Mrsdog

OK, gear up, this event will be included in the Spectacular held here in Sydney in September. Start practicing now!! This is going to be BIG. Don't ask me for details, just watch this space........ Noels.

Angelsun, people here getting antsy, want to know details and fill in attendance forms for Sutherland seminar on May 30/31. As well as our own club members people are coming from Wollongong, Springwood, Gosford, North Shore and everyone is soooo keen. I would like to be able to give them some info so they can include it in their monthly club magazines. Thanks, Noels.

Pluck 'em. My Lagotti all have very hairy ears and are frequent swimmers. My oldest boy is 9 years old so I have a bit of experience here. No ear infections and they dive into the water, head often going under. Surely floppy, close set, hairy ears could only lead to ear infections. They wouldn't even dry out before their next dunking! So I am sticking with the "plucking". Noels.

Sutherland Introduction Day tomorrow. I will let you know how it goes. I have worked out a novice course with a few challenges and will also have work stations where the somewhat harder to understand signs will be. Funny how things turn out. We shouldn't have any trouble with the 1 step, 2 steps, 3 steps as this is one of the focus exercises that I give even to my beginning obedience dogs. It is also helpful for gaining your dogs attention before agility trials. Also the people who have done doggy dancing will be way in front with some of the exercises, eg backing up 3 steps. Oh Angelsun, just look what you have got us into! Noels.

There seems to be a lot of interest in the Sutherland venue - if you are thinking of joining us could you please let me know, just so I will have some idea of the number of people attending. Saturday 30 May will be theory in the clubhouse and Sunday 31 May will be practical with your dogs on the oval. Fee will be nominal (very good value) but you will have to bring your own food or go into Sutherland to buy your lunch. I will put up details when they are confirmed. Noels.

Got approval back today for ground usage on 31 May, so that makes it OK for Sutherland to be the weekend of 30/31 May. Hope this suits everyone, the more the merrier. Noels.

According to Angelsun the weekend of 30/31 May will work better for Sutherland. I am checking but think this will be OK from our end. Just have to get permission for the ground use on the Sunday, but this shouldn't be a problem. We have a reasonable size clubhouse and lots of chairs! This will be open to anyone who wants to come, not just Sutherland club members, so if you are interested could you please let me know so that I will have some idea of numbers. Haven't got a final costing yet but think it will be something like $50 per person, which is amazingly good value. Will confirm this later as soon as I know. As I understand the format Saturday will be a "learning day", not practical, and Sunday will be an "on course" experience with your dogs. So keep this weekend free, it promises to be really special. Noels.

Sutherland will be starting Rally classes mid February. We have all the equipment but a crash course in familiarisation with the novice signs seems to be a good place to start. How many hours would you put aside for a beginners course? We are so lucky to have you coming here to teach us. It is really difficult to do everything from a book and DVD, not impossible, but so much harder. Just as well you weren't here yesterday: 40c and even hotter out west. Heatwaves not good for people and doggies. Noels.

And did you pick out Kiss, the white Lagotto, running? Gotta be quick. Noels.

Loretta Rabbitt is a member of Sutherland Club and regularly places first in DWD competitions. She is a fantastic trainer and will help anyone who is "committed". Her name is one of the contact numbers for Dogs NSW. Regular workshops are held and for a minimal charge you will get a wealth of asistance. Of course these workshops are all held at Erskine Park. To get a routine together is a major project, takes a lot of time and effort. The finished product might look simple but believe me it is not. I entered one competition, but think I would rather just keep my doggy dancing as a fun thing. However if you are REALLY interested then Loretta will help you with your training at Sutherland. Noels.

Do you think Sutherland could be fitted in the last weekend in May? 23/24 May? April has 6 flyball events, 2 agility and 2 obedience at the Sydney Royal and I've left out all the breed days. Early May has agility trials and Sutherland clubs obedience trial, so end May would work out just fine. Once we have a definite date I will see how many people I can get interested. Don't think there will be any problem. I will be starting Rally classes early in February, so some people will at least have a little knowledge of what to do. Noels.

When a group from Sutherland club decided to do ET they cycled around the bike track near the training oval, it is rarely used on Sunday morning and they also did some evenings. Then when they got better they cycled to Brighton and dogs and people went swimming! Another group cycled around Woronora cemetery - lots of quiet roads and the residents don't complain! Dorothee cycles around Kurnell and she doesn't even have her 2 dogs on lead. Don't think I could cycle and also hold dogs lead, but guess you and the dog would get used to it. Noels.

Please don't forget Sydney - keeping in mind that our Sydney Royal takes up most of April so that would not be a good month. Noella and the Lagotti x 3

Thanks sweetpea. 1 dog, 2 dogs, 3 dogs, four Please sir, I want some more!

Now this is making me feel particularly stupid because I can't seem to find any details anywhere and people are already arranging partners for strategic pairs and so on. PLEASE help this poor little lost munchkin, only the first day of the year and already life is just too difficult. Noels & Lagotti x 3

Have emailed you and anxiously wait for your reply. Sutherland is south of Sydney in New South Wales and could be a fairly central location for people travelling from the South Coast and Central Coast, as well as the metropolitan area. That is, as long as we spread the word. Always have to remember that Rally is not something that people in general know about here. So DOLers, your mission is.......... In 2009 may your wishes come true. Noels & the Lagotti x 3

Come on NSW people, get in here and let us know that you are interested. Rally O is going to be the latest and the greatest downunder. There won't be many opportunies like this one, so we need to take advantage. A few dedicated OB instructors at Sutherland Shire Dog Training Club will be getting together over the Christmas holiday break so that we can work out our strategies and class structure for the New Year. Hope nobody is watching as I am sure our test tube dummies will be very entertaining. No rest for the wicked......... Way to go: RALLY-O Noels & the Lagotti x 3.

That is truly wonderful news. I am so glad it really IS going to happen. I am sure we could guarantee a good roll up in Sydney if that is a possible location, but ACT is not much more than three hours away, so that is a reasonable location for some Sydney people. When you say you are going to tie in with existing events I don't know that Canberra Royal or Sydney Royal would be a good idea. So many of us are already committed to Conformation, Agility, Obedience and Flyball at these events. Don't know if this is useful information for you? You are just going to be sooo appreciated you won't want to go home! Noels and the Lagotti x 3.

All my Rally equipment has just arrived from the States, so I am ready to GO. So excited. I plan to start teaching Rally basics in 2009 and since all my learning is from forums, books and DVDs then I would be a prime candidate for a Seminar. Our clubhouse and grounds at Sutherland are available for a seminar anytime - just let us know when. I can also guarantee plenty of interested people. How many people from other clubs willing to come to Sutherland Shire? Noels

Probably looking at February next year - have to get the signs organised and work out a training programme. Our club finishes up on 14 December and resumes mid January. That will give me a little time to organise. How does a "mock trial" mid year sound? Anyway, we have only just decided to do this so early days yet, but I am certainly encouraged by the amount of interest. Let's keep the fun happening. Noels.

Sutherland Shire Dog Training Club will be starting this next year. Tasmania is well into it and we will be hoping for ANKC acceptance in the future. Just need some support to get it up and running. Any help or comments from anyone already doing Rally O would be much appreciated. Afer all, it only took ten years to get the ANKC to accept Flyball! Noels.

I have done agility with a Shar Pei, and she loved it! She might not have looked like she would be a good jumper (too many muscles?) but believe me she was. The only obstacle we had trouble with was the cloth tunnel, think she didn't like the feel of it on her face wrinkles. Do you use a clicker? My Pei responded very well to clicker training, wonderful for getting extra focus. I have had a few Shar Pei come through our dog training club and they have all done very well. For some strange reason the girls always do better than the boys, but isn't this often the way? If you were to try agility for a diversion and a bit of fun then you would also find that this helps with your obedience. Part of it is probably that you relax and the dog responds to this new fun-loving owner. BTW dogs won't eat training rewards if they are stressed by their surroundings. Also the treats are better if they are soft, eg. sausage or frankfurts cut up small. If I can help with any specific problems, just ask. Just love those wrinkled faces. Noels.

Fog and ice........brrrrrr. I knew it was cold, but......... Why have it in June? Oh, well, accommodation will be cheaper. Noels.

IF, I manage to talk enough people into going to Tassie for the inaugural flyball comp in June next year, where would we get accommodation? I only stay in places that let my dogs (2) stay inside with me, remembering that they are non-shed, non-smell type dogs. Any suggestions? Noels.

Thanks Vickie, appreciate your help. Noels.