Tassie

Congrats peeps. I'm double dipping too but I'm really proud of my lil big man Rory today. Subject to Dogs Tas approval, he will be known as Ch Winpara Soul Dreamer ET :D . So the first of what I hope will be a number of letters after his name . We were soooo lucky with the weather today - unlike the south and middle of the state, Longford was bathed in sunshine, and although the wind was COLD, it was steady, rather than gusty - so it was a lovely ride.

:D They can always think of something Jules. But glad the lost drop is back. Well done wuffles and murve - great work.

Way to go TN and Soaks. Happy to say that everyone passed at Longford, Tasmania, too - including my lil big man BC Rory, who subject to Dogs Tas approval will be Ch Winpara Soul Dreamer ET :D , We were so lucky with the weather - the south and middle of the State had fould weather - 1 and snowing as I was driving home through the midlands, and 2 and snowing at home (lightly ) - but we had lovely sunchine, and although the wind was reasonably strong and freezing cold, it was steady - so it was really quite a lovely ride in the dunshine. :D Meant to say, thanks for the good wishes all.

RS .... but free shipping and a high dollar is too good to refuse

This place looks fantastic, I would love to take my lot there one day! Have fun The dogs and I have been up there several times for training workshops (our first trip was a camping one, before the cabins were built. ) It's a fantastic place to go. The cabins are lovely (even have a dog door, much to my BC girl's delight) and the views are stunning. Only 2 problems - I'm paranoid about ticks and cane toads, so we haven't actually gone on the rainforest walks - and it's SUCH a long way from Hobart

Countdown for us too TN - thinking I should get out and do a last little bit of training today - but strong gusty winds and showers are not inviting . Forecast is not good for Sunday either, but I'm just hoping where the ET is held up in the north of the island might be a little more sheltered.

LB - thanks for the heads up - I think! Just ordered it - love Nancy Gyes' alphabet drills - will be good to have them all in one package. Couldn't resist really since it was on free shipping .

It would have been worth posting twice, Vickie - thanks for that. AD - sounds really good. Tried to do it at a club here, but because it's not just an agility club, ran into a lot of resistance from the "people just want to have fun on the equipment" brigade.

Ptolomy - thought it might be too late. He's such a clever boy! So what's your strategy for working him on duration heeling - inquiring minds over her want to know :D .

Ptolomy, did you get any video of how you used the sit mat with the RTB finishes with Strauss? Sounds like you had a great session with the red kids. Must have been the night for distraction proofing - too cold to get the bike out, so I did a bit of obedience with Rory (it's been neglected lately), and we were doing a bit of heeling through a selection of dbs and some little plasstic zippy bags with treats. Still needs work, but soming on (and he loves his db). Also did a sit stay with both of them, with clear plastic treat bags about half a metre in front - one each. Rory is usually pretty good about that, but it was a BIG ask for my little food-thieving demon bitch, who can rip one of those bags apart in a heartbeat - but she managed it - good girlie. RS, I'd say you earned your jackpots :D .

Sorry lp - forgot to change the settings. Here's another one which shows what I mean about the belly strap really being a bit long. Harry Potter coat close up

ness - as you know, mine are pretty much the same - would rather be in with me than outside. Dyzney, I'm usually staying in dog friendly accommodation for a short time - for trials, or travelling to trials or workshops. I love it when there is a well fenced yard, but being able to have the dogs inside with me is my highest priority (although sometimes, like the motels across the Nullarbor, they just have to sleep in the car.) Now I think about it, I've probably stayed in more places without a yard, than with, but it hasn't really been an issue - because even at home, on an acre and a quarter, if the dogs need to go out in the wee small hours of the morning, they go on lead - both to stop them harassing critters like bandicoots and pademelons that are out and about then, and also so they know it's just a 'business trip' . (Pity you're not starting up dog-friendly accommodation )

Well, I got one because of ness, so not sure what that makes my opinion worth . But FWIW, I think the mesh coat I got for 9 and a half year old BC Kirra (you might remember her lp and KC) after she pulled a hammy at an agility trial earlier in the year. I did the right things (initial ice on vet's recommendation - he said it was worth it even 24 hours post injury, anti-inflams for a week, rest, reduuced activity, then gradual reintroduction of jumpng. But I thought at her age with winter coming on, the Back on Track coat couldn't hurt. She only wears it at night (cos I run my bedroom fairly cold, so it helps keep her warm as well. I call it her Harry Potter" coat - thanks ness - and she comes on cue to get it on. Only problem I have is that Kirra is such a long dog, but such a fine skinny minny, that to get the length, the coat is really too big around. Initially she would get tangled up in it, but she seems to have got it sorted now. If I was clever with a sewing needle, I could probably adapt it a bit - but I'm not. They are expensive, but on balance, I think it was money fairly well spent on Kirra, at her age. Kirra's Harry Potter coat

One thing you could try, if you can organize it, is have a friend or a succession of friends 'babysit' him - i.e. be nearby, and drop a treat or two in the crate when he is quiet (even if it's only a brief moment ;) . The quiet moments should lengthen out, so the rain of treats can go on a bit longer. Worked for my boy - he can sit hand snooze happily in his trolley through a whole agility trial now while I'm out walking courses and running my girl. It did take a while, and a lot of help from friends, but well worth it. (I also had my babysitters do a little interrupt (uh-uh) when he was starting to get stressy.

:D

Oh thanks guys - nice to know that it's not juat an idea - it did make good sense to me. AD, I would have to check the dvd again - a while since I watched it - I think initially it was a plank between 2 supports - and low - but height gradually raised, and I think in the end it was off the DW itself - though maybe at a lower height. ETA apologies for taking the Brags thread OT - but it just occurred to me in the context of TN's dw issue.

If you've got room in the car, I'd probably be using a crate (cat crate will be fine for now) rather than a harness - pup will really be a bit small for harness. Crate can be made like a little snug den - especially if you have a towel or something with the mum and litter scent on it as well as yours. You will need to plan to stop at least every 2 hours to let the pup wee - but try to use areas where there will not have been other dogs - because your pup won't be fully protected against disease. Not too much food or treats (don't want him to be sick), but a nice chicken wing to gnaw on would be good.

One of the training dvds I have - I think it's a Deborah Jones one, but could be wrong - actually has handlers teach the dog to jump off the DW plank (low at first) - her theory is that if the dog knows that it's OK to jump off, they're more likely to jump off safely if they start losing their footing or something, rather than panicking a bit and havcing an uncontrolled (and possibly more scary/damaging fall. I haven't actually done it - but it's an interesting idea. Don't know what other people think. (Obviously, the dog is more heavily rewarded for travelling all the way over the plank and performing the whole obstacle.) To me it's a bit like the great idea of having kids learning to swim, get into the pool fully clothed (in their best clothes if possible) so they know that they can deal with that situation if it ever arose. (Obviously not something you'd do in the rehab phase of getting over the DW fear.) What's Jedi's highest vale reward, TN?

Hang in there Jules. It does get better, I promise - but it takes a while. Each 'first' is really hard - but once that's done, it gets a little bit less raw. Bless the girls - they will help.

It's getting closer ... vet check this evening for Certificate of Soundness - all good. We squeezed in a little bit of training after work, before dark - about 2 km for Kirra and Rory, then back in the car for Kirra, and Rory and I did another 4 at a little higher speed - 6.3 km overall in a tad over half an hour. He really loves gaiting with the bike - will have to keep up the bike training after the ET I think - good for Kirra's agility and tracking fitness too, to say nothing of me.

Well done, MonElite - that's a lovely confidence booster.

She looks absolutely adorable, RV and smart as paint. And Toby looks as though he's going to be such a good, patient big brother. And I wouldn't worry too much about him bowling her over - she looks a lovely sturdy pup. :D

What Pers said. It does get easier, although at this stage, it feels as though it can't - and seeing the reaction of the girls is hard too. I love that the cats know you need comfort - wish we could do something other than send you cyber sympathy and hugs - but you know you have that - and our tears for you and Brock, and for our lovely dogs that have gone too soon. Take care.

Inevitablue, TN and Kavik - that must feel good, Kavik - and good bub - like to see them starting their dog trial career early - good for them. Bummer about the DW scare TN - that's a pain to have to work through. Agility trial down here today - we had our usual share of DQs - but with some lovely bits and pieces in between - including a couple of super hard weave entries, where because I'd DQd already, I was able to just let the little tart go and trust her - she didn't let me down. :D She also did better on her see-saw - she'd had a few bale offs lately - although we did have a seesaw fault - not quite landed - which cost us an OA Q. And a 2 second hard luck story on a clear MJ run. One Q for the day - a 1st place in MA - good girlie. I'm just super happy that at almost 9 and a half, she's still having a ball.