Tassie

same for me And prcelesspets for me - for my Advantix for when I'm going north, and Sentinel Spectrum wormer/hydatid wormer/heartworm. Service is great - and their help line was very efficient and helpful.

Oh well, if you're going to Victoria anyway, you should consider a little add on visit to the island state :cool: - Tasmania - specifically the State capital, Hobart, where our club has been doing Rally O this year. (Like you Mrsdog - working from books, DVDs and the Net - not quite the same as having a real life seminar.) O/T - Hi Noels - check the BC thread in the Breed subforum to see my new little BC boy, Ruaraidh (Rory) all the way from Perth WA - 11 weeks old this Sunday - B/W, amart, loving,gorgeous and Miss Kirra is pleased he's here. They're both asleep under the computer desk right now.

Excuse me Tassie, there is no such thing as a fugly BC pup and I can't wait to meet your new man. Although maybe it is not a good idea I could get veeeeeerrrrry clucky..... Are you attending every day? If you need a baby sitter just call, I can't resist BC babies Oh what a kind offer, Pippi . I'm auditing Laura's foundation day, but working Laura's Box Work, and then the 2 Advanced days. The young man will be in his crate a lot of the time, so he'd be delighted to get as many cuddles as he could. He loves people - including children (unlike Miss Kirra, who's really not sure about miniature humans!). And I'm hoping he doesn't get the fuglies - he's really rather good looking at present - especialy now when he's sound asleep under the computer desk with his nowe a couple of feet away from Kirra's - she's also sound asleep. Tough life! ;)

Just pre-ordered the SG 2x2 and the new GD DVD from here. You're all very bad - leading 'young' people like me astray.

Hey - looks as though it'll be quite the DOL meet at the GD Victorian seminar. I'll lokk forward to seeing you guys there - and you'll be able to meet my gorgeous little man. Mind you, he'll probably be having a case of the fuglies by then

My 'clearance bin special boy' is sound asleep under the computer desk at present - one ear is actually looking pricked, as he's lying on his side and it's fallen back. Kirra is sound asleep - also on her side - about a foot away from him - also under the desk. I'm absolutely in love with my boy - and Kirra thinks he's pretty special too - although she's still teaching him what is acceptable and what is not - tonight it was "Thou shalt not try to get involved in the tug game I'm having with mum - wait your turn, and then you can play with her". He got it in one . He's actually learning about the trouser leg grabbing thing too - he was listening tonight when I interrupted it - and re-directed him to something else. I was thinking you might have to sandbag Miss Kenzie, ness - if they're to run in Novice Pairs in Perth. Otherwise she might be waaaay ahead of him by then! Another new GD DVD? Darn, I might have to buy that one too and study it before I go to the seminar at the end of January. Better go feed the troops - oh wait - I fed the cat already - must remember that or she'll try to con me. Ruaraidh/Rory ws barking before - went to see what it was about, and he was trying to get the cat to play with him. She was just sitting under a dining chair ignoring him - how to drive a puppy mad. But he knocked it off and came to explore something else as soon as I soke to him - good puppy.

Hey, no fair you guys - I couldn't do any shopping on CR and take advantage of the free shipping ............. 'cos I got this (Sorry, the photos are not great, but you get the idea.) He's a Winpara boy - all the way over from Perth. His name's Ruaraidh/Rory - hopefully Winpara Soul Dreamer if CAWA accepts that. And he's drop-dead gorgeous and wonderful (and chews trouser legs - just like you said, ness Of course, I did have to buy extra toys - but I did that locally.

I tried that with Fergus when he did a 2 minute Stand Stay (meant to be a Down) in CCD - well, I thought it was worth extra points - sadly the judge couldn't agree.

Hey, LP - she's just getting you prepared for the frustration of UD, where they have endless opportunities for creative work. I feel your pain - my Sam did something like that to me when he was sitting on a 190 title pass in Open - sat up as I came back to him on the down - and he didn't even have the excuse of an itch. (He was a bugger for dropping on sits, and I think I'd overdone the training of 'being in a sit when I get back to you is a good thing' Hey - how about we suggest as a change for the rules review - lifting up to scratch and then going straight down again is only a minor?

Just bought the ebook - about A$23 - course now I have to buy the DVD when it comes out. Had a quick look at the ebook - looks good.

Condolences from me too. You will surely miss that beautiful smile. but sound like he left you a great legacy in memories, but also in knowledge that you've gained.

Me too, LP - but hey, if I can make it up there from Tasmania 3 times in the last few years - and booked in again for next year, you can do it. It's so worth it. We can hardly wait for next June.

So sorry to hear that. I lost my first BC boy to AHA at age 12. He went from apparently fit (trialling in UD) to collapse and death in 4 days. It's a horrible thing. As you say, run free Buzz.

Tell me about it, LP. So which one is going to do the dancing, Kinta or Leo? Or are you going to be brave like I was at the Mary Ray camp last year and try working both at once. We're hoping to get something going at our club - there are a few of us who know a little bit about it, and know a few moves. Trouble is, we all also do several other sports and teach other classes, so the logistics will be interesting.

Have you done any work with her on going to any target? I'd be doing this, and getting lots of speed and enthusiasm about going away to a target in general, before making it any more formal. Once you've got your 'go to target', you can then put the target inside the box (or hoop - great idea, thanks, Ptolomy ) and still have the same enthusiasm. I usually start with a plastic lid - lure by putting food on it a couple of times, then click/verbal mark and race up with food or toy as the dog gets to the target and performs the nose touch or paw touch you want. If the dog is toy motivated, even better, as you can have a great game with the toy when the dog correctly performs the taarget behaviour. When you're playing this game, don't be afraid to rev the dog up - and even race them sometimes. You can always put the formal bits in later. Mind you, this can sometimes backfire. My previous BC boy was zeroed for anticipation in a UD sendaway/directed jumping one time - as soon as the judge sad "Are you ready?", Sam took off - then about half way to the box, turned with a puzzled look on his face which said - 'Oops - I don't think that was quite right.' Judge was laughing so hard he could barely say "Part exercise finished". I was a happy camper too - my boy was 12 at the time - and at that age, enough enthusiasm to get him zeroed for anticipation was a great thing as far as I was concerned .

Good news, indeed. My old KelpieXBC, Jess, was hypothyroid - too ages to diagnose in the days before blood tests - in the end, it was diagnosed by putting her on a trial of thyroxine - she started improving, and eventually had a gorgeous thick coat, and no mroe problems - and lived for another 12 or more years on her daily meds.

Actually, fog and ice tend to start a little bit later in the year. June can have some absolutely lovely settled weather - sunny and blue skies - and not so much wind - but it can be cold - you'll need your polar fleece and merino thermals . Jez - it's usually the small Crossroads oval - the upper one, not the lower one - sorry - I wasn't thinking. Anyway, you'll see them.

Hi Jez Flyball is run at Hobart Canine Obedience Club - Sunday mornings on the Domain - lower Cross Roads Oval - I think start time is about 10.30. They're doing a demo at the Show on Friday sometime. I'll PM you a contact. (I was allowing navigation time as well - and roadworks time - and fog and ice time for June - better they get a longer estimate than a shorter one. )

Hi Noels The one place I know of off the top of my head is Pioneer Cottage (I think it's called) in New Norfolk - abouit 35 minutes from Hobart. A girl from WA stayed there with her dog earlier in the year, and said it was lovely. I'll try to remember to talk to the flyball people at the Club, and get them on the case. I'm like you - I've got to the stage where I like to be able to have the dogs inside with me - although they cope if they have to sleep in the car for a night or two. I'll PM you with the email addy of one of the organizers - so I don't have to rely on my memory . Cheers -

Well done janba and the lovely Cole. Fingers crossed for you tomorrow.

My bolding to emphasise what I see is key points. Excellent post, Vickie. I too have concerns about suggestions of herding training as a way of dealing with under-stimulation problems. In my experience, the level of commitment by the owner and biddability of the dog to progress safely and successfully in 'herding'/stock work are actually considerably greater than for say having fun at agility. I would much rather see owners being encouraged to work with the dog in other areas which do not involve stress and danger to other animals. Sheep and ducks are not, and should never be seen as, dog toys or boredom busters. Things such as teaching tricks, dance moves, frisbee, going lure racing, learning agility - all of these will help to stimulate the dog, and improve the dog/handler relationship. It always makes me cringe when people talk about dogs 'herding' kids or other creatures - in most cases, it's chasing behaviour rather than herding, since there's usually no cooperative effort between dog and handler. JMHO.

I've never transported an animal unaccompanied - but I know they can travel without you. I couldn't help a bit of net-surfing - and found these sites - no idea what they're like - but it will give you a bit of a start. The boomerang one is Canadian - I think based in Calgary. Boomerang All Creaatures Global

Hey, way to go biker girl - that's fantastic (but not surprising - Seven is a lovely worker. And not fair that you've had Kenzie cuddles.

Hey Snoozie - sounds like you're doing fine. As I said, I'm happy to have little pups a bit on the cuddly side - but from now on, I'd probably be trying for that nice moderate body condition. Sounds like you've overcome her initial problems (bless you for rescuing her0, so you can just treat her as normal now. If she's been on puppy food, she could start switching to adult - helps to stop over rapid growth.