RubyStar

:p

Online you can get them pretty cheap ($20-30). I got mine from here. The BR1 is $22 and will give you your speed and distance. Thanks

Maybe you should have made it harder :p They looked great!!

They aren't pulling on the lead so there's no pressure, just keeping as much distance as they comfortably can (at least at the moment). Thanks for that! Oh and thanks for the cycle computer tip, I'm such a cycling noob Edit: any idea where I can get a cheap one online that will just "do the job"? I don't want nor need anything fancy

I'm experiencing this and I don't even own one (yet) When they hear the shepherd part, they are either imagining a German Shepherd, or flat out refuse to believe it's a real breed. Why do these people (mostly those in my office) who aren't dog people, presume to think they know better than me, the resident crazy dog lady?

I often get asked if my Labs have any Labrador in them. Apparently, they aren't fat enough to be a purebred Also been asked if one is part ridgeback as she had her hackles up.

I know there are kennels and such that can take dogs in need but if anyone needs me to look after their dogs for a while at my house i am happy to do so. Not sure who to contact though to put the offer out

My girls had their first jog alongside a bike yesterday, and it went well It was a very short one just to see how they'd go. Around the culdesac and up the street and back a couple of times. They only got ahead of me a couple of times and it wasn't by far - by the end they got into a better rhythm. But turning round the culdesac caused them to lag. Still, it was only our first ride and it went well, so lots of work to do from here! How far away from the bike should they be gaiting? I don't mean in front or behind, I know they have to be next to it, but how wide a berth should they be giving? I used their 5' (or maybe it was 6') slip lead yesterday for their test ride, and they pretty much kept that much distance from the bike. Ruby came a bit closer by the end as she started realising it was quite amusing for me to be "up there" so she started doing a few puppy bounces with her happy smile and wiggle bum Next up I need to buy a pedometer so I can actually see how fast we're going! I didn't go too fast but it was definitely a slight jog for them.

Yep I am already seeing this!

Speaking of the Classic, I am now getting a glimpse of what you triallers with multiple dogs in multiple disciplines feel in the hip pocket! I have gone from trialling one dog in obedience, to now trialling two dogs in obedience and agility, and my Western Classic entries have gone up astronomically since last year!!! There's a double obedience trial coming up in April too, that's gonna need some budgeting for

Far out!!!!!!

Are the fires still going?

I think I've been discouraging peeking because I want to be sure they're finding it via scent in the learning stages, instead of them sighting it and tricking me into thinking they know the scent game But good to know "peeking" doesn't fail you or cost you a lot of points! Mmmm chockies!!!!

"cheeky bitch" Thanks for the explanation, guys! One day when I practice scent a bit more I'll have to get someone to put us through like a trial, as so far I've only been doing it with me placing the article and trying to stop them peeking! (my throwing skills suck so throwing it into the pile doesn't usually have the desired outcome! )

If I had the room - ME TOO!! Gundogs definitely are my favourite group of dogs But I have a couple of other special breeds from other groups I'd like to own one day P.S. What took you so long? You went and got a (beautiful!) Dally first, not a gundog

I didn't hear about the Ferndale one, that isn't too far from me. How big was that one and is it out? I didn't think there was any/much scrub in Ferndale

OMG I can't believe how bad the fires have gotten I hope everyone is safe and there is no loss of life. Devastating about the houses but fingers crossed there are no fatalities, human, animal or otherwise.

She sounds awesome, TSD! Gotta love the enthusiasm of a puppy! Hearing about her makes me think twice about my next dog being another gundog so I can work on retrieving from the start, instead of a dog from another group like I was leaning towards All very confusing

Seita, great video! You and Ella are doing so well Question though for the UD triallers. When doing scent discrimination, is the dog allowed to "peek" while your back is to the steward putting the article down? And are you allowed to talk to your dog at this point as the exercise might not have started? Not that I am anywhere near ready for trialling for UD (gotta get through Open first!) but it would be nice to know the things you're allowed to do/not allowed to do in advance for when I do some more UD training! Thanks

Here is Ruby's Novice Jumping round from last weekend:

Oh gosh more fires I never watch/read the news so I find out about these things via DOL or Facebook. Hope everyone in the fires path stays safe and they can put it out before too much damage is done!!

Looks great!! Yep it was great getting help and her giving some tips! She showed me that I am rewarding too high for contacts. It's nice when people take time out to help with stuff they can see you are either having trouble with or are clearly doing wrong What do you mean by this....the rewards are too good, too many, or should be lower down the contact I have heard that you should place the reward closest to where you want the desired behavour....is this what you mean ?? What I meant was I would have the dogs in the 2o2o position and I'd be shoving a food reward down their throat with them looking up at me. I was shown to place the reward closer to the ground to help drive them into that position quicker. Simple stuff really but honestly something I couldn't see from where I was standing - hence it being lovely having people pull you up on silly things

Well done Seita!! ;)

P.S. Cake on Monday?

Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge congratulations!!!! And WOWSERS, 196 in UDX! Go Scoota!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good girl Beans, too, and good boy Brookie!!!