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Looks like a brilliant DVD - just what I need as it's something I'm lacking in bigtime. I walk courses then watch other people walk it or run it and think "why didn't I see that?" or worse still "maybe I should run it like that instead?" Would love to know what it is like once its arrived?

BC4ME - Vetwrap I always have a roll or two in my first aid kit, brilliant stuff. If you google ankle braces you should come up with a good site here in Australia that has a huge range of different braces. I found it when looking for a wrist brace a while ago. They let you try them on for fit and feel, if they don't feel right you can send it back for a full refund (sans postage of course). If you can't find it let me know and I'll track the website down.

My Oztrail Compact had its first run on Saturday. Nearly got it up by myself without too much drama but then a friend showed up and gave me a hand. Can see that I could get it done alone pretty easy once I get the hang of it. I had it set up with one wall for early morning and later arvo sun block and found it really good.

Congrats guys!! Darcy did well yesterday, she picked up a 3rd and pass in Masters Jumping - our first Masters pass on a very fun course We also got a third, pass and title in Excellent Gamblers, her 4th title in just over 5 months. It was a very warm day for a black dog, we had to make several trips to the lake for a swim.

Shaping Success is the only one I have, I highly recommend it. It's a book I read quite regularly. I plan to get Crate Games at some stage.

Tried quite a few and have come to the conclusion that my dog doesn't do well on dry food. I have in the past used Innova Evo as my backup if I don't have her raw defrosted or on nights where I'm home late. Was fine with the first bag but am not real happy with this one (probably 6 to 8 months later). I can literally see and hear her temperature/respiration increase like I've just taken her for a big run. I gave her a small amount last night for her birthday dinner and she woke me at 4.15 am absolutely desperate to go to the toilet with a bellyache, which she's never done before. I think the rest will be going in the bin.

No no not the Clean Run shop..... I really want one of the aluminium shade tarps, will probably under trial gear BMP. **runs in with eyes half shut to grab link before I spend any money and runs out again** http://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...p;ParentCat=313 I've already blown my xmas money on a gazebo and a couple of agility workshops, I think that will do me for the moment.

I share mine with or sit near a few clubmates so there is generally someone who is with it or close enough. If it is getting windy enough to be a worry then I'd drop it before I was needed in the ring as I'd be worried about it hitting someone or doing damage - I had one of the really expensive ones hit my back windscreen with some force at the Nationals, the person who seen it go said they were amazed it didn't break it. Correctly pegged and roped they are supposed to be pretty sturdy.

I agree it does look really good. We'll be working through quite a lot of it, especially the more difficult entries and the proofing work. There are so many different types of weave poles out there in the trial ring that if I can proof for her favourite squeaky toy or food treat flying past her head then those lovely out of specification weave poles should be a piece of cake.

I've been using one of these: http://www.downundercamping.com.au/product...=311&page=3 which is fantastic for most of the year but gets too warm in hot weather. I have a fly which isn't made for it but pretty much fits it and it is great when raining and even survived that lovely windstorm on the Sunday of the Agility Nationals. I can set it up alone in about 10 mins and can camp in it if needed, and it is tall enough to stand up in. Fly was about $90. Just invested in an Oztrail Compact for summer trials for shade, will give it a test run at Warringal if it's going to be warm.

The only way you could enter a 12 month old dog in an agility trial in Vic is if the owners have associate registered them and lied about their age when they were registered with VicDog. They are not able to be entered in an agility trial until they are 18 months old.

I put a zero in front of my post code to get it through.

Probably not a bad thing given the weather dogdude.

Steve Austin mentioned this at the seminar I went to, someone at the Pet Expo (I think?) was told to stop playing tug with their dog before it was taken any further. Was a person of authority i.e DPI/council ranger etc. Pippi, Lablover & kelpiei were at the same seminar, maybe they will pop in and fill in my memory blanks.

I love that one too Ruby

Two different contact training methods - Buzz had 2o2o and Encore does a running. Ironic that she should miss at worlds too as when she was here she said that the only reason she taught Encore a running was to get that fraction of a second edge to win worlds. (Looks like Murphy's Law also applies to agility! ) And yeah, I love watching her run too - awesome handler. Bugger!! I'm still shocked though. Luke, precues are signalling to the dog where it needs to go next before it takes the obstacle before the directional change. You can see this handler often using either opposite arm/hand or both arms/hands to give directional cues. In a really simple version, picture 3 jumps - a precue would be telling the dog what direction it needs to take jump 3 before its set itself for jump 2 so it can take the cleanest and quickest line. You could tell the dog by bringing your opposite arm (furthest from your dog) across the front of your body and pointing it Jump 2. Tells the dog "take jump 2 then turn in the direction of the pointing hand". Not that easy to explain via forum, plus there seems to be 2 types of precues. One using opposite hand/arm which isn't used/accepted a lot I've noticed, then there's general body language i.e running flat out towards a jump to indicate "keep going forward" vs slowing down towards the jump which is a "there's a turn coming so pull up and be ready for it" which is used a lot more.

Can tell you exactly what will happen before I even attempt it. She won't go leave seated at heel position on any except the 3rd one. Darcy is such a keen retrieve nut that I never bothered putting a hand signal or verbal command on her retrieve, it is simply her standard release word "OK". If she doesn't hear the release word then she won't go.

So do I laffi The missed A-frame contact was a big shock though, considering the work she put into Buzz who never missed a contact is his entire agility career I can only wish!!!

Darcy came straight into an autosit at heel. She has her CCD but its been almost 18 months since we've done any formal obedience and recall. I did wake her up from roasting herself in front of the heater to try it

Nooooooo!!!!!!! You're looking at the wrong forecast. Mine says fine and cool for the weekend. Then again at 11 pm on the Friday it said the same thing last year.....

I don't bath her as such, there is a shower for people to rinse off at the beach I take her to and I stand her under that and give her a quick rinse down. It's not perfect but it gets most of the salty water out of her and some of the sand. She has a tendancy to be a bit itchy and I avoid bathing her as much as possible. Will definitely see you at the beach this weekend if the weather is good Edited to add: speak with the guys at Kepala re: the chlorine. They would know what their regulars do and would probably have their own recommendations?

This is about the only one of those questions I can answer. In summer Darcy swims nearly every second day, mostly in slightly salty water plus I try and get her down the beach at least one day a week. No noticeable effect on her coat.

Corflute SM?

You city guys are so spoilt! :p Glad to hear Leo is feeling better

Most of my dog's walking is done off-lead. It's a country farm track with the occasional vehicle so she must come back to me and sit at my feet until the vehicle is past. There is also a blind corner where I require her to walk at an informal heel until I release her. Food and bait wrappers (popular fishing spot) I tell her to leave them or recall her back. Obviously harassing the stock is out of the question too. Other than that I leave her to run. If I do walk her down the street, which is maybe once a month, she's on a loose lead, and I ask her to do an autosit at each road crossing.