caro

Hi Cessnock is the best club in the area -- you get training in targetting etc. 6pm Wed. Don't have a contact handy, but if visit the Dogs NSW website (new name for royal nsw CC) they have a list of clubs and should be a contact there. The Newcastle Obedience club also does agility on a Wednesday night (7.30pm), but don't do targetting etc and the advanced class is not supervised. there is an obed club at Maitland but not sure if they do agility. I live at Wyong and travel down to Northern Suburbs every Saturday, where I can do obedience as well -- I basically spend the whole day there with my four dogs and there is another handler who travels all the way from Port Stephens to do the same. Cessnock will start giving you prelimiary work straight away -- shadow handling etc. Newcastle you will have to wait until dog a year old and already in third or fourth level obedience there. Northern Suburbs has similar requirements to Newcastle. I highly recommend the Greg Derrett DVds on agility -- they will help set you off on the right path. Regards, Caroline

Mickydee is looking for a home! Are you looking for a fantastic dog that would be the companion of a lifetime? Or a potential top-level sporting competition dog that has already had basic training painstakingly instilled? If so, and you have a well-fenced yard area and you allow your dogs to spend time inside with you on a daily basis as well as doing lots of fun and active things outside, Mickydee would love to meet you. . Almost one year old, he is a medium-sized, short-coated black border collie x kelpie and is one of the most special dogs his foster mum has met, which is saying a lot, as she has had a dozen foster dogs in the past few years. Mickydee is obedience trained to a high level and regularly attends classes at local clubs (upper red Newcastle, level four Northern Suburbs), where several instructors have commented that he has the potential to go onto UD level. He sits, drops, stands, comes, heels, rolls over, barks on command, fetches a ball, jumps upon command (has done a couple of baby agility classes) and can be trusted off-lead even in the state forest. He is also already doing a full flyball run, with ball back to tug toy. He loves travelling in the car, gets on well with other dogs and loves people and children. He does not bark excessively, is house-trained and knows where his mat is in the family room and goes to it upon command. He is without doubt an exceptional dog and if his foster mum wasn't bursting at the seams with pedigree youngstock he would be staying with her for ever. Mickydee will be $250 desexed, vaccinated and microchipped. Please only enquire if you can meet the criteria mentioned at the beginnning of the story and have some experience with dogs. For more information ph Caroline, Border Collie Rescue Australia volunteer, on 0410 049 379 or email [email protected] Mickydee can be viewed by arrangement in Wyong where he lives, or on some Saturdays at Northern Suburbs (St Ives) and some Sundays Newcastle (Hillsborough)

yes, I think Trent's wife is called Kylie. They moved to ACT last year. The two-day SG obed I went too more like a seminar than a training group and you really don't do that much with a dog except try a few of the lower-level exercises out so don't be put off if cannot take a dog. She is absolutely brilliant at clicker training and targetting. If you haven't seen a top clicker trainer at work, you will be transported to another world. Very much worthwhile. It has totally turned the way I train upside down. I feel so sorry for my older dog as to what I put him through when I didn't clicker train and make everythign FUN rather than hard work and boring. Caro.

Yes, Sid, used to do a lot of gridwork with horses to for style. Hopefully someone reading this might like the sound of Darcie and want to take her on? I'm going to SG depending on finances. Went to one by her in Sydney a coupel of years ago and very impressed. Regarding Vickie's query about doing both here is what Trent Shepherd, AFA judge and agility/flyball competitior says: I think that Jem does well at both Agility and Flyball, Did he knock bars? yes there is a very different style of jumping between the two disciplines. In Flyball I trained him to jump long and flat, when we started agility we had a few problems with bar knocking. To resolve this I learnt first of all to become a better handler, and with the help of Vanessa from the South Coast club did a program devised by Susan Clothier to train him to jump up and arch his back with the use of a chute. Lookup the Clothier Natural Jumping Method: by Suzanne Clothier. There are other techniques for bar knocking that I also used such as letting him know it is an unacceptable behavior by stopping everything in training when it occurs. Being a dog of high drive this really upsets him. Before he would knock say 3-4 bars in one run nowadays he knocks the bar because he has dumb handler! kind regards trent

Hi Vickie, Umm. I think the ones generally I know that have that problem are pretty full-on dogs regardless --sort of bull-at-a-gate-type dogs. Dusty in our number one team is pretty full on but does do agility. I'll ask the owner what her experience is. Personally, if you have a top agility dog I wouldn't do it unless I was thinking seriously about concentrating on it largely because of the time involved in addition to encouraging the dog to think speed is where it's at. I was training a dog in agility and made it to one trial, but doing both was just too much. Horses, which have a fraction of a dog's brain capacilty, manage to do cross country with fixed jumps they brush freqeutnly and then do showjumping and they learn to differentiate between what is required so an intelligent dog should be able to too if you are very clear about your criteria for reinforcement. Obviously if the flyball is revving them up too much you would have to rethink doing both with the same dog. Regardless, flyball is definitely a great alternative and just as much fun and worth having as a backup as one gets older and backs and bones start playing up. Will PM you what Dusty's owner says. Cheers, Caro

Do you get the feeling that Sid's foster might be staying permanently with her?!! Yes, flyball much easier to learn than agility. Also less physical for handler so good for aging agility people who can't keep up with their dogs. Downside it is a team sport and takes a long time to get five or six dogs up to competition standard in a new area (as I am trying to do on NSW Central Coast). See you Tuesday night, Sid. Vickie, you'd be most welcome to come along and have a look. Trim would pick it up in no time. Caro Norwest Thunderdogs/Central Coast Flyball/BCRA foster mum

Hi Dasha, Official policy and reality can differ and if you read the RSPCA fine print even it says something about "exceptional circumstances". Do not speak to the people on the front desk if interested in Milo-- only Cherie, who is obviously limited in what she can say but can tell you about the dog. As per earlier comment by me, extreme tact is required or I won't be able to list such dogs in the future. Milo is last chance status and, for a dog not coping in kennels, has already been there two months plus. PLEASE DO NOT MAKE WAVES BY ENQUIRING AT THE FRONT DESK IF HE HAS BEEN PUT DOWN YET!! Caroline

Hi Have emailed for an update and more pics if there is still time. Caro

Hi Speaking generally about the topic of dog control at flyball training, I am a member of a flyball club and we are extremely careful about working dogs off lead. If green dogs are doing an off lead exercise only one at a time and the other dog has to be secured before next one starts. Obviously it goes without saying your dog should be reliable off-lead at home and on the flat before you attempt flyball exercises and it should not be working off-lead at all if it could pose a foreseeable threat to others or doesn't have a reliable recall. Even a crash can put a dog off flyball and my older dog will not have another dog run on him after a dog snapped at him when he was returning. Obviously dogs are not motorcycles and sometimes something will go wrong and you just have to accept that fact, as I did with this. The dog just snapped and did not actually go for him and some dogs do this as a mannerism when excited and if your dog is not tough enough to bounce back and training cannot remedy it that is your hard luck. However, in addition I have developed a canine sense similar to "boat room" and in adidition to adhering to the win-win and don't ask your dog a question if you don't know the answer school of thought, before doing anything off lead with my dog scan the area, see who else is working and if I have any negative vibes wait until it is finished. I believe this has saved my dogs from quite a few negative experiences. The instructors can't be everywhere and some people are always the optimist when it comes to their dog doing what they want. So basically, I always try to be aware of what is going on around me and set my dog up for the best possible experience. Interested to hear what others think? Are dogs that don't have reliable recalls being let off lead at other clubs? There were some demos I went to a while back that were like dodgems but I'm not too aware of training procedures elsewhere. I'd personally remove my dog immediately from such a situation. Caro I don't understand why your asking me what I mean by nevermind. I was wondering what nvm meant. I wasn't there by the way and I didn't see the incident. I haven't made any comment on this forum about it either. You seem to be taking this very personally.

Hi That's very sad. Isn't there anyone else out there looking for an agility/obed/tracking prospect??? Caro

PS forgot to say that she says he is toy and ball orientated (although needs training to bring ball back consistentlly) and SMELL ORIENTATED, which I assume is important for a sniffer dog.

Hi Milo still in danger -- Cherie has not reported any enquiries. Regarding the sniffer possibility, this is what Cherie (a RSPCA behaviourist) says: "We'd be happy for Milo to go to this sort of situation. He would suit the work as he is just so enthusiastic about EVERYTHING. I'm sure we could organise transport to Yagoona." (That's the RSPCA rescue centre in Sydney, where they can view him). Again, if the sniffer person is genuinely interested please follow up. He is a lovely dog. Caro

Hi Did reply to this but must have hit wrong button. Local rescue groups often help get a dog down to Sydney provided it doesn't have kennel cough. RSPCA cost is usually $250, which includes all vet work. Again speak to Cherie about the sniffer bit -- she'd be able to tell you whether would suit. Not sure about RSPCA regs but maybe if you are accreddited sniffer dog trainer she might even be able to let you have him on trial, or possibly transfer him to the Yagoona RSPCA so you can at least assess him there and maybe give him a few test training sessions? Obviously with time short you are better phoning, but her email is [email protected] Regards, Caro

Hi I think he does fetch or at least show keen interest in ball, as behaviourist thought he'd be good at flyball. Medium height. He is just very intelligent and wants to work with you, play with you, be challenged, learn -- basically he's just too intelligent for your average pet home but could be a champion for someone who knows a bit about dog training -- as in giving him positive training, boundaries, structure etc. There is now a photo on the listing in the urgent rescue section of this forum. If you are interested, ring the animal behaviourist, who can tell you everything you want to know. I have had other dogs assessed similarly by this behaviourist and they have been fantastic -- I sold the last one on to my obedience instructor in a week!!! A few clicker training sessions and sensible, consistent handlling and it was a different dog. Sadly, I cannot take him on myself or would be divorced. Cheers, Caro

SEE X POSTING IN URGENT RESCUE -- PIC COMING LATISH TUESDAY MILO -- LAB X COCKER SPANIEL This dog was posted two months ago but home fell through and he is now in the RSPCA's last chance club. He's only young, a lab x cocker spaniel, highly intelligent, high-drive, no vices apart from digging etc but needs guidance and an experienced handler who will put the time into him. He is at the Hunter RSPCA in Maitland. The animal behaviorist thinks he has the potential to be a competition dog in the right hands. Not in urgent need but also with agility/obed potential to make two hour trip from Sydney worthwhile, a young male BC x belgian shepherd, available in adoptions from Friday. Caro BCRA Central Coast (Yes, I know he's not a BC but they contact me about anything with high drive and obedience agility potential.) Here is what the animal behaviorist has to say. There is a contact for her at the end if interested. I have a pic but attempts to attach it have failed, so PM me, or if there is anyone who can add it for me, email me and I'll email you.: Milo: > 1 year old, Labrador x Cocker Spaniel (Spanador), Golden > Milo is an exuberant, boisterous dog who is very enthusiastic about > everything. He is social to the extreme and loves to play. He is a smart boy > who will learn quickly given the right training. Milo needs an experienced > owner with the time and energy to keep up with him. He can be destructive if > bored. > > Milo gets along great with other dogs but any canine companions will have to > be capable of putting up with his incessant play! He is not a good choice as > a companion for young children as he will tend to knock them around with > love... He requires a lot of attention and time from his new owner as well > as ongoing training and lots of exercise. > > Thanks > > Cherie Bekker > Animal Behaviour and Training Officer > Hunter RSPCA > (02) 4939 1555