RubyStar

oooh you must have edited what you accidentally said, and I missed it, pooh!! I know what you can call Misty - Pawsitive Sheez All Rubystars. Too long??

What do you mean? They're frickin ADORABLE!!!!! I wanna come and play with them all Ness - if you want Misty as a playmate for Kenzie, then you are more than welcome at my place with her

Congrats everyone, so many brags over the weekend that it would take all night to congratulate individually, awesome work!!

Woohoo, that means Misty can come to meeeeee!!!

Awwwww my girl is so cute!!! What day is she booked on a plane to me?

I do understand your perception of it being a "cage" - I too once had that perception of a crate before I learnt what they were about and before I got my first Labrador. I read many good comments on them before I got my pup so set out to learn some more about them and soon realised they are not a cage at all, but as others have said, they view them as their own private den. During the day, I wouldn't crate for more than 4 hours at a time, much less if possible but that is the absolute max! But all night is ok.

If she's messing in the house that often, it's probably because you're not taking her outside enough. Make sure she goes out for a toilet stop after waking up, after playing, after eating, and generally every half hour while she's little and doesn't understand the concept fully yet. Can I ask why you say you "don't have the heart" to crate train her? Crates are not a cruel method of training. They have proven very successful with a lot of different areas of training, and the dog starts to see the crate as their own personal den to go and chill out in when they feel like it. If you feed your dog in there, she will think it's a GREAT place! (I personally haven't fed in crates but know it works for others!) If she is crated at night especially, with just enough room for her to lay down and turn around comfortably (but not roam to the other side), combine that with setting your alarm and taking her out once or twice throughout the middle of the night and toilet training in my opinion goes much faster! Dogs are clean animals and generally don't like to mess where they sleep. So they are more likely to hold it in (obviously not if they are busting! And that is where you would have left it too long) and when you take them outside, they are ready to wee/poo cause they haven't let themselves do it where they sleep so therefore are learning quicker the right place to go (outside!) Crates also come in handy for destructive puppies - when you can't keep an eye on them, crate them! But just make sure you don't abuse the crate option and chuck them in there for the day cos you can't be bothered watching them I'm not saying you personally, just in general, they can often be abused far too much! She is beautiful by the way

That was great to watch! Had Focus ever done weaves beforehand (with another method?) or was this method the first time he had started on weaves at all?

In small steps First step, ask your dog to stay, take one step away then go back and reward/praise. Once she understands if she doesn't move she gets rewarded, gradually increase the length of time you move away for. Then you can increase the distance ever so slightly, and proof the length of time you are away for again with the new distance. Building it up slowly is the key, in areas where there is very little to no distraction for the pup, and make sure you get in and reward before the dog breaks the position! You don't want to miss your chance to tell her she was right, once she's broken her stay it's too late. If she is breaking before you can reward then you've moved too fast too soon, and move back a step. Once she is reliable staying with no distraction, repeat all of the above as you gradually introduce distractions Now, where are these photos of the gorgeous little Beagle?! I have a soft spot for them

No, you can't be done! I need more of little Misty, please!!

I'll pay top dollar for the sweet little Misty! I want more piccies More, more, more!!!

I used a cardboard box to block off the other end of my crate when my Lab was a pup. I only had it in there a few weeks and she never messed in her crate.

Not really sure it matters too much.

Not sure how Ptolomy meant but I just put the 4 cans out in a row horizontally facing her, and placed a scent article in between them. I was surprised at how well it worked! It was the point I saw the light bulb go off in her head! Saying that though, I am not looking forward to teaching Millie scent. Ruby was a bugger to teach but at least she could fetch and hold things in her mouth!

OMG! Hope she is ok??

Misty See I chose to block out the rest of that sentence But I'm sure she's perfect!! So I'm guessing the amount of white on her face is allowed? I think that's a big reason why I think she's so pretty, all that white on her face I'm going to be very distraught if whoever she goes to does not keep us updated with photos of her progress! I am extremely interested to see how she turns out, as she may have swayed me over to the Aussie side

That's why she's coming to ME! But I want her You've already got 2 dogs... now you're just being greedy :rolleyes: Yeah, but, but.... I don't have an Aussie! yet Come to your new mummy, Misty!!

That's why she's coming to ME! Hey Amanda, doesn't appear you've stuffed her in that post satchel to me yet! She is just simply BEAUTIFUL I want her so bad

Congrats on your first novice jumping pass!! Ruby is most definitely registered in my name, it was just a case of them putting who came 2nd on my certificate. It was in a different coloured pen to the rest of it so it looks like a late addition once scores were tallied! I wonder if who came 2nd got my name on theirs? There were only 2 qualifiers for that trial so it's possible Does anyone have an email of a contact of the Midland Dog Training Club I can contact? Is it Jill Houston? Perthies, heeeelp!!!

Why of COURSE No, wait, if I'm training her then ermm, probably not, but it wouldn't be through lack of trying If I didn't already have 2 dogs I'd be in market for a pretty girl like your gorgeous Misty for obedience and agility! :p

Must be really tough to pick a fave out of so many gorgeous babies And YES, Misty has stolen my heart BIG TIME, very unexpectedly too because Aussies were never on my puppy radar!! If you're having trouble finding a home for her.....

So which one are you thinking about keeping? This one sounds like a keeper! Is the pup going to be your dads? Though I say you keep Misty so I can see her grow!