sheena

I have just added to my web page, the instructions for making the above. I am sure it is not a new idea, but someone might be interested. They don't look very sturdy, but believe me, they are, & have been BC tested for toughness :) DIY Agility Equipment

I couldn't upload the video but here is the link to the FB page...hope it works for everyone :) My link

What training if any, has he already recieved I don't like head halters as some dogs will not tolerate them at all, mainly because they are not introduced slowly, but also if the dog is distracted by the thing on his head, he is not going to be able to take in much learning. I much prefer a front attached harness like the Sensible or Ezy Walk brands for dogs that are pulling. You can use these while training your dog to walk nicely :)

My dog gets the powder sprinkled on her food. I find it more economical to buy it by the 500 g because I use it too. You can now buy it in bigger quantities labelled for horses.....same stuff exactly just labelled differently. One scoop = 5 capsules & the dosage on the packet says for 15 to 30kg dogs, initial dosage is 4 scoops a day (20 capsules) for 3 weeks, then they go on the maintenance dosage which is 2 scoops per day (10 capsules). After giving my 6 yo BC the initial dose I now only give her one scoop per day (5 capsules) & she is doing well on just that, but she didn't have any real issues to start with, just the occassional limp. On her last check up with the vet, she said she was in tip top physical condition :)

Well...that's the thing....I would also like to make it "pretty" & I am not sure if "pretty" can co-habitate with dogs allowed on beds & furniture. I also want to have an enclosed area where dogs can exercise off-lead & enclose the agility field so dogs can practice. Every where else on the farm would have to be on-lead because of cattle & wildlife. Exception being for practicing their dock-diving off the jetty . By the way...you are invited Jules...along with everyone else who has said that they would promise to keep the dogs off the bed & the furniture :) What an incredible shot!!!!! Yes...it is an amazing shot. That is our mad keen dock diver, Cricket. But now the dam is about 8 feet below the jetty, because of the drought & the water is starting to muddie...but that doesn't dampen his enthusiasm one bit :laugh: There is no way we could take this guy to a headland with the ocean below...I am almost certain he would jump off Last off topic question (for this thread) do you compete in dock diving with him? No...he's suicidal :laugh: plus there is no competition like that around where I live. I would also be a bit wary of dock diving as it seems the dog jumps off & up to get a toy before crashing into the water. This way, Cricket has worked out the best way of entering the water. He goes in front feet first like a diver. I would be worried that dock divers just crash into the water I might be wrong, its just what I have seen on TV from America.

Well...that's the thing....I would also like to make it "pretty" & I am not sure if "pretty" can co-habitate with dogs allowed on beds & furniture. I also want to have an enclosed area where dogs can exercise off-lead & enclose the agility field so dogs can practice. Every where else on the farm would have to be on-lead because of cattle & wildlife. Exception being for practicing their dock-diving off the jetty . By the way...you are invited Jules...along with everyone else who has said that they would promise to keep the dogs off the bed & the furniture :) What an incredible shot!!!!! Yes...it is an amazing shot. That is our mad keen dock diver, Cricket. But now the dam is about 8 feet below the jetty, because of the drought & the water is starting to muddie...but that doesn't dampen his enthusiasm one bit :laugh: There is no way we could take this guy to a headland with the ocean below...I am almost certain he would jump off

Getting close now...The draft running order came out last night & there are pages & pages of 500 dogs in each event I hope they have some way of splitting the 500's into groups for walking the course, otherwise it will be impossible They have close on 5500 entries, not including the teams & the finals. If I find the courses are too crowded to get a fair go, then I wont be going again to a National.

Well...that's the thing....I would also like to make it "pretty" & I am not sure if "pretty" can co-habitate with dogs allowed on beds & furniture. I also want to have an enclosed area where dogs can exercise off-lead & enclose the agility field so dogs can practice. Every where else on the farm would have to be on-lead because of cattle & wildlife. Exception being for practicing their dock-diving off the jetty . By the way...you are invited Jules...along with everyone else who has said that they would promise to keep the dogs off the bed & the furniture :)

If ever I build it..you are very welcome Tassie, but don't hold your breath :) I don't have a spare $100,000 laying around...but I can always have "ideas" :laugh:

I'm with you Jules. I don't really see why the dogs have to sleep on the bed. What worries me more is that we have a large dam on the property which some people might like to let their dogs swim in & then allow them on the bed. Being on tank water would mean that there would not be oddles of water for washing dogs down. Maybe I should forget about the whole idea & just build myself a little studio in the magic spot I have in mind. :)

My two guys have been on BH for most of their lives. I alternate between the lamb & the fish. I have no reason to change as my guys love their BH & they do well on it. But not every food suits all dogs.

Yes...I can understand the bed linen & doona covers but the poster before included ALL bedding. As I said before, I have never been to any accommodation where they have had the actual doonas on the clothes line. I did think about the idea that people supply their own bed stuff. Yuck...fancy being expected to sleep in someone else's sheets....you wouldn't know what might have gone on before you :laugh:

So what you are telling me is all places wash the blankets & the doonas (not just the covers) coverlettes & the entire pillow every time they change guests.......I doubt that The places I have staid that have washing on the lines...I only ever see sheets & towels.

Please be honest here :) The accommodation I am talking about is where you are allowed your pet inside, but not on the furniture or beds. I don't allow mine on the beds etc, but I have been away with people & they tell me the next day how they let their dog sleep on their bed, even though it was against the rules of the hosts. One of my dreams, which will never be, is to build a little cabin on my farm & let it out as "dog friendly accommodation" But the thing that puts me off doing it (besides lack of funds) is that I may not be able to trust people not to have their dogs on the beds etc & I would have to wash all the doonas etc after each visit.

Am I missing something How could a Fox Terrier Cross be a Grand Champion

An 8.30 start suits us better as we have such a long way to drive to get to the comps. Not so bad when we are camping at the grounds.

Set him up...have a treat in one closed hand & present it to him, holding your hand closed & letting him paw at it & what ever...as soon as he backs off, click & give him a treat from the other hand. Do this a few times till he knows the game, then wait till he sits before you click...clicking as soon as his bum touches the floor. Don't worry if he jumps up after you click, but try to deliver the treat quickly while he is still sitting.

I was going to suggest porridge as well...made from proper rolled oats, not quick oats.

My two dogs run & play with each other, but I only allow them to run with other dogs that they know & that I know will tolerate each other. However, my girl is only interested in rounding them all up & ALWAYS has to have something in her mouth & if I let her go on too long, because she is holding something in her mouth, she starts to get dehydrated & froths at the mouth, becoming quite distressed. Being a border collie, she doesn't know when enough is enough. If ever she gets to run with strange dogs, I suffer the next time I run her in agility & it takes her training in LAT back a step, as she is very motion reactive, which I keep under control with LAT & other fun focus games. The young guy is not very interested in running with other dogs & he doesn't like other dogs running up to him & getting into his space. So in a nutshell, I can't see the benefit in letting them run wild with other dogs, whether they know them or not. They get plenty of socialisation without running around wild with other dogs. :)

We have had success. Final run of the exercise last night & she had a clear run (excluding the weaves). I am really hoping we can work on this together, she just needs a bit of one on one plus I have brought out the clicker :)

That's very interesting, as I have noticed that my guys poo will turn white if left out for a day, sometimes less. I always thought it had to do with the amount of bone (calcium) they had to eat. I learn something new everyday :)

oh gee shucks Ness.......... thank you I am feeling pretty pleased with both Jim & Tasha atm to fill everyone in, we had our freestyle starters debut today with Tasha scoring 157.5/180 & 2nd!! AND Jim winning the same class, with 159/180!!!!!! Whoo Hoo that is worth celebrating Congratulations Congratulations Biker Girl...hoping I might be able to join in some day. Everytime my grandkids come to stay, they ask for a "doggie show" before bed. Last night was the first time that I put the music on for the kids "doggie show". Bindi got so excited & did her own thing...showing off her "reverse around" BUUUUUUUtttttt, she was a lot better than before. Cricket got excited & let himself in & then I had a twosome going..one on each side doing simple things like heeling & spinning & leg kicks...I found it hard to keep up with them :laugh: When Bindi wants my attention now, she stands up on her back legs. I will be getting dinner ready & turn around & there she is up on her back legs saying..."look at me, I deserve a treat". It is so good to know that they both love it :)

Yes...teaching is fun...I love it & I wouldn't do it if I wasn't enjoying it. I am running a "mock trial" in two weeks & after the last one, I have decided to put a time limit on the runs...2 minutes then you are off :laugh: Otherwise people like this one & the lady who gave me that "helpful" advice (she means well) would be out there for ten minutes, trying to get their frustrated dogs around the course on the end of their finger. I have three in the class, who will not listen to me or anybody else, one has a DA dog, & I just have to let them do it their way. The others understand the dilemma & we just have to work around them....just feel sorry for their dogs. It's a pity we don't have enough to make up three classes, so that these ones could go into intermediate. When I have finished with my class, if I have time, I help out with the beginners as it is quite a big class. I can't wait for some of these people to move up

Before I use anything on my dogs, I wash my hands in it first. I heard once that to get stains out you can use Sards soap. I tried it & it dried my hands out terribly, so what it did to the dogs skin, I can only imagine.

Just a thought, have you tried to just do two reverse weaves and then click/bridge and treat? Then slowly build up on that. Remember that the reverse leg weaves are harder to do than forward leg weaves. (Oh by the way you are saying that you are stepping backwards and she is still going forwards through your legs?) No...she is going backwards, between my legs, back & forth between LS & RS heels, but as a team we are not going backwards. I am just stepping back with my off side leg then bringing my feet together after she has passed through & vice versa, so we are sort of doing it on the spot. I am mixing it up, sometimes c & t for one pass, sometimes 2 passes & sometimes 3 passes. But as I said I have now put the clicker down since teaching that "back pass to heel" is what I want & just randomly treating. When I say, bring her forward after the pass, I mean just bringing her head forward a bit so that she is back in heel position before I treat. Otherwise she swings he bum out to the side.