RubyStar

Why do you think I want to make an order? MORE I-SQUEAKS!!!!!!!!!!! Plus I might get a few other toys and I want jump cups for when I make some jumps! I used my little i-squeaks the other night first time, the girls still went for it but you could tell they were thinking WTF? Where's my normal i-squeak, mum! If your dogs don't like the blue ones, I know a couple of Labs who would take them off your hands

Aww bugger! I got excited, too! If there's anyone in Perth that wants to make an order and combine shipping, I'm in!!

I've read that too, but using balls as a reward is working well for my dogs. I'd love more info on why/why not to use balls as a reward if anyone can help? I have two Labradors, one of the most food focused breeds out there (no, really! ) but BOTH will work with a heck of a lot more enthusiasm for their squeaky ball than food. They'd turn themselves inside out for it if they could. If I can use this to my advantage, I want to! I use the balls so far for not only reward, but distraction training. I know the squeaky part is an issue for reward at ringside (big no-no!) but I'd love to find a way to make it work for us for the obedience ring (transfer the value to another toy?) They just go NUTS for it and will do just about anything I ask for it. Outside distractions like other dogs to my social butterflies are practically blocked out by this magical ball Sorry to kind of float off topic - I don't know enough about drive to participate positively in this thread

Ella is Seita's dog From memory, Seita is training her to compete in UD this year - she has some videos on her youtube channel Seita's youtube channel is http://www.youtube.com/user/nicoleleyden and yes I believe Ella is in training for UD atm.

Seita, just out of curiosity, what trialling level was Ella up to before you commenced her drive training? Or have you always done it with her prior to entering the ring?

Hmm but who is the one who can just drive over and load one of them in my car eh? You need to organise transport from her house to the airport, and then the flight

We all learn from our first dog and from our mistakes!! I still have a LOOOOOOT to learn, but even knowing what I know now and being able to go back in time and teach things better from the start, yes I too could perhaps have a more reliable dog who could have been more successful in the ring than she has been lately. But all that learning will just make our next dogs better, at least that is my hope! Ruby hit the ring at 2, probably a bit prematurely but we managed to pull off our 3 CCD passes in a row (after an initial fail from laying down in her sit stay!) Her passes were certainly not inspiring ring work, that's for certain! I should have been excited to get our first ever title, but I wasn't as it wasn't good work from either of us She has just turned 3, and starting in Novice. I think she will be 4 before she pulls off her first pass there, so bring on 4 years of age if that is where it all "clicks" Millie is 3 also (got her at 2 years of age), and certainly nowhere near ready to enter the ring. She does what Ptolomy says Cider does - works a treat in the driveway, great focus etc etc, but the second we take it to the K9 grounds, she's like "what's that obedience you talk of, mum??" :thumbsup:

I've recently put down Rooster Booster (about 3-4 weeks ago), but my lawn is so sickly that it really isn't helping (it's freshly laid Kikuyu that just won't grow properly! It's like the roots are rotting). Does anyone know how long I need to wait before trying another fertilizer? I'd like to try the Scott's Lawn Builder. The dogs aren't an issue if I can put it on in the next week or two, as the dogs and I won't be moving into that house til the end of the month. My lawn desperately needs help before my dogs come in and run zoomies all over it!!

Thanks Rubystar - poor Scoota is going to have to lift his game ;) Aunty RubyStar isn't fussy, she will take home Scoota or Cider Whichever doesn't lift their game enough!

Cider is awesome

Me neither, was quite happy with my 2 minute look at the horses from afar with my dogs on lead for extra safety's sake. I LOVE Hillarys, just wish it wasn't so far away from me!!

OMG Just gimme the ears if I can't have the whole dog

It's such a shame when a few stupid dog owners make horse owners think we're all stupid dog owners I was at Hillarys Dog Beach on the weekend with ArtyFarty and MasonsMom and after a good swim, I walked my dogs down towards the horse bit for a look, and put them on lead way before we got to them. Once on lead, I didn't even enter the horse section, I stood many metres away just watching in awe at the beautiful horsies swimming A couple of horses did approach the dog section as I was walking back and the girls were back offlead, so I leaded them up again to be safe as they have never seen horses. I did however see a few dogs swimming amongst the horses, not sure if the owners had horses too or what But I wouldn't risk it taking my dogs into a horse area. SparkyTansy, thanks for the directions! It sounds lovely I'm not a morning person, but last week we went to the beach 3 times, twice in the morning and once in the afternoon and both morning trips the water was LOVELY, afternoon was not So I will definitely only do the beach in the morning now!!

Patty rox my sox

Is anybody able to give me some directions to Kwinana dog beach? Is it well signed to show it is a dog beach? A couple of us are thinking of going there this weekend but not sure where it is!

The obedience stand for exam is more serious than in conformation due to the fact that the dog cannot move their feet at all in obedience!! If they move one or two feet, they lose points, move 3 or 4 feet and you've failed. The aim of the SFE is to stand rock solid! A lot of obedience judges I've seen, especially in the lower classes (CCD/Novice), do a quickish pat over their back then walk away, but I have seen this conformation judge do a Novice obedience SFE before and he stands there going over their legs, back and rump. I don't think many dogs at Novice level will be solid enough for this! Least of all my wiggle butt I can't believe we got through CCD with how bad her SFE's are! As you can imagine, getting a more solid SFE is on the top of my list this year!!

Nah, not taking Millie, she's not ready yet either and I'm also in no rush to push her. I'll be entering Ruby, but don't envision great things. The Novice judge is also a conformation judge, so he takes his Stand For Exam's seriously There is no way Ruby is going to stand still for a proper going over at this point in time! But we'll enter, maybe just maybe, somewhere along the line, we'll be able to stand still and pull a pass out of our bum

Thankyou!!! A night where I get to see Aussies AND English Setters sounds great! Will have to do Sunday though, as I'm entering the obedience trial on Saturday night (unless I find a chance to wander up Sat night). Last year at the Classic I was there all 4 nights, competing one night and stewarding the other 3. I felt like I lived there that weekend Valleywa - I wanna meet your baby Chessie, too!

I'm thinking about trying Kwinana dog beach this weekend, but I'm not sure on the directions. Can anyone please help?

I've pretty much abandoned heelwork and distraction training over the Christmas break, I felt like a break myself But I've done a teensy bit of dumbell work, fronts, and SFE/steady feet game. Very little, though. We've spent most of our time off just letting them be dogs and have fun, lots of beach swimming I'm just about ready to get stuck back into it! Not liking the fact that the Western Classic is in Feb this year! :D

Another fan here of Hillarys Dog Beach!! So are my girls

Thanks ness and S&T

Oh ye of little faith I have taught directed retrieve to my non retriever using food bowls. He would prefer toys and tuggies but I found the use of food as a more easier way for learning to occur. You can throw toys for a faster, driven return and present. Can anyone please elaborate on what you mean by training gloves with food bowls? Do you have food bowls instead of the gloves to direct them to? Are they open/closed? Am I WAY off the mark here? Edit: I can now see Rivsky explained it

Great going, huski!!!!! It took Millie AGES to pick the dumbell up, so I know what hard work goes into shaping the retrieve if you've got a dog who doesn't like taking weird things in their mouth! Now I'm stuck on the length of time she will hold it before she spits it out. Which is the step I was stuck on with Ruby for what seemed like an eternity (as the rest of it she somehow already knew, didn't have to shape it with her like I've had to with Millie ) One day, Ruby's lightbulb lit up and she started really holding it. I'm hoping Millie's lightbulb goes off soon But I don't practice it all that often

Hopefully one day, yes Right now, no, got my hands too full as it is!