kelpiechick

Those numbers are quite 'even' compared to Vic. If you add your 'other' heights together they outnumber (just) your 500 dogs. When we have split walk these days to get it close to even you have all the other heights plus a third of the 500 and then the other 2/3 of the 500 and it's about equal. Quite common in MJ here to have 1x200 dog and 3x300 at the usual 'run of the mill' trials

Would have preferred to see the addition of a 'starters' type class in Novice rather than extra passes - agree with you Jess about wanting to get the hell out of Novice especially with all the judges here who have little concept of safety and have never run fast dogs. Could have used the same Novice course but maybe a couple of passes at 'Starters' level for those who have never titled a dog before while the more experienced competitors could have just started in Novice with the same 3 quallies. That way those who trial before they are ready would have to stay longer before moving to Excellent (and I believe that's why the rule change was proposed) as those of us more experienced usually wait longer to put our new dogs out as we expect more from them and are happy to wait until they are ready for the next level up at least before entering. And I actually dislike the assumption that Novice is 'easy' which also seemed to be mentioned a lot with the rationale for the rule change. There are many brilliant dogs that spend a long time in Novice as they are not run around the course just to get the qually but are handled as they will be in Masters by trying things at trials to test your training or what I call big picture handling.

Up contact no longer judged on dogwalk. Jump bars no longer have to be stupid fiddly bit small striped but can now have bigger areas of colour allowed as well - with an ETS dog that's a HUGE one for me!!

I don't think discussing them is an issue - the issue is they haven't been officially released yet and many of us in other states haven't seen them at all and the first we're hearing of them is from 'leaks' which seems a bit unfair when you have those in the 'know' and those not. The process in Vic was fairly transparent in that all meetings were open (just a shame that they are always held miles from some of us) and everything published, plus the submissions from all states, but our rep has been ethical and not leaked anything, so for most of us this is all still conjecture and I believe should remain as such until the rules are released. Then discuss them all you want.

Absolutely agree! I find it laughable that people get their knickers in a knot that someone dared to put a tunnelbag on back to front with a handle exposed but the same people will quite happily run a course with metal jump cups without giving it a second thought - not to mention some of the chute placements I have seen. Can't see the point in discussing rumours and conjecture either but unfortunately if the rumour is true I don't think we're going to get much joy in the metal cup department

Another thing that I think really helps is teaching 'round the clock' crate entries as part of crate games so the dogs learn to seek out the entries by themselves, especially with the more difficult entries from behind the crate. Also helps with teaching backside tunnel sends :)

We teach 2x2's at our club - they are introduced in the Beginner Class (2nd level class, following Foundation) and the first week of that 10 week block class is handlers without dogs where we go through the steps, plus get them to throw down the reward line and basically work through some of the stages without dogs to get their mechanics correct first. We also insist that they either buy 2 sets of poles (4 poles) or make their own, they also get a very detailed set of notes and we encourage them to video their training and post to the club facebook page to get feedback. We have found that in around 80% of students the method seems to be working (the ones who put in the work have been able to achieve really good results) but there are still the odd few that haven't made progress for whatever reason so the club has just purchased a set of channels to use with those students instead as a back up.

Ha Ha, same dog different fleas :laugh:

I've got no idea what a lalala blind is but I think this suggestion is the same as what I said ???? Maybe ?????? LOL - the different names for everything do my head in :laugh:

Sheena, do you have any video? I'm having a hard time seeing how a lap turn would be the best handling option for this scenario. I would also either front cross or blind cross the tunnel exit to have the dog on the right, then send to backside of the jump and get ahead to blind cross as dog went around the back - this would put dog back on my left so wouldn't need a rear before weaves plus would put me much further ahead (and I don't run 360 but still want to be ahead, lol)

Lovely to watch! This is Asa Emanuelsson in the clip, not Isabelle who is coming out to do seminars. I believe they are mother and daughter in which case she is no spring chicken either (with a 25 year old daughter) so even more impressive!

Well said Vickie

Back on Track website should have instructions on how to measure. Make sure you do it accurately as it needs to be pretty close to perfect in length or dog's tail won't go comfortably through zippered opening at rear. My BC has 55cm, she is 500mm and weighs app. 14-15kg. Coat is pretty big widthwise but needed the length. Same size also fits my kelpie, 510mm and 17kg. Both are fine with toileting with them on.

Such a lovely girl - and almost a year to the day that I lost my ACD Bos. They're probably romping around together plotting all sorts of cattledog mischief. Hugs to you.

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