jinkispirit

Yeah same here, confirmation show on NYE - odd way to celebrate it but oh well. A few friends are going so will be the social thing as well - a few wines will be shared!

Good luck - you'll be fine! Yes sweepstakes first for Xena.

Thanks Jules. I think we are looking pretty good. Group stays are easy - we do them at flyball just about every week. (I know, go figure.) At the moment we do shadow handling and heelwork at the same time (or at least in the same session) so that shouldn't be a problem - as long as I keep my signals nice and clear. Left about turn is not a problem, for some reason it was one of the first things I taught them. (even though I tell the beginners in my agility classes to forget about it unless they intend trialling in obedience!! ;) ) I've just been down in the park practising. I think I'll enter with CK and leave Xena to do agility. He had an absolute ball - both on lead and off. She just HATES working on lead - it doesn't matter how hard I work at making it fun or how much I reward she just puts her head down and looks miserable. I don't think I'll ever get her past the horrible way I first trained her. Off lead she is a dream, but the minute I ask her to work on lead I get a sad dog. Maybe I'll just have to start her in CD. (one day). If Ember can get her CCD, I have no doubt that Xena or Ck can! They are ready and need the practice working with your nerves as well!

Well done Tony, you do a lot of training with your dogs and should be congratulated with the effort and time you put in. you have 2 beautiful dogs who are well trained and it shows!

You know that is an image that I don't want in my mind nor one you should ever ever try!

Wow 2010 already Ember Agility - to have weavers consistent; to have contacts done well (to my standards of what I am asking her 99% of the time); to develop more as a team. I would like to be competing in Excellent so have our Novice titles by the end of the year. Frisbee / Canine disc - to consistenly throw 30 m +. To enhance our freestyle routine. Tracking - to get our first qualie in the new TSD levels (she got her Tracking Champion this year, which just blowed me away). Gemma Agility - to start training and by the end of the year have her competing. Frisbee . Canine disc - again consistently throw 30m+ (I suppose more my goal) and to have a proper freestyle routine. Tracking - for a young pup, she's already got her TD title so would love her TDX title. Keira Agility - to start training and by the end of the year have her competing. To control that drive of hers (not saying to slow her down, rather focus her and get her more confident). Frisbee . Canine disc - again consistently throw 30m+ (I suppose more my goal) and to develop a freestyle routine - going to be such a different routine so have to work on what elements I will have to give her to make the most of her skills/style. Tracking - get her more confident or is that me in her ability (she really showed me towards the end of the year she knew what she was doing) so would like to get her TD title as well as her TDX title - we'll see. For myself Agility - to consistently handle my dogs through an agility course. Provide them with the support they need. Frisbee - develop my throwing so it is consistent. Get to know all the wind / weather condition and what throw I need. To really know the different speeds of my dogs and to be able to consistently adjust my throwing depending on the dog. To work out freestyle routines to make the most of the abilities of my dogs and the different styles they have (it's amazing how different these girls are) Tracking - to complete my tracking judge training! To have 3 beautiful litters from my girls as well - we'll see! The main aim is their health and the development of the sensational breed I live with and share my life with.

You're so funny Agility Dogs. My brag - I finally got my first Novice Agility Qualie. My girl went really well and the training is slowly coming together and we are working as a team. I also found out in Novice jumpers that the slightest arm movement can affect her - she is really listening to me! Just a bummber in open jumpers, she came out of the weave poles - we fixed it and there was no other errors So proud of her and how we are coming along as a team. We have a long way to go and I can finally feel as if we are getting there! When it all comes together - agility is a blast!

Congratulations!! Yay to Xena I'm so glad it is not just my dog that can do weavers but in the ring a totally different story!

Training vaults is just interesting to start with. You think they get it and then you stand a little taller but leg is pretty much the same and they have the blank stare again. Or maybe that's just my girl!

The World Dog Games will be shown on Channel 7 on Saturday 19 December at 4pm (check schedule though as it may change depending on States). It would be fantastic to get heaps of people to watch this show - it should be a fantastic show with fantastic dog sports. (the more people who watch it will show how popular dog sports are and hope the event continues!) WDG took place in 31 Oct and 1 Nov at Acer Arena in Sydney - with Frisbee, agility, flyabll and dock diving. There was a crowd of 4000 people and was made for TV so I'm expecting it to be great viewing with great sports! If you are at a dog show - tape it, - it really should be great viewing!

The World Dog Games will be shown on Channel 7 on Saturday 19 December at 4pm (check schedule though). It would be fantastic to get heaps of people to watch this show - it should be a fantastic show with fantastic dog sports. (the more people who watch it will show how popular dog sports are and hope the event continues!)

Once the dog knows how to fetch, it really is improving the handling skills - for consistent long throws and consistent height etc. It's the throwing that needs the practice and what we need to work on. It's a lot of fun but like all sports does need training. Liz

Damian is organising clinics in NSW and Vic. He would love to know where exactly to hold clinics and if anyone is interested in helping set up the clinic, that would be great. Liz

There are heaps of Youtube on Freestyle which is the next 'type' of canine disc sport played. It's a lot of fun but I would recommend learning the basics first before starting freestyle but certainly motivating to see what you can do. Links for some great advice and canine disc community is – K9 Disc; Pawsitive Vybe; Discdogopedia; K9 Athlete and Disc Dog Learning Lab Some videos to watch so you get the hang of it – gives you ideas of what you want to try and also what you don’t want to try. (not in any order) Karen and Amber 2006 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAR0nvDbJP8 Damian and Tigereye 2006 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r4oCil_5K8...re=channel_page Dean and Skye US Nationals 2007 - Disc Dog Freestyle - Japan Style Vid - World Canine Disc Champs - Mark and Skyler - Jada - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec--9mk2D24...feature=related Awesome Frisbee Dogs - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsyZToSg--U...feature=related Chicago Bears Half time entertainment - Frisbee Dog - http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&hl=...p;v=axoyB4pypWY Have fun watching! Liz

Congratulaitons Tony and CK - you did a great job with CK all weekend and I was extremely proud that CK was your priority! Well done on your results - couldn't have staged a better finish then we got! Up to the final throw!

How exciting that frisbee is taking off! WDG were a lot of fun and it was great that everyone saw how much fun frisbee is. I am positive that Damian and Karen would love to organise a clinic down in Victoria - Canine Disc Australia held shows at the Melbourne Royal to start getting people interested so would be great to get some clubs happening as well. Looking forward to the 2010 Canine Disc National Championships - more the merrier. Liz

Well done Tony, Xena and CK.

I have to agree with Agility Dogs here. It depends on the sport - and I've tried most. I am mostly motivated by what the dogs themselves love - it gets them out, active and mentally stimulated. Tracking - because the dogs love it and because of the people. As you don't actually compete against anyone else, it is just whether your dog passes or not, it seems to be a lot friendlier than other sports. It's the only sport, that it is all up to the dog and you have NO 'control' over it, it's great to see a dog really working a track. But I do aim for Tracking Champions in this sport. Disc frisbee - again, dogs just love it. People are friendly and it's a great day out. Agility - dogs love it again. But I have higher goals on what I want to achieve but have so much to learn. At the moment, I am looking for real team work and working together. Although, I personally have to work on my fitness. Herding - natural instinct of my dogs but too expensive to really get into it. Obedience - vital but my dogs don't really enjoy it (like the more fast paced activities) so probably don't compete much Luring - solely because the dogs love it. They go mad over it and it's great exercise. No training required, just an avenue for them to expel some energy. Flyball - yet to try, but would like to some day. Gees no wonder it seems all my time is taken up by dog sports. Last weekend Tracking, this weekend agility and showing. I'm mad though.

That's just rude. :p Hope you have better luck at your next trial We have spoken with these 3 balloon companies now and given them our dates. They haven't even given the owners notice - they just think that they can take off from anywhere. I feel for the property owners! Molasseslass will go really well in the next trial.

Ultimiately that track was all my fault. I as trial secretary and as the tracklayer for that track, basically placed that track. Some dogs love the long grass as it holds the smell more. But it was really thick and although he did a fantastic job, it just all got too much for him. But he certainly knows what he is doing - you should be proud of him!

1. As people have answered, track on, means that you get to do your next level track and the competition. 2. Getting your dogs to sit or drop means that the judge can definitely see the indication. Sometimes, if you just traing the dog to just pause, in the excitement of a competition, when the dog might get faster (dogs also pick up on your nerves) the dog might not really give an indication of a full pause, so the judge will not award it. Personally I feel it is better to train a sit or drop and hope for the best at the trial. I have trained a Tracking Champion, another with a TD title and another who just passed her TD2. I am training them to pick them up, sit and wait for me to take the article from them. In the 3 years, I've been tracking, not once as this affected their focus when resent - you do have to train for it though. The times, people say that if the dog picks it up and carries it, in can affect their smelling of the track, but I never let the dog continue when they still have the article in their mouth. If they pick it up and you take it off them, it does not affect their rescenting of the track. I personally just feel better to be safe than sorry so would train for the better indication so a judge can never say "I'm unsure whether that was an indication or not". Good luck with it.

Congratulations - that's some fantastic results - well done. I had a trial on the weekend too, and Gemma got a very good on her TD3 and Keira got a very good on her TD2. Gemma's was through water holes so she did really well to keep tracking. So proud of my girls.

I'm very excited. My young girls had a tracking competition on the weekend and Gemma got her first title 'TD' through a very hard track and through water holes which did not deter her! The judge said it was very hard especially for such a young girl but she did it well and was awarded 'Very Good'. Keira passed her TD2 with a 'Very Good' as well. She did a lovely track and stayed really focued all the way. She has one more level to go before her 'TD' title. I'm so proud of my young girls!

Hi I don't know much about tracking in Vic - but check out http://www.trackingclubvic.org.au/. I have just attained my Tracking Champion with my first girl, Ember and we have started training TSD - the new levels that came in this year. Ember unforunately failed her first attempt at TSD1 - but not on the unknown terrain - no on grass where a herd of cattle just went passed and she followed them! I am also training my two younger girls who are 12 months. Gemma has her TD2 and is going for her TD3 in 2 weeks, and Keira unfortunately failed her TD2 at the last trial, so we are doing her TD2 again. It's a great sport so enjoy it. It's fantastic to see your dog do what it is capable of and we have to trust them. Liz

Thanks Reddii. And thanks for trusting Ember and I to me your strategic partner pair! We've certainly got 2 speedy girls! Ember is fast - if only I could keep up with herso she doesn't get too far in front of me and then wrong courses! But we are getting there - a long way to go, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. My only brag is the qualie at Novice Snooker. But I was really pleased with her weaving at the end. Made her keep doing them on one run and it worked for the next! She knows how to do them but in the ring - all sense escapes her!