FHRP

Hey FHRP, during the first US retriever seminar I organised, a Vizsla was selected for the no no drill, exercise across branches. The US professional trainer bought it up during a well attended dinner in Vicksburg. He thought the Vizsla awesome ( - which he WAS! - with the a great confident attitude) So your next pup is going to be a Vizsla??

No, there aren't currently multipliers for the AgCh title. I know that a Grand AgCh has been proposed by one state in the rules review though...

A couple of pics, but I am always hesitant to put up pics of dogs with game on DOL, too much chance of the thread being railroaded but feel free to browse my trial and training photo's though at http://www.flickr.com/photos/91992433@N00/...57601962044070/ Polo Rogan and even Flynn pretending to be a retriever!!

You don't need a firearms licence to compete in a Utility Gundog Ability Test. The only test that requires a gun to be fired (a primer only) is the Retrieving Test and you can have someone handle the gun for you. To compete in Retrieving trials you do need a Firearms licence in some states such as Victoria. NSW is now covered by a licence the club gets, so individuals no longer needs one. Can't comment on any other states though, but there are allowances in the rules for a steward to handle the gun. I find none of my Gundogs are big tuggers anyway, but we do have small games of tug at times. I am less inclined to do it with my GSP who is not as gentle with his mouth, but my Vizsla has the softest mouth with game so I have no issues tugging with him. Someone else might be able to give more specifics, but there are a few Positive Gundog training books around. I have "Positive Gun Dog" and there are Yahoo email groups for positive Gundog Training. I have watched quite a few US DVDs that use electric collars and I use a lot of their principles without the force. Please let me kow if you find one!! I have bought lots of dummies through Dogs Afield in the USA. Shipped by sea though, so it's slow, but shipping costs otherwise are just horendous! A Utility Gundog is a jack of all trades where as the Retriever breeds are specialised. So, Utility Gundogs are not going to be as naturally good at Retrieving as a dedicated Retrieving breed. But, they are more than capable!! You have to understand why they work the way they do, how they hunt differently, bigger and further :D My GSP's sire is a RtCh and was 2nd in the Retrieving Nationals in 2009, so the Utility Gundogs can certainly be competitive. However he has been known to lock on point when sent out for a retrieve In the lower levels UGs can do particularly well but when it comes to All Age where it's all about lines and control, the Labs really excell. Labs seem to handle the repetitive drill work better than the smart UGs ;) This year GSPs were the second most numerous breed placing at trials, after Labs. Certainly in NSW they are probably the 2nd most popular breed trialed. Vizslas, not so much ;) So what breed of Utility Gundog are you looking at RallyValley??

I have not had to train the dog to face me on the whistle eigther really, like TSD, my dogs turn and face me by default. If I give a sit whistle while the dog is in heel position, I expect them to sit in the heel position, otherwise the need to face me as a directional cue is given next. Treating for the sit gets them turning pretty quick Introducing handling drills to the dog gets them understanding pretty quick they need to face you! If in the paddock my dog does sit crooked I will give a come in whistle to straighten them up so that they can take a handle (over or back) better.... well, that's the theory

Sounds like a thread for lablover Roy Gonia whistles are popular over here with trialers, I use the 'ordinary' one http://www.dogsafield.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R011-017 but the big guys use a Mega whistle which directs the sound better http://www.dogsafield.com/prodinfo.asp?number=R011-018 I started with my old Netball referee whistle which worked fine too To teach a dog to sit to whistle I will have the dog on lead, toot the whistle then immediately tell them to sit. Repeat several times untl they start to associate the toot with the sit and 'anticipate', then remove the sit command and reward the sit on whistle Then I change where the dog is in relation to me and distance from me. I have a sit whistle (single toot) and a recall whistle (several toots). Other people have other whistles to signal other things as well, but they are the basic ones. I have introduced a turn whislte for field work, just to confuse things

It was posted to the OzObedience list a little while ago: Should you be interested, or know of someone who might like to find out more about RATG and Retrieving come along to KCC Park on 12th December '10 for " Big Day Out for Dogs". Melway 128 J12 There will be expert tuition for you & your dog on Retrieving, plus 'fun' displays of RATG and Retrieving demonstrations by experienced Gundogs. So perhaps it's not a "training day" as such.... but it's a step in the right direction

No, the Test is open to associates that are determined a single gundog breed only, not crossed with a gundog or two (or more) different gundog breeds.

OMG, she sounds about 100 times better than half the Novice dogs we get!! :p When I started trialing I had nothing but support and advice. Sometimes too much advice I'm not familiar with the WA trialing scene, but the few WA trialers I do know are very nice people who I can only imagine would be supportive. The Sport can't afford not to encourage new trialers! It took me until the end of our first season (we did about half the trials available) for my dog to actually finish a trial He did manage to win it though I really hope that the Retrieving Ability Tests are offered in your area and they give you and your dog the confidence to go on to Retrieving trials which really are a lot of fun. Just remember, just like in the obedience and agility trial ring, you and your dog aren't going to do anything at a Retrieving trial that many dogs haven't done before! Yes, it does sounds like you need to work more on distance and cover, but you really do have the makings of a capable retrieving dog by the sounds of it! Not gunshy, not hard mouthed and retrieves from water, a very good start ;)

RubyStar, why do Retrieving Trials scare you?? If I'm brave enough to start trialing with my much pampered Agility & Obedience Vizsla, having never even fired a gun before, then anyone can do it, especially if you have the "right" breed!!!

Flying pigs maybe... Hmmm, my imediate response is no, you would be deducted the full 10 points for unsteadiness, as you would in a Retrieving trial. However under the definition of breaking it says that if the dog is brought immediately under control it shall be penalised for unsteadiness, implying that if they aren't brought under control it isn't regarded as unsteadiness? And there is no listing of breaking in the Deductions list, only unsteadiness.... eta. Feel free to drop in at the Working Retriever bulletin board and ask your questions there too! There is a new sub forum for the Retrieving Ability Tests! http://www.australianworkingretrievercentral.org.au/bb/

Yes, she will have to compete in Novice unless she has a Retrieving Trial title, as per the rules (see eligibility). These are new tests with National rules which may be quite different to what has previously been run, depending on the State. Previous passes at GWT do not count towards Retrieving Ability Tests. An attempt has been made to standardise the dummies so that throws will be more equitable. Having recently been on the thrower at a GWT with dummies that varied greatly, I certainly support this whole heartedly. A standard 2" plastic dummy falls within scope and Cockers are more than capable of retrieving them, have you seen the game they can retrieve!? Although I wouldn't have minded feathers on dummies, now that we don't have blind retrieves, there's no place for fur IMO (ever seen a flying rabbit )

That's the idea!! I really hope that all States run with Restrieving Ability Tests, please do contact your Gundog Clubs and show them you're interested! ACT is looking to to hold a training and trial day early next year and I know Victoria is already planning a training day

Not an OH, but I spend some weekends etc. with someone who is an avid dog lover and trainer, but keeps his dogs in a very different fashion to how I do. His dogs are kennelled and rarely even allowed in the house yard, let alone the house! I think I have had an influence on him though as his last pup did get inside time while young When I am there my dogs sleep in my car and stay in the house yard and paddock. They are allowed in the house most nights before bed on a towel just in the door or in front of the fire as long as they behave Definitely not on the couch though! When he stays at my place he accepts that my dogs are allowed anywhere and everywhere in the house and never ever complains. He chooses to sleep his dogs in the car. As much as I know he loves his dogs and how well cared for they are, I'm not sure I could have someone like that as my partner unless they were willing to fully accept how my dogs live!

Polo has broken a friends ankle :D Hi poodlefan Worst they've done to me is split lips (including in the obedience trial ring) and various bruises and scratches.

Depends if I asked for 'feedback' There's also a time and a place to provide feedback. Just when I come out of the trial ring after a patricularly bad run, is not the time to tell me my handling sucked . I'm probably already telling myself I learned early on to listen to all feedback provided by judges and instructors for dog sports, nod and smile politely and then take any gems I can from it, however rare that may seem at times. I have had a couple of not so nice comments about my dog made to me without me asking the persons opinion, such as my dog has an ugly head (their opnion, I think he's handsome) and I not only didn't appreciate it, I told them I thought they were rude! I hadn't asked their opnion. Of course all comments on how luverly my dogs are are always graciously accepted

As always, "it depends" Over what period of time have you tried to bond with the dog, and is it just a matter of not a bond or do you dislike the dog? It took me quite a few years to bond with my now 8.5 year old dog. Now we have a very good bond, but he's not my 'heart' dog. There was never any chance that I would rehome him, neither of us were 'unhappy'. However I have seen dogs in homes where the bond isn't there and the owner doesn't really appear to like the dog, IMO rehoming the dog to a more suitalble home would be a better option in those cases. I don't like the idea of moving on a difficult dog to make room for another though. Especially if it's health or behviour problems that you'd expect others to deal with. My 'difficult' dog who is noisy, demanding and the best food thief you'll ever know is one dog I have the greatest bond with, no matter how much he gives me the sh*ts at times!! He ain't going anywhere, I wouldn't inflict him on others

I pick up a 10kg (kindly split by the distributor ) bag for Howie tomorrow. And a 20kg bag for my boys! And my delivery fee is only $25 So you really don't want me take those photo's of Howie then? ;)

I pick up a 10kg (kindly split by the distributor ) bag for Howie tomorrow. And a 20kg bag for my boys!

As some one who has decided never to own a breed that can not routinely free whelp I think this rule has merit. The danger I do see is with someone who has bred a bitch that has previously had two c-sections in the hope that a third one won't be necessary, risking the bitch by holding off on a c-section if it does become necessary and leaving it too long.

Both breeds if brought up with a cat should get along fine with them. My boys were fine with my parents cat unless he decided to run, then they would chase. However, they did not live with the cat and didn't see it very often.

And the one Vizsla that was shown with any regularity over the last few months in WA has recently titled so may not be around the rings much anymore. However, there is an active social group that meet every couple of months and would be a great way for someone to meet the breed. Most (all?) of the Vizslas that meet were bred by Eastern State breeders, but once you've chosen a breed there's no reason not to look outside your state for a pup. As already mentioned, the breed is high energy and if you don't provide physical and mental exercise regularly they will drive you mad. I'm sure seeing a few of them together will demonstrate how active they can be

I suggest you get out and meet some of these breeds, dog shows are a great venue although there aren't many Vizslas showing in WA. My short list some 13 years ago was very similar! I crossed Ridgebacks off pretty quick because they are bigger, less active and not as easy to train (although very trainable!). Being a Hound they are more aloof with strangers. FOr what I was interested in I decided the Utility Gundog breeds were more suitable. The Gundogs you've listed are all high energy and would love that 2 hours exercise each day, but don't expect them to sit on the couch with you if they don't get it!

Same with my dogs, they don't care for Cuz's at all. I think they're too hard to squeak (good soft mouthed gundogs ). The toys we play retrieve with often hold very little value at other times, inlcuding the kong on a rope and aussie dog toy. For play time by themselves or with each other my dogs definitely prefer soft fluffy toys over anything rubber or plastic.

That's my guess too. Probably belonged to the owners I'm thinking, the pup was young and they may not have thought about removing the box from the property. So glad the pup was OK, what a horrendous thing for the dog and family to go through.