Tassie

It is, Star - my first trialling dog, a BC, used to forge a bit (we didn't train very well then ;) ) and he would sometimes do a very neat round the back left turn (90) so he did a 270 - it used to make me laugh, swondering if the judges would believe what they were seeing . Thanks for that bit of history bedazzled - I wasn't involved at that sort of level then, so I wasn't sure how it had come in.

We had a lovely Mock Rally O trial following an obedience trial in Launceston yesterday. 3 dogs in Advanced, and at least 10 I think in Novice. Lovely to see handlers and dogs enjoying themselves, and trying hard for precision. Happy to say my lil big man BC Rory got a 2nd place Q in Novice with a score of 98 - so now he gets to play with the big kids in Advanced. We have lots of work to do to achieve the standard I think we can - I love that Rally O really challenges dog/handler teams to do their absolute best, but without overwhelming them. Lots of happy wagging doggy tails. And I'm sure it can only improve performances and interest in traditional obedience. (And thanks Angelsun for all your guidance and suppport down here )

Rory is a bit like Em in his approach to a flip finish. And yes, I'm sure the dogs can learn to distinguish round the back in obedience and Rally O from what is required of them in agility.

The little puppy butts in the third picture are pretty cute too - looks like they had a great time.

Interesting. I'm not sure where the move to current ANKC obedience rules (to allow for both types of LAT and both types of finish) came from - but to get through, they must have been agreed by the bigger States.

Have you got Rally O over there yet? That will get the U turns and left finishes going :D

Wow - some great brags this weekend - well done all (and lovely to see you in here Sue - we're all thinking of you and feeling for you ).

Interesting that it's not used over there Star - the round the back was the only LAT used down here in Tasmania (not sure about the resto of the country ) when I started obedience trialling 20 years ago - and the round the back finish was the only one. When the flip finish and the U LAT came in they were regarded as a bit peculiar . Agility people who follow the Derrett/Garrett no blind cross handling system tend to avoid the round the back - but it is a required move in Rally O - both as a finish, and as a LAT - and in Dances with Dogs the dog can circle the handler.

Gayle, I just wanted to say how very, very sorry I was to hear this - Benson was taken from you way too soon - but you must be thankful for all the rich experiences you had with him. The memories will always be with you. Like other DOLers I enjoy your posts and enjoyed seeing and hearing abouit your lovely man. Take care of yourself - and lots of cuddles to the others, who will be missing him too.

:D

HRW - wiry and flexible - lovely. My vet's comment on Rory when he checked him out before ET - he'll have no problems doing the 20 km LOL.

In obedience competition it's the handler's choice each time a left about turn is called. To do what is generally called the U turn properly, the dog needs to remain in heel position, so needs really good rear end awareness. To do the round the back or pivot, the dog actually moves out of heel position (as it does in a rouind the back finish) and then resumes position as the handler moves in the new direction.. Just to confuse the issue ( ;) ), in Rally O, dog and handler may be required to do one or the other - i.e. there is a sign for the U left about, and one for the round the back left about. That's at the Novice Rally O level - later on, you could be required to do a true pivot turn - one foot stays on the ground :D .

I don't think you're weird, AD ;) . It is so much fun training the way we do now. I started off more than 20 years ago with the older style training, which was OK cos I didn't know anything else. But the horizons certainly have broadened since - and the idea of the pup as an active learner and as you say, problem solver - and the whole training process as a game - is so very much more enjoyable. As you say, this is about training for performance disciplines - essentially tricks when it comes right down to it. I think it makes us much more critical observers of what we are doing, and makes us careful about breaking stuff down, and maintaining criteria. And of course, I have to say - it helps when the raw material comes in the sort of packages we have. ;) (For those who don't know, AD's pup is from a repeat mating of my Rory's parents :D .

Forgot to say I'm loving the pictures here - so much for natural enemies

My 'border collie' cat is on her third generation of BCs - she loves them, and sometimes gives kisses and licks. She's quite happy to snooze with Kirra When Rory was a little pup

RS - that's what happens when you start getting blase about titles ;) murve, that's what Dogs Tas does if you don't pay extra for fast tracking.

A very belated very happy for yesterday Bedazzledx2 - but it did have a looooong way to travel

Wow - you got that for your normal fee - that's amazing. The $10 was on top of the normal @25 title applicaation fee - so $35 for a 48 hour turnaround - $30 gets you a guaranteed 7 day turnaround - otherwise, can take longer. And I wouldn't have got mine until the mail today if I hadn't been going to the office for a meeting last night. You guys get a good deal with CAWA I think - for instance, I think your title multipliers are way cheaper than ours - we pay full price.

I was so proud of Rory that I fast-tracked his title application (another $10 - cheap in the whole cost of the exercise ) and now I have his lovely title certificate :D . It's so nice when you get the sashes and certificates and so on, isn't it. The club that runs ET here has medallions instead - but they hadn't arived, so we'll get them later.

Amazing team. And look at the Rally O moves in the heel pattern.

Oh I am so terribly sorry to hear this news - what a ghastly shock for you. You know that you have the cyber support of other DOLers - especially those who have been this route before. We know from your posts how much Cindy meant to you, and how much you worked together and enjoyed her CCD success. You will have some lovelymemories to treasure. Tears here for Cindy, and Brock, and my goofy boy Fergus (nearly 3 years ago now ) and all the good dogs who have gone before.

+1 - you did a great thing for Pretty Miss Emma - including letting her go. It's never easy, but you will have lovely memories of her last happy years.

:D

That's good to hear sheena.

Thanks Ptolomy - well at least no more having to ride - but really, with the new bike I got this year, it's actually quite a nice thing to do with them - once we get a bit more daylight Now it's concentrating on obedience and tracking.