GSDs

Congrats on your win Tenties Another success story at the Geelong show on Sunday was Jane (Puglvr) who got BEST IN SHOW with her black pug!!! She's tickled pink with his win and not only got some cash to splash, but some vouchers to spend too. Way to go Jane Sorry I haven't been in for a while, I finally got in touch with a lady that does 'C' course herding and she came down to Winch to give me some pointers on how to start. That was back in March/April and I'm now herding a couple of times a week with Cassie (one of my 9 year olds) which takes up a fair amount of my time each week. Things are going really well and Cassie has taken to it like a duck to water with only a few hiccups along the way (mostly me) Mr. Puglvr kindly lets me use 30-40 of his sheep each week (the same sheep have to be used each time)and because Cassie has constant access to them, her progress has been quite rapid and she's almost ready for the open paddock! :D I'm off to Gippsland in July to help out at a 'C' course trial and hopefully I'll get to learn heaps more while I'm there Hope you and all your furkids are well!! Theresa

Hi all, Sorry I haven't been in, but I'm just getting over some sort of bowel bug or something I caught. No....nothing to do with our BBQ on Saturday, I had an upset tummy on Friday night and it just got worse as the week-end progressed. By saturday night I was feeling really crappy and on Sunday mum and I were planning on going to the market, but I just wanted to get home and die!! Really loved meeting you all, especially RJ. What a crackup! Great garlic bread ruralpug and thanks for the 101 on bees! Sorry to hear you girl hasn't been well tlc. I hope she makes a full and speedy recovery. Great photos of the bbq too, especially the spunk in the apron :rolleyes: If you've got it, why not flaunt it Hope you night out was a success. Next time I'll have to leave the dogs at home so I can come out to play too Great news about the op Tenties. It might improve your egg cracking skills Theresa

Make that $400 bucks, not 300!!

I'm not so much cross at the tyre people, but more at them not having that particular tread available anymore, so instead of having to replace one tyre, we had to replace two!!!I don't do many K's these days except shopping and doggy stuff, so they have/had very little wear on them. Terry thinks we mus have hit a pot hole on the way to Geelong recently, and that's what caused the damage. I just wasn't expecting to fork out almost 300 bucks for 2 tyres! Oh well, hubby said better to be safe than sorry, especially if the tyre blew out on me on the way to W'bool! At least he cares Theresa

Well I just got a phone call from the OH...make that 2 tyres They didn't have the same tread as the old one, so we had to get another one to match the new one.....grumble-grumble!!! :D Theresa

Tenties, I'll most likely be down in the morning (all going well). What time are you planning on getting there? Terry was washing the Ute and found a big hernia on one of the back tyres, so he's off to Geelong for the second time today to get another one fitted. Bloody things are near new, so I'm not happy forking out another couple of hundred on a bloody tyre!!! :D If you're taking Mum to the show, then I won't call in there first. I'll go straight to the grounds. Can you drive in and park under the trees? I'll probably have Veg with me, so I'd like to have the car handy to put her in during the day. Off to do some more work before the OH gets home!!! Theresa

Yes, I was there. I can’t believe it was back in 2003. How time flies! I mentioned you to some of the other girls that did the workshop, and they recall you and your dog… Piper, wasn’t it? Hi girls if your lurking!! :D As far as I know, she still has Kelpies. I was surprised that she’d taken up Borders too, but I was told (not by Denise) that Borders make better sporting dogs and so they are more successful in herding comps. I guess it’s a case of ‘Horses for courses’. Yes, I think that point has been well and truly made! ;) I'm confused as to why she would need experience with ‘non-traditional’ herding breeds Piper ….we are offering the clinic to any ANKC herding breed or herding cross which are all ‘traditionally’ herding breeds. The important thing is that the dog should suit the work for which it is intended, so it pays to know why a breed was originally developed as that will give the owner a good indication as to what ‘style’ of herding the dog would be more suited to, be it ‘A’’B’ or ‘C’ course.My breed was traditionally used as a ‘tending’ dog in Germany which the ‘C’ course is based on, so that would be the course for my guys….rather than the other two. I can’t comment on that as I wasn’t there, but it sounds very unfair to me. If we felt that way we wouldn’t be seeking interest from members of these forums. Our aim to hold a clinic to raise funds for a herding club for South Western Victorians (and eventually affiliation with DogsVic), so we would encourage all types of herding dogs to have a go. I’m not working with her btw. As I said, traditionally GSDs are ‘tending’ dogs; hence my interest in ‘C’ course which is based on the European style rather than ‘A’ or ‘B’ course. Denise doesn’t have experience in that field, so if ‘C’ course was offered at a clinic (which I would love to be able to do) we would have to organize someone competent to teach it. I would take it as a BIG compliment. :p Do you still do agility? Theresa

Their antics are funny to watch, aren't they, especially the baby ones. Our neighbours think we're a bit daft letting them run around and burrow, but I just can't bring myself to let anyone (thing) hurt them. I'm the same with just about all animals though ;) I'm serious about the houe disappearing. Terry reckons we'll be watching tv one night and down we'll go :rolleyes: Theresa

Glad to hear it Tenties. I'm looking forward to seeing it again if I come down for the show. I hope everyone else likes it :D Don't worry to much about the irish cream. It's bad for you anyway....good for me, but very bad for you!!! Jeeez you're making me feel really bad JJ. :rolleyes: I'll help you narrow it down a bit! NONE OF THE ABOVE!!! :D Frozen Sperm? A boob job? ;) Whats going on in that mind of yous ;) Theresa

Sorry Jess, wish I could help. We want the land next door to us (I think its about another 3 acres if he sub-divides) as we don't want anyone building right next to us in the future. Its currenlty a part of our neighbours land who told Terry he has big ideas about building umpteen units on it in 10 years time when the council are supposedly planning to change the zoning in our area ;) Over my dead body he will! The day he tries to get a permit to do it I'll be out there with my placard day and night - along with some of the other neighbours that are dead against it - letting him know exactly how I feel :D The people on the property behind us also have big ideas of subdividing all their land along the train line, but apparently the council said NO to their last attempt. I think they're going to try again, but from what I've heard they're going to have a lot of opposition if they try! If these people wanted to live in suburbia, why didn't they just buy a house there instead of trying to spoil it for the rest of us??? Sorry, that's my bitch for the day ;) :D Hey Tenties......how's the (cough) present going! ;) RJ, we have a lot of bunny families at the moment too. The dogs bark and they just sit there. I can walk by and they don't even run One day I reckon the house is going to disappear down a big hole in the ground!! ;) Theresa

Sorry to hear you're having a hard time of it down there Jess. Its the same old story....one or two idiots ruin things for everyone else. Theresa

Thanks Janba. I do take your point! Denise listed them as she saw fit, but I certainly see where you and Jules are coming from. Theresa

Jules....I'm not sure why all the attitude, but I have neither the time nor inclination to argue with you over what appears to be nothing. I simply said to ask Piper what it was that attracted her to Denise's herding clinic - nothing more, nothing less. We don't always come across on these forums the way we intend, so I apologise if you've taken whatever I've said the wrong way. Thanks for the input everyone. Theresa

Fair enough Jules. I thought she had supplied enough information about herself, but there you go. I've not had much to do with ANKC herding, so that's why I know more working dog people. When I first started in dogs the choice was generally show/obedience with little else, so I had to source people in other fields to teach me what I wanted to know, hence I eventually met Denise and others. We are so lucky these days to have so much choice in ANKC. As to your question "So why would I want to do a herding clinic with an agility person?"...I can't answer that Jules, but Piper has done a clinic with her, so maybe she can tell you what attracted her to it. Thanks for the link Theresa

Nope Put your ear next to the computer and I'll tell you O.k. now that I've told you, I'm off to bed ....I need all the beauty sleep I can get Theresa

That surprises me! Denise originally worked Kelpies for many years, but now works Border Collies. I don't have a list of her herding achievements with me, but I can copy an article which appeared in a local paper (golden plains minor) adverstising the Supreme Australian Sheepdog Championships for 2010. "STRONG TEESDALE PRESENCE AT SUPREME AUSTRALIAN SHEEP DOG CHAMPIONSHIPS" Four local Teesdale residents will be competing with their Border Collies t this year's Supreme Australian Sheep Dog Championships - and three are from the one family! Teesdale residents John Agnew, Glenn Agnew, Denise Agnew and Susan Young will be joined by Alistaire Dickson of Bannockburn when they compete against the best working Border Collies and their handlers from Australia and New Zealand at Port Fairy in October this year. John is a retired stockman and working dogs have always played a major role in his life. On retirement John started competing in Arena trials (three sheep trials) and he quickly realised that to be successful in this very precise and demanding competition, specialist trial border collies were required. So John embarked on a mission to breed a strong line of top performing trial border collies and his dedication to his vision has brought him great success. John and his dogs have won many Open trials in top company around Australia. So its only natural that his family should follow in his footsteps. Glenn and Denise both compete on a regular basis and the husband and wife team have experienced success on the trial ground and it is a great thrill to be competing as a family in this years championships. John has once again qualified to represent Victoria in the Australian Interstate Team Challenge and this year the other qualifier and team partner is fellow Teesdale resident Susan Young - this is the first time that a woman has been selected to represent the state of Victoria! Susan Young commenced sheepdog trialling 7 years ago and since retiring in August, has been able to dedicate the time required to keep a trial dog at its peak performance and Susan has gone rom success to success, culminating in her selection to represent the state of Victoria at this year's Championships. Needless to say this tight little group of Teesdale enthusiasts have formed a strong bond of friendship and support, train and trial together on a regular basis and John as their 'guru' leader is more than happy to share his wealth of knowlege with the group. The Supreme Australian Sheep Dog Championships are being hosted by the Victorian Working Sheep Dog Association at the Port Fairy showgrounds on 5th to 10th October 2010 and includes the Trans Tasman Challenge where the four Top workers from Australia and New Zealand compete for their countries sheep dog honour.... The great Australian working Border Collie vs the might of the New Zealand Heading Dog. Anyone interested in the sport should contact the Victorian Working Sheepdog Association at: http://www.vwsda.org ____________________________________________________________ ______ I'm not sure how much 'history' you need on Denise, but I hope that gives you some idea? Qualifying for these trials isn't easy. Susan Young is also a very good friend of mine and has kindly offered to teach me what she knows, which I greatly appreciate, but I'm not sure how much is relevant to 'C' course. Thanks for that. I'm not a member of any herding groups on the net. Could you suggest any? I know there is interest out there, I think it's just a matter of finding the right people. Theresa

Drive all the way to Geelong for a chicken ???? Nope Theresa

Add this GSD person to the list!!! Sounds like a similar scenario to Vic. Having access to enough land and stock. I'd love to see 'C' course take off in Vic, hence I will do anything I can to help it along. Denise has organized the land (approx 200 acres and the sheep), so that shouldn't be a problem, but we still need enough people to support it before we organize a clinic. Unfortunatley, I have the theory for 'C' course, but not the practice, which is something I would love to remedy! My two pet sheep don't count! Thanks for your offer to help, we really appreciate it! The clinic (if it does go ahead) will probably be held just out of Geelong (w'bool side) all going well. But we need people to support it or it won't go ahead and that would be a real shame for Victorians when land and sheep are so hard to come by for all 3 courses. I've done a couple of clinics with Denise as well. Have we met? The clinic will be for beginners and Denise has offered her services for the day, but the plan is to also have ANKC instructors, and I would love to have enough interest in 'C' course to organize an instructor/exhibitor for the day, but I'm reluctant to organize them until we have enough interest to actually start planning the whole thing. Any suggestions? Theresa

Well I guess I could ......but then I'd have to kill you! :D :rolleyes: Wait till Tenties gets home and ask her... I value my life too much to spill the beans Theresa

Do you have many interested in 'C' course over in SA? Theresa

Nope! :D Theresa

I just got to see Tenties (cough) present. VERY NICE!! :D Theresa

Hi Luffy, I'm no expert on herding, that's Denise's domain, but I agree that perhaps a 'come' and 'sit' are probably good basic commands to start with in case the dog races away with excitement or gets into trouble. At least that way you can give the command 'sit' followed by 'come' etc, which avoids having to spend time chasing the dog around. Theresa

Hi there, This was posted in the W'bool thread but they thought you might be interested too. At this stage we are only seeking 'expressions of interest', but we need your input. Can you please pass it along to anyone you know that may be interested. EPRESSIONS_OF_INTEREST.pdf If you could let us know your thoughts it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Theresa

Thanks JJ. It's nice to know there are people out there willing to give us a hand that don't even own a herding breed. Hmmmmmm..... now that gives a whole new meaning to HIT. Maybe it could be Hunting Instinct Test? I wouldn't have thought of the standard. I reckon that could come in very handy later-on if/when we get the club up and running rather than a clinic where places will be limited. Great suggestion all the same...I'll have to put that one to Denise - thanks! Theresa