ness

Your a dobber Ptolomy. Well a couple of my WA friends came over for a double agility trial weekend this weekend and they seem to have bought some of the WA luck with them. We had a super day. A couple of near misses - 1 Masters Agility with a missed dogwalk colour and it was only just a miss, a lovely masters jumping run where she just overshot a bar but ran her little white socks off. A few runs where she just had a ball and could do no wrong. Now to the best part of the day - we managed not one but two passes in open jumping. Great runs for the most part and one course even required a very big tunnel call off which presented itself as no drama. She wasn't the slowest qualifier either so I was pleased with her efforts. Any way not only did she walk away with two passes BUT they were the final two passes for her JDO title. Now my little girl is known as Lochness CDX ADX JDX SPD GD JDO!!!!!!! (aka the Ness Monster)

Er YEP . Nah its ok I'll just ask Megan who she is.

So did you ask her who she is - great that she sounds nice.

I'd agree with you there katey - I don't think Megan would recommend somebody that wasn't good just can't work out why I haven't heard the name before (I know Megan reasonably well).

Nope not heard of her interesting. Now i have to go and investigate .

Fair enough. Did she recommend anybody else?

Hi Katey, Yep the trainer at Canine Interaction is fantastic . You would be in very good hands.

Hey Helen, Yep happy to help out on a recommendation - drop me a PM Kaos and I'll see what I can find for you. But as everybody said yep JRT are more than trainable.

Get a toller .

at the high drive comment. Hmm I am still supporting a couple of injuries as a result of the last time my medium drive dog decided to flip into top gear. Doesn't happen very often but when it does watch out!!!!! ETA. I did mention to one of the gurus what I should do as I couldn't get Ness to concentrate for practising her dumbbell holds. They suggested I reduce the value of the food. Well problem is all I was using was boring old dry food in the first place and she isn't even high drive.

Hey Arya, Gina is FANTASTIC and been an absolute godsend in helping me out with my training over the years. . Nice to hear that you all looked after one of my greatest gurus.

My brag for tonight....... I had UD ring practice at club and Ness has been struggling a bit with her directed retrieving. Any way tonight as usual we had a judge put us through the practice ring. Well tonight his comment after we completed the exercise was that was precisely how it should be done. It was brilliant. Total focus on me for the about turn and halt. When I placed my arm down to give the signal she followed the direction out and I sent her and she returned with the correct glove and a wonderful present. Very very pleased with my little munchkin .

1 hmm Ness is on 2 which is why I questioned it. I was under the impression it was pretty harmless as well till you drew it to my attention.

Does that mean the other stuff is bad and shouldn't be given at all.

Oh gee just as well I met them first isn't it - besides Ptolomy and I have an arrangement (I know the secret weapon but I am not saying a word )

Hey PAX and LP, Get in line will you. Ness is already booked to be shipped across on Monday but then once she is returned I am sure Ptolomy can then deal with yours .

I could brag about that but then we might have to explain why we didn't manage to pass due to naughty mum dropping the DB on the retrieve on the flat. Any way since you mentioned it yep Ness got her best heel free score in open on the weekend with a still in shock 25!!!!!!!!

Didn't I post enough brag threads for you Ptolomy and what only 2 donuts a day. Now how much chocolate did you consume . Any way I think I have already congratulated you about 150 million times but what is once more - . Well done on a VERY SUCCESSFUL 2007 PERTH ROYAL Show and may they continue in there fine form at the States this coming weekend.

There are certainly some sheltie lines that are very out-going and seem to not have some of the shyness issues that are found in some lines. I would have recommended either a sheltie or a pap. Both make terrific small competition breeds. I would probably lean more towards a sheltie then a pap but I know of a number of BC breeders who actually have a pap as there second breed.

Hmm Ptolomy recommends Liz Frank (think thats her name). Not sure what area but apparently she is very good.

Hey Arya, I would highly recommend giving anything Ptolomy says a shot as from my experience whatever she recommends usually works a treat .

Arya - let me give you an exampe from a trial a few weeks ago. I had Ness entered in open and she decided to snack on the dandylions rather than heel. We got 4-5 paces halt fine, right turn right about turn stand (she was 3-4 paces back and stopped). In that instance I put her in a drop, asked the judge to be excused, collected my lead and she was promptly marched back to the car without further word. No treat. Nothing. I left her there went away for about half an hour I guess (time wasn't a relevant factor) I just went to watch a few other friends dogs in the ring. I then took her out and worked her again. Did a modified open on my own on another part of the grounds. She did that well so I rewarded it. I would usually have done UD scent work but it was too windy and I knew she couldn't be successful. If I remember correctly - Ptolomy might correct me I think I also did a few lots of directed retrieving. I have a dog who also demands work on her turns (so if crated/pegged) or even just standing around will whinge to interact but then when we get in the ring switch off.

Agility well she is crated then I just get her out and go - hmm I should really change that to include some stretching and massaging. ;)

My pre-trial routine - well I am still fiddling with it a bit but mainly this is what I do (pending injury concerns when I had her out a lot earlier and made sure she was thoroughly warmed up). Usually she gets out when I get there for a short toilet break then back in the car. I'll find a place somewhere to set up her crate/peg (depends if I can be bothered taking the solid crate or if I take her soft crate - soft one she gets open but with a peg otherwise her solid she is closed in). Then I might just chill and watch and leave her in the car. We are in open so the routine usually is 3 dogs before she is due to go in she gets taken from the car to her crate. Gives her a chance to have a toilet break. I'll then completely ignore her for 2 and a bit dogs. Grab her out when the dog in the ring prior to her is doing a DOR. We then might do a bit of heelwork/attention/setting up and a change of positions which I'll reward and then its into the ring. Last weekend I varied that slightly as she had been sore so I had to get her out earlier - say 4 dogs prior and I walked her and jogged with her a bit. After we have worked it depends - sometimes I'll just tell her jackpot in the ring and then usually whoever I have videoing has the jackpot container in the camera bag outside the ring so she gets it straight away. If I am not happy with her enthusiasm then she might get back in the crate without a treat and I'll get her out in say 5 minutes and go do something and then reward (yep Ptolomy I drew the hardline today while her work was good it wasn't the best she can do!!!!!). Sometimes I might leave her there longer and then come back and do something like a set of UD articles/gloves (she is only trialling in Open but we take our UD gear to trials to practice) and reward that. She then stays with me usually till we do stays as otherwise she comes out for stays to highly strung. Occasionally she will go back in the car and then I'll go and watch others and go and get her out. We might do a few short out of sight stays borrowing whatever they have up for the real ones. Usually a tarp. That way she knows where I am going and doesn't seem to have a problem with it. I am still not settled on a routine thats working as she isn't 100% with switching straight on. This is evident as usually during the first part of the heelwork she will occasionally sneeze and start a bit off but then switch into gear half way through.

I really need Ness to have a word to your guys about how its done. Lara in particular has certainly done you well and I hope she enjoyed her final Royal show - end of an era but at least master Scoota, Lexi (and Beans if she didn't come into season bloody dog) are there to follow in Lara's foot steps. I am sure you won't go away anytime soon. Success comes to those who deserve it and yep you certainly do. Here is to more Royal shows and more State champs success.