BC4ME

I like my back pack but was kinda looking for a way that the accident of me forgetting to zip it up all the way won't happen again. Yes, I will put them all in for repair but will see how much it will cost as to whether I upgrade my gear.

Thanks everyone they are really lovely bag. Off now to have a look at them all :)

I had a horrible day yesterday. I had packed my camera bag and got distracted I had forgotten to zip it up. When I went back, I picked it up forgetting that I hadn't zipped it up and 2 lenses and my speed flash all went crashing to the floor. The 2 lenses are now rattling and the speed flash has a small crack in the flash window. I have a backpack type camera bag with a zip that goes all the way around the front, it is segmented for all my lenses and a spot for my camera. It also has a place for extra things like spare batteries, cleaning cloths, notepad etc. It is comfortable to carry and I really like it but I don't want this type of accident to happen again. What type of camera bag does everyone else have.

My boy Chook does 7 in a row then you can see him getting dizzy so he goes the other way to unwind :rofl: But like anything you teach your dog if it is taught correctly they shouldn't hurt themselves.

Which Abba song are you doing??

I love hats too. I think it just finishes of a costume and they also stop my hair from falling in my face :laugh: What about wigs :) I've done wigs too, I love a good dress up :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I think I have done just about everything there is to do with a costume. I've done capes, wigs, hats, skirts, canes, tiara's, wands, etc and don't get me started on props. I have a love affair with them too. :rofl: I love your Game of Thrones costume! if you don't mind me asking BC4ME.....could you post a pic of you GOTs costume????? I am doing something similar & found a dress for a dollar in Vinnies & I am curious to see whether it has the same look/feel to have that GOTs feel about it I have attached some photo's of my Game of Thrones Costume. The first is taken off my computer so not very clear but it will give you an idea of the costume as a whole. The second is a close up of the jacket. I do make my own costumes this one was relatively cheap as the red fabric was only $5 per mtr and I had most of the braiding, lace and white fabric at home. Just had to buy the buttons. The crown I brought from a toy shop. Coming from a performing background I like to go the extra mile when it comes to costumes but that doesn't always mean expensive. I did "Click go the Shears" a few years ago and wore a pair of jeans, a blue singlet, flannelette shirt and an old beat up cowboy hat that I have had floating around for year, there was no sparkle or bling. I got all this out of my husbands cupboard. My Black box routine was back pants, black shirt, black waist coat, black hat and black shoes. My prop was a black box. Suited the routine perfectly. You need to make sure your costume enhances what you are trying to portray in your choreography. Don't forget to include your foot wear when designing you costumes. I usually make my dogs collar out of the same fabric as my costume although I didn't think in GOT's Styler needed anything. You get 2 points from each judge for your costume that is 6 points in total so don't waste.

I love hats too. I think it just finishes of a costume and they also stop my hair from falling in my face :laugh: What about wigs :) I've done wigs too, I love a good dress up :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I think I have done just about everything there is to do with a costume. I've done capes, wigs, hats, skirts, canes, tiara's, wands, etc and don't get me started on props. I have a love affair with them too. :rofl: I love your Game of Thrones costume! if you don't mind me asking BC4ME.....could you post a pic of you GOTs costume????? I am doing something similar & found a dress for a dollar in Vinnies & I am curious to see whether it has the same look/feel to have that GOTs feel about it I don't think I have a picture of my GOT costume but I dressed as a king I will go through my photo's tomorrow to see if I have one. I love that piece of music....

I love hats too. I think it just finishes of a costume and they also stop my hair from falling in my face :laugh: What about wigs :) I've done wigs too, I love a good dress up :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I think I have done just about everything there is to do with a costume. I've done capes, wigs, hats, skirts, canes, tiara's, wands, etc and don't get me started on props. I have a love affair with them too. :rofl: I love your Game of Thrones costume! I forgot about the crown LOL Yes I liked it too but I don't have a photo of that one I thought your robot one was brilliant and your prop was very clever :)

I love hats too. I think it just finishes of a costume and they also stop my hair from falling in my face :laugh: What about wigs :) I've done wigs too, I love a good dress up :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I think I have done just about everything there is to do with a costume. I've done capes, wigs, hats, skirts, canes, tiara's, wands, etc and don't get me started on props. I have a love affair with them too. :rofl: Hope these attachments work ....

I love hats too. I think it just finishes of a costume and they also stop my hair from falling in my face :laugh:

I use ITunes to download my music and I use a Music Creator to cut it. Music Creator is similar to Wave Pad. Wave Pad is simple and easy to use. Most programs need you to convert your music to an MP3 file before importing to your music editing program.

This is the link to the Dances With Dogs Rules hopefully it will work (I'm not very good at linking things) DWD rules All your answers regarding the sport are in these rules. Please ask if you need an interpretation of the rules. We have just had a rules update as at 1st January this year. For those already competing in the sport would be good to familiarise yourself with the changes.

Whoo Hoo you will love the sport, it is very addictive :laugh:

Congratulations

Congratulations on your passes Just a question do you have a previous pass because the rules changed as at 1st January stating you now need "3" passes for a starters title.

Great job!!! Sounds like you've definitely caught the dancing bug!!! Once you've been bitten by the dancing bug you are infected with DWD germs. Symptoms are you mind is often wondering what tricks your dog can do next, what type of music will you use (and how to cut it to suit), what will your costume be and what can you use for props. Your friends and neighbours will think you have lost your mind as you pace out your routines in the backyard with music blaring loudly and you randomly calling commands that make no sense to the someone who is not affected by the disease. But luckily you are not alone, there are many of us out there infected with the DWD disease. We are all struggling to find the only cure ...... the perfect scoring routine. Once you have achieved that you will feel so much better. But by then you have passed on the disease to others close to you.

It would be good but their is no reason for competitors to stop competing in the sport once they gain their titles they can continue competing in Intermediate. Just like you can continue to compete in Open obedience. I think once someone has their Champion title they should chase the ultimate in competition "the perfect score". Not too many people will ever achieve this but it is a great way challenge yourself and your dog.

Luvsdogs its wonderful that you are getting help from someone so qualified in the DWD, but there are no DWD "Grand" Champions only DWD "Duel" Champions. This is they have achieved both Freestyle and HTM Champion titles. We are hoping to get this through in the future. :) Congratulations to all those that competed and achieved what they wanted at the BC National.

hey Sheena, I'm hoping to run some DWD training soon, so if you ever want to come up the hill and join me in dancing, let me know :) Hi Sheena you will do well if you can get to work with Schati's mum she is an excellent trainer with brilliant ideas.

As a DWD judge myself, I will let in you in a little secret..... I can certainly tell when people haven't done the work and are just "winging it". It is my opinion that not doing the preparation work for a DWD routine and just "winging it" is unfair on your dog and everyone involved in running a competition. I am passionate about the sport of Dances with Dogs and I make no apologies for that. :D

No matter what sport you compete in, every time you step into the competition ring you should be there showcasing your dog to the best of their ability, not just going out to go through the motions. Regardless of whether you scored well or not I still think "winging it" is bad preparation on the handlers half and you are letting your dog down by not showing them off to their best potential. You may have gotten through in the starter class "winging it" but as you progress through the higher classes the routines get longer and the complexity of the movements get harder you can't just "wing it", you should have strategies in place if things go wrong. "Setting the dog up to Succeed" is a vital part of any dog training, by preparing for whatever happens in the ring is a part of their training. In the sport of DWD this includes the music, the choreography, the costume, the props, the audience, the judges, the ring setup etc. These things are often foreign to our dogs so they need to be given every opportunity to perform at their best in these situations ie I know someone who bought their costume the day before a competition, went into the ring and competed and the costume was flapping in the dogs face so the dog couldn't see the cues the handler was giving. It's things like this is what a good preparation is about. Like said earlier don't make a mockery of our sport, if you are not prepared to do the preparation work, don't enter. Especially at a National Breed Show. Like I also said before Good Luck to those that have entered in the BC National, I wish you all well and hope you are all prepared for such a big event. :)

I have a different opinion about competing and not being ready. Before entering any competition you should be ready. You should have done the training, your dog should be proofed with the props and your costume and environment you are to compete in. It is unfair to your dog if he/she doesn't do well because you were not prepared. You should know your routine back to front so you are not wandering around the ring trying to figure out what you will do next. If you don't know what you are doing you will not give clear signals to your dog. DWD is serious sport don't make a mockery of it by not being prepared and hoping you can just wing it. This is not only unfair to you and your dog but also to the judges who have give up their time to judge your performance and to everyone who has spent a lot of time an effort to put run the competition. The competition you are about to enter is a National Breed show and a lot of time, money and effort has gone into putting this national show on. This where you should be showcasing your wonderful dogs and the fantastic things they can do. You should have been preparing for this competition for months not making it up the week before. I'm not sorry if my opinions upset anyone but being prepared is part of any sport and DWD is certainly no different. I wish all those competing the very best of luck and hope you all enjoy yourselves. I look forward to seeing the results. :)

I went to both Michelle's workshops and had a private lesson with her. She is lovely, very approachable and as she says, "Platforms Rock". Boxes and platforms are great for DWD and also helps with gets obedience positions too. Next time don't miss the opportunity to go to one of her workshops. Michelle is very entertaining and knows her craft well.

Now that I will keep you to

I didn't think I would ever love HTM as my dog were never good at heeling but I have changed my mind I LOVE HEELWORK TO MUSIC. I find it easier to work the dogs and the really seem to enjoy it as well.