FHRP

I just noticed I could see who voted in what, so I checked out who elses life revolves around dog sports I was up at 4:30am on Saturday to leave home at 5am to get to a dog trial by 8am that I couldn't even run my dog in... I think that says how crazy I am

Did anyone in Victoria go to the Springer Clubs's RATG last Saturday?? Would love to hear how the test went!

Maybe mollipop can help you, I believe she's in Sydney? I know that trialers will get together and train. You could also contact the Working Gundog Club, the contact on Dogs NSW site is Joe Law 02 4973 5329 [email protected] They sometimes hold training days and welcome anyone who is interseted in the sport, I'm sure they could point you in the right direction.

Sounds like the vet wants to do a Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS). A search of the forums brings back a few threads on the subject, it is a pretty controversial surgery. If a pup wasn't showing any signs of HD, I'd personally be extremely wary of having the surgery done. eta. 4 months is the recommended age for JPS (or so my googling tells me ) hence why the vet is expressing urgency for the surgery. I'd still be telling them to go jump.

I use fetch with gloves also, as fetchindawgs said, they are in sight for the dog anyway. The blind retrieves in UDX may be different though, not that I'll ever get there I did have a brief issue with the directed jumping. Because I say 'over' in agility, I use 'this side' in retrieving. The first time I did the jumps from the box with Rogan I gave the arm signal and 'over' thinking that would be a big enough cue. He headed off out of the box at 90 degrees It was easily fixed, I simplified the box to the jump both in distance and angle and he picked it up pretty quick. I never trialed him though.

tollersowned, sounds like your girl is going great!! Have you been to a trial before? To watch? Basics to aim for before entering Novice that I can think of. The dog can heel off lead through cover and over terrain, so not just your obedience ring. Dog is steady to the cast, shot and fall of game. Dog is used to gun shot, you can start with a cap gun. Dog can do a single retrieve up to 100m through cover changes and negotiate terrain such as gullies, rises, up hill, across hill etc. Dog can retrieve from and across water, including long entries to the water and angle entries. Dog can retrieve game tenderly and delivers to hand. Got all that and you're off to a good start IMO. My little brag is that Polo didn't stuff up too badly on his retrieving at the Field Trials this past weekend He nailed the simple pigeon water retrieve, thank goodness. He did disgrace himself with a full break on Sunday in the paddock, but did a good job on the quail on Saturday

My dog is seen by a chiropractor every month. A pinched nerve is not why he has lost muscle tone, especially not in his head!

You'll fit right in Showpony I'll have the funny brown pointer, only out of control half of the time ;)

Sorry to hijack, but will I see you at Barmedman this weekend Showpony???

That link is to Bruno, a German Shorthaired Pointer, not a Pointer. Of course, I'd say get a GSP instead anyway ;) You might like to visit the Pointer thread if you haven't already http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/105968-pointers/ I have trained with both male and female Pointers in the field with my GSP and both sexes have had great working dogs. The consideration would come if you can effectively contain a female when in season if you aren't going to desex and if you're preared to potentially lose a month out of a very short game season!! eta. If you're serious about working your dog, be very careful if you do get a rescue. I am all for rescuing dogs and like you've already experienced they can be the best dogs! However, the reason some/many field bred dogs end up in rescue is due to their unsuitability as a working dog. Gunshyness seems to be a common complaint. That's how it is in GSPs it seems anyway...

RubyStar, yes 3 inch plastic dummies fit the standard dimensions, it's what I used in our RATG. tollersowned, if a Cocker can pick up a dummy legal for RATG then a 6 month old Toller surely can? Pad out your 2 inch dummy.

tollersowned we've had Cockers and small working Springers compete in the RATG with 'legal' dummies that haven't had a problem picking them up. You don't need to use the 3 inch dummies, but yes, they need to be bigger than the 2 inch dummies. Tollers and smaller gundogs do retrieve game larger and heavier than two inch dummies Canvas dummies can have weight added if they dont meet weight requirements. You can usually unstitch them add some lead or something.

tollersowned, personally I wouldn't just take the 2 inch dummies without a backup. Must admit I was surprised that 2 inch dummies don't fit the standard sizing, and I was there when dimensions were discussed What a friend did was put a couple of thick socks on her 2 inch dummies which brought the circumference into legal size.

I don't know about during a season, but the entire bitch I had had full on false pregnancies and was terrible to train 6-8 weeks after her season for a few weeks. She becamse really hard to motivate and wasn't interested. I never trained her during seasons though as she went to her co-owners so my boys didn't drive me completely insane

My dogs would love the heated kitty sleeping bag or relax bed if they came in doggy size Great prices for the heated beds though

My old boys wear coats all day if the weather is bad, and they even have access to inside the house! There may be some risk of them catching it on something and getting stuck, but it's never happened with my boys.

I used to have Spinone, they are lovely dogs. They do shed and have wet beards and big feet that tracks in lots of dirt If you're terribly house proud they may not be a good idea. They are large dogs, a bit bigger than I thougt you were after, but certainly worth looking at. Pups and young dogs can be quite active and as boisterous as any gundog breed, but they mature into wonderful laid back dogs. Be prepared for a long wait though, litters are few and far between in Australia

No one breaks ankles better either Would this sweet innocent GSP do anything so norty?? You might not consider Gundogs as imposing as a rottie or GSD, but I can tell you no one in their right mind would come into my yard without me around. My younger Vizsla in particular is very "imposing", my own father won't go into the yard if I'm not there, even though Rogan loves him at all other times. I also feel quite safe when walking them. Gundogs are very active as a rule, especially the pointing breeds IMO. Unless you want highly active I wouldn't even look at the GSP or Vizsla and even Labs are very active, especially from working lines. Scatty can describe some Gundogs, but that's usually seen in under exercised (physically or/and mentally) individuals or dogs bred without regard for temperament. A scatty gundog is of no use to a hunter. I think a well researched desexed male Rottie or GSD would work for you, but I'd be happier with a Lab for assurance of potential to get along easily with other dogs...

Congrats twoblackdogs! What a great effort to travel over for the trials. The AA winner on Sunday was our bracemate at the Field trial last Saturday :D

Congrats on the NRA title mollipop! Hope to see you at our end of July trials in Canberra :D

Good to hear! I'm sure you'll have a great time trialing instead of just stewarding. Do you gun steward? I have found a good way to become familiar and comfortable with the gun is to gun steward at trials.

hilaryo & MEH, how old were your boys?

Face judging wasn't the biggest influence on why I don't (or rarely) show anymore, but it was a factor.

Great stuff TSD and RubyStar RS, I really hope to hear that you overcome your apprehension and enter a trial one day :D Our local club had a bit of a training day on Saturday. We were supposed to have trials this weekend but unfortunately they were cancelled The weather was gorgeous and the company nice We had some newcomers who are hoping to at least do the RATG's, but maybe they'll continue on to Retrieving Trials too! The dogs certainly showed a lot of promise. I didn't do much with Polo as I need to be working on short retrieves in cover, not the long ones set up. I did do lots of little retrieves on our own, which he of course had no trouble with Rogan got a bit of a run and was delighted to find a pigeon, it's been a while ;) rubyroo's boy did some lovely work At the end I took the boys for a bit of a wander and they found quail Rogan actually found the first covey. The cover is just too thick for good dog work on quail though, amazing what rain will do... I think we'd all forgotten after 10 years of drought!

Thanks Sonic and MEH. It will be intersting to see how long it lasts on my old boy.