Joan of Arc

Have you joined the local obedience club? I would join and take him every week and then he can do some obedience trials. Heeling work on lead should be added to all these excercies.

Not sure if you are prepared to risk a finger or two at first :D but I would try check chain, make sure it is up high almost behind her ears an dcarry lots of treats. Just practice in a small area first and carry a bunch or treats in your left hand - keep it down and forward of your left leg so that she knows the heel position. Keeping treating her while she is in the correct position - if she moves, give the heel command, check and when she returns to the correct position - use a bridge word such as YES!!! and treat. I know it sounds simple, and easy but if you persist she will come round - after all Labradors are not only very intelligent and easy to train but food is thier greatest motivator.

At our club Newfsie and I were told that if your dog fouls in the ring its a disqualification. Suppose I should have read the rules more carefully instead of accepting thier word for it. :D off to check rules

My heart goes out to you bini RIP little Mac

I have shown for years and wasnt very competitive about it - my attitude was always 'I've paid $10 fo rthe judge's opinion and if I dont like his/her opinion I wont pay for it again'. But I cant show anymore because of my knees. SO I trial, to the best of our (the dog and I) ability. I like to try to do my best, I like the challenge etc I could just say my reason is the as everyone else except I dont think I am competitive just strive to do better and improve on errors. But we are a good team I think and I cant wait to prove to others that my dogs are all - rounders, good in the show ring, great in the trial ring and excellent gundogs. The only thing I find strange is that we do obedience and we are the only Lab at the trials.

I thought that it was 5 mins of exercise for each month of life so 20 mins sounds fine to me. No I believe 20 mins is too much for 16 weeks. At that age I would recommend a 10 min walk (not big hills) or maybe 15 mins of light play but not with lots of full grown dogs. When our pups at 12 weeks spend time with the big dogs, we limit it to about 5 minutes of following the big dogs around the yard and then we separate them. This gives the pups time to rest and recover at thier own pace.

Popsicle having just lost our beautiful girl Cassie we can understand your pain. Please accept our deepest sympathy, to lose such a loved member of the family is a devastating event. RIP Cosmo

if u can volunteer to steward ya learn heaps. I would second that. I was steward at two trials before I entered my first trial and I learnt so much, not just from the stewarding itself but also from the judges. They knew it my first stewarding attempt and that I was planning on trialling and they were fantastic, giving clear instructions, explaining why etc .

Highly recommend the BUnnings Compost Crates. We used two flat packs to make a run for 8 Lab puppies, and they used it until they were 9 weeks old. To make it a bit stronger I also bought some of BUnnings' green rose stakes, not the really long ones, and did the following. USe two sections of compost crates, buy some curtain rings form Bunnings (like a split ring) and use the curtain ring to join the two sections. This creates a corner so you can turn the pen around a bend if you need to. It also gives you a point where you can drive the rose stake down the centre of the curtain ring and this is a strong point in your fence. I know that rambles, but does it make sense? If not I will try and post a photo for you .

Jenna I am sure you were much loved and will be missed. Run free little girl and look for our Cassie to keep her company. RIP beautiful girl

Thank you newfsie what beautiful words and a beautiful story. Yes training was hard tonight, to look back and not see that gorgeous yellow girl waiting for us to finish, it broke my heart. But we have to be strong because we know that in the long run it was the right thing to do for Cassie. It doesnt mean it wont continue to hurt for many moons but its bearable with the support of our many 'doggy' friends.

What beautiful words Hesapandabear thank you. And thank you to all who have supported us and posted over the past days.

It is with a very sad heart that we tell you that our beautiful Cassie - Leebru Sarabande - crossed the rainbow bridge to be with the angels. She was only with us for two wonderful but short years and in that time she captured our hearts and has now taken them with her. RIP our beautiful girl we will miss you so very much.

Congratulations Agility Dogs you have had a big but successful weekend.

Not as good today only 75 and I cant blame my very special girl, it was all my fault. I was a bit nervous and a little off as you would have read in teh Lab thread. I tried not to worry but never mind we will see what comes in the morning

I am here now........Annabelle ( I am sure due to my nerves) failed yesterday and we got over that by getting second in the CCD trail today.We have our first ever trophy and ribbons. .......... My clever big newfie girl. I do adore that sweet girl I think after her dreadful start in life and having to restart her life at thirteen months with us, she has done very well She was such a brave and beautiful girl and her drops were fantastic.

Well we got a second pass today. Not as high as yesterday but a pass is a pass. So am I correct we only need one more pass for CCD? Newfsie where are you to add to this brag???

We entered our first obedience trial today in CCD and Tina was great. She lagged a little on the figure of 8 but I think that's because I have a tendancy to drop my left shoulder. The judge commented that I didnt heel in a straight line and I should watch where I going - when I told him I was - I was watching the ground because I have had a total knee replacement and I'm petrified of falling over he said he wished he had known that before he scored me. We scored Heel on lead 22 Stand for exam 10 Recall 19 sit stay 20 down stay 20 Total of 91

I'm thinking you took the right red dog....not many can claim a 200 in Open and a UD win :D LOL we had no form at home and he came out and worked really well. His work in UD was actually better than his open work. I guess not many dogs can jump on a plane - fly to the other side of the country and come out and win open and UD and get 200 Will be buying a bottle of Moet when I get home - its the first 200 we have ever got. Scootas mum came close many years ago with a 199. YEP I did bring the right dog with me Congratulations

I have just received my receipt.......Think positive ( I keep telling myself) and otherwise just have fun You think tomorrow will be on if it is raining.....We will see you at Nine. If it isn't on, we will just go and wash&blow the dogs at K9catfish Well I think today wasnt too bad for both our girls and we can only hope next weekend is as successful. I was very proud of Annabelle, she did a great trial............I was even more impressed with their recall from those two noisy ones. At least ours came straight out when called back to the jeep Yes and at least our dogs were under control at all times and didnt need 4 or 5 people to catch them and get leads on them. And also that when our dogs heel on lead they look like they are heeling, not jumping around and going schizzo - even if they got more points in the heeling exercise I was very happy with Tina and was proud of her efforts also. I think we will both be ok on the weekend and just hope for the best.

Just a thought, what about going to Repco or similar and buying a car horn. You know the type with the black bulb on the end that you squeeze. YOu could either put it down low and teach your dog to stand on it or mount it up a bit higher and teach the dog to squeeze it. Worth a shot.

I have just received my receipt.......Think positive ( I keep telling myself) and otherwise just have fun :rolleyes: You think tomorrow will be on if it is raining.....We will see you at Nine. If it isn't on, we will just go and wash&blow the dogs at K9catfish Well I think today wasnt too bad for both our girls and we can only hope next weekend is as successful.

Hi Newfsie, entries for Wangaratta posted. Just have to get past Albury next weekend first

I remember when I first posted this I was full of drive and so was Tina. Now there is only two weeks to the first trial we've entered and Murphy's Law has of course reased it's ugly head. Tina has been in season, then CAssie came in to season and the dogs were still going gaga over Tina she smelt good I suppose) so that meant no training for 4 weeks and then last week it was absolutley pouring down and couldnt even get out the front door to go to training. So its off to training tomorrow night and hoping that we can get enough training in over the next10 days to give her a fair chance of a couple of passes.

Just popping in to see if youhad picked up your puppy and if you had some photos. GOod luck with her