RubyStar

Oh well Maybe you could video some sometime? Are you coming to watch the RATG this weekend? It's in Kalamunda this time.

I'd love to watch you guys doing field work some time, as I have no idea what it's really all about and it sounds interesting :)

That's what I'm doing in training, though in the learning stages one or the other is going to lead the way temporarily while the other catches up (speed vs accuracy). I was just saying my plans in trials get abandoned and I babysit and I tend to go for accuracy over speed (though I rarely get either these days!!) So I'm determined to work on speed and enthusiasm with Pippa in trials (as we work on it in training), and hope the accuracy we've worked on in training holds enough in trials!

Thanks, Kavik :)

Is there somewhere I can read more about this? Susan says to get Accuracy before Speed (the whole DASH principle), so its a case of which is the primary focus? Speed or Accuracy! I'm confuuused! I think I much prefer a dog who runs at their fastest ability and pays attention to the job at hand, than one who slogs along either disinterested, or going slow for accuracy (and depending on the day, my Millie can be both those dogs! Highly frustrating!!) I have slow Labs so know that side of it, and a Schnauzer who has the ability to be fast if she wants (which is so much fun! And bloody exhausting!) When Pippa starts trialling, I think I want to just run flat out with her to keep her engaged and worry about accuracy later, hoping that she won't get bored with the game... but I will have to remind myself of that on course, because when I am out there, my plan always changes and I babysit too much!!

Well done you lot on what sounds like a great weekend! Agreed that rewarding runs don't necessarily have to be clear runs! We had a trial on Saturday and it was stinkin' hot! My dogs didn't cope. Millie was all over the shop, not really into it at all I have to find her mojo, as she's lost a bit of it even with night time training, so I need to make it more fun. I suspect a lot is fitness, too. Something we are working on. Ruby faired a bit better, but I think Ruby has more stamina than Millie in the fitness stakes and recovers quicker. Yet again another single penalty standing in our way of a masters jumping pass! She just had one jump refusal on an easy part! Doh! Think I pulled her off it. But I was really chuffed with how she ran :) Oh but even if she got it, we were over time Sure she isn't fast, but she ran it fairly decently so I think the course time must have been tight. I know agility is all about getting the fastest clear round, but as long as it doesn't take a ridiculous amount of time, I sometimes think these course times are too harsh and stands in the way of slower dogs being able to progress their way. Sure they won't win or gain Ag Ch status, but if they are reliable and can run clear, I don't think a course time should stand in their way!!

I love it And a matching male named Shaun would be good

See that is the problem and I think some people are too quick to judge "popular" names, thinking people call them that because they think it is popular. I wasn't exposed to the "dog world" at the time I got my first Lab, so I hadn't heard of a single dog around (nor kid at that stage) called Ruby. I thought it was a beautiful name suggested by my mum, so went with it immediately, not thinking every other Tom, Dick and Harry had a Ruby. Now there is a Ruby at every dog park, obedience class and every second new baby girl is called Ruby. Sigh! I still love it though, and don't regret using it one bit :)

I'm bummed. I am going to have to miss training on Saturday because I stupidly entered an agility trial for the same morning. Boo I'd much rather play retrieving as I've been having so much fun with it. But don't want to forfeit my entry fees and we have strat pairs as well so can't let my partner down

I want to call a dog Roger, just so I can call him for bathtime like the character lady on the Schmacko's ad :laugh:

What does it cost?

OK I know I said in my post above each to their own, which still applies, but along the lines of your cliched dislikes, I'm a bit over people calling their chocolate labs chocolate related names. Milo, Cadbury, Rolo, Coco, Bournville, etc etc. Also reminds me of an sms I got from the vet one morning which was not meant for us. It was to remind me of my appointment with "Honey". I thought to myself, I bet that's a Goldie. Anyway, at the vet the next day waiting for my turn, and out walks a woman with her Golden Retriever who she called "Honey". I was right I wonder if she got my sms instead when I obviously got hers

Exactly. Each to their own and if you like it, go for it regardless of what other people like. Chances are, you'll probably disagree with their own choices in return so who really cares I personally like human girl names for girl dogs, it's not for everybody. For some reason though, I'm not the hugest fan of human boy names for dogs Each to their own! But don't get me started on weird baby names!!

Good thinking, or it might get a bit awkward knowing who you are calling out to if they were all called the same

I'm not sure how you can cope with 3 days away like that. I went out this morning for training with RallyValley and a couple of hours of getting mucky, I was DYING for a shower when I got home!!! Feels awesome to get clean again Well done on your weekend TSD, sounds like Em is coming along fantastically, and I'm sure it won't take long for her marking skills to return. As mentioned, went out training again this morning with both dogs, had a great time as usual. For once, NICE AND LOCAL RV knew of a spot about 10 minutes from me that I had no idea was there. Well, I did know there was a place there, just had never been and didn't know the exact location. We tested out my brand new (second hand) thrower. Apart from it being so grotty and one leg needed some WD40 to get it undone, it worked perfectly well with just 1 leg and a few novices at setting it up (got home and cleaned it up, spray painted it and got the 2nd leg undone, all ready for next time!) Started Ruby on a double rise, as we did those last at training on Saturday and she was at that point of she'd had enough, so it didn't go terribly well. Did it first up today and she did it :) Millie also had a go, managed it but doesn't quite get the command yet, so went on "fetch" again I then lengthened it up for her and she wasn't as successful this time, so just hand threw her a couple where she could see and to help her learn the new command. Didn't lose her enthusiasm at all, she loves the game of retrieving! RV's Zora had a go at a couple of single marks and did lovely, she's just working on that delivery to hand which I hear is going great at home, so definitely getting there Then brought Ruby out again for a single mark and blind. Showed her where I dropped the blind then set her up for the mark. Lovely work Did the same for Millie but shortened it up a touch, she was all over that :D We ended after all dogs having 2 rounds each, as it was getting rather hot and didn't want to blow the enthusiasm. Went down to the water that was covered in shade and threw a couple of dummies there. The girls are really starting to understand that water delivery, yay! I continue to work birdy holds at home (and frozen pigeons in a sock in the field combined with dummies). I am worried that I am putting all this training in and actually seeing some progress finally, to have it all fall down again when it comes to using birds and never being able to trial Ruby again But regardless, we are having loads of fun in the training. Even doing stuff with Millie she won't ever need to use because she can't trial, but she enjoys it and I guess it is also teaching me :)

The only field you might see us in in the near future is the RATG. Dying to enter a novice trial again! But not yet.... Are you/livertreats entering Strauss in the RATG? Never say never :D Birdies aren't that bad I still read TSD's posts and have a few moments myself I'm still very much learning the tech-talk!

Great stuff, TSD!! Good luck if there's another novice trial this weekend! Who are the WA folk over there? I went out training this morning and had a blast! Ran Ruby on two single marks (so eager she broke on the first! ) then after a short break, we came back to have a go as a double. Before running it though, I ran her out to a white cone and showed her me dropping a frozen bird in a sock near it, then ran half way back between the bird and the flags and sent her for the blind. Once she delivered, I walked her out again, dropped the bird near the cone, then back to the flags for the double mark. Did that beautifully, then turned her to the direction of the blind. Sent her and off she went in a nice straight line with no hesitation and found it :) Next we moved the flags so we could create a hide with the scrub, and removed the white cone, to do a blind again and a two bird. I ran her out again to show her where the bird was for the blind, no cone to help this time. Put her in the hide, called her up and sent her. Again, off she ran with no hesitation and she went straight to it :) On her way back the other bird went up but because it was slightly behind some trees and a low plane went over as it was launched from the thrower, she didn't see/hear it. Never mind, we'll try again next week in a more visible spot! We worked on some sit whistles while out in the field which are really starting to click now, yay! Still more training required on casting, though. Finished with some happy bumpers into the river, but asked for proper delivery which she gave :) Can't wait for our next session!!

I buy 20kg of Black Hawk, and based my per kg cost on that. 20kg of BH here costs me $95, translated to $4.75/kilo. Basing the per kg cost of a 7kg bag of VIP (being the largest currently available), it costs $4.14/kilo. If/when VIP bring out larger bags, I imagine yet again that will be even more cost effective. It also costs me $95 for a 12kg bag of Earthborn Holistic grain free, based on that, it is costing me $7.91/kilo. If VIP works for my dogs, that's a saving I like :)

I ventured into Woolworths the other day to pick up a 3kg bag to try with my dog who is currently on Black Hawk. She has no issues with BH, but I am looking for a food that I can feed both my dogs, so thought I'd give this a go as a compromise that perhaps both could be on. Surprised to see 7kg bags sitting there, so I picked one up. Comes to $4.14/kilo, a few cents saving a kilo on the Black Hawk, and a couple of dollars a kilo saving on the Earthborn Holistic :) Trying it out first with my Black Hawk eater, and if all goes well with her, will consider changing my other over to VIP as well :)

Way to go rubyroo!!! That first photo with the birds feet sticking out of his mouth looks like he's eating the head :laugh: Such a handsome boy! :)

Hi RB, here is the description from the rules: A novice dog can also do restricted, so you don't have to win out of novice to have a play in restricted.

Well done again RB and Milly! (saw your news in the Lab thread :)) That is so great you were invited to go out training :D Those opportunities seem to be rare so grab 'em when you can! I have FINALLY found a training group and I am soooooooo happy!! :D :D Been longing for people to train with since day dot. Have met up with them twice now and will again this weekend. A small group of experienced and novice handlers, so I don't feel too daunted or like I am wasting their time :) My girl has actually done well in the last couple of sessions, so I am very much looking forward to seeing her improvement in the months to come :D May see me return to trialling if the bird thing resolves itself :laugh: Taking that slowly and using a frozen one in a sock. Good luck this weekend, TSD!! Good boy, Polo! You must be chuffed, FHRP! Go on, Tassie, you know you want a gundog :D Best dogs ever and retrieving is so much fun :p

Denise Fenzi and Fanny Gott to add to the list :)

I sometimes use the human polony or chicken rolls, but as they are treats and not a meal, and aren't the only training treat they get, the higher salt content doesn't worry me so much. I use cheese cut into cubes, or hotdogs cut up, as well as 4Legs (the meatballs and the puppy one). Pretty much whatever is on special or available to me (including leftovers like sausages or chicken, etc, all things easily cut up and stay in shape)

OMG Lablover, they are devine!! Especially that yellow :p I am OH SO CLUCKY Who were the parents? Did you keep any? More photos welcome!