RubyStar

Noooo don't cut the 6m! They're sold out and you can only buy the 3m now, don't waste it! I am bummed I missed out now I'll buy it from you if it's too long for you Ness, they are electric fence posts that have slits in them to slide the boards down.

I think I might make a better jump though. Gonna buy some slightly thicker board and make it wider. I only made it 1m wide to fit in the car but my car is big so I can afford to make it slightly wider.

Tada!

Yep from topbuy. They've still got the 3m but I wanted the 6m

Welcome RottPerth and MyDogToby!!

Yep, typical. Had a good night at agility tonight which has given me some motivation to keep going so thought yep, I'll cave and buy that tunnel and of COURSE it is now sold out!!!!

If that's the case, then not many dogs will get the opportunity to socialise with other dogs until much older, and by then, they won't care as much for playing. Which is all well and good if that's what you want. My next dog will be a "performance" dog, but I will also be allowing it to socialise in a controlled environment right from the get go. Not much will change from how I've raised Ruby except for the fact that I will be training focus on me from an earlier age in conjunction with socialising. I won't sacrifice one for the other. I get enjoyment from my dogs socialising with known dogs, and so do they Helped along by the fact that yes I own Labradors, they love to socialise, but if your BC's don't like socialising then that's another story. If you have a dog that does like to socialise, then I'm all for it.

They'll laugh at my strange solid jump and go "ermm, excuse me, you do realise your jump is made wrong?" I was actually using it last night to try and get Millie to focus forward to the jump and quit looking at me. I think I am training the wrong dog in agility! Ruby needed me to rev her up at a distance so she could make it over the jump but at least I can send her over it from a distance!

That's exactly right. It puts a smile on MY dial to see my dogs having fun. And yes, they ARE having fun. If they weren't, they wouldn't run around all excited with the other dogs. If they didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't do it. But I don't let them have free for alls with strange dogs, only with dogs I know. I'm into dog sports too and definitely see the benefit of a dog who has eyes for its handler, but my dogs are pets first and foremost and I won't ever sacrifice their normal doggy activities such as a romp with other friendly dogs in the name of a sport. There's a time for work and there's a time for play, and I love the challenge of teaching that to my dogs. Just my opinion

Hmmmmmm might need to do more than just REAL serious training, better get started then & what's the worst that can happen at a mock trial , don't think they can shoot me for stuffing up . Thanks RubyStar No worries. I put Ruby into Open last Saturday at a mock trial for the first time. Though we were visibly not ready for Open, there is no harm in giving it a go at a mock trial! I would just advise that your dog is at least familiar with the exercises first, or there really is no point. The only exercise I felt we wasted the judges time with was the retrieve over solid jump, as we hadn't done a lot of training with that to date. My mock Open round is on youtube if you want to see that even those who can't get a Novice pass yet can still give Open a go http://www.youtube.com/bingaling81

I heard that about the rangers quite a while ago, too. Some of us used to bring our dogs down early to training and let them have a run around, and someone got cautioned by the rangers for doing so! When I rock up to agility early now, I am training Ruby offlead which I'd hope wouldn't fall under the rangers "law", but plenty of others let their dogs have a romp before agility! It's stupid, in my opinion at least, that the ranger should be allowed to fine anyone using the K9 grounds, it's there for training dogs and sometimes training dogs involves working them offlead or letting them blow off some steam first! Randoms that are not DogsWest members or members of an affiliated club who only come in to use it as an offleash dog park is another story, so I guess the ranger should be questioning these people on memberships and intentions before issuing a fine? Argh the more I think about it the more complicated it gets I see nothing wrong with anyone coming down with their dog onlead either to check out the grounds and the clubs, and doesn't DogsWest encourage the public to come down with their dogs? The rule is that their dogs must be on lead and not interfere with anyone else.

I'd like to give Pebbles a go in open but will need to do some REAL serious training, can someone give me a run down on what I have to do , heel off lead of course but what's after that ? Might even give Delta a try in CCD, she's never been anywhere or done anything so probably wouldn't try the stays. Heel Free Stand For Examination Drop on Recall Retrieve on the flat Retriever over solid jump Optional: either broad jump or change of positions 3 min out of sight sit stay 5 min out of sight down stay

Nah you're not alone. My two get excited as I open the packet, then I make them do something simple like sit or drop so they think they are training and down the hatch it goes! They get very excited at the prospect of "earning treats" Then again, I own Labs

Nah not the flu, I just got this tight feeling in my chest on the train and was finding it hard to breathe. It's getting better now but not good Heart attack? What time do you usually get to agility on Tuesdays? I am going to try and get there about 6.15pm so I can set up the jump. But I find it weird doing obedience stuff as agility people rock up, I get weird looks. But the reason I do it is it is perfect distraction work for Ruby!

Sorry to read of your loss, LabRat She looked beautiful!

Bit hard while I'm at work... we all don't have the luxury of getting to be at home during the week Though I wish I was right now, not feeling the best

Quit tempting me!!!!

Of course, even if I'm not on a quallie nobody wants a dog getting in their dogs face, but I can't see how one pass (of at least 150) is guaranteeing anybody that all dogs in Novice upwards are going to be stable. But I'm not denying it's great for trainee judges!

I restrained (so far) from buying the tunnel. Think I might wait until we're at a stage we can work better before I start investing in too much equipment. But I'm excited at the possibility of getting weave bases made Amy's brother rocks

Excellent Preparing my entries this morning and will probably send off tomorrow (as I left my canine news at home ) Candice, no worries it is far to go especially on a holiday, but I never do anything for Easter anyway so why not do it doggy style Ptolomy, me thinks we're gonna need EXTRA chocolate that day, being Easter and all (I love excuses to each chocolate!) Perhaps I will try and find some chocolate recipes

UPdate! Ruby survived being in the back of the tonka truck with two red kids - so the Bunbury trip is a goer More like your kids survived the invasion of the psycho Lab!! It was so funny, after the quick private parts sniffing and confirming it was friend not foe, the 3 of them just stood there looking out at us like it was an every day occurrence P.S. You've sent off entries for both trials right?

Sorry Swiss Girl, I don't know of a club that trains near Murdoch. Which suburb are you in though? Murdoch? Other SOR clubs are Southern River, Cloverdale, Eden Hill, Perth (which I think trains in Vic Park?)

I just spat on my screen

Another thing that put me off is once the 4 or so beginners lessons are done, you are on your own, except for the occasional training day they have. I don't have enough knowledge to be able to go off and train retrieving on my own! If a group of people met up then it would make it easier Maybe next year I will try it though Bummer it's not spunky James!!

Not wanting to burst your bubble or anything, but Millie loves everyone on 2 legs Though I think she loves her i-squeak more