The Spotted Devil

That's great to hear Vickie!

Wa hoo TN Way to go!!!

Wow! What a great achievement

The only National we will be doing this year is the agility one I'd like to get across to WA as a spectator though but will see how I go time wise. Lot of pressure on at Uni this year - hopefully my last as a student for a while!!!

If you want regular 2" or 3" dummies aka bumpers for retrieving there is a company in QLD that sells them. I can't recall the name but could probably find out. For the number I wanted it was much cheaper to order a heap from the US even allowing for expensive freight. Also, a few of the gundog clubs sell them - where abouts are you?

Great pics RV! Zora looks in lovely condition too - I meant to say that before. She is lean and getting some nice muscle development! Good to hear you have some trainers to hook up with too - it really helps

Picked up jump cups and bars from BB yesterday and the new equipment had a workout with the dogs - so happy with the lightness and portability of it all Thanks again, BB, for adding my bits and pieces to your order - saved me spending another $100 :D Thanks also to your OH for being around to give my gear too! Cute "guard" dogs you've got there ;)

Bump for this thread! Our agility holiday is officially over! The weaving poles and jumps arrived from Clean Run so I took the dogs to the oval today. Worked with Ziggy on weave entries, rear crosses into weaves and independent weaves with me veering off to a jump. Picked up 2x2 training with Em now that she is older and she had 6 poles sorted by the end - slightly offset and she may well forget but she was getting some nice rhythm. Put her over a couple of jumps as well just to see what she remembered. The hardest thing with her is she does everything as fast as possible so you have to be really quick on your feet! A long walk and swim was in order after all that

It was indeed a fun and successful afternoon ST! I bought the cap gun at a random toy shop - it's versatile....water pistol, potato shooter and cap gun in one. The old cap guns had strips of caps (soooo much fun!) but the PC world we live in means you have to break off single caps to put in. The gun is tiny but perfectly suited to the task.

Thanks gals - I like the sound of them but think I would prefer the dogs crated for peace of mind. Maybe on next year's free shipping wish list :D

Any feedback on the tailgate ventlocks please?

A long day at the computer, a lonely pigeon in the freezer and Mr TSD on holidays could mean only one thing this evening Had so much fun at the oval. Started with double marks using dummies (I don't think the penny has completely dropped yet so will keep it simple) then had a good rest in the shade. Then it was time to toss birdy single marks and I also used the cap gun (which is louder than the normal gun) to practice steadiness. I'm not sure who was having more fun - me, Em or Mr TSD Despite being incredibly excited, Em showed really good self control - nice and steady to the shot. On one occasion she nearly broke and then stopped herself straight away so she was still sitting but at an odd forward propelling angle. The retrieves were great - she ran hard, straight out, straight back, no parading and beautiful delivery. Returned to heel nicely but it was all she could do not to grab the bird back again - she didn't but you could see her concentrating very hard on heeling. So cool to watch - it's quite an honour to watch generations of instinct at work

Did everyone remember to order their t-shirts by today?

Oh I forgot about the lace locks - mine are still in their packet. Good to hear they work well!

I'm thrilled with everything I bought - the screw in the ground weave poles had a try out last night and Ziggy approved. Em had a go at 2x2 training with the stick in the ground poles (which will double as jumps) and she also approved of the treats that flowed out of them! For their soft travel crate I bought a dirt and water resistant "smart crate pad", a large crate crock and an all weather space blanket. The crate crock is brilliant - the large water bowl will live in my training bag whilst the attachment will remain in the soft crate. The bits and pieces to make up the jumps are fantastic as is the bag to hold it all in. I bought myself wet weather gear and socks - all great and very practical. Ziggy's humane slip lead is gorgeous and soft on the hands and Em's Kong Wobbler has given us a few giggles - much easier to load a larger amount of food into than other food toys.

She is as cute as a button Glad to hear things are going better MG

Makes sense! Maybe go back to basics then.

M_G - too hard to say really. Depends on so many things. - his genetic drive, maturity, life stage, training methods etc. Em did lots of stuff I couldn't figure out at the time but in hindsight it all makes sense. Age has changed her attitude in a huge way - for the better of course! Some Labs at 6 months are training every day pretty seriously but they are all individuals. Keep it light and fun. Make it easier if he is struggling and stop before he has had enough. Has he had an injury - could running hurt him?

That's very funny!

Agree - I would have the dog seen by a good bowen/chiro/muscle specialist. What an awful shock for the poor girl - hope she's feeling better

Mine was sealed with a kiss from the doggies at Clean Run AND Quarantine

Well it's not very often that I go to the letterbox and find.... A present from Mr TSD's folks AND notification of an interest rate cut AND (most importantly!) a card telling me my (rather large) Clean Run package is waiting at the post office Very, very happy with what I ordered and looking forward to picking up the last bits and pieces that BB kindly ordered for me. My Thorlo sports socks are a hit! Zig wasn't really in the mood to model his new humane slip lead for agility - too hot and muggy for the lad but I had to take a photo as I am delighted with the colour. The leads are individually made so you can't request a colour but you can put a preference in the notes. I asked for something to complement a handsome male black spotted Dally who looks lovely in red... Fancy getting a one-eyed foster failure kitten from Clean Run! I don't remember ordering one of those

jaybeece, I would highly recommend Lakes Entrance in the off-season. We camped at a caravan park (with an ensuite camping site) right near the beach in June or July and it was fabulous. Dogs ran on the beach every day, sometimes we walked along the beach into town and there was hardly anyone at the caravan park. The beach walks and day trips to Metung and surrounds were fabulous. We also went to Bright the week before school holidays started just before Christmas - just about had the town to ourselves :D

Oh, God - aren't they, though! :love: Reckon I could slip one past Mr TSD. The cats, on the other hand...

No Springy Ding puppy for you! ;)