RubyStar

Is Hoover still young? I wouldn't be surprised if he learns to sit like that everywhere. My Ruby grew up on slippery tiled floors and sat like that when her legs would start slipping underneath her to hold her up. Now it's just habit, and sits like that everywhere, including non-slippery surfaces like carpet and grass! Chiro said that her leg muscles (or whatever) were now tight due that habitual sitting position.

Hmmm yeah kennels would be a lot of work. How about just a life of luxury on the large(ish) property I have my heart set on, with lots of dogs and just spend my time hanging out with them and training them? On a different topic, yesterday I got home early afternoon because I had a TAFE thing I had to attend, so the dogs were not expecting me home so early. I snuck up quietly to the house and peered through the gate and was happy to find them snoozing away in the garden! What I wasn't happy to see though, was that Millie was snoozing in a nice big hole she dug in the sand Oh well, I don't care if it's in the sand, and it was to cool her off I'm guessing!

Deal And I know I haven't sent my CV to you yet but I'm procrastinating about getting back into IT at the moment I called into a local groomers this morning and asked if they had any trainee positions available....the girl said she would speak to the owner who is due in later, as they have been talking about taking someone new on.....so hoping I get a phone call later today Good luck! I'd kinda like to get out of IT too, and just do websites on the side for people. I would love to have enough money to buy a property, build some kennels and run dog kennels, and build websites on the side, and be able to live off that Doesn't sound like that will ever be possible! Sigh

Let me know how much they quoted you and I will beat it by far To make it less daunting, focus just on a piece of the website at a time. Get the barebones of it, then do a few pages of a section at a time.

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss Run free Boris My brother in law is a photographer.... Maybe towards the end of the year he might take some for you

Shall we have a joint venture? You take photos, I do the websites If anybody wants a website created, I'm looking for extra work and need the $$! I'm much cheaper than going through a business As soon as I clear a few commitments, I will be working with the Lab Club to redo their website. Looking forward to it!!

Utterly adorable!! So many breeds, so little time!!

Oh and how rude of me, well done rubyroo and mollipop!!!!!!!!!

I think you need to ask the judge to sign something for you You've basically got to chase it up, not the other way around. I'm happy for the new title, gives me something to aim for If I ever start trialling!!! It's such a daunting thing.

I really wish I had pursued my dog bite further. Rang the council and all they gave the owners of the two dogs than ran across the road to bite me, a warning. These dogs are truly horrid. They live in my street and I cannot walk past their house now (twice a day, can't avoid it) without getting myself tied up in knots, especially when the dogs bark with that aggressive tone through the front door. They have dog warning signs all over the place (letterbox, front door, side fence), yet they let their dogs out in their front yard free roaming sometimes. I wish I could understand doggy talk, I'd love to know what they are "saying" when the owner takes them both in the car and they drive up the street past my house. They are barking their heads off in such a scary manner that it even gets my own two dogs from within my house in a frenzy - they run to the front door with their hackles up, looking around worried where it's coming from. They don't react this way at other dogs barking, which there are several of around my neighbourhood. Sorry for being so OT

Chi X Rotti?

Masons party is next sat :D Its going to be a small affair this year Bugger, forgot about that! I'll be there But can't be out all day, I seriously need to do stuff and I am finding no time whatsoever to do it. The following weekend is the State Agility Trial so there goes that weekend What time does his party start? And are we BBQing?

Please tell me there are no trials on next weekend? (8/9/10 April) I soooooooo need an entire weekend at home, got heaps to do, so I'm hoping I have nothing on next weekend! I really need to start keeping a diary.

Ooh, thanks for the reminder!!!! Might have to come for a drive and catch up and watch all you smarties!! Whos heading down??? Me! Got any cake left? I might have to get baking again for Sunday, but I am out most of Saturday and won't be home til late! Oh it's going to be an agonisingly long day on Sunday ;) Might need to stock up on the Red Bulls for the drive home I think!

Everybody lets take a vote ...... Do we consider these valid excuses for missing training????? OK you are forgiven - let me know when you are coming so I can bring cake to celebrate Soggy's CH title. PS - Good Luck for your tests :-) Next week I only have a Molecular Genetics test and no work so I will be there then Molecular Genetics, pfft, what a cinch! ;)

Everybody lets take a vote ...... Do we consider these valid excuses for missing training????? OK you are forgiven - let me know when you are coming so I can bring cake to celebrate Soggy's CH title. PS - Good Luck for your tests :-) Everyone else being at training are valid reasons to still bring cake We'll just bring more when RV is at training

I'm feeling quite perky - cos after last year, I'm probably not entering a Royal again* :D So I take it it isn't a public holiday?! Booooo!!!!!! * Fineprint = RS is such a sucker that even after an embarrassing attempt at the Royal and swore she'd never do it again, she probably will....

Well done TN and Jedi, and wuffles and Ava!!!! Do you have video of your trial, wuffles? Sounds like you did fabulously! Well done too, smisch!!

Totally When Ruby knows an exercise, she will put her happy face on (especially if she knows there is a reward coming!) but I've come all this way over the years expecting so much of her and now my expectations are dropping as I realise she's just not capable of my unrealistic expectations. She is a special one, and I need to remember to keep it simple, not because she isn't smart enough, but just because of the confidence thing. She's a smart cookie, she can catch on fairly quickly, but if I put any pressure on her, she shuts down Millie, the complete oppsote, makes me laugh sometimes. She is frustrating sometimes when she decides she knows better than me and wants to do it her way, but she is full of spunk when she does something. She really loves this retrieving thing now! Such a shame she's not papered

How exciting!!!! Oh gosh I wish I was at this stage myself of putting my name on a list I gotta decide 100% on what breed I want first, though.. and then add another few years to it Keep us updated on things! Have you decided what sex you want and have you thought of any names? (thinking of names I think is the TOUGHEST PART!!!)

Beagle babies most certainly rate on my list.. especially this one!

Started on the left and right backs last night Turning to their left appears to be their stronger side. Early days yet but with more work I think they will get it! The more work I do with Ruby, the more I realise how much she lacks confidence in what she does and is so scared to be wrong (maybe I've rubbed off on her a bit too well ) Meanwhile with Millie, she couldn't give a toss if she's wrong, she gives it everything whether she's right or wrong Edit: oh and I've realised that working sighted blinds with dummies in a pile is proving a tad confusing for them... they are going out and sniffing them to find the "right" one and when they realise they all smell like me, aren't sure which one they are meant to bring back! Yes, we were working on scent discrimination this week So I don't confuse the two exercises/disciplines, I am going to work sighted blinds with a single dummy, not a pile. I hope there are no problems with this!

I think they (and Aussie Shepherds) run a very close 2nd to the world's most cutest puppy breed, Labs :D :D Sheesh who am I kidding, if it's a baby puppy then regardless of breed, it's freakin' cuuuuuuuute!!! And nope, human babies don't do it for me either

Quite obviously Labradors make the cutest puppies :D

A few answers for you... 1. You didn't see all the footage on the cutting room floor of me trying to get her straight on the right 2. Only because there are no trees GR is essentially correct but I suspect you may have to think a little laterally with an older dog with so much prior learning - a little like going from obedience to agility. For now I wouldn't worry about which way Ruby is turning - she will likely have a strong side and a weak side - let her gain some confidence on her strong side first. Have another look at the hand signal - hold your hands in close to your chest and your hand goes straight up so your arm touches your ear, NOT coming out in front like a salute or a drop signal. Perhaps stand in front of a mirror and make sure you can distinguish clearly between what both signals feel like first. I would get her REALLY razzed up about the dummy first before you try it. Stand quite close to her, toss the dummy over her head (nothing wrong if she turns her head or body to look), straighten her up again, I give a "good" for looking at me nice and square, then you might need to give her release/retrieve word THEN say "back" - keep your voice high pitched and really light (you can hear me say it on the 2 o'clock retrieve) - don't bark BACK! as the tone of voice can make them uncertain. Once she has the hang of back on one side, work on her other side as well. I walked right up to Em, placed a hand gently on her strong side to prevent her from turning and gave her an exaggerated back signal (leaning body out) with the other arm. As soon as she started to get it (watch the hip and shoulder start to drop as she anticipates) I started to refine the body signal. I also made it easy for her - 2 right backs, play time and cuddles and then do 2 left backs (I tend to still stand a little closer for these). She is getting that pattern now so I am mixing it up a little. When you toss the dummies, you can throw so they are just over the right or left shoulder so they turn their head that way. Still straighten up before you send though - otherwise you develop bad habits. Thanks!! I have some things to work on tonight