ness

Yeah Reddii - there isn't a lot I can do about it. I did get her back to 16.8 kg but she was perpetually hungry (in her younger days I got her as low as 14). Before we got the pup she was hardly eating anything and I couldn't get her to move from around 17kg so I am just resigned to the fact she is going to stay that way. I certainly don't not exercise her adequately and she still barely eats anything. Lots of veggies and still she doesn't lose the weight. Oh well my other girl is a different kettle of fish and I think she is a tad underweight but then she won't eat and is forever running. ETA. I will take my fat BC and slink out of this thread before I get embarassed any further.

I am resigned to having 1 Fat BC and 1 Skinny BC. My older girl who has just turned 8 is 465mm and weighs in somewhere in the region of 17kg (although she did creep back to 18 recently). My 6 month old pup last time I weighed her was just a tad over 10kg no idea how tall she is but she is a midget .

Hmmm LP not good news no training for me - you'll have to brave Ptolomy without me .

What are you aiming to do - are you just after a well mannered pet or do you want to trial further down the track? What area are you in?

Right LP - are we jumping on a plane this afternoon and giving Ptolomy something to do for the rest of the week .

If we go in roughly 6-7 weeks time I could stop in on K's breeder and get mugged by black and white piranas .

Well I know where she lives so I think we could just show up on the door step . Although I know where Sue H lives too and Gina - I think we could have our pick of door steps .

PAX and think of all the problems you then create trying to get the dog to hold a DB and remain sitting while you sit on the chair .

So when are we going LP .

LOL like you need training buddies Ptolomy you have enough as it is. Stop teasing - maybe LP and I should come over .

I guess it depends on the dog to some degree. I don't discount if the dog is high drive for something (whether that is food or toy) then it makes the process easier. So if your dog is high food drive then yep you can get an enthusiastic retrieve. It also depends how you do informal retrieves. There are elements that are the same. Dog gets to race after an object and pick it up. You can watch some very high drive dogs practically explode when they are released to the object. Its the same explosive release you would get if you released them to chase the toy informally. I guess what it comes down to is how much desire has been built for the exercise but hell I know what I want to work from.

Not convinced dogdude. Having a natural retriever means you have a dog who is more inclined to pick up objects and therefore making it easier to teach a formal retrieve. Although I have a non-retriever who was taught the dumbbell using food and has lovely DB retrieves so its not a prerequisite but still I think it does make the job easier.

Luke W - I would think you would want an element of both. It would also depend on what sport you wished to compete in. However its handy to be able to have the tug toy at the end of a sequence in agility for instance and then have them bring it back to you and tug after. Obedience in the higher classes consists of a number of retrieves and if you have a dog who naturally enjoys retrieving it can certainly help.

I am actually hanging out to take her herding as she seems to be a natural on the ducks at the park . The one herding day we have been to so far she does have some instinct so it would be fun to try now she is a bit older.

Luke W - so I would only throw the ball 4-5 times and put it away while the dog still wants more . I laugh as I was training my baby and using food to teach her to hold a Dumbbell. She decided she had had enough of that game and went off to retrieve a toy for me to use instead .

- I have a nearly 6 month old pup residing in the house at present and what can she do. Er she tugs, sits and drops and is a mad keen retriever and obsessed about chasing her ball. Nothing else in the world matters apart from her ball and she will do ANYTHING possible to get me to throw it. Suffice to say second time around I wasn't going to have a dog who wouldn't play. So from the time she was a baby my new girl has been taking to agility trials, obedience trials, out and about and yep we just play.

Funny thing is I never practice finishes at training - I have both finishes but only do the around the back one in a trial. Ness has not only anticipated the finish but after a directed jumping exercise will often anticipate the finish and do the other finish that we NEVER do in trials and only rarely in training .

Er yep LP watch it if you don't have have access to a "speshiel" means of making you :rolleyes: . Currently out on loan but I think it should be back shortly.

LP yes you can - 5 minutes every day :rolleyes: . Oh and for what its worth Ptolomy would most likely say cut the walks and train instead .

Hmmm cos not all of us are functioning creatures before 9am :rolleyes: .

Geez I dunno mine probably do have food on them to some extent as I don't wash my hands before playing a scent session :rolleyes: . In fact my trial sets probably have some food smells on them as well. Ooops. ETA. And for those who haven't met Ptolomy don't listen to what she has to say she is VERY scary .

Why freeze them LP???????

Yeah I would agree we have ordered multiple packages from Clean Run and not lost any of the toys and they have usually contained at least one rabbit or sheepie tuggy.

about Article sets. Hmmm I was using 2 sets for 1 dog (had 3 but only liked 2). Now I have 7 sets - 5 of which are full sets which we use and the other 2 are spares for mucking around with (only cos Ness isn't a fan of them - might use them for Kenzie). I also washed my articles - don't anymore. Somebody suggested placing them in cold water with a drop of rose water to "descent" them. My latest new sets I just left outside with lids off for a few weeks before using them. Since when is it illegal to play in the ring - argh ok I am not going to come trial in NSW (maybe you better make it the ACT Ptolomy ).

Kavik - hmmm seriously I wouldn't bother. We have ordered Sheepie tugs from Clean Run into Australia and never had them quarantined .