kathq

okay cant see GSPs in the results list via the linky, does anyone know any results please??

Ask anyone at a trial or training/ring runouts. Nobody will mind as most have been there and it is a great way to get to know people. An ice breaker we can all relate to.

Was making progress I thought then last night she was back to being as bad as she was on the weekend. Reading these tips again I think maybe her alignment is not straight, when we turn she tends to wrap her head around my leg so she may be locking on to the wrong glove. sigh........ Back to practicing about turns with no glove to get straight ahead focus.

I started as if was training a new dog to a dumbell. This may not be the way to go about it however as I have a small problem with focus now but it could be a starting point.

Did this a couple of times this morning with the corresponding correction when she went for the thrown glove, but teaming it with a change in command to the number system. Lots of practice on the about turns doing right about turn for glove 1 and left about turn for glove 3 (Only had two gloves out so that I could have proper distance between them). She seemed to be getting the idea this afternoon in a second training session. Shall just have to practice, practice, practice I think.

Thanks Ptolomy. Will be trying these today.. Didnt think this would be the exercise I would have trouble with

Things were going along terrific with Coco in her UD training. Thought I had her almost ready to trial when I could screw up the nerve to enter and then..... She has become fixated on glove 2. Even when I turn so that I am almost side on to the gloves to send her to 1 or 3 she runs out as if to go to the correct glove and then changes course and picks up 2. Thought that a few steps back and change the command from fetch for all gloves to actually using the number of the glove I am sending her to might allow me to guide her a bit better. Does that make sense or is it a silly idea? This girl is retrieve obsessed and has always been that way but I am concerned that if I call her off the wrong glove I might just wreck the whole thing. Help!!!!

Had some time to myself yesterday afternoon so finally got around to attempting a full length lead. Used 3mm leather this time. I am much happier with the splicing at the handle (been practicing with some coloured material to get the idea) but not so happy with the tension. I think it is the uneven tension that caused the lead to twist as I went along. Would that be right? Plan on using it at a show today. Very exciting.

I have for my girls a heavy plastic bucket that has hooks attached so it can hang off the wire of their run. It looks like one of those horse feed bins but is made of plastic instead of metal. Hung at the height that they get their head in and not their feet. To soothe the need for water play they have a clam shell to dig, roll or lie in. Problem solved here

Congratulations everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Remembering that CCD is not compulsory there are a lot of people out there who have no realistic idea of what their dog is and is not capable of. And they do not always come to trialling via a club situation where some guidance is available. Also having a CCD title is no guarantee that your dog is at the necessary training level to compete in CD. Wouldnt you much prefer to have your dog next to another that is ready to be there in the groups when you are sitting on a qualie? I know I would. Personally I have always used sweepstakes as a way to pin point those things I need to fine tune to be competitive in a trial situation. I dont get the whole nerves thing happening with just a ring runout but I do in a sweepstakes.

I know this is a little OT but this is a brags thread and I am most definitely bragging so................... My baby daughter got married on Sunday (had to go as all trials were cancelled due to the weather ) Here they are just after the ceremony finished

wizzles please Not sure if the please makes it happen any faster though

Got my rings from Packer Leather today. A packet of 10 welded 16mm rings was a whopping $2.50

Okay attempt one. Took me the whole afternoon and it is not really for use as I butchered an old check chain so there is an unwelded link. I am not happy with the splicing which whilst I get the idea of it in my mind it hasnt translated properly to the leather. Will practice some more before I do the real thing. I think this is going to be a steep learning curve. ;) Any and all comments welcome.

Went to Packer leather today. Managed to get some welded rings (16mm), a lacing fid for splicing, some black 3mm lacing and dark brown 4.5mm lacing. All set now to try and do some actual plaiting. Have been practicing the 4 strand round with material to make tug toys so have some idea how to go about it. Am going to start on that collar using a butchered old fabric one and see how I go.

Thanks Mystiqview for your suggestion. It sounds like a good one. Just wanted to try the whole plait/make leads for myself. Am going to packer Leather today to see what they have. Have bought some cheap unsoldered rings so I can see if I can actually do this well enough or not. The collar if successful will be worn by my GSP in the trial ring as bling.

That should never be an afterthought huge congrats to Alex.

Congratulations. Fantastic scores and qualies for all even better..

I would like to make a martingale collar but one that is leather with a chain loop not all leather if you know what I mean. Does anyone here know where the chain and rings can be sourced from? Thought this might make an easier first project as it would not as long as a lead.

Lovely work Lexi. Looooooove the enthusiasm.

Thanks guys. Why does it always feel worse when your doing it than it actually looks?

Okay this was at a trial this morning at which the princess pip was all but wearing her tiara. I know its not the best heel work seen here but I was using every trick I know to keep her attention and some focus and yet stay short of double commands. Pip is 5, hates dumbell work (dumbells dont have feathers LOL) and this is only her second time out in Open. She got her CD over 3 years ago and it took me 12 months to get her to even hold a dumbell let alone fetch it. So to me to have her there at all is something of a triumph. I must also keep reminding myself she is not my other girl Coco who has taken all my time for the last couple of years. And no we didnt qualie as 4 minutes and 40 seconds into the long down she got up moved away from the big shepherd who was eyeballing her and was almost close enough to touch and laid down again 3 paces away. I think she may be a challenge.

Yes, came yesterday.

If you mean this month there is a sweepstakes on 20 Feb. Starts at 6.00pm with vetting at 5.00pm.