RallyValley

Well done Ptolomy, DSO and xena98.

What RS said! Welcome Stordimento. Welcome Chance ;) . Sorry to hear about Mason's bad performane Candice. Awesome pictures CC (Still expecting a Brittany puppy photoshoot!) LR sorry to hear about Wandi! The wet/cold/new grasses have set off Toby's allergies and sore leg. I hate winter. RS glad to hear Ruby is doing better and it does not sound too serious with Millie. No new puppy pics yet! But will share as soon as I have them - although they are only little orange and whote slugs atm.

How exciting :D But also nerve wracking. Are you getting a dog or a bitch? :D A fluffy newf baby!!! How adorable! Sorry to hear about your pup Katie P - what breed are you getting?

I guess I should join this thread. Waiting on a Brittany puppy The breeder has a litter but will need to wait till she is 8 weeks (so 6 weeks from now) to tell if she's mine. I have been doing SO much research and planning. Can't wait. Just have to get through uni exams fist.

Here is the first part of 5 of a doco about it on Youtube It's a BBC doc for the general public, not too much into the chemicals/mechanisms of it.

Thanks SSM! Yes I really got my geek on reading all about it! Might email one of my professors later and ask (she had written papers on canine genetics and has a passion for epigenetics so should know of any )

Epigenetics is a layer on top of the DNA that is only found in mammals, it's markers along the nuclear DNA that switch genes on or off. They are a relatively recent discovery and the most interesting thing is that your epigenetics are changed by events in your life and are passed on to your children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren ect. They have found links between grandparents who lived through famine and grandchildren with diabetes. Also Angelmans and Prader Willi syndromes are the same mutation, very different diseases, which one you get is from the epigenetic imprint you get from your parents. I have not heard of eplilepsy being linked to epigenetics but it is possibly, is this what you mean?

Your dog is on leash during the stay in Rally O. But of course things like seekback ect would be distracting for both dogs, unlike Rally when it is all one heel routine and the dogs are positioned away from one another. I wouldn't care if they abolished them, it would make me much more keen to enter CCD! Maybe they can introduce a longer stay before the recall and/or sit and down for exam to instead of a group stay?

Go Lara But luck Ptolomy, I am all for abolishing group stays altogther and bringing in a Rally-O style your dog must do a stay in a strategic place in the ring while the next dog does thier round.

A bit of a boring week, it's hard to take photos when you can't see down the lens due to stolen glasses! Hope to get new ones soon. Taking photos at the moment is a bit uninspiring!

Just studying for my exams and it got me thinking, is there any studies of epigenetics in dogs? Just fascinating stuff! has to be my fav subject, can't wait to look at it further in later years! For anyone curious google 'Ghost in your Genes' a free documentary on you-tube that explains it much better then I could.

Yay(ish) RS! I heard there was a mini tornado in Canning Vale... any DOLers hit?

Yes goodluck!

CC you cheeky thing I have until the end of next week and then I am semi-free Only 3 exams to go! Poor Toby is a bit bored... He keeps coming up to me and dropping toys on my uni books, now they all have lovely Toby marks

Best of luck Ness

I wish. Scietists don't earn too much... even mad ones ;) (Unless you invent something really evil and hold the world ransom for a trillion dollars or something - or patent something that turns out to be really important) Thanks for the well wishes lab rat... Hoping everyones sore dogs are well soon!

I have never not bonded with a dog I owned, which made it super hard when I had to rehome a dog I owned. My parents didn't bond with Toby straight away (I did, I think it was my maternal instincts - probably my only ones - who sees a pup covered in fleas with a big worm bloat and all ribby and NOT feel protective/so much sympathy!) but I did. As his little personality came out to shine they bonded with him - especially breaking his leg at 9 weeks - nothing shows a bond more then almost losing the pup. However there are dogs I have spent time with/ in my extended family where I think - I like you but I don't know if I could love you. My brothers stafford is very much like this for me. She is such a terrier, always off hunting for things, never checks in with the family - unless you are in her house then she is climbing into your lap for cuddles. ;) But I just think OMG that would drive me insane and make bonding so hard! I am no idiot - I know if I got a dog that was not intelligent and biddable I would not bond as much, so I will never set myself up for that deliberately.

My excuse for this week (and next week, but not the week after, but then the two weeks after that ) is Uni. They have to keep giving us tests and the little part insane bit of me stresses and studies too much. I got 90% in my Mol Gen test today and all I could be was annoyed I didn't get the other 10% . Anyway as you can see what strange one I am and I have a huge Chem test next Tuesday and practical exams Weds, Thurs and then a week off, then exams . Plus in between that I have to fit in all the other crap. Next semester should be better as I am not doing as many units at uni. I am still training Toby (I will make you a front video on Thursday!) and I had the behaviourist out today and go to remedial socialization classes too every second week. Don't you hate it when life gets in the way of the fun stuff? CC - Eurovision wasn't as fun this year The Fri and Sat I had to dash off to work during/just after the show and Sunday a bad country won Plus I felt guilty the whole time that I wasn't studying. ETA - If anyone needs to contact me for the next few weeks I won't be on DOL too much but just email or PM me and I will see it because my phone gets emails.

James is quite indifferent to Toby, so it's not really a big deal for either of them. I think Toby likes to have another dog in the house though, even if they don't really play, although Toby tries It's very cute. I'm enjoying what it is teaching Toby.

Nawww James is so cute. But at him not wanting to always eat them! He isn't even that interested in his dinner He is such a big cuddler though.

Thanks for the feedback and advice everyone! Ptolomy I will try get a video side on of fronts for you soon. Did a session a little earlier and did only hand actions and verbals for the finishes, no moving my body and I am pleased to report not only did he do what I asked but he also did it better and quicker then when I 'lure' him, which watching back on the video is basically what I was doing Thanks Ptolomy! Caffy took your advice on board and had a chance to use it this morning, he did a way crooked front (halfway between heel position and front) so I just said 'Oops' ran back and called him to front again, he got it straight so jackpot! That's what you meant right? Tassie James is normally too busy off sniffing to come 'help' but just happened to walk in as we were filming. The other day though I was doing phonebook work with Toby and every time I clicked Toby I gave James a treat too, even though he didn't always want to eat them Sue&Cindy yay for you guys and the dumbell! One thing I don't think I will have to teach Toby ;)

Here is a clip of me and Toby doing some work. My handling/training skills look pretty poor here (LOTS of things for me to work on!) BUT his front's look closer on video then they seem in real life so I might have my strandards too high (the times he does come to front ) and his rear end awareness stuff is looking ok. ETA - has my embarrasing music in the background, camera people in my family tend to want to do commentary too!

*Prefix* Dawn Lily ? It's pretty. Or what about Lily Of The Dawn? I dunno, I suck at names. Although, I am hoping I can pick my next one and if so, I have one already picked out :D Hey RV, what about Prefix Dance Til Dawn? I like that for myself, but a bit poofy for a boy dog Will add it to the list

Ptolomy Strauss is looking great! And he can still your showdog/stud dog ... he just comes with some bonus extras!