Abbiestar

We are looking at doing Hungarian Vizsla club at Kcc park, can you tell me is there any forms the vet has to fill out??, do I get that from the Secratary We are looking forward to the Challenge the club secretary should mail out to you all the necessary forms. included in this is the vet health check form. This must be completed within the two weeks prior to the test and presented on the day. Good Luck! M

Thank you for clearing that one up Wouldn't that be good - turning up on the wrong day! Which have you entered? M

Hi TrinaJ, welcome to the ET thread. May is the start of the ET season with the first ET being run by the Vizsla Club at KCC Park. The Dalmatian Club will hold one on June 11, the German Shepherd Club on June 25, and East Gippsland on July 5. The good thing about KCC is that it is completely flat. There are no hills to challenge you. The bad thing is, that KCC seems to be in a rain belt area and it can be very very wet. The park actually flooded earlier this year! Best of luck for the test. M

You stop and pick it up straight away. Then you catch up to your place in the line. It is pretty important to make sure you do pick up after your dog. A lot of the ET tests are run on public grounds, so it is imperative to leave them clean, particularly if the host club wants to be allowed back again. Here in Melbourne the general rule is "No pick up - No Pass". Your judge should make all instructions clear at the commencement of the test and if he/she doesn't, then make sure you ask. Best to be sure. When I judge, I require and immediate pick up if possible, and the waste carried back to the starting area where it can be dumped, and then disposed of properly once that leg of the run/cycle has concluded. If it is nor possible, then the entrant must return to the spot and clean up on the next lap. M

Well Done to you and the Diva! The ET should be a breeze now. M

Hi Merrirose. Sorry, I cannot help you with a phone app, but if you go to the following website and click on the "Endurance Test" tab, the whole procedure is mapped out for you. ET I have competed in nine ET's and judged ET's in Victoria and the ACT and I am happy to answer any questions you have. M Sorry, link does not work. Go to www.abbiestar.net and click on Endurance Test tab. Thanks, M

Hi Merrirose. Sorry, I cannot help you with a phone app, but if you go to the following website and click on the "Endurance Test" tab, the whole procedure is mapped out for you. ET I have competed in nine ET's and judged ET's in Victoria and the ACT and I am happy to answer any questions you have. M

Hi All, I have received an invitation to judge the ET at Cherry Lake, Altona (Vic). The host club is the German Shepherd Dog Club of Victoria. The test is open to all breeds. M

Thanks for the info I'll definitely give riding a go holding onto the lead once they are used to it. How do you find breaking, turns etc, whilst holding onto the dog? Hi, I guess with everything we do, this will take a little practice. If the dog is used to heeling for you, then it should also be able to anticipate your needs to halt or turn. Same thing should apply with the bike. Just a case of getting the dog used to it. Keep the lead in your left hand only, and bunch the excess lead into your hand. DO NOT wrap the lead around your hand. M

Hi Zenith, Good luck with your ET training. The walky attachments are great for riding with the dogs, but also get them used to being held by you with a lead. When competing in an ET you can only have a lead or harness. Bike attachments are not allowed. I am in Melbourne, so won't be able to go to Erskine Park. I have been there for a dog show before. The grounds are fairly flat so it should be an easy ride for an ET. M

Hi Ososwift, As an ET judge, it is easier to keep an eye on the entrants (up to 20) if they are closer together. Given the speed they are riding at, it is not too hard to do or control. I instruct my class to pull over to the left if they need to stop and then pass on the right to get back into position when they can. Whilst I do not insist on keeping too close to the entrant in front, I prefer not to have too much distance between entrants so that the whole group is split. Recalls can be done however the entrant is happy. On or off lead, to the end of the lead, or running backwards. My only stipulation is that the recall prior to the test must be conducted exactly the same at the end eg. if first recall is off lead, the second recall must be likewise. M

Hi freundhund, You should have gear levers on both sides of the handlebars. The gear that moves the chain on the big chain ring should remain on the smaller (inner) part of the cog on the chain ring. There really is no need to move it to the the bigger one. You will find that a lot easier for pedalling. The gear that moves the small cogs at the rear of the bike (on the rear wheel) are the ones that you will use more regularly. Use a mid range gear (3 or 4) for general level riding. Smaller gears for uphills (1 and 2), and for control on downhill, use 5 and 6. Play around a little to see which gear's tension you are most happy with. Oh! and it might be a good idea to put the gel seat on before the next ride. Good luck! M With the gears, select a middle range gear

1. Endurance Test (ET) plus heeling routine to Open standard including changes of pace and figure 8, and a retrieve over obstacle 2. Food refusal incorporating an out of sight down stay 3. Temperament test - judge to designate 4. Water retrieve 5. Retrieve across ditch 6. Nosework (4 articles, judges articles, judges scent) 7. Heelwork (signals only) incorporating gun test and down stay 8. Steeplechase, including 700mm jumps, tunnels etc, no bar jumps Eligibility: Open to all German Shepherd Dogs All dogs must be 24 months old and under 7 years of age ---- http://www.animalinfo.com.au/fact_sheets/view/2/8/106 The Montamelia is a 2 day trial consisting of the following exercises. To win, a pass must be achieved in all exercises. 1. Endurance Test (ET) plus heeling routine to Open standard including changes of pace and figure 8, and a retrieve over obstacle 2. Food refusal incorporating an out of sight down stay 3. Temperament test - judge to designate 4. Water retrieve 5. Retrieve across ditch 6. Nosework (4 articles, judges articles, judges scent) 7. Heelwork (signals only) incorporating gun test and down stay 8. Steeplechase, including 700mm jumps, tunnels etc, no bar jumps Eligibility Open to all Dogs All dogs must be 24 months old and under 7 years of age So the VIMS/Montemelia is quite different and I believe it was the German SHpherd people who created it. Sounds really complicated. What does the dog/handler earn after successful completion? I am assuming it is not for an ANKC recognised title? M

Hi, The obedience test has been replaced with a "willingness" test. It is nowhere near trial standard and is purely done for the judge to see/assess that the dog is capable of following instruction and willing to work with you. It can be done on or off lead and is as simple as a short heeling pattern, a couple of turns, a halt, a stand, and a short recall. M

DogsWest states the GSDA is holding one on the 18th June, not sure where though but the K9 news will print it closer to the date. Yep would be nice to know in advance where so we can train there And there's another one on September 3/4 but is this second one reserved for just GSD's? It says Endurance Test (Vims/Montemelia). Generally the host club although breed specific, opens the entries up to all breeds (pure and mixed). Helps to boost entry numbers. M

I think it is run by the German Shepherd Club of WA. May be best to check with that club for details. M

Good for you! Hope you get good use of the new bike and best of luck with the training and the ET. M

Hi freundhund, You are welcome. Happy to share. Stretches are important before and after excercise. Try this one as a starter. Quad Stretch Stand on your left leg. Bend your right leg backwards at the knee. Grab your right ankle with your right hand. Pull up on your right ankle until you feel a comfortable stretch. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat with the other leg. Another is to stand with your feet next to each other, right foot on the left side, left foot on the right. Bend to touch your toes. You will feel the stretch. These will help stop your muscles from seizing. Also means you won't be sore for days after the event! M

Hi, sorry was unaware of your accident. OK, before going for the next ride, make sure you do your stretches! And, when you finish, do them again, and again. You are sore because the muscles seize. By stretching, you are avoiding this happening. As for your back side, it is important that your seat is positioned correctly. Your bike shop can do this for you. A correctly positioned seat will alleviate any unnecessary aches and pains. You may also want to consider getting a gel seat seat cover ( a gel padded seat cover that fits over your existing seat). This will give you added comfort and padding whilst riding. Alternatively, a new saddle will also do this, but they are very pricey. I do a lot of ks on my road bike and like you was very sore and bruised after riding. A new saddle fixed all of these problems. As for the redness and discomfort, it will take a few days. By next weekend you will feel no pain and will be eager to get out on the road again . M

Abbiestar can you tell me why I am getting cramping in my right hand? Any suggestions as to what I can do? It is only when riding the bike. Yes. Take that "death grip" off the brake handle! )) Seriously, try some padded cycling gloves, and don't grip too hard. M

Hi, I am so sorry to hear the news of your husband. Hope that his prognosis is good. Mental attitude means a lot in these circumstances too. My mother has just finished her chemo for her FOURTH bout of cancer. She is determined. You and your husband need to be too. Stay strong. M

Hi, did you get in touch with Ann Clarkson from the Ipswich club? She may be able to send you a map of the course so you could practice at the actual grounds where the ET will be held. Plenty of time yet. Their ET will be held July 31. M

You can get a 'snood' which is an ear holder used by Afghan Hounds. It will look really funny, but will protect his ears whilst you are riding. M

That's really sad. Hope things improve for you. M

M Trust me, I couldn't jog to save myself, so is definitely NOT AN OPTION Jogging is not something I do either To start with, I can't, and secondly it is not such a good look! Cycling I CAN do, and enjoy weekly rides on my roadie of about 50-60ks. M