with my head buzzing with ideas for Obedience, Rally and DWD!

We got some ideas for our routine as well, which makes it worth the long drive up from Canberra. Some of those starter routines were great!

I was recently away for a week for work, and OH said my girl would spend an hour or so, around the time I normally get home, rushing for the door, everytime she heard a car go by. She was definitely very happy to see me home. But your guys are out of their normal routine, and pattern, and have each other for company, so hopefully they're coping OK, and will just be really happy to see you!

We did a DWD demo at a local dog day out, and the local paper photographer got some lovely shots of Shandy, especially a series of her doing her Cop-cop, balanced up on my feet. Photo link Photo link Photo link and one of the group; Photo link Sorry, but the photos won't link as images.

Royal Blue Royal Tee (heehee) Royal Pain Royal Heir Royal Scion Royal Heraldry/ Herald Royal Knight Royal Gala Royal Seal Royal Embassy

I don't think Shandy & I were the stars; I've been pretty slack on her training recently, and she's had some minor joint problems, which has further compounded the issues, as does training and competing in Obedience and Rally-O. My friend and regular training partner has two very flashy and enthused borders though! We've been basing some of the work for beginners on Illona's book, which is useful, plus some solid rear end awareness and trick work, mixed in with some basic choreography. We're still feeling our way, but having fun with it, and our beginners seem to be enjoying it too! For 'Over the Rainbow' why not just go for a rainbow coloured outfit? A nice flowing tunic style top in a gauzey fabric, and a matching bandanna for the dog would look pretty.

Try looking up 'Dog Zen'. Essentially you close your hand around the treat until the dog learns to take it slowly from your hand. But I'm sure that you can find better explanations than mine!

This is the music database I use; Dave Tompkin's Music Database I like it because it has such a good search function. Shandy and I haven't done a comp since March, but we've been doing a few demo's - Million Paws Walk in Canberra last weekend, and a big dogs day out this weekend, featuring Dr Harry and our Dancing Dogs. We've also just set up some beginners classes at our obedience club, and its been fun introducing a few people to that!

I checked with a Quangers instructor I know and she said email is the best method as far as she knows, so hopefully you'll hear back soon!

I like the title option you came up with! From what I've been told, some people do reuse the same music, but usually recut it to make it a little longer. I'm usually so sick of a piece of music after practicing for a couple of comps that I don't want to do it again! Shandy and I did some DWD demos today at Million Paws walk in Canberra. We had a great time, only a few of us there, but lots of people came up and commented on how much they enjoyed watching us. No formal routines, just playing around to the music.

That sounds really positive; we often say that a break can be really good for a dog's enthusiasm for work. My suggestion would be to contact the club just before or after their training times, that's when you are most likely to get someone in the office! If you're still struggling, let me know, and I'll track down someone at the club via my club.

That makes a lot more sense, thanks, oh Spotted one!

Congrats Rubystar; its nice to hear about some of the more unusual sports. Could you or Spotted (retrieving) Devil tell me more about what is involved in a retrieving trial? I don't think I've even seen one run.

Like Diva, I've taken my husband to a few shows, and he is always taken aback at just how rude some exhibitors can be to spectators. I grew up at dog shows; my parents showed, I showed as a teen, and I'm always polite, and ask first before interacting with any dogs, and look for times after dogs have been in the ring, and yet my husband's overall impression is that showies are exclusive and unfriendly for the most part. I'm sufficiently persistant, and luckily I've found most people in my chosen breed helpful, but I can certainly see how members of the general public can be put off 'show dogs' by some people's behaviour.

I had the most gorgeous little Wheaten Scotty pup in a puppy class I taught last year. It was the first time I'd ever seen a wheaten Scotty, and he was as smart as a whip; picked things up really quickly and loved learning.

For my Cardigan Corgi girl; Yes she is a purebred; there are two types of Corgi, Pembrokes, like the Queen owns, and cardigans, which are bigger, more laid back in temperament, and come in a wider range of colours! and to the inevitable, 'Oh, I thought Corgis were nippy and aggressive...' Well, they can be, but they are a cattle herding bred, and bred to have enough will and determination to enable a dog of their size to move around hundreds of kilo of cattle. Wouldn't you be nippy if people tried to treat you like a cute lap dog?

You ought to see one of the teams who do DWD with us in Canberra - Di & Claude, the Irish Wolfhound! She has to basically do a can-can kick for him to do leg weaves. DWD is great fun, and you'd have an excellent start with those tricks, especially since he obviously has good hind end awareness...

Yep, I'm pretty sure Jan's surgical license was suspended. I've heard really good recommendations about Peter Burgess; apparently he's a real old fashioned, no nonsense, no frills vet.

I'm not as organised as Wuffles, so I won't be trialling in Open for a while yet, but we are doing Rally O, so if you see a brindle and white corgi, feel free to come and say Hi to us as well! Wuffles and I are both trialling for the first time with our first 'obedience' dogs, as are a few of our friends, so we clearly remember starting out. If all goes to plan we hope to be doing the CCD on the 21st of April . If I miss out then I will probably still pop down and see some trials so just might see you :). :thumbsup: It's good to do your first trial on home grounds. Settles the nerves a bit :)

Its tricky, but the guys at Dogs ACT office are generally very helpful, I've found. If you get stuck, please feel free to PM me as well, and I'll try and help you through the process. I found it very hard when I lived on the southside and trained at Tuggeranong, as I didn't really know any of the triallers! Good luck!

Wow, amazing work, everyone, what a ripper of a weekend for the DOL triallers!

You've added in a new distraction, so I'd suggest going back to a level that will make your dog comfortable. Stand right in front of him and treat regularly during the stand for exam. Are you at Tuggeranong, and having Charlie? My girl did the same thing, and for the same reason, having not been used to male instructors, and now she adores Charlie!