Tassie

:D RS - my Kmart one worked for me when I did ET with Kirra and Fergus 4 years ago - although the brakes did jam when I tipped it over in the sleet and mud (to avoid falling on Fergus whose vigorous shaking had caused the tip-over ) - luckily there was a spare bike and mine was quickly fixed. And because of the sleet and freezing gale, the lycra shorts were well hidden under layers of rain gear. I have bought a new bike this year - not expensive, but lovely - paddle grear shift - highly recommended

Thanks for the nice comments on Rory's weaving, and my garden. I do love my place, but the only flat bit is where we're working - just room for the weavers, or a bare 5 jump grid. And it was lovely and green then - first time for years I've had to mow grass more than once a week. Summer has come now though, and things are drying off fast. Although nothing like the WA summers . for the Cider chutes - she's a clever munchkin. Are you sure she hasn't been sneakily watching dvds or reading posts? :p

Yep - agree with the advice to watch the 2x2 weaves dvd carefully, and follow it pretty accurately. I think the key is to make sure that you have a consistent and relatively straight reward line (means practising throwing straight), and always make sure you withhold your throw until he's committed to the line through the last pair, whatever that is. On the coming back through the poles - do try not to let him do that - you'll need to move away from the poles youself, and call him to you away from the poles. With Rory, I used his hand touch and a front cross move as I moved off to the side of the poles, so he got into the habit of coming away from the poles to come back to me. Have you got someone you can get to help you with the 2o2o? Essentially, it's just marking and rewarding the dog for having the front 2 feet on the grass and the back 2 feet on the board - then gradually getting it held for longer and proofing while you move around - and making sure you give a verbal release. And owrking on both sides.

Talk about slow learners - I've just got into the YouTube thing - so here is a very amateur video of Rory trying out his weaving in the backyard - taken on ipod by my friend, who turned it on its side half way through - sorry. Rory learnt 2x2 starting in June, but has had little practice in the last few months - which shows , but I like that he has independent entries, and that he thinks his way through the first poles, and then gets faster. I'm thinking that as/when he gets more regular practice, he'll get more confident and faster. Oh, and yes - I know I need to work on him bringing his tuggy back to me quickly.

Love it! +1

Great stuff ness and the feral midget - first one out of the way now - yay!

Greytdog Can you please tell me if there is a preferred deck to load the car on if your dogs are inside? I need to go to Tas soon and will leave 1 or 2 dogs in the car. Thankyou They should be on Garage Deck 5, which is where the ship's kennels are (although there used to be somme on 3 as well. )Just for safety's sake, I find it's worth paying for 1 kennel, even though I do the paperwork for leaving them in the car - that way you know the dogs are on the system, and you'll get your yellow ticket to make sure you get parked on the right deck - that's the one with the best ventilation, and it's called first in the morning. BTW, there's a lovely area to walk/run dogs in East Devonport - turn left instead of right to go to Hobart/Launceston, into Tarleton St and keep going to the end of that street. There's a huge off leash area, bounded by Bass Strat. I get the dogs to empty out there before we go and check in, and then as soon as we arrive. In Port Melbourne, we just walk along the promenade, although there is a dog beach (short in summer, the whole beach in winter.) Oh - and be prepared for long waits in queues

It was less than 10 degrees when we did ours too - but there was a howling gale, and it rained and sleeted nearly all the way. It was actually quite funny in a way, because we'd had some warm weather, and my friend and I were a bit concerned the temperature might go over 24 and the thing be cancelled - Nope - didn't have to worry about that.

Good luck to those competing .

Got Rory doing it with our heavy canvas chute at club by having someone hold it up a couple of times. And as said, making sure it's well pegged - barrel and chute itself. Kirra got a bit tangled in one in the teams agility in Adelaide - she got out OK, but sort of came out buckjumping - which made a lovely photo for one of the photographers. My other chute story is a greener Kirra offcoursing into the open end of a chute as the wind caught it at Warrnambool one time - it was the last obstacle, but was pretty much next to the first obstacle, and the wind caught it at the wrong time. She was a tunnel suck in those days, so it was a no contest with the real first obstacle .

Just got back to Tasmania yesterday with my 2 frequent traveller BCs. I used to use the boat kennels, but now leave them in their crates in the car - they have water, and I leave the windows down a fair way (how far depends on the temperature/time of year). Yes - make sure you hang your yellow tag on the mirror. One time they forgot to give them out in Melbourne, so I just told every staff member/stevedore that I had dogs. I now usually pay for 1 kennel - means I can be sure of getting the yellow tag - oh and I keep one in the car. Be aware that if you choose not to use the ship's kennels, you have to complete necessary paperwork - absolving TT Line of any responsibility, since you're not following their policy of only using their kennels - if you're using a trailer or ute, there's an extra form which your vet has to sign too. Oh - and also be aware of Tasmanian regulations regarding hydatids worming. Quarantine Tas requirements. You will be checked at Devonport as you leave the wharf. I worm my dogs with Spectrum for their heartworm protection, and that has the required dose of praziqantel - I've never had any trouble when I show them the packet, and point out the ingredient - I write the worming date on the package. I've been travelling across with various dogs for nearly 20 years - 3 different ships. The current Spirits are the best, and I've never seen a dog seriously distressed - although some do a lot of barking, and I don't think they get a lot of sleep, what with the lights and the noises. Mine are still sleeping off their holiday today.

I've started biking with Rory :D . He turned 2 in September so he's eligible, and I was going to leave ET till he was 3 (Kirra and my previoud boy Fergus ( ) were 4 when they did theirs), but he's doing so well with the bike, that I might do it this year. We've only been out half a dozen times, but he gaits beautifully on a loose lead. Started the biking mainly to help with his show gaiting, but he loves it. Kirra is enjoying getting back to it, but is not quite as fast and strong as him, so we do about 3.5 km with her at present, and then put her back in the car, and do another 2 or 3 with Rory. Speed is about 12 kph - varying between 10 and 13. I use their Black Dog tracking harnesses when they're biking - seems to work well.

Sorry - I hate laptop keyboards - either don't work or bounce - so double post.

Yep - lil big man is entered - Group 5. As long as we get back from Melbourne in time to get him all prettied up . See you there.

Good advice fifi . I also usually ask a person I'm setting up next to if it's OK with them - just as a courtesy.

Gotta be happy with 2010 people - especially FHRP -are you still over the moon with your Ag Ch? You should be. And Amypie - what a nice springboard for 2011.

@ JulesP - why not. Yes - minimum stay is an issue, especially at this time of year. You should book yourself up something nice after the main holiday rush, if you can get away for a few days. I stayed in a super cottage in Echuca - fenced yard, outdoor eating set up, cottage with a lovely feel Here's the link to it Best Friends is great - are Ralph and Coralie stil lthere? They went over from here to there - they had a couple of lovely and talented Beagle girls - agility, tracking and obedience. I called in to see them early on - fabulous set up.

Yep - I've done lots of travelling with 2 BCs - never with 3 cos I'm only allowed 2 :D . I used to camp, but prefer self-contained now - getting too old for camping . Stayz and Take-a-break are useful - but as has been said - check exactly what dog-friendly means - re fences and dogs inside. I find that it's worth contacting people, and explaining that your dogs are obedience trained and are used to travelling .... sell them as good citizens and yourself as responsible. (The dogs and I have travelled so much that I can even offer references for the dogs now Your main problem will be getting in to places - depends what you were thinking of.

Best wishes for a successful procedure and a good outcome.

@ seita for this bit I want to know do you have a training plan for this :D (Sorry - couldn't resist - last day of the school year for me - I think it's not just the kids who are OTT)

Hi Baby Dragon - FWIW, my vet would have been happy not to re-vacc my 14 year old cat, who never goes more than about 20metres from my house on a 1 acre block if she hadn't needed to be vacc'd for boarding. She goes for annual check ups anyway.

;) My BC girl Kirra likes 'dizzy whizzies' as well - another reason for keeping her a nice lean 14.8 kg ;)

First thing I do is stop all movement - me and the tug - then put my free hand under the dog's chin (ready to take the tug) and initially, maybe lure with a treat (the swap game - mine already know this one), or just gently roll the tug out of the dog's mouth - no movement, very quiet. As it comes free - huge party - praise - and start the game again - trying to have a 'get it' or something which you'll want to use as a cue. So that deals with your problem of the let-down. You're right - you don't want the pup to think that surrendering the tug always means the end of fun - but rather that it can often be the start of more fun - you can even use a different tug for the next game. Then, when it really is the end of the tug game, I would as well as telling the pup he's wonderful, be asking for some other simple known behaviour, and maybe rewarding that with a treat. So you're never just walking away. Consistency is the name of the game - movement stimulates tugging, cessation of movement, game over. (And of course, game is temporarily over if teeth contact human skin - then you act really sad and turn away. And back after about 30 seconds time out - have had to do this even with my 8.5 year old agility girl who sometimes gets a tad over-enthusiastic

It's great to be able to have it at trials, isn't it, RS - really gets the message out. And the dogs certainly love it, if the ones we see here are any guide. Rory certainly does. He did a nice round at club the other day - watched me nicely all the way round. Only thing is, after all those ears trying to walk straight in the ob ring, I still have trouble positioning myself neatly on the line to be in position for the next sign - is that just me? (Probably - slow learner )

Yep, Rory and I will be having a go at Rally. We've done a bit in classes and we've both enjoyed it but haven't done a full test round yet. No obedience trialling yet, either - that's on the plan for 2011. We're lucky in that Rally is well accepted down here - several mock trials already - in the lunch break between am/pm obedience trials - doable because obedience numbers are low.