Vickie

I would love to see some video too

Seriously? The increased awareness & participation in a sport like agility is dramatic since I started 10 or so years ago. There is a distinct trend in people looking for higher drives as they choose their next dog. I tend not to use the words high drive when describing my dogs much (especially since knowing Prix ;) ) it's all relative isn't it. It really is neither here nor there for me. What is important to me is that they have useable drive for what I want them to do.

Yay! Can't wait to meet you Ap

it won't be the same without you Barb. I always enjoy catching up with you at nats.

She's looking really great RS On a straight entry, Try hanging back a bit & let her find the entry on her own & then catch up. Her weaves are looking pretty awesome

YEP! Lots & lots of meetings

Oops thought I had but couldnt find it. Thanks, have passed that on to the web designer. Lol at Polo...feral is fun!

Not sure if I have posted the link to this yet or not... http://www.agilitynationals2012.com.au/ It is shaping up to be a great event, the biggest nationals yet! As well as 5 days of amazing Agility from every size, breed, skill & speed of dog from all over Aust & NZ, we will also have stalls of dog related merchandise, media coverage and some great sponsors. If anyone is interested in a stall or sponsoring this event, please pm me & I will pass on your details. Hope anyone local considers coming along to watch

I wouldn't take on a dog who had a prior injury like that for agility. There are plenty of medium sized dogs available who don't have an injury & her life would probably be a lot better as a pet.

I like the new system. Problem with the old system is that it means a different thing depending on the state you're in. If you have 4-5 very fast consistent dogs who are at every trial, it can be damned near impossible for anyone else to ever place even though they may be awesome agility dogs. Bummer is that we just did our last agility runs for the year. Trim only needs a few 4? agility places, but now all her first places will only count for 10 points so we're miles away now

This last weekend in Masters Jumping we had 10 x 200 9 x 300 16 x 400 35 x 500 (14 of these were BCs) 14 x 600

Personally I don't like the idea. Even if the person teaching it had the experience to explain the subtleties of body language, it is doubtful that the students would learn from a class what experience needs to give them. Reading body language wrong can end in disaster. Body language is a total picture, it cannot always be qualified in terms of posture or ear set or tail set. Only someone who can interpret the total picture, can really read body language. Not only that but because body language is often a response, things can and do change very quickly. If you are not reading it instinctively, the situation may well have changed before you have even had a chance to consciously analyze it. I have 4 dogs here. In a situation where each were to present their belly to another dog, it would actually mean 4 different things as there is a set of nuances that come before and after this act.

Wow, he sure loves to weave!

I've never heard of this rule, but will bring it up at our next committee meeting

thanks AL I am sure most of it is her breeding. She has really great conformation and is very well put together. Her grandmother when she was 12 was still about the fastest dog I've ever seen & I haven't seen her Mum for a few years but I'm willing to bet that at about 12 now, she would still be spectacular. The only credit I can take is that I followed nutritional advice, have always kept her lean (well except for the tub of butter and a chocolate birthday cake issue) and touch wood, other than a sprung toe, she has never had an injury. I cannot even imagine retiring her, I think she would scream the place down if I took her to a trial & didn't run her.

I'll have 3 in a 2-3 years for Agility. Trim is nearly 8, Shine is 5 & Fly is not 6 months yet. I'll probably still run Trim once I start Fly, but since she has all her titles, will probably just enter her in 1 or 2 events (so she doesn't hate me lol). I can already see myself wanting another pup for sheep at some point in a few years . That one may well end in divorce ;) but I am starting to record my husband saying what an awesome puppy Fly is and how she's no trouble so that I can remind him how easy he thought having a puppy was

Sure does! But I know a number who do both well. I have the opposite with Trim. There's pretty much nothing she won't walk in on, but trying to get her to kick right out is hard. Well, hard for someone with my experience level, when other people work her, she is generally much wider. She also flanks much wider on real sheep, rather than training sheep.

She's not far off Trim, she's growing like a weed

I know! I am so hoping she will stay like that but obviously it's very early days. It's one of the things I am most excited about Go on...join the dark side

Well Fly met the real thing last week for the first time and I'm very happy with how she went. She started off pretty feral, then surprised me by settling within a few minutes. I didn't expect her to be so calm since everything else she does is 100 miles an hour, but I am super happy about it. I showed Peppi the video & she is very pleased that she doesn't have to do sheep imitations any more

All levels AL . Novice, excellent & masters + opens & all the games. Hope Mindy is healing well.

Each heat will give you a shot a the final, so yes, you enter all 3 heats if you want to try to get in the final

We also have a Facebook page Nationals Agility Trial NSW 2012 Feel free to like it to help us with our sponsors

Here is the link http://www.agilitynationals2012.com.au/ Hope to see you all there

I thought this was really interesting, so I conducted an experiment this morning. Subject: Trim, working Border Collie Environment: in a paddock with sheep. Behavior: recall off sheep Seems like the theory works. I found her anticipation was the same each time and her response to the rewards presented varied. Reward 1. gets to work sheep again. Anticipation...staring intensely at sheep, quivering Reward...did a nice steady cast & fetched the sheep Reward 2. Tennis ball (one of her obsessions) Anticipation...staring intensely at sheep, quivering Reward...glanced at me like I was an idiot, and went back to staring intensely at sheep, quivering Reward 3. Game of Tug Anticipation...staring intensely at sheep, quivering Reward...glanced at me like I was an idiot, bit me on the arm and went back to staring intensely at sheep, quivering Reward 4. Food, fresh skinned rabbit Anticipation...staring intensely at sheep, quivering Reward...glanced at me like I was an idiot, bit me on the arm, grabbed the stupid rabbit and whacked me in the knees with it before tossing it aside in disgust and...you guessed it...went back to staring intensely at sheep, quivering