RubyStar

emery, glad to hear Zeus is doing better today and best of luck for the appointment this afternoon! Let us know how it goes Glad your scare with Spartan has turned out to be nothing, ST! @ the container, though I bet you weren't laughing much!

I like being able to pop one away after a few minutes then getting the other one out But I also sometimes envy those who only have one to focus on.

I didn't intend on having 2 dogs the same age. I waited 2 (long) years to get my second Lab, but because I went the rescue route, it turned out that Millie was the same age as Ruby Or so we are led to believe. I am not looking forward to their "golden years" together. It is going to break my heart terribly. But I'll take that over losing one (or both) too early. I think if they both go close together, it will probably be the best for them (not me, though). They are the best of friends (even though Millie bosses Ruby around!) While I type this, there are 2 beds out for them, and they chose to snuggle up together on the same bed for a nap. When I got back from 4 days away over Easter with Ruby, Millie actually wanted to greet Ruby before me! (Ruby was so tired she wanted to be left alone, though ) My girls are 4 and a half-ish now. I plan on waiting until they are 6ish before my new addition. I still have soooo much to learn and teach them. I want to focus on a new puppy and get things more right from the start, and while my girls are not in maintenance training mode just yet, the puppy will have to wait. I have told myself that I am not allowed to get another until I reach my training/trialling goals with the current two. So they may be old and grey before I get a puppy, and then I will have to break that promise to myself because we didn't achieve it

Hi Tumbleweed. I don't want to give you the wrong advice because I'm far from experienced, but I would do the following two things you said in your post: I would also start this in the least distracting environment you can find, with no chance for her to take off. Slowly introduce the distractions, and maybe introduce them onlead. Take her to distracting environments (when she's ready and has proven she can keep her mind on the job in non distracting environments), keep her on lead, and reward heavily for her focusing on you under distraction. Don't worry about the heelwork part yet. Maybe just a couple of steps once she's focused. Perhaps stand around with her sitting at heel, and reward for every time she voluntarily looks at you. Don't ask her for focus and attention, let her offer it to you so it becomes a default behaviour. If you click and treat every time she looks at you, she should start offering it more and think it's a really great idea that she thought of Unfortunately there is no quick and easy fix. I am still trying to achieve this with my Labrador, Ruby. Just takes practice, practice, practice!! She isn't one to just take off for the hell of it, she likes to go off to greet a steward or the judge

I don't really see the Martingale's I use as a training collar, but that is just me. I have recently switched to martingales from clip buckle flat collars, they still function the same way to me as a flat collar, they just get slipped over their head instead of clipped around their neck so makes it easier for me to remove in agility. I trial obedience in these collars, they sit low on the neck and are loose. If a training collar sits high on the neck and is tight, but no lead is attached to allow for corrections, wouldn't the dog become accustomed to the tight fit so therefore when a correction actually is issued, it feels no different?

You put me to shame! I wanted to do the ET, but haven't found the time (or motivation) to train for it I guess it's a bit too late to train for this year's now, isn't it? Bedazzled, you're judging it, does that mean you have to ride it all too? Ouch

Agree here. I think I killed Ruby's drive, though! She could have been amazing if she had been in more experienced hands. She's very lively, but the second we start working, her spark kinda disappears. And she usually has so much spark that I often get asked how old she is, and noone can believe she's 4! Doesn't take much to motivate Millie to work, and is usually a heap of fun to train/trial - she just can't cope with the heat very well and it affects her desire to work. I want a Cider dog that is motivated to work regardless of weather!!! Is that trainable, or is it in the dog? Admittedly we rarely train during the day, but if I knew I could train desire to work even when it's stinking hot, I'd make more of an effort to head out in the heat of the day to train!!

Emery Thinking good thoughts for Zeus.

As long as your dog can do it then the judge can't dock you points for it. And by do it I mean they move their rear end and not their front as they swivel around beside you so that they end up in line with you still after the turn. It can look sloopy if it's not done right and most old fashioned clubs/trainers/triallers don't know/care how to teach rear end awareness so their's always look sloppy which is probably why your instructor pulled you up on it. I know at my obedience club I'm the only one who does a pivot but it's slowly creeping in now that more people are doing DWD and Rally-O. I'm pretty sure the rules say you can do either. From the rules: So they don't have to fully pivot on the spot, a slight u-turn is permitted, as long as it's sharp.

I will be stewarding in the am and can stick around with you in the arvo if u like? I missed this. Yes this sounds like it could be an idea! Although, I may just do the morning trial. I'll let you know, thanks

That was me I shared the shade of their gazebo They did so well, they should be very proud!!

Hope the vet has good news for you, emery

Go the Aussie dollar!! I just purchased something online that has a US site and an Aussie site selling the same products, with free shipping. US site has prices slightly cheaper than Aussie prices, and then to top it off, with the Aussie dollar stronger, I ordered it from the US site and came out of it cheaper than buying from the Aussie site! Woot woot!! Unheard of usually

Really? I didn't know this! That particular strain maybe...you cant produce antibodies against a virus you haven't been exposed to... That's why what PAX said intrigues me. If all the strains were all so similar, that it meant that if they've been exposed to it then their body has built up an immune system to it, then why isn't the vax sufficient to cover all strains?

Really? I didn't know this!

Bite me.

Anyone entering the double header agility trial at Northern Suburbs on 5th June? Cheap entries! Just wondering if I will be nigel no friends :D I've never trialled up there before. Was contemplating not entering because the Obedience Challenge is on the next day, but seeing as it's only $5 entries, I might Lots of double headers coming up - Northern Suburbs, Gosnells and ACWA (oh and Sheltie Club, missed that one!). Need to take out a second mortgage me thinks

Collect them and dry them!

Check this link out, HILARIOUS!!! 2 dogs "dining" http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=EVwlM...vq=medium#t=125

That's the thing I struggle with, if they need to go. Can you get Mason to do #2 on command regardless? How can you be sure that when you give your command and he doesn't go, that he won't need to go when in the ring? This question goes out to everyone by the way. I'm honestly baffled as to how to force a dog to do #2 if it decides it doesn't need to go right now. And it's not as if I have never tried. I have since a pup named Ruby's toileting, and reward her for going when I ask. I simply just cannot master this part of the training.

So it has worked for you? I really want to break this habit once and for all! I've tried the pineapple thing before but never kept it up for more than 2 weeks at a time. This time I will give it longer. How long did you do it for before Bronte's habit was broken?

Yes that is true, but it doesn't work because I've tried it. I was told it had to be unsweetened pineapple juice, just add a couple of tablespoons to the meal. Everyone i know that has tried it says it works and it certainly worked for one of mine. I've tried looking for unsweetened pineapple pieces in tins at the supermarket and not sure what I am looking for Everything looks to be the sweetened kind! Can anyone offer me a brand please that I can try? Ruby is poo-obsessed, mainly with Millie's (to the point she will follow her around like her bottom is a Mr Whippy dispenser), so I want to feed it to both of them to try and curb the problem. Hey RubyStar, try Golden Circle Pineapple pieces (or rings) in natural juice. It probably has some element of added something, but just make sure you avoid the same in syrup. Ok, now I'm going to try and wipe that Mr Whippy image from my head I can't believe I'm saying this, but I have to literally wipe the "mr whippy" from Ruby's head sometimes!!! I monitor them when I can but the reality is I can't be there for every poo! Shall I go and die in shame now? Thanks for the pineapple thing. I checked the tin I already had in the cupboard and it was in natural juice, and it was pieces. I gave them 4 pieces each in their dinner with a couple of tablespoons of juice. I'll repeat it for every meal for at least a month and see if it makes a difference!! Love everything about my girl but this one dirty habit I could really do without!!!!!

So I hope that means you are finally getting your butt onto facebook

You in am then up to me in pm ;) Share and share a like And I have Mas all to myself anyway - but just putting the options out there since I will be making the ponies run around anyway Are you far from Upper Swan? Maybe I can invite myself along and visit your ponies, too ;)

Well there is a retrieving training day this Sunday the 8th in Upper Swan Always makes interesting photography, at least in my view! Oops, I missed this bit off CCs post as well... I think Mas is coming up to my place on Sunday pm to photograph ponies for her assignment. You are welcome to join her Are you trying to steal away our possible photographer? No poaching ;)