Nik

Argh another one coming out of the closet In WA if you enter and run into problems, you just don't turn up, you blow your money, but thats it. Do you know anybody else trialling that can babysit for you for 10 minutes? Do you have a friend who could be moral support for the morning and help you out? Good luck and as you have seen - this is the place to brag or bang your head on a brick wall depending on how you are going I don't know anyone else... and no one wants to look after 4 boys in a hurry! Also my dog doesn't concentrate when they're around. She's spend her whiole time trying to get back to her "flock"! Hopefully my parents can help- they did last time.

Hi . I'm also a long term reader/lurker and first time poster in this thread. We've started trialling (well, one trial last year and we scraped though with a pass- still don't know how we did that!) and I'm contemplating entering the Croydon trial again. Only problem is I'm not sure 100% that I can get babysitters for the day (OH often works Sundays). So, if I go ahead and enter, what's the protocol if I can't make it? Thanks

Yes I was one who thought the kibble very small when I first started using it, but now I prefer it that size as the dogs can't eat it as fast. I wouldn't go back to a regular size kibble now :D Black Hawk is an excellent product, probably the best dry food I've ever used for quality, availability and price I also thought it was tiny - we were previously using Royal Canin which is at least 4 x the size. At first it seemed a bit weird to be feeding my 36kg dog such tiny kibble :D But both my dogs (the other 18kg) enjoy it and I haven't had any issues with the size. I actually watched in amazement tonight as the labrador we're dogsitting actually chewed his BH instead of inhaling it! :D . This is a dog that eats chicken wings without chewing!

He's so gorgeous. I just want to cuddle him

With 2 being the minimum age, you will be just eligible to compete. The GSDCV will host the ET at Altona and I believe it is being held on Saturday June 25. Details can be found on their website www.gsdcv.org.au I hope to compete there also with another of my Vizslas. Be sure to come and say 'hello'! M I'm hoping to do the Altona one too- just need to get my bike fixed!! Has anyone here trained their dog on a bike with a trailer behind? I have a 3yo who will travel in the trailer (I think the baby seat will be too difficult with a dog as well). I won't be using it int the test obviously, but will probably need to use it when training.

can you take your own dog along to this, or is it exhibitors only?

*Lurking in thread* He's just gorgeous Huga...I love it that he's a frenchie with a beret on his head! I'd be looking at french names- Claude? Henri? :rolleyes:

Yup, I've been TOLD that my Aussie is a dalmatian x husky. When I've informed them otherwise, I've been told that I'm wrong, there's no such thing as an Australian Shepherd, must be one of those designer breeds. No, the papers are wrong Tell me that crossing a Dalmatian with a Husky would give you something that herds?????

I'm pretty sure Banjo is an Aussie Shepherd. Hope he's back to normal soon.

I have no problem with human names for animals. You have to be comfortable yelling it out in public anyway! When I met my OH, we both had dogs named Kelly. Mine was a boy and his was a girl. Our fourth son now has Kelly as his middle name in their memory .

I think this is a very good idea. Not only will other dogs not be able to get to yours, but he'll probably feel a lot less stressed too. My club actually has a coat that is put on the dog which has in big black letter "I need my space". It's similar to those you see on guide dogs in training. This was implemented after a rather nasty dog fight broke out during training. We are no longer allowed to socialise our dogs during class times.

Loving everone's photos- too many good ones to mention!! Here's my contribution I do not like showers What am I supposed to do with THIS? Over it And one of my neighbours dog... Pat me, I'm so lonely by myself

Hugs to you and your family Gayle. :D Thinking of you

I discovered DOL forums whilst researching for our new pup. I had never trained a dog past "sit" "stay" (meaning whilst I walked inside!) loose leash walking and "down" ie don't jump. This forum opened my eyes to how much more there is to dog ownership than just having a dog as a part of the family. I joined a dog club with our pup and have commenced obedience trialling, and am on the waiting list to join agility, after being inspired by so many on here. I now feed premium quality kibble mixed with BARF, rather than what was on special at the supermarket, and have allowed my dog crazy persona to have free rein!! My OH doesn't understand where it's all come from, but it was lurking there all along. I love DOL. Thanks Troy.

My Aussie is in a rather small suburban backyard and copes fine. Admittedly I'm home most of the time, but when we go out for the day and can't take her she copes fine on her own. No holes dug, nothing torn to shreds etc. She's always been a calm dog when inside, and last week with all the rain in Melbourne, skin kids home on holidays and not wanting to get wet, and my OH working long hours, she only got one walk. No bouncing off walls, she was content to lie on the couch/floor/bed all day. She did make up for it when we went to the park though! No lying still there She does shed a bit more than the average Aussie I think, but after her last coat drop, has barely shed at all.

Just putting this idea out there for people who want to donate but have little money. A friend on Facebook just posted that she'd just donated all the points gained on her fly buys card. This is able to be redeemed in many ways.

This sums me up too. Just substitute Ava for Annie . When we were looking for a new dog, we wanted one similar to our old border collie x kelpie, but with a little less ball craziness. We've found that and more in our Aussie. I love how she is with my kids- they treat her like "one of them" so she's always being cuddled on the couch or playing at the playground with them- going down the slide is her favourite.

My old bc x kelpie injured hers when she was about 6, then proceeded to injure it all the time. I don't know if it was weakened after the first injury, which made it more susceptible to further injury. The nail was weak and used to fray, which would then catch on scrub or even the couch, which would then rip the nail down the centre. We never had it removed, but kept a close eye on the nail and kept it trimmed as short as possible. My Aussie had hers removed by the breeder. We were happy about that when we found out.

Just bought one

Are these Victorian ETs still happening? 16/04/11 WERRIBEE OBEDIENCE DOG CLUB 28/05/11 HUNGARIAN VIZSLA CLUB 05/06/11 MURRAY VALLEY OBEDIENCE DOG CLUB btw Cherry Lake for me! CC See you there... now just need to get over my bike phobia- I managed to dislocate my knee on one a few years back and haven't ridden since. Glad there's one so close to home- can practise on the course!

We have chickens. Unfortunately we've lost two to our dog. She hasn't actually killed any, but has played with them, to the extent that they've not been in good enough shape to recover. Now they just happily co-exist. The number of times I've come home to find my dog and three chickens welcoming me at the back gate increases every day. No, we do not usually leave them unsupervised together, but the chickens are wiley creatures, and keep inventing new ways to get out of their pen. Yesterday one of the kids left the back door open, and I walked into my bedroom to find one had nested on my bed . Annie now gives them a bit of a bump when they've come inside as if to tell them off, but the one we hand-raised thinks it's a dog anyway, and just pecks her back. It sleeps in the kennel whenever it gets a chance!

We've got ours near the bins. Evreytime I put something in them I think "Gosh, what have I put in the bin that stinks so much" and then I remember the fly catcher. It's gross when you forget about them for a bit and the maggots are growing.... I just chuck it over to the chooks and they turn them into eggs for me :D

Easy... Australian Shepherd

Well done Jules on your pass and third place, and congrats to Smoothie Girl on your second place and title! Especially great in that horrible heat. We got our first pass in our very first trial today, so I'm chuffed. Thought we had bombed out, so was pleasantly surprised to find we passed with a score of 85.

Going to be a hot one......