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I go to agility but we played O's and X's using dogs in a stay in the squares. Surprising how many dogs moved espically as new dogs were placed and some dogs would wander off. If your dog moved I think the space was free to the other team. Played a memory game in agility where the course was laid out. The first dog did one obstacle. The second dog did that one plus added one. The next dog did those two and added one. Bit like memory with dogs! We set up jumps in a circle and just had a race round them. And we also had a race where dogs were restrained until owner called them over a distance. The dogs were timed and fastest dog won. have fun!

Hard to say as I don't know your dog as you do. When you say that you have gone a different way - does that mean you don't normally go lots of different places? I only ask as my dogs only sit for 2 reasons and it is not heat or tired. Sometimes they simply want to scratch their bum in public so people think I don't worm them! ( They are thou! ) And the little girl is not confident in newer areas. She can spot a dog she doesn't like (and that is nearly all dogs ) a mile away and stop. Or she just doesn't like this park or that street. She doesn't sit thou - just stops and usually waves the front paw in the air. So if it happens again I would consider the vet to check joints etc. But I would decide if it is just not a young dog being unwilling as he feels mentally tired. If you change direction when he stops does he then move faster ie: to get back home? Hope it turns out to be nothing physical.

I have just got home from a break after the GP. OMG!! What a great weekend. It was a really steep learning curve for me and my dogs. Now I want to run inside all the time. No more long wet grass in the mornings. I was in the smaller arena most of the time, except for a few runs and Friday nite which was a bit daunting first up. Agility Dogs - I did see you a few times thou you seemed to be always on the move and I was too shy to interrupt. Sorry. I was thinking that there would be heaps of time to catch up later but time seemed to fly. I was dissappointed when it was Monday and all over. Watched the clips you posted and your dogs ran well. It is good to see new handlers and dogs from what we normally see. Sheena - I take it you were with the group who wore black and white cowhide to the dinner? Gald you enjpyed the GP like we did. Can't wait till next year. My dogs each earned a title and seemed to run like mad things inside. Some of our club members stayed in the caravans provided and it was very social. Dinner at the club Monday was a nice way to finish up. So anyone who loves agility and a social time - plan to be there next year.

TigerJack - I think I have just twigged who you are - If you are bringing your " whole menagerie " does that mean I can look forward to meeting more little dogs? If I am right then I think you handle your dog very well for someone who has only been trialling for a short while. Agility Dogs - Maybe you'll have to slap me! My mini is half kelpie cause I was too inexperienced with dogs fullstop to consider a complete working type dog. He has been a good dog to learn with and I can still learn more with him. And my toy girl. But I am already dreaming of my next dog. Too many dogs - I need to control myself. Thou I was oohing and aahing over a black and white rescue dog. So slap me please.

I hope Pele is OK and feeling better? I take my dogs good health for granted and forget how wrong things can get. Must have been a very stressful night for you. Hope it is all good now?

I found the African dog interesting. What an amazing colour on the dogs. Its interesting what some people devote themselves to. That man puts a lot of effort into trying to save these wild dogs.

Thanks for the clues.. will drop by and say hello now I can find you. I am a bit in awe of the BC's and their handlers. I am learning still and I have a toy and mini. I have heard it is a bit chilly in Tamworth at the moment althou last year the weather seemed warmer than it is now. Have to cuddle up with some dog warmers. Rastus_froggy will pm you when I have more time. I am so lucky now in regards to training.

I hadn't seen this before until my desexed male. He is a small dog while I had big dogs before. They have no shame! I was so concerned I had to ask my vet if he was normal. He doesn't hump but sometimes in the evening he ( if not in bed) will lick until his penis is fully out. If I see him I sidetrack him but once it is done..... Worst still is at times he goes up to the other dog and encourages her to help! Recently I was away and having coffee at a outside cafe. People were commenting on how good they were. I had them tied up and in a sit nearby. Next my aunt asks what is he doing. Too late! I had to wait and then move him carefully out of sight for a while. Really changed the mood for me anyway. Hope it never gets stuck!

I understand how you feel. I have 2 small spoilt dogs and luckily don't normally need to kennel them. I stay with family and the dogs have to cope with what they get visiting. But I did leave them once for a proper holiday and was lucky there was a terrific kennel in Orange. Wonderful set up for small dogs seperate and heated. It was a shed with pens each side and cloth kennels in each one. Each run had a closable doggie door for days leading to a small private run. Daily playtime was in a larger run at the end of the shed outside double glass doors. BBQ chicken was used if dogs fretting. Coats put on and off etc as it wasa cold place. I left them once in a Sydney kennel for a day while I was at a family function. Didn't like the place much and was glad it was only for a day if that. No way would I leave them in that place for O/N. As frufru says thou I am happier to leave them in kennels where they are professionally cared for and safe. Only you can tell if you can drive away and leave them. If not then maybe a last ditch effort to look elsewhere? Some places are better set up for small dogs. Or a safe house sitter is good as well. Althou they will survive. You deserve a break too and they are probably spoilt rotten at any other time. We forget cause we spoil our dogs that most dogs do live outside in kennels all the time! Even small ones. But if you can find a place or carer you like more you will leave happier. I didn't think of mine (much) while I was away as I was happy they were safe/cared for. i understand how you feel as I couldn't drive away leaving my little gold chihuahua in a run like what you describe. She yanks at my heartstrings - what a sucker I am. Good luck whatever you decide.

I'll be there! I'm keen and I'm hoping the dogs are too! I am looking forward to going away with the dogs and others from my club. And I enjoy having a chat at trials with other like-minded people. I only helped out last year as my dogs were not ready to run yet. Sorry you won't be there rastus_froggy. I always wanted to see your little brindle guy go! I take it you have found someone to train you? Are you competing? Looking forward to putting faces ....and dogs... to other DOLers then. Might need a hint who is who as people with border collies won't be in short supply.

Me too please. I have been wanting to do fostering since I got my first rescue dog from Paws rescue. NOt renting now so possible. Thanks

I lived there for 10 years or so and the dogs on the property (GSD's) were probably not treated for tick/flea prevention. Never heard of it being a big problem. More likely to run into a red bellied black thou they were pretty OK. I liked these better than the brown snakes I met out near Orange. They were scary! Have a nice time. We used to ride horses out on the various fire trials and such. It is a lovely place - wish I was still there.

Ummmm I'm no good then. I use a pink shopping bag. Pink cause it suits the gold chi who sometimes gets a lift to the car on top of a full bag after a hard day doing agility.

Its reassuring that it is suggested that a good breeder can pick a pup to suit a buyer the best. I was considering getting a pup from a breeder next time and it is a big ask to let them pick the pup for you. But it makes sense that they have a better idea. I laughed with my friend who picked her pup because it was happiest to see them. The other pups were mostly asleep whereas her pup had just woken up. My boy I saw as a rescue and love at first sight. Drove to Panthers at Penrith from Orange to pick him up. Took less than 1 second to know he was the right dog. The foster carer only needed a minute to watch him with me and said looks like he'd be fine. The same rescue offered me another dog but in a few minutes I knew this dog was not for me. So she went back to her foster carer. Instead I ended up with a dog I would never had picked myself and ( long story) very unusual for me to get a dog so quickly like I did. She was locked up for her first 8 months and I think it was nearly home to Orange before she stopped going off in the crate. But when she did get home she jumped up on the lounge, sat down and looked at me. I called her Gemma on the spot as she was a bit of a gem. And I think she may be what DOLers call my heaRT dog. Do others listen to their trainers ( for agility etc) or people who train with them for help or opinions on their next choice of dog as well? And would a breeder tell you that she hasn't got a puppy this litter that would suit and to wait for the next litter? How often does this happen? Has anyone done this?

I think I may have been bitten by the agility bug. I might be a little bit keener than my dogs. They love training and being with me. They may not want to compet as much as me but I am still learning with them. I love the way it feels when the dog is focused and the run is smooth and everything is relaxed and easy. I enjoy the social aspect of trialling and most people share a similar interest in dogs and training. I like to meet lots of different dogs as they are all so lovely. (And people :D ) I find a competition gives me more incentive to train and improve. I want my dogs to enjoy agility and I am learning more about motivation and handling. I just happen to enjoy competing as it measures how much we are improving/learning. BUt doing well means nothing unless my dogs are happy too. I am considering getting another dog soon as I am unsure if my dogs are comfortable going much higher in agility. I would still train them even if they don't trail as they love the time spent with them.

My little ones do the same. And sometimes if I drop 2 or 4 bones ( like to add extra as the boy buries them a bit) the girl will sit and just watch the male eat. She will sometimes sit and watch him eat his dinner while her dinner is left untouched in her dish? I wonder how they tick at times.

I was off sick with the flu and can't beleive my dogs stayed in bed with me for 3 days straight. No walks and hardly any outside time. The chi x did go outside sometimes and she often just sits there waiting for me to open my eyes. Althou I am very calm wiht them they both understand I am not a morning person! But the male dog never stirred - he is a kelpie x ? chi ( rescue said anyway) . What a loung lizard! No wonder he is pretty laid back with his agility! And now I have my own house and a dog door his seperation anxiety is less. I go to work and he just stays in my bed. Doesn't even walk me to the door! Just the way I like them really.

I am looking at buying a pup in the near future. If it was me in this case I would be stunned and very grateful if the breeder offered me my purchase money back. And as to the the rest of the vet cost - it is just bad luck and one of the possible costs involved when you decide to have a dog. Hardly seems fair to you thou. I would like to know that nothing the new owners did could cause this problem. Like over stress/ exercise etc. And as the owner I would like to know that a vet my breeder trusts can do the operation at half the price ( with good results). Depends on what the op invovles and how much I trust the breeder and her vet - maybe would be better to do the op elsewhere. I would never dodge the costs but I don't like wasting money needlessly either. I think as Christina says - if you decide to refund, pay the vet so the money is going to the right place. I don't know if you can trust anyone these days. Would their vet pass on Xrays etc to your vet so you can see what has happened. As a breeder you must really want to see yourself. Sorry for this situation. I hope any breeder I choose is as genuine as yourself.

I hear you! Lately it doesn't make a difference if I am on a off lead beach, a street footpath or a leash only park - I keep meeting off lead dog agro dogs. Makes watching out for my dogs hard. It has gotten to the stage now that when I am looking for my next dog - I am hesitant to buy another really small one as I worry that one snap and they are gone. I didn't worry as much with my rotti before but then you don't want to see your big dog in a fight either. I hate " don't worry , he's friendly " as 40 kg or more of dog wants to jump all over a 4 kg dog. or the guy who told me last week as his undesexed young male was really trying to stand over my small kelpie " it's OK, he's friendly, he's only aggressive to big dogs" And I was once told my 10 kg kelpie x was " a black aggressive bastard" because he showed a set of teeth and herded a poorly socialised rude GR away. Once the GR decided better not put crap on the evil small dog, mine just walked away. Stop! I could go all day. Sorry your walk was interrupted Kavik. Do you have to walk Zoe seperate or was that some special time to make up for spending all weekend at a trial!

I used Filtabac when I was told that Zinc for humans is toxic to dogs.

Not sure if I am clever enough to copy this. Have been looking around at another rescue dog and found this : THE BRIDGE Unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and grey, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before. But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the path way leading to The Bridge to watch. It wasn't long before an elderly animal came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often. He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again. As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be. But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge. With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly and infirm. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting. One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him. "You see, that poor animal was a rescue. He was turned in to rescue just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur greying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of rescue and passed on with only the love of his rescuer to comfort him as he left his earthly existence. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge." The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?" As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted. Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life. "Watch, and see.", said the second animal. A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge. They all crossed The Bridge together "What happened ?..." "That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth across The Rainbow Bridge." Author unknown ...

How funny! Glad you found the dog and got him home safe too. What I want to know is how to find that particular dog yours wants to play with. What goes on in their heads? My chi x only plays with one dog - my aunts toy poodle. And she meets dozens of dogs. And my boy rarely wants to play but just finds a certain dog now and again. He does like small white fluffy dogs so he really fancied the Japanese Spitz he met last week and they were inseperable for 1/2 hr. Both looking slightly the worst for wear after romping on the beach. I asked if I could borrow her dog. :D

THis happens so often. My neighbour lets his dog out to wander round and say hello. It used to basically live in the house I have just brought. I don't really mind the dog so I ignore it. Unless I walk in it's poo on the drive way! He told me recently he is stopping this as the dog was getting too fat - in his travels the older neighboiurs were feeding him. But where I used to live a dodgey man used to let his kelpies out to poo. One used to go across the road in an old mans immaculate garden. I was very amused one day to see the old bloke pick up a shovelfull of poo, walk half way across the road - and then throw the shovel over his head and fling all the poo over the dog owners yard! I probably am too polite to do that thou.

I couldn't give my dogs to anyone in my family even if they would offer. However I have an aunt I love dearly who will take my two. And I am to take hers. Hope it never happens. But this also raised some questions as I think her boy dog would be happier with her sister. He is a lounge lizard and pretty spoilt. I always tend to push him a bit. And I know my boy dog is not that appealing to my aunt. I told her if she found a better home for him that would be OK. I am good friends with an old man I met in the dog park. Walked together for years. He loves my boy so that is an option. And I had this conversation with him too as he doesn't have contact with his family. But I bet if he died his family would take his considerable belongings and turf the dog. I advised him to somehow find a way his money would ensure the dog is cared for. Hire someone to care for the dog in his home or something? But unless another couple from the park step up I can see myself getting his dog. The story Steve told about the man whose dog was destroyed before he died - how heartless can people be?

To JulesP Glad your dog is feeling better. I don't know you at all but it was pretty easy to see when your posts changed dramatically that you were only joking ( or stirring ) This has been a really weird post - I had to read it again tonite as I was surprised it was still going.