Tumbleweed

Hi all, I thought I'd share this. It has certainly helped me when I fall into the bad habit of comparing my achievements with others that are more advanced. Podcast #6 "Our goals all serve the same purpose" by Daisy Peel here http://www.daisypeel.com/podcast-archive In around 5 minutes Daisy eloquently states how our goals are all the same - regardless of if you are a raw novice or competing at an international elite level.

Lollipup - they are some awesome goals :-) I can't help with many, but can help with your first coment - here are two sites that describe some of the titles available. There are over 200 avilable for a range of disciplines including showing/conformation, obedience, agility, dancing with dogs, herding, tracking, field trials, retrieving, endurance test etc (none for sledding in Aus yet though). http://northernsuburbsdogclub.org/NSDC_&_ANKC_titles_and_certificates.htm http://www.actcdc.org.au/training/titles.html One sport that these sites miss is the Rally Obedience titles. RallyO is a new sport that started in Aus in 2012 and is heaps of fun. If you have ever considered trialling look into RallyO as it is (IMHO) a great place to start - less pressure and you can talk and pat your dogs on course. Titles are: RN - Rally Novice, RA - Rally Advanced, RE - Rally Excellent and RAE - Rally Advanced Excellent.

Great question Esky. I'm afraid I can't help, but will be watching with interest. We started racing as a 2 dog team last year, but my 6 year old Sibe really didn't cope well with the longer distances (we were Novices in 2011) due to lack of fitness, and she ended a couple of races not liking racing much :-( . This year I plan to do ALOT more fitness work and bring back the 'joy' in racing for her. Although with temperatures in the 30s/40s this week I think training is many months away. My only suggestion would be to maybe mix it up a little more - do some beach training (if your location allows it) where the dogs drag a tyre on the sand, or maybe some bike riding with a springer/Walky dog attachment, where you keep a slower pace than racing but for longer to improve cardio fitness. If your dogs are reliable off lead (my Sibe isn't!) also try free-running at the beach or at a large dog park. There are a few people in sledding that swear by this for increasing and maintaining fitness - particularly over summer.

I'm super pleased to report I can cross the RN titles off the 2013 goal list as Kyte and Zazu managed to both achieve theirs on Friday night :-D And we are one step closer to Zazu's CCD title after her 2nd quallie with 95/100 and 2nd place. So proud of my girls.

Great to read everyones goals - will be following closely to see how far we all get. Mine are as follows.... Zazu - CCD title and RN title (although I hoping we might manage the latter this weekend....). I would like to see her attention on me continue to improve at trials. I've seen glimpses of it, I am working on seeing it all the time now. Kyte - CCD title, RN title (same as Zazu...might happen this weekend) maybe RA title and JD and AD titles. Far more importantly I would like to see her less overwhelmed and much happier in the ring (although that could also be related to my next point.....) Me - continue working on my ring nerves, and learn to play more with my fur girls between exercises. I also would love to really improve my agility handling skills. Guess we will see how we go given we are so far from most trials. Should be fun trying no matter how many titles we do/don't get :D

Hmm, they refer to them on their tunnel page but they don't seem to have them listed to buy. This is the reference for them on clean run is http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=516&ParentCat=628

The only thing that is a silly question - is NOT asking! Asking questions is the only way we learn :) I totally agree with Zug Zug and Megan on this one - building confidence is really important and most dogs end up in LOVE with tunnels. If you use a collapsible tunnel (chute) you basically use the same process Zug Zug described, except hold the chute fabric up for the first few runs, then slowly let it touch the dog's back on the way out, then finally allow the dog to push through it. I did this recently with my young agility dog and within 10 minutes was really comfortable with it. Was worth doing it slowly for 10 minutes to create confidence instead of risking a dog being scared and then re-training. In regard to securing your tunnel - there are two options. 1) Tunnel bags (as descirbed you can make them or buy them) or 2) tunnel snugglers (I got mine from airdogs.com.au) which you secure with tent pegs. I love the tunnel bags but the snugglers take up less room so choose what suits you best. Good luck!

Thanks Tiggy.

This DVD is pretty great as well Foundation Fundamentals by Mary Ellen Barry http://www.agilityclick.com/prod51.htm

Fingers and toes crossed for Toby RV. Tiggy/OSS - I would also be interested to know which pet insurance company that is as snakes is the main reason we are insured. Zazu has already killed two in her 6.5 years of life...Luckily not bitten either time. One of the Bunbury crew had their dog bitten by a Tiger Snake last week in the sand dunes of Dalyellup beach - 4 vials of antivenom later, he pulled through. Very lucky boy.

Whitka - do you play sport? I've moved around many country towns and certainly find that playing sport really helps when settling in to a new place. It means you meet a few people and start to get your face out and about into the community. If you have other hobbies such as crafts etc there are often groups for that as well. It can be really scary turning up the first time and not knowing anyone but is well worth the effort in my experience. Good luck!

I lived in Tas for a few years and your list is a pretty good one! I loved Port Arthur - amazing site. The Devils Kitchen is a bit of coast close to Port Arthur that is worth a look for its steep cliffs etc. Actually that whole area is pretty great. Mt Wellington is definately worth a trip too. Cradle Mountain is another good one, if you have the time. Mt Field and Russell Falls are lovely too. I haven't been back since MONA was opened but I hear nothing but great things about it. Salamanca markets and the Salamanca area is a lovely place for a lazy afternoon stroll. Some great icecream available on the docks and some nice arty furniture and woodwork shops to wander through.

Maybe Feb OSS? Would also be great to meet you and your fur boys!

I'm not sure - the way Kyte is knocking bars at the moment the Jumping is pretty frustrating too! :laugh: The worst bit is that my other girl clears everything beautifully with stacks of room to spare....but just can't be trusted off lead, particularly when running :-(

Great! At this stage I'll only be there on Sat for jumping and obedience. Kyte hasn't learnt to weave yet so just jumping for us at the moment. I will look out for you. Hopefully Albany turns on some nice (but not too hot) weather for us.

I will be at Albany too Amypie (agility with Kyte the Aussie, and obedience with Zazu the Sibe). Will have to make sure we say hello - would be great to put a few faces to DOL names!

Oh yay - I love the cuz toys and so do my fur girls. The only ones that aren't fans are probably the neighbours! (the large ones are VERY loud). They last really well and are great value. I second what RS said about the Arachnoid ball though - although the dogs loved it, it didn't last at all. Might have to try a crackle cuz though if there is free shipping. LOVE the fact CleanRun even does free shipping :-)

Great thread CC- will be watching this with interest to see the responses. I really enjoyed the article too. I guess when I think on it, I've been quilty of using another trainer as a distraction...although never a dog tethered/crated/in a car and certainly not close enough to distract the other trainer or their dog. If their dog appears distracted I move away. But it is something I will think about more in the future!

Pet hair rollers are the best invention ever for getting dog hair off clothes :). You can buy them in most supermarkets in the section stocking sewing supplies, coathangers etc (and in some pet shops too, but they normally charge more). Cost around $10 and come with a roller with a sticky tape like sheet. You simply roll it over your clothes and it picks up dog fur. When it isn't sticky any more, peel off a layer and start again. When all the layers are used up, you can keep the roller and buy refill sheets. I have them everywhere - in the car, in the house and at work. As an owner of a white Siberian Husky, with a dark work uniform - they are a necessity!

Hi Whitka, I'm in WA too and started the NDTF course this year - had my first block training in Melbourne in Sept. All your assessments are either done via DVD (and they give you the guidelines for these so you know what you have to include in the DVD, how they want it shot and sent etc) or at block 2. I'm not a fan of all the training methods presented in the course, and in my experience the trainers teaching at block training do vary in quality. But saying that I have learnt new things, got some experience working with dogs of different breeds/sizes, made some great contacts and will be a better trainer for the experience. If you want to ask any questions re: places to stay in Melbourne etc please feel free to PM me. Good luck!

I just heard back...superfast reply! They said: "Thank you for contacting Well Pet AU. The Grain Free Recipes have only just been launched in the US. At this stage, there is no definite date for launch in Australia. I can keep your details on file, if you like, so that when the Grain Free Recipes do become available I can let you know? I look forward to hearing from you."

I have just emailed Holistic Select to find out. I already feed the fish one, and I think a grain free version would be fantastic. Will let you know what they say when they reply...

Yup, that was Kyte. I'm pretty easy to pick being the incredibly short one that I am (only just over 5'). I met a few new people that I have talked to on DOL and FB but must have missed you Amypie. I must say hello next time! So many new faces and names to remember...

Great work Emery! We had a nice weekend too - a pass each for Zazu and Kyte in Rally Novice (2nd for both of them). Zazu worked as well as I've ever seen her in the ring with 91/100 and 6th place out of 30 entries. So happy with my beautiful Sibe girl! And I'm now a further believer that Rally is a great intro to obedience particularly for 'non traditional' breeds. Kyte....well I can't believe we actually qualified (we came last out of the qualifying dogs with 73/100). I don't think we showed much team work out there at all! But it was hot, and a long way to Perth so maybe that was part of it. So back to training with her to try and work on making heeling far more exiting (I think I bore her ). However, Kyte did beautifully on Sunday at her first ever agility trial in Novice Jumping. I have wanted to compete in agility for around 6 years so was incredibly excited and nervous that it was finally happening! Was really happy with our run - knocked 2 bars, and missed the tyre completely, but that isn't suprising considering that we haven't done a full height tyre since we moved about 3 months ago as mine isn't usable yet. Also met a stack of new people which were all lovely and encouraging. Great to see people being so nice to a new face :) Now back to the calender to work out when we can come up and play again!

Brilliant - I will try that slice (with sardines, my Sibe really isn't a fan of liver...strange dog). Do you use the sausage mince designed for using in sausage rolls?