FHRP

I think you will find you will have the opportunity to practice on the table before any competition. Canine fun sports, a DOL member will be the one taking the beeping table and so far has allowed every opportunity for pepople to try the table before any competition. It was used at the Canberra trials over the weekend and only in an actual course on Sunday, it was in the warm up ring all day Saturday and half of Sunday. My boys had no issue at all, my GSP didn't take any notice of the noise or cover and my Vizsla gave a slight ear twitch only. I'm not sure why anyone would put their dog over a wee saw for the first time in a trial though? As much as I dislike the wee saw, my dogs saw it in training before a trial.

Has anyone had a dog that attacks their robot vaccuum? I really want to get one to run during the day, but I'm a bit worried I'd come home to it in bits! Maybe it would be something to run overnight....

There are a few Labs doing agility, however they are kept very lean, not what you see in the show ring even if 'show bred'. The Labs I see doing agility love it, they are a breed that really enjoy life :) However as cfs said I would try for a lighter framed Lab if aiming for agility and some working lines may be more suitable. I do agility with both my Vizsla and GSP. Both breeds are extremely capable. Temperament wise there are many similarities. My experience is limited having owned two Vizslas and one GSP (so far :)). Vizslas tend to be a bit more sensitive and 'needy'. GSPs can be a little more independant and although both breeds are high energy, the GSP more so. Both breeds could certainly be called bouncy at times and fit the "exuberant short coated breed that has the ability to want to work with me" description :)

They may not ask, and I'm not sure they had to under the old rules, but they will say at briefing what their procedure is. If when you give eye contact they consider it an indication you are ready and they say you may go, then you can assume you're being judged and can not make contact with your dog agian. Like I said, if in doubt ask for clarification at briefing. eta. We have a SA judge this weekend, I'll pay attention to what he does :) I never go to make contact with my dog after they are set up though.

I have taken the form in the next day with all my parts filled in and left it with a stamped adressed envelope which the clinic was happy to send off when the vet was able to fill in the form. When going to the emergency vet the form isn't really in my thoughts of things to take... I have never had a vet seem at all cranky at filling in the forms, but I haven't had many claims either :)

Good news, although I of course hpoe I never need to do it :)

--------------------------------So - all that stuff about are you ready, ready blah blah is gone. I thought - based on what some judges had told me - that I could do what I like with my dog regards set up as long as neither of us have crossed the start line eg I take the lead off, set her up, tell her to wait, let go, and she spooks because the first jump is nothing like she's seen before and nicks off, I can grab her and put her back. As long as neither of us have crossed the start line. If you haven't indicated ot the judge you are ready and they haven't said go, then you should not be dq'd. If you have said you're ready and the judge has said 'go' or whatever their procedure is, then you are being judged and could be dq'd for: 9.16 Disqualification A dogwill be disqualified if: g) the Handler physically contacts the dog in a manner that assists it. or this one, but I don't think it applies to what you're talking about, I interpret it more as propelling the dog over the start :) n) If the handler physically assists the dog over the line at the start Correct 9.16 Disqualification A dogwill be disqualified if: k) after the Judge has indicated that the Handler may start and the Handler has crossed the Starting Line, the Handler returns across the Starting Line, unless a refusal has occurred. I would take it as a rule that if you've indicated you are ready then do not touch your dog again. Make sure you're at the judges briefing and ensure they explain their start line procedure. Ask for clarification if you're unsure.

Do you get full refund on the subsequent bills for the follow ups on the same condition, after paying the excess on the first bill? I've never had to claim more than once on any codition, so far....

Very pretty pic RV :) I hope that work stops interfering with the important stuff soon!

Had our first session back out in the paddocks for the season today. Unfortuantely not many birds but Polo had a few nice finds and I was very pleased that I haven't forgotten everything either!! We only spent about an hour out there, it was getting too warm and not many birds but it showed how unfit we both are. Polo has pretty much crashed since coming home, usually he can go for half a day and still come home and be ready to go go go! :laugh: eta some pics :) http://www.flickr.com/photos/psfts/sets/72157629712582255/with/7033889793/

Not sure if you'll be able to train a non smiler to smile but my grandparents beagle X corgi was a big smiler and when he visited he 'taught' my Labrador to smile! My Lab stopped the behaviour soon after my grandparents dog left. eta. I see now this is quite an old thread, oops!

I put no calls after 9:30pm on all trial schedules I am secretary for. I also include an email address and I use a mobile number so people can (and do) text me. I am not a morning person and a 7:30am call would not be received well.

I don't know about the rules, but I did not get the vest to use in trials. I think you're quoting Retrieving rules and I'd be more likley to use it in the field than in retrieving if at all, but I suspect it wouldn't be allowed there either.

ST I bought a protective vest from Cabela's for Rogan when his underneath was getting scratched and he had some reactions to grass. I have used it a few times, however I found that the vest was rubbing him and he got a couple of sores, so it's only suitable for short periods.

There were about 11 entries in novice, 7 or 8 ran and 3 in open Nice! :D

What were your entries like for the WA RATG? Was it well supported? Mason_Gibbs sounds like Mason did a great job

Way to go RS & Ruby and Millie! We had local Retrieving trials this weekend where I stewarded both days. Lovely weather on a great property that we've used for the past few years, but it's the last time we'll be able to use it as it's about to be completely built on, 1000's of new houses Rubyroo's Stinger did some lovely work and got all his birds and dogs bred by Lablover did some great stuff, I don't know the AA results today but I think one of them won Restricted? The judge let me run Polo on the last run of Restricted yesterday after he had been pick up dog on the water retrieve. Seems he and Millie had the same thoughts :laugh: Polo seeing his first pigeon mark retrieve in months was just too much and he was about 15m before I got him back! Norty :laugh:

C'mon RubyStar, tell us all about WA's first RATG :D

This isn't really true. They certainly won't cover for diseases that can be vaccinated against, but otherwise you should be fine to get coverage. I have claimed thousands for my entire, unvaccinated dog. I also have my entire male dog covered and do not vaccinate annually. I checked with the company that the three year vaccine was OK and it is. I also know that some will accept titre testing. Him being entire has never been an issue with pet insuance.

Crikey you're a hard lot :laugh: So you're saying the store just 'leaves items on the floor' hey...? :laugh: Just because some customer came through 1 minute before the dog who picked it up OFF the floor where the previous customer left it...that doesnt make it 'open season' on the item. Crikey. So you're saying the customer that came through a minute after someone else left a toy on the floor has to pay for it? Shouldn't the person who put it on the floor pay?? No it's not open season on an item on the floor but it sure makes it tempting for the dogs, which are allowed in the store!

Poison, no I have never been in your position of having my dog pick up a toy and then being told I'd have to buy it. I have seen dogs inspecting toys with their owners both in pet stores and at dog show vendors that have not been bought. It has never alarmed me although they haven't been slobbering, chewing, tugging etc. which might worry me. Unfortauntely my dogs have had far worse things in their mouths than a toy that another unknown dog has momentarily picked up, but I won't go into details ;) There are risks with everything we do with our dogs, letting them have another dogs toy is not high on my radar.

Dog club? Yes. I know

Dog picks up a dog toy off the foor of a pet shop. No, I wouldn't expet to pay for it unless it was damaged by the dog. If they pulled it off the shelving, I probably still wouldn't expect to pay for it unless damaged, but I'd be more inclined to accept the shop person telling me I had to. I'd certainly never return to the store with or without the dog though. I love that I can take my dog into pet stores and I even let them sniff various things If I'm buying them a toy I'll let them 'choose' it within reason :) I accept that items I buy from a pet store may have had previous inspections by other animals, I'm prepared to wear that (IMO very small) risk. They also drink from communal water bowls at the dog club

I suspect they are the same Brits I saw at the field trials in Vic I went to last year and as RV suspected, they are more the french style Brittany than the USA type.

According to the ANKC registration stats there have been no Otterhounds registered in Australia since 1996, so I'd guess there are none in Australia, not registered anyway.