J...

I can't watch those at work but will take a look tonight - thank you! Not sure at all on whether it is my signals. She's scoring perfectly for COP which I would've thought would show those kind of issues as well. I've had people come up and make a point of complimenting her DOR yet we're losing 2 to 4 points on it. She's coming in quick and taking action immediately on the signal, dropping as fast as she physically can at that speed. She doesn't fidget or move on leaving her at all - she's always been rock solid on that stuff. Her finishes are straight, it's just the front with a dumbell which are iffy but not all the time. I'd love to get a video, given the next trial is at my "home" club I might find someone who can record it for me.

Good luck TerraNik - I'm sure you'll be fine on both counts. Ok hand signals question - does anyone have a close up video of an open run for retrieving and DOR, particularly interested in the hand signals. We're losing a lot of points in these elements and I don't understand where they are going. I'm wondering if it's double signals which I don't realise I'm doing. Still scored 185 in her last run but Darcy's better than that and given her heeling is scoring quite well I'd really like to tidy this stuff up.

I'm right handed so I used to take it with my right hand but now I use both having being picked up for it by someone (can't remember who). Worth a thought, certainly willing to look at it. Just strange that it was very obvious at her last Open run (still passed but lost points) and it creeps in sometimes but not always in training. Have a question about hand positions and double signals but will ask later as I need to get going....

That's the reason Dante does angled Sits and Drops sometimes - the angle matches where the threats come from. Perhaps you could try having a container with treats in it on a table and give the Marker word and then go get the treats from the table and that way the treats aren't on you? That's just it, I rarely do have them on me, only the times where it is totally impractical for me to have them anywhere else (like when I'm out walking and practising everyday recalls). And why does she only do it with a dumbell, when her standard fronts are fine? It's only a recent thing too, probably over the last month?

Get into the red wine I tried fixing stuff before Darcy's first CCD trial and just made it worse. I have the same dilemna with her retreive at the moment, her fronts are straight but add a dumbell and she's kicking her butt out to the right for some reason and occasionally her entire body. The only thing I can think of is that I carry treats in my right pocket if I need them but why is it only associated with a dumbell? I use a flip finish so it's not like she's heading for heel position either :D I'm not fixing it before the next trial at the risk of confusing her. I'll cop the points on it, I'm sure I'll lose more for my lack of ring skills

Wasn't it great to see some sunny weather, especially on a weekend Had a huge walk yesterday with a friend and our dogs and a lovely lunch and then did some house and garden work today and even got all the dog bedding & towels dry on the clothesline ;) What a novelty!! I love Spring

Just me being pedantic it's taken me a long time to get Darcy's enthusiasm back for obedience so I'm keen to protect it at all costs. Certainly wouldn't hurt Zee to be working in a different environment with different dogs.

What level did you trial to previously JJ? I wouldn't mind coming and doing some obedience with Darcy occasionally as the distraction work is always handy. Just fun stuff though, I won't ever put her in an obedience class type scenario again.

http://www.k9pro.com.au/pages.php?pageid=89 Read that, see what you think

How old is she JJ - any chance she's going through a fear period?

That was just inside the mouth of the Hopkins Tenties, as you can see it was incredibly foamy and really rough out further. It wasn't that chilly, actually it was quite mild when I went down. They certainly weren't forced into the water against their will GSDs I love the beach, it's a bit of a drive from here but I normally get down there a few times a week in summer. Would be nice to see a smidge of spring at the moment, am totally over this weather

Who needs snow?

Big to you and Terry on the loss of your two boys, it must leave one hell of a hole in your hearts

Snooker - You need to get a red bar, a non-coloured obstacle, another red bar, a non-coloured obstacle, another red bar and a third non-coloured obstacle and then begin your closing sequence. You need 10 points in the opening sequence for Novice, once you've completed your opening sequence then the siren goes and then you start on the closing part. Just because you've stuffed the first part doesn't mean you don't get a pass so if the judge sounds the siren before you've done your 3 red bars, finish the closing sequence anyway because if you've got your 10 points then you've still on a pass. Gamblers - that sounds nothing like our Gamblers here GG. Best way to run gamblers is find yourself a nice smooth path with plenty of high scoring obstacles. Some people run their dog over a dog walk (3 points) and then back over it but I find if you keep moving and include the higher incidentals like spreads, broads, tunnels and tyres (all 2 points) then you'll pick up points very quickly. You need 20 points in Novice and you have 45 seconds to get them before they sound the siren to begin the gamble. You can do an obstacle in the gamble but only one at a time, but if you knock a bar then you've lost your gamble and you miss the pass. It's best to stay out unless there is a tunnel in there. http://www.ankc.org.au/Rules.aspx Rules are above. One thing to be aware of - games can confuse a relatively inexperienced dog so be really disciplined in your handling. Snooker can require you to have to run your dog past an obstacle which is in their path but not take it, yet they'd be required to in a normal course. Gamblers has no refusals in the points accumulation period and I've seen a few people get sloppy with their handling because they pick their own path and it doesn't matter if the dog misses an obstacle. I ran Snooker with my dog once but the running past an obstacle in her path really threw her. I could run it again now because she's more experienced but it's not a game I like. I find Gamblers much more fun

Wouldn't think so unless it's a total and utter wash out. Given it's the State Trial which incorporates Top Dog, and it's location at KCC, trying to reschedule between the agility trialling calendar this late in the year and the KCC's grounds requirements would be near impossible. I'm staying home, I won't run my dog in those kind of conditions and a 6 hour round trip in such bad weather doesn't float my boat either, especially when you're up at 4 am to get there.

Most likely

State Agility Trial is on Saturday OT - does anyone have an up to date grounds report? I've heard that the grounds are pretty ordinary but that's a pretty standard description for the KCC grounds in Winter They weren't real good at the Schip trial and we've had a heap more rain since then

Sorry Renee - not heading to Gippy until early October and I'd have camp gear & trial gear plus my own dogs on board. Looks like a beautiful day for a walk - kind of day where you feel you should start on the spring garden clean-up but a walk sounds like more fun ;) I'm off trialling tomorrow so can't make it. Have fun! Hope tomorrow's weather is a little more prevalent Bring on Spring!!

I've heard the ground is in good condition so fingers crossed. Might see you there, I'm only entered in the AM trial. Good luck ;) Good news about the ground condition. We may meet up. What are you competing in? Good luck. I just hope the grounds are still in good condition! We're in Open. Competing with a dog who looks like a light boned black Lab and will have my young dog with me - look for a black and white tornado on a lead

:D No worries. The competition might be all about the human side but being a much loved pet who gets to compete has it's benefits for the dogs too. In the end the dogs attitude tells the story and I've never seen Daisy look bored or unhappy on any of the videos you've posted. Sadly there is dogs out there who do look bored and unhappy while working but you can't tar everyone with that brush.

Because I enjoy it and my dogs enjoy it. I know they enjoy training because they both "compete" to see who can make the back of the car fastest and who gets to train first. I know they enjoy competing because they both go nuts when they see me get the trial gear out and they watch me obsessively through the sunroom windows when I get ready on the morning of a trial, just in case they get left behind. I love learning about training, I love to see stuff come together and I love the challenge of getting the perfect run in either agility or obedience. I also love catching up with friends at a trial, sitting around and chatting and just generally having fun. I love seeing different parts of the state and country that I might not see otherwise, meeting people I wouldn't normally meet and staying places I wouldn't normally stay. I love having a reason to get out in the sunshine or the rain and the mud and just do stuff with my dogs. I love having a reason to walk out of my office or away from my job at a decent hour because previously I didn't. I love seeing my dogs have fun at the beach or the lake or wherever we are as part of their fitness training. I love the compliments they get for their willingness to work and their enthusiam for their job, because above all else that's what really matters to me as a "trainer" - that they love their work. A dropped bar or a missed sit is nothing compared to a dog who enjoys her work. And on the days where we go clear and run the best run we possibly can, well that's pretty addictive and it certainly makes up for days where it doesn't go quite as well as it could've.

I've heard the ground is in good condition so fingers crossed. Might see you there, I'm only entered in the AM trial. Good luck :D

Had it suggested to me in the last week given the issues I'm having sourcing decent bones for my dogs. I would struggle to kill anything like that so directly. I can get old breeding pairs cheap from a farm not far from here but same issue. Tempted to get a gun license to shoot my own, that I could handle because you're more removed from it. But I believe it's a big time commitment to a club to be allowed a gun license these days. I have quite a few farms that would allow me to shoot on them though so I'm still considering it. For now I can get frozen bunny from the local pet food store for $5.50 each so they are an occasional treat - my dogs love them!! Staranais I think a direct blow to the head or a very quick twist to the neck would be the quickest and easiest.

Hope she's okay Tenties - please pass on plenty of get well vibes from me & the girls Excellent news about your car Such a gorgeous day today, we did some quick training at Harris St (didn't realise they had a training day on ) and then headed to the beach. The mouth of Kelly Swamp is open and still flowing, must've been amazing in full flood, wish I'd thought to take a look. There is pics on the Standard website from the air but I would've loved to have seen it in real life.

Forgot to mention, the lovely greyhound lady has last season's Weatherbeata rugs at half price if anyone needs dog rugs. There was only size 45 cm and smaller or 70 cm and larger when I had a look but great prices.