wuffles

Is checking out the state canine association websites the best way to find out when trials will be held? The DogsACT website has the schedules, addresses etc. but the DogsNSW website just has a big list without details - do I just call the phone number listed and ask where to send my entry?

I am still working on this with Ava, she is not a big fan of the dumbbell, so I'm not sure how good my advice will be. But I spent AGES trying to get her to hold it and what finally worked was some advice from a wonderful DOLer - lightly placing my pinky under her chin when she took it off me to encourage a longer hold. It was an immediate 'a-ha' moment for her so now she will at least hold it (although looks tortured at having to do so ).

Ooops, and I forgot a congrats for TSD and Xena - too many brags Slow down everyone

Wow, I love this thread! Always makes me happy to hear about everyone's success with their wonderful dogs. Give them all a big pat for me (and maybe slip them a treat, too). Well done RS! The thought of out of sight stays still scares me a little and I am always in awe when I watch them at trials. LP - Good boy Leo! Ava sends a body slam his way. Ptolomy - Your videos are very inspiring for newbies like me so thank you for posting and congratulations! Cider certainly looks like a super special girl.

I was giving my boy his in yoghurt which worked! You could also try something like ricotta, or even apple sauce, which is what I used to take my tablets in when I was young If I stuck them in meat he'd just chew the meat into tiny pieces and leave the tablet...

We tried this, so I would say yes it's ok, but in our case once one dog was awake so was the other. Then we'd chuck them both outside and they'd play and turn into nong-heads and bark and wake us up anyway.

I have a dog with a GSD-like coat (probably GSD x) and he does not smell doggy. He does shed rampantly though. My Aussie does have a slight doggy smell and needs baths more often. It doesn't bother us though. We babysat a poodle x schnauzer for a while and he smelled horrible. I do warn you thought that white coats get everywhere. White shows up on everything. Black work clothes are constantly coated in the things. Black hair doesn't seem so noticeable...

The ones in question aren't even fluffy - they have wiry fur.

My dogs don't bark at noisy kids going past (unless they are on scooters) but they will bark at noisy adults.

Note to self: start training puppies from birth in drive, plenty of toys etc..... Ava does have some, but I don't think I did enough with it when she was little. I just wish she'd fetch a damn ball! Would make it much easier to exercise her considering she can't go running with OH anymore...

If you look around online there is someone breeding them in Crookwell ("this is our third litter") so it seems like they'd be coming from there. I saw them there the other day, poor little mites

As everyone else has said. It's normal. I feed dinner next to each other and they know they are not allowed to go near each other's bowl. However, if I am feeding a meaty bone, they get separated (one in crate inside, one outside). I also wait until all scraps/morsels have been devoured before letting them back together. My dogs both have a rough play style so I watch them like hawks when they are with other dogs. If I can see them getting too stimulated (eg. I know that as soon as my girl's tail starts curling upwards she is too excited) I use the "leave" command and call them to me for a treat. If I am too late and they are already over their threshold, they go back on leash until they calm down. I haven't been able to change their play style so I just manage it. There are certain dogs and certain breeds that I know don't usually play well with mine so I stay away from them completely.

LL you will be fine, if I can do it so can you Go the Aussies! Lottie is a gorgeous girl and I'm sure she will do you proud. Our next trial is on the 9th of April. I haven't had a chance to do much training lately but when I get the treats out she is super, super keen so I am not too worried... yet I will try get someone to video it this time...

Rain appears to have died down for now and it's sunny again!

Hrmm. Does hail mean agility intake is cancelled? :happydance:

dandy remember when we were in your yard and Ava found the treat ball (pretty sure it had no treats in it) and all of a sudden it became this valued item that both her and Raz wanted... and they were trying to guard it from each other? She's generally only interested in toys if a) the toy dispenses treats or b) another dog wants said toy

Satch screams if I try do training with Ava and he can see us... KTB can attest to that I think for my next dog I'm going to go for one with good play/prey drive... balls, toys, squeakies, tug... seems like fun

Yes I would think it's pretty normal either way - some people love all their animals equally and some have a heartdog or a dog they just don't bond with or one they like slightly more, etc. I'm sure you're already doing this but if I were you I'd be taking both dogs into the yard, crating one at a time and doing some training with the other. Just some focus work and sits and drops with Willow would be fun!

Yes, I would say Ava is my heart dog so I am very close to her. And she came along AFTER Satch. (Don't worry, Satch is OH's 'favourite' so it evens out in the end )

Awww, poor Mindy and her 'hard days' I would love to be able to bring Ava to work. She really does not like it when we leave for work of a morning. Satch is happy to go out and munch on his Kong, have a play, have a snooze... and never exhibits any kind of stress about us leaving. Even if I take Ava for a walk without him, he whinges when we go out the door but then settles down on his bed straight away. When we get home, sometimes he doesn't even get up to greet us! Ava, on the other hand... gives such a disappointed look when she realises we are leaving for the day. If I take Satch somewhere without her she spends most of the time looking out the front window waiting for us to get back. And when we get home, even if we've only been gone for 10 minutes, she wriggles and squirms and moans and squeaks like it's the happiest time of her life. She loves hooman company and likes to sleep as close to you as possible. Poor little mite, she would love to come to work, snoozing in her crate or under my desk!!

Yes I was one who thought the kibble very small when I first started using it, but now I prefer it that size as the dogs can't eat it as fast. I wouldn't go back to a regular size kibble now Black Hawk is an excellent product, probably the best dry food I've ever used for quality, availability and price I also thought it was tiny - we were previously using Royal Canin which is at least 4 x the size. At first it seemed a bit weird to be feeding my 36kg dog such tiny kibble :D But both my dogs (the other 18kg) enjoy it and I haven't had any issues with the size.

Heyyy, Ava isn't quirky... ok, maybe she is She does get on quite well with labs! There is a lab her age at our local dog park named Marvin and they are always chewing sticks together. dandy that is terrible news about Willow's litter mates. How horrible. Someone baiting my dogs is my worst nightmare...

Awwww ... poor Kuma .... Why not bring him around on Sunday mornings after class? He can play with Mars, Hoover, Elbie, Ava and others ... We should do another playdate soon before it gets so cold that we look like desperate dog tragics ... Satch is desperate for a play date... he has decided that dogs on our morning walk need woofin' at (and sometimes growlin' at! errrrr ) so I think he just needs to be around some dogs again.

Satch is not a velcro dog AT ALL but that doesn't mean he isn't attached/bonded to us He just lies on his bed while we wander around the house, go into the backyard, etc. He's independent and that's part of what makes him our Satchy. Ava is very velcro and it really annoys OH She's always getting in the way, getting herself tangled in cords, trying to sit on your feet when you're putting your shoes on, vacuuming up dropped food before you even know you've dropped it... It took me a while to get used to as well but now I like it. Don't know if I could handle two velcro dogs, though. Sometimes I just want to be alone!

I hope Satch hangs around for a long time to come, because Ava wouldn't cope as an only dog, but I don't dare imagine what mischief could be caused by TWO Aussies