JulesP

Good luck guys

Hugs Melo. I also have an oldie, a 15yo border collie. Her legs aren't good and she is deaf and a bit dotty. But she is still eating and seems happy. It is hard to watch when her legs go on her and I feel like I should have her put to sleep then, but the next second she is up and tail wagging. It is very hard when it is not clear cut. Also have a 19yo cat that one day looks on her last legs and the next day is fine.

Dova asked about corners. Her trial is on the weekend therefore she has no time to train the dog before then. I gave her a tip to move the sheep if she gets stuck.

I thought that Dova was doing her PT not trial level.

My novice tip for getting sheepies out of the corner - make sure that you are near the sheepies head! Often they stop and face the dog, so you need to switch positions with the dog. That usually gets things moving for me! I get to do this a lot as Poppy loves putting those sheep in the corner! The other tip from me would be get the gate to the pen open quickly!!

Does anyone know of any clubs that run a fun/social agility program rather than a ANKC competitive program? I know about the one held indoors at Lilydale (if they still do it). Ta

Ness there shouldn't be any corners in the instinct pen, they are supposed to round any corners out so that sheepies can't get stuck.

Congrats again Superminty

Good luck for next weekend! Remember keep with your sheep but keep walking once they are with you! I have a clinic next weekend so more started stuff.

Got to say that I am not a fan either. Not for during training. I just don't think that the dog understands that it is being sin binned. If the dog is being super hyper then it would give them a chance to calm down, for the adrenalin to lower. But I wouldn't use it if my dog just wasn't working how I would like. I would prefer to finish the training on a good note by asking for something easy so that I can have a party with the dog and then put it away. At home if the dog was in the house and being really silly then I would toss it out. But that would be tossing out from the pack and that I think they would understand, as being tossed out from the pack is bad. Being walked to the car and put in a comfy crate isn't such a bad thing.

Congrats The Spotted Devil and Superminty!

I knew that there was a potential for my girl to be a carrier. She was. I was disappointed but ended up getting her desexed for other reasons. I could have bred with her to a clear dog btw. Due to this genetic issue the owner of her sire does not allow dogs to be sold on full registry so that there is control over breeding. I guess it depends on what you planned for the dog. I would be very upset if a puppy was affected. As that would mean that someone has lied about testing as I only buy dogs from parents that have been tested.

Yes it is the steepness. It doesn't take much for me to physically help her slow down and she is fine. Back chaining on full height she was fine.

No because I don't have my own A Frame.

Poppy has really good 2o2o on seesaw and dog walk. She lovessss doing contacts and is a total pest as she will bolt over and jump on contacts to do her 2o2o, even when we are trying to pack up. She also isn't just touching her nose on the ground, she transfers the weight on to her hind end really nicely. Half height A frame - no problems. It wasn't that she doesn't understand. She just physically can't stop herself. You can see her really trying. Now she is only young and has only been on the A frame for 4 weeks and only at full height for 1 go so she will obviously improve. Brock had the same problem and about 6 months into his more advanced training just offered the 2o2o one day. I nearly fainted! The interesting thing is that when I ask for the drop she was coming off the A frame with a heap less impact on her front legs. I can only assume that her attempt to get into 2o2o was causing more momentum. She is a little, stocky border collie.

I was trying to explain, badly obviously, how my dogs move about in general. You said that 4 on the floor would work for unmotivated dogs. I don't consider mine even slightly unmotivated. They are just very calm and quiet and don't see the need to go jumping off of A frames when they can walk down them. Calm and quiet does not mean that they are not enjoying their agility. They are just calm and quiet.

Why do you think they aren't enjoying it? Don't your border collies enjoy slinking and crouching?

Laffi might be talking about Susan Garretts Crate Games, it is a DVD, available on Clean Run.

I guess the whole contact thing came about because of super active dogs that were taking massive leaps off obstacles. My dogs just aren't like that. Doubtful that either will get past Novice agility btw. They don't bolt around anywhere - there is lots of slinking and crouching etc.

My dogs don't do anything 'really fast'. I could easily do running contacts with them and am only doing 2o2o to keep people happy. Of course they may turn into lunatics during a trial but I doubt that. If Poppy isn't a lunatic whilst herding (her fav thing) then I doubt she is going to be a lunatic during agility. I am not using a target btw, just asking for a drop as she has good distance signals. Is there a reason I should be using a target?

I couldn't see that would be a problem as you would have a current vax card with a due date.

For home use or for a club?

Wow - great photos!

Yeah I asked at club. K9 Force would be great, think he is a bit out of Sydney but that is were I would be going.

ANKC affiliated clubs aren't actually allowed to take restricted breeds. It isn't up to the individual instructors.