Tassie

I blame RS - had copied the link to send to friends. OK TSD - try Second time lucky! - that should be the right one. And go for it! xena98 - can just imagine the look on Gabby's face when you spoke to her in what must have looked a bit like an obedience trial :laugh:

TSD - nope - not crazy at all - but you should do some training yourself on reading and interpreting the signs :laugh: . Friend just got her RN with her 12 year old BC - obedience trained through to CDX, but hasn't done it for years. She was a bit disappointed that she'd cost him 10 points in his third pass, by not finishing him on the Call Front Finish left sign . As well as getting the rules from the ANKC site, you'll find a couple of great downloads - just scroll right down to the bottom of the Downloads section, and you'll see Rally information. You can print off some signs (I laminate them on a cheapo home laminator) and set them up on some cheapo clipboards - voila! :D

for reviving the thread, Jules. That's great that you;re able to do some stuff with Amber - bet weh's loving it, bless her. And yes, your club is really leading the way with Rally successes in your neck of the woods. :laugh: - it would when your guys (presumably) have similar cues. My problem is remembering which dog I have with me - Rory is fine - well except for a couple of exercises, where using the right cue matters .. but the feral agility princess has different cues (and of course is always ready to helfully throw in some Freestyle moves :laugh: ). But it's all good fun. for you and Waldo at Sunbury, Sue&Waldo - sorry to hear he's been restricted a bit - that would be frustrating for both of you. RS - for posting that cat video - how awesome was the kitten - and the girl training. That was just lovely! I just love that our dogs can have fun and be successful in a variety of disciplines.

Thanks Vickie ... that makes really good sense. I think that's what I'm finding with Rory, who although he's 4, is a youngster in terms of agility. He seems to have plenty of drive, and is quite long striding, so that makes it really imperative for me to be early (but not too early :) ) and clear .. and yes, I do need to stop and reward as you suggest.

:laugh: Well I'll pop in here, Jules. Yep - still doing obedience - in among Rally, agility and the occasional show. Think I'm some sort of addicted :laugh: . Pleased with my lil big man Rory this weekend. Double Rally trial yesterday - both my kids got 2 more legs towards their RAE titles - Princess Feral - my agility girl Kirra - still needs 6 legs - but is doing OK for a girl who doesn't believe in obeddience - I'm sure she thinks Rally is some perverted form of agility . Rory just needs one more leg. Today - double obedience - Rory did some nice work in Open - couple of booboos both am and pm - but although they cost big time, were not major training issues. But best of all - did lovely solid stays - and he was in the middle of the line (albeit between trusted dogs). I don't even wnat to whisper this, but I think ( , touch wood and all that) the concept of "stay" may finally have arrived in the boy brain. I was so happy with him this afternoon, because even after a long weekend of trialling/sitting round in his trolley - he was bouncy and happy and enjoying the game. I'm loving obedience with this boy - thanks to the attitude and play/component training techniques I've learned from Mary Ray, Sue Hogben, Kamal Fernandez - and of course the other WA gurus - Ptolomy and Bedazzledx2

Thanks Ptolomy. :-) Proud of my kids..especially the little feral who doesn't believe in obedience ;-).. A couple of your other Distance Ed students had good success today too, you'll be glad to hear.

Woohooo to the HTMN boy - that's super! Know what you mean about the titles - I have to print Kirra's now - no chance of fitting them in on the computer. Our club still has to hand print Q certificates for obedience and Rally - the poor girl who was doing that at the Rally trial today had to write out 4 for Kirra LOL as well as 4 for Rory - which was a good thing for use - but not for her

LOL TSD ... it's definitely on the agenda..haven't booked yet, but soon. Will definitely let you know. :-)

megan, I've done the drive several times over the last few years, going up to seminars at Camp Tailwaggers. I normally stay 3 nights on the way up - there's a lovely little dog-friendly cottage at Lockhart, where you can do a 1 night stay - fenced yard, dogs inside, and then I've stayed a couple of times in a dog-friendly unit in Dubbo - also fenced yard - and then at a lovely cottage on an alpaca farm at Glen Innes. Since I'm driving one up, I like to take my time. I've also been up through the Hume/Pacific Highways, but the central route is quicker. Not sure if I'm going to Nationals - depends on how the misguided missile (aka Rory) comes along. And also, BC Nationals are in Melbourne in March - that's probably a higher priority :D

so many great bras. Ptolomy - I forgot to tell you that one of your distance ed students over here got her Open title with her Mini Schnauzer on Sunday - we are so grateful to you and Bedazzled and the other gurus for your inspiration and help. We do our best to put it into practice. I think one of the things I loved about Sunday over here was getting compliments about Rory's happy heeling attitude - that's down to you guys.

I think ANKC gives a range of ROT, so that there is a bit of fiddle room to take account of e.g. poor or slippery conditions. But I must say, my mental response to any briefing on length, ROT and SCT is "Too far, too fast, and not enough time ... and where's my senior's discount ." But really, I'm like others - just run and handle it as fast as I can, and let the chips fall as they may :laugh: .

Personally, it seems to me that you handled it pretty well BC Crazy. Stella was left in no doubt that you were not happy with the bullying and found it unacceptable - and the Boxer was allowed to get up and go. You know what I would think you should be happy about - although Stella was bullying no blood was spilt, no damage done, and I think you handled it decisively and calmly. . And if it's any comfort, most BCs that I know (mind included) really dislike Boxers intensely - and any of the forward leaning upright standing mastiff breeds - they read the body language as threatening. I know I've tried explaining to mine that the Boxers etc. can't help it ... it's just the way they are - of course it akes no difference, but it does allow me to use a calm voice :laugh: . And I've read about the same prejudiced behaviour and aattitude (from the BCs) on American sites - so it's not just here :D . Good to hear that things are on the improve generally with you and yours. Long may that continue.

for you and Kenz ness. that was really nice to see. Rally and obedience trials for us too in the northern end of the island. No Q, but some nice work from lil big man in his second and third outings in Open - and he did his stays in the morning (no one on a pass in the pm trial, so we all squibbed stays.) Not hot by Adelaide standards - but hot for southern dogs. Rally on Saturday - the feral Kirra scraped through Adv B and individual work in Ex B in the am trial - but sat up for a good ole scratch in the Honour . Rory won Adv B and Exc B in the morning for his 7th RAE leg. In the afternoon both worked better - Kirra got her second RAE leg. Lil big man, won Advanced B with 98, and hadn't lost a point till the second last station in Exc B, decided that he was too chicken to keep going down the line to the finish - went wide on the stand/walk around dog - but did it, but then just set off and walked determinedly out of the ring, passing the last working station - do not collect $200 - at an angle which took him further away from the Honour dog. He and the honour dog (GSD) are both entire males - used to be friends till their balls dropped :) - then had a couple of years as obnoxious adolescents, posturing and lunging .. both of us owners have worked hard, and the dogs have made huge improvements - the GSD was the Honour dog for Rory in the morning too, and it went OK - don't know what was different in the afternoon - but Rory had noticed him more. It's possible the GSD (quite reasonably :D ) turned his head to see what was happening behind him - who knows. Anyway, I guess I'm glad that Rory chose the safer and more socially acceptable option of just getting out of Dodge :laugh: . Pity though - waste of a lovely round - our judge was very disappointed - she thought she had a 100 coming up. :D Anyway - the upshot of all that was Rory ended the day with 3 firsts - and the feral agility veteran, Miss Kirra - won Excelelent B with 87 points .

It's an interesting debate, isn't it. I'd like to think there is a way, as Susan suggests at the end, to try to have the advantages of both systems. I guess I'm in the happy position of being towards the later stages of my agility career, and Kirra's - although I hope I can get the misguided missile going too. Kirra owes me absolutely nothing, but is still very keen to run - she's probably lost a little speed, but hasn't lost any determination - and I'm still enjoying playing round with new handling challenges - like the FCI push outs round the back of the jumps. Luckily too, Kirra likes her space, so prefers distance handling. So I'm enjoying doing what we can - and if the Qs come, they come - if not, I love when we have a good run. (The nice thing for me is that I'm now, thanks to many gurus - including some WA ones) able to transfer this mind set to obedience now too - and it's become so much more enjoyable and so much less stressful. :) )

I think you're right, RS ... about the times getting a bit too tight in JDM. I've got to a stage where it doesn't really matter to me, but as an older handler, even with a fairly fast dog, I'd be really struggling if I was chasing a title pass.

LOL - yes, she doesn't really need a note, does she :laugh: . But it's comforting to know that others have the same problem.

Some of those things with Em really resonate with me and the misguided missile. I have to keep remembering he is who he is - and doesn't know what Kirra knows. But sounds like a productive day for you too, TSD - and on the places and Qs - and on the good run near misses. And great that Ziggy pulled up well this morning. That was one of the things I was pleased about with all Kirra's runs at our Bonanza double weekend. Our next agility trial isn't until the 27th - and there are two weekends of double/double Rally and Obedience trials in between. No rest for the wicked. And daylight saving ended, so agility training will have to wait till the school holidays - 2 weeks to go - but who's counting :D .

Sometimes days with no passes can be just as rewarding TO. :) Sounds like you and Jovi had a good time together, and that you learnt quite a bit about what will suit her - that's always important. I so know the feeling about trying to make time in JDM - Kirra and I have the same problem - but a nice run with no course faults always feels good. Also know the feeling of a non-tunnel suck dog suddenly deciding that a particular tunnel (off course of course :laugh: ) is hugely inviting. You don't know whether to laugh or cry :laugh: .

Super well done Staffyluv and Zig - that is awesome. And I love that he knows that blue ribbon is so special. :D

Looks good DD ...and congrats. Yes, ANKC is more relaxed ...some dogs map track, some quarter ....depending on wind conditions, there is a bit of leeway for how far off track they are downwind. They should come back on to the track for the articles though, and indicate them clearly, with at least a distinct outside. Yes, Rory has his Test 7 to go for T.CH. ...1200 metres, blind start, 6 or 7 turns including an acute, 3 articles. Eek ..starting to get nervous..will have to start doing some training. Well miss the first trial in early June (agility workshop) so I think it will be mid July. Kirra will be trying Track And Search Test 4.

Look at that gorgeous face. Ziggy, you lucky boy!

Tears here for you and your beloved Monte. How very fortunate that little dog was to have found such a devoted owner. You did everything you could for him all his life, and I'm sure he knew how very much he was loved.

That's wonderful news - very well deserved success - your girls are just so clever and beautiful, and their teamwork with you is lovely to watch. Very exciting!!!!

Sounds like you really, really earned that shower TSD - but came home with lots of pluses, and a training direction. And RS and RV - good training sessions are always fun. megan - when I'm reading this I keep thinking that it would probably be good to read up more about it - but then I only have limited room in my poor old brain :laugh: .

Sounds like there was a lot to be happy with TSD :-) ...nice to get a couple of compliments from the judge too . :-)