RallyValley

AOK. Best to buy working lines, natural instinct, better drive, memory etc. The dam I am looking at has multiple dual ch's in the 5 gen pedigree And a full brother to the dam is in the field and doing really well. Unfortunately with a small breed, a small genepool and a dog that I can show too I don't think I will be able to get a pup with field trialling dam/sire. There are a lot more rough hunters around in Brittanys than triallers in Australia (ie people who go hunting with the dog but never near a trial) That's good to know! I knew of a couple of dogs that were rough hunters (one I mentioned above). Maybe I should clarify for the people with other breeds that in Brittany's there isn't really working vs show I believe it's more just chatting to people and finding out about the dogs like helen mentioned above and looking at pedigrees to get the best potential - as well as talking to expirenced breeders!

AOK. Best to buy working lines, natural instinct, better drive, memory etc. The dam I am looking at has multiple dual ch's in the 5 gen pedigree And a full brother to the dam is in the field and doing really well. Unfortunately with a small breed, a small genepool and a dog that I can show too I don't think I will be able to get a pup with field trialling dam/sire.

he has come a long way from when he was sore everyday. How did you get on with your ear? It still looks stupid but the antihistamines have kicked in! I did this for Deb but thought I would share: (ETA - it shows the progress of Toby's foot!)

Well done Beans!!! Today Toby only got a half treatment from Deb and won't be going back till May!! AND he had a behaviourist session in which he went awesome.

Oh no!! Have u tried a bit of cortisone cream?? I put some on masons ear flaps and it helps him heaps, i know u cant put it down your ear canal tho lol. We don't have any cortisone cream. I am sure the doc tomorrow will perscribe some if it will help. Urgh the consequences of outdoor exercise! :p

I won't be coming either it now seems! I am dosed up on two types of antihistamines so a bot out of it because the swelling is getting worse and the top of the ear canal is swollen! I am off to the doc tomorrow so hopefully all better then

No problem Ptolomy! It was a pleasure. We are hoping to add Ch. Strauss Mouse next right? :D

Good work Sally and Kenz! :D Score and video?

Thanks for the Birthday wishes everyone! When I was out walking Toby this morning I could hear something buzzing in my hair and I called out to my mum to come over and check it out, she was like 'ok it's a bee I will just flick it out' ONLY.. she flicked it into my ear! So I started screaming like I haven't since I was 10 and a a Five (the boy band) concert and mum's trying to get this bee out of my ear with a stick and it's sooooooooooooo loud and then it stung me and she got it out.... back into my hair! So I am shaking around trying to get this bee out and mum is trying to help but laughing too much, I finally got it out, mum pulled the sting out and we start heading for home because of course I am allergic and need an antihistamine and then I am like 'Wait a sec, I can't see' and realised I have flicked my glasses off! So we go back and after 5 mins find them! Whew...! So I just woke up from a Polaramine induced nap :D

Just looked at DOL listings - only two breeders listed neither had a website so I assume you are not talking about these breeders. Maybe contact these? Also in WA all dogs must be registered however sadly it is nit a rule that the breeder has to give you a copy of the papers. I would avoid a breeder who charges more for papers because if the pup us registered it is not costing them to give you the papers.

A WA DOLer got there Blue Heeler from a BYBand has had pretty bad temperament issues with her. I would be very careful with this breed as temperament can be an issue. There are no ACD/BH actively showing in WA (by that I mean often, I think there are a few that go to major shows) and I don't think there are many ANKC registered breeders in the state.

Poor Mason.

My understanding of this is that poodles are unsuited for guide dog work as they are often highly strung and need far more mental stimulation than labs do. That's the case with most poodles I've had anything to do with anyway, labs are unruly when young but settle well into this role with age. Someone with more poodle experience surely would be able to clarify if this is the case though but I would assume there was a signficantly good reason for the cross being attempted in the first place as if it were that simple it would have been done well before now. I know poodle fan has posted pics before of a poodle in the role of a guide dog but since this is the exception rather than the rule obviously there is a significant barrier to the breeds suitability for this particular job, both are retrieving breeds but that's about where the simialrity ends. Thanks for your response. I would have thought that thousands and thousands of Poodles would be UNsuitable sure, but maybe the odd couple from certain lines would be ok to be trained as guide dogs? Just like Labs, I've met so many that could never perform in such a role, but then the ones you see that do are simply amazing Like any breed, certain individuals are better suited to perform the role for which they were bred. Maybe with careful and selective breeding (as is done with Labs) then some Poodles could be deemed suitable? Or maybe I'm just talking cr@p, I really don't know, just throwing out the idea! NZ Poodle Guidedogs http://thepoodleanddogblog.typepad.com/the...-seriously.html US lady who training a Poodle guidedog http://aidachristine.blogspot.com/2010/03/...-new-trick.html This is just from the first page of Google, sure there are 100's more out there!

It is easy to keep throwing retrieves, until the dog is nearly exhausted. With a less than ideal reward history some dogs, normally pups or youngsters, stop retrieving, thereby devaluing the retrieve/reward. "Keep em keen, watch especially the youngsters, finish on a good note, and the dogs begging for more". Some pups are slower to mature, physically and mentally. Some trainers have throwers too far away..making the retrieves difficult. Some trainers have the throwers toss in high cover..making the retrieves difficult for pups. Some trainers throw too flat. Some trainers have throwers toss article too high. Some trainers ...........etc etc etc. Have I helped?????? Yes Be prepared... I will hate lots of questions closer to getting the pup.

I was at a trial as a spectator last year and plan to see a retrieveing and field trial this year The field trial will be very interesting because I think I am heading more down a field trial path then a retrieveing trial path.

I work Sundays and I only have a Kelpie Just in this thread getting info for my future dog.

Sounds like there is more to this story. I think your dog does need training if he is biting kids. I don't think you should rehome a dog that is biting kids, I think you need to pay a good behaviourist to come out and work with you and accept responsibility for your dog.

Ok so here is my shoot from this morning; This one is ball and branch. Branch ball and fork (in the branch). That pic of Lottie! ETA and that second pic is balance also! (Me balancing the ball there)

I was planning to take a photo for the March challenge on DOL and only this morning everything lined up for me - the lazy dog out of bed, the right light and the camera battery charged. So this wasn't exactly what I planned but you gotta love the dawn light. There are a couple more outtakes in the March Challenge thread.

Switch on Oprah for some tips! They are having an episode about curbing cravings.

Have a look at this link: http://www.offa.org/hd_prelims.html If you are attached to the pup of want a definate answer before you become too attached this may be an avenue you could pursue. ETA "For normal hip conformations, the reliability was 89.6% at 3-6 months" This means that if you score the pup between 3 and 6 months and it comes out non-dsyplatic almost 90% of dogs are still non dsyplatic at two years.

Maybe check on the Gun Dog Club facebook page? I don't think we have any DOLers on the comittie anymore.

Yes I did think it sounded a bit simpler then out Oz rules In retrieveing talk... I have read two schools of thoughts with pups training. One is that bumper play/retrieves should be limited and another is that you build so much desire they can be used as a reward. Discuss

Thats right FHRP I was refering to a 'Pointing Breeds Field Trial' An example of a 'Field Trial' class as explained from the American Brittany Club's info (these are usually run on horseback), in Australia Brittany's compete in a 'Utility Gundog Field Trial' which is quite similar but involves two retrieves :

It looks like a beautiful Brittany and the injured boy was an English Setter. Poor dogs. Has anyone else noticed how many purebred dogs there are in Japan!