LyndaTaylor

This is a good clip showing that way of getting the turn on the box Link here Lynda

hi, yes ABC is " Anything But Collies" but you're not restricted to entering that class if you have a different breed and as it's a "special class" it doesn't count towards progression up the gradings. Also worth considering that often an ABC class will be open to all grades of dogs so you'll be up against some very experienced dog and handler teams. There's a good guide to starting agility at Agility Addicts that might help Lynda

It looks as if the last time their flyball team ran was in July 2006 and only 2 competitions that year. Reasonably close to Newark is Empingham Dog Training who train in Grantham and are a well established club Lynda

Actually most nurses qualifying now do have a degree, a BSc(Hons) in Nursing. Lynda

Recent treatment at Scunthorpe NHS when I broke my wrist was fantastic, staff were great though obviously very busy, seen on time, very little waiting for x-ray or to get the cast put on or off. Can't praise them enough. I just hope they're not seen as one of the smaller ones they want to close to make way for centralised centres Lynda

T If you have a look on Workingtrials.co.uk and go to contacts there are details for the Scottish Working Trials Society. I used to be a member when I lived up there and there was a far bit organised for training and actual trials.

hi Cathie, Thankyou for the offer I've passed eveything over to Pauline as I know she has been hunting for a spare dog too! I'm a "mature" student at Bishop Burton on the Foundation Degree in Canine Behaviour and Training via distance learinig but Pauline is the Course Manager though she's on Summner Hols now having a well earned break from us awful students! Lynda

Hi, Its the Bishop Burton Teams. Pauline, Riotus_UK, is our Team Manager, who is also having a nightmare with her van breaking down and Sky going to the bridge yesterday , so I'll pass on your kind offer. Got to ask though, why is she a total pain Lynda

Thanks for that. We having a bit of a disaster for Eggborough in that its our first ever division race and we also have a starters team entered but we're also having all kinds of problems with dogs not being well or unavailable and having a couple of "high energy" dogs I wondered if it might be an option! Lynda

hi I can't see this anywhere in the BFA rules but it might be one of those custom and pratice things. Could a dog run in both a division and a starters team on the same day if they are still eligble for starters and BFA registered? thanks Lynda

thankyou!

Sad person that I am I've been looking at the BFA rules on their website but I can't see anything about the criteria for being able to run in Starters? and one more........ is Starters always classed as a fun class so no points are allocatted if I was to join the BFA and the team won a race? I'm quite happy in Startes right now thankyou Lynda

I'd say find a really good trainer who will train you how to handle a fast dog, concentrating on your skills rather than your dogs. Lynda

Yes, I have one like that, Megan, she thinks agility is as much fun as watching paint dry or at least that's the impression she gave, some of it I felt was a little lack of confidence and she probably picked up my nerves more than the other dogs did. But she was a very good steady dog and a good pairs and team member as though not fast she was very accurate and got quite a few intermediate places Things that I found helped - She hated being in front, so I needed to work her from her shoulder where-ever I could. I would break a course into sections, so first 4 jumps, lots of verbal praise, next few obstacles praise again, she needed that reassurance as we went along. Start line routine, as we got to one dog infront we would play tug and then she did a routine of tricks again lots of praise so all very positive. Very little training, I worked more on target training and obedience which could then be transferred to the equipment which meant we then had to only do a few repetitions of something new I also found she was much better once we were out of starters and there were more twists and turns in a course so when in starters she was better in open classes or ABC ones. Good luck! Lynda

It has Pauline! Though I feel quite ashamed now to have to admit that there is much more to flyball than I had first thought. Daisy was absolutley fine, no stiffness at all in the morning, it seems she can cope with flyball much better than the HWTM moves and agility. Can't wait to get the box and then I can start with all 5 as they're all total ball maniacs

Hi Jo, I spotted that one on ebay, always my first stop for everything but been told that the concave ones with rubber matting are better for the dogs as they absorb the shock of the dog landing on them. But, I think we might just be sorted, through the power of The Refuge, we're off to look at a secondhand set on Monday Looks like I'm changing from HWTM to Flyball for my progessive training option

I've found a couple of agilty equipment suppliers that do the boxes but is there anyone else I can compare prices to? thanks Lynda

We had a fantastic day yesterday, we turned up to a starters show with three dogs who had never run together or competed before with my Daisy never having done flyball before and after 5 minutes training we came 2nd in our division loosing only to the team that came first. Our team consisted of a collie, a beardie, a terrier and a Germain wirehaired pointer who we met just before our first race and who had never competed before either!!! I was so amazed at how friendly and helpful everyone was, they gave their time to show us what to do and where to be, loaned a box and balls, and we had a Team manager, trainer and box loader who appeared from no-where to help us. Having competed in other dog sports I have to say that Flyball really knows how to encourage starters and help them on their way! Oh and theres much more to it than I thought! I was exhausted at the end of the day! Picture below of my Daisy doing her Easter bunny impersonation

Thankyou!

Hi does anyone know where I can get a schedule for the KC show at Leslie, Nr Glenrothes on 4th June? thanks Lynda

Thankyou Patch!

Can anyone help on who is the governing body for HWTM? I've found several sites all who run competitions and who have their own rules but are there anyone which are recognised by the KC? thanks Lynda

York is a bit of a dead zone for agility clubs which is very strange really. Dog Friendly at Aughton near York do some classes but I think they are more fun agility than training with competition in mind. Harrogate club is very friendly and they have a really good mix of all breeds and Ron Rawlingson who trains between Northallerton and Thirsk is also lovely. Ron's website is http://www.k9-dogtraining.co.uk

Whats a the difference between a twist and a twirl?

Do you clicker train? I would do free shaping aound the seesaw (this is how I trained all my contacts). So click for looking at it, click for being near it, for sniffing it, for one paw on it etc. etc. No presssure whatsoever, no pulling/coaxing the dog across or rocking it back and forth If all he can cope with in the first session is looking at it, then leave it at that, he is choosing to look at something which is pretty scarey to him right now and thats a pretty big choice for him to make. This will take longer initially but you'll have a really solid behaviour and a dog who enjoys the seesaw Lynda