ness

Bugger about the extra shade. We are lucky that ours is indoors and at night so we don't have to spend the entire day at the Royal .

Leopuppy yep it is being taped so you can all have a laugh on Sunday evening when I get around to posting the footage. Sunday is suppose to be our debut in UD at the Mock trial as well but we aren't sure if we will be up for that after the late Saturday evening.

Thats for the luck Bear - we need it thats for sure .

Yep you sure will. Its just around the corner I can feel it. But hey if we ever got a 200 and first place I am sure you'd be the first to here about it leopuppy. Maybe not at the Royal but soon (a 190 I mean not the 200 ) ................... Remember to breathe or more to the point remember that I do have a dog in the ring with me and part of the mission is to work as a team not to see how quickly I can get out of there with poor little Ness tagging along for the ride and trying her hardest to keep up. The biggy for us is the Royal is one of the few indoor trials for the year (well unless they have suddenly made it outdoors - its usually indoors although when I went to pay for entries the person running it didn't even know ). Our ring is usually well fenced with nice white fencing. So the big one is usually trying to make sure your DB lands in the ring and stays in since the rings are smaller and they go a mile and a half on the carpet and do NOT stop. So yep hopefully I don't manage to get it stuck under the fence at the end as I have observed in the past years.

Nope 1st place and a 200 isn't in our game plan YET!!!!! (thats for UD next year got that) - getting through an entire heelwork pattern with no missed positions however is!!!!!!!!!!! ETA. Having said all that our Royal show preparation really started back at the Autumn International when I was on one of the stands at the expo and also doing freestyle demos. Great opportunity to reinforce obedience behaviours in an informal setting (where I could actually use food in a "ring") with lots of kids in belly dancing costumes and with balloons sitting on the ground. I forgot she did a lovely change of positions exercise on top of the surf board in her Surfin USA routine when it was 35 in the middle of the day - think she is thoroughly proofed for the royal after that .

And maybe next time you need a BC rather than a toller - isn't that right Ptolomy. I hear BCs make great gundogs .

I have - only because I was told to by you know who . I took Ness into the middle of town last Thursday - for anybody who knows Adelaide the middle of Victoria Square so we had trams, construction works since they are still undergoing extension of the tramline, cars, buses, people, chicken bones. We worked attention and change of positions. Actually it wasn't a problem at all surprisingly. I have tried the classic open food pots in the middle of recalls/change of positions etc. I have taken her to school grounds/parks where there would be lots of food smells around. I practiced a bit of attention in the carpark at the chiro on the main road. Didn't get to trying outside the supermarket. Guess we only have 2 more sleeps before we can see how well its worked or NOT worked . ETA. This is all in addition to the fact we usually practice our change of positions for open/heelwork/retrieves at the park with kids running around, kicking balls, kids practising school sport etc.

One of the CC affiliated clubs here runs a puppy class. Not sure how they do it but I know they run it inside on a separate night so it obviously can happen. Again I do know they disinfect the area thoroughly before class for the puppies and other dogs aren't allowed into the area anyway as all other dogs are not allowed inside.

There is a really good article I have read online about the stresses and strains of each of the various bits of equipment - just trying to remember where it is. Somebody else might be able to help me out.

Hmm Ptolemy can tell you where my black and white toller fits on that schedule just over a week out from the royal in open and what was suppose to be her pretend debut at the mock trial the day after. I think we are somewhere between 3 and 4. Since the last trial we scooted on our sit and we have been creeping on our drop BUT we are also having blonde moments where its mum I don't do no signals. Hey tollersowned just wait till you start teaching scent - I hear Tollers (and B+W tollers aka Ness) have a number of variations on how NOT to do that exercise. .

Sorry I didn't mean it like that. It wasn't a criticism. I don't have any background on you but its just my observation of watching a lot of CCD triallers here they aren't ready and enter well before there is any hope of passing. Some instructors recommend people go and give it a shot but I just don't like setting the dog up for failure. Do you train at lots of different places and work all the exercises or parts of exercises or do you always train at the same place - be that club each week or a park you walk to. A friend suggested to me before trialling in Novice (was the lowest class when we were going through) that before you enter a trial you should take your dog to at least 7 different locations and run them through just like you would a trial. No extra commands other than what would be allowed in the ring. No food. No cheer leading. Praise between exercises only. If the dog can complete that exercise competently then you can think about entering a trial. First trialled hell I haven't entered that many obedience trials prior to this year like I said 4 novice and 3 open and I am only trialling my first dog. Was I nervous you bet. Am I stil nevous yep more then I should be but I am getting a lot better. Just ask anybody from Perth who saw me the first trial in open. I had flown over to another state to compete and we were entering their State Obedience Championships. I was surprised to get through as yes I was VERY nervous. Not even slightly. Any way I do admire you for giving it ago and I am sure if you stick with it you will have success. I really didn't mean to criticise you in any way I was just giving my thoughts on the topics in question based on what I have been told by some very seasoned triallers who I admire and respect.

Varicool yep the dog doing the humping was in open which is why I will not put my non-qualifying dog at ANY level into stays. If your not getting a qualifying score in the rest as its going to take a while before you do then why are you trialling. That is what training is for. Ring practise at clubs is especially designed to do just that and improve your handling in a position where the dog can be rewarded (or corrected if that is your chosen method). You shouldn't be entering trials unless your dog is reliable in both the stays and the individual work. My dog entered 4 novice trials for 4 passes (all with placings) and passed her first three open trials (not placed but we were up against some of the top WA dogs at events such as the State Obedience Champs and there wasn't any Open A/Open B so your up against dogs who have there Obedience Champion Titles).

Correct CCD/CD mainly but I wouldn't bother with open/utility stays for example if my dog isn't qualifying either.

Hey DD, I honestly would be interested to hear what she had to say on the matter. Like I said what I have heard has been from other equally top triallers over there and yep like you I formed my own opinion in the end but I have to say the arguments put were pretty convincing. I just know that there are a number of dogs who have suffered badly as a result of being "jumped" on during stays at trials and who have had issues down the track as a result. Not saying it might not be something I might consider working though as a training issue when I am in a position to control both parties. I would happy set it up so I dog was running past a dog on the stay if I thought the dog was at that level but it wouldn't necessarily be at a trial distance to start with. I have had dogs break at training and go tearing straight past my dog - who stayed of course but I just think that trials aren't the place to "proof". My dog will do no more stays in trials then is absolutely necessary. But then I also won't continue on during individual work if she is off with the fairies either.

Oh I don't envy the organisation - trying to organise something here at the moment and its so difficult.

Hey DD, Your going to Gina's seminar in Geelong arent you - ask her opinion on putting non qualifying dogs in stays. I don't know what her answer would be as its not a question I have asked her ever (and yep I have asked a lot).

Hey KK - hmm not such a stupid idea if you find your dogs need there 10 hours sleep and don't like being woken up with a weekend lay in. Not to mention if the handler likewise prefers to sleep in. Again depends on the dog. Some dogs don't like trialling in the afternoon because it tends to be warmer and they wake up ready to go first thing in the morning. If your dog is an afternoon dog then go for it. If you want to do a little experiment what I find is take your dog out on a normal non trial weekend (if you don't train on a weekend or even still) and train at different times. Sometimes in the morning and sometimes in the afternoon. If you elect to go in the afternoon treat the morning as you would a trial morning - i.e. I don't feed my girl till after she has trialled or walk her before a trial. See if this effects the dogs standard and which is better. In the end its all down to what the dog prefers. Then of course there is the matter of making sure your dog is appropriately "switched on" - either up or down depending on the dog to perform with enthusiasm. This is where its good to know exactly how much you need to warm the dog up before competing. Do you do heelwork or just grab the dog from the crate and take it in. All about experimenting at training and seeing what works for your dog. Going to a trial with plan A and then modifying it as necessary in subsequent trials - all the top handlers no doubt have individual formula for their dogs and no two dogs are the same. Best advice is stick with it and enjoy yourself as there is always another trial if things turn pearshaped and of course you always take the best dog home again at the end of the day .

Oh I wasn't being hard on you just explaining my reasoning for those yet to take the plunge. Yep I probably would have in the dark past as well so don't take it as criticism on my part of you merely to serve as notice to others who may read the thread. You are correct the dog doesn't know it mucked up but its more the case of why risk an unforeseen accident caused by another dog mucking up (in a way which might effect your dog) when your dog isn't on a passing score. You take enough of a risk when it is. Take for example a recent one that I know a friend trialling in CCD suffered with her dog (who was actually on a passing score at the time) in this circumstance (some breed of dog which is irrelevant really) decided to give this friends dog a rather rude sniff and caused this dog to break. It was allowed to redo stays and fortunately it stayed the second time round. Another example is under the old novice a friends sheltie had another larger breed come and stand over it during the stay. This dog suffered problems in stays for a few months as a result. I would have in the past - never had to since we passed all our trials straight anyway but knowing what I know now and from having spoken with a number of people over in WA on the issue I just wouldn't. Everybody is entitled to there own views and thats just me. It seems to be much more common in the Eastern States (SA included). I think a lot of Western Australia triallers wouldn't put a non-qualifying dog into stays but that goes with the training philosophy of setting the dog up for success and why chance something happening during stays when your dog isn't passing.

Well like I said KK its just my thoughts and my girl is a seasoned open dog and I still wouldn't enter her back to back trials - let alone 2 in one day. I have however happily ran her in up to 6-7 runs of agility in a day its just different. As for stays you misinterrpreted me - YOUR dog might be fine but it only takes one other dog to break and disturb your dog in some way and yes it does happen with fair regularity in CCD which might cause your dog to be suffer ongoing problems as a result. I know of dogs being mounted by other dogs as well as attacked all during stays which have caused otherwise realible staying dogs to have problems further down the track.

First thing - well done on at least giving it a go . Now my two cents on a few things - I have been told by some top level obedience trainers/triallers that if the dog is not qualifying after the individual stuff withdraw the dog from stays. So many things can go wrong in stays especially at CCD level that there is no point in putting your dog through them unneccesarily in a trial. You can't reward (or correct) so why do them. On the issue of double obedience trials - we don't have any here but again these same people have said to me even with Ness at the state she is at with her obedience not to push my luck on a double trial (i.e. two days running of obedience) let alone 2 on the one day. Unless your dog is one of the few super motivated (working breeds in particular but I am sure there are other breeds that fit this - those that are on the go constantly) the second run always tends to be the flatter of the two performances.

Sorry PF didn't actually answer your question directly - nope Ness doesn't wrap but does look up. Ness's problem with her neck isn't the only one I know of which may be attributed as being a result of their chosen heeling style. In Ness's case we aren't entirely sure since there was problem with the right front shoulder as well so can't work out which came first, the neck problem or the shoulder problem (chicken or egg scenario).

Hi poodlefan, You don't know what a relief it was to hear her back leg is all good. After watching her half sister who is 8 weeks post her second cruciate surgery hobble around the obedience ring on Saturday my heart was honestly in my mouth this morning when I took Ness especially knowing what the vet said a fortnight ago about the fact Ness had muscle wasting on the suspect leg. I practice whatever style of heeling my BC decides to give me . My number 1 criteria is the dog must be paying attention to me and not off sticky beaking around the place.

Well not quite Leopuppy she was only half broken .

Well we have just got back from the chiro. Apparently Ness is in great shape for a nearly 7 year old. Yep there were a few problems but nothing that won't come good after 2 treatment. Her main issue was a major problem in her neck (huge restricted movement in one direction). Much better once he treated her. The verdict hmm probably a result of heelwork so I have some stretching exercises to keep it from happening again. The "issue" back leg is probably no more than general wear and tear rather than a cruciate problem at this point which is just fantastic news. Any way thanks to all who answered the poll.

I'd love a new signature photo if somebody is interested in making one for me and some point. I have posted photos on here before but not sure what make the best photos for a signature one.