RallyValley

Well done mirawee and ozjen!! I went to a retrieveing trial this morning and it was great!! The novice stuff is so unbeliveably hard I think Lincoln will be 10 before he is ready even for that but the dogs and people all had a great time. I am so glad I have a gundog!

Do you really think people from a pure bred dog forum, many of whom love/show/breed/compete thier dogs want to discuss the pros and cons of oodles? Maybe if you had left out that part and talked only about increasing suburbia and peoples needs and wants you would have been fine. Your orginal post wasn't very clear and made it seem like you were saying poodle cross breeds are the solution to the potential problem.

Chessies are slow maturing especially Lincoln's line so the general recomendation from my breeder and people who compete with Chessies in the states is 2 and a half before you start the dogs in regular full height jumping. Why 2 1/2???

Yes I am considering taking obidience seriously with Lincoln but it just scares me! But I have to do something to fill in the time until he is 2 and a half and can start his agility training.

I feel scolded. Listen to Ptolomy RS, she knows you and Ruby much better then I do. I just assumed since after nationals there wasn't a trial till June and since Ruby does obidience she would be a quick study. ValleyCBR I can't believe you are saying this - how long have you been doing agility and how long has Rubystar been doing it??? There is no way Ruby would be ready to trial yet and YES it can hurt if she is entered when she is not ready. Sorry going to fight you with this one - get back in your box!!!!!!!

Toby still does that sometimes just don't do a lead out She gets to jump 500. And no, will won't be entering one soon, considering the fact that only on Thursday night, doing a 3 jump lead out, she missed went roud the second jump I wasn't feeling it that night, so abandoned the agility equipment and practiced some obedience

RS enter one and see if she will do it. No harm in that What height is she measured at again?

I don't know if you realise but (even falsley) promoting cross breds is against forum rules. By your flawed logic most people would not have dogs, only stuffed toys, since they don't 'need' one. I can't speak for every breed but as far as I am aware both Chesapeakes and Kelpies still do what they were orginally bred for. People still hunt for recreation and still raise sheep for a living. They have not yet found a more effective way to retrieve dead birds from an ice cold, fast flowing river then a bird dog. Also I don't know where you come from but here in WA all our livestock is in large stations, battery farming of sheep and cattle does not happen in Australia. Also why do people need cross breed dogs to be companions? Thier is a whole group of dogs (the Toy Group) bred orgianlly to be companions as well as many other dogs across all groups being suited to people with different activity levels and personal preferances. Not everybody likes the same things, every Labrador x Poodle I have seen is cosmetically unappealing to me and potentially PRA and HD effected since the parents have never been tested.

It's only because its States, normally it's no where near as fancy.

I meant for those dogs who still needed to qualify too! I hope that the DOLers did even better today then they did last night. Eager Beaver - It would be too early yet The finals would be run after lunch and then they would have to wait for presentations. I know Caffy's red boy Alex made one of the masters finals and Bedazzled got a clear round in open but wasn't in the top 7.

Just . I am so glad I don't have a breed that is targeted by idiots and lunatics like so many bull breeds/mastiff breeds are. My heart goes out to you guys.

Any results from states yet?

Go Amypie! It was so great to watch and I am so excited for you and Kyzer. I wish I would watch the finals today but I have showing then work.

I think I might go down tonight so I will see you guys there! Will this be Kyzers second or third trial Amypie?

Toby is in Souther River but I was hoping we would be the only ones to turn up. :D (Not likely)

Page 2 MM my dogs will eat raw fish when we are preparing it and I was training Toby with raw chicken for a while.

Toby had the session from hell tonight, he was so unmotivated and unfocused! But its probably my fault for having 3 weeks off! (Damn appendix) The only constalation is that he didn't run off, just switch off (and I don't even know if thats a constalation!).

How is everyone going so far? On track? I already did mine (entering a trial) but after Nationals I think I am going to break Toby until the Royal here (October) and do things more slowly and properly!

Not long now!

Hannah, that is a good book. Another is "Hey Pup, Fetch It Up" by Bill Tarrant. These books are written by Americans for American trials, so a few things are different to how Aussies do it. Keep this in mind when reading them. You could also go online and look at "Dobbs Dogs" where there are training hints. I have a DVD from a trainer in the USA which you are welcome to borrow. I'll try to remember to bring it on Sunday for you. It might help you with some of the basics with Lincoln. I'll look up what else is available for training hints and let you know. Ok, I will be the lost looking person with no dog. The most confuing thing about it all is thier is so many different methods. I am not keen at all on teaching Force Fetch myself but the impression I have gotten is that it is not used in Australia. My breeders dogs are sent away to a pro to learn force fetch when they are mentally ready when they were back in the states, but that is fairly common there I am told. English training for American Retrievers is the book of the Wildrose method, which I have heard mixed reviews on

If anyone can steward the Saturday May 1st on the AM trial at nationals PM me please because I just got a call asking if I knew anyone that could.

I might go along to that this time. I RSVP'd to one last year and totally forgot about it Cool I am sure it will be fun. I have given up on obedience with Mason, may even stop going to class, he has been so hyper the last week I can hardly even walk him as he is pulling and doing his own thing. Dont know if he is acting out coz I have been working a few hrs each day and he isnt used to being alone so much? Toby went through a phase of that but grew out of it. He is a lab puppy remember Masons Mom, Bronson didn't mature properly until he was about 3 and a half! Since then he still gets excited but can stop and think.

Thats sounds great ST if you find it by Saturday can you bring it along and let me know how much you want for it? Also big favour to ask, can I borrow your show stackers? I think the time has come to teach Lincoln proper stacking.

I think I might come as I am working the Sunday after but get this one off. I don't think I will bring Lincoln so that I can watch up closely how it all works. Fetchindawgs since most retreving training is done on your own I am looking fr a good book, I have been recommended Water Dog, Training Retrievers for Marshes and Meadows and British Training for American Retrievers what do you recommend?

When you find out the info about next weeks one can you post that info too? I wont make this weeks unfortunatly there is something on at our dog club. I have some info on it: ******ALSO ANOTHER TRIAL --- DATE – ANZAC DAY (25th APRIL) starting about 8 am too. Novice, Restricted and All Age Stakes, with several judges PLACE—BROOKLEIGH EQUESTRIAN CENTRE, UPPER SWAN Go up great Northern hwy. Before you get to the Upper Swan bridge turn left into the centre. It is well signed. Follow signs through the Centre gradually leading to an area near the river.. ******TRAINING DAY--- 9TH MAY All welcome. Experienced triallers will help groups of handlers and dogs. This will be held on a property where we can fire the gun so your dog can get used to it. Then we have a sausage sizzle lunch and socialize. More details soon.