Tassie

This! The dog tries to get the rock quite early on - after looking at the camera person - failing to get the 'exciting thing' himself, the dog is now trying to tell the owner about it, and get the owner to get it. How I read it, anyway. :)

Another here who has abandoned treat pouches for training in favour of pockets, for the same reasons as Ptolomy, bedazzledx2 and kallistar. But I'm a bit of a wuss - I use zippy plastic snack bags - easy to leave the zippy bit open so you can get treats quickly. And easy to leave them around the ring for distraction training or jackpots (but do the tops up first :laugh:) . I do have a large Blackdog one that I use for going out for a walk - holds treats poo bags, phone, keys etc.

Thanks so much for this information - we've been wondering how to get hold of it. Great idea. Will be in touich.

Omigosh - how amazingly cute is Jive - and just love the ones of her gazing adoringly at her big brave protector and leader. :D Lovely pics.

I chickened out of teaching food or speak with my first BC Sam - went for the DR as not only the easy option, but also a fun finish - he wasn't really a natural retriever - but he did love the DR - not always accurate, but that was usually my fault - but always enthusiastic. I admire people who can teach speak and food - but having seen quite a numbr of really good dogs fail on one of the foods (happened to someone last weekend - dog is usually bomb-proof on that exercise) - it wouldn't be my choice. It always interests me that there's the discrepancy between the DR - one shot - only one chance to muff it - and food or speak - have to get something right 3 times - each slightly different exercise. at your boys Ptolomy - poor Strauss with a migraine :laugh: - and Mr Occasionally - well - I guess that leaves room for Occasionally Brilliant :D .

Have PMd you :D

:laugh: Ptolomy - way to go with "just a show dog" - great stuff - but good to see his boy brains are keeping your feet on the ground

Souinds like there was quite a lot to be happy about xena98 - and gotta love a bit of silliness :laugh:

Fantastic job from wuffles and Ava and TSD and Ziggy! (And welcome to the last jump club :D ) LOL at the carpet eating Schnauzer - but sounds as though he's coming on really nicely.

Glad dancinbcs picked up the vacc/desexing combo point - certainly separate those IMO. As far as the peeing on walks goes - like TSD I wouldn't be waiting till he's ready to pee then doing something - - for a performance dog, you want him happy to pee on command and when the right situation is presented (vertical surface for males :laugh: ) - so that you can make the 'peeing before you go in the ring' part of the routine. So I wouldn't be doing anything that might add anxiety about peeing when you're on the other end of the lead, if you see what I mean. If I really don't want Rory (or Kirra for that matter :D ) peeing on every likely spot, I just give them a verbal cue to keep walking, and I keep walking briskly and give verbal acknowledgement as they resume their purposeful walk.

+1 Beautiful!

It might be worth trying having her food bowl up higher, so that she has to stand tall to eat - so the pasterns are being strengthened for a few minutes at least each day, with no other strain on her.

:laugh: kathq - what fun! Kirra did that to me in a TSD track - she did the last 100 metres or so on her own while I tried to keep up and pick up the lead - and avoid tripping over logs and branches :laugh: - luckily she sstopped when she found the tracklayer .

Well done Kavik and Ksos! I bragged in the brags thread - but so pleased with my 10 year old BC Kirra that I'll have another one here - first trial - and basically first agility (for 4 months - some nice runs with just an odd mistake - mine usually :laugh: , but she did snag two passes in JDM - one to finish JDM2 (the only multiplier she didn't have) and one exta :laugh: - and the best things of all - she had lots of fun, and pulled up OK after 8 runs on Saturday and 4 on Sunday - dear little girly.

Congrats to xena98 and her lovely Gabby, and to Mrs RB. Another little brag from my Kirra - 10 year old BC (whose litter sister sadly died two weeks ago ). We had lots of fun at our first agility trial for the year - first agility since November, apart from about 10 minutes training at club one day. She and I were a bit rusty, but we had some nice runs - and she managed to snag two Masters Jumping passes to finish her JDM2 - the only multiplier she didn't have :laugh: I was just thrilled that she was still happy to run, wanting to do well (she backchatted me and nipped me for crappy handling ), and that she pulled up fine after the 8 runs on Saturday, and was happy to do 4 on Sunday. So grateful for my little feral girl :D .

Yay Gamby and Gambit - well done to you and to your students - and Geelong for putting on the mock trial - it's a great chance to have a practice before the real thing. It's fun, isn't it :D

Do have a look at Rally O - even if only for an extra bit of fun with your dog. It's a bit of a mental challenge for handlers, since the 'directions' are on the signs, and it's up to the handler to work their way through the course with as much precision as possible. Teamwork is highly valued in Rally O, and although you can talk to your dog, you don't have to if it's uncomfortable for you - you can even pat your dog on the way through the course. Have a look at the rules - you'll find them listed under Obedience on the ANKC site - the signs and explanations are there too. If you can get to a club that does Rally - even better. :D

My dogs have been monstered by a large dog under the "control" of a child. I ended up grabbing the lead and stringing the dog up to prevent it from taking chunks out of mine. Dad was not impressed. He was even less impressed when he snatched the lead from me and his dog bit him.. transferred aggression's a bitch. :) :laugh: You've got to love karma!!

Just one other thing to add - some tick affected dogs will display a change in voice as one of the earliest symptoms, even before the hind limb weakness. If you notice this, it's worth taking the dog to the vet to double check - the sooner, the better.

Yay Murve - great stuff. And DiscoDobe - love the registered name - and I like the sound of "special beginners" as a class :laugh:

Way to go Millie - soon be up with the big kids - what fun!! :D

:laugh: 270s need work - hmm that would be me and Kirra too - among other things. Our first agility trial is this coming weekend - on newly rubberised gear which we haven't seen yet because of being away at DWD - looking forward to it - and hey - she's 10 now - she can do what she likes (well, she always does anyway ... ;) )

What a lovely run AP - she was flying - and your handling looked really smooth. And hey - going too far out on the distance is a good problem to have :laugh:

The dogs and I stayed here in Ballarat at the weekend - a lovely older house, beautifully decorated - lovely restful, comfortable feel to it, dogs allowed inside, and secure locked back courtyard, and fenced front yard (not secure for confirmed jumpers though). And very close to a lovely parklands area, including the local obedience club grounds.

Congrats on those agility results - well done! Couldn't resist coming in here for a little brag on my feral BC kids Rory and Kirra, who made the weekend ferry trip over to the mainland worthwhile by getting passes in Starters Freestyle and HTM at our first DWD comp - Miss Kirra even somehow got a second place in HTM (she's the one who doesn't 'do' obedience ). Luckily the jusdges were obviously rewarding enthusiasm and enjoyment - the ferals had plenty of that - precision - not so much . We had a great day - thanks so much to Ballaarat Dog Obedience Club for putting the comp on - a leap of faith for them - first obedience club in Vic to run a comp - I do hope they think it was worth while. The competitors certainly appreciated it. :D