RallyValley

CC there is always showing :laugh: .... Have fun at herding ;)

Ok I think I fixed it...

Ok I am proud to announce I finally have a (non showing) brag! My boy Toby has had his first Rally-O pass on a score of 83. He is a bit of an anxious dog and after having to scratch from the last attempt at the start line as he shut down I'm pleased today that he did not shut down, just got spooked and still managed to do some good work (as long as he could not see the judge :laugh: ) Here is the video:

I'm having a bit of trouble keeping up nowadays guys :laugh: Some sad news in the WA thread but I have to say Rosie FT I'm sorry about Rosie (that sticks out in my mind) but I have to say my 'hybrid' dogs have had more issues health wise the Zora, by 1 year Toby had allergies, Lilly my old dog (RIP) had started having hip problems and Toby is also mentally not sound as well as physical issues. Ptolomy loving the adorable puppies! Can't believe how quickly they have grown up. My little girl is growing up too... she is now over 13 months and has received good hip scores. She's now old enough to go into big girl class at Agility next term and I am having so much fun training her in obedience (plus as a bonus she loves metal in her mouth - loves holding drink cans :laugh: ). We have also been doing field work with ST, my dog it's full on! I haven't had a bitch desexed since the 90's (1997 ) so I imagine it is very different today, don't have to think about that for a bit yet with Zora, just have to out up with seasons.

This is my mongrel Toby, he has really un even muscle tone and is standing with one front foot turned out and one turned in, this is a common was he stands due to a broken leg. he had as a pup. Also a great example of flat feet, awful shoulders and a dog that is 'elbows out'.

Huski tell your mum to contact the Agility Club of WA - they are a stockist and have great service. I get my dogs food from there as does Amypie. ETA - Just saw you found it, maybe something to keep in mind in the future as the bags are likely cheaper from there.

Will keep an eye put Tiggy and have everything crossed. Ptolomy my fav is Strauss Jr ;) He is so smushy and cute!

So sorry to hear CC It sounds like it was very peaceful for him though.

Yes this is separate to Utility Gundog field trials. :) I this is because retievers and spaniels do not point (or set). They can flush or spring game though. I have never read the rules but good for you guys! In WA the WGAA just runs Pointer and Setter field trials FHRP.

I'm so behind with this thread! But congratulations Ptolomy on your stunning litter and MG on your good news!

I know this is showing but I thought I would add: Sat 29th - Obedience, Agility Games Sun 30th - Dances with Dog, Rally O Mon 1st - Agility and Jumping Teams and Open Agility and Juming Sat 6th - Agility and Jumping Novice, Excellent and Masters

I might not make it Sunday so don't decide on my account :). We do have to catch up soon though!!

I was at the Royal with the Old English one year... worst torture ever!!! People all have the most original joke, "Which end is the head?" by the end of the day I felt like going "Well sniff here and then tell me"... I also heard a person call Weimeraner puppies "Minature Weimeraners" and Zora was labelled both a hairy Weimeraner and a White Flat Coat depending on whose bench she was on :laugh:.

Sorry guys! My work is insanely busy right now and I am trying hard to keep up with Uni work, social life and dog things. Fingers crossed! I can't wait to meet them when they are old enough :D I'm so excited for you CC which day are you heading down to the states? I need to catch up with everyone but I am busy Saturday.

I only own one dog. I live with my parents who own one dog. They are nearly 1 and nearly 4 and it will be hard to split them up as they get on so well!!! I think I could cope with multiple dogs that got along but with spread out ages around 3 years apart! Especially from a training perspective.

Ok so field trials are different to retrieving trials. In retrieving the dog is soley doing retrieves - the retrieves are more complex and testing then the retrieves in the field trials. In Utility Gundog field trials the dogs are expected to find (hunt), stop and point steady then flush (but not chase) wild live quail. At the end of the trial retrieves are done in water and on land to test the dogs retrieving ability. The dogs work in pairs out in the field and have to respect when the other dog points by standing steady and to not hunt over the same terrain as them. Many will beg to differ here but as agility is my main goal I encouraged Zora to tug and she likes the game, she also has a good hold and does not mouth things when she is in a 'holding' situation. We have a word to start a tug game, so she knows when its ok to tug. If you are unsure and it is not a big motivator for Obi don't teach it, Field work and retrieving work have different whistle cues. For the field trials they need a recall cue, a 'woah' cue and a little pip to let them know you are giving them a new direction. Retrieving whistles are much more complex, so I can't pretend to explain that. The only thing that IMO encourages natural hunting (NOT retrieving but finding birds in a paddock hunting) is getting out there. They need exposure to planted quails then once they learn the game they need to get out with an experienced dog and go hunting. Once they click thats it - you have the desire. Zora was an absolute brat after her season and would not work at all except when I took her out in the field - there was no stopping her! She knew she was hunting and went into full hunting mode, she found a few quails of her own, pointed, backed and honoured. She still has lots of work to go but she understands her job now. As you know Zora is also training for obedience rings and it does not interfere at all with the field work, they learn the difference. In fact a good field dog needs to know how to heel, recall, stand and sit to a gunshot so all obedience behaviours. Don't stress and just keep training as you are! The only warning I have is field training means many 5/6am starts in Toodyay/Goomalling areas and is only on weekend mornings when you can find someone who knows a farmer that will let you use their farm. There is a training day this Sunday if you want me to PM the details but I think you have football? Bugger, Ive got Jacksons bloody 12th birthday party this Sunday, no footy for another weekend, I would have loved to go Although the early mornings dont sound too good, Im so not a morning person I can't go this weekend either so I am pretty annoyed. I just sent you an email with the details of some field mentors that also compete in retrieving. :)

I am also rediscovering obedience! Neither dog has really done any since before Zora had her season (so mid Feb) and today I dusted off the Rally signs and had a go. It was very fun for me, my dogs are at such different training levels but also have such different levels of enthusiasm. Zora has so much pep and is taking to duration work like a duck to water, Toby is the product of at least 18 months of work. :laugh: Zora has lots of polishing to go though - slack owner for not teaching her stuff like turns or rear end awareness. Toby is my little plodder, his heeling style is not the fanciest but he does his job and performs it all correctly (except when the spooky signs flapping distracts him!) :laugh:

Just popping in to say hi! :laugh: Haven't been on DOL as much lately but there is lots to catch up on here. Looks like puppy season again - my little brat is 11 months old! The times flies before they are all grown up. :)

Ok so field trials are different to retrieving trials. In retrieving the dog is soley doing retrieves - the retrieves are more complex and testing then the retrieves in the field trials. In Utility Gundog field trials the dogs are expected to find (hunt), stop and point steady then flush (but not chase) wild live quail. At the end of the trial retrieves are done in water and on land to test the dogs retrieving ability. The dogs work in pairs out in the field and have to respect when the other dog points by standing steady and to not hunt over the same terrain as them. Many will beg to differ here but as agility is my main goal I encouraged Zora to tug and she likes the game, she also has a good hold and does not mouth things when she is in a 'holding' situation. We have a word to start a tug game, so she knows when its ok to tug. If you are unsure and it is not a big motivator for Obi don't teach it, Field work and retrieving work have different whistle cues. For the field trials they need a recall cue, a 'woah' cue and a little pip to let them know you are giving them a new direction. Retrieving whistles are much more complex, so I can't pretend to explain that. The only thing that IMO encourages natural hunting (NOT retrieving but finding birds in a paddock hunting) is getting out there. They need exposure to planted quails then once they learn the game they need to get out with an experienced dog and go hunting. Once they click thats it - you have the desire. Zora was an absolute brat after her season and would not work at all except when I took her out in the field - there was no stopping her! She knew she was hunting and went into full hunting mode, she found a few quails of her own, pointed, backed and honoured. She still has lots of work to go but she understands her job now. As you know Zora is also training for obedience rings and it does not interfere at all with the field work, they learn the difference. In fact a good field dog needs to know how to heel, recall, stand and sit to a gunshot so all obedience behaviours. Don't stress and just keep training as you are! The only warning I have is field training means many 5/6am starts in Toodyay/Goomalling areas and is only on weekend mornings when you can find someone who knows a farmer that will let you use their farm. There is a training day this Sunday if you want me to PM the details but I think you have football?

I think if you treated a dog how you would ideally treat a child it would be fine, you have a routine, you care for thier health, you make sure they are mentally stimulated and exercise and show them appropriate discipline as well as love and affection. And also that they are a priority and main part of your life. But I don't think I would call that treating a dog like a child, just taking good care of my dog. If you treat a dog like a human infant it will obviously not work and when I see people say they treat thier dog "like a child" this is what I think of.

This thread is getting strange percynality/dream structure people are trying to give you useful advice if you can't take it think twice before you post something on a public forum on the Internet. This isn't a yes forum or a forum of open sympathy the people here are sane and knowledgeable and will give you an opinion if you post - even if it is not the same as yours.

I just saw one of the top winning terriers in the US at the moment is called Branch... Lol Zora is a bit of an unusual name and she gets Dora a lot. I did have one or two people tell me that was a stupid name but the I just tell them she is named in honor of my great grandma and that shuts them up!

Of course you do pet. Like now? At 1am?? *chortles* Wow that's bitchy The post was made at 10pm WA time ;)

Dogs imported from countries which allow docking will be docked and so will older dogs who were docked before the law changed - so it is likely you will see docked tails at the Royal :) My breed has a mix of docked dogs (as above), natural bobs and tails and I don't think it makes a difference at all. I really wouldn't compare it with 'taking away a dogs smile', you can still tell when a docked dog wags their tail - their whole back end usually goes with it!!!