Natsu chan

Thistle did you want to go and watch? If that's what you want to do Dogs Vic have a calendar on the website and there is a site that has the dates of the performance trials listed too. If you want to trial and use the Park then full membership will cost you less in the long run if you are thinking of trialling. The newsletter is actually a magazine. If you want to trial then Thistle needs to be registered as an associate dog (has to be desexed for that) and you need to be a full member. Associates can trial in all, all breed performance sports, so anything other than herding and retrieving. The reason you need to be with a member or be a member to use the park is because a number of non members have totally ignored the rules. Allowed dogs to attack others (one I believe while it was being trained off leash as they had just released their dog from the car in an on lead area). They of course just pack their dogs up and disappear after these incidents. I can remember at one stage seeing a dog walking person turning up with a van full of dogs and just opening the doors and letting all the dogs loose on the back training fields regardless of who else was there or what they were doing, again another non member. I'm one of the library staff so I have seen a few of these things and I'm not surprised at all that they are now cracking down on non members keeping in mind the fact it is private property so there is also the issue of insurance and liability.

OP there are usually people who train up at KCC Park during the week informally. Usually just small groups of friends who go up and train their dogs together. Most days there are members up training but you need dogs vic membership to be covered by insurance as it is private property. This is being clamped down on now after a number of non members and their dogs have caused problems or have been abusive or just have blatantly ignored the sign posted rules. Sure no one would have any problems with you training your dog but just be aware.

Another suggestion what about dances with dogs? It's fun the dogs can work in close and away from you. It involves lots of tricks and the dogs seem to enjoy it. Mine would love to do it but the handler here is in no way co ordinated and almost lands on her backside out tracking or doing the figure of 8 in obedience (and we won't mention the 3 steps back in rally will we....) so no dancing for us! Do think about the tracking and try the club. If you can find the time think about coming and looking at the track and search trial just to see what you think. There is bound to be something out there you can do that you will both enjoy you just have to find it. :) Don't lose heart!

Tracking is finished for the year now because now the snakes are coming out. However contact the Tracking club of Vic, they're a friendly lot. They do a tracking workshop in Autumn each year, most people love it as it is overnight and very social and of course then when everyone is all flaked out around the fire all the crazy stories come out. :laugh: Not many of the obedience clubs do "formal" tracking training as it is very difficult and time consuming to do it that way. The GSD club are running a track and search trial at KCC soon if you wanted to go volunteer to help (no such thing as too many volunteers!) you'll meet a lot of tracking people and they will point you in the right direction. Dogs have to be tracking champions to trial in track and search. Most obedience clubs will do rally o. Don't let people spoil things for you, most obedience people are in it for a fun day out with their dogs but of course everyone is different and you get those who trial for HIT or for 1st place. Really though most of us are just relieved to get a pass card at the end of the day and anything else is a bonus! :D

Staffymum, in most states when the breeder breeds a litter the state body (in your case Dogs WA) register the whole litter in the breeders name. The body then issues these papers to the breeder who then passes them on to the new owners. As the vast majority of puppies are in pet homes with non members these puppies as far as the state body are concerned stay in the breeders name. This doesn't mean that the breeder still owns the puppy only that they have not transferred the ownership of puppy with the state body, which in most states is something the breeder can not do. When the owner (in your case that is you) receives the papers it is up to them to transfer the puppy into their own name with the state body. You then get issued a nice new pedigree with your name as the owner of the dog. With regards to the chip number, those stickers are a pest. You use to be able to write the number in on the form but now you are required to use one of the stickers you get when the vet chips the puppy. A lot of breeders will wait until the litter is all sold before registering the litter as you must register every puppy in the litter at the same time and if people are choosing their own names (which is often not the case) that can mean things take a bit longer. My litter the turn around time for lodgement of the paper work to collection of papers was 3 weeks. So add a bit of toing and froing and the time can extend out quite easily. Don't panic, DogsWA are saying the puppy is registered so more than likely the papers are either on their way to the breeder (and we know what Australia post is like these days!) or on their way to you. Does that help you any? It can be confusing. Congrats on the puppy!

I agree! I have two of them as well. My first one is about 8 years old and still looks like new. I have my prefix on them as well which is such a lovely extra to be able to do. They really are the best crates, my old one has survived having a litter full of puppies in when I had the pups up at dogs vic for cuddles with no dramas. 6 Collie puppies having a festival of fun in them would make most crates unstable but Meg's stayed right where it was put even with the obedience people ducking in and out for cuddles.

Collies raised with kids are usually good family dogs. However temperament is completely different to Goldens and Labs. The thing with Collies (aside from the seasonal coat drop) is that you do find some of them like the sound of their own voice. They are also not always the easiest dog to do dog sports with as they are so sensitive, the gun dogs can be more forgiving in that regard. I do obedience, rally and tracking with my collies and they are easy to train but when I get worked up they get worried. On the other hand they tend to be calmer and quieter than a lot of the gun dog breeds. I have had Collies for 30 years and they are just lovely family dogs but they are very different to the other two breeds you mention so it would be a matter of meeting a few and seeing what sort of temperament you prefer.

I brought some about a week and a half ago from the Bunnings in Cranbourne. $30 now for the four panels. Can't beat that. :) They are with the compost bins down at ground level and not always easy to spot. Dandenong didn't have any but Cranbourne had a ton. This is in Vic.

Jess the library does do postal borrowing. So if the club wants to look at something before they purchase a copy for their own library that is an option. The In focus DVDs are very popular, as are the Michael Ellis ones (can't seem to keep those in for more than a week!) For rally there is a CD rom done by one of the QLD dog clubs that is excellent.

Jess not sure where you are but is the club aware that Dogs Vic have their own library? I am one of the helpers and we have quite a selection of DVDs and books on all the various sports and on instructing so it maybe worth someone in the club coming for a looksee to see what we have and deciding what they might like for the club's library. :) We usually do a bulk purchase from Clean run when they have free shipping. Dogwise is another we order from.

The purple spray (the main brand being Cetrigen which is in a small white aresol can) is brilliant stuff but yes if it gets on you wet it stains... http://www.virbac.com.au/files/live/sites/au-public/files/pdf/PIS/horse-owner/Cetrigen-PIS.pdf If there's no wound repel -x (made by Troy) is the best thing I've ever found, we had huge problems with fly bites at one stage and nothing else worked. Best of luck!

Take him to Sandown, we go there too after going through lots of vets trying to find one who would help my old girl and actually cared about her. Very happy with them though I see Elissa usually not Alistair. Their fees are very reasonable and all the staff I've had contact with are lovely. Best of luck I hope he feels better soon! ETA Elissa does acupuncture as well which is another thought but not sure if she's there at the moment.

I have rough Collies and we use these: http://greyhoundproductsdirect.com.au/shop/value-plus/canine-all-wormer-tablets/ I totally understand about you concerns with invermectin. Many vets still don't seem to know about MRD1 and I have had several tell me I'm fussing when I refuse to give my Collies drugs on the don not use list. You can use most all wormers, I use the one above because it does everything but is very no frills.

Oh come on Sue....look at me still chasing that first novice pass.... Waldo will probably have his OC before we accomplish that little mile stone. :laugh: Enjoy he went really well and it's great to see a bit of variety in ring, breed wise I mean.

Tassie you should have seen the look I got when I mentioned UD! LOL! Was just wonderful Sue. Just so pleased for you, a lovely way to finish off the season and a title. Well done both of you.