NancyO

Liz, I thought everyone got in this year, unless your entry was late?

Hmm, didn't see it either. Actually saw very very few dogs under the tent due to the weather, who wants wet muddy puppies jumping on people. I've used my foot to sweep puppies and move them back to the side (kinda of picking them up slightly with the foot and moving them over), when teaching them to not walk in front of me and continually trip me. Kicking them no, but who knows what people are thinking about it. What is "appeasement behavior"? Robin, leash around the belly seems to be an approved method anymore, since so many agility people use it now, tho I've heard warnings about abdominal and groin injuries from the method. But then so are bungee cord type leashes. Yikes! Once you've had a dog run and hit the end of the bungee leash, and then fly back thro the air and hit you in the chest, YOU WILL NEVER EVER USE ONE AGAIN!

Mark, my second post says "Yes Mark, it does," which was an agreement with you that it was not specific. I think we both agree on that point.

Mark, I'm applying a rule, that because of the context of the rule (1 dog, 2 dogs and 3 dogs per handler) and since 3 dogs per handler does not apply to the Finals, would make me believe that it is how running orders are to be drawn. I've already agreed that the rules are confusing, as some obviously only apply to the finals but at times a distinction is not made.

The only time I've come across it is in Virginia.

Yes Mark, it does, but the fact that in that rule is also suggests how to do a draw when a trial allows 3 dogs per handler, it makes me think that it is for all trials, not just the finals

Sue, I would always go with the one with more experience. What happens if your local vet goes in to do the TTA and finds that really a TPLO needs to be done instead? My choice of ortho vet will always be Canapp in MD. Recently had a dog have a luxating patella repaired. There were up to three different things that might need to be done, what would happen if another vet was only experienced in 2 of the 3? They weren't exactly sure what repairs were going to be needed until they actually opened up the knee.

Xrays on both dogs did NOT show anything. Laura, with Ben the problem had been going on for about 18 months before I took him to the last ortho vet, and he had just been back to one of the previous vets right before this appt. He had lost over 50% of the muscle mass in that shoulder, gait was off because he wasn't putting alot of weight on that leg. They said I could spend the money for an MRI (about 1/2 the cost of the surgery), they said about 1/2 the time the MRI will show if something is fixable, the other 1/2 of the time it won't show it but if they do surgery anyway they find a fixable problem. Not wanting to spend more money with not really having a firm answer, I opted for the surgery. With Jack, the history of me observing the actual injury, picture the proverbial person slipping up in the air on a banana skin, well Jack did it sideways and landed on his shoulder not once, but twice with the second one being on concrete blocks and not getting up right away, they were almost 100% sure that he had a traumatic OCD. Again, we had been resting him and going to other ortho vet who said nothing was wrong with him. Time kept passing and nothing was getting better. So I decided to have the surgery. Jack's surgery would have occured earlier, but right after Ben had his surgery, my husband fell when using crutches on steps (while waiting for his knee replacement) and fractured his femur and ankle. It was a wonderful winter :-)

Laura, I've had 2 dogs with shoulder injuries that did not show on xray, at 2 different ortho vets. The first dog was working in the muck, came up lame in the shoulder. xrays never showed anything. long story short, when he had surgery (he had lost over 50% of his muscle mass by that time and was not dx at the first ortho vet) they found large amt of rotator cuff injury and that a tendon had slipped over the shoulder joint and had worn away the joint. They repaired the rotator cuff and tendon, but nothing could be done for the worn shoulder joint. This dog would be intermittently lame and wouldn't shed anymore, and to complicate things he also had lymes during this time, which didn't help trying to sort out a diagnosis. Second dog, slipped and fell on wet steps ( I saw it happen), came up lame. Xrays never showed anything at either ortho vet. Had surgery and they found he had a huge traumatic OCD from the fall, and since he didn't have surgery right away, also had alot of irritation in the shoulder caused by the OCD, which extended his recovery by several months. The first dog I do give adequan to at times. Let us know what happens with Jag.

Hi Caroline, I recently purchased this dvd and have watched about 3/4 of it. I think it's well suited for someone who is just starting out. He does alot of explanation for preparing to train your dog, the setup needed, the commands etc. He shows 3 different styles of dogs starting, one that just wants to hold sheep to the fence, one not very enthusiastic, and one that's a bit wild starting. He shows the problems he has in trying to get them going around the sheep and some ways to work thro them. I have to admit I laughed at a few spots, recognizing the same problems I may have had when starting a young dog. He is not always successful in the beginning of what he wants to accomplish, which I think is helpful to know that things don't always go smoothly, but then he shows how you might work thro the issues. He occ does a bit more shouting than I would like, but certainly nothing abusive to the dogs. The sheep occ jump out of the corral, but he is trying to control the dog and corrects them if they go in for a nip. From what I've watched so far, I think it's probably the most realistic video of starting a young dog, that I've seen. Not every dog just goes around it's sheep and brings them to you, as depicted in some training videos. I would certainly recommend finding a trainer, if at all possible. Good luck with your young pup.

Megan, I think for over there the pen is supposed to be 8' x 9' with a 6 ft rope. I don't think there is any regulation of how tall it can be.

I "rescued" a 3 year old working dog, he's not worked for about a year. I know his history. He was allowed to run loose alot when younger and is a deer runner, they live in a state park where there are tons of deer. The previous owner really got on him for running away and now jumps fences to get away when someone is hollering, even if it's not at him. He probably would just jump fences anyway. Prior to taking him permanently, I was helping out his previous owner and had him at my house, which has about 1/2 acre fenced yard with 4ft wire fence. I was putting him into a covered outdoor dog kennel when my pup went into the kennel (I had just taken off the dog's leash). I said in a disgusted voice to the pup "Tuck get out of there" This was enough to put terror into this dog, he ran out the kennel and climbed the fence in absolute terror, falling back once in his terror. The only way I caught him was when he was working the llamas across the road, and then he listened and would come to me. Now that I have him permanetly I've been considering activating my inground invisible fence (which I had used many years ago when I had 2 dogs), so that he doesn't even approach the wire fence. Of course I would train him to the invisible fence, and I know that he would be able to run thro the invisible fence if he is that afraid. But I am thinking more on day to day letting him out in the yard, rather than having to take him out on a line all the time. Since he will jump fences, I'm not sure I'll be able to trust that he won't continue to do so. I've been working on desensitizing him to someone yelling, so when I have him out on a line I'll holler at the other dogs, he response so far has been to come and stand next to me, rather than run away. So I've been working on this issue with him too. I've also been working him on sheep, where there has been no indication of him leaving the sheep when I am correcting him. He was trained to the p/n level but hasn't really worked in a year. Thoughts are appreciated.

Be sure to check your local ordinances. Around here, to have 1, count it 1 sheep, you have to have a minimum of 10 acres. If you want a horse you have to have 2 acres. My 12 acres is split into about a 7 acre field and a 5 acre field.

I've been tempted to buy this Kencove staple driver

Congratulations, I've been wondering how the farm situation was coming.