Tassie

Mine are on Sentinel Spectrum - monthly - all year round for the same sorts of reasons. We go to the mainland at least twice a year. Another advantage of the Sentinel Spectrum is that it has the required dose of Praziquantal to satisfy the hydatids worming requirements for bringing the dogs back into Tasmania. I've had no problems with the dogs on this - been using it for a couple of years now.

I did it with my current BC bitch - my block is large, and fences not secure - especially for a puppy, and she was an escape artist (unlike my BC boy, who is 7 weeks older, and didn't need to be watched so closely. So I used my tracking lead (10m) to have her with me whenever I was doing stuff around the house or garden and couldn't pay full attention to her. I also used a big (8'x8' X pen - with a roof .) I think it was beneficial - it certainly kept her safe, and I think probably helped to increase the bond we have. It didn't squash her independence. I found it good for housetraining too. One of the funny remnants (she's 6 now) is that she's still ready to come outside with me to hang up the washing, when she hears the end of cycle beeps from the washing machine. I don't think there are disadvantages, and at least in some situations, I think there are advantages. It certainly makes the human pay more attention to the pup.

Procedures vary a little bit from judge to judge IME. Some prefer to do their 'spiel' with the dogs and handlers a metre or so behind the markers. Steward then takes the leads, and you just heel up into position. Personally, I like this procedure, for the reasons Ptolomy mentions. And all judges I've trialled under allow you to touch your dog (not manually positioning, or taking collar) between exercises, and while the briefing is going on. AFAIK. the 'no touching' bit starts once you have said you are ready - which is when judging commences on that particular exercise - and continues till 'Exercise finished'/. Manually moving the dog, by collar or otherwise, will/should incur 'penalty for misbehaviour' points. This applies the whole time you are in the ring.

So now I need to know when Sue H is coming to Tasmania ..... Leopuppy, we had the pleasure of seeing the handsome and talented Brooklyn down here recently - an absolute inspiration (even though he missed the odd thing). So much joy and enthusiasm - a credit to Deb. Have a good time all you competitors - and hopefully a successful time.

The other thing I would try is closing the poles up (channel or V) from the far end first (and as Leopuppy says, in small increments.) The idea of closing from the far end first was mentioned to me by a trainer in Queensland, and it makes so much sense. The dog remains confident and gets the entry right, and then has the weaving motion going, and in his mind, by the time he encounters the narrower channel/straighter poles. And big games at the end, so that the weavers become a really fun thing to do, instead of an issue. Mind you, be careful what you wish for - or you'll end up with a weave suck like my Kirra.

Although the effects seem to be quite idosyncratic. Cases in point - two friends each with 2 dogs - both dogs in each case vacc (C5) at same time. In each case, one dog showed symptoms, the other one not. Same environment, same food, same vacc history, likely same exposure - different results. So yes - it likely does depend on the strength of the individual dog's immune system - but there are many factors affecting that.

You should find what you need here. Hope the link works.

This bit's easy. Either cut down her food to balance out the amount of treats you're giving. Or just have her work for all (or most) of her food. If she likes to play with toys and/or tuggies, then this can be the reward instead of treats some of the time. Tuggy provides good exercise too (for both parties!

People might have been thinking about agility trials when they were saying that - for those it's flat collar (no tags or anything hanging off) or 'naked' .

Yep, Helen - all being well. Entries are in - just booked the ferry yesterday. We're coming over the weekend before to do Hastings as well. I'm really looking forward to it - especially catching up with people and watching the big guns run.

Wow, Leopuppy - what a day - you must still be on cloud 9. Congrats on the Open Agility pass, ness - though commiserations to Ness on not managing to give little Miss Kenzie away. I can imagine you were mobbed by admirers and puppy patters My Miss Kirra got her first Novice Snooker Q yesterday - missed Ex. Gamblers - did the challenge, but not enough points in the opening sequence - my bad - I was trying to rush - and we won't talk about our Excellent Pairs run - other than to say that 4 goes to get the DW completed is waaaay too much time - we find that if one dog goes off, both of them do - and of course then we tend to panic - not a pretty sight - but heaps of fun.

Yep, I'm planning on competing (well running anyway - don't think we'll be competitive ) with my feral little BC bitch. My mad goofy boy will just be along for the ride. Sent my entries in earlier in the week. I really enjoyed last year in Adelaide - and I'm Melbourne born and bred, so looking forward to this year. It'll be nice to meet some other DOLers as well.

FWIW - $41 for NeoMercazole for the old cat - can't comment on whether that has gone up, as she's only just gone on it a few months ago.

And even cheaper here - I've used them for a year and a half - good prompt service. I use sentinel Spectrum with my Border Collies - useful since it's a hydatid tapeworm wormer as well, so is acceptable for dogs re-entry into Tasmania. ET fix typo

Wishing you and Jarrah a great and successful debut, MrsD. Is someone going to be videoing your performance? Will we get to see it? I"m sure Jarrah will do you proud.

Way to go ML - it's a buzz isn't it - and especially if you get two through something on the same day. My two got their TD on the same day last year - I had the same sort of smile on my dial . We wish, Gamby!! It's the waiting for the dreaded voice that gets me. Sometimes, if the dog is struggling, you just wish the judge would put you out of your misery!Hmmm - better get stuck into some training - we've only had one training run this season - Fergus wasn't too bad, but Kirra was completely feral. Back to the drawing board for her, methinks. (Darn work and short days.

2 for me - my local council limit - and to be realistic, I think my limit too. Both do tracking, one does agility, and the other does obedience - or rather, we try. I'm trying to get some impulse control on him round agility gear so that he can do agility too. I work 4 days a week, and Sundays are usually taken up with dog school stuff. Finding time for tracking training is my biggest problem at present, time-wise. We won't even talk about the general training problems .

Of course you have..... searches for evil grin icon . Seriouisly, Helen, he sounds lovely.

Coming in to add late but very sincere congrats to LP and her gorgeous boy. It was so nice to meet you at the Christmas meet - news like this is even more special. ;) Very well done - now on to UD!

Yep - trained my two up for ET a couple of years ago - and got it, in spite of me falling off - it was foul weather, wet gravel road, and Fergus shook really vigorously - don't blame him, it was sleeting right in his face! My agility training partner did it with her BC too. We had to start off just getting used to riding our bikes on our own (it had been a looong time, and we're no longer young .) Then we rode with a dog off lead - on her property. Then added a lead while the dogs got used to it (I had to do one of mine at a time) - we were still on her property - couple of hundred metre driveway. Finally took the show on the road - well,not literally - it is illegal to ride on a public road with a dog in Tasmania - so we used bike path/footpaths/private roads in parks. I should add that our dogs were about 4 at the time, and trained and competing in obedience and/or agility, and were under good verbal control. I used a harness for my bitch, since she can back out of her collar very easily. And I used a slightly longer lead for one dog, so they didn't get tangled. They worked it out pretty quickly. We still go for a ride sometimes just for fun.

Big congrats to Sal and the lovely Miss Ness - great job guys. Sounds like it was a good day - and glad you haven't pulled up too sore today.

MrsD. It would be nice to see you again too. Cheap seats sound tempting - but then although I'm supposedly retired, I have to keep working to fund the dog habit - somebody has to, and the dogs and cts don't seem keen on going out to work.

I walk my two BCs together and do the same as Kelpiesrule and Wolfgirl - for the same reasons. If we're on a dangerous track in the bush, they go behind me. Sometimes they'll be one on each side, but when I have them in close, they're both on my left. If I'm biking with them (in the few places we can down here) they're both on the left, and I have a slightly longer leash on Fergus, so they can find their own space. Both of them have a good response to a verbal Stop and Close.

So .... a little bit of work ahead of you then MrsD . Wish it wasn't so darned far away - it looks like it's going to be a good time. You are going to post a vid of your routine, aren't you - for thsoe of us far, far away.

I found Simone's blog entry on Cathy's jumping workshop really helpful. My mad 6 year old going on 18 months (and yes, I do mean it that way) BC boy has been a bar knocker - no respect for jumps, and no idea of collecting himself and rounding over a jump - so I've set up a makeshift bounce grid in the back yard and have been working him on that. I've also been working him over just one jump - higher than his normal height, and actually using 2 bars to stop him running under. With that, I've been jumping him from a sit quite close to the jump, to get him to use his hind legs more, instead of just relying on forward momentum. I stand at the side of the jump, and he jumps, gets rewarded for corret performance, then jumps the other way from a sit again - rinse and repet. We've only been doing this for a few weeks, but I'm seeing a lot of improvement in his jumping style - and it's helping with his impulse control measures too. Reddii, you're lucky to be able to train with Cathy - get her to have a really good look at your boy. ET fix racing fingers typo.