RubyStar

And that's the scary part. I am terrified to finish my degree I am studying now and not being able to find a job! It's naive to think just because you have a degree, that you're automatically handed a job on a platter. It's tough out there! I remember my sister telling me about a friend of hers from high school who studied something to do with animals, and couldn't get a job. Ended up working in a completely different field, sadly. Happens with too many degrees, I think. Either that or you get a job in the field and discover you actually hate your "dream job"

There are heaps of interesting things to study in Animal Science. I started it by distance this year but had to drop out as the first two subjects were Chem and Bio. Bio I can cope with but the Chem was too hard and fast and I was not coping at all mentally! But if I could bypass chem and go straight to the stuff that got me interested in the course in the first place, Im sure I would have loved it I was really looking forward to the reproductive stuff and the genetics. Dot, have you considered doing just 1 unit at a time while you get through those ones you find most difficult? Sure it will take longer, but you can focus all your energy on just one to try and understand it, and maybe find a tutor? Then you can look at increasing the workload as you progress and move onto the more interesting units. I know you were most bummed to drop out, but if you really want to be there, maybe this might work for you?

I hear what you're saying, I just find it disappointing I guess. Good thing being a vet never interested me. Well, not that it doesn't interest me, more the fact I am too squeamish to be a vet or vet nurse

I'm not comparing it to doctors, I am comparing it to any other career. Heck, I got paid more as a TAFE graduate doing IT than what vet grads are getting! It is such a shame that vets aren't valued enough

I find it rather appalling that vets are paid so low. Graduates of most other degrees come out of uni and into the work force on much higher starting salaries, and didn't need half the study vets do! Why is it so low?

I taught contacts at home with a puppy and a cardboard box lid. Clicker, treats, and shape puppy to put both back feet onto the lid. Transferred very well to the actual equipment :)

Well done CC! Huge achievement!!! Congrats Tassie and Rory, way to go!

Ptolomy and bedazzledx2 need to hold her hostage and not let her back on the plane tomorrow!!!

Fred will be coming to training with me more often :D He worked fantastically for me yesterday in my lesson I'm feeling very inspired after our weekend

Congrats ness and Ness!!

Definitely going to be focusing on Ruby in the seminar. She really got into the one on one play with me today at training so I'm really looking forward to Denise inspiring us with more motivational games :D I wonder if Denise could work magic with her SFE?!

This I definitely believe :) I decided to book a private lesson with each of my 2 kids :D I'd love one with Pippa too, but that might be stretching the budget a bit too much I don't need help with Pippa's motivation, more problem solving with her. One of our many problems is I can't do fast pace with her without her getting under my feet So glad to hear this! Problem with my Ruby is she gets all hyper to work or play for someone else, but when it comes to working and playing with me, I'm a big fat bore to her Gosh I'm really excited! Wish it was this weekend :p

Really excited, now! I am going to have a private lesson, too :) Wobbly, can you explain more (pretty please!) about the nose work in your private lesson? Is this a motivator for traditional obedience work, or a different kettle of fish altogether? I'm not sure what I will do in my private lesson. I'd love to take both dogs as I keep swaying back and forth about who to take as I really need help with both their motivation, but I think we agreed it wouldn't really be that fair on other handlers, which I am ok with :) I'll hopefully be able to take away enough and apply it to the other :)

Thanks for the summary! Gives me an idea of what to expect and decide once and for all which dog I am taking! Millie doesn't tug but is better at personal play and winding up and has more oomph in her obedience when I have her engaged (she can just as easily disengage, though, which I want Denise to help fix!) Ruby tugs (though not ferociously) but isn't as keen on personal play, but she does try, bless her. Am leaning towards taking her because I need the most help with her motivation and well, she's my most special kid.... oh decisions, decisions!

My 2 Labs are best friends. They snuggle together, sleep together, play together, snub other dogs together Seriously, when I let them off after training to have a play with other dogs, they just go from tree to tree together sniffing, for the most part ignoring the other dogs (unless they are running with other Labs that they frequently do, they all play together - there is something about playing with your own kind!) Mine are about the same age (acquired 2 years apart) so I had the chance to train the first before the second came along. Also means I will probably lose them around the same time if they live to an old age. I'm not looking forward to that The "boss" of my 2 is also the one who is very dependent on the other one, and who will more than likely die of a broken heart if she outlives the other. The other will probably be sad for a couple of days, but enjoy not having to battle for human affection, as the "boss" like to steal it all!

Looking forward to reading how it went and for our weekend here in Perth!! :D

I want need to have a very important whinge. Clean Run are not updating their free shipping page often enough and with stuff I want to buy!!! *stomps foot*

What is Cavalia? Something horsey? Sorry about your bad news too, mirawee. Good on you for going above and beyond for health testing breeding stock

Looking forward to the impending arrivals!! No guessing for me, yeah, I'm a party-pooper I just wish for healthy babies and you each get what you want :)

I'd be taking her down to obedience trials prior to entering and doing some training with her around all the trial distractions. There is no rush to trial if you feel you aren't ready, better to proof around as many distractions as you can find to give you both the best shot for a stress-free trial, than add extra stress to her before she's ready for the environment :) Best of luck!!

This is why I can't study animal related units. I did so at TAFE a few years back and had steam coming out of my ears every week where the lecturer was brainwashing the students that purebred breeders are elitist, in it for the money, and that it was ok to breed crossbreds because of the whole hybrid vigour thing. I was appalled, and tried to bite my tongue but couldn't every week, and when I did speak up, I got into debates with the teacher and just got angrier I decided that I'll leave those type of people alone, you can't change their minds or educate them (funny how it was the teacher that needed educating, she really had it against purebred breeders) and that I am best to not study animal related units.

I hope she is found soon, they must be so worried

Show lines may not have the drive that working lines do, but Labradors in themselves are very trainable and live to please their people, including show line Labs!! Edit to add: I often comment that my show line Lab would have made an excellent assistance dog. She is calm around the home, she closes doors, brings me items, very trainable to do most tasks around the home that an assistance dog would be trained to do. My other Lab, though not certain what her lines are as she's a rescue, is a complete nutter and would make a terrible assistance dog. I vote the same as the others, calmer temperaments are more suited to assistance dogs!

I was very chuffed with Ruby. Her first retrieve was just gorgeous. Marked it beautifully, was straight there and back, nice delivery Her second took a little hunting but again found it and delivered nicely. Nice to see her enjoying it :) Millie's first retrieve she marked quite well, but decided to play with it by tossing it into the air a few times as she approached me. Some convincing words got her to stop being a twat and delivered to hand :laugh: Second retrieve she hunted a bit short, came back to me empty mouthed, so I sent her off again and she got it. Delivered beautifully this time Ruby needs one more pass. Not sure if I'll enter Millie in the open test yet, depends if I can get a chance to take her training! She's had some training for it already, but lots to be done still. Strauss did fantastically! All the dogs today did, all getting passes

Ruby and Millie got a pass each today in the novice RATG, earning Millie her NRA title I guess I have some training to do to enter her in the Open one in October!