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Everything is a potential retreive toy to Darcy, we were doing an obedience run through and my "judge" was using the white plastic/perspex markers. Darcy kept picking them up and returning them to me in the hope that I would throw them for her - far more exciting than heel work

I would hope no-one would be taking a dog out for a walk in ANY areas where other dogs frequent when infected with KC in order to prevent the spread to other dogs. That includes the 14 day quarantine period after the last cough.

Gribbles don't test it, they handle the samples and forward where they need to go. Parvo and distemper to Vetpath WA and Hep to the UK. I had them done a month ago, I have the fax sheet of results from Gribbles which clearly states that the tests were performed at Vetpath WA. I was quoted about $160 to $170, I haven't received the bill yet.

Its still a fine line - presumedly they are leaving the ground corn out for nutritional reasons? Does the corn by-product they are using as a main ingredient no longer have the nutritional property that was undesirable?

I find it interesting they say on the front page they don't formulate with corn, yet have corn gluten meal as a main ingredient.

Pretty sure ringworm wouldn't last that long in the one spot, even if untreated.

Mine wasn't an age thing, it was a training issue. We did PPS and Puppy class through the one club, and letting your dog play with others before and after class, and in many cases during was very much the done thing and very hard to avoid. I let it happen as I didn't know any better. I tried to put a stop to the playing and focussing in on other dogs by the time she was about 4.5 months as it was becoming a problem but it was far too entrenched in that environment. When she was about 6 months I found a club which was closer and also offered agility foundation classes to dogs 6 months and over. The change in environment and training styles (I discovered training in drive through Steve from K9 Force at about the same time) made all the difference. I don't remember her recall being an issue in agility class, but I wouldn't have let her off-lead if it was. I know she was pretty good by the end of the 1st session (4 weeks - so she was about 7.5 months) and by the time she was put into advanced at 11 months she was well and truly reliable off-lead.

I had a similiar problem with Darcy when she was young. As my 1st dog, I tried to do all the right things by socialising her thoroughly with other dogs, and letting her play with other dogs before and after class. This meant that when it came to "working", other dogs were far more exciting than what I could offer, and I couldn't get her focus on me. It's not about control, it's about you being the absolutely best & most fun thing in the world to your dog. I got to the stage that I didn't let Darcy play with any other dogs other than my parents and friends dogs completely outside of agility because it was just too reinforcing. I made sure I was the most fun thing to her, so I spent a lot of time playing with her with toys and wrestling with her and just working on keeping her attention on me at home, and then taking it out to more distracting environments, and then finally to training. I knew we finally had it the day another dog decided that playing with us would be far more fun than working with his owner, and Darcy barely even realised the other dog was there. Now she can play with other dogs at training, even before training, but her first preference is to play the game with me. I would find something that you can offer which really excites your dog, whether it be a specific toy or a really special food treat. Work on it at home, play with him until he's completely excited, and then put the toy away and leave the game for later. Frustrate the cr*p out of him so all he wants to do is play with that toy with you, or get that special food treat. Don't let him have it unless you give him access to it, and make them really short sessions, no more than a few minutes. In regards to training - At the moment your MinPin has a record of success for playing with new furfriends at training, and its very hard to break that record of success if you keep doing the same thing. If he were my dog, I would consider pulling him from class for a bit until you have him more focussed on you, or at least keep him on lead so he can't continue to succeed with running off to play with other dogs. Good luck!

Fraid so - heard it from a mate at club who said that she knew at least one person with dogs infected, and she'd heard of more cases in general. This was about 2 weeks ago. I usually bring Darcy down the beach for a good run quite regularly but I'm not taking the risk. It only takes one person to do the wrong thing

I have heard Warrnambool has a few cases as well.

This is FWIW, as I've only taught the one agility dog, but I'm pretty happy with her weave performance. We started on channel weaves at training, then I read about 2x2 when I read Susan Garretts book so I went with that. We did all the 2x2 work, but I do admit I kept a very slight channel for a while as I wasn't quite sure of how to really close it up from 2x2. Also I occasionally left the entry slightly kicked out so it was easier for her to see and drive through. I did go to a seminar which touched on weaving methods, this person had pushed for a particular weaving method in order to get her dog single stepping through the weavers and put a lot of work into it. She did say that she was concerned as the dogs structure did not really suit single stepping, which she figured out later after the dogs weaving behaviour was well established.

I've treated Darcy once for fleas about 18 months ago as a precaution. She'd been exposed to dogs who were riddled with them and she was showing signs of being very very itchy for a day or so before I knew about the flea problem. I never found evidence of any fleas but didn't take the risk of not treating her. At that stage she was on a 1/2 raw 1/2 SP dry food. She's now on a full raw diet, with ACV as well, and (touch wood!) she's never had an issue again, despite definitely being exposed several times since. She also competes so has contact with other dogs and many different training grounds.

None - they just handle them and organise for them to be sent where they needed to go along with the other samples. They have samples head to Vetpath twice a week, I think it was Tuesdays and Fridays from memory.

Funny you should mention this, as I was just looking at when it was on as I'd like to wander down and have a look. I hope the weather holds up for everyone competing/spectating. Why do they run Nationals at a time when the weather can be so risky??

I had one blood sample taken which was sent off to Gribbles in Melbourne, the Parvo and the Distemper were done at Vetpath WA and the Hep was done in the UK. But yes they are 3 separate tests.

Adenovirus results back today, ideally should be 1:40 or higher according to the paperwork, Darcy's were 1:270 :D

In theory maybe, but in the real world I (and many others) have to work full time so I can pay the bills, including the dogs food, vet and training. I brought my pup home at 8 weeks, I had part of the week off as I'd also just moved house. Whenever I left her for any period of time, she got a raw bone to chew on so me leaving was actually a good thing. Some would cringe at giving a bone to a pup when unattended but they were always of the "safe" variety, never anything she could swallow. She also had plenty of toys, a nice secure place to sleep and a very secure and safe yard to play in. She adapted to this routine brilliantly with no barking or behavioural problems. She's now a brilliantly behaved 2.5 year old who is a joy to have around. To this day she still gets her brekky bone as the last thing I do before I head off to work. She sleeps most of the day and waits for me to come home from work to give her a good run and maybe some training. Take too long to get changed though and I get a big whingy sigh from the back door to remind me to hurry up :D

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?show...&hl=weaving There's a good summary of the 2x2 method in that thread The only thing I didn't do was reward for a "wrong" entry in the beginning, I only rewarded for a correct entry right from the start. Meant it took a little longer, but I could see the wrong entry thing coming back to bite me far too easily

Highly recommend Susan Garretts 2 x 2 method - I used it for my agility dog and will certainly use it again.

Darcy was pretty much the same, but I took her to the vets after a few days because she was starting to show signs of being "sore" i.e not wanting to cough because it hurt, and I was concerned about it settling on her lungs. Vet checked her out and prescribed A/Bs just in case. Luckily she was over it within the week. Hope your dogs are feeling better soon

Thanks KC - you did brilliantly as well! 3 out of 4 in Masters is awesome! Congrats to all on your results & your title Silvawillow I really enjoy the smaller trials - so much more friendly and relaxed than some of the bigger trials. And being home by 7 pm is I was wrapped with our work, some silly mistakes but hey we had fun. :D

I never used The Missing Link, it was unavailable by the time I switched to full raw. I do use VAN Health Booster though, seems to be doing a good job with the raw diet.

I started off with the food processor on a fine grate, I couldn't go any finer as it wasn't coping with the pumpkin very well. I bought a 1200W Breville juicer on special for about $140 and made sure it was capable of juicing unpeeled uncooked pumpkin before I purchased it. Found its much quicker and just as easy to clean. I only put fruit and veg through mine, any supplements I add when I make her dinner (ACV, fish oil capsules and Vets All Natural Health Booster).

Got Darcy's Parvo and Distemper results back from the vet today! Dog: Darcy Breed: Lab x Kelpie Age: 2.5 years Vaccinations had: C3 Protech Duromine at 7.5 weeks, 12 weeks and 12 months. Titer result: Parvo >=1:80 and Distemper >=1:80 Still waiting on Adenovirus results.

Thanks for that titre information Bubbly. I've just had my dog tested, still waiting on results, but done by a vet who has never even heard of titre testing. Worries me that they won't interpret the results correctly and will tell me that I need to vaccinate if the titre is "low", and worse won't give me a letter stating that her titre test is fine for club purposes unless I do vaccinate