Vickie

She is adorable! I love the attention she's giving you already in the portrait shots Looks like she's one smart puppy!

Glad everyone enjoyed it. They are such fun to watch. I wish I had videoed the reunion when we got back from camping this year...they were so glad to see each other! I have to wonder if Fly would be so excited to see me after a 2 week absence...I suspect not .

Looks like awesome fun! I love your new signature :) gorgeous!

Helen, That is absolutely untrue. I can guarantee that the amount of money a photographer might make was not discussed, as I am on the committee. I will just state once more why there are charges. After that, there seems no point continuing this discussion, other than to answer any further valid questions. 1. We are trying to be upfront and clear about who is allowed to take and sell photos. At at least 3 nationals that I know of, official photographers have been upset that other people were there taking, and later selling photos. This will not happen in 2012. 2. We are required to pay a fee to SIÈC for each smallholder/vendor we have, including photographers. 3. If we were, as you say unsympathetic to the cost, profit or time of a photographer, we would not be offering the option of paying a nominal fee of $20.

Here is a video of Fly & our cat Megs, with clips & photos taken over the last 9 months They eat together, sleep together and wrestle together. Megs likes Shine, but is pretty vicious if any other dog tries to make friends, including Trim, Pep & Lass. Even when he swipes at Fly in play, his claws are not out, she has never yelped during their play. They are pretty cute to watch :)

Sorry it works out like that Helen. Sounds like its not worthwhile for you with or without the $450. Even if you chose the $20 option, or there was a nil cost, seems like it still would not be worth it for you.

But that is why we offered the 3 different pricing options. The price of the professional option unavoidable. It is not money going into our pocket, it is a price we have to pay the venue for a stall holder. Surely the $100 & $20 options are reasonable costs? I agree, it is a lot of work taking photos & processing them and then filling orders. I guess at the end of it all, the better the photos, the more a photographer will sell. I certainly don't envisage you having any problems there.

Why the sad face Helen? We are trying to avoid the issues that have occurred at previous nationals regarding official & non official photographers. We also have to pay the venue for any stalls set up. I have received a number of emails already congratulating us on making everything transparent up front, obviously you dont feel the same way?

Thanks Lara, we are trying to avoid the types of issues that have happened with official photographers at the last few nationals. Glad you'll have your camera there :) I LOVE your agility photos!

Hi all, We are hoping to have a number of photographers to cover the National Agility Trial NSW 2012. To this effect, we would like to invite Expressions of Interest from photographers who wish to take and sell photographs at the event. As the Nationals are a private event, The NSW Agility Committee has determined the following The taking of Photographs will be permitted by any person.The taking AND SELLING of Photographs will ONLY be permitted by those persons/companies who have notified the Committee via Expression of Interest and paid a fee for doing so. We would like to offer 3 options: Non-Professional. Cost $20. Photos can be taken and sold and advertised by the photographer via announcements on Agility Lists/Forums Semi-Professional. Cost $100. Photos can be taken and sold. Photographers cards/brochures will be distributed in competitor show bags. Website and details will be listed on the National Agility Trial NSW 2012 website and in the catalogue Professional. Cost $450. Photos can be taken and sold. Photographers cards/brochures will be distributed in competitor show bags. Website and details will be listed on the National Agility Trial NSW 2012 website and in the catalogue.Photographers will have a stall allocated where they can set up a gazebo/stand inside the indoor arena to advertise, display proofs, print photos and take orders. If you are interested in selling photographs taken at the Nationals, please PM me your email address and an Expression of Interest Form will be forwarded to you. It is worth noting that the 2 indoor arenas will present challenges for some photographers/cameras/lenses due to reduced lighting. Regards NSW Agility Committee

Hi all, We are hoping to have a number of photographers to cover the National Agility Trial NSW 2012. To this effect, we would like to invite Expressions of Interest from photographers who wish to take and sell photographs at the event. As the Nationals are a private event, The NSW Agility Committee has determined the following The taking of Photographs will be permitted by any person.The taking AND SELLING of Photographs will ONLY be permitted by those persons/companies who have notified the Committee via Expression of Interest and paid a fee for doing so. We would like to offer 3 options: Non-Professional. Cost $20. Photos can be taken and sold and advertised by the photographer via announcements on Agility Lists/Forums Semi-Professional. Cost $100. Photos can be taken and sold. Photographers cards/brochures will be distributed in competitor show bags. Website and details will be listed on the National Agility Trial NSW 2012 website and in the catalogue Professional. Cost $450. Photos can be taken and sold. Photographers cards/brochures will be distributed in competitor show bags. Website and details will be listed on the National Agility Trial NSW 2012 website and in the catalogue.Photographers will have a stall allocated where they can set up a gazebo/stand inside the indoor arena to advertise, display proofs, print photos and take orders. If you are interested in selling photographs taken at the Nationals, please PM me your email address and an Expression of Interest Form will be forwarded to you. It is worth noting that the 2 indoor arenas will present challenges for some photographers/cameras/lenses due to reduced lighting. Regards NSW Agility Committee

Oops, sorry, I just tried it & I couldn't change payment type. I was sure I had do e this before, but apparently not. Sorry

AP, If you did your entries online, just log back in and adjust your entries in the payments area. If you select PayPal, you can click on the checkout button & it will tell you how much to pay :)

you poor thing, I really hope you find her soon. I would be making signs up & putting them at the local shops & vets. I am constantly amazed at how many people think they can keep any dog they find. People seem to assume that because a dog is loose, it has been dumped or neglected. They also often believe that taking them to the pound is cruel.

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The purpose of teaching tricks is not just about teaching things you might need in every day life. It's about building a relationship, teaching him that it's worth his while to try hard for you, stimulating his mind etc. Anything you teach needs to be proofed for reliability and you can make it all fun by varying the type and number of rewards he gets. Sit is not just sit. When you say he has learnt sit, I assume you are standing in front of him, saying the word with a hand signal. Can he sit beside you? Behind you? Will he sit if you are 2 metres away? Will he sit on voice command only? Will he sit on hand signal only? Does he sit slowly? Can you get him to sit quickly? Will he sit if you are laying on the ground? Will he sit if there is a bowl of food on the ground next to him? Will he sit if you are jumping up & down? Will he sit in a puddle of water? Etc... Training is fun. For both of you. You are only limited by your desire & imagination...

Great advice. Puppies are such quick learners...Try something like this: http://www.loveyourdog.com/tricks.html

Wow, that was fantastic! Well done, especially after such a massive break

I know a number of people who have done delta & a number who have done NDTF.From each course, i know some very good and some pretty crappy trainers amongst them. As a group, the ones i know who have done NDTF are better trainers, but I'm not sure whether it is because the course is better or because it seems to attract people with more aptitude/experience.

Has everyone seen these awesome mats from Paws4Effect with the Nationals Logo on them? http://www.paws4effect.net.au/p4eshop/product.php?id_product=17

Fingers are crossed for you :)

Great work . Hope it's all still going well.

Hi Sam, as others have said, the first thing is to get an accurate diagnosis and a plan for rehabilitation.The 2nd is to stick to that plan if you are told he can make 100% recovery. I think making decisions about retirement or running an injured dog is a very personal thing. Some people run lame dogs, some people run dogs knowing they will be lame afterwards, some people give painkillers to their dogs before they run and some simply make the choice to stop. People are always weighing up the pain vs enjoyment factor from the dogs perspective. Although i have opinions, I try not to judge others for their choices and hope they will not judge me for mine. I am facing this with Shine at the moment. If her injury continues to recur and/or doing agility accelerates any arthritis she may get from it, my choice will be permanent retirement. If she can make a full recovery with no recurrence (this seems unlikely right now), she will continue agility. In any case, it is my choice to make for her.

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You'll probably find her cue is a combination of things, primarily the visual of the poles and the way you set her up etc, rather than the actual word at this point. If you had said "banana", she probably still would have done it. But what this does tell you is that you probably don't need you arms anymore I have taught all my dogs (and a few other people's dogs) to weave using luring. At this point, I see no reason to switch methods as I am really happy with the way they all weave. I fade the lure as soon as (and only) when the anticipate and beat my hand through. I use the word weave as soon as they are consistently offering the exact motion I want on 3 poles. I can see ADs point and agree in theory, but haven't found it to be a problem yet. Good luck, sounds like she's doing very well so far. Don't be afraid to break things down a little more. Decide exactly where you will mark and where you will reward. Work the clock face on entries and be systematic about proofing her and your distance.