Tassie

That's great, Jess. I'm the same - total convert to foundation stuff - even before the G/LD seminar . Like you, I got away with it with Kirra, but realised how muych better things could have been (and are now) with systematic work - even a little bit. I've been trying to be systematic with Rory - he's only just seeing some of the equipment now at over 2 (I went slowly on that because he's a big boy.) We learnt independent jumipng (thanks to SS) and independent weaves (thanks SG), and I've tried to be disciplined with 2o2o contacts. Still be a while before we get into the ring - obedience is first up - but I'm really happy with how he works - and it rubs off onto obedience as well. I teach puppy class at my dog club, and do quite a bit of foundation stuff in that - on lead, cos it's unfenced - we do hand targetting, and then agility recalls to the hand both sides, as well as ob. recalls to front - and we turn the moving hand targetting into front cross work. The puppies and the people just eat it up.

I've been very happy with VetnPet Direct (Joint Guard) and Priceless Pets (for Spectrum). Dealt with both several times - very prompt and efficient services and competitive prices.

+1!

Very true, Vickie. Goes for food drive as well. Even my show/performance bred Agility girl Kirra, when she was working sheep, was definitely completely uninterested in any rewards other than being allowed to work sheep. Most of the rest of her training has been food or toy rewarded.

What amypie said

Oh poor Daisy - and poor you - what a worry. But glad to hear she's home and things are looking up. And I for one didn't for a moment think you were joking about the new bed and sheepskin etc. - but that was really nice of your Mum to do that - and looks like Daisy thinks so too.

IT's fun, isn;t it - and amazing the latent learning that takes place when they have a break. Clever Trixie

I always do the head turn but the lady I train with said she got marked down for doing a head turn before the actual turn so now I am a bit worried about this? I dont think he is too far forward I think maybe I was doing my turns inconsistently ( ie not always with the same foot) so now I always move my left foot first for the LAT and the right one for the RAT. What i did today ( suggested by S last night) is put my phone book down, heel up to it and do the LAT while he is on the phone book to teach him that he must swing around with the back feet. She also suggested teaching it in slow pace which i never did to start with so I may have confused him. Everything else is going well and hopefully the show n go goes well on Wed ;) Knew the gurus would help you :D Good luck with the show n go. ET fix typo

:D Yes, you can! ;) I trained the first boy, Sam, by just teasing him with the db and enticing him to grab it while it was in my hand and I was running away and playing with it. Once he realised he could grab it, he seemed to 'get it' - but then he did retrieve balls and frisbees - or at least ran after them and brought them fairly near. I actually don't remember how I got the present - it was quite a long time ago, in the days of traditional training. Kirra has a lovely informal retrieve - very reliable about bringing things back, and loves to tug. Pity she doesn't believe in "obedience" as a discipline

:D about the non-retrieving BCs Jules. My dear departed Fergus never did 'get it' - in all his 6 years - used the SC method, and he would pick up the db - but could never master the difficult art of holding the db in his mouth and walking forwards, bless him. Rory on the other hand, if I don't break it , has developed into a natural and happy retriever. He's always loved to carry toys around, and after a few days of SC, suddenly seemed to decide that he knew how to do a forma retrieve. (Winpara, do you secretly train them before they come. ). And we've been playing with retrieving the UD articles, but I might have to get some knurled metal ones, because the smooth ones slip out of his slaggy mouth when he gets warm.

Do you do the perch box rear end awareness stuff - on the phone book or paver or something like that - I'd keep doing it - and then try to transfer straight to a LAT on the ground - rewarding for any sideways movement of rear fett while keeping head and feet in heel position. But your gurus over there will be able to show you. And yes, you are allowed to give heel cue and/or signal each time you move off from sany stationary position - but the dog's name can only be used at the start of the heeling exercise - or any exercise (except recall, where the name and a pause can be used before you cue/signal the come.

Thanks Tassie. I wouldn't call it pulling, just not next to the bike. And yes, I intend to nudge her with the front wheel (ever so gently of course) to let her see first hand that it isn't a very good place to be up there Riding on grass is going to take some time, as they can't help themselves with the lovely smells and spend the grass time with nose glued to the ground, grr!! RS - one of the places I ride has a bunch of baby rabbits around - I have tgo try to see them before Rory does :D - although in fact he's been really good about ignoring them after the first couple of times he saw them. I have to remind him about trotting on when there are other dogs in his vision - part of this same tack goes by an off lead fenced dog park. Good training though.

RS They do tend to pull a bit at the start, expecially when they're inexperienced, but as long as they're settling down, that's fine. It's only if they pull consistently that most judges will warn you and eventually pull you. You may have to (very gently) nudge Ruby, if she really won't get out of the way, but if you've got a space where you can do some wide-ish left circles, she'll figure it out.

Go Gabby.

Nice distance and pace, Jules

Happy birthday Charlie. You're looking great - a tribute to your caring humans. Great job, guys. :D

- glad to hear it's not just a Tasmanian thing

It's a good point though, isn't it? I meant to ask our office today and forgot - will do tomorrow if I remember. Apart from the sheer size of the thing, not all members actually have computers or access to printers.

Oops - sorry - double post - modem trouble.

That sounds good.

LOL mercedes - or the game of - see if you can get right round the room without your feet touching the floor But seriously - I'm pretty conservative with exercising younger dogs - especially breeds that may be more prone to HD or ED. And even now mine are adults, I don't do a lot of repetitive ball throwing. I enjoy performance sports with my dogs, and I want them to be able to compete for as long as possible. GR, I know you've said your pup can stop any time - the problem is, some pups don't know how to stop :rolleyes: , so sometimes we have to be the exercise monitors, and stop way before the pup wants to.

Luckily, she thought so . Her dog was really a super little worker, and they were a lovely team - but even the best dogs can have bad days.

Yep - UD is character building. :rolleyes: My previous BC Sam once was still sitting onzero going into the group exercises - at least he did put a score on the board then. A friend and her lovely Pem Corgi - normally a great and successful team, actually ended up owing the judge points one day - not only did Shiloh have a really bad day and fail to put any scores on the board, he also peed in the ring - which he never, never did normally.

Ruby.

Giant bike - mine is a Giant too - but not top of the range - really nice and light though. Dogs and I had another good ride last night - about 3.5 km for the two, then I put Kirra away in the car, and did another 4 with Rory. He is such a good boy - we saw young rabbits near the track twice, and he kept going on a verbal. My bike computer was from the bike shop - about $30 - Big W have them too. Not super duper, but do what you want for the basics.