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| Working Trials; Does anyone compete? | |
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| Topic Started: Feb 28 2008, 05:15 PM (1,215 Views) | |
| zandd | Nov 26 2008, 06:15 PM Post #61 |
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That sounds like the most exciting day for both of you.And he performed brilliantly,you must be so pleased with his progress - even when he's making you feel a prize fool :lol: Love the photos,especially the one with the certificate. |
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| Red Rascal | Nov 27 2008, 06:36 PM Post #62 |
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:yay: That's great news, love the photo of you and Dill with his Rosette. He is such a character and all his antics do make me laugh. :D |
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| RJL | Dec 8 2008, 05:06 PM Post #63 |
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:shiver: :shiver: :) We had a useful training session on Sunday - apart from the cold For the first time in ages we did some tracking, which really made Dill's day :hyper: As soon as he realised what was going on, he was standing on his hind legs like a meerkat, making a terrible din :doh: It took a while to get his harness on because my hands were so cooooold and he was so wriggly, but once it was done, he was off like a little rocket. In fact........he got himself so excited by the concept of following a track with yummy doggy-chocs dropped along the way..........that just before the end; just as the instructor was saying how good he was....he had to do a huge great poo :blush: I was mortified! Our next foray into competition is obedience - just to give me some more practice working him in front of a judge. 30th December - not long to go :yikes: |
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| Tafia | Dec 8 2008, 09:23 PM Post #64 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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Now I'm really looking forward to hearing about the obedience competiton! Should be a great way to finish the year :crossedfingers: |
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| zandd | Dec 8 2008, 09:29 PM Post #65 |
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Dill is turning into the ideal companion isn't he :wub: You must be so proud of him. |
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| RJL | Dec 8 2008, 09:44 PM Post #66 |
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:ph43r: I might be the first handler to be bannished from the obedience ring for getting the giggles! I can't help smiling when I'm working Dill - he has that earnest little face :wub: they are going to think I'm a nutter :woohoo: How can you look down at that and not smile?!!! Posted Image Edited by RJL, Dec 8 2008, 10:01 PM.
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| Tafia | Dec 8 2008, 10:58 PM Post #67 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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He's adorable! There's just a touch of the Jean Brodies about him. |
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| zandd | Dec 8 2008, 11:14 PM Post #68 |
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:lol: that is such a brilliant photo.He looks so earnest and eager to please. |
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| hannahb | Dec 9 2008, 09:56 AM Post #69 |
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ahh bless him :wub: |
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| Lu20 | Dec 16 2008, 02:55 PM Post #70 |
Total Gas Bag!
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I have just caught up with these recent posts and I have to say a huge 'WELL DONE', I love the photo of Dill with his rosette - he is just such a lovely looking chap, you must be so very proud. He is one little chap who loves his job. I have to agree, he does have such a fantastic expression, you could never not smile at that little face :rolleyes: :wub: . |
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| TerrierTops | Jan 26 2009, 10:56 PM Post #71 |
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Oh my goodness, I've had tears of laughter reading this thread. RJL, you gotta get that little Dill his own TV show and kids book! Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth in that photo! |
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| RJL | Jan 27 2009, 12:08 AM Post #72 |
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Here's an update! The obedience went really well - apart from one thing...............heelwork :yikes: We arrived, I unpacked Dill and we did some warming up which he performed with his usual dedication to the task. As soon as we set foot in the arena though, I knew we were in for trouble... The floor was covered in recycled material, which is very worthy, but a big heap of horse-muck scented fluff with bits of plastic and bits of rubber and just bits of things is heeler heaven :yippee: Dill took it upon himself to dig and roll and generally behave as if it was snow. I was fine - no nerves - so I asked the person standing nearby (with a collie - no comment!) if she was waiting to go in the ring. 'Yes' she snapped. She then explained that she was waiting - but wasn't actually going to go in just yet and if I wanted to go in I had to place my dumbell on the table by the ring to show I was next. All delivered in a voice that screamed 'why do they let people like you loose in the community?' Anyway, I put the dumbell down and waited.........and waited.........as several people ignored it (maybe as it was so small) and pushed right in front of us just as we were poised to go in. I was trying to time it so that Dill's nose was skyward, instead of buried :rolleyes: Eventually, I spied our chance and was about to go in. The steward then started asking me questions (just like 'number?' 'dog's name'?) which gave Dill a chance to un-focus, especially as a big GSD was bearing down in his direction :yikes: GSD owner stood right in front of Dill, pulled put a long, really exciting (to Dill, obviously) bit of plastic from the floor and waved it in front of his dog's nose 'ooooh - look at that!!!' he said (on no! as if border collie owners aren't enough - I have to put up with plastic-spotters) Of course, little pastoral-brain then made a series of mental connections: Man getting excited by things on the floor - man with clipboard - some poles (yep - the ring was marked out with fence posts like the ones we use to mark out search squares) Idiot on the other end of the lead trying to tell me something....... .....must be nosework :hyper: :yippee: :hyper: Now unclip my lead you stupid woman and let me get on with it :help: Actually - it was supposed to be heelwork :doh: Apart from that minor disaster, he did his recall, his retrieve and his stays without a problem :) A couple of weeks ago Dill was ill :( He hasn't got a lot of insides to come out, so I was really rather worried when he managed to produce a huge ammount of vomit and his ears wilted (a sure sign of Dill distress) I was convinced he's picked up some poison :yikes: and the vet agreed, so we left the surgery with some medicine and a lighter purse :unsure: Of course, having already given him away and been lucky enough to get him back and fought off a huge ridgeback x pitbull, I was so worried that his lives were fast running out that over the next few days, nothing was too good for mummy's little soldier. Once he was recovered we went back to training but the damage was done :doh: (this emoticon will crop up again and again today) and I fell into that awful trap of bribing instead of rewarding. "You won't do it? Well here's a bigger treat for my clever little heeler :wub: " Totally out of character for me (obviously :ph43r: ) but I was just so pleased that once more I was not destined to be dogless. Payback time came on Sunday. We had been doing some really good work and I was very confident until we reached the venue!!! Our class was being held in a paddock used to exercise lots of dogs and was full of smells. I had been working on a way to get Dill really fired up about the search square, so I took some articles, showed them to him and then walked towards the ring with him behind bars in the boot getting all :hyper: Once in the ring the first exercise was the retrieve. 'Face away from the search square' said the steward. Dill said 'no WAY! They're in there you know - we've GOT to find them! :x: the dumbell!" Of course, I rearranged his little heeler bottom so he was facing the right way, threw the dumbell and watched him spin 180 degrees and dive into the search square :angry: He did at least have the decency to come back when called and then complete his retreive as though butter wouldn't melt. At least, by the time we got to the square, I thought all would go well and to a point it did. Just me - being totally dense, accidently wandered into it -which is a BAD thing and because I was so nervous, Dill switched off and decided the nearby (right next to - to be precise) hedgerow was equally fascinating. The control and agility round was brilliant! Well, the agility was :phew: He got full marks and flung himself about with shedloads of enthusiasm. His heelwork was another masterclass in nosework :doh: There were bits of shattered clay pigeon on the ground and all he wanted to do was pick them up and give them to me :rolleyes: very touching, but not what I wanted. He flew off like an arrow for his sendaway - straight to the cone..............and then despite me shouting 'FLAT!' decided the hedge merited closer scrutiny. We didn't bother with the stays as I had heard somebody bragging that if any dog moved - his dog would 'get' them and as I was already getting flashbacks of the attack, I couldn't face it :( Instead we did a practice stay with another young dog which was really good. I was so relaxed by the end of that, that I did some heelwork with him and he trotted round perfectly! All in all, it was a good exercise because I hadn't quite realised how much I'd slipped with the training because we had been doing lots: all short bursts, but all in reasonably familiar places and with lots of rewards. I'd also been praising him in the house - just for being alive - which is no incentive to work! It also made me realise that I am still living in fear of another attack to an extent :( Anyway - the holiday is over for Dill and we are back to normal now with me making the decisions and Dill doing as he is told :lol: The tragic thing is - he loves it :blink: One day into the new regime (okay- the pre-vommiting scare regime) and he is sharper than ever :rolleyes: I have to work on the nerves around new people and people with clipboards :yikes: because if the first people I speak to at an event seem stand-offish or unfriendly, I just deflate :( and think 'sod this! I could be going for a nice walk.' Dill does pick up on nerves and is quite unforgiving of handler-error. He likes precision and routine :yes: In fact, he thrives on it...........so watch this space..... |
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| Tafia | Jan 27 2009, 03:47 PM Post #73 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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Precision and routine ..... nostaligic moments for ex bc owners! I just love reading about the ongoing trails and tribulations of RJL & Dill, glad to hear the little tyke recovered from his illness, must have been a very fightening time for you. |
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| Lu20 | Jan 27 2009, 03:59 PM Post #74 |
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Total Gas Bag!
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Another brilliantly written diary entry - I love them. Keep them coming won't you? Glad Dill is back to his normal self [whatever that is] :lol: :lol: :lol: |
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| RJL | Jan 28 2009, 10:52 AM Post #75 |
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I think if Dill was a person he would be someone like Gordon Ramsey - all noise and barking instructions and a bit of a perfectionist (how do you spell that?!) but just fuelled by nervous energy and desperate to feel useful. At least not many people speak heeler - so they can't be offended when he tells their dogs to :x: :D He has been known to (before we took action) physically bite the casing of the mechanism that works the railway crossing gates because they were being too slow and his walk was interrupted :woohoo: He's a nutter - but with a strangely logical approach to life ;) |
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