Casima

If she were my dog, I would be moving myself and the dog away from the class, as far as I needed to go that she could behave well (maybe a few meters, maybe 100 meters, depending on what the dog needed) practise lots of good work there with plenty of rewards, and slowly (maybe over a number of classes or more, as long as it takes) move closer until we are back in to join the class. If at any point the dog is distracted again simply move away a bit until you get good work. I've used it with 2 of my own dogs and wish I had of for the 1st as it was very effective, doesn't disrupt the class and doesn't spoil your relationship with your dog or her joy of working with you.

That is very sad, I attended the ob club there for a short time years ago, it is a nice leash free area!

Anna the Border collie was adopted from the pound at 1 year old, I took her to a creek my dogs swim in and she followed them in, the expression on her face when she discovered she couldn't run on water was priceless! but she quickly discovered she can swim and has been a keen swimmer ever since! Although she or any of my dogs wont swim at the beach, only paddle, they arn't too keen on the waves, they might if I went in with them tho, will have to try it oneday.

I've noticed that as my dog training abilities have improved with each dog I've trained, when I go back to train one of the older dogs for something I always get a shock at how much slower they are to pick things up because they just don't have the same good foundation as the younger ones. It always makes me feel bad that I wasn't a good trainer for them but thankful for what they have all taught me along the way.

My Raffy (pound dog) took awhile to get his confidence, especially around other dogs, but when he did, he came good really fast and has been great ever since It's really great reading your stories, they give me hope for my BC girl Anna (another pound dog) She stresses lots, many things worry her (quite a bit better since I started her on Troy Behave) she hates the heat, she hates the rain, she hates the wind, she noticibly flattens when you take her to the marshalling area at agility and she only gives me about 50% effort on course. She is very hard to motivate and I've tried lots of things to help her, she is gradually improving on average, occasionally she is pretty good which gives me hope, and then there are times like last weekend where she is terrible and I get thinking maybe I should just give up and retire her. Although watching the video recording of her, a run which felt really terrible to me at the time, is much better than our old level of really terrible, a year ago I would have been estatic if she had run like this. Anna will be 4 in January, maybe another year and she will find her inner BC too

Love the surface! kinda like the hard wet sand at the beach only it stuck together even better, and unlike our grass where there were often little holes to worry about tripping in, it was nice and flat. Dogs loved it too, I found mine took a run or so to get used to it and we had a bar in both their first runs, but otherwise great

I've had 2 boys (GSD and BSDx)and 1 girl (BC) so far, and also spent some time living with my brothers female malamute and mum's 2 male corgi's all desexed. Also 1 male BC puppy arriving here very soon! I generally perfer boys although would get either again, they are more easy going and forgiving if I mess up in training and very loveable, they are my boys! 1 is very cuddly when I want but not needy the other doesn't like pats at all but maybe due to his upbringing. Only 1 of them really marks much and rarely on themselves. My girl, is very sweet and cuddly but very very needy, not bitchy at all ever but takes life way more seriously than my boys, shes not forgiving at all in training if I mess up either. She also manages to always get pee on at least 1 foot everytime she goes, bleh! but I love her dearly and if I'm allowed to have a favorite dog, she is it. I think for the different breeds I like I would have different gender peferences, and each has their own good points. Gotta love dogs

Ooops forgot to post back here. We had a great time at the grand prix and my dogs did some lovely runs had great company, love the venue and the really cool weather too! Sheena I saw you, but wasn't sure if it was you or not and chickened out of asking 2 very sweet looking BC's you have Agility Dogs, I saw you but didn't get a chance to say hi, did see Xena do some lovely runs tho! Love the videos everyone! My Raffy is in Tailwag's weaving video, the big black hairy thing after Tully and before littler black and hairy Dash. Can't wait for next year!!

My Raffy was like that, agility really helped him get confidence and hes great now! not clingy at all anymore (but still very cuddly) they do like to feel clever

Carrots have always been popular here, amuses them for awhile

My puppy comes home in 1 week (9 weeks old) and I intend to take him out and about for lots of socialisation from the start, I will try to avoid higher risk areas when possible until after his 2nd vacc tho and wont overdo the actual excercise. He will get to attend 2 agility trials the first weekend hes home, and 2 more the following weekend! and lots of trips to cafe's/schools/sports/shops/churchs/train station and whatever else I can think of after having 3 rescue dogs it will be so nice to have a well socialised dog!

He is amazing, I've only seen him from afar but he always catches my eye

I will be there too, first nationals for me as well! can't wait

ROFL! thanks for shareing!

I haven't insured any of my dogs so far, but thinking insureing my puppy when he comes home for the first year or so and see how he goes.

Hi Sheena, unless they changed it, you can apply for a title over a multi day trial, even at the grand prix, go to the website, print the form and bring all your quallie cards with you, and a cheque or something and they should be able to move you up. Even if you are running in the same things, you still want to do this, as until you apply, any new quallies you get towards your next title wont count I believe. Can't wait! see you all there!

Don't know of anyone who does that sorta thing around here either. Hope she finds some help

Hi folks! I will be there running Raffy int Maxi and Anna int Midi can't wait! Hi Tony, didn't realise you were on DoL, Raffy was in the Team with Xena at the nationals

I do Agility with all mine, my new pup is going to do it too. I also hope to do herding with him too, will be my first time seriously doing 2 sports at once, now sure how I will fit it in... am sure the dogs will be fine with it tho

This is probably not your problem, but just incase here is my experience. My GSD (also desexed boy) has a problem that if his bladder gets overfull he can't pee, and just kinda drips/dribbles for awhile until hes lost enough he can pee normally again, when it gets to that overfull point it will drip if hes inside or out actually trying to pee, and he is rather uncomfey. It only ever happens if he drinks alot more than normal and then is inside or in the car for awhile so he doesn't get a chance to pee until his badder is too full, happened a few times after a trip to the beach where he drank a bunch of sea water and then that made him thirsty and he drank more, and more normal water too etc and then had a long car drive home. Went to the vet about it and they said there was some drugs he could have, but best to just not let him drink so much, so now I watch him like a hawk at the beach and don't let him drink and offer him fresh water lots instead and we haven't had a problem since.

Thanks yes just trying to look forward to the next email of photos/info instead of worring about the time till (s)he comes home. I am getting a Border Collie can't wait! good luck to everyone else waiting for their puppies! I hope it goes quickly for you all exciting times! I feel like a kid on christmas eve

Don't forget the other kinds of Belgians ;) quite a few nice Gronies and Terv's here I've seen Can also add Pembroke Corgi's to the list, great little dogs so long as you keep them fit and lean

Puppies!!! I'm so puppy clucky but I've sworn that I have to wait until Zee is at least 4, I'll live through you for a while to tide me over. Hi Jess! how have you and the dogs been? there will be plenty of puppy pics/stories I promise! my first ever puppy so I am extra excited

Me too Yes me too

My puppy is 1 week old, this is my first time not getting a rescue dog so have never had to go through this before... how on earth does everyone cope with the wait till they come home? time is going so slowly and I am sooo excited!