DebnKirk

I made my own Access database. But then, I'm a computer geek.

The net we like for winter is designated P/N. One strand is hot, the other is ground. We've been lucky not to have huge snowdrifts and it's kept it's charge. In the summer we use it with the other netting, and just connect both leads to the hot wire, then all the strands are hot. Good luck. Debbie in WV

I use the Mini-mite, too, but I have a hard time keeping the rechargeable batteries from dying. Recently I had a rescue foster come in with a bunch of grooming equipment, etc. I rolled my eyes when I saw the "As Seen On TV!!!" Pedi Paws grinder, but I tried it seeing as how yet another dremel battery bit the dust. I had to twist off the "safety cover" but by golly it worked! It's slow and quiet, and even my squirmy girl didn't mind it. That fact, combined with the replaceable (C?) batteries, makes this thing a keeper at my house.

I make a click noise with one side of my mouth, like clucking to a horse (having been a horse person in a previous life.) It's not as loud as a regular clicker and I use it in classes all the time, plus in the agility ring for my young dogs. Make sure you do the "cluck/feed" sessions at home with the new sound so the dog knows that is the reward indicator. You could also use "Yes" or another happy word as the reward indicator in place of a click. In my mind, "Yes" is overused so you might use a different word. Personally I'd drop this instructor like a hot potato. Good luck! Debbie

I'm looking to purchase some quiet, dog-broke ewes and have located some, but they're in an adjacent state. (I'm used to that, living in WV.) The problem I see is that they are bred and will lamb at the end of March / beginning of April. How far along in a ewe's gestation would you be comfortable shipping her 4-5 hrs to a new home? These ewes are very fit and healthy, and are used by working sheepdogs on a daily basis. Thanks, Debbie

I'd also consider testing for TBDs and/or treating with 30 days of Doxy even if the tick panel is negative.

Does anyone here run a dog in agility at a high level like Masters or Excellent and also have ISDS-type herding (not AKC or AHBA) at P/N or above? If so would you contact me off-list? Thanks. Debbie asheepatthewheel AT gmail.com

Have you had him checked for Lyme lately? We had a lame foster dog who would get better with rest, then come up 3-legged lame again (front leg/paw). She showed positive for Lyme, which is included in the heartworm test suite. 30 days of Doxycycline and she's a new dog.

She might figure it out if you stop playing, but I have a dog who does pretty much the same thing and I finally figured it out. If she is playing with a tennis ball, it's value outweighs most everything else (one of these days I'm going to take it in the sheep pen with me!) But if I use the ball that came with the launcher, an orange plastic thing, she'll return it to me. I think maybe your girl just loves her ball more than chasing it or trading it for a treat.

With my rescue, I've become pretty adept with keeping e-collars on uncooperative dogs. First, make sure it's attached to a regular dog collar which you then snug up pretty tightly. You can use gauze strips to tie the e-collar to the dog collar, or like my permanent "cone of shame", use wire ties. Don't clip off the wire ties and leave the long ends outside the e-collar, alongside the plastic. For the hard core cases, you may have to use duct tape on the seam where the collar folds over on itself. We had a Corgi mix who went through five collars and two crates and who managed to chew open her spay sutures before I managed the combo that stuck - wire ties, duct tape, and a Kennel Aire Commander crate. Good luck! Debbie Nosse Tri-State Corgi Rescue tscorgirescue.petfinder.com <- home of Princess, the 75lb Corgi

Let him have a go at it. If the dog is truly his, he should be the one working it. Your time investment has given you a (rightful) sense of ownership and we women are great at seeing the big picture. My own hubby has an agility dog who I don't even work, and he doesn't take suggestions on course walkthroughs, so he's spent some time and $$ learning the hard way. It takes everything I have *not* to tell him about it, but to be supportive. He has fun, and we are all out there with the dogs, so that's what counts.