Tassie

Oh that's good - and I rather thought Brock would have lots of friends. The first time back is going to be really, really hard - but it does get better.

Mags has a good point, Jules. Worth reporting it I would think. And please don't beat yourself up about not having brought the dogs in at night. I felt the same about Fergus, as I had accidentally shut him in the garage, and then while I was mowing, didn't go and look for him when he wasn't hanging round the way he normally did. Sometimes bad stuff just happens. Thank goodness you've got the girls, and they've got each other. Kirra was totally lost - wouldn't leave me - became a real velcro dog on agility courses. Give your two lots and lots of cuddles and take good care of yourself. Oh, and if you can, ask a friend to tell as many friends as possible - at dog club and so on - helps ease the first time back - but there will be tears - from you and from Brock's friends and admirers.

Oh my gosh Jules - I am so, so sorry to hear about Brock. It's nearly 3 years since I lost Fergus suddenly - at age 6, and I know how devastated I was - and Kirra - she was totally lost. DOLers were a wonderful support to me then. When you're searching for what might have caused it - in Fergus's case, the only thing he could have gotten to were dried dahlia tubers (the root bits that you plant.) They had a sever neurotoxin apparently - collapse, then seizing. Thinking of you and sending cyber hugs to you and the other puppers.

LOL - well if getting ET with two dogs already counts. Looking at the lovely way you work with your girls RS, you certainly wouldn't break his enthusiasm. But don't forget, he's a boy, he's a BC, he has eyeballs and other balls

Nah ness - she wants them trained for ET (I didn't tell her part of the deal was getting CD with Rory - cos RS is an expert LOL - or you can do it if you like. ;)

Now you're talking RS - just wish Perth wasn't so far away. ;) Yep - both at the same time. Both on harnesses, and Kirra on a slightly shorter lead, so she's on the inside and usually slightly behind Rory. If we get to tricky places, like where there are other people and dogs, or like this morning, when there were a whole lot of high school kids running and walking on the path, we might just stop briefly to one side. Both dogs have a good verbal stop, and not bad directionals (which they only relate to the bike ) - the verbal stop comes in handy if there are plovers, or rabbits :D . Kirra is so funny when I drop her off in the car, to do more (and slightly faster) with Rory - she has a major tanty in the car - could hear her from a couple hundred metres away this morning. She does the same thing when I take him off to do a track (even if she's just done one.) But when he's going to do obedience or Rally, she couldn't care less - they're not her thing. Yes - it is hard to get training done in winter - luckily I only work 4 days, and can finish work and be home by about 4 - still only an hour of daylight though. And our training clubs in Hobart only train on Sundays. Beautiful day down here today, though - perfect for a training ride along the river - sunny, warm (ish) (about 14) and the wind was lightish and northerly, so not freezing.

:D Love Digby with his backpack. And nice pics, murve. We went out training again today - 5.5 km with both dogs, then short break to put the 9 year old Kirra back in the car (much to her disgust ) then another 8.6 km with Rory - including some horrible bumpy rough grass and stuff (for me - hard work). Think we're all getting fitter. :D

Another fan (and convert) to crate training here. Didn't use them for my first two ((noone really did back then), but have done for the more recent ones. They quickly learn to love their crates, and see them as a safe comfort zone when they're out and about anywhere. Mine have crates in the car too (wire) and soft crates for at trials, and staying in dog-friendly accommodation - they sleep in their crates at night, and as soon as they see the crates, they know this is 'home'. I keep the crate beside my bed for a puppy - you can hear when you need to get up and take pup out (mine go on lead) for a pee, then straight back into the crate to go back to sleep. My BC boy has a big airline crate - the door was shut at night (for safety, and peace for my older girl) for about a year - but he still sleepis in it every night even though the door is left open. It's great to know that they're used to crates if (heaven forbid) they need to be confined to recover from surgery, injury etc. You can incorporate your crate into other training - have a look at Susan Garrett's Crate Games. I found play pens useful too when the dogs have been small.

And for the Sporting Register, the dog needs to be registered on the register of one of a number of ANKC recognised Working Dog Associations. For example, there's a list on the second page of the Sporting Register application form for Dogs NSW click here. Looks as though it's the same for Queenland - have a look in the rules on here - page 12

Just over a week for us too TN. Luckily with a boy, I don't have to worry about a season. :D Fingers crossed Soaks does the right thing by you. It's hard to get the training in on these short winter days, but I did get 8km done the evening before last, and the boy went really nicely. It was freezing cold. Did the first 2 km with both dogs, then put the 9 year old agility girl back in the car, much to her disgust - but I was wanting to go a bit faster than she is fully comfortable with. I don't work Fridays, so should be able to get a good long ride tomorrow, and maybe another on Saturday - I'd rather have a day's gap, but Kirra has an agility trial on Sunday. Have to squeeze in some tracking training too, and a bit of obedience - work so gets in the way of training dogs .

Nope - no agility for Ross - he and his girl went the herding route, Kirra (my girl who is Ross's BC's sister) and I went the agility route. We did start out with some ANKC herding, but then had the good fortune to be able to learn to do some farm work on a friend's sheep farm. While she was never going to be as good as my friend's ISDS type working BCs, we did learn to be reasonably handy with some farm work - handling mobs of 200 or so. It was wonderful to be able to do that with her - then I went back to work, and so no more time And cos I can't resist a little brag - her first big gather - she's off on the far left up the back of the mob

And Ross owns my agility BC girl's litter sister - has done herding with her. :D Should be interesting.

+1 for the Jalna fat free with the green lid - although I do use others sometimes if I can't get that. As to benefits - ??? - other than definitely using it if the dogs are on antibiotics for any reason - to repopulate the gut flora - and I do sprinkle their Joint Guard on their yoghurt (although I don't think they care any more ).

Don't know the answer to the first question, but in answer to the second, he is a judge and competitor. Dogs Vic office should hopefully know if it's open to all.

I would call the club and ask. It may depend on whether the mock Rally O is held after the official trial or at some time during it.

They're looking super, Vickie - and loved the poem.

can just imagine it. Yep - in that case, probably a good idea. :D You are going to put up videos, aren't you ;)

Congratulations to the newly titled dogs - sounds like it was a pretty successful day for DOLers - competitors and judge DC, some people do use a bike attachment, but I personally haven't. Have just started them (in a friend's huge driveway) off lead, then gone straight to the lead/harness that I've used/plan to use in the ET test. Has worked fine for 3 of mine, and a coulle of friends dogs. One less thing to buy ;)

What ness said. Didn't have to show one last year - I do put HAW/HAS on the form cos that's what we do down here - and I did have Kirra's height card with me, but if the dog is clearly within the appropriate height category, should be no problems. If a judge had serious dowubts, they would ask for the dog to be measured anyway, I would think.

That's impressive Jess. Think my Kirra managed 5 last year - but other than the TCH, not as high level as Darcy- great stuff - you must be proud! :D

Wow - lots of big congrats for people this weekend. Great to see WA confirmed as such a strong ob state! (I keep singing the praises down here :D ) - and lovely to get the 4th OC pass with Ella at such a big trial Seita. Smisch, very time you post about what you;re doing with Den, I think how the universe really knew what she was doing when she put you two together - lovely. And go the Ruby girl!

Looking good TN - and only half way through the year.

Good luck and have fun tomorrow guys. We still have 2 weeks to wait for ours. Got the KMart special serviced today, so will take it as a back up bike - got the good one serviced Tuesday. Took the dogs for a ride today - a bit over 5 km with both, then put the 9 year old back in the car, and did another 8 with Rory - mostly bitumen/concrete, but included some grass (waterlogged grass is such hard going) and muddy gravel - alsso hard going - squally wind made for harder work too, so we all feel we've worked . Now need to take them to do some tracking and Track & Search training - got to make the most of a day off.