OSoSwift

I would love to hear how you do this Rommi, if you wouldn't mind starting a thread? I'd ask for a PM, but am sure other people would also be interested. I hope to jump my girl at some point after we have her shoulder issues all cleared up, & would rather start her right than retrain later. There have been mention of the DVD's before in agility threads. I am not quite sure I am knowledgeable for a whole unique thread!!!!! That's a bit scary! Basically I train quite a few grids. The jumps will be anything from 2 metres (bit less with the Whippets) to 4 or more metres apart. They will be from very low to maximum height. Sometime things like the first one low, second one high, third one low fourth on high. I will put a spread in the middle - leaving adequate room to the next jump of course. A rail on the ground at the base of the jump also helps. I will quite often put a ground pole infront of the jump. If they are jumping flat I will place it a little closer than their natural stride to get them closer to the bottom of the jump, so therefore their jump will become rounder. Sometimes I do a grid of all low jumps with only a bounce stride between, once again if they are jumping to flat I put them a little closer than their normal striding, if they are too round I stretch them slightly. I then put the jumps in a grid, but all on opposite angles, so first one left side closer, second one right side closer etc etc. That is more to teach jumpimg at angles though rather than jumping shape. I have had some people in aglilty tell me that you can't change a dogs natural jumping style, which I also believe, but I believe you can vastly improve it. You need the best econmical action, get them over the jump quickly and cleanly, but safely. The best jump shape in horses I think is the best in dogs as well. I also think that if they are intially taught to jump a little rounder, maybe clearing the jump by a reasonable amount as they get more confident and faster their jump will naturally flatten. So I teach a rounder jump first. It was interesting for me playing, watching how my dog was jumping and then figuring out what I could do to shape it they way I wanted it. There was no seat, legs and reins to help tell the dog when I wanted her to take off, so therefore I had to think of exercises and distances between poles and jumps to help me produce the shape I wanted. We didn't do a lot of trials before my Dobe was retired because of a spinal problem, but she never had a rail down, she did miss the odd thing and odd weave pole. That was due to her very novice handler though - the dog was fine. The Whippets I have been a little slacker and need to get onto more grids as Rommi has a very unique jumping style! I by knows means know as much as other agility people, there are some exceptional trainers especially on here. I just train in a way I think works and how I think will help my dog to perform well and stay as sound as possible for as long as possible. I would love other people opinions on what they do with jumping as well. Maybe I will start another thread asking everone how they do it, I am quite sure there will be lots of great pointers

There is only one size. Don't rule out looking outside your state for your next puppy either. Make sure you know what things your breed should be tested for and gain as much knowledge as you can and go forth armed. I found Rommi's breeder over the internet and didn't meet her in person until Rommi was two. I have never met Lewis's breeder in person as they are in Victoria. If i go on a holiday I will look them up however.

Hi Jed Hope you are going okay today. DO NOT take scissors to your suit - very naughty that is! They will help even though the thought of a pressure suit bomfire is probably evry inviting at the moment. Still thinking of you every day. Whippet hugs and kisses

Dog School today, oh and lounge time

I know of a 12 month old Dobe that at that point barely knew how to walk on a lead as the person "liked a challenge" She was shown after 12 months, gaited okay and stood, but she love ro try and slip her colalr, and was quite successful at it. Many ex -show dogs do not know things other than exactly what they need to be shown. You will see many jumping up and get loves and cuddles as a reward for working well or maybe placing. Not thinks the average owner likes. I got Lewis at 8 months, he had an excellent recall and walked very well on a lead, had fantastic house manners and stood beautifully. He had never been asked to sit, drop or heel. I clicker train and he had some previous clicker training, so in a really really short period of time he was working beautifully. Set your boundries now, train her now keeping in mind she may think you are very slightly nuts for a while asking her to do all these things she has never done before. As long as you are consistant and fair in your training she will pick it up in no time. Poodles are sometimes too smart for their own good

I have a wait before I can get my Whippet unless someone wants to buy me an acreage I thought the Stafford/Whippet combo would be good Oh you don't need acerage! They stack very neatly on top of one another whilst sleeping, need a bit of a mad run, then decorate your lounge, so very low maintence and no need for lot and lots of runs etc. Someone mentioned to me when I described what sort of exercise Lewis does in a day that he sounded like a more hyper Whippet. I nearly fell off my chair laughing. Yep he runs lots in his dreams when he is laying on the leather lounge! He does do more than Rommi but after Dobes, these Whippets are a walk in the park

I have discovered having dogs inside is much tidier than having kids inside. Yes I love my kids - dearly, but they can be messy little buggers when they want to be. I have found the rubbish bag method the most effective. Dogs are much easier - they don't wear nappies for one.

I feel your pain! My closest trial is 400kms, these are twice a year. There is sometimes not very many at all in a class. My next trials are 480kms, bigger but still a country trial, although some very good dogs and handlers travel down from PErth. The city trials are 750kms away - a very big ask of a dog to trial and do it well after travelling those distances. I am envious of people that can trial on their own ground where they train as I have never had that opportunity.

I would add something like metamucil to her diet. You need her poos to be a bit bulky

I think you will find that registered ethical breeders should not, and don't want to be lumped in with Puppy farming businesses. Ethical registered breeders already do the right thing. Puppy farms and puppy factories do not. I would not like what I do, lumped in with people who raise dogs and puppies like livestock in multiple pens in sheds with absolutely no idea where they end up or who with. There needs to be legislation that deals with Puppy farms and farmers. I do not think that someone as myself should be mentioned in the same breathe as a puppy farmer.

I am sure he will do something down the track as well. Pity he lives only 200kms away! People that do know him, from what I have heard, think there is a few Roo's loose in the top paddock.

Mine weren't practice babies as I had dogs well before the thought of even having a baby, never mind wanting one happened. I had 2 children and had lost my girl just before my second son was born. I really missed her and ended up getting another puppy with a 5 mo and a 2 and ahlaf year old. So I guess the kids weren't very good dog substitutes either

Really Tiggy ?? I could help organise that for you Staffords and Whippets get on really well My initial training always involves grids and training to help the dog jump the best shape it can. I have never seen any of the DVDs you speak of - although I am very interested now - I have my roots in horses.

Just thought I would update this thread. The man has been let off. Here is a small thing about it. I am horrified this "person" is free an allowed to live in his community and have no punishment what so ever. I just pity his next victim.

What was that cop thinking! IF and only IF there was a hell for leather true blue fight going on and your dog was copping it AND you just so happened to be carrying a gun well then yeah maybe - although I don't like guns much at all. The report said their dog did not have a mark on it - can't have been much of a "fight" What kind of idiot carries a gun and then discharges it in a public park for not much of a reason. I think the cop may well need a Psyc evaluation. I would also imagine the average GSD could defend itself quite convingly when comfronted by a Sibe

Can do, I know a dog here with three chips.. All current and correct details though. Just want to add: I'm almost certain that SA is now the only state that does not require microchipping before disposal of a dog, whether that is selling or giving away. WA has recently become a state requiring microchipping following others.. To the best of my knowledge; only SA is left. As far as I know that has not come into effect as yet. I know it is in the pipeline, but not legislation at this stage. WA is still in the pipelines, or SA is now in the pipelines? WA is in the pipeline as far as I am aware

Can do, I know a dog here with three chips.. All current and correct details though. Just want to add: I'm almost certain that SA is now the only state that does not require microchipping before disposal of a dog, whether that is selling or giving away. WA has recently become a state requiring microchipping following others.. To the best of my knowledge; only SA is left. As far as I know that has not come into effect as yet. I know it is in the pipeline, but not legislation at this stage.

Rommi was done at 12 months, stayed put not moved at all. Lewis was done as a puppy around 8 weeks I assume, his is about one and a half inches below the top of his shoulder blade.

Oh while I think about it my bitch had horror phantoms and the vet gave her some valium, she only needed a couple of doses it just helped to settle her frantic searching and not settling. After a day or so she would be fine. Obviously different to what is happening with your bitch, but may be helpful

I would let her see them, I am assuming that they are far to early to be viable, then remove them either when another puppy comes along or she loses interest. Remove the last on after she has had a chance to see the puppy and register that it has died. She is going to go through a lot. I would also be giving her regular doses of Rescue Remedy - the human one from the pharmacist. One drop onto the tounge every 15 minutes for 4 doses, then you can give one drop an hour for a few then every 4 hours. I would try not to get to upset yourself, she will need comfort and will need you there, but don't over do it. I feel for you, it would not be nice watching your dog going through this.

I think from memory you have to bike it all or run it all. Work on about 10kms per hour. You also need to keep a reasonable steady pace. Some times they will tell you to speed up a little or slow down. It is in three stages, 6, 6 & 8kms from memory with something like 15 minutes between each leg. Dogs get heart rate and pads and temp checked at each leg and any to high or sore feet get vetted out. Ours cruised it in, the ground was pretty hard, some stoney bits, some sandy bits but we knew it would be so trained on gravel and gravel over sand. The vet actually asked me if my dog ever got excited as her heart rate was less in the middle vet in than it was before she started. She also fell asleep when her head was resting in his hand.

Cannot believe this is still going, waiting for it to go **poof***

I have done the ET, it really wasn't that hard although it was quite flat where I did mine. We even biked and the dogs ran the few kms back to the cars when we finished.. I am not an overly fit person, just average, if I can do it anyone can!

No worries I hate being told the same thing over and over. Everyone is human and makes mistakes, it is what we learn from the info we gain that is important. I thought a bit of Cocker may be in the mix. She is very cute I would think half a frame would be a good size. My Whippets are 11 and 13.8 kgs and they cannot eat a whole one, but half is a good amount for them.