sobriquet218

Cant you have multiple breed specialties? These wouldn't have been a BOB, they would have beaten other (albeit) related breeds.... Yes you can for example, Collie & Shetland Sheepdog Champ Show, comprising Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Collie Rough, Collie Smooth and Shetland Sheepdogs. 5 breeds. And when an overseas Judge of 30+ years of experience world wide in those breeds awards a Best in Show, do people consider a Best in Show at one of these? BISS or BIS?? Dog gained 25 points because of 100 entries

So with a breed like mine (Basset Fauve De Bretagne) where there are currently less than 10 being shown reasonably regularly between Townsville and Melbourne our challenges shouldn't count UNTIL we compete against others of our breed? I've travelled for competition and LOVE competition (even when my girls lose) but at the moment unless I travel the only competition my girls get is each other. ETA or should they count only when they also win a class in group? Or only when they win group? There IS no perfect answer to any of these problems. No matter which way the ANKC goes people are going to be pissed off. IMO, The requirements apparently just dumped for the awarding of the GCh title were a breath of fresh air. The requirements for Ch awards should have been a modification of that. Two 25 point challenges to be gained before Qualifying for the title of Aust Ch for e.g. Your challenge points would still count but being titled would require more credibility. It is probably harder for a ''popular'' breed to be titled due to the amount of competition. The rewards are greater for sure, but much harder to come by. Consider a previous topic where it is possible for a r/u BIS to finish in front of a 1000 dogs for no reward & yet some go home with 6 points just for being there? Ridiculous. Just my opinion. 2 x 25 point challenges for a breed to become a champion? some breeds (even the ones with higher numbers) can't achieve a 25 pointer. Be realistic, the system national and needs to suit as many states as possible... imo reverting back to the old grand system makes no sense... those who gained the grand with the harder requirements now have nothing to show for it. I agree with the system they have just denigrated. eg 4 x 25 pointers for the Grand. That should have stayed the way it was, and just added the Supreme Champion. I've already attained the 4x BIG/BISS so now I only need more points for my grand - now it's not going to have as much achievement as it would have before October! Maybe I'll just try harder and aim for the Supreme!! And yes having a popular breed I'm always up against the Faces and their cronies !

The WA K9 Flyers were started by Hayley & Tim Lamb of Borderton Kennels in Perth about 8-10 years ago. Eventually the club folded as there has always been far too many other dog sport competitions. The K9 Flyers did not have enough participants or instructors, and it couldn't be run by just one couple and unfair to expect it could. Perth Training (PT&ODC) also was attempting to run Flyball for a while, but again died for a lack of participants. They did have a name with the AFA and that was the PT Cruisers. The DogsWest (ANKC State Body) in Perth also attempted to start Flyball up, this folded from a lack of Instructors and participants. The Flyball boxes I believe were sold off and went up North. With Agility running basically every weekend in Perth, even obedience is suffering a serious lack of numbers now, they have tried to get Rally-O up and nothing is happening on that front either. WA not only has ANKC agility, but also runs ADAA competitions, so pretty much all the agility people who 'would likely' participate have a very full schedule. One of the major problems is that all people want to do is to "get onto the boxes' without doing all the really necessary ground work involved in teaching swimmers turns, etc. The boxes are the last thing the dogs should learn. The desire to run, without (weeks and months) foundation work, is why most people give it up. Safe crossing with the dogs is SO important There is a Yahoo group for flyball in Australia. flyball-oz This is an open list for flyball enthusiasts especially in Australia. When you join the list please introduce yourself with a brief message about you and your dogs etc. Members: 265 Latest Activity: 6 days ago Created: 11 years ago Archive: Membership required Moderated: No Flyball is a very exciting sport and a great crowd-pleaser, but it would require serious dedication from a LOT of people to get a club running in Perth. TO run competitions, you need teams, and you need people prepared to 'man the boxes' and run the events as well, so however many people wanted to do it, would need double to actually run it. I hope this helps!! Sounds daunting, but these things don't just happen, people are necessary. To make a club really work, you would need at least 40 people actively involved all the time and half of them would make up only about two teams !

I have used it for a male dog. He was one that would run out of a ring when he caught the whiff of a lovely bitch. He was first implanted in 2006, again 2007, and once more at about 2009. Then he was to be used at stud, but it took a good 18+ months to wear off. The bitch came into season in late Sept-early Oct 2010 and his testicles had returned to normal size however he was shooting blanks at that stage, within 6-8 weeks of that he came back to full ability. The bitch came into season again in late February and two matings once she was ready. The result was a lovely litter of nine live puppies, all well and healthy. I kept in touch with the manufacturers (Peptech) with information and they were please with the feedback. My Vet said it's now the practice to put the implant into the hock area so it can be removed if animal is required earlier. But it's well know that on the 'majority' of males a 12 month implant may last 14-15 months, although some others will come back almost to the day of 12 months.

Again from the Medibank Cover: Waiting Period means a period starting from the Commencement Date of the first Policy Period during which an Illness Condition that occurs or shows clinical signs will be excluded from Cover unless otherwise stated on your Certificate of Insurance. The Waiting Period is 30 days except for cruciate ligament Conditions, where the Waiting Period is 6 months unless we receive a letter from your Vet within 14 days of the Policy Commencement Date certifying that your Pet has no cruciate ligament Conditions. Medibank tried to veto this when I provided a letter from my Vet, because they said I had not visited the Vet at the time of application for the policy. However when I quoted that nowhere on their policy statement (at that time) does it actually stipulate you must visit the Vet and be certified at the time of application. I won that round and was covered, and fortunately they acquiesced and allowed the cover. The very same happened to my neighbour who joined two days after I did. And they let her be covered for cruciate too. I have now had the policy for almost a year without incident, so did not need to 'test' if they would pay in the eventuality of a cruciate accident.

This is the fine print from the Medibank Private PET Insurance policy: Pre-existing Condition means: * any Condition(s) or symptoms or signs of that Condition occurring or existing in any form prior to the Commencement Date, or * a latent infectious or parasitic Condition that manifests itself within a known incubation period following the Commencement Date indicating clear evidence that the Condition had existed or had been contracted prior to the Commencement Date, or * any Illness or symptoms or signs of that Illness occurring or existing in any form during the Waiting Period. A Condition, Illness, Injury or disease may be considered Pre-existing whether or not it: * was specifically diagnosed by a Vet, * was treated by a Vet, * is in remission at the time of application, * is seasonal in nature even if in remission at the time of application, or * is currently or previously being controlled by medication(s). Recurring Condition means a Condition that is curable but may relapse repeatedly with periods of remission in between.

Sounds like you were a great support and friend. Please let your friend no we are all thinking of her. Oh Ptomoly, How sad - a tragedy. Please let 'your friend' know that I'm thinking of her. I remember that gorgeous puppy when she just arrived. I also know how deeply not just puppy's mum will miss her, but also you will miss her too- you're family really !! Take a moment and remember those good times, and know that you both did your absolute best for the Pup. Anything I can do - just yell! Di

I suspect that this is the dog I did a SFE on at the recent practice trial? She did it perfectly (twice) and you were thrilled. From my (Judging) point of view, I was instructed to hold my hand forward for the dog to sniff. To many dogs this is an open invitation to move, so I prefer to let them "see" my hand without really extending it into their face. How many dogs think you have a treat for them, and move towards it. I'd rather a dog pass the SFE by toning this hand out thing down as much as possible. Di

My cat has done this, dogs in stays, and she will go and help herself to the foodbowls. I'm amazed at them allowing it. They do trust me to chase her away

Yes, thankfully the sub-committee voted in favour of having separate qualifying and non-qualifying stays available. :D The qualifying stays are always held first. If you are non-qualifying, you still have the chance to do the proper stays under 'real trial conditions" something that cannot be easily mimicked at training, as the handler does not have the same vibes being exuded. Ness, this may be part of the reason you miss out on the high score ones, no matter how much you may say you are the same, you won't be! You will be 'sweating' that high score, and your dog is a zillion times tuned into you and may not understand fully what has you in the state you are in, and will react to what she thinks is "something not quite right". IMHO. Di

I had a very hard time teaching my first dog the SFE. We conquered it eventually! The method was to put in a stand and throw food all around, (very food motivated dog) but dog not allowed to move. Then introduced the throwing food, and someone to do exam. When the dog got it right, then the food was a huge reward when released, so the focus always became the food regardless of what was happening (being examined). Just built on this. The dog was never comfortable with SFE, but learned to do it and pass it .

Maybe true but if you look nice and tidy you're dogs will work that way too. I hate it when people go into the Obedience ring looking like they are dressed to go training, I know it really doesn't matter but I still feel it's wrong. Absolutely agree here Pax.

Figure eights, I have found that looking at the base of the pole you are going around works for me. By focusing on that particular spot and not looking at the dog, I seem to keep them in place much better. Since doing it this way one of my dogs in particular is now doing some really nice F-o-8 work. :rolleyes: In old days I was always looking at my dog, which was very detrimental to his work as shoulders would be pushing him away.

Dropping in on this one - I prefer to dress smartly semi-casual. I've discussed this thread also on OzObed too! Personally if I feel scruffily dressed then I don't believe I am doing credit to my dogs. I feel it's showing a lack of care which can reflect in my own performance. If I feel smart I know I tend to work smarter - nothing wrong with trying to help your own attitude in the ring. Tailored trousers and co-ordinating top can be very smart and also very simple. Don't have to be tight or flashy at all. Gotta love Millars here, they have brilliant co-ords at very reasonable prices. I have purchased some brilliant suit pieces for less than the cheapest traccky daks.