Tassie

Me too, CFS - would have liked to come, but Kirra just turned 10, and while she's still competing, I don't want to be putting any pressure on her, and I haven't got Rory in the ring yet (he can be a bit reactive , so still working on that, and meanwhle doing obedience, tracking and rally). Our trip north will be in July to the Kamal Fernandez seminar :D But we will sure miss catching up in person - and will be watching all the posts and results and piccies. :D

AP - like going to see a scary movie - traumatic/fun. It is scary, especially the first time, but soooo much fun, and so good to meet people you 'know' from the internet. I'm going to miss that this year - well - missing it already :laugh: .

Another for Janet's products and service - as in Amypie's link. She has a variety of dumbbells, and is happy to discuss sizes. :D

@ Kallistar - Kirra's HTM is a medley of Scotland the Brave and Highland Laddie. So looking forward to seeing you and yours - we'll swamp them with pipers LOL @fetchindawgs - yes, I think the first comp after the discipline became ANKC official - NSW had it going before then, and definitely WA - and Queensland - cabarets at Camp Tailwaggers. And it can be hard to get reporters to take DWD seriously, and appreciate the work that goes into it.

Gosh, murve - that's a bit scary. And yes - I'm a bit slack sometimes about checking up on why my dogs are barking. But they're not really barkers, so I should pay more attention.

Well done Queenslanders. We have a whole bunch sitting on 2 Qs for RN here - waiting anxiously for the next trial in April :D

:laugh: FHRP - can only get better from ;here on in

They are just gorgeous - thanks for sharing! But how do you ever get anything done. And Kinta does look very pleased with her family - as she should be. :-)

How lovely to see him so up and happy, happy, happy - he's an absolute credit to you Ptolomy. And it's a wonder he doesn't get RSI in that tail :laugh:

Well done on all those super results. We were all set for club Rally and ob tests today - but cancelled due to heat - who knew, in little old Tassie in late February.

Yes - Ballarat is coming up fast. Hmmm - think I have my HTM music for both - and worked on the choreog for that today (club testing was cancelled because of the heat, so had a bit of time) - FS - hmmm - think I have music - but only very sketchy ideas - I am so very uncreative. Thank goodness it's just Starters. And yes - please let the weather cool down a bit - but not be too wet either :D Mrs D - I can't even begin to imagine how you work oiut Advanced routines - but I reckon it'll be great.

Gotta be happy with that, Allerzeit - be good now Miss Nova, and no more frightening your family.

LOL about the upcoming diet - but overall, that's very encouraging. Kirra's off for her chiro checkup on Tuesday - the day after her 10th birthday - Rory will get 'done' as well. :D

yay for that news - what a relief. RS - the junior epipen sounds like a really good thing to have. Little Gilbert wouild probably only need a baby one - don't know if they have them - but well worth pursuing I'd think.

Good thoughts and healing mojo from the Apple Isle for you and your dear little man - how completely scary.

(I'm a Delta DogSafe presenter - love doing it :D

Don't exactly learn from their experiences, do they? :laugh: You're not wrong! @dasha - what a story - cheeky dog. Allerzeit, sounds like this one will turn out OK. I was going to post the reassuring story of a friend's Bernese, who snacked on she-oak cones - those little knobbly spiky ones that are not designed to pass through a GI tract comfortably. He recovered fine from his surgery (probably sooner than his owners' pockets :laugh: . Best wishes to you and the naughty little Nova baby.

Congrats to you and the lovely Kinta, LP - looks like you'll be busy with those lovely pups.

@ RV

Janba - that's totally scary. Luckily my guys won't go into the water past their ankles when there's any wort of surf running. smisch - it is a hard one - especially because Den is still a young dog. My Kirra is 10 in a week - so far she's still OK to compete, but we're not going to Nationals this year because I don't want to put that much pressure on her or myself at her age. In her career, she's had a badly sprained toe (slipped on ice) - 6 to 8 weeks off and then gradual return (with the foot taped initially), and then a year ago, a hamstring tear (uneven grass and poor takeoff on a jump) - another 6 - 8 weeks out, gradual return. We see a chiro for check ups a couple of times a year, to keep them both organised - would go more often if there was a need. My vet is happy for her to keep competing in agility as long as she wants to, but I will be a little more choosey about what I run - i.e. if the course is going to ask too much of her (given my crappy handling) we just won't run it. In the meantime, we've started competing in Rally O - which, fortunately, she loves - it appeals to her sense of adventure - and she is still enjoying Track & Search.

xena98 - and that explains those strange popping sounds - thought they were fireworks - now we know :laugh:

Wahooo!!! Way to go Deb and the gorgeous Brookie - or is that Brookie and the gorgeous Deb

:laugh: We're a persuasive lot! Given what you've said about your other dog, it might be worth conisdering some sort of playpen for puppy as well, just to ensure your existing dog gets some peace and quiet :D . Oh - and don't forget to pop across to the Border Collie pics breed sub-forum. The 'price' of our advice is puppy pics

Yay - go crates. One of the really nice things is that dogs seem to generalise the idea of 'crate as den' - and then it doesn't matter if the crate is a plastic airline type, a metal crate, or a soft crate - my two BCs have a variety. Totally agree with all of the reasons described above - perhaps especially the house training. My 3 year old BC boy still chooses to sleep at night in his airline crate beside my bed - the door has been open since he was about 1, but it's his 'special' bedtime spot (unless my bitch has decided that she wants it that night :laugh:) . When they're confined beside your bed, you can sleep well knowing they're safe, then when they wake, you can pop a leash on, take them outside for a wee, and bring them back in to settle down again beside you. We travel quite a bit for trials, and the dogs watch to see their crates go into the accommodation - my bitch likes that to be the first job I do :D - then they know where 'home' is that night. ETA Meant to say it's best to start them off in a puppy teeth prrof crate, like a plastic airline kennel type, or a wire crate, covered. Later once they've grown up a bit, soft crates are usually fine.

+1 - so glad to see this post. Have a great day. little man.