Starkehre

Thanks Jules. Unfortunately all these wonderful dates are clashing with trials I had pre booked, but there will be more. I will start with my lesson. Just get a feel for it, see if we like it, and perhaps then try and get to a work shop or group lesson or similar, so I can watch and see others working. Thanks for all your help guys. The info has been great.

Hi Natsu chan, we have had a change in plans. I am now having a private lesson with Kate very soon, so I am very excited. So sorry, won't be patting any of your girl's relatives this time.

Best of luck with the xrays. Hope they work out what is causing this. It sounds to me like he has risidual scarring or even just aggravated digestive tract from previously. That may even settle down on it's own. Always good to get answers, and it really doesn't sound right.

cowanbree, yes IM disease wwould have shown up in those bloods. There would have been lowered or elevated white blood cells, red blood cells and/or platelets, so I think it is more likely to be related to the previous issues. As blacklab says, reflux can be transient and normal. And even though it is a new thing for your dog, some dogs tend to be more prone to it, so it may even be on going now. ... just wondering though, is it reflux or is it vomitting?

Thank you dogdayz. Much appreciated.

Thank you for the address dogdayz. May or may not get there. 2days away from my business can be a bit tricky , but will see how we go. Will check out vicherding, thank you heaps.

Thanks Barb. Appreciate your advice. Sounds like a plan. Having absolutely no idea what to expect and what it involves, a private lesson is something I would love to do.

Thanks guys. Great info, and so quickly, you are all wonderful. Yes, I was also aware that Rottis are now included on the allowed breeds list, and that is why I am wanting to do it. I have always wanted to and could never work out why Rottis were not included as they are originally a herding breed, so it is wonderful that they now are allowed. Yes, I know Tallara. Am going down there on Thursday, so will grab the number or call in for a chat. Thank you. Kate was one of the ladie's I rang. Hopefully she will call me back. And thanks for letting me know that the venue is Nyora and not KCC. Can anyone tell me exactly where in Nyora please? Edited... I just rang a left a message with Tallara also. May look at starting with a lesson there. Please PM me if anyone thinks this may not be a great idea for a novice at herding.

Hi all, I am super keen to finally get to doing some herding with my Rottweiler bitch. I may get along to the HIT mentioned in topic title to at least have a good look at what goes on (though I am trialing obedience that weekend also). It has been years since I spectated and I have absolutely no experience in doing herding whatsoever. What I would love to know if anyone has any info for me please, is who is a good person that I can call to speak to regarding finding out what I need to know to enter a test or what is my first step to get into this sport. I have tried calling a lady whos name I was given (about a week ago) that has not phoned me back, and have just left a message with another. Naturally I may still hear back from these ladies. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. My girl is getting on, and there is every chance I won't get attempting a high level of herding with her, but it will at least give me experience for my next dog.

Hi cowanbree, sorry to hear about your boy. The only experience I have had with reflux is it being owing to Immune Mediated illnesses. Reflux was apparent prior to other symptoms showing, during acute illness and afterwards once the dog was on the mend. Now, that certainly is not to say that your boy is now coming down with an IM disease. He has had gastic and digestive issues, so more than likely it is related to this. Just on the off chance that it does not improve, I would just mention this to your vet and see if he thinks he should run some bloods. A secondary Immune Mediated disease is a possibility, though not necessary likely. Best of luck with your boy.

as pers says. It would not bother me, and I would not try to stop it unless 1. they were causing any inflamation or chaffing to each other 2. if either dog was not fond of the licking. I would see it as a respectful grooming.

I don't believe that the size of a yard reflects whether or not a dog/dogs can be happily/healthily kept in it or even the breed or size of dog. It all depends on what you do with the dog when you are around. And like you said, you plan to do a lot of exercise, so that is fine IMO. We have a small yard, and we have had from 2-5 large breeds in it any any one time. They have always been well rounded and well behaved dogs. I know many people that have big properties, yet choose to lock their dogs in the house or in a run, and feel they are good owners because they live on a big property, even though the dogs maybe go onto the property once or twice a day to empty and that is it. I don't have an issue with that either, but people should not be judgemental. (btw, this is not anyone on DOL) Sorry, drifted OT for a moment there Yard time is quiet time for my dogs. I only encourage play in the yard when interacting with me. The rest of their exercise time is done when we take them out each day, and that is how I prefer it. I do not expect my dogs to exercise themselves in the yard, nor would they. I want them to be resting and quiet whilst in the yard, as it keeps the neighbours happy. I have always found that most dogs tend to rest during the day when yarded, and even more so when yarded alone.

If you would like her bones and joints to be developed in the way her body is designed to, which will be carry her mass around healthily into maturity, then I would suggest you wait until she is around 18 months before desexing. Her hormones will ensure this she has ideal growth and her growth plates will close at the correct time. Keep all exercise to a minimum until she is well into her 2nd year and ensure your training input is optimum to curb any hormonal issues that may crop up (but with bitches this tends to be way less than dogs). Good diet is imperative too, but I am sure her breeder has told you all this already. She looks a lovely young girl. All the very best with her.

Being a newb in the show ring, I always offer congrats, and it genuinely comes from a kind and well intentioned place. I am not just saying it to be polite. I imagine if it was me winning, then I would be chuffed, and so I am genuinely happy for that person. I would not say it if I wasn't. When I do well in the ring, I do not expect any congrats in return. I would never judge anyone else by my standards. I do not give it to receive it. If I get a congrats, I will appreciatively accept it, but not require it to keep myself happy. I have a feeling if I continue showing for a long time, my bright, bubbly and positive attitude may change Although I am the same with other disciplines that I have been doing for many many years, so maybe not. I hope not. My motto is "if it is not necessary to say, then it is necessary not to say", but that for me only refers to negative comments and backstabbing.

Dyzney broke my nose while agility training. I signaled "tunnel", and she thought I meant "table", which I was running past at the time. My nose collided with her head whilst she was in mid air leaping for the table. "OUCH"

Sallywill, did little Mischa make it. I am so worried and keen to know if the gorgeous little mite has pulled through. Best wishes.

Fleas are a bugger aren't they. I think you need to be a bit more patient. Once fleas are in plague proportions like this it can take several days to a week to really get on top of them. Eggs are hatching also. What you need to watch with flea products is that some of the shampoos and similar and a flea repellant, not actually a killer or can even be both. do not use anything that repels fleas, as then they will just live in and around your hime until the product becomes less affective, then they will jump back on the dog again. also, if you are using a spot on type, these need to fleas to jump on the dog to become affective, so this is a why you do not use repellants in conjunction. So, just give it a chance. The fleas will jump on your dog over the next few days and die off. Revolution desexes fleas, does not kill them. Revolution IMHO only works if everyone in the country uses it on all their pets and never comes into contact with wild dog/cats etc. Interesting concept, but to desex all the fleas in the country is a big ask. This is what I would do, stop bathing. Treat with Advantage, Advocate or Frontline and any other pets as well. Spray the entire house and any/all dog bedding or bomb everything. The scratching will subside within the next few days. The scratching will also be owing to little lesions pup is causing from the scratching. Don't put anything on pup that will keep the fleas away. They need to jump on for the spot on to work. Keep in mind, fleas do not tend to live on dogs. They jump on, bite, lay eggs then jump off. So, when you see them in these proportions you know there are plenty more around your home that you may not have seen as yet. So, definitely treat in and around your home also. Best of luck with it.

I was going to suggest giardia also. Doesn't normally flatten dogs as the issue is in the small intestine, but as there is probably also dehydration involved, this could flatten the pup, and being so young could be showing these signs. Cidicosis and giardia can also be picked up from pup picking up bird droppung if you possibly had any outside on concrete or deck or something. I hope your puppy gets well very soon. it is awful to see such young babies sick.

A quiet and subtle growl??

Thanks for sharing Sarah's mum. I too hope Sarah has a full recovery and a long and healthy life ahead. Please keep us posted. Lots of hugs to Sarah.

Ellz, that is definitely a letter that would leave me smiling for a week. Absolutely awesome. Well done.

I am another advocate of "Odour-Go". I bought a 5 litre bottle ages ago. Can't remember when exactly, but it must have been around 12 months ago. It is getting low now, and thank you for the reminder, I will place another order shortly. I got the talc scent and found it to be terrific. Having a very large male entire spend much of his time in the house, he seems to leak an awful stench He doesn't pee, but he just exudes his male scent everywhere. It really reaks. Anyway the Odour-Go eliminates it no problems. I dilute mine approx 50-50 and keep it in a spray bottle handly all the time. I spray everything, even in the air.

Just another tip guys. Practising on wet grass (early morning dew) is also crucial for the dogs. What can often happen is the dogs' pads get softened when trotting on wet grass, then they hit the gravel and concrete, bitument and that is when they do damage. so lots of wet grass, then gravel will prepare their pads. I would not worry about moisturing them. I would put in the necessary training for accustom the pads to the conditions, and that should suffice. I will be doign 2011 with my boy, Jag. He is too young this year. I did it with Dyzney when she 3 or 4, don't remember. It was easy and a lot of fun. I had stitches in my leg from where I fell on a star picket several days before, so that was a bit sore. Dyz dragged me off the bike for an emergency poo stop (which I was totally surpried by, as she has never done anything like that before), and I fell right on my wound, but all good, just a bit of blood and back on the bike. It certainly was a day I will never forget. Also, make sure you have a strapper with you. You need someone to hold your dog whilst you run to the toilet during your breaks.... and don't let the guy next to you that didn't bring a strapper pinch your strapper to hold his dog, so he can go to the toilet, and then miss out on a wee like I did AARRGGHHH ;) And one more tip, for those whose dogs get really bored with the training and starting to lag a bit.... don't worry. during the test, I can assure you, the other dogs an excitement will have them acting as though they could run it 5 times over. Sorry, yet another tip, you do not need to train to 20kms. 16 is fine, and will give the dog plenty of fitness and scope to complete the test. Just make sure you have your training regime in place, remember to add rests into the last 7ish days. Good luck all those doing it. Hey, I didn't know there is a Gippsland End. Test. when is that run please?

I am so so sorry to hear about Olympus' passing You must miss him dreadfully.

You can purchase the super heavy dity traffic cones from various safety work outlets. Although I didn't get around to checking it out, there is one here in Mornington that sells them for around $70 I believe. They are big and tough. I was thinking of getting them to make walking poles, not for chew toys, didn't think of that. Jag would break my chins with one of those if he had it as a toy. The way he whips his head around with toys in his mouth is a killer