angelsun

We incorporate Rally into every obedience class. KVKC is hoping to host a Rally Seminar in the next few months as well and will post dates when we get the details sorted.

We're currently using some ground in Myrtleford but have ability to train in Markwood and towards Bright (thanks to the generousity of some supporters!) Yes we'll be putting on conformation shows as well as obedience trials and much more in time.

I want to announce officially the King Valley Kennel Club which will be welcoming all interested of course, but specifically to serve the areas north of Benalla to outside Wangaratta (Glenrowan/Moyu area) and through the communities of Oxley, Milawa, Markwood. This group was formed as many dog clubs are formed, by the need for the average dog owner, to better train their dog and eventually consider trialling and even conformation showing and breeding. Quite a few months ago in late 2009, a number of people were enquiring about the need for good old fashioned obedience training, questioning what obedience trials were all about, and even some hearing about Rally Obedience but knowing nothing about it. We came together as a casual group at first, and then after some consideration, decided to form a club who's goal is to truly help the membership by offering them what they, the membership wants, not what the committee or board of the club might think they want. As a group of dog lovers, we've been active in both traditional obedience and rally training and it won't be long before we kick into gear agility training as we have quite a few that are very interested in doing this. We are as of yet, not affiliated with the VCA but that is simply due to this group not being an official (incorporated) club long enough to comply with the rules for affiliation. When this happens, we will be actively seeking all breed conformation show dates as well as obedience trial dates. We will be offering Rally Obedience trials when this sport is officially recognized as well and we are going to do our best to hold agility trials (but this will take a bit longer as there is a lot of work to be done and of course gathering equipment to hold the trials) We are grateful for the amazing support that we have had to date for this young club and thankful to those that have stepped up so far and donated the use of grounds as well as the offer of two days of amazing best in show prizes for a club that doesn't even have our dates settled yet!! We also are running a raffle with amazing prizes donated which includes our first place prize of a 32" LCD-HD Television!! Thanks to the Wangaratta Kennel Club that permitted us to sell tickets for this raffle at their show this weekend and have been wonderfully supportive of this club and it's goals. We are looking forward to working more closely with this club in the future. To anyone that may be in this area, (or anyone really at all) that is looking to find a fun and supportive club for training in various disciplines, please contact the club secretary at: [email protected]

We are expecting a very large crowd next weekend. don't forget if you have a laptop, to bring it along and a long power cord as you can easily follow along in the powerpoint presentation. I've got a ton of paperwork to get ready since I've found out how many are expected!! Oh and for those attending....I'm the one with the accent

Congrats to Jo and Jaime's German Pinscher "Rex" who was one of the ones that completed this test! He is officially known as Ch.Firedragon Empyrean King CCD, ET He's Angel's "hubby"

One of our girls has done exactly the same thing (although was four months between seasons) She cycles frequently normally anyway.

It depends..if I do progesterone I will do a mating the day I know is needed and then cover the day after. If I don't do the blood work, I tend to see when she will accept the male if it times into roughly what day she's on in her heat cycle. If she's not a slut and actually SERIOUS about it, I'll let the male breed her three days in a row as long as she accepts things and he's interested....have had great success with this way in the past.

Wanted to let folks know about the VERY successful event that took place in Hobart over the weekend. The TCA gathered the ENTIRE contingent of obedience judges, less one, and I was invited to instruct them on course design, marking and ring proceedures. We got a bit of a late start due to a couple judge arriving late due to a traffic accident which resulted in them adding a few kilometres to their trip, but we got right into it, and covered a LOT of ground. Special thanks to Dot and her demo dogs Bear and Annie and Jan with Ceasar, who did the courses and were marked by the entire group at the same time, in order to better understand how to do it, where to look and what some missed and others saw! Although some of the judges straight up told me in the morning that they were overwhelmed and somewhat confused about this sport, by the end of the day, they said they felt FAR more comfortable and were much more confident about it all!! On Sunday, Hobart Training club asked me to judge their mock trial and we had a nice size entry for both Novice and Advanced. As well, we had a couple of instructors from another club that had come over to watch and learn as I ran the trial, and a couple of the judges returned on Sunday to observe the 'real thing' happening. Congratulations to the Hobart club for their training program in this sport. I am VERY impressed overall with the level of ability that they are showing and the handlers and dogs should be very proud of the hard work they have done as it's paying off!! I want to thank Dot and Derek Baverstock for their hospitality once again as they drove me to and from the airport and the club site and of course such great hosts (which included a lovely glass of dry white wine or two) for when we weren't working. Naturally ofcourse we still talked dogs as you do! I'm very much looking forward to the Perth event, which is the two day seminar on basics and then the judges seminar on the Monday. I"m also hoping that potential stewards might be interested in attending that day as there is a section that's very important for them covered as well. Instructors are encouraged to attend the seminars to better be prepared to teach this sport. As well, I want to add that we still have some work to do to ensure that this sport is recognized. We can't sit back and wait and let others do the work. There are still MANY clubs and people that know nothing about Rally, and many die hard obedience people that are influencial within their state bodies and the ANKC that we must educate about this sport and express our wishes that it be approved by the ANKC. A number of us will be contacting as many clubs as we can with a letter of information about Rally and hoping that they in turn will contact their appropriate obedience council reps and express their wishes that this sport be recognized. We are close to getting things done, but we can't assume anything as I know that there are some obedience judges that firstly don't understand the sport, secondly think it's sloppy obedience or second rate, and as a result will not support this sport as a recognized ANKC event. For anyone out there in clubs or holding any position of influence, please contact me with your details so that I can help you spread the word. For those reading this, take it to your club at your next training session or meeting and put it in the hands of whoever it should go to. It is imperative that we keep spreading the word about this amazing sport, and what it can offer to those that choose to participate in it. We are also currently working on getting a Brisbane or area seminar(s) up and going, so stay tuned for more information on that. I also would ask anyone in NSW and ACT that might be interested, be it individual or club, to please get in touch with me so that I can offer more information and possibly schedule a seminar to get them on track and training as well as explain what this is and why it would be so beneficial and work in conjunction with traditional obedience. Anyone is free to email me at [email protected]

It should be done on Saturday around 3ish. Sunday is longer though.

Please remember WA attendees..I got a horrible flight to get there that puts me with very little sleep before you see my shiney face on Saturday so bear with me while I get my feet under me and rolling...then...well....it's non stop and full speed ahead!!

Not too many sleeps to go before then!

that's really unfortunate to hear as I think what people will find is that they will get VERY confused with the REAL rules when it comes in and be unable to compete because they've been programmed to think this is just 'second rate obedience' which in fact (as you WA folks will see soon) this sport can be a LOT harder to excel at. Ask anyone that tried to get a perfect score out of this person!! I get frustrated when I hear of a club that proudly announces they are doing "rally" when in fact they aren't...they aren't teaching the correct method overall, nor the correct way to do a station. Yes it's meant to be fun, but it's not meant to be sloppy. I think too many have gotten stuck into the Novice level (done on lead) and don't realize how challenging (depending on how the judge sets up the course) the Advanced and Excellant levels can be. Anyone practicing their 3 steps backward station?

It's a high possibility and we are all working hard to make this happen. No one from that area has approached me (hint, hint) It's not hard to put one together. I have a document I email those that are interested as to what we would need and how to proceed to get it going. Should be noted that although most times, it's clubs that instigate this, I've done a few for non clubs that were just organized by avid prospective rally o"ers. It's not terribly hard...we need a place for the seminar on the Saturday and a place to do the practical on the Sunday. I've done these in peoples homes (BIG huge living rooms) and tiny club houses. let me know if you might want to start something for that area. closest I've been to Brisbane is the Gympie seminar last year.

I"m not sure exactly the time but I'm thinking 9am before anything would be starting?

I can only comment on the video that was suggested. Being a shepherd and that they have an inate need to be protective, yes I agree, however the dog was not in my opinion in the correct position for escort and I will state that anyone of any age that is given the right instruction can put a properly trained schutzhund dog through their paces. Like most obedience that has a set pattern, the dogs learn what is coming up next and prepare for that task. If this child was moving a working dog to pen sheep and had to manipulate the dogs movements based on the sheep and the enviroment, it would be a different thing. Not downing the kids ability here, don't get me wrong, but I'm not going to praise to the hilt either for something that simply wasn't as good as it could be. Remember, I'm looking at the performance of the dog and never have put into account the age of anyone handling for any performance event. That's what makes our various dog sports interesting in that age doesn't matter, nor should the 'run' be more impressive if handled by a ten year old compared to an eighty year old.

I wish I knew that...I've been teaching obedience/rally in Myrtleford for months now! Everyone is having a blast I think and some of the dogs that struggle with the basic obedience exercises just SHINE when we put out the signs and do a course!

If you can get your dog to heel reasonably well, sit and drop, you can begin Novice Rally classes.

WHAT??? oh just drag something out of the yard....trust me, you will have a blast and you WILL be amazed at how well you do!

Yes (to Rally O) and there is a match on Sunday but can't tell you where...but I know I"m judging it! (Saturday is a judge education seminar and theyve asked me to stay and do the match the next day) I'm brining plenty of warm woolies to wear!! (and hoping it doesn't rain!)

Just a reminder for those in Perth and area about the Rally seminar coming up the first weekend in July. As well, if you are an obedience judge in that area, there will be a judges training seminar on the MONDAY following the two day seminar to prepare you for how to mark, design and preside over a trial.

I renovated an old potato storage warehouse which was great as it had no support poles to run into during agility! It was 100 feet long and 40 feet wide. I put six inches of dirt on the concrete floor and added a room for a toilet and we were off!! Why isn't being done here? I'd say because council rules are unbelievably restrictive in regards to insurance and that many urban folks want something right next door and won't drive 30+ minutes to get to the "country". I ran into that in Canada with those living in the closest city which was 45 minutes away and they wouldn't come, but would go to a leaky roofed building which they publically stated they hated, because mine was 'too far away'. We are used (we as in North America) to having inside reno'd buildings because we have winter and are sick of not being able to train when there is a blizzard happening! Yes, we're that dedicated (or weird) We have less rules when it comes to what you can do with a building on your own property. Remember, that although a reno to an agility or training building isn't usually much, you still need power for lights (and the lights as well) I sunk a mere 5 grand into my reno and thought I did really well.....To have that much more $$ would have been even better. At this point, I'm going to have to settle for a fix up of one of the front paddocks here to get going with classes again. No chance of being inside of course, but at least we'll be able to train in our area. Remember the most important part...you have to have someone motivated to start and run....a lot WANT to go train, but they WANT someone else to manage and organize it.

I watched this video with interest and perhaps I expected more based on the above comments. I was dissapointed in the heeling of this dog as it was forging out in front all the time and didn't seem to have the impact during the bite work as others do. If this girl trained this dog, then perhaps I would say she's got potential, but unfortunately we know that's not true. When watching a malinois do the same trial on another video, you can see the difference with both handler and performance. The impact of the bite for example almost knocking the aggressor down, the speed of the dog during the first search pattern and more importantly the heeling during escort. Nothing against the kid, but I wasn't overly impressed by the routine, but then again, I watch the dog and how it works versus the one giving commands because anyone with some basic training can take a well trained sch dog and put it through its paces and give a similar performance. I would hope this run wasn't marked higher, simply because the child wasn't much taller than the dog. There are some wonderful runs up on youtube of the same event that I encourage people to watch.

A smooth cannot be born via 2 rough parents, however a rough can be born to 2 smooths. A smooth/rough mating can produce anything. Different countries have different regulations about te interbreeding, registration of puppies (some countres require rough pups from smooth-smooth to be registered as smooths), and also on importation of pups born from smooth/rough matings. Here in Australia we can interbreed & register each puppy based on it's coat type. my mistake (typo) meant it the other way....this is what I get when trying to type a thought after not a lot of sleep! sorry!

I agree and the tricky part of this is that larger countries with higher numbers of dogs in the breed determine what the standard ends up. I watched the Manchester standard be changed to fit better with what was currently being bred in the states. From a phrase that said "square dog" to a new phrase which states "slightly longer than tall". From a statement that a tail must never be carried over the back but down and out in a gentle curve, to the standard that talks about a tail that can be carried high and upright. This made it difficult in a country (Canada) which did not change the standard when you wanted to head south of the border to compete and found your multi group placing or best in show dog got snubbed because it was "square" My current breed standard comes from the FCI and has very few changes (clarifying in grammar), however my former southern counterparts took the standard prior to the breeds recognition there and changed a lot, less than a decade later, it's undergone more changes and doesn't appear too close to the original in many ways, including a statement that "aggression between dogs is not considered a fault" when the original described the breed as "happy, gay and inclined to play" I watched Samoyeds grow bigger and develop more dripping soft coat in the states. The same with Golden Retrievers. standards didn't change per sae, but taste and what the judge rewarded did, and as a result we watch the breed change. Still correct to a point, but it depends on how fussy you get with interpretation of the standard. One of the most vivid changes most agree to, is in the German Shepherd who's standard we use here from the country of origin and yet, North American standards, by written word are very different, and yet, the dogs visually appear more of less the same in most aspects, and the true indication that they fit here as well is the recent imports popping up that have no issues with winning challenges and yet have generations of north american blood/breeding behind them, which one would presume is following their countries breed standard. Comment on the collies....as I was mentored in grooming by a collie(rough) breeder, they did not interbreed between coat varieties however there were smooths born in their rough litters and they were quickly petted out as these breeders attempted to curtail this further in their lines. In the US, interbreeding is permitted between size varieties of dachshunds, another breed that the standards there are the same other than size and coat. Canada has six varieties as does here, however I was witness to some smooth coats coming out of wire/wire breeding. I think this is where things get so confusing as our world shrinks and we see dogs or their semen being sent around the globe, that unless the dog world as a whole can decide on a breed standard and STICK TO IT, not being tempted to change it (because someone has the power within an organization) to fit more of what is being bred, not what SHOULD be bred, we will continue to face these breeding challenges. For me personally, I'm bringing back my line that I established in Canada that did exceptionally well. The dogs hit the top of the 50cm mark. Our standard here is less....my concern for the next number of generations is to use the lines I had, breed the quality I did, but bring the size down a shade so it fits the standard here. I know it won't be easy and I know that I'll choose the wrong puppy from time to time, but hopefully I get it right more than I get it wrong! Would I lobby to have the standard changed? Of course not.....I'll just accept the challenge of breeding the same dog in a different country with a slightly different set of rules and move forward the best I can.

I imported to Canada a total of three adult dogs....all were crated no less than 24 hours and all came out of their crates without issue, and in the case of the female, a dry crate!! There is a funnel put on the crate on the outside to allow water to be added to the crate at any point during transport to ensure that they always have water.