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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I'm not sure about that. I know we are trying to get them done in time, but are running out of time. We are about to order a new A-frame, so hopefully it will be ready by then. I'll see what I can find out for you :) There are some rubberized contacts, but not all :) Thank You for finding that out - was hesitant about entering as I wasn't sure, but at least now I know not to enter. My girl is just coming back now after a dogwalk accident (and that was a rubberised one) so no way I'll risk her on anything else. We've gotten really spoiled in Vic. with all the rubberised contacts that's for sure. I do appreciate you letting me know :)

Sheena, do you know if the Glenreagh trial be using rubberised contacts? Can't find that information anywhere on the schedule.

Oops, accidentally deleted and too tired to write again :laugh:

I did the can thing years ago with my two older dogs who have both since passed on. BC X stayed sitting and made no attempt to look at the can or show any interest in it whatsoever. ACD went straight to the can and immediately tipped it over at which point BC X came flying in quick as a flash, grabbed the treat and took off with it. So which one is the smart dog ? :laugh:

Some interesting reading on the topic here : Agility Net Haven't had personal experience with this (thank goodness, it sounds scary) but I remember there was a dog on the US Agility World team a few years back that died from suspected EIC during a training session. Good to hear you haven't had any more episodes, hope it all works out for you.

Yeah...sorry I got a little confused there as I havn't seen the DVD yet & Clean Run do have others soley on tugging & I havn't seen the article where people were commenting on the DVD. I first picked up the link from the Awsome Pup Challenge Facebook group, where Allison was talking about it. I havn't heard anything negative about it, only good. :) The complaints were all on the Clean Run discussion list - to the point where they offered money back if it was returned unopened. It's true that it is essentially 2 discs of tugging, but I think those who didn't like it couldn't see past that if you know what I mean. She is using tugging pretty much as the sole reward but there are a lot of other things on there, including heaps of ideas for proofing and working in other environments- she takes her training pretty much everywhere and there were some good ideas about that, especially with working through distractions. It is a bit different from a lot of the other foundation DVD's out there and although essentially it might be the same information as you get from SG and GD, I enjoyed it being presented in a different way. It's more focussed on reinforcement, fitting in short training sessions anytime, anywhere, first recalls and retrieves and environmental proofing rather than giving you a 'list' of foundation exercises. Hope you enjoy it.

Sorry KC...but which one are you talking about...the tugging one or Pup 2 Perfection I believe they are one and the same. I'm talking about Pup 2 Perfection, wasn't aware that there was another tugging one that people on CR list have been complaining about ?

Yep, that's the one. I had already ordered my copy when all the complaints started coming on the CR list - glad that I had already ordered it or I might have thought twice about it. For a very narrow viewpoint, it's true that it pretty much is nothing but tugging BUT I loved it. First DVD I've seen where all the exercises are filmed in 'real life' with real life distractions, baby crawling around on the floor while she is working with pup, plus out and about in all different enviroments. Really shows the importance of being able to swap between toys, tugs and food, plus working through distractions and the importance of getting everything into different environments. Plus beginning recalls, retrieves, etc. If you did Puppy Peaks and liked it then you'll like this. Pretty much a condensed version of a lot of the early stuff relating to reinforcement that Susan did with Swagger but with a bit of an individual slant on some of it.

That would be Warringal Obedience Club. They no longer have use of the uni ground and have relocated to Montmorency Primary school I believe (near Greensborough), if that's any help. I think they still do agility training. Not sure where the OP is located but clubs in the 'north' would be : *Bulla Agility Dogs (BAD) at Bulla near the airport - we started our only Foundation class offered for the year last Monday and won't be offering another one until at least next year due to lack of instructors. We don't have a waiting list any more but offer 'watch this space' instead on our website where we annouce when our next 'try out' evening will be. Training Monday evenings. If you want to come down any Monday evening and have a look you are welcome to do so, just send me a PM and I will organise it. Even though we won't be offering any new intake for a while, there are plenty of exercises you can do at home in the meantime and most of them don't involve equipment - in fact we use very little equipment in our foundation class and work on getting a good reinforcement schedule in place, with lots of games and some rear end awareness thrown in as well. *Mitchell Agility Dogs (MAD) at Wandong, just north of Melbourne. Don't know what they offer in regard to training but I believe they do run some sort of foundation class and I don't think there is any waiting list. Training Sunday mornings (I think). These would be the only agility specific clubs in the north but you also have some obedience clubs that offer agility. Already mentioned Warringal, I think Sunbury might as well, but not sure. If you are more toward the north west you also have Altona Obedience (a few of our members from BAD train there as well and they appear to be up to date with methods and use rubberised equipment - you won't find them listed on the Dogs Vic. site as they are not affiliated with Dogs Vic any more, I can give you a contact number for their training co-ordinator if you want, they also train Sunday mornings. There is also Agility Dog Club of Vic in the west, train Friday evenings at Altona North, but I believe the waiting list for classes is still very big. Hope this helps, if I think of any that I have left out I will post them. Have fun with your Cocker, you are doing a great job. Just play together a lot and keep it fun. I would recommend doing some trick training while you are waiting for classes - this will help you learn to reward more and also strengthen the working relationship between you and your dog. And remember to keep your training sessions really short - absolutely 5 mins. maximum.

Got mine about 5 years ago from Murray when I used them for Cruz. Assume he still makes them. Funny, I tried to sell mine for ages and had no takers and then after DM seminar had about 4 people ask if I still had them, all wanting to buy. So now sold - finally !