RubyStar

Totally understand

Have you planned a debut date yet?

Great to hear that you had a better night Rubystar and were prepared to step in and only ask Ruby to do what she was comfortable with Ruby must have been speaking with Lexi on Sunday - Lexi took off for the dumbbell over the jump before being sent - yep who needs a handler These dogs are just too smart, so they think anyway I'll send Ruby into Open on her own then, see how she goes (probably better than me taking her in, come to think of it )

Thanks. That looks the same as the behind the back method? Hmm this wasn't the way that you showed me bedazzled I'm sure that I was told to cater for a dog who tends to get ahead in a LAT or just plain isn't watching for it, take a step across your body with your right foot first to block the dog going any further, then swing your left foot and body around to complete the turn. That's the way I am doing it now anyway, and it's starting to get better Still not a perfect LAT by any means, but sufficient enough for the moment to quit using the round the back one

Bugger!! Less chance of failure doing COP in Novice Unless of course you're a dummy handler like me and almost blow your title by saying "down" instead of "drop"

ozjen, loooove your Jenna model! Awesome work!! Would love to see it in person sometime, perhaps you should keep it in your car so you can show it of to all of us next time we catch up

Had a good night at agility. I went back to class so I can still get help with other obstacles and most importantly my handling skills, but while others did the A-Frame and see-saw, I stood back and ran Ruby over a board on the ground I practiced contact work and also getting her to turn around on it, basically just trying to get some confidence on this board. I also went over and used the wobble board in the puppy class and she was happy to climb all over it. So we'll be making slow progress to get her confidence back on the dogwalk, and the instructor is more than happy for me to go my own pace on the contact equipment We ran a sequence with some jumps, tunnels and broad jump, Ruby nailed it and I was told they couldn't fault it That lifted my spirits after a crappy session last week. Ruby thought she was a smarty pants though, after we practiced a simple lead out, I praised her then she ran into the nearest tunnel and then over the broad jump that was in front of it I think she was trying to tell me she didn't need a handler and that she was fine to run the course on her own

Ask bedazzled to explain her footwork, it started to make sense after heaps of trying after she explained it

Lookin' good, Tiggy I have 8 (don't ask me why the number is 8!) and they are just 1m lengths of conduit pipe with plastic retic stakes stuck in the bottom, with a cap on the top. Can't find the caps anymore, only the expensive pvc ones that they sell singularly! They are hard to stick in the ground if the ground is hard, so I need to take a hammer with me But they are good enough for backyard work!

Yes, Millie is "special" too in some cases :D I'm not sure how teaching her 2x2 is going to go, but I am going to give it a shot, utilising her i-squeak cos it's all I have toy wise for her!! I need to give Ruby another session, she's only had 3 weaving sessions and the last one was over a week ago :D But she's picking it up ok, we're up to 4 poles (admittedly, I haven't watched the DVD, so I'm using my own interpretation of 2x2 weaving ). I'm going to go back to 2 poles for a bit though and make sure she is nailing the entry from all angles. I can give you a rundown of my interpretation of 2x2 weaving with my demo dog if you like Ptolomy, but can't assure you it's correct :p But it's getting results I didn't want to teach the channel weave, can't tell you why, just didn't want to. And while the first session of luring her went ok and gave her a headstart in 2x2 weaving, I didn't want to continue down that path so am now shaping it with 2x2

I can't do overnighters but if it's a fine weekend I might try and do a day trip. Is this the long weekend? Ie the first weekend in June? That might be a bit close - a little more than a week away? It's less than 2 weeks away, so not this coming weekend but the next. I am most likely heading down Friday arvo or early Sat mornng and coming back Sunday sometime. Sheesh, where do the weeks go?! You're a brave lady doing an overnighter, I kinda like the comforts of home Shhh, I'm really quite terrified!! 2 nights away in the cold without a proper shower or loo! Biggest thing I'm scared of though is driving all that way and not being able to find the place and the people! :rolleyes: I should get organised soon, no idea what to take besides warm clothes and blankets!

Please explain??

I can't do overnighters but if it's a fine weekend I might try and do a day trip. Is this the long weekend? Ie the first weekend in June? That might be a bit close - a little more than a week away? It's less than 2 weeks away, so not this coming weekend but the next. I am most likely heading down Friday arvo or early Sat mornng and coming back Sunday sometime.

There's a spare spot in my car for someone if they want to come on a road trip with me to the Arthur River trial

I'm so sorry to hear this ;) RIP Phoebe

Are you allowed to say that to a judge? Genuine question On the topic of going straight to heel, something I have to watch closely with Millie. That place has been overly reinforced so she uses any excuse to jump into heel position ;)

Awesome, mmoo!! I know your pain, I lost a 195 in Novice due to the sit stay ;) Actually I lost a few 190+ scores due to the sit stay Her sit stay yesterday for her title was awesome, so I'm hoping she's starting to improve and it wasn't just a once off

Harness for me is for both. I don't like anything being clipped to a collar, it could choke the dog if there is an accident. But I use it at training to stop Millie jumping out of my car while it's Ruby's turn (Millie is very impatient, it's always her turn! )

I was going to fax it off like I've done with all my K9 forms, but couldn't remember if I had to put 0 in front of the number for work's fax machine so thought bugger it, I'll email it and see if they accept it. Not only did they accept an email entry, but it also allowed them to get back to me to say it was being processed I think I will do email all the time now!

Damn, I'll miss it! Are you just entering Novice Agility or are you also taking the plunge and entering Excellent Jumping? Did you get your JD title certificate back yet? I emailed off for Ruby's CD this morning and have just received receipt that the certificate will be posted within a week

I only have to open my windows and it becomes a hair storm in my car Mine have the same setup as GR, back seats down most of the time. I also have leads tied through the child carrier restraint thingies in the back that clip onto harnesses (I really should start using those harnessess again). These work if the seats are down or up.

If you keep reinforcing something they are already doing and offered themselves, it becomes a VERY reinforcing thing to be looking at mum (or dad ), and it was all the dog's idea ;) Is that how my first reply sounds like? it's not what i meant. i meant, if i got all their focus... i'm not using the "look at me" command. but, if they lose focus, that's when i use the command, as a reminder. i hope that make sense Sorry, don't think my post was too clear. I was trying to explain why some choose not to ask for them to pay attention. If you mark them when they do it on their own, and reward big time, they soon want to offer it all the time. And if you wait for them to do it instead of asking for, it makes them think it's their idea to watch you which is a good thing

Wow a full day of winning, well done!!!!!!!! Drama?!

If you keep reinforcing something they are already doing and offered themselves, it becomes a VERY reinforcing thing to be looking at mum (or dad ), and it was all the dog's idea

Ain't that the truth :thumbsup: Can't tell you when I had a full weekend free last!