Perry's Mum

Thanks Debbie.

Can anyone recommend a groomer for two shitzus who have just had a holiday in the bush and have coats full of burrs, etc., preferably northside?

how long are your sessions? We do weekends with about 4 or 5 15 minute goes on the sheep and I have seen some timid dogs take 4 or 5 weekends to get turned on. I would keep on going - I think you have to make it lively and interesting for him - lots of encouraging noise and get the sheep moving.

I have a fear aggressive rescue Koolie who is fine with people but not with dogs. I have had her just over 3 years. I have taken her up to Steve Courtney (K9 force) who is up in the Blue Mountains and he was really helpful - in retrospect I think the best thing he did was persuade me (an inexperienced owner) that she was not that bad and could get through it. the second thing I did was take her to sheepdog school - she loves it and because she feels confident working with the sheep and gets a lot of praise there she has really improved her behaviour out of sight. I notice you are in Canberra, so am I, PM me if you want to talk about it on the phone and I will give you my number.

I will have to ask and get back to you.

There was a decision to restrict it to sheep herding dogs so we are looking at Koolies, Border Collies, Kelpies, Australian Shepherds, Shelties, Pulis, Old English Sheepdogs, Corgis, etc. Anything which is not a traditional sheepdog is unlikely to be accepted.

Since our first two schools were so successful The Koolie Club have organised a third for the weekend of 27/28 October at Binalong. The trainer will again be Brad Pellow. The venue is very well set up with lots of yards and a big woolshed and paddocks to work in. We get about four goes on the sheep each day and they are nice runny sheep. If it rains (fat chance) then we can work in the woolshed. Cost is $120 per weekend or $50 for auditing. The school is open to any traditional herding breeds. PM me for details.

Just got back from another fantastic weekend at Binalong - I cannot believe the difference in Perry's level of confidence. We will be having another school the last weekend in September - although it is run by the Koolie Club it is open to most herding dogs (final decision is the trainer's) so if anyone is interested in joining us, PM me.

I am sure I hold Perry back with herding - I am confident someone else could get her to a much higher standard than I ever will, but on the other hand she is a much loved dog and knows it and we have fun and she is healthy and happy and when you get down to it that is what is important to me.

We bought enough sausages for you to have some so we hope you are staying for lunch.

That is great Paula - come whenever you like - we plan to be there from 8am but you don't have to be so early because we get lots of goes at this school and if you miss her first one you will see the next ones. Don't forget a chair and a hat.

Brad Pellow who is just excellent - he is very calm, very affectionate and encouraging with the dogs, explains why you need to do something or why he is suggesting a particular approach, and keeps the sessions interesting - we had at least four goes each day and did something different each time to keep us and the dogs interested. The facilities are great because it is a big station and there is a big supply of fresh sheep. Perry loves Brad and will do anything he wants.

I am expecting this weekend to be just as good as last - if you ever fancy coming up to the Binalong workshops PM me and I will put you on the email list. the facilities at Binalong are fantastic.

A few photos from the weekend:

I have got a new camera so I have to work out how to download the pictures from that to the computer. No energy for that tonight, perhaps tomorrow.

Perry and I have just had the most fantastic weekend herding at the Koolie Club Sheepdog School at Binalong near Yass. There was a mix of Koolies, Kelpies and Border Collies and it was interesting to see how differently they worked. We had a lot of goes over the weekend and I saw Perry and the other dogs make huge amounts of progress and gain in confidence. Perry went from working in a medium sized yard to moving sheep from one yard to another, cutting some sheep from a larger mob, to working in a very big yard. She is absolutely brain dead this morning not only from what she learnt but from the sheer excitement of meeting lots of other Koolies and talking Koolie to them. We are going again next weekend and cannnot wait to have another go. We have had one late cancellation for next weekend due to illness so if anyone wants to join us you just need a herding sheepdog and some money - PM me and I will send you out a registration form.

bump

Perry was not at all interested in toys when I got her - she had never been exposed to them having spent her first year chained to a log in a farm yard. Someone advised me to play with toys in front of her so that they were my toys not hers and to make a big fuss of these toys. It worked, natural nosiness got the better of her and gradually I let her have them for a short time, getting longer and longer. She has now become ball obsessed and she likes her two little teddies - rescue ted and football ted - who get tossed in the air and also get taken to bed with her but she hates squeaky toys and won't play with them.

The Koolie Club of Australia is hosting two sheepdog schools at Binalong, NSW, on Saturday and Sunday the 25th & 26th August 2007 and Saturday and Sunday 1st & 2nd September 2007 commencing at 8.00am on all days. The trainer will be Brad Pellow. Cost $120 per weekend The school is open to Koolies, Border Collies, Kelpies, Shelties and Australian Shepherds and crosses of these breeds. Beginners welcome. Limit of two dogs per handler (your allocated time will be divided between your dogs). Preference will be given to people attending both workshops. PM me if you are interested.

There are lots of older rescue dogs around who take to herding - Perry was only a year old when I got her and two when we started herding but there are some other rescues around from working lines who have started older and gone on to great things.

Perry likes a can of sardines or tuna for dinner with some rice or pasta and some mixed cooked vegetables.

A tennis ball would last less than 10 seconds with Perry who is totally ball obsessed and a chewer - I took her tennis balls away because I wa worried about her teeth and the possibility of her chewing a big off and swallowing it. Now she has two types of balls - solid rubber balls for playing with and a light soft chewy foam ball especially designed for dogs who like to chew - it has stood up well to some pretty hard chewing over the past year.

Koolies - mid size but lovely dogs and can be very fast and agile.

thank you all for your advice - I will pass it on.

My brother's lab has developed nasty hot spots on her backside. She is fed on BARF. He lives in Canada so she is inside a lot and it is warm and dry. The vet is suggesting drugs but Graeme is wondering whether he could use tea tree oil or tea tree lotion or cream on them. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I promised I would get advice from the experts i.e. all of you.