RubyStar

Yes, if you could call it that We just call it "paid training" :p

Pippa and Jive :) http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/animalimages/albums/dog_sports/255163/guest/93266b7da885ecf/

No worries, ST, that would be really great when you can come out with me. We can throw dummies for each other :) I am desperate for a regular retrieving training buddy It seems most people live north or already have their own regular training groups.

Can't comment on the dog, but the watermelon sure did the trick for me, yesterday! I didn't end up with a headache from lack of water. I ate watermelon and an apple, and felt great Ruby loved sharing the watermelon with me and scoring the apple core

Well done, TSD and Em!!!! Sounds like a great weekend!! FHRP, naughty Polo, but he finished and had fun doing it, that's the main thing, right?

The trial was crappiest of crap But my girl did try hard so I can't fault her for that - at least being an obedience dog makes her a very steady retrieving dog :p Shame I can't say the same about Millie We just need to work on distance a bit more, and of course throw in some more cover so when it starts to really cool down and less chance of pesky snakes, I'll be heading out into cover more regularly if I can rope someone into throwing dummies for me regularly! Ruby took some really nice lines to the bird on two runs yesterday, but just didn't hunt far enough up the hill (though on one, she cheated the water like a few of the dogs did and took a complete detour!!! I actually didn't think she'd be smart enough to know there was another way when I saw other dogs do it, I underestimated my girls brains I think :laugh: Smart, but wrong!) The judge was lovely and let me take her closer to the bird and send her again to up her confidence. She was onto the scent on one of them, as I think a previous bird had landed there as another dog sniffed the same patch, but she didn't trust herself enough that there was really a bird somewhere in that area, as she didn't find it in the area she thought it was. When Ruby hit the right area, I heard the judge go "goood girl!" Hope you're feeling better soon, CC. Might see you Wednesday! At this stage I am wondering why I am entering because we aren't ready, but if I keep looking at them as training rounds to give her experience with this terrain, she might actually improve one day :) Congrats to everyone at the state agility trial! Pippa and I had a lovely Saturday afternoon watching it, and she took it all in her stride. She also had a ball playing with Jive

Novice runs for a couple of hours, then Restricted starts after that, so you don't have to get there for the 8am(ish) start if you prefer your beauty sleep Should't be a problem turning up with the camera. You could just ask the judge where you are allowed to sit for best shot of taking photographs :)

The retrieving trial on Sunday is on Great Northern Hwy. It's at Pullman Park off Hallatt Gardens. Hopefully this link will take you directly there: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=-31.779861,116.024575&hl=en&sll=-25.335448,135.745076&sspn=47.206931,81.650391&t=m&z=16 When you turn in, immediately to your right there is a little road that is a carpark/turnaround area. Take the next right which is immediately after the first turn, and follow that to the end where you will see all the cars parked. If you get there after the trial has started, you will need to walk down the steep gravel hill and find the people I plan on getting there between 7.30am and 7.45am. Can't help you with the agility trial, sorry, but I would guess 9am?

My weekend has just about started! I have a few hours of work to do from home tomorrow, then I am not due back in the office until next Thursday, oh yeah

Someone's keen!! :laugh:

MG, you can get close enough to the gun. We had puppies attend last Sunday and as long as they were quiet, they got to sit where the gallery did to watch/listen. Edit: oops fetchindawgs beat me to it!

:laugh: No worries. Yeah I'll be at the retrieving trial on Sunday, but as I am swamped with homework, I am not sure yet if I will make it down sometime Saturday to watch the agility. I need to use that day to get a bloomin' essay finished! There's also a retrieving trial on Anzac Day, and I think that is at Upper Swan, also. So there's a few chances to come watch one early in the season, but after that I think most of them move out to whoop whoop so not really any chances for spectators - unless of course they want to make the big trek

Are Ruby and I not considered someone you know? MG is likely going along, too!

Great news on your test results LL, and congrats on TWO litters!! Congrats again liverteats on your well deserved Novice win on the weekend! Way to go Rebel! Also congrats to fetchindawgs on your AA win - do tell us more about this new dog, though!

Oh gosh sas, I'm so sorry to read of your loss Run free, Dante

Just to show how little Millie drinks. I forgot to put the water bowl out after I washed it, so the dogs were waterless for at least 12 hours, if not longer. When I realised, I panicked, put a fresh bowl out, it took Ruby some convincing to have a little drink, and Millie flat out refused. Wasn't until later that night she decided she was thirsty.

Definitely! I'm gonna need it on Sunday! Hate cutting the bugger up, and de-seeding it!!

Ruby keeps catching me out with the amount of times she needs to poo. I think I have finally figured out that even if she does one first thing in the morning, she needs another by mid-morning (hard to know this when I'm not around during the week to watch her do her mid-morning one :laugh:) At least she has the decency to run out of the ring to do it!

Back to the watermelon thing, think I need this tip for me as well as the dogs! I was dehydrated at a trial on the weekend and it left me with a shocking headache. Too nervous to eat as well, so this way I can get food in me and stay a bit more hydrated

Sorry to sound harsh but perhaps if you'd kept your cat contained instead of letting it wander it wouldn't be dead. Whilst most people would apologise and feel terrible their dog had done this to someone else's pet they're not actually at fault in any way and probably get pissed off with roaming cats entering their yard all the time. Agree. When will cat owners realise they can't just let their animals roam in other people's properties!!! I got home from work one day to find 2 cats in my back yard, and after I shooed them out, another jumped the fence and in! Lucky my dogs were at my parents that day! My dogs have not been raised with cats and go berserk when they see one, so if one jumps in my yard and isn't quick enough to get away, I'm pretty sure they'd be a goner. Doesn't mean my dogs are unreasonably aggressive, it's just what dogs do who haven't been raised with cats. I'd feel terrible if they killed a cat, but I can't see it as my fault. I keep them indoors now anyway so the chances are slim, but I can't keep them contained in the house 24/7. I used to own cats, but wouldn't again, because I think they need to be contained in a cat run and not to be left roaming.

I'm really not sure I'd be comfortable having my girls chew on joysticks!!

Of the 4 legged furry kind would be my choice of exchange :p Or cash.

at the bolded part!!!! to the rest! Couldn't agree more!

Who, what, where, when? I'm in need of some camera practice and a few dogs jumping around could do the trick :D There is a retrieving trial at Upper Swan on Sunday if that takes your fancy! :D And a retrieving training day the following Sunday at the same place. I'm not competing at the State Agility trial this year. I might pop down on Saturday to cheer you guys on, just depends how behind I am in stuff! Yep - they are your birthday present lol :p Getting in a bit early? Would you be offended if I "exchanged" the gift?

Why, you want to keep the children for yourself?