Abbiestar

Doesn't feel slow when doing it on a treadmill!!! No way I could run it I haven't done much training, quite busy during the week with other training but I really do need to get their fitness levels up! The longest I've been out with them is about 15-20 mins at a steady pace, but probably not at the 10km/hr mark (need that bike monitor thing still or else I will never know how fast we're going!) Haven't done anything to treat their paws. I would not advise or consider jogging the course unless you are an athlete, or happen to be able to drag one along to do this for you Cycling is a much kinder option. It is (honestly) not too hard to do. M

This is true. The speed can vary up or down depending on conditions at the ground. The group may slow or halt due to the public being present, or slow on a hill and pick up pace on a downhill run. The judge may order the group, or part of the group, to speed up to catch the rest of the group if there is too much distance between competitors, and likewise may order a slow down to give more space between competitors. Be prepared for any and all weather conditions too. Especially in Melbourne. Four seasons in one day! M

The Shepherd club is a big club. They usually have a large entry and do hold a ballot. was balloted out one year, but contacted the secretary to ask to be kept in mind if someone else cancelled. They did and I got in. They only run the one class of 20 with one judge. Have attended other ET's with two classes and two judges which also worked well. Re: pad care, best to condition the dogs pads so he/she is capable of doing the test. The judge and vet will not hesitate to disqualify the dog if the pads are damaged or at risk of causing distress to the dog. M

Hi, the whole test takes approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes. This includes the rest breaks. The test is not too hard for a fit dog. It is rare for a dog to fail. 10kmh is a slow jog, roughly the same as a show ring gait. Definitely recommend you train up yourself for the 20k run. Cycling is much easier. 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. Hi, if your dog is not used to the trailer, get him used to it by walking him first along with the bike and trailer. This will familiarise the noise and movement of the bike and trailer to him so it is not so foreign when you start riding. Try very short distances at first, say to the end of your street and back, and then expand on that once the dog is used to it. Practice also (same method) without the trailer so that is also familiar to the dog for the actual test. M

Hi, Best you enter the ET at Ipswich. That is the closest to Brisbane. The trial secretary is Ann Clarkson. Her number is 07 5426 8774. M

Hi Flick Mac, Welcome to the ET thread. Please have a good read through our previous pages. Lots of good advice and comment there. As far as I know, there is an ET in Ipswich on July 31, and also one held in FNQ (not sure whereabouts you are). If you let me know which ET you would like to compete at, I can find out the details. M

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

Hi, I hope to do that ET with the GSDCV. I have done Altona five times before. It is in a public space, but the people using the paths were always compliant and respectful of the event and competitors. At no time did I ever experience or witness any issue with the public. It is a safe, well managed course which is mostly flat. KCC Park has no issues with the public. I have competed and judged at this venue again without incident. It is completely flat. Only problem can be the grounds if wet. It is in a bit of a rain belt and the grounds can and have flooded quite badly in the past. The GSDCV use Altona as their ET course. M

M Thanks for the tips So far we've ridden on the road, footpaths and grass, but when I get time I will take them down to our K9 grounds as the carparks are gravel and safe to train on when it isn't a training or trialling night, so very little cars passing through. Need a padded bike seat though, two short bike rides and I can feel bruising already I haven't looked up where the Perth ones are held, so wherever they are here. If I can get the training done, I plan on entering the 2 that are being held, one with each dog. Don't discount the cycling knicks (padded lycra shorts). There was a long discussion on these in this forum some time back. Well worth it. Keep the training up. Looking forward to hearing of your successes later in the year. M

Hi RubyStar, As a judge, I am aware that the dogs are unsettled and excited when the test commences. I give a lot of leeway in the first few laps as the dogs pull ahead and need some minor corrections to bring them in line. Generally I do not need to warn competitors about their dogs as they settle down themselves. I have never had to disqualify any competitor either. Put the work in now, and the ET will be a breeze. Ideally, the dog should gait alongside you (not pulling ahead and not lagging behind). With the training work done beforehand, they will do this and you will get the ET title for the dog. Keep up the good work. Short rides as you are doing is the perfect way to introduce the dog to what you require. Build the ride up in distance and remember to get the dog used to doing this alongside you over three different surfaces (bitumen, gravel, grass). The ET is broken up into 8ks, 6ks, and 6 ks again with rest breaks in between. You do not have to train the dog to do 20ks in one whole training session. If you need/want any advice, please ask. Which ET do you think you will enter? M

Good luck at Sale. They have a great course around the lake. Rug up with layers of clothes though. To start off it is VERY cold. M It wasn't too bad when I did the ET with Benson in 09, but I believe the year before was freezing. 09 was damp, but the drizzle stopped just after the ET got underway and didn't start again until just after the presentations. I had been warned to take gloves and a warm hat as well as a thick jacket but I didn't need them. I judged the ET in Canberra last year and it became very cold and wet very quickly. It started as a bright sunny morning, but it did change. We were lucky though, no sooner had the test finished and presentations done, the heavens opened up with rain that would have made Noah build his Ark!!! I had to leave the ET shortly after presentations to get my flight back to Melbourne. Got soaked to the skin just running from the car rental depot into the airport terminal. Thank goodness for the Qantas club and a nice hot shower and clean dry clothes! M

You will love the Canberra ET. Very safe away from all traffic. It is run by a great bunch of people. Good luck with the Aldi sale! M

Good luck at Sale. They have a great course around the lake. Rug up with layers of clothes though. To start off it is VERY cold. M

You could try Mornington Obedience Dog Club. They train Saturdays starting around 11.30am, with afternoon classes as well. M

They aren't pulling on the lead so there's no pressure, just keeping as much distance as they comfortably can (at least at the moment). Thanks for that! Oh and thanks for the cycle computer tip, I'm such a cycling noob Edit: any idea where I can get a cheap one online that will just "do the job"? I don't want nor need anything fancy Best you go to a good bike shop so they can show you the features, how it works, and set it up for you. You should not need to pay more than $50.00 for a good computer. I have a $49.00 Cateye Velo on my $$$$$ carbon road bike (not used for ET's ) and it does everything I need it to. M

Do you know who is judging? M

Nice wheels! M

So what did you get???? M

Gee that took a long time to arrive. Enjoy it. Be careful in the wet. M

Yep Toby is the one who was frightened of bikes! He will be going again this evening and went for a 2km walk this morning. He is still a little iffy around bikes but has come pretty far! Well done. He is coming along well. Little by little he will get there. Try walking the bike with him to get him used to it. M

I always think a good training venue is at the place where the ET is to be held. If you can get used to the area and grounds with the dog, it will be much more familiar to the dog especially. Will you go to NSW or Canberra? M

well we got the springer working fine. And we tested it out just going uo the street and back and its working really well we booted Digby up and that worked perfectly; no damage at all to his toe. couple of photos Digby looks like he is really enjoying this! M

My bike is a mountain bike- 6 gears I think (but they seem to be broken and I can only ride in gear 3 without the gears changing themselves)- would be fine for ET but now I've been bitten by the bike riding bug and have some friends to ride with on new bike trail-20-40kms hills lol I need (and Want ) a new bike That is different then. You actually NEED a new bike! M

How many gears does your bike have? Most ET's are on level ground. Unless, you really WANT a new bike ;) M