Mooper

Good luck filling the void as best you can, Bonz. Treasure the memories.

Night-night, Miss Jenny Sleep easy you old sweetie.

You all prepped for the weekend, hesapandabear?

BMP, how is Blossom's training going now? Good on you for working with her. You've met my parents' little fluffies. Apart from puppy pre-school socialisation, neither of them were trained. And it shows :shakehead: All dogs need socialisation, and I'm yet to meet a handler who doesn't need training.

I don't know how we managed it, but Jack knows we have a one-toy-at-a-time rule. Most of the time (not always ) he will take his favoured toy back to the toybox without a command and will pick another one

For the HIC? Good luck!!!

Jack and I had a great session with Charlie Cover at Yass yesterday. It was for beginners, with no pressure whatsoever, and was great (as ever) to see some brand new dogs switch on to sheep There was a 6yo kelpie bitch who just wouldn't switch off after that! :D Jack was noisy in his first run, just in the round ring, but working OK. The second time around, Charlie asked me to bear with him, and he suggested that every time Jack barked for no reason (as opposed to barking while working) I should take him out of the round pen. Well, the first time, we didn't even make it in! Jack barked straight away, we calmly walked away from the pen, then stood until calm and went back in. On round 2, Jack started barking once in the pen, before release. So out we went again. This went on another couple of times, but Jack eventually did get the message and worked the sheep much more calmly after that. Still using his voice, but only when justified and not as an "up yours" to me. I was also apparently honoured to have the family guard-dog, a male chihuahua, not only approach me but try to get up on my lap. :rolleyes: This particular dog, I'm told, takes at least a year and up to two years to accept a newcomer to the property but he must have decided I was all right. Charlie and his wife were both gobsmacked and decided I must be a nice person We had a great day. Jack stinks from his swim in the dam, and he seemed to sleep all afternoon yesterday. But we'll keep going back for more

Yee ha! :p

I've been meaning to check in for news -- glad it's all sounding good!

Just for you and Banjo, Hedds Fluffy-butt cam ... EDIT: In Jack's defence, I should add that his handler isn't that crash-hot, either. I see in this shot that I look like I'm about to do a Chris Evert-Lloyd backhand with that plastic bag

Where are you located, caninecoach? Here in Canberra, we are fortunate to have sheepherding opportunities on small NSW towns all around us: in Bungendore, Michelago, Bungonia, Yass and Binalong. I've also heard of herding in Echuca VIC, up north in Uralla (nr Armidale), and in Camden. There are probably more that I'm forgetting!

We only get to some form of training once a month, if that. I think Jack has had four herding weekends in total now ... and has a longggg way to go. Our last weekend was in late July, I think, with Jim Luce at Bungonia. Jack was a total turkey in the small paddock (his first time out of the yard) and was more interested in chasing the farm dog than he was in working the sheep himself For his second run, Jim suggested we took him into the yard and we worked really nicely just with me. He wasn't so keen on Jim, who had cracked the whip once and Jack didn't like the sound. But once Jim stepped out of the yard, Jack did what he had do to. That was, however, the first time he's grabbed a sheep and I'm not keen to see him continue with that behaviour. Our next herding day is with beginners at Yass (with Charlie Cover) in early September, so we'll see how we go then! It's interesting to compare different trainers and different sheep. Jim's sheep were the most laid-back mob ever. The ones we've had a Binalong have been more flighty. Charlie's sheep at Yass are apparently used to being worked by all breeds so we'll see how we go We're still having fun, and just starting to put sides on Jack away from sheep, so still have a long way to go. We haven't done any herding instinct tests or anything yet. He's really not that bright :D so I think we'll just keep going for fun

Take care of yourselves, Bonz

What's the gear given to really sick dogs ... Nutrigel? Will that help keep her energy up? It's uncharted territory for me. But I can understand how frustrating it must be to see her weight dropping and appetite decreasing. Glad she (and you) enjoyed the beach

Ohhhh I'm so sorry for your loss, Mr and Mrs B. Such a tragic loss. Rest in peace, Andy

I don't have much experience with older dogs, so can only suggest that while ever Rosie is pain-free and still has a glint in her eye, she's still with you beneath the fog of dementia. :rolleyes:

Sounds like the little tacker is still a bit off-colour. Hopefully all will be back to normal tomorrow :rolleyes:

Oh, what dreadful news :rolleyes: I agree, Barkly waited for you to come home. What a sweetie. RIP lovely one. ;)

Ah, poop. Sorry to hear about your ankle, and very sorry to hear Ollie is on a downer. He'll bounce right back again, I'm sure. The journal sounds like a very good idea. If only to remind you of the many good days when the inevitable bad ones roll around ;)

Yes, they are volunteers. That makes it tricky. I've had instructors ask me why I bother with my dog, why I don't get him debarked, why I rescued him from the pound in the first place ... It used to be bother me, but now it's water off a duck's back. I know my dog is dominant, strong and generally a bit thick But he's a character. :D

It's such perfect weather for walking! I'm so glad you both took the time to have a lovely morning together :D

Ollie's in remission, Ollie's in remission! :D Hope the food and drink get down and stay down. Once he has his strength back and beats this infection, he's going to be back to his cheeky self!

Jack is a bit on the heavy side, so after a farmer called him Pudd'n at sheepherding last month, I've been meticulous about my measuring! It's no wonder he was getting bigger ... the chicken carcasses I was giving him were twice the weight of the BARF I give him. He gets 2/3c Science Diet Light for big older dogs in his Buster Cube each morning. No treats on walks any more, unless we're training something new. And he gets 300g of BARF mix each night. It doesn't sound like much for a 30kg dog, but he's not losing condition and has only lost a little weight in the last month. I'm starting to feel his ribs when I run the back of my hand down his side, so all is well.

I bet he had quite a full-body wag when he saw you come to take him home, too! Stay strong, both of you.

Sophie, you have fun beating the pants off the lot of 'em in doggy heaven. RIP lovely lady.