Tassie

Sometimes I think it's just fun for the dog ..or bitch. My neutered female will hump me of, and only if, my legs/body are covered up, with a blanket or something. It's great exercise for her, she's grinning like a loon, and I'm telling her she's cheeky and mad. Silly old girl she is. And no, in her case, it's not about dominance. If the humpee doesn't care, I wouldn't see it as problem. Had a friend whose freezes male GR used to hump his entire uncle ...with no ill will all round. :-)

From what I've read, age of onset for CL is approximately 15 -18 months. But that might be peculiar to Border Collies. The syndrome in your link sound similar but different, and maybe age of onset for that is younger. Most BCs with CL were euthanised before age 2. There was no possibility of recovery. :-( Hence the absolute necessity of the genetic testing of breeding stock.

that could go on for a while. But so should the celebrating!

Oops - a lot closer than me though :laugh: ... but yes, you're right about the Queensland folks ... they are awesome!!! (I'm thinking ... just thinking ... about a road/ferry trip to Melbourne for a double comp at the end of June. There's an obedience and Rally trial the next day too, which could make the trip worthwhile. A lot of money though to get there - not like I can just jump in the car and drive all the way. 3.5 hours to the ferry and then overnight. So glad I'm not the only crazy dog person on here :laugh:)

Glad she's going to be OK. Its always disappointing, but as you say, there'll be more comps .. it's lucky you're in Queensland :) .

Assuming Gus is OK when he sees bikes in general. I've started by walking the bike with the dog alongside .. good if you can do this safely with the dog off lead. (I was lucky to have a friend with a 5 acre block.). Then I ride the bike with the dog free alongside ... good if you can do this somewhere it won't hurt too much if you come off .. the challenge is to have the dog understand he needs to stay clear of the wheels. Once you get that done, then try with the dog on lead. I've done it with 3 dogs now, and they seem to get it pretty quickly, and really enjoy it. Some people use a bike attachment, but I haven't done that .. mainly because I was training for ET, and you have to have the lead in your hand. Oh, and check the legalities .. in some states you're not allowed to bike with a dog on a public road.

xena98 has a brag - but some sad news as well - she had a roller coaster week, but it finished on a high.

Working through that list nicely, DD. :D

Meant to be! :) Happy ending and beginning all round.

I'd be inclined to start with the mesh one. Kirra has a 55. She's a 490 height at withers BC, but a skinny Minnie...it's probably just a tad big around got her, but i needed the length. That should be fine for a normal sized Aussie bitch. :-)

My feral old girl has the mesh one for not so cold weather, and the quilted one for winter. (Thanks ness ;-)). At the moment, she uses them as pyjamas, but I might start using them between runs in agility and rally in the cold weather, instead of just a normal coat or her puff jacket. She'd seems to like wearing them. It's hard to know how beneficial, but I'm pretty sure they do have benefits. My acupuncture/massage vet likes them.

That sounds like a good plan. With several of the questions - e.g. about dog's reaction to unfamiliar person when in the car etc., I really wanted to say .. it depends on whether I'm there or not. If I'm there, and/or the dogs are on lead, thes reactions are quite different. Another thing that made me wanat to add something, was that my dogs spend a lot of time with me, and being incidentally trained - so some of what I've said might have been heaviliy influenced by training or management. But certainly interesting. Hope you get lots of responses.

Looking good there, huski

Miss Kirra says for the older ladies, brains that stay in the ring are optional

Oh bless her - she must enjoy being back in the ring again. :D

Done for two dogs. For some of the questions I would have liked to be able to differentiate more between how they are with people and how they are with other dogs, and in particular situations.

Yay!!!! Good job xena98 ....very close now. :-) poor Inka ... hate that sit stay (my phone wanted to call it s*it stay LOL.)

You could try a PM to Ptolomy ... or Ruby Star. They should be able to help.

What Piper said. :D. People tend to think Border Collies need non stop action and exercise. IMHO the most important thing in living happily with a Border Collie is to have lots of time to spend doing 'stuff' with the dog, with as much of the stuff being mental as physical. These dogs have good off switches, but they may need to be helped to find out how to operate them ????. It would be important to spend quite a bit of time teaching the children how to act round the dog too .. lots of calm, not too much hyper, but they can enjoy helping with the training. You've started with great questions. Hope you can connect with some great breeders. It might be worth sending dancinbcs a PM, in case she doesn't see this.

I'm just envious of your willpower, TSD .. both in relation to FB blackout, but also in your academic work. My only postgrad stuff has been by course work ... I lack the necessary focus and discipline .. as my dogs would also tell you :D .

I'd highly recommend it Tassie, I've been working through shape up foundation online with my young BC. No way would he have been capable of advanced handling at the Dave Munnings seminar if we hadn't, and i have yet to finish the foundation course yet I'm doing Foundation and Advanced, I'm not addicted at all :laugh: OMG did you do the Munnings seminar this last weekend as well? Addict much!!!!!!* *Disclaimer: I would do them all too but trying to watch the $$$ and focus on writing :D See, if you were on FB you would have known that she did TSD . Jess., I saw that video of the work you did with both of them at the Dave Manning seminar... it was super. Great recommendation for both courses. I think I just have to hope the same sort of things are available next year .. on current planning, if I get my act together, i'll be a retired lady of leisure. . :D For this year I think i'll just stick with the great courses I'm doing through the Fenzi academy .. obedience focussed, but training principles apply across the board.

Wise move TSD :laugh:

I think that should be .. you're too clever for FB. But it is great for finding out stuff. And the seminar info was on the Australian agility FB group. Can see you've already had an offer to email the infor - they're doing Brisbane 10th-12th October, Sydney 14th-16th October, Melbourne 18th - 20th October and Perth 23rd-25th October.

VicAgility FB group has it too I think. Was looking at it - very tempted - but it's right in the middle of our Royals ... priorities...

If it's not too wet, you could probably add a loop on the offlead grassed area behind the Boxhall Pavilion as well. :)