RubyStar

Is this Phoebe's mum and dad or another friend?

Oooh where are they getting the pup from?? I haven't really met a chocolate pup in person

I could leave Ruby in the car but I would feel awful One year I slept in my car and contemplated leaving Ruby outside the car in a crate. Didn't contemplate that for very long, I didn't have the heart to, so she slept in the car with me :p Last year she slept in my tent with me. I put her bed on one side of the tent and mine on the other. She wanted to snuggle with me so we spent the weekend spooning in my tent.... I have no shame in also admitting that my dogs are my furbabies and will spoil them so :D

Unless properly trained, those can be just as ugly. Dogs can go really wide and you can't see them so have no idea!

I won't tell my girls that, they will think they are hard done by getting tinned sardines, even though they love them!

I don't like camping either. And I'm not afraid to admit on a public forum that I avoid peeing in the bush at all costs! I know sooner or later I'm gonna have to, but will do my best to prolong it A pit I can handle, with a shower tent around it! I wouldn't choose camping as a holiday choice, but I'll hack it once a year! Would much prefer to stay in a campervan - not many actually are camping in tents! I'd prefer to do the motel thing too in all honesty, but only if I have someone to share with. I would probably over sleep and miss all the fun! If there is a hotel in Williams (near Arthur River) that allow dogs in them then maybe next year I will opt for the hotel I won't wake up at 3-4am for the drive down there in the morning, that to me is personally more hassle than camping! Not to mention the drive home in the afternoon, I would fall asleep at the wheel for sure.

Good luck!

I think Candice is referring to the pivot left about turns where you turn into your dog and they don't leave heel position. Millie doesn't know the round the back LAT. I did a mock Rally course with her and had to lure her around my back Neither of my girls do the pivot LAT pretty, but I still prefer it over the round the back one so we'll keep at it. The round the back one comes in handy sometimes when dog loses attention

You wouldn't come even if he was able to eat kibble :p

Someone should inform the ANKC then as they have the Endurance Test where you can jog or bike your dog for the distance

Wusses!!!! Where's your sense of adventure?! :p And by going the whole weekend, you can help out in the stakes you aren't competing in.

If you are talking about left about turns, you can do either, and I believe you can even mix n match between the two in the one heel routine.

Did you end up entering Ruby in open? The States - hmmm it will be a busy night for me 4 dogs in 6 classes Yeah. You're persuasive when you want to be! :p No chance in hell she's gonna get the SFE - didn't realise who was judging until after entries were sent! Might have to get a few of you to really lean into her next week at training and see how she goes! You're a glutton for punishment I was feeling quite relaxed about only having 1 dog in, and now I have 2, I feel a bit stressed I have no idea how you cope!!!

It is being held at Mt Mary Creek, nearly at New Norcia, have directions if you would like to go watch. Would have been keen but got something on on sat and sunday will make more of an effort to go watch next season as i want to run mason You've got between now and next April(ish?) to get over your camping phobia. Think you and Mason should come camp with me and Ruby at the Arthur River trial I've done it 2 years in a row now, and I'm really hoping my 3rd time will also include competing. Only time will tell if we're ready!! :D

Good luck this weekend in Bunbury! I won't be there but my next trial in what seems like AGES is in a fortnight at the States Think it has been ages, my last obedience trial was in July!!

Great photos, FHRP! I'll have to sit and look at them properly when I'm not at work

You've had an awesome year, well done Bring on the retrieving season 2012!!!! Hope you have fun this weekend. I have a prior engagement this weekend (that will also see me out bush ) so can't make it, so I'm looking forward to seeing your photos!

She's coming along so lovely, TSD! Well done

That's why we're called WA - Wait Awhile. Just like we'll be waiting forever for RATG which the Eastern states have had all year since the new rules came out at the beginning of the year

I've started shaping my parents 13 week old pup to put her front feet on a perch so I can start pivot work for rear end awareness. I'll get her to walk over low objects too so she understands she has back legs! As AD said, you probably can't start soon enough!

luclen, I have no advice to offer, only my sympathies Before I got my first Labrador I read so much about HD/ED that I was an absolute basket case with my pup for the first 12 months, paranoid of every bump/jump/play, so I can imagine your heartbreak at finding out your second pup also had problems Even with the critical first year of their life coming complete with extreme paranoia in my case, I would risk it again to get the breed my heart is set on. Best of luck in your research into breeders and possibly other breeds if you go another way

I did another session with Pippa yesterday and she's up to offering me both paws on the box, and pausing a bit instead of jumping straight off. You can see her little mind ticking over. She races over, puts her paws on, and she looks at me intently waiting for that magical click!! I also did a short session purely on attention. She kept looking at my hands for a treat, so I waited her out to offer me eye contact and it didn't take long for that to click with her. She kept looking up at me then I also did some sessions with Ruby and Millie yesterday. My goal was for them to pick a basket up by the handle and hold it. In 3 short sessions, Ruby was up to grabbing it with her mouth but was reluctant to pick it up. In 2 sessions, Millie was sitting and holding it by the handle Both started out pawing it, which surprised me, as they like to bring me things being retrievers! Next up I might get them to place items into the basket They do best at shaping with objects. If there is no object to interact with, all they offer me is walking backwards I have a JVC Everio. It takes an SD memory card (2 actually!) You open it, it turns on and opens the shutter thing, press record and away you go! Pull card out, shove in memory card slot in laptop to copy files across. Very easy!!

www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk They have some great looking toys too but unfortunately won't post their toys OS as they haven't paid to insure them, DVD's are OK though. Definitely worthwhile adding to your collection IMO. He breaks every exercise down into flatwork, one jump, two jumps, three jumps, etc. and is very big on creating a balance between working close and driving ahead. just had a look! not too bad a price do you recall how much shipping was and how long it took by any chance? not important if you cant remember, ill just email them and find out Looks good, I'm interested too but lacking in funds!

NOT A CHANCE :D Agility is my thing I just do with very minimal training because I'd rather spend the time training obedience.... If we pass, bonus If we don't, I just make sure the kids are still running with a smile on their face

I had a good day at agility today. Millie got 4 passes for 4! Her first pass in Excellent Agility, and 2nd place And another Excellent Jumping pass. She also got a pass in Novice Snooker and another Novice Strategic Pairs. Go Moo!! Ruby's day wasn't quite as successful, but she managed another Novice Strat Pairs pass