ness

Can I get a cost pretty please - might need to order some shortly.

Can you get the replacement squirrels for the hide-a-squirrel ones - somebodies older sister decided to chew up her younger sisters squirrels this morning.

Laffi I have already confirmed that my friend is happy to have her stuff posted to me for collection - think she was the only other SA person involved.

Keep us posted laffi - if you want money already just sing out.

What about one of those lights that they train the assistance dogs to turn on. I know they would require a more deliberate nose touch in order to activate the light but you would clearly see if they had completed the nose touch.

Reddi hmmm actually Kenzie has very little Winpara behind her at all. Tassie's boy Rory is more Winpara then she is . Although I will put in a brag for Winpara BCs just looking at the performance results from the BC Nationals and Kenzie's half sister Spryte did extremely well . But then I see some of the other Winpara bred dogs featuring too ;) .

Hmmm nope no pass LP - I seem to have a down stay hang up when I am sitting on decent open scores .

I am going to post it in here might as well. We had our first obedience trial for the year last night and Ness did some absolutely stunning open ring work only losing 13 points for her ring exercises. The biggest brag ever was only losing 3 points for her heel pattern and scoring a massive 27/30. She only lost 1 mark each for retrieve on flat and retrieve over the high. Perfect marks for stand for exam and change of positions. If it hadn't been for losing 8 marks on the drop on recall for forgetting to sit on the lead up she would have been sitting on a very handsome 190+ type score. Great way to start the year. Her UD performance was nice too. A few more missed sits but one was because she was sooo eager to get her gloves and did the most lovely precise pivot turn. Her attitude is worth bragging about - I just want to bottle it . ETA. A link to the video of her open round.

Hmmm we don't have the dreaded sit stay monster we have a dreaded down stay monster . Bloody dog blew a 187 in Open tonight sitting up 1 minute into the down stay. A relive of the Adelaide Royal. I was thrilled with her ring work though. Interesting a friend commented that she was next to the say dog at the Royal when she broke and the response was similar - about 1 minute she sat up. Wonder if she is worried about being in a down stay next to this other dog. ETA. Yeah pretty common in SA (Ann Twaddle was our open judge tonight and had the same protocol) but its not strictly enforced. Tonight I just removed my lead and then got her to sit. Although obviously sit stays aren't an issue for us.

Which were the Eastern States judges that were judging? I am just hoping dear Scoota saved me some of the gods extra special magic for tonight .

Where do you get your roo tail segments from Piper - something that might take Ness longer than 5 minutes to eat would be worth the trip . Although it would then probably take Kenzie a few hours.

Yep Piper we have been told lure for 5 max if you bother luring at all. I don't tend to. Having said that I will often work my youngster with a toy in my hand because the enthusiasm doesn't diminish when its not there just because its quicker to reward. A well known UK competitors said to me once she will quite often use food in her hand during training so long as the dogs attitude doesn't diminish when the food isn't there.

kelpiechick. So I have you to thank for the weight do I . I received them about a fortnight ago but we looked into them a bit before that as we had to find a courier who would transport them for us . Very well constructed and they all arrived safe and well. Yep they were sent interstate - to Adelaide . If anybody knows whereabouts I can find a tunnel that is my next purchase.

Nah if you want to do the 2x2 weaving method the proper base plated ones while not cheap mine were $35 + gst a pair are worth the money .

Murray Tyler in Victoria

I have already replied to Fevah via PM on my thoughts on clubs. Jaxx Buddy - lets just clarify something positive reinforcement training isn't just about the dog working for a treat. In fact I would go so far as to say that from the dedicated positive clubs (Holdfast, Aldinga, CBS) you would get a much better understanding on the appropriate use of rewards then you would from most of the traditional clubs. Yes you might use food or a reward to get the dog to understand but where you fall into problems is if you rely on that for too long. Once the dog understands the behavior required then you don't have to reward it all the time (or even use food). Its a bit like the slot machine concept you teach a behavior but once its learned random reinforcement keeps the behavior strong - random in both type of reward (food, toy, life reward such as going to the park, being let off a lead to play) as well as frequency. As for wire and not being allowed to say no or settle. I haven't done a class at Holdfast in a while but one of the things that is emphasised at CBS is having the dogs being able to settle calmly on a mat (well the mat is used in the begining) but later being able to settle when asked.

SG I have to say I am a bit like you. I prefer my girls to walk at the ends of their lead. I don't like having them pull my arm off but tension on the lead is fine.

I heard there was a serious dog attack at Dover obedience last Sunday. I certainly wouldn't be in any hurry to attend there (not just because of that).

So I guess people should look out for the mad toller women running around in the nude if all her clothes are MIA .

Bugger - so they are MIA huh.

Fevah - I know how you feel. I have a constant battle with my parents and what they feed my older girl. They let her clean out dishes and stuff despite me telling them not to let her. Not a lot I can do about it and I am half resigned to her being that way. My younger girl isn't interested in food so she keeps her own weight in check.

I need major counselling but I know not to ask you guys . Especially Ptolomy and her darn i-squeaks .

I currently have 2 medium i-squeaks but tempted on the small ones . I now have a copy of Making Reinforcement fun though .

LP did you not get any i-squeaks the first time????

And 19 of them are Ptolomy's .