Vca Inaugural State Herding Trial

[indi_dog]

I put my entry in for the Aussie Shepherd herding trial Monday Morning :rolleyes: I reeeeally want to get started on training for Pre Trial.

MrsD I saw the photo, I am insanely jealous she is such a cutie bum!!

[t(AD)pole]

Hello all! Well done everyone for the trial last weekend. I was there on Sat at about 12noon but I didn't stay long as they were about to break for lunch. I got to watch a few dogs do HT and it looks like fun!

I have been wanting to enter a herding trial with Abbie for ages but I have only just got my VCA membership finalised now. How do I enter that Aussie Shepherd trial? I looked at this link but I don't know what to do...how do I write my entry? Do I just put Abbie's VCA no., my VCA no., what class I want to enter (Instinct test) and how much the entry fee is then include the entry fee?

Thanks :rolleyes:

edit coz i cant type..

Edited August 15, 2007 by t(AD)pole

[Riles]

Hello all! Well done everyone for the trial last weekend. I was there on Sat at about 12noon but I didn't stay long as they were about to break for lunch. I got to watch a few dogs do HT and it looks like fun!

I have been wanting to enter a herding trial with Abbie for ages but I have only just got my VCA membership finalised now. How do I enter that Aussie Shepherd trial? I looked at this link but I don't want to do...how do I write my entry? Do I just put Abbie's VCA no., my VCA no., what class I want to enter (Instinct test) and how much the entry fee is then include the entry fee?

Thanks

Oh Lordy, that was the hardest part, filling out the silly forms :rolleyes: Everyone made fun of me for ages because I kept getting them wrong ;) ;) I'll send you a pm tomorrow, as I'm off now

[indi_dog]

Hey Tadpole,

To enter I just use the normal obedience etc entry form, cross out all the other disciplines (obedience, tracking etc) and write "herding". Next to it I write what days I want to enter and what test I am going for.

Then just complete the rest of the form the normal way you would for any other trial, and post it off with your cheque.

If you get really stuck let Kate know you want to enter (her details are on the schedule that you can download from the Aussie Shep website).

I think they're running 2 Instinct tests under 2 different judges on the day, you should enter both as you'll need 2 passes (unless you've already got a pass lol)

Have you and Abbie been out with the sheepies before? Let me know if you need a copy of the rules, Kate also does some training days too if you're interested.

[indi_dog]

Hello all! Well done everyone for the trial last weekend. I was there on Sat at about 12noon but I didn't stay long as they were about to break for lunch. I got to watch a few dogs do HT and it looks like fun!

I have been wanting to enter a herding trial with Abbie for ages but I have only just got my VCA membership finalised now. How do I enter that Aussie Shepherd trial? I looked at this link but I don't want to do...how do I write my entry? Do I just put Abbie's VCA no., my VCA no., what class I want to enter (Instinct test) and how much the entry fee is then include the entry fee?

Thanks

Oh Lordy, that was the hardest part, filling out the silly forms :rolleyes: Everyone made fun of me for ages because I kept getting them wrong ;) ;) I'll send you a pm tomorrow, as I'm off now

Bwa ha ha I rang the VCA so many times about filling out the stupid form they stopped answering their phone, and I had to get a friend to help me!!!!!!!

[t(AD)pole]

Where do I get the obedience form from? :rolleyes:

thanks

[t(AD)pole]

Hello all! Well done everyone for the trial last weekend. I was there on Sat at about 12noon but I didn't stay long as they were about to break for lunch. I got to watch a few dogs do HT and it looks like fun!

I have been wanting to enter a herding trial with Abbie for ages but I have only just got my VCA membership finalised now. How do I enter that Aussie Shepherd trial? I looked at this link but I don't want to do...how do I write my entry? Do I just put Abbie's VCA no., my VCA no., what class I want to enter (Instinct test) and how much the entry fee is then include the entry fee?

Thanks

Oh Lordy, that was the hardest part, filling out the silly forms :rolleyes: Everyone made fun of me for ages because I kept getting them wrong ;) ;) I'll send you a pm tomorrow, as I'm off now

Thanks ;)

Hey Tadpole,

To enter I just use the normal obedience etc entry form, cross out all the other disciplines (obedience, tracking etc) and write "herding". Next to it I write what days I want to enter and what test I am going for.

Then just complete the rest of the form the normal way you would for any other trial, and post it off with your cheque.

If you get really stuck let Kate know you want to enter (her details are on the schedule that you can download from the Aussie Shep website).

I think they're running 2 Instinct tests under 2 different judges on the day, you should enter both as you'll need 2 passes (unless you've already got a pass lol)

Have you and Abbie been out with the sheepies before? Let me know if you need a copy of the rules, Kate also does some training days too if you're interested.

Thank you Indi Dog. I haven't entered any VCA trial (of any discipline) before so I don't know where to get the obedience forms. Are they on the VCA website? I have looked but I can't find them...

I haven't done herding before with Abbie, although I think she will do fine. She doesn't need to have done herding before does she? After all it is an "instinct test".

I should probably look at the rules...are they on the net?

Thank you sooooo much!!!

[indi_dog]

You can download a copy of the rules here: http://www.badsa.org.au/ankc_herding_rules.pdf

I think you get a copy of the entry form when you get your stuff back from the VCA? It looks like a long white piece of paper. VCA affiliated clubs usually sell blank books of them too I believe.

I just made copies of my blank one after I filled the dogs details in because I'm too lazy to keep filling the things in ;)

Technically, before doing an Instinct Test your dog must have had livestock exposure. In saying that, there are plenty of people who do an Instinct Test without any ;) Remember, you will need to show the judge you can stop Abbie and recall her away from the sheep on a long line. If you have seen Indi on sheepies you can see how damn hard it is to stop some dogs ARGHH!!

There are regular herding workshops run at Four Paws Training, and Kate also runs training days too if you want to get Abbie working some sheepies :rolleyes: They're always heaps of fun!

[Riles]

Bwa ha ha I rang the VCA so many times about filling out the stupid form they stopped answering their phone, and I had to get a friend to help me!!!!!!!

;)

Then after all that fun the next challenge is working out the Gazette

Where do I get the obedience form from?

thanks

Just give the VCA a bell today and ask them to post you the obedience one, DO NOT let them talk you into the fact they think you need the showing one, that happened to me and it was the wrong one *sigh* They generally post them same day so you should get it in the mail tomorrow.

I'm as lazy as you Indi Definately the easiest way is to complete all your and Abbie's details, leave the fixture/dates/what your entering part blank and photocopy about 20 of them. That way when you want to enter something all you have to do is fill out the date(s) of the trial, the club (far left side of page) and then like Indi said, just cross out agility/tracking etc. write Herding and what your entering ie. if you are entering Instinct write HIC, Herding Test is HT and the Pre Trial is PT.

My first time I entered something I actually put a note in "hi, this is my very first entry, please let me know if I've done it incorrectly as I really don't want to miss your trial". They really are accomodating of us newbies

Technically, before doing an Instinct Test your dog must have had livestock exposure. In saying that, there are plenty of people who do an Instinct Test without any :D Remember, you will need to show the judge you can stop Abbie and recall her away from the sheep on a long line. If you have seen Indi on sheepies you can see how damn hard it is to stop some dogs ARGHH!!

Yeh what she said a lot of people go whose dogs haven't seen stock before and pass. It really is just to see if your dog has instinct, the most important thing is to be able to stop Abbie and recall her. Kate and the Sheppie Club are FANTASTIC so you'll be in great hands

Everyone is really lovely at the trials, make sure you come up and say hi, you can't miss Pocket because she is normally the only merle smooth there

[Riles]

Oh almost forgot, make sure you complete two seperate ones for the same day in the one envelope, there are two test with two different judges so if you enter both you could get your HIC on the day. Same for HT and PT

[MrsD]

Me too, I've even got another dog to do herding with .

I still havent got my videos of Jarrah working in A Course transferred & uploaded yet, Dagboy always says he's too busy :D .

A Course Tell Dag Boy to pull the proverbial finger out

surprisingly it wasnt actually that hard doing A Course, the mistakes that we made the first day were mainly mine (ie not enough control & not putting him in the correct spot when negotiating the obstacles), by the 3rd or 4th time we tried it he was working much better (or rather, I was ) & apart from a couple of small problems with the cast (I was trying to cast him too far when he's never done it before) we did a reasonable run through .

The "cutie bum" is currently fast asleep at my feet, we have had a couple of really bad nights when she howled all night (& I mean ALL night ), but last night was much better - I moved her crate to the kitchen (2 rooms ie 2 closed doors away ) & covered the crate with a couple of heavy doonahs & towels to help muffle the noise. She did howl a bit when she first went to bed, but once I went to sleep I didnt hear her again - whether thats because she stopped howling or I just couldnt hear it Im not sure ;) but at least I got a good nights sleep .

[indi_dog]

Oh almost forgot, make sure you complete two seperate ones for the same day in the one envelope, there are two test with two different judges so if you enter both you could get your HIC on the day. Same for HT and PT

dammit I filled my form out wrong I'm getting really used to this

[t(AD)pole]

Thank you so much indi dog and Riles!!

I went through my VCA stuff and I found a trial entry form. I might ring Kate once I've sent the entry just to let her know that my entry was filled in by an entry form illiterate person

See you guys at the trial!

[Riles]

surprisingly it wasnt actually that hard doing A Course, the mistakes that we made the first day were mainly mine (ie not enough control & not putting him in the correct spot when negotiating the obstacles), by the 3rd or 4th time we tried it he was working much better (or rather, I was ) & apart from a couple of small problems with the cast (I was trying to cast him too far when he's never done it before) we did a reasonable run through :rolleyes: .

Its always us isn't it the bloody dog knows EXACTLY what its doing and if us Mummies just didn't interfere then they would probably pass every time I think we will be leaving the HS until next year though, I need more training (not Rosie) :D

The "cutie bum" ;) is currently fast asleep at my feet, we have had a couple of really bad nights when she howled all night (& I mean ALL night ),

Ahhh the joys of a new baby

dammit I filled my form out wrong I'm getting really used to this

Then again maybe its me that has it wrong :rofl:

Thank you so much indi dog and Riles!!

I went through my VCA stuff and I found a trial entry form. I might ring Kate once I've sent the entry just to let her know that my entry was filled in by an entry form illiterate person

See you guys at the trial!

See you there chooka Kate is great but don't tell her I said that ;)

[indi_dog]

See you there Tadpole!

In the meantime, if you can't get out with some stock before the Instinct Test, you can practise in the backyard with a long line and a rake.

Use the rake to direct Abbie in a clockwise direction, and then get her going in the opposite direction by placing the rake in front of her to turn her. Then she'll know that the rake is for directing her and not just for raking leaves lol. Get her to stop a couple of times, and recall back to you.

A couple of dolers have put some videos of themselves up here herding, if you want to see an example of how the rake is used. Do a search for herding and you will probably be able to find a couple.

It feels really silly to be chasing a dog around with a rake, but on the day it's one less thing to worry about it you're already used to directing Abbie with the rake, and she knows the rake isn't something to be worried about.

Instinct Tests are usually pretty quick, so you might not even have to worry too much about the rake but I like being over-prepared lol I was pretty relieved I had put in a lot of practise before the state trials considering what those sheepies were like!!!!!

[Riles]

Today a lovely lady gave me some pics of last weekend, here they are......

I'm also a pretty proud mummy at the mo Rosie got her PT title this weekend She passed every test at every trial except for when I retired her last week when she went silly, so 7 out of 8 is just fantastic (basically she passed two today when she only needed one)

Riles (one very proud Mumma)

Edited August 18, 2007 by Riles

[indi_dog]

Congrats!!

Geez I was cranky at work today I hate missing out!!!

I see we are still working with five sheepies too

Nice photos

[Riles]

Congrats!!

Geez I was cranky at work today I hate missing out!!!

I see we are still working with five sheepies too

Nice photos

Thanks chook ;) You poor bugger :D

Nah the photos were from last weekend, we were back down to three sheep, below are a couple from Saturday and the girl getting her PT...

First gate pass....

Heading back to the pen....

She was ABSOLUTELY knackered yesterday and didn't move off the couch We'll still see you at the ASC trial, seeing as we are already entered we are going to do the PT again just as a practice, NO WAY are we ready to play with the big kids in Started

Edited August 20, 2007 by Riles

[MrsD]

Congratulations on Rosie's PT Riles, that is great news dunno why you don't want to go straight into Started, I took Jarrah into his A course started the very same day that he did his first PT run in training - Tracey said to me "Get out there, if you can do PT you can do Started" .

I've put in an entry for our State championships in HSAs on the 8th Sept, he's got to get his PT this weekend, the State Championships are 2 weeks later .

That reminds me, I wonder if I have to apply for his HT & PT titles before he goes in any other trials? Too late now really

[Riles]

dunno why you don't want to go straight into Started, I took Jarrah into his A course started the very same day that he did his first PT run in training - Tracey said to me "Get out there, if you can do PT you can do Started" .

Because the Mumma Bear has no clue :p Will see what the mentors think and take it from there.

I've put in an entry for our State championships in HSAs on the 8th Sept, he's got to get his PT this weekend, the State Championships are 2 weeks later .

Good luck can't wait for an update and piccies

That reminds me, I wonder if I have to apply for his HT & PT titles before he goes in any other trials? Too late now really

As far as I know, you need to lodge your HT papers with the VHA before entering the next level, that can be as simple as you've put them in the letterbox (ie. they do not have had to have reached the VCA but must be on the way). I lodged Rosie's PT today (well sent it off anyways) so I could (hypotheticaly) upgrade to HS.