Tassie

:laugh: No use asking me about costumes, kallistar - I have zero creativity :D . What's wrong with sa skirt - you looked great in that long dress you wore for that lovely routine with Tux - and who can forget those lacy glove thingies. @ sheena - thanks so much - unfortunately I'm going up the inland way, and then coming back fairly fast - one stop near Coffs, then on to my former training/trialling friend's place in Southern Highlands for a couple of days before heading to Albury's Rally trial. Schatzi's Mum - I feel your pain about distances to comps - I have to get over Bass Strait - and I don't like flying with dogs - so 300 km to the ferry, then overnight on that - big $$$ and time.

I'll drink to that! Oh wait - the bottle's empty - well, guess we know where that went And so it should Ptolomy - 'cos you guys are not only an inspiration to WA triallers - but to us down here in the Apple Isle too.

Proud of Miss Kirra who followed up last week's Rally Advanced passes with a Pass (Good) in her Track & Search Test 2 in Launceston today :)

Hi kallistar. Wondering if I'm brave/foolhardy enough to try to polish up their Starters routines for a comp while I'm up in Queensland in July for the Kamal weekend at Camp tailwaggers. One more week of school then 2 weeks of holidays (well, with a show, agility trial doubletracking trial and Rally trial - but hopefully will get some time for training DWD. Kirra has a Track & Search trial this weekend - they both did Rally and Rory di ob last weekend .... and so it goes on.....

You could try sending Abbiestar a PM. The Rules hereare not specific as to particular temperatures, heart rates etc - I'd guess deliberately so to allow for individual variations among dogs.

I'm sure Abbiestar will be back in at some stage with a judge's perspective - mine is just a competitor's knowledge - 3 ETs on 3 dogs (had a helper). Yes they do check pads - dogs can be outed for damaged pads, hence the importance of training on different surfaces and different conditions to harden up pads - gradually. I don't believe there is any sort of numerical standard for heartrate - you have to have a vet check completed with your own vet before hand, and send the certificate in (2 weeks before, I think). That gives the vet on duty an idea of the dog's resting heart rate, and they work from that. If in doubt, with h/r or temp, they might give the dog another check at the end of the break before ruling it out. The time within the break is random - depends on the number of competing dogs, the speed of the checking team, how well people line up etc. etc. As I understand it, the vet is checking to make sure the dog is not showing signs of distress. Some h/r actually go down, others stay about the same. My BC girl has 'white coat phobia' so her resting h/r according to her pre-test certificate was 140 . At the last check, she had her head turned away from the vet - I was holding the dog - and then all of a sudden turned her head and noticed the vet, who laughed as the h/r shot right up. She was a really nice vet - said "And I deliberately didn't wear mny white coat" :D

Yay for Millie and RS - that sounds like great fun. A couple of friends here with gundogs are interested in doing it ... I :) might pick your brains.

Sounds really good. You know, from my experience, there won't be a huge problem transitioning to an unknown tracklayer. Rory's Test 1 was only the second time he'd ever tracked anyone but me (and the first time was a hot 50 m or so track :laugh: ). His only problem was that he really wasn't expecting to find a body rolled up in a swag behind some bushes at the end of the track he'd followed so well - he hauled off as he spotted the 'body' and gave his best Rotti impersonation bark "Did you guys know there's a BODY here" - had to reassure him that it was quite OK really, and he could go see what the body was. Luckily, the tracklayer knew his name, and had his treat ready! ETA - oh, and for both his knowns' - he'd only met the 'known' person that morning, for abouit 5 minutes

:laugh: biker_girl - not so critical today cos it was Rally - but I'll be remembering your tip for ob tomorrow . I did remember not to give Kirra a signal for drop - it confuses her - and that I need to hold my hand differently for her .

Proud of my two at their first Advanced Rally trials today. Rory got 2nd place with 98 in the morning - pipped by 1 point, and 1st with 97 in the afternoon. And the feral agility girl managed to keep it more or less together for 2 passes - 90 in the morning and 89 in the afternooon. Clever kids. Not a month to wait for the next trial. :laugh: Lots of other nice rounds - and very pleasant (if chilly) weather.

This is one of those very special stories! Great job thundercat - the Universe certainly knew what she was doing! :D

Or in Tassie ... but that's cos you WA people are sooooo nice :laugh: .. and I have a WA bred pup as well :D

Thanks for the ionformation. I think everywhere is going to seem so different this posting as I've only every been in Sydney and Brisbane. We are currently looking at W.A. and South Australia (can't remember the third prefernce) which a both very very different to Sydeny Perth is dog-training heaven - so many great dogs and great trainers there. Maybe no flyball, but they're super for most everything else. (Says one who could hardly live further away

:laugh: Ooops - sorry - mixed up the Js Sorry Jordan.

:laugh: Sounds like Phoebe is well on the way to explaining to Lochi just who is actually in charge in the household - and sounds like he is quite prepared to let he - what a lovely man he seems to be. :)

Mmmmmm ... think maybe he's trying to tell you something . How is your little princess coping now? :D

Way to go with Dezzy! And better luck next time to Tamila and Jordan. :)

Thank Dog there are kind people like you around. I think Lchi might have been meant to be yours :) . As well as something like Glyde or Joint Guard, and nice warm jackets, ask the vet about Cartrophen injections. they don't work for every dog, but do help a lot of arthritic dogs, particularly in winter. And as far as the leg-cocking inside goes - you may have to pretend he's a wee pup who's never been house-trained.

Yay Xena 98 - and fingers firmly crossed for that last pass. :D

Mr Rory (BC) decided that I might like some new perfume .... so he modelled it specially for me .... Eau de Extremely Dead Critter, worn all over his neck and back at 6.00 on a wintry night! Yeah, thanks Rory .... but no thanks. Just as well he's cute and adorable. :D And biker_girl - - your beautiful girl really spolt you, didn't she - super well done (I'm still excited about it :laugh: .

Yay! I think that's a lot more than simple stuff - and the nice thing is that you'll both be building confidence every time this happens - can only get better from here. Well done to you and Stella (and Sonny and OH for helping! :D )

Don't know about other people, but now that he knows how to do i-the formal retrieve, that's all I use the DB for. He has a variety, although his competition one is a wooden one (with chomp marks from where he holds it . He has lots of other toys of varying sorts which I use to play with him - and with those, I don't expect a formal retrieve - if he wants it thrown again, he either gives it to me or puts it down for me to get.

Naaaaw ... what a lovely photo of a gentle giant!

Wahooo!! Way to go biker girl and the gorgeous Seven. That is brilliant news. You're right - I'm just a little bit excited for you . We knew it was only a matter of time, but it's so nice that she's done it - and started on the way to OC. And big congrats to TSD and kathq and wuffles - and at the back story, kathq. TSD, your kids are certainly firing at the right time.

So very sorry - sounds like he was a lovely boy to have around - and way too young to go.