Tassie

Maybe something from musicals? I'm trying to work one up to "If my friends could see me now" - trying is the operative word LOL

no such thing as a dumb Q here wantsapuppy DWD is Dances with Dogs - which includes HTM - Heelwork to Music (routine must contain at least 60% (?thinkthat's right) heelwork position - on of 8) ) and Freestyle - what the name suggests.

Good on you with Sasha. I feel your pain with a friendly dog on SFE - but just keep working on little by little - stand beside her at first, then immediately in front. Try to set her up for success. I still have judges who smile at Rory, thinking they are going to get a kiss, but I think he knows now he needs to keep his feet steady. :D Try looking through training thread here for the steady feet game and do that lots. And - try to do anything you can to not make it boring - little bits - bit of play and fun (even if you step away from the class a bit to do it) - lots of genuine e3xcitement from you. It can be a bit hard in a class situation, but I'm sure your instructor wouldn't mind if you take little breaks every now and again - for a drink or a pee (the dog or youi LOL).

What ness and TN said. :D The more you teach, the more they can learn - and the more fun you're having with your dog. And IMHO, when it comes down to it, formal obedience is just a series of tricks that you polish up.

beautiful Tollers - bet you enjoyed the yummy breakfast

I don't think they need to text bedazzled. In the days before mobile phones (you won't remember them ) there was a lovely Pem down here doing UD when I was doing it with my first BC Sam. They used to manage to agree on what they were going to mess up on a particular day, even though they lived at opposite ends of the state :D

Who put that light post so close to the ring??? (And wouldn't you love to know who'd peed on it before - must have been really tempting to tempt the OC one :D )

good one Kenz :D

Lots of reasons for raising glasses tonight it seems - way to go TSD - great resutls, and Caffy and Snazzy - woohooo - win in JDM - and DSO and Jess - great stuff. Commiserations, kathq - but you and Coco will be on fire when you get back to it, I reckon. No trials down here this weekend = but I did have a chance to give Mr Rory a little bit of work on the equipment at club today - only the trialling class dogs around, and ke knows all of them, and they know him. He was a good boy - held a SLS, and remembered how to weave - once I remembered that he hadn't seen weavers for something like 6 months or more. He's a funny boy - still a bit little red engine - I think I can, I think I can, I know I can - as he goes through - slower at first and then speeding up - but gets faster with each run - nice head down style. It was interesting though to realise how much I take for granted in handling Kirra - she's so hair trigger in reading me, whereas he's still very much the novice. All good fun though.

good girl Kenz! LOL - good luck with not razzing her up

Oh, that is very sad news. The Border Collie breed certainly owes him a great debt for his work on genetic testing in ouir breed.

AD - of course you had to have Rory's little 'sister' (repeat mating of his parents ) My local council limits my numbers - can only have 2 without a kennel licence - which they don't issue - but in reality it's probably just as well. I wouldn't have time (or energy) to train another one. Kirra is over 9.5 now, but thankfully still lean and fit (in spite of her strenuous efforts not to be lean ), and her chiro is quite happy for her to keep competing in agility. She's also competing in Track and Search, and playing around a bit with DWD - although we haven't competed (yet???). Lil big man Rory at just 3 is still showing in conformation occasionally, although he already titled a year ago - he enjoys it, and I have a lovely Junior Handler who enjoys handling him for me . I'm training him in Obedience and Tracking, and he's done a fair amount of agility training. He's still a bit reactive in highly exciting situations, so haven't tried competing in agility yet - maybe next year. He got ET and his TD title this year - he loves his tracking, although not when there are Scotch thistles all around a corner (like there were on his Test 4), and he loves playing in Obedience and Rally O - especially Rally O cos he's not really ready for group stays yet. Although I retired 9 years ago, I've been back working 4 days a week for the last 6 years (partly because I enjoy it, and partly to fund the doggy luxuries like travelling across the country to Nationals or training camps - so that limits the training time I have available.

Pity about Bass Strait! We have several people down here who have passed Novice at Mock Trials and Club tests, and a couple who've passed Advanced. Darn that stretch of water - but well done to Noeline for wanting to get it going. Fingers crossed ti will get the nod from ANKC this weekend.

In this dog world, there's no such thing as a silly question - chances are if you needed to know, others do too - but yes - feel free to hang out in the training forum. Lots of us sports nuts there. :D

- and if you can't have constructive hysterics (or even plain ones) among fellow dog tragics, then it'd be a poor world. :D Seriously Jules - what a relief. Horribly scary - but I guess you now know that she can bounce back from that - good girl Amber. Just keep having fun with her.

As long as she's not displaying really fearful behaviour, this is not a bad 'problem' to have. She'll get herself into less trouble by being cautious than by being full-on/in-your-face with other dogs. Not all dogs are party animals, and IMO, being comfortable and happy with people is WAY more important - and sounds like she's got this all sussed :D . Obviously be guided by what your instructor says (after all they can see the behaviours) but personally, I'd just be taking things steadily - not trying to force any interaction she doesn't want, keeping her at a distance where she feels relaxed and comfortable. As she gets used to being around other dogs, you will probably see her relax some, and the comfort distance lessen - but she may always be one of those pups who, except for a few special friends, prefers to just be on the outskirts. Doesn't mean she's not having fun, or that she's missing out on anything. Her main fun should come from you anyway. OH - and I'm not really a spitz person , but she and those other puppies look so darned cute in the photo that I could almost be converted. :D

Sounds great - and IMO you've got the right attitude in letting the dog have fun and be happy and comfortable, and let the Qs fall where they may.

Lovely - and love the name - is that Eccles for Eccles cakes, or for the Goon Show?

Another for the Shirley Chong retrieve method as a basis. Although my poor Fergus ( ) never did learn to walk forward with the db in his mouth :rolleyes: - but Rory cottoned on very quickly.

excellent news, now go enjoy your family holiday What she said. You and the kids all deserve the holiday, and how wonderful that Earl will be being cared for all the time - perfect! (Of course you do realise that you will get home to a thoroughly spoilt dog, don't you ;) )

That sounds encouraging - poor lad with the cone of shame. ;) Hopefully he'll keep improving now. Good vibes still coming from the apple isle.

It should be a good thing if it's done well - and it should have the benefit of concentrating on precision moves rather than a lot of paddock bashing. There are a number of moves to learn, and the course is made up of signs which tell you which of the moves to do. Your job is to perform each station as well as possible, and then move briskly and neatly to the next station. Here are a couple of links to sites which a quick google found - using Canadian ones cos that's what the proposed Australian rules are based on. Hopefully the Australian rules will soon be approved, and it will be another ANKC titled discipline. Rally O link 1\\Rally O link 2 Our club is heavily involved, and my dog and I love it - and best of all, no group stays :D

Great stuff! So you should still be floating! And even better that it was all a family affair! :D

More healing thoughts and vibes for Earl and for you - poor things.

Welcome, Clancy, Connor and Annie! Hmmm - the kids might need their coats in this weather :D - but hopefully we'll get some nice weatherfor you before tooooooo long.