Tassie

How about just for pure and simple enjoyment of the dog and the teamwork. Not every dog sports person is or has aspirations to be a breeder. Not every top performance bitch is purebred or comes from a "working" breed either. Besides seasons are bloody inconvenient if you're seriously campaigning a dog - bitches have no sense of timing. Unlike the show ring, an in season bitch cannot compete in dog sports. poodlefan - on both counts

Yep - I'd use most of that - but maybe leave out a few things - like the fading the clicker and the variable schedule - that can come later. personally, I'd also leave out the click ends the behaviour - cos there's arguments about that anyway - and just concentrate on getting the message across that the click (or the marker word, which is what I teach as well cos I'm a klutz in juggling things and my class are on leads) marks the behaviour (or the good effort), and signals good things for dogs are coming - treat, game, whatever the reward is. I do like the camera analogy - that helps to get the timing thing across. The ways NOT to are really good. And I'd probably add in (without necessarily using the terms) the idea of criteria and approximating and small steps - gradually upping the criteria. I will do this with dogs that are resisting down (often terrier types - smaller, stiffer legged dogs)) - if I'm using the fold-back down - which is often easier for these dogs, I'll mark and reward an elbow bend a couple of times, then just keep the lure in place - dog can smell, lick, but not have - until the rest of the body goes down - then mark and big party reward. Works pretty much every time, saves a lot of frustration, and gets the idea of splitting and approximation across really well.

Don't have time to check - but there could be something useful Here

Oh, so if you have to pay $20 for the new cert of registration, I guess that makes the costs about the same - except that we don't have any option . And JulesP - we get the Breeders Certificate too - but the office sends it back to us with the title, then we have to send it to the breeder. RS - most of the States (maybe all) now work on a shared database (NSW origin I think), so the sire/dam information should be what's on the database currently.

Yep - Tas is the same - have to return the original or they don't process the application.

What bedazzled and RS said - love the Shirley Chong method - worked for my previous BC .

Funniest shopping trip I've ever been on in my life.... when he started sorting through the clothes in the maternity section I really got worried!!! You really do see all sorts in KMart at 9.45 on a Friday night.... it was an eye-opener! It's official though, WA is the most backward state in Australia, we only have late night shopping on Thursdays and aside from then, everything else is shut at 6pm Oh, I also have some pics coming of Tassie's lovely boy Rory, was happy I got to have cuddles with him So do I post Hounders pic or wait till she announces it officially??? I just saw this - too busy at work . Big congrats, Hounder - saw that - lovely! And the new little baby looks just way too cute, ellz. PD888 - it was so nice to meet you - and Mr Rory says thank you very much for the cuddles, and he's pleased that you can report to winpara that he's behaving better - enough to get DogCC, RU Breed, and Inter in Group (9 more points). Proud of my little big man. He went to a tracking workshop on Sunday, and did a good job there too. :D

That's relly bad luck. No personal experience, thank goodness, but from what I've heard/read - at 32kg your girl is likely to be a good candidate for TPLO - the more expensive option - but one which may well be preferable. Unless your own vet is experienced and knowledgeable about orthopaedics, it might be worth seeing an ortho specialist, to explore options before you make your decision.

Wow congrats to the many and commiserations to the few - as appropriate. My little brag is that we spent a beautiful sunny (though cold) day down here at a tracking workshop - using a pine forest near the airport. Lots of dogs and handlers trying the sport out, which was fun - did a lot of tracklaying of baby tracks. Late in the day got a chance to do a couple of little tracks with the little big man. Now Rory hasn't done any tracking since winter last year, and then it was only about 30 metres on grass, with a target at the end (my track). So today, we were in pine forest, with fallen branches and sags, a longer track, laid by a person he's only met a few times - and he nailed it - nice intensity, concentrated hard, found articles (not that he had a chance not to as we were making sure he was on track - but really didn't have to control it much) and was excited to find the tracklayer. Then did even better on the second track. I'm really pleased with what he showed - and inspired to get training again with both of them. Kirra had a couple of blind start but hot tracks - the first one was a bit chaotic - she was right OTT, but later in the pine forest, she did some nice work. Still a bit erratic - but super keen - so now I have to fit some more tracking training into the schedule. Sigh!!!

I know, that my problem, I have to be more patient ... But now that i've seen that when I go nice and slow, have fun with Lottie and really get excited that she actually enjoys what she's doing and wants to learn . So yes, no more wanting to fly through everything, I'll take all the time Lottie needs and have fun while doing it, and I will definately come and talk to you on Monday, can't wait!!!!!! Lets just say i've had a bit of an eye-opener and was expecting WAY too much from a baby!!!! Woopsies..... Don't stress it LuvLottie - most of us have been guilty of that - but hey -- sounds like you and Lottie have discovered the joys of training through play - that's huge!!!! Well done.

Interesting one about jumping off the DW, Vickie. That recommendation is on one of the foundation/basic obstacles DVDs I've got. Actually makes a lot of sense - and certainly if for some reason my dog were to slip on the DW, I'd rather she knew to bale safely, rather than try to hang on. It's only happened once - but she jumped off cleanly and with no injury.

I can sympathise Tassie, I'm in a similar situation. Makes it bloody challenging but not undoable. ;) .... True. I was really pleased with how my little girl did on our mainland trip - with really minimal training. It doesn't help that I live on a sloping block - only a small amount of flat land - just enough for 12 weavers with a bit of space either end - or a 4 jump grid. Still, school holidays coming up - yay - time to really get into some training - bike work for Rory's gaiting and general fitness and conditioning for all of us, maybe 2x2 weaves for Rory, some HTM for Kirra, tracking for both of them, obedience for Rory.... Hmmmm - could it be I want to do too much with them? Who cares ... we have fun.

OK - where's the "madly jealous" icon when you need it. Clubs, weeknight training, instructors, equipment .......... not fair, not fair. ATM our club training is on Sundays - and I can only get there sometimes, and often by the time it's training time, I'm too knackered from taking Rory to obedience class, and teaching a big puppy class. Going to try to get some weekday training organised with a friend who has some equipment - after work, so not much daylight - but it's better than not doing anything.

Just to steer us clear of temptation ........... ETA - Ooops - I see it was too late for JulesP Sudden death is only Sydney Metro local rule I think Ptolomy - although that does extend as far south as Wollongong. Outside of the metro area, they use normal rules. Country NSW is fine. (I'm actually an 'overseas' member of Southern Highlands Kennel and Obedience Dog Club, at Berrima (near Bowral - lovely area.) I've trialled obedience in Vic and Tas, and agility in NSW, Vic, SA, Tas - of course - and now WA . (And I got 3 lovely furry tug leads from Jacqui in WA - as well as my i-squeaks - Rory was squeaking his again last night. - Thanks you Ptolomy.

I would have thought one of the important reasons to have papers, particularly in Queensland is that without them, if you wanted to do any of the performance disciplines, you would have to register the dog as an Associate - and in Queensland, though not elsewhere, that would limit your options in relation to registering future non-papered dogs.

Our BC boy died from poisoning from the annual heartworm injection. He was a rescue, and we hadn't been told anything about risks involved with certain vaccines. We simply trusted our vet (we didn't know we had any reason not to) when they offered the injection, and after a full year of on-and-off illness, with us having no idea what was going on, he passed 6 weeks after the second injection from a massive haemorrhage (sp). So, there is validity in vaccination conditions I think. I think going so far as to say you cannot vaccinate your dog ever is going too far, but making a point of educating new puppy buyers (and warning against) certain vaccines and medications can in the end save the dog's life. I wish we'd had the knowledge. ;) add: I think some of those conditions are rather ridiculous and would ward off many a pet puppy buyer. I advise my puppy buyers to steer clear of the yearly heartworm injection. I tell them it is ultimately their choice, however as the injection is an *mectin product, some collies may be sensitive to it. I know of BC people who use it without issue. I know of breeders who use it without issue. The company who makes the product of course claim it is safe to use on collies. And people who may have been using the monthly form of it, will not think twice about going to the yearly form for convenience. I prefer the monthly heartworm. For one, if there is going to be a reaction to it, it is a month base and not a year base if you needed to try to counteract it. It is important to note, the heartworm injection is different to the vaccinations. And like ANY medication, reactions can be individual. I'm concerned now. Neither our breeder or our vet mentioned anything about bcs being sensitive to heartworming. we dont use the injection, so is it only this that causes problems? or is it things like tablets and advocate also? While I personally won't use the yearly injection (after the experience of another DOLer whose BC had an anaphylactic reaction to it - fortunately the dog was able to be saved), there is a lot of IMO unnecessary concern about ivermectin sensitivity in Border Collies. (It is a serious issue in Collie Roughs (and Smooths?) and probably in Australian Shepherds. As has been said, if you are really concerned, there is a genetic test available. Most of the work in this area has been done at Washington State University - there is good info and a breed list Here and information about the genetic test Test. The list of drugs which may be problematic for dogs with the mdr1 gene mutation is List of problematic drugs

And it's only neuters on Main Register that can be shown in conformation - Limited Register dogs can't be shown in conformation, but of course can compete in performance disciplines.

Since your vet is so close, I would be taking your new puppy in (in your arms - not down on the floor) several times just to visit with the people - there'll be lots of oohing and aaahing and fussing and treating - all good stuff . Obviously don't do it at times when they are flat chat, but most vet offices now are happy for people to drop in just to weigh dogs (I do mine every month or so) and to familiarise puppies - after all, it makes their job easier in the long run. :D I usually schedule a "well puppy" visit to the vet soon after I get the pup - so nothing 'horrible' happens, and you can be lovely and relaxed and enjoying having your pup meet the vet. Yes, costs money, but to my mind it's well worth it, rather than waiting for the next vax as the first consult.

Thanks for the tips, Tassie!! Sounds like your ET was delightful! Oh yeah - totally - wet all the time, very windy - usually when we were coming back into it, freezing cold - and the last bit on the grass was through water LOL. But still worth doing .

Yep - I would be working on getting the dogs (and you) comfortable at a bit faster pace - at least for some distance. Depending on the judge and the pace setter, you may need to be able to maintain up to about 12 or 13 kph for a while - should be in the first leg. So it's good to have trained for that. The plus side is that the pace may drop off in the later stages if the first leg has been done faster. Oh -- and from my experience - it might be owrth training in the rain - at least once - if you get any rain. It's a different ball game for dogs and riders - I fell off when my boy did a particularly violent shake as we were riding into a sleety squall in our ET.

Just back from the long road trip to WA - and I have another few dog-friendly places to add to the list. In Perth - The Harrison in Mt Richon/Armadale - expensive, but a lovely house with pool, set on a large block - views out to the west - lovely outdoor eating areas. Fully fenced (but my Border Collies did find a way out in one corner ). Dogs allowed inside. About 15/20 minutes easy drive to CAWA grounds. Other Tasmanians stayed in a dog-friendly place, fenced yard, in Rockingham - fairly close to a beach. Sorry, don't have the details for that. In Kimba - between Ceduna and Port Augusta - Moseley Cottage - funny old country cottage, but fenced yard, under cover verandah, dogs allowed inside, very comfortable and welcoming. And in the Adelaide Hills at Mylor - Burnslea Log Cabin - no fenced yard, but as long as dogs are not escapers, there's over an acre of grass and bush for them to have a good race around. The cabin is delightful, very comfortable, dogs allowed inside - and the breakfast supplies include freshly baked bread brought over by the hosts who live in the house across the driveway. Found them all on stayz (pet friendly) and/or Take a Break.

Wow - lots and lots of great performances. See what happens when you go travelling and don't have internet access for weeks Happy to say Kirra and Rory and I had a great time on our travels - loved trialling in WA and SA - and meeting up with people (sorry I missed meeting some of you - it was all a bit busy there.) ANWA Committee and all the helpers ought to have a big brag in here - a most enjoyable Nationals. Kirra and I came back with enough Qs to finish her ADM2 (not bad for an old lady and her little dog that I thought might never make it to ADM :p ) and ADO3. And please may we join the one bar Freddie club - only make that 1 bar/1 refusal/1 time fault (MJ) - cost us about 4 or 5 more Qs at Nationals. As it was we had 5 Qs, including a 6th place in Masters Agility - unluckily (or luckily) it was on the first day, so didn't get us into a final . And our highlight for Nationals - winning the best female senior handler (60+) award - thanks so much to the organising Committeee for setting up those special awards - that was a real buzz. Last Saturday in Adelaide we got 3 Qs, including a 3rd in MA and a 2nd in OA. The MA run was one of those scary fun-fair ride sort of runs where you just hang on and hope for the best .

The dogs and I are nearly there - staying in Kalgoorlie tonight - should get to Perth tomorrow afternoon - after looooooong days of driving - but a great experience - and had fun meeting up with Ness and her two in Adelaide on Monday. SHould catch up with some of you on Saturday at SR trial.

The Tasmanians are coming . Most of us are heading out of the island this weekend - and driving west .. and west... and west... :D See you at SR tomorrow week - hopefully.