Tassie

Sorry DD - couldn't help laughing. Well done on the agility work - but your jumpers run sounds like mine on Sunday - except the misguided missile doesn't bark. He held his stay while I led out to the 3rd jump - cleared the first two, came inside the next three (my bad line), with a bit of fiddling, took the correct tunnel, blasted down the straight line of bar, broad and into a tunnel, then took the sharp turn out of the tunnel (I was waiting in a good place because that was as far as I'd got trying to keep up with him on his blast - managed to keep him off an off course, but he crashed into the spread - didn't have time to sight it - but then read the shoulder turn (he had time cos he was picking himself up :laugh: ), and took the last 2 jumps home. Actually, writing it down, it doesn't look as crazy as it felt at the time

xena98 Is that the June weekend in Adelaide? I'll see you there . Swinging by on my way (more or less) back from Sydney. I'm getting the Dave Munnings DVD - and I loved Kamal's workshop last year - still trying to put that into practice - and the same with what I learnt from Stacey when she was out years ago. We're really getting spoiled for choice at the moment, aren't we - but it's great - for us and the sports. :D

Yep - think that about covers it. That is totally fantastic, Ptolomy - so very pleased for you and the gorgeously often clever Scoota man. Enjoy the champers - you've earned it - and what is the boy getting?

You and Bonnie are looking really good there - enjoying your "work" - that's what it's really all about :D .

Colour me green with envy, Wobbly - but I'm doing the Nancy Gyes agility seminar this month, and 2 big mainland trips couldn't be done. And .. ohhhh yes - I'm right with you there :laugh: , but I'm sure you'll be fine. I've audited one of Denise's online courses, and am starting to audit another, and she seems really good and patient with people. Of course, you might crack up if she says to you . .I'm another cross-over trainer, and I'm just having the best fun with my two now, and trying to pass that enjoyment on to other people. :)

Totally agree with Kirislin, Pers and Rebanne. Sad as it is, giving her her wings now is one last kindness you can do for this old dear, to add to the four years of loving care and kindness you have given her already. Absolutely not, in my eyes at least. But I'm sorry that you have to make this decision for the dear old thing.

I'd say they would be. I just bought a show trolley cover from them, and I couldn't be more delighted, with the quality, the design, and the speedy service.

Way to go TSD and Miss Em. I still have no idea what you're talking abouit (well, almost none) but a 2nd followed by a win has got to be super good!!!! (And no RS - it still doesn't tempt me to get a gundog .

Great stuff sheena. Think Ptolomy is right (now there's a surprise :laugh: ) - I know my Kirra hates me to be too close to her - I just have to trust her and keep my mouth shut unless I absolutely need to say something - and then I have to do it FAST. :D

:laugh: RS - If you play in lots of disciplines, you get to trial often :-). Agility - about one a month on average - although in winter tracking and Track & Search take over a bit more. Quite a few Gundog events here too .

Congrats RV.......that's exciting..on both counts. Wow xena98! Now that's a good day at the office. We had a nice weekend trialling down here, but Qs were a bit elusive for everyone. Miss Kirra had some nice runs, but the help let her down by letting her off course or not trusting her, but we did get a 2nd place Q in JDM. The help was heard to say at one point "When are you going to slow down?" as she took another off course I hasn't been quick enough to avoid LOL, but I'm thrilled that she happily ran 8 runs each day, and has pulled up fine. The misguided missile was slightly less misguided :-) ...so much enthusiasm :-) ... I'm learning to handler it a bit better..wild ride though!

LOL RS ... having the same thing with the misguided missile - took me quite a while to work out using front crosses with Kirra, and the rears I do occasionally don't have to be super neat, and we can pretty much do them without thinking. The missile on the other hand .... a lot of it's going to have to be good rear crosses - so hard to work out where I need to be, and to be confident to run a clean line. Then he gets a bit silly if I'm not clear or if I say too much. Definitely a Ferrari dog - and I'm a Rav 4 handler. But we're having lots of fun learning - sounds like you are too. Eight runs for Miss Kirra today - lots of DQs, but some very nice stuff too - as usual. I just love that she's still having the best fun out there. :D

You know me too well, pie :-) ..yes, that's what I did mean! :-)

So very glad to read that Zig is back home with you, even if not feeling 100%. Paws and fingers still crossed for sausy-dog and the little dachsie.

Very scary :-(. Fingers and paws crossed here and our best healing mojo.

Sounds like you're on the right track. I always look for things that I can praise the handlers for - either a quick private bit of praise, or forthe benefit of the whole class, if they're OK with that. And I tell my classes that dog school is the worst possible place to be teaching new stuff, because of the very high distractions, so they're really there to learn the mechanics for themselves. BTW - not sure if you know or not, but Canine Coach has the most beautiful working standard poodles - so she's one who really knows how they work - and is about positives for dog and handlers :D

So very glad to hear little Louis is still doing well. I've been hanging out for news of him :) , Well done to you and his vets for getting stuck into treatment so early - has to give hime the best chance. Towes and fingers and paws still crossed for continued good progress.

AFAIK in the US, all dog bites need to be reported by hospitals/medical practitioners. This is because the rabies status of the dog in question needs to be established. If the dog is not UTD with rabies shots, it has to be kept in quarantine for 14 days.

I figure it's a successful day when I can just call a dog by its correct name and gender. Now that I think about it I should really replace "good boy/girl" with "good dog" too My dogs think their name is "Rory Kirra whoever you are"

Agree with what else has been said, but also - assuming no physical issues, I would be teaching a fold-back drop - starts with a bow from a stand. You can lure down between the dog's front legs - allowing dog to lick the food, but only releasing the treat to be eaten when you get at least an approximation - elbow bend is a start. Then wait the dog out. - I get people to make sure the dog is in a corner or with something behind, so there's a limit to how far they can back up. Seems to work better with stiffer legged breeds. Emily Larlham (kikopup on Youtube) has a slightly different way of luring the foldback - she works drop to stand to drop, with the lure/signal moving at a 45 degree angle up away from the dog to get stand and back down to the dog for drop. I think it's in the one about teaching the stay. Oh and one last thing - my classes are taught not to put a verbal cue on till they have a behaviour - I'd agree with sheena the 'drop' cue has probably been poisoned.

I used to have problems (with a previous dog) with him going to the box on the first part, if he hadn't done his SB properly - even when I went with him to get the article, and showed him i had it, he'd still be inclined to go looking for it again. I've seen that in other dogs too. I'm sure our nerves have a lot to do with it - so the revving up and geeing up for the box could help - think that was what I did. Thanks for that suggestion, Ptolomy. Do you set that up just for proofing, once the dog has 'mastered' the whole exercise? The lil big man has the go out to the box pretty much down pat, but I haven't added the jumps yet. Any suggestions as to how to teach the directed jumping part?

That's sounding so positive, CC. You'll be happy to have him home for the night, and he'll be happy to be home. Hopefully everything keeps heading in the right direction now. Healing mojo and good thoughts still heading across the country :) .

:laugh: RnH ... you don't have to worry yet

Great stuff, xena98 - congratulations to you and the girls. Lovely score to finish Gabby's title on. Glad Inka enjoyed herself too. A friend was having fun with her almost 13 year old (but still pretty fit) BC - he got his RN, and was having his first go at Advanced - but knocked the bar (so NQ ) - but he was having a blast. He hasn't done anything competitive for about 3 or 4 years.

lil big man snaffled that bit :laugh: