Tassie

Well done with Dezzy - that's great. You must be so very proud of all your kids

+1 - even with Border Collies, I follow that guideline - paranoid about bloat, even though BCs are not super prone to it. For my own convenience, I feed morning and evening - (obviously with their daily allowance divided in half roughly).

And Bundyburger, even if you don't end up going, it's probably worth going through the exercise of crate training anyway, jsut in case, heaven forbid, the dog ever has to spend time in one. It's nice to have the option.

Very small beer compared with RubyStar's effort - but just wanted to brag on my lil big man Rory, who managed to scrape a pass on his Tracking Test 2 on Saturday - the only pass of the day. 800 metres - supposedly known tracklayer - though Rory had only met his tracklayer a couple of times, and never had her lay a track for him. There had been cattle in the paddock, so lots of lovely fresh cowpats - and the tracklayer said a huge feral cat ran across the track while she was laying it - but he managed to keep his mind more or less on the job.

Lovely from both girls RS. SFE is still a little bit of a hit and miss affair with Rory - for the same reason. Last trial we had a new thing - judge put his hand on Rory's chest - and Rory obligingly did what he would do if his show handler did that - shifted the position of his front feet

:D

Way to go RS and Ruby - fantastic - and well-deserved.

Happy to say my lil big man BC Rory (Ch Winpara Soul Dreamer ET) got a pass in his Test 2 at our tracking trial yesterday. A bit wiffly-woffly, but he found and indicated both articles nicely. :D And he didn't bark at the tracklayer like he did on his test 1 (that was the first time he'd found a person at the end of a track :D .)

Big congrats to Tameika and Jessie - great start to a tracking career - and lovely to see a junior handler in tracking. Good luck to you and Dezzy tomorrow.

In Tasmania, we always have a tracklayer at the end of the track (although on long delay tracks, where possible, the tracklayer might be collected and then put back in - depends on the terrain usually. This is what the ANKC rulebook says (G) At the end of each Track the Tracklayer; (1) Must make themselves as inconspicuous as possible and remain still and silent. The Tracklayer need not remain at the end of the Track, subject to the approval of the Canine control, but must be in place when the Handler completes the Track. OR (2) Must place the Finish Article in the position indicated by a marker on the map so it cannot be seen by the Handler as they approach the Finish. After placing the Finish Article the Tracklayer removes the marker and continues on for a distance of no less than 30 metres past the Finish before leaving on the walking out route. click on tracking Varies from State to State about whether tracklayer can take reward - we do here, but I think in WA they don't allow any food, even in sealed containers - think they allow toy.

I've seen a SCH person training footstep tracking - with food on the ground in the footsteps - cos that's the style of tracking they require. ANKC the dog ideally will map track - but some quarter, and others will combine some air scenting (which is OK for real-life SAR, but can bite you in a competition if there's a strong wind - can lead to even good dogs cutting out a whole couple of legs of the track. My guys seem to be able to translate from tracking me in training, with rewards in the articles (get verbal and physical praise as well) and then their jackpot at the end of the track, to competition, no rewards at the articles, but jackpot at the end. Some of our competition dogs are toy rewarded, but mine have been a bit more foody. My boy was funny in his first competition track the other week - just the baby one - supposed to be a known tracklayer, but was actually an unknown person who had met him and given him treats about two hours before . Rory was tracking nicely - got to the end, and was mightily surprised and shocked to find a person lying there - he hauled off and gave his best BC imitation GSD bark, until he realised the body knew his name and had his cat food . So that was a long way of saying that my take is that with enough fun and rewards in training, the dogs get the game and enjoy it - and are happy enough to wait for the reward at the end. No different from the obedience and agility rings really - although they have to work a bit harder and it takes a bit longer.

And don't forget the Smithfields - there are some lovely Smithies running in agility in NSW and one down here. While it's true there are definitely some breed generalised characteristics, so much depends too on the individual dog, and their upbringing. My Border Collies for instance have not been great fans of dogs they don't know - but love to be with their small number of best buddies, but they are hugely attracted to people. They actively enjoy and seek out interactions with people in a variety of situations, and make great therapy dogs - the BC smile helps there too.

Had to laugh at this Gayle - my agility/tracking BC Kirra had the nickname Ewok in her litter because of her cute ear set. Over 9 years later, she still responds to that name Sorry for the little O/T Sue - hope Waldo is being a good boy. :D

Oh Sue, he's gorgeous. I can't tell you how glad I am that you have a new puppy to love and train. You learnt so much with Cindy, and had such a good time working with her, that I didn't like to think of you without a pup - although I know it's different for everyone - some people need much longer. When Fergus died suddenly from accidental poisoning, I had to get a new pup very soon - for Kirra, who was fretting badly, but also for me - and Rory was my 'meant to be' pup, as I'm sure Waldo is yours. A friend down here has been having fun with her mini bitch - quite challenging to train, but does lovely work. And there are some great mini agility dogs around in SA and in Queensland - and some came over from NZ for Adelaide agility nationals. Lots of potential - as well as being cute as a button. ETA - I truly believe Cindy would be so glad.

When I first started (years ago) it was in the days before food training in general, and food wasn't allowed as a reward (even if in a sealed container ). Now we are allowed food rewards - mine have one of those little sealed trays of cat food - easy for the tracklayer to carry - or I just put it in a sock at the end if I've laid the track myself (which I do in training). I usually tuck small food treats inside the cuffs of the socks - it seems to encourage mine to pay more attention to the socks (in their effort to get the food out LOL - Rory has even taught himself to drop at the sock - although this hasn't necessarily translated to a drop in the real thing - well, didn't in the one test he's done ;) .

See - I think;maybe that's the WA secret ..... the bubbly .

Or not even that - just the dog/s. I must say I tend to take a lot more gear since going over to the dark side (agility) and the very dark side (conformation) . Of course it could have something to do with the fact I'm getting older .

Snap, TSD

As far as moving up goes ... certainly down here, and AFAIK it's an ANKC rule, you can't move up till you have put in your title application to the control - Dogs NSW in your case. In agility, we usually contact the trial secretary once we have put in the title application, and they can move you up to the next class. Tracking - once you've passed the previous level, you notify the Trial Secretary and they will move you up, if your entry has already gone in. Obedience trials are so few and far between here that it's usually a case of you already have your application in and your title approved. If you qualify for a title on a particular day in the morning, the afternoon trial is a 'freebie' at the same level - no nerves so everyone has a good time - handler and dog. For a trial 2 hours away - I take the same as I do for a local - usually set-up - gazebo, etc. etc. dog crates, treats, drinks, food if there's no canteen, wet weather gear, change of socks .

:D My two have those thoughts about white poodles. When we were doing sheep work on a friend's farm, Kirra would get convinced that the white mini poodle at dog club was a n out of place lamb. And Rory thinks the same about the white stancdard poodle we see sometimes.

My vet used to call them "old lady lumps" . My BC/Kelpie girl had several - only a couple ever caused her problems - one was removed because of where it was - it had got large enough to become a physical problem (can't remember where now) and another one on the outside of her thigh, became infected at one stage, and needed surgery to fix - that one was very painful, but normally, they don't bother the dog at all. Oh - and if it's any consolation - people get them too. Always worth checking lumnps - and most vets will have lipomas on a check list for annyal consults - and get you to bring the dog in if you notice significant changes.

Ouch - poor Orlando - hope he comes good soon.

Thanks for posting that Ptolomy - I should do some more chair work with Rory to help prevent chomping and straighten his sit. (He did do a nice DB in the ring on Sunday - 28/30 - lost a couple for slightly squiffy sit.)

Goood work murve - tick one thing off your list. :D

Or a sailmaker (depending on where you are )