wuffles

Beginners wasn't exciting for us either. The next level up was ok, but still not very challenging. It got harder after that and is definitely hard in the trialling class! In saying that... I take my young dog because we both enjoy it, and I take my older dog because he needs the structure, boundaries and bonding time that the class provides. I notice a difference in them both at home even if we miss one week's class, even though I still train them at home. If I didn't enjoy it and the dog didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't go. ... I also like the socialising aspect :D

Sounds like Elbie is doing great in silver! Our class was really interesting (which by the way starts at 8am now, very early for a Sunday!). We started off with heeling which lost Ava very quickly as usual. She was much better when we moved on to other stuff. We did lots of stays and sitting/standing for exam. With the stays the dogs would be left in a line while the handlers walked all over the place, left, right, away from the dogs, behind the dogs... all very testing! Then we paired up and would walk around our dogs, walk around the other dogs and give them pats. All off leash and not stuff you can practice at home so we had fun and Ava was awesome! She stayed put while other people patted her even when I wasn't there. She even almost nailed the standing bit until two dogs got up to play and her 'partner' dog started barking so she decided it was a good time to wriggle the bum and snuggle up to the other handler who was standing beside her Looks like Blossom needs some new pics as well! Poor big brindle dogs, I bet she is an absolute sook ;)

Comments like this scare me though as a future competitor. I can't guarantee that my dog won't break and go jump on another, even though she's never done it before in training. She's not a robot... I definitely understand where people are coming from with serial breakers and dogs that are obviously not ready. But sometimes it really is innocent. If your dog broke and interferred with another dog your dog could get hurt. I think it's more about people not doing the stays if they know their dog isn't solid at them. I understand that. I don't believe that anyone in CCD can truly be 100% certain that their dog won't break. Mine never has, she has great stays, but I'm not naive enough to think she hasn't got a mind of her own. I've been to obedience trials and have seen some dogs in higher levels have a complete brain fart and do something unpredictable. And as I said, I understand about serial breakers. I just think that the way things are worded in this and other recent threads lumps everyone in the same category, whether it is a one off or all the time. If my dog has solid stays and then one time goes and says hello to the dog next to her, it seems like I'd be hated by many other triallers. I don't think that's the way it should work.

I like guitar best so maybe we should come over and play I am terrible at the drums despite the fact that I can play ACTUAL drums...

Comments like this scare me though as a future competitor. I can't guarantee that my dog won't break and go jump on another, even though she's never done it before in training. She's not a robot... I definitely understand where people are coming from with serial breakers and dogs that are obviously not ready. But sometimes it really is innocent.

Same as us, green carpet and black dog fur, we call it camo carpet

Mine get Royal Canin of an evening with sardines, table scraps or chicken wings. They get some Natures Gift tinned frozen in their kongs of a morning as well as a handful of kibble scattered across the yard.

Thanks for having us over KTB! Hoover has such a thoughtful little face and I loved watching their game of bitey face. By the way I was right, OH hadn't fed himself when I got home That's quite a bit of snow lilli_star! What's it like living near Orange? I'd actually like to live somewhere like that but OH would never agree I like weekends when I can just lounge around with the dogs snoozing next to me. They just don't last long enough

So it was snowing at our house this morning! I woke up, let the kids out, went to the loo then when I went to let them back in, they were covered in snow/ice Then I took them to the dog park at Belco and had a great time as no-one else was there! Clastic: Satchmo had to wear a bucket for over two weeks straight when he had allergies and hotspots. He was SO itchy, it was horrible, but the collar was the only thing that stopped him chewing himself. After a few days he got used to the collar and we had no issues. We'd come home from work and you'd hear this BOOM CRASH noise, it was just Satch trying to get out of his kennel with his bucket on lilli_star: No tips from me about getting Roo to use the bed, as mine gravitate to anything soft so I never had that problem ;) KTB: Regarding the greyhounds, that thread is just an example of what happens when dogs aren't assessed properly before going into foster care and can happen with any breed. The girl we had lived with small dogs previously and she was fine with little fluffies - but this was tested before she even came into foster care. She wasn't cat friendly, but neither is Satch, so no problems there ;) We got a written document outlining her temperament and observations so far, before she came to us. We also had a backup carer if she didn't fit in at our house.

I was going to ask if you wanted me to bring some cheese and bikkies, KTB! We'll be doing the grocery shopping tonight so let me know if I should get anything. We always say that Satch would be a great dog for an elderly person or couple. He likes to go for walks but if you don't take him he doesn't mind and doesn't get stir crazy. He's big but so gentle, they wouldn't trip over him! He has a few issues but most of those wouldn't be a problem if he could just laze around the house all day! Greyhounds are also really easy dogs to live with in general. The one we fostered fitted in so quickly. We took her for a walk every few days but she probably didn't need it, and she got tired after 15 minutes. She walked well on leash, travelled great in the car, LOVED the crate, wasn't toilet trained but didn't have any accidents in the house anyway... just a sweet dog overall. We had a CKCS growing up and boy was he an easy dog to live with! He was a totally inside dog, had free run of the house since he was a puppy. He never destroyed anything. His only bugbear was that he was a REALLY fussy eater, in his last few years he pretty much had to be handfed! Probably our fault though, he was spoiled Here is a pic (not a very ladylike pose, I know :p) of little wuffles with our CKCS Pokey and our friend's toy poodle, Sophie. ETA: I see Wizzle lurking so I'm sure she'll like this pic!

My OH doesn't do training either. The other night I took Ava out for a walk as she was acting a bit restless. I felt soooo guilty because Satch really wanted to come and he was dancing around, nudging the door handle and woo-wooing So I asked OH to do some training with him while I was gone.... blank look "What should I get him to do?" "I don't know... sit... down... stay... anything" After another blank look I said, "How about you give him a brush then?" which is what he ended up doing Ava's crate is in the lounge room. We don't use it much anymore but it doubles up as a bench

The dogs have such a hard time when I'm home sick. Ava is forced to snuggle into the doona on the couch with me. Considering they haven't been for walkies today they are being such good doglets! Good luck to Mars who will be a changed man very soon

Did you go for your walk this morning? My poor neglected dogs didn't get to go I am home sick today though so they are both fast asleep in their beds while I lie on the couch and try regain the sleep I lost last night from coughing Soooo not good weather for potty training KTB, I feel for you Satch hasn't been outside yet...

:) Look at the fuzzy puppy! I miss the fuzz.

Didn't take much convincing Off to obedience with Satch. I am so sick, I got a cold and it has gone straight to my chest, is nasty stuff. Waiting for antibiotics to take effect. But I'm going anyway, what a dedicated mum I am

Although it would be a great idea to colour co-ordinate so that the fur wouldn't show up, the mat is actually brown and cream... damn! Add some pics of your boy betsy, not enough Aussie love in this thread yet

They get Kongs when we are away but not bones. Kongs are not particularly high value for my two. They have one each and Ava learned very quickly not to near Satch's Kong (he will growl at her if she gets too close, but lets her have it when he is done). When they get bones, Ava goes in her crate and Satch eats his outside. Ava is so submissive to him that I doubt she would ever react to any of his growls but I try not to take chances. If one pushes in for pats we stop patting both and ignore them both. If Satch ever bullies Ava (eg. standing over her for no reason) we tell him "no" and he stops. He does this very, very rarely these days. Keep in mind that not all dogs are like ours. In fact most people in multi dog households probably have no problems with sharing food and bones and have dogs that are best buddies. It's just something you have to be prepared for, and honestly, it's easy to manage in our case. When we had a foster dog here who was very very dominant, we left no toys or food out with them, and they were always fed completely separately. It was no problem and they got along well. I think we would have a problem on our hands if we had another dog with the same level of dominance as Satch, but we let our breeder know this to ensure we got a puppy that suited our situation.

Stuff Santa, mine get presents whenever I see something they might like... I bought them some deer antlers from a DOLer and they are a bit hit! They even ate them beside each other without problems (Satch was keeping a close eye on Ava thought to make sure she didn't come too close to his). They seem like they are going to last forever so even though they were expensive I am happy

I've never seen that site before! Thanks... not :D If you want something that Elbie won't be able to solve quickly, try these. We have one and it's almost impossible if you put adult-sized kibble in there! I've cut back the little prongs to make the opening easier and I can't get the kibble out myself Ava slams it against the ground for ages, she seems to get a piece here and there. They don't come out just with rolling.

Do you think that there is a judging issue that should be addressed as well with CCD if people are being given scores they don't deserve? I won't be trialling until I think we are well and truly ready, so I don't have a problem with any of the new rules, but it's hard starting out so reading these forums gets me worried sometimes that if we don't score in the high 90s then people will be thinking "they're one of THOSE people"

KTB, as I said in PM it really is difficult to watch the dogs sort out the pack order, especially if it's your first dog that is the submissive one! I wish you could come and see the interactions in my house as they are really interesting. I have two dogs that aren't best buddies, but they trust each other and look out for each other. What I do think is important is that you decide what your rules are as ultimately you are the top of the pack! For example, we allow "telling off" for actual annoying behaviour like getting in the other dog's face or stealing a toy. We don't allow bullying for no reason or pushing in for pats. We don't allow our dominant dog to bully the other one into giving up their bed, but if the submissive one offers, that's fine. Some of these things you have just have to work out as they come along. Ava takes toys to Satch and goes, "Play with me big bro! I love you so much!" and wriggles her bum and bats her eyelids at him. And most of the time he goes "Why thank you for your offering to Lord Satchmo, it is now mine, so BE GONE!" :laugh: Then Ava skulks away and lies a few metres away, wishfully watching him munch on the toy. Just wait until they have their first disagreement, that's even harder Hugs again, I know it is difficult!

I bawled my little eyes out in Hachi.

Sharing a bed is a good sign! Mine will never do that. Mo is a grump when it comes to personal space. Satch came to us toilet trained (ahhh rescue dogs) and Ava was easy. I'm sure little Hoover will catch on quickly and he will learn from Elbie as well. We found that every time Satch went outside to the toilet, Ava would go as well. The day after she arrived, she followed me into the bedroom and did a squat... I went "uh nooooooo!" and went to grab her to take her outside and she screamed absolute murder. I felt so horrible but she never weed in our bedroom again

Hoover is just so cute. You probably will find that you have a favourite after a while We both do in my house, thankfully our "favourites" are different dogs and of course we love them both. Don't want to hijack KTB but here is a picture of Ava at 12 weeks old for comparison's sake

From an owner who is hoping to start competing in CCD next year, the new stay rule is scary, even tough we haven't had problems with stays to date And for those of us with wrigglebums, I'm not sure I like the new scoring for SFE Does anyone know the reasoning for not having to return around the dog anymore? It's not a difficult thing to train so I wonder why it's been removed.