angelsun

Whoo hoo!!! Looking foward to the seminar!!

Tassie photos

I believe we have about 20 coming, but not totally sure on that.

awwww....shucks!! Want to take some time to thank the Hobart gang for their amazing hospitality and work done to set up this seminar. Everything went without a hitch!!! Lecture day on Saturday and yes...I probably can talk under water as someone asked....but hey...this is my passion (or one of them) and it's easy to go on and on about something you truly beleive in and love! Thanks to the organizers for the computer projector on Saturday, it really makes my job SO much easier and much more fun to bounce around and point to a big white wall with a picture on it, than my little laptop!! (Ok...so I used to be in the theatre and it comes out every now and then!) The runs on Sunday were great...sure we all started off a bit rough, but HOLY CROW did the improvement ever spike at the second run!! I really was shocked to see SUCH an overall improvement and watch over two dozen people and their dogs as light bulbs went off!! The third and fourth runs were also big improvements and inspite of everyone being dead tired by 4:30pm, we continued to see massive improvement in the understanding of what we do in the Rally O ring....this includes putting a potential judge on the clipboard, and encouraging future stewards to shadow me and others as the courses were attempted. The grounds we worked on were wonderful. The wind picked up only one or two times, making some signs fly off, but my ring crew (thanks Tony!!) found the magic tape and those signs stayed PUT after that!! Meals both days were great and thanks again to my man for keeping me filled with coffee, although, and I want to set the record straight..it's NOT the caffiene that makes me bounce around and teach the way I do.....I'm just that way....sorry if you Sutherland bunch thought you could take my coffee away and settle me down....won't work!! I will say, with over two dozen participants on both days I really was moving to ensure that questions were answered and all the material was covered! Working under pressure like that is a VERY big natural high! Special thanks to my hosts Dot and Derek Baverstock who opened their home to Tony and I for the weekend, providing chauffeur service to and from their home to the venues. We both enjoyed your hospitality immensely (and Tony appreciated the scotch after his very first flight on an airplane!) It was great to be able to feel so comfortable in someone elses home who we both just met, and a bit teary at the airport to depart, but both Tony and myself will be back to Tassie for a visit which might include more workshops but definately will be some leisure time to poke around and enjoy that stunningly beautiful state! Three days to regroup, burn some more CD's and get some paperwork printed off, and then off to Sydney on Friday! Don't forget to spread the word about the forum for Rally O on the invision site. http://z3.invisionfree.com/RallyODownUnder The more folks we get on here and talking the more chance we will see this sport recognized! Tassie gang are VERY gungho about this and the way the discussions were going...we ARE going to see this thing come to fruition!! BTW..I do have some photos to post, but have to get them off the laptop and over to the other computer that's hooked up to the internet.

I don't like this game ETA-so what DOL'ers are going to Sutherland next weekend so I can put a face to the user name?? I"ll be at the front of the classroom, giving the lecture (with the funny accent)

hehe...yes I can! Patience.... Off to Tassie later today and looking foward to meeting the folks there. Looks like we have a mega turn out for this one, so hopefully will be able to get lots of courses done on Sunday. Lets also hope the weather behaves!!

I have just heard from a little bird that there will be two visitors attending the Sutherland seminar that come from quite a far distance away.....yes, even beating the trip that our Kiwi friends made....more on that after the event!

To many, just being a part of dog shows is cruel. I have used what we call "happy legs" many times and swear by them. HOWEVER, I did see a fox terrier perched on them at a show in Western Canada and in a grooming noose without anyone around him and he was there for over an hour..... Owner/handler was reported however there is nothing in the rules that states that anyone must be around when a dog is on a table or whatever....only that the dog be under control and 'contained' in some fashion. Any tool can be used in a negative way, from a check chain to a pair of nail clippers....lets face it, we all know too well that a hammer isn't always used to put nails in boards. Humans have an interesting way of twisting things around to suit their needs.

My canadian account has been shut down. Please use [email protected] (routing them through my website til I get a server up and going for me here)

I"m not sure where exactly you're located (within the state) but I know that Geelong offers rally and hopefully there will be more clubs or folks that can give classes to get people involved.

Spread the word please on the new forum to any lists you might be on so that others that are not DOLers can have the chance to participate. Forum will be undergoing changes daily to figure out what is best needed to get the lines of communication open so that we all can benefit from the information offered. Lets set the first goal for members signed in to be 100 and please encourage people to ask questions and participate. We already have a few video links uploaded from last weekends' seminar in QLD and am hoping there will be some photos as well. Look for the first discussion on signs to happen shortly.

A new forum has been established to help group people interested in Rally Obedience together in hopes of setting out rules and regulations to enable those of us in Australia and New Zealand to reach the goal of attaining titles for Rally Obedience, form clubs and hold trials as well as train judges, learn the sport and ask general questions about this sport. Rally Obedience Down Under This unmoderated forum allows anyone to join and participate in the various aspects of discussion concerning Rally Obedience. Please be patient with the forum as changes will occur as I work out the bugs on setting this new one up. (been a while since I did it, so am a touch rusty) I'll also be open to suggestions for sub forums and changes based on what the membership feels would make the forum run smoother for everyone.

A new forum has been established to help group people interested in Rally Obedience together in hopes of setting out rules and regulations to enable those of us in Australia and New Zealand to reach the goal of attaining titles for Rally Obedience, form clubs and hold trials as well as train judges, learn the sport and ask general questions about this sport. Rally Obedience Down Under This unmoderated forum allows anyone to join and participate in the various aspects of discussion concerning Rally Obedience. Please be patient with the forum as changes will occur as I work out the bugs on setting this new one up. (been a while since I did it, so am a touch rusty) I'll also be open to suggestions for sub forums and changes based on what the membership feels would make the forum run smoother for everyone.

Want to send a quick thanks to Allison up here in Gympie for her organization of the Rally O event. We had a very nice group in attendance including two visitors from N.Z. who flew over to attend the two day workshop. The weather was perfect for the Sunday "hands on" portion and I had WAY too much space to set up courses with a lovely large field to work in! It was nice to see a variation in breeds working the courses from Dalmatians to Koolies, Border Collies to a nice working Staffy. I really enjoyed meeting all the folks who attended and it was great to see such enthusiasm. Many good ideas were tossed around at the Lecture including getting a specific email/forum group started to discuss the things that will be needed to see that this sport thrives in Australia (and New Zealand) Am looking foward to getting over to N.Z. in late July to meet up with many potential new 'rally-ers' over there. Great hospitality up here and had a day to visit the local museum and see some of the nice features of Gympie. No time to take a train ride this time but I learned alot about this area's Gold Mining history and enjoyed a nice lunch in a very pretty park. Also was a bonus to have a litter of baby border collies to play with! I'm off to the airport today to head home to Vic's north east and relax for a few days before heading off to Tassie. (if you can call stacking 7 metres of wood relaxing!)

OK folks up in Gympie....just a couple days before we get at it and have a ton of fun as well! Bring your note books for the first day (seminar) and lots of questions! Don't forget for those attending on the Sunday with dogs...make sure you have a crate to pop them into during things like walk throughs and times that the dog needs to relax. It can be a long and tiring day so if you have more than one dog to play with, bring it and they can take turns! Anyone got a weather report for the region so I know what clothes to take? It's bloody nippy down this way and am hoping for a shot of warmth and sunshine!

Can the Gympie gang drop me a note with numbers so I can be sure I have enough things printed off before I leave home? Don't want anyone going without! Hopefully have burned enough CD's today and will be sitting down doing the papers tomorrow.

I want to first extend huge thanks to the gang at Geelong for the fantastic hosting they did for the seminars this weekend. Never ending coffee/tea pot and sweets and lunch and even more important, someone to remind me to eat/drink. I get a bit consumed with the task and forget to do that! I was SO pleased to see such enthusiasm at the event and want to pat those that attended for their desire to learn and active participation in the various things I made them do, some of which got them off their seats the first day of the lecture and spinning in circles! I will honesty say, after such a long day on Sunday (we started at 9am, stopped at about 5pm and I honestly wasn't done but everyone was very tired, and yes, me too)....the dogs were exhausted and peoples brains stopped working in some areas, but yet, after all that, I could see SUCH improvements on some of the things that are so important for success in this sport. It wasn't hard to keep bubbly as the participants were equally so and that just gets me hyped even more. (no it wasn't the coffee that did it..that's just how I am when I'm teaching and even more over something that I am so passionate about) I can't remember everyones name that was there....figured out a few of the dogs by the time the day was done....but I'm looking forward to the next possible step for the Geelong gang in an intensive workshop to really drill in the skills to not only participate, but more importantly run the trials and encourage potential new judges to come forward. Special thanks to Gamby for opening her home to me and my chauffeur (Tony). We stayed up WAY too late on Saturday evening eating pizza and just chatting about dogs in one form or another! I"m totally knackered by 9pm but really wanted to sit down and type something up whilst still on a bit of a 'high' from the work over the weekend. I'm really over the moon with the potential that I've seen in some of the people attending on the weekend, and hope that all that were there enjoyed their time as much as I enjoyed instructing.

uhm...my raincoat still lives in Canada....mmmmm...might have to hit some shops at some point! Just a reminder for anyone attending one of these seminars...write down any questions about exercises you have so you remember to ask me how they are expected to be done. Some of them are a bit odd and I've found many interpret them incorrectly and once learned the wrong way, it's damn hard to relearn it the right way!

Gamby: let me know numbers asap so I can be sure to get the disks done up. I have a VERY busy week coming up and want to be sure I get everything done before heading down to Geelong on Saturday morning. Looking foward to meeting everyone at that one! (will be ringing you probably Wed or Thursday to finalize a few things re: equipment etc)

Both can be done and work well together. One helps the other I have found and the dogs easily figure out what they are doing based mostly on your body posture and commands, and the lead up to the event. I also used different collars, and in one type of agility there were no collars allowed so the dogs easily sorted out what they were doing. Most dogs can see clearly tunnels and frames from inside the car and know before they even step outside what they are going to do. There are many things about agility that help traditional obedience and vice versa.

Won't speak out of turn for those in charge of the Sutherland event, but I would say a week before, as I need the time to make sure all my materials are copied and sorted out. (I should add that last minute registrations are accepted all round, but you won't get the discounted price based on how many are attending and although I always take extra disks and course layout sheets, there may not be enough and they would have to be posted out later) Hobart flights are booked by the way...so contact Dot Baverstock at [email protected] for more information and to register.

Quick update that Townsville QLD will be hosting a seminar in mid October. More details to be posted in a month or so as things are finalized and we let some time go past. Also, have had a few requests/enquiries from NZ and wondering if there are any folks on this forum from there that are considering it, it can certainly be done as a flight from Melbourne to NZ is not a big deal for me. (am going over mid May for other reasons) Pass the word along to any clubs or people that might be interested and perhaps we can do something there as well in the future.

I"ve found no real hard dogs to train, but certain breeds require different approaches. As mentioned..dogs that were designed over the years to work for humans, work at a different level than dogs that were designed to work independantly from us. I beleive that one of the more stubborn breeds are the dachshunds as they are so single minded and once they get something in that little head...dynamite can't remove it! When they do work, they are wonderful....and in some areas, very quick to pick things up, but if you have a bit of a stumble with certain obedience exercises, it can be VERY difficult to convince the teckels to do what you want compared to doing what THEY want! Some think terriers are tough, but they really arent, you just need different motivations than say Gundogs or workers.

And my flights/transport is all booked for these upcoming things starting the end of April and zooming their way through May. For you Hobart folks..don't forget that I'm there May 23-24th (the only one with flight not booked yet, but going to happen in the next day or so!) Contact [email protected] for more details and signing up. Still hoping to do something in Albury area. Chatted with a few on the weekend and want to let folks know that although it CAN be easier to let a club organize, private groups with interest can get this thing off the ground as well.

Feel free to start filling in forms and getting the nasty paperwork done. I"m going to be booking a flight (hopefully) this week and will be in touch privately. Sounds like there will be a great turn out. Did I not send you the outline of the course which includes fees? There isn't much else I can say that isn't included in that, but if there are any specific questions, let fly and I'll do my best to answer them.