Kavik

I'm very sorry for your loss I would suggest like the others that you find a vet that you feel comfortable with and also get familiar with any emergency vets in the area, in case you have an emergency you can take them straight there. Most vets are very happy to talk to you about your concerns and finding one you are happy with is very important, especially if you end up with a dog with ongoing problems. I've had to take my dogs to the specialist centre/emergency centre a couple of times and have worked there too (after those events) and they are quite different and much better equipped than general practice vets (where I have also worked) - I don't work in the industry at the moment. The scariest time being when one of my dogs was attacked by a roaming dog and I didn't know if she would make it, she was hospitalised for a week and needed a lot of treatment - I'm sure I came across as one of those crazy clients - could not fault the care of my dogs or the caring of the vets.

Sometimes telling the judge can help - eg if you have start line issues and will go back to your dog (and DQ yourself on purpose) just let the judge know that this may be the case if the dog moves, so they know that you know the procedure and that you will be DQ (if that makes sense :laugh: ) - that way they won't be desperately trying to stop you. I've found that most judges are understanding of stuff like that if you tell them.

Not sure about the size question. With Crate Games, they can have free access to the crates throughout the day, that is no problem. If you haven't told them to go in there, they are free to go in or out as they choose, you don't have to give them a release for them to come out. I'm pretty sure that is explained in the DVD somewhere, can't remember where though.

Generally I think once you acknowledge the judge and leave/let go of your dog you can't go back to them. If you are working on it and decide due to criteria that you want to go back, I wouldn't worry, go back and just DQ yourself. (ETA: Kaos has me trained rather well After a few times where he absolutely refused to sit at the start line no matter what I did, I now place him in a stand :laugh: which works fine, he will stay there til released. But he wants to sit at training.) With your weaves issue - can you practice on solid base poles in class at all? I found it did take some time for Kaos to transition to weaving well on solid base poles after training on stick in the ground poles.

I see more GSPs and Vizslas doing agility than Labs. Hopefully some gundog people will come in to help with temperament differences

The only thing I use a NRM with is weave entries (not for anything else in agility), I use whoops in quite an upbeat tone and he comes back quickly and happily to have another go. Your body language is important too in how you act when the dog does ssomething other than what you want.

Lucky dogs! The yard was pretty well kept too. Good reminder though to get OH onto our grass - it is way too long for my liking at the moment!

On weekdays when I walk after OH gets home, I walk a different route in the winter to areas with better lighting, on weekends I do the same routes as in summer as I can do them earlier in the day as it is cooler.

Awesome news

My guess is that since when he was a puppy he toileted on the porch during the day, he has developed a preference for going there and that has continued to this day (they develop substrate preference for toileting when they are pups). Not sure what to suggest to change his preference for where he goes to the toilet though.

That is very scary and distressing Hope he shows up soon!

Wow SecretKei I now really appreciate my neighbours :laugh:

Which days will you be there PAX? Everyday Awesome! See you there! :)

Which days will you be there PAX?

I am also using Interceptor Spectrum - covers heartworm, roundworm, whipworm, hookworm, tapeworm

Sway, I was wondering about that - big dog would certainly = big pee I wouldn't want to train a dog that size to toilet in the house.

I'm happy to say that Kaos had no problem with the new table on the weekend - it was the first time we had seen it Hopped up on it once when it was available for practice, and then in the ring.

My experience (having worked as vet nurse, assistant groomer, dog daycare attendant, animal attendant) is that the pay is very low, the hours run early and late, the work is very physical and dirty, and the turnover is often quite high. My main issue is that the pay does not go up very much, even with experience and qualifications, unless you go into a very specialised field, and there is a LOT of competition for those positions. I am looking to compromise. Try to stay in an industry/area that has to do with animals, but in a position that does not directly deal with the animals and is better paying. Such as customer service/support/call centre/reception. My last job (before I had baby #2) was at WIRES, which I really enjoyed.

I wouldn't expect all of that either. I would expect that the pups are confident and outgoing and had some handling and socialisation, and that the pup will want to go to the toilet somewhere away from where it sleeps and plays. Most pups I have found respond well to 'pup pup pup' lol. Introduction to toys and tugs and various surfaces would be awesome but as I will be going to a working breeder who breeds for sheepwork it is unlikely. I prefer training my own dogs so wouldn't expect or want basic obedience trained by 8 weeks.

Had an interesting discussion with someone at playgroup today. She wants to get a dog so the kids have the experience of growing up with a dog (she has 2 kids). She has never had dogs before, her husband has, but she would have to do all the work with this one. When I asked her what breed, she said the ones like the Guide Dogs - she wants a Labrador. Because her neighbour has one that is quiet and gentle and friendly. She was quite amazed when I told her they are not like that as pups! That they are big and strong and active and chew things and pull and need training to become well behaved. She thought you just send them away to be trained and they come back trained and perfect! So I am trying to let her know what is involved realistically, and maybe get her to consider a smaller breed if she decides to get a dog eventually.

Thanks guys! Yes it was a busy day Vickie :laugh: I saw a few bits and pieces of your runs from where I was sitting, not sure I saw a whole one though.

We had our first trial since last year (took a break to work on running off issues). Had a great time! Qualified and first place in GD, which gives us our Novice Gamblers title! We also got our first JDO qually! Very excited about that! Glad we had the break and ready to bring it on for this year!

Great photos!

I've been looking at the Recallers shirts and the Kelpie shirts - but I can't decide what to get :laugh:

I like to keep things simple for behavioural problems like you are having - she would be outside or crated so she couldn't destroy stuff, and then trained to keep her busy. Each to their own though :)