Tiffany's Tail

Life of Luxury

2012-01-14T15:59:00.003+10:30

We have made another movie. It shows a typical minute from our lives where Hannah and I have fun at home.

We play chasey, we play fight, pose on our beds and I get to do my trick with the dog door. All this in just over a minute.

Click on the link under Video Links on the left of the page and sit back and watch. It is about 4 meg so it may take a while to load on a slow computer.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T21:19:00.003+10:30

Happy New year to all our readers.

We have joined in the celebrations with lots of food and fun. KnK started with prawn, scallop and salmon shashliks at about 4:30, and we got a taste too. Then they had Oysters Kilpatrick, we got some of the bacon, then about 8:00 they had calamari, and some for us. On top of that we had our dinner and Hannah's Home Made Biscuits.

We are now full as a boot and can't move. The bottle was just a prop for the photo, we don't drink alcohol, but KnK did! They had the white wine and a Whales Tail, that's a drink made from Bundaberg Liqueur Rum, Bundaberg ginger beer and cream.

The fireworks will be on soon, so I have to go, KnK will be asleep by the time the fireworks finish.

Hannah and I wish you all a Happy New Year, and hope to see you soon.

Christmas for Dogs

2011-12-26T13:40:00.002+10:30

We had a Christmas Day party at home. Molly came to stay for a few days, and Kevin came just for the day. Poor Audrey could not come because she had an allergy and was on medication. We got home-made dog biscuits, bits of turkey and pork, and all the treats we could scrounge. Molly had to have a lie down, and Tiffany went off on her own a couple of times, but Kevin and I kept it up nearly all day. We were running and playing and drinking and eating non-stop. I was glad when everyone went home so I could have a rest.

The humans had to sit around, just talking, eating and drinking while we played, it must have been boring for them.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-20T09:31:00.005+10:30

Merry Christmas everybody.
A few tips to help you to enjoy Christmas.
1) Decorate the house when you can. Shred coloured paper or material and spread it around.
2) Be grateful when your human erects an indoor toilet, and use it as much as possible.
3) If any presents are left by the indoor toilet, open them when you get a chance.
4) If it is edible chew it. To test for edibility, chew it. If in doubt, chew it again.
5) When visitors come, take a big drink then shove your cold wet nose in their groin.
6) Hang out with children, they do not protect their food.
7) At meal time, keep quiet, hide under the table and wait for food to fall.
8) Beware of drinking spilled liquid while under the table. It can make your legs wobbly.
9) Big sad eyes, a waggy tail and a pathetic whimper will always get treats.

Titled Tollers

2011-12-14T09:23:00.001+10:30

Last night we went to the SAODC Christmas party, and we were given all these sashes for the titles we got during the year.

I got a Community Companion Dog Sash, and Tiffany got 4 sashes for her CD, AD, JD and JDX titles.

We met Terry the pup last night, he had been stung by a bee and had to get emergency treatment from the vet to stop the anaphylactic shock. Tiffany had a bad reaction to a bee sting when she was a pup, see the post Insect bite ; in 2009

We heard from Summa and Demon in Mt Gambier, and the Cat Gang raided them too, they got away with a Cherry Ripe. (See the comment on the previous post). Just as well the cats got the chocolate, because chocolate is poison to dogs.

Steak Thieves

2011-12-12T16:02:00.003+10:30

Well, it was like this officer, the steak was on the kitchen top, almost defrosted, when these three great big cats broke into the house, jumped on the kitchen top, nicked the steak and ran out with it. We were so surprised by the speed of it we did not have time to bark. The cats are part of an international gang of Steak Burglars so it would have been minced and sold interstate within the hour. All we could do was grab the plastic bag the steak was in and bring that back as evidence. While we were checking it out for cat paw prints and cat smells, Keith saw us and then assumed it was us that did it. It could not have been us because we had just had our dinner and we were full. Luckily Keith had some sausages in the fridge so KnK still got their dinner.

Does anyone know if Quick-Eze are OK for dogs?

Hannah's first CD pass

2011-11-27T17:54:00.004+10:30

Hannah passed her first Novice trial today, with a second place too. Kathy was a bit nervous, especially when Hannah ran off briefly between exercises, but it was still a good pass. The stays were interesting, Keith was judging in the next ring and Hannah had a good look at him, but she did not move. It was a relief when it was all over, only two more passes and Hannah will be a CD dog too!

I was in the Agility and Jumping, I almost got round the Masters Jumping course, until there was a tight turn on to a broad jump, and I went through the side. Maybe next time things will go better.

The pic shows us on the beach near the caravan park, and Hannah is wearing her Sash.

Wet Dogs

2011-11-25T20:23:00.003+10:30

The humans have got us on the road again, this time we are going to Portland in Victoria for the Dog Trials. We stayed at Keith last night where it started raining at 2:00 am and did not stop until about 11:00am. The pic shows us in our "20 years of Tollers" raincoats when we went for our morning walk.

We got to Portland, very windy, but we still went for a walk on the cliff tops, said hello to Buffy, Summa, Demon and Gypsy, did some training and now we are ready for bed.

Top Dogs

2011-11-23T09:05:00.004+10:30

We won trophies at the Gundog Club last night. I was the Top Agility Bitch, and Hannah was second Obedience Bitch. The pic shows us with our trophies.

We also got recognition awards for our other titles too, they are the smaller trophies in the pic.

It was Keith's birthday yesterday (he is 469 in dog years). We got him a present each and we helped to unwrap them. That was great fun shredding the paper and spreading it all over the house, a lot more fun than he had from the shirts we got him!

The Dog Walk

2011-11-13T21:31:00.004+10:30

Our dog walk is ready. The surface is still a bit slippery so that will have to be fixed, but in the mean time it stops us from jumping off early because we can not get a grip. The pic shows us testing it out.

We have an extra panel for our shelter tent when we are trialling. Kathy made it today and we set it up to see if it fits. That is in the pic background.

We did not do too well in the trials, Tiffany forgot how to heel, and I got distracted by a bug in the Stand for Examination, then I sat. We both did all the other exercised OK, but the humans were still grumpy with us. Ah well, we will have to use the big sad eyes and the waggy tail for a couple of days and they will get over it.

Southern Trials

2011-11-07T11:19:00.005+10:30

To paraphrase John Madden, of all my Agility Trials, this was one of them. The pic shows me just about to go into the weavers, but I missed the entry, because I had to "go", so I did and that got us tossed out of the ring. I had already missed a jump so we were not qualifying. I must have had a nervous bladder because I had been three times before we went in.

In the Excellent course I went the wrong way through the hoop, in the Jumping Open I missed a weaving pole and in the Jumping Masters I just got distracted and did a wrong jump. So we had four fails, but it was not all that bad. I did manage some very difficult parts and my times were good, so Keith was not too unhappy.

We now have a mini dog walk at home. Keith made it out of a work platform and some timber he found in the shed. At least Hannah and I can practice Contacts now.

Broken Hill Trials

2011-10-30T13:56:00.003+10:30

KnK were judging the trials at Broken Hill, so we were just along for the ride. So far we have had Saturday night and Sunday morning at the trials, but we did manage to get in the ring, we were the make up dogs for the stay exercises. I did the UD and Open stays, and Hannah did the CCD stays. The pic shows some of the trial dogs with their humans, after the trial.

We start back tomorrow, very early, so we will not get a chance to have a look around.

Pass-less weekend at Mt Gambier

2011-10-24T13:30:00.004+10:30

No passes in 5 attempts between us. I was in Novice Obedience and got distracted when Fur Dad Rio went past the ring and I forgot what I was doing on the first day, then on the Sunday I did not do the drop in the Distance Control but did everything else. Tiffany was in Master Jumping for the first time, until Keith got lost and went the wrong way, then in the Novice Snooker, Tiffany decided to go a different way to Keith and did not get enough points. The Open Jumping was Ok until Tiffany missed a bar in the distance sector.

It did not start out as a good week-end. Just after we left home the Navara got a fault and we had to take it and the caravan back home. The Honda Jazz was loaded up with everything we needed, accommodation booked, and we had to sleep in the dog crates.

While we were in Mt Gambier we met up with TeamJoseph, they comment on the blog quite often. On the chair is Summa and Gypsy, then Buffy and Demon with Tiffany and me.

Father Woods Tree

2011-10-21T21:09:00.003+10:30

Trials time again, this time in Mt Gambier. We got in the car with the caravan hitched up, got 100 metres down the road when a light came on warning something was wrong in the engine. Straight down to Unley Nissan where the Navara was pugged into the computer which could not find anything wrong. The fault was reset and seemed clear, but as soon as we started off again, the light came on!. The caravan and the Navara were taken home, all the essentials were unpacked and loaded into the Honda Jazz and we came to Mt Gambier. Kathy booked us into a cabin for two nights.

On the way we stopped at Father Woods Tree. Father Wood was a local preacher who did a lot of work for the community, and he used to hold his sermons under a big tree. The council has built memorial park across the road from the tree. They cut down a lot of trees and carved statues out of the stumps which represent aspects of Father Woods life. The pic shows us looking at the carvings.

Ms Hannah, Tiffany JDX

2011-10-16T11:55:00.003+10:30

Hannah has been converted from a Miss to a Ms and is doing very well. We have to keep her 'quiet and calm', for 2 weeks. We have a better chance of winning the lottery. So far so good, she has recovered from the surgery very well and is actively resisting all attempts to keep her 'quiet and calm'.

I went to the trials on Saturday, and passed two Jumping Dog Excellent trials which means I have another title to my name, JDX.

It was close for the first pass, I almost went passed a jump when Keith called me back, and Judge Joy was right in the perfect position to see if it was a refusal or not. After she said it was less than a centimetre in it, but I got the pass, and my Title. I will have to talk to Demon to see if he can get his mum to put me in the Masters Jumping at Mt Gambier next week.

20 years of Tollers

2011-10-09T21:16:00.003+10:30

The Tollers have been in Australia for 20 Years, and to celebrate there was a gathering of Tollers at the United Retriever Club of NSW in Sydney. We were there and Tiffany won 1st place in the 400mm Agility Dog Excellent class,with a qualification. The pic shows her running through the weaving poles on her way to the win. The Jumping Excellent went wrong when Tiffany went the wrong way over a jump after leaving a tunnel , but the rest of the course was good.

I was in Novice Obedience, but it was all too much for me and I got put off by the thunderstorm that went through just before the start of the trial. Anyway, I did the heel work OK, but I would not sit at the start peg for the next exercise so I was sent home early.

There were lots of Tollers on the grounds. There was a Conformation Show, the Agility and Jumping trial, the Obedience Trial and the Retrieving Ability Test for Gundogs, with Tollers entered in all of them. Maybe next year at the 21 year gathering we will do better.

Wisemans Ferry

2011-10-06T09:42:00.003+10:30

The Toller Tourists are out and about, this time at Wisemans Ferry, just a short drive from Castle Hill. We stopped at the lookout, and then went down to the ferry and had a walk round the park. Hannah started chasing the blossoms that were falling off the trees and we spent ages trying to convince her they were harmless and did not need to be driven off. We met some people that wanted to pat us, so we put up with that for about half an hour, then went down to the river bank to see the Blue Wren that would not stay still long enough for Keith to get a photo. I don't know which was the funniest, Hannah chasing the blossoms or Keith chasing the wren.

Sydney Trials

2011-10-03T20:41:00.002+10:30

We have had a week-end at the Sydney dog grounds at Erskine Park. KnK have been judging for two days, and we have been left on our own. Well we fixed them, we chewed Keith's pillow on the first day, then chewed his hat on the next day.

It's not all been bad, we have had lots of runs on the ground and played with lots of new dogs and watched the end of a RATG trial.

Most of the other dogs have gone home today, so I suppose we will be moving on tomorrow too. Hannah is competing in an Obedience trial next week, and I am doing Agility, with lots of other Tollers. Hopefully we will get some practice in during next week.

The Dogs on the Tucker box

2011-09-29T15:33:00.003+09:30

We are in Gundagai, where dogs are required to sit on a Tucker Box.

We stopped for lunch by the monument to the original Tucker Box-sitting dog and posed for pictures. First time for Hannah, but I have been here before.

It seems a long time ago, a bullock team driver broke down and had to walk 9 miles to Gundagai to get help. His Dog sat on the tucker box, which was where the Driver kept not only his food, but all his valuables too. The dog guarded the tucker box until the driver got back. Not much of a story really, but that was probably the most interesting thing that had happened in years. The monument was put 5 miles from Gundagai, as the 9 mile point was not very good for a tourist trap.

Anyway, whenever we pass the humans want us to pose with this statue, so we did.

Champion Hannah

2011-09-24T17:52:00.004+09:30

She Did It! Hannah got Best of Breed and Challenge to get the final points she needed to be a Champion.

Her formal name is now

Champion Sherbrooke Highway Hannah CCD.

We went to Monato near Murray Bridge for the dog show. There were lots of dogs there, and Hannah was the best Toller. She did not do any good in the Group line-up, but that does not count for her title.

Hannah did her usual "wag everything while the Judge is approaching" trick, although she did not move from position during the examination and she ran round the ring perfectly.

Now we are both Champions of the Breed.

Whyalla

2011-09-19T15:49:00.003+09:30

What a hot week end. The wind came up and blew all the dust about, the sun was out all day and we were hot and sticky. All we wanted to do was lie on the cool bed until we could get back to the caravan and the air-con. Keith expected me to run round the Agility ring, but I was too hot, sticky and uncomfortable to try. Hannah didn't have to run, so why should I?

Anyway, maybe the next run will be in better weather.

Tiffany and Hannah, One Year On.

2011-09-12T09:31:00.004+09:30

Just look at us now after one year together. At the top of the page in the header is a picture of us when I was just 9 weeks old after I had arrived here. I have snuggled into Tiffany's side with my Lamb toy. See how big I have grown, I am now bigger that Tiffany, but Tiffany is a Petite Toller being just on the minimum size. We still have the Lamb, although not all his stuffing is still there and one leg is missing, but we still play with him. He is in the picture between our front legs.

Tiffany was at the agility trials yesterday and got another pass in Jumping Excellent with 2nd place and a pass in Agility Excellent with a 4th place. She needs one more jumping pass and three more agility passes for Tiffany to get her next titles.

Testing, testing.

2011-09-01T08:56:00.000+09:30

Here we are practising jumping together, I am just telling Hannah to lift her feet, but she will get the idea soon. It took a while to get the picture, Keith set up the video camera then sent us over the jumps several times. This pic was a still taken from the video using Pinnacle Studio.

Blogger has a new interface, so this post is trying it out, and it is also a test of the email notification system. Leave a comment if it works.

Games Trial

2011-08-28T21:53:00.005+09:30

We went to the Gawler Games trial today, and Tiffany passed both of the trials she was in! She was in Gamblers Excellent for the first time and then passed Snooker Novice for her second pass. We were celebrating and then Ricky came over to congratulate her. The pic show the three of us. Ricky has his own blog, see the "Ricky's Ramblings" link to the left under Blogs to Read.

Ricky suggested we add a Submit Button at the top left of the sidebar, so we did. If you add your email address in the space under " Follow By Email" heading, then press the submit button, each day we post to our blog you will get an email to let you know. No post, - no email. You have to go through a verification process to stop spammers, but it is so easy a human could do it.

Bath Time

2011-08-27T11:27:00.003+09:30

We have had a lazy few days, not doing much since we got home from the trip up north. Today was bath time. Now most dogs shudder at the "B" word but we love it. We bite the water as it comes out of the spray, we shake ourselves and get the humans wet, then we attack the blow dryer and make as much noise as we can. It is an outdoor bath, because of the mess we make, but the water comes from the laundry and is warm so we enjoy it so much more. I went first because I am the oldest. Hannah was barking and whining while I had my bath and blow dry, then it was her turn while I dried off with some biscuits. We have had our nails clipped, our feet trimmed and a good brushing, so we are ready to face anything the world can throw at us.

Agility Again

2011-08-14T15:49:00.002+09:30

Tiffany had another pass in Excellent Jumping yesterday. We were at the Agility Dog Club Trial for the afternoon trials, and Tiffany was in Excellent and Open Agility and Jumping. She did the Excellent Jumping course first and passed, but that was the only pass for the day. Only one fault in the Agility Excellent, missed a weaving pole as she turned into the sun, but was DQ'd for a wrong course in the other two.

We were both back in training on Tuesday, getting ready for the obedience trials.

I am down to one pill a day for the SRMA, and Kathy is going to reduce them to alternate days. Hopefully, I have seen the end of the meningitis.

Back Home

2011-08-09T10:48:00.004+09:30

We're Back! After nearly 6 weeks, we are back home. A week ago we were in Darwin in the warm, and now we are in the cold. The pic shows us at Mandorah looking at Darwin from the Cox Peninsula, and then underneath we were standing in the Outback near Coober Pedy on the way home.

For 6 days we have been travelling, only a quick walk break every couple of hours and back to sleep in the car. Now we are home we can run in the garden any time.

KnK are planning the next trip, so we wont be home for long.

Hannah - 99 points

2011-08-03T08:19:00.002+09:30

Hannah is on 99 points towards her Champion title. Just one more to go and that will be it.

The trouble is, we have so many things to do over the next few weeks, we do not know when Hannah can try for the final point.

Keith was away in Singapore so Kathy looked after us and took us to the shows. I was there to support Hannah, gave her a few last minute tips, and some woofs of encouragement. She was even given a good long look for Minor in Group, but her shaved patch on her back is still noticeable, and the prize went to a Golden.

Keith is back, we both broke through the back seat barrier to get to him and give him a good licking when we picked him up at the airport, next time he leaves us we will bite him!

6 points and a Big Clock

2011-07-26T15:14:00.003+09:30

Hannah got her first 6 points after her first birthday, so she is now 19 points off of becoming a Champion. She also won a dog bowl. After the show, I went in a Trial Class with Keith, and I won a Big Clock. Keith used to say he would not go in a show ring for a big clock, well, we went in and we got one. That's us with our trophies.

The Brace was good fun. First I was on the outside and I started to chew Hannah's ear, so she started to bite my leg, and Kathy went spare trying to control us. After that we swapped sides and did it properly for a while, and then we started playing again. In the end, the pair of Irish Setters won it, I don't know why, we were much more entertaining.

Next day Hannah got an upset tummy, we think she found some old food on the ground. She is going to the vet tonight for a check up because while she is on the Steroids her immune system is not at full strength and we have to make sure she is OK.

PS. Wed. morning. The vet said Hannah had probably picked up some possum poo and got a tummy wog. Some pills fixed her, she seems OK now.

Happy Birthday Hannah

2011-07-23T14:58:00.003+09:30

Hannah is one year old today, and to celebrate, Burnie and Cherrie came over from next door for Biscuits. The top pic shows us looking at the Birthday Biscuits, and then underneath, we are getting stuck into them.

In Hannah's first year she has travelled to NSW, Vic, NT and most of SA. She has scored 90 points in Conformation, has a CCD in Obedience and is learning Agility.

The terrible SRMA struck her down at Easter and she is still on medication for that. It makes her tire easily and so she has to rest a lot. We still have time to get in trouble though, see the Great Pen Mystery and the BBQ cleaning episode for examples.

Hannah has packed a lot into her first year, and we expect to pack even more into the next year.

Royal BoB

2011-07-22T11:00:00.002+09:30

Hannah won Best of Breed and the Challenge at the Darwin Royal Show. The pic shows her with her certificate and her sashes. She now has 90 points, but only 75 of them count because she is not 1 year old until Saturday.

The judge gave her a good look for Puppy in Group, but it went to a beautiful GSP puppy.

On Sunday Hannah will be old enough to score more points in her quest for a Champion title at the Gundog Show, and both of us are going to compete in the Brace class for the first time ever. In the Brace, we both strut round the ring together and we get judged as a pair. Just imagine Kathy trying to control both of us when we get playful, this could make Australia's Funniest Home Video!

100% Pass

2011-07-17T10:32:00.003+09:30

What a brilliant sister I have! Tiffany passed both trials last night, with a first place in Jumping Excellent and a second place in Agility Excellent. There were two Tollers in the competition, and Bernie came in second in the Jumping Excellent class, so it was a Toller double.

The pic shows Tiffany relaxing this morning with her Sashes, Qualifying cards and her first place Trophy, an engraved whisky glass.

We had a moment of panic in the Jumping when Keith forgot the course for a second, and another one when Tiffany nearly missed a jump, but the final sprint home was great with Tiffany finishing two jumps in front of Keith.

I will not be old enough for Agility until I am 18 months old. 6 months to go and I can't wait for it.

Latest Toller video

2011-07-13T09:53:00.005+09:30

There were five of us all in the water having a great time. With Hannah and I were Fur Dad Rio, Fur Mum Jaffa and Fur Auntie Cherry. There is a technique we have for making sure the water is free from crocodiles, we wait for a human pup to go in and if they come out it is safe for us. This lagoon is a stones throw from the centre of Palmerston, surrounded by a great big fence and is used by all the humans for miles around, so it is croc free. Mini Mac was worried about us getting eaten, but we were safe. Click on the 'Marlow's Lagoon' link under Video Links to see us having fun in the water, and Fur Dad Rio doing a trick on the dog play equipment.

Dopey Dad

2011-07-10T11:21:00.002+09:30

Tiffany is too upset to type today. Dopey Dad sent her over the wrong jump in the JDX class when she was flying round the course. You can see in the picture, Keith is pointing to a jump, Tiffany is running towards it, and did it beautifully, but it was the wrong jump. She had to turn round and go back to the right jump and still completed the course under time, but she got a DQ anyway.

She was still grumbling about it this morning, but she is getting over it. Hopefully things will settle down by next week.

Snookered

2011-07-09T12:36:00.004+09:30

I almost made it in the Snooker last night. I got 17 points in the opening round and I only needed 10, then went all the way round the closing sequence right up to the exit colour of the Dog Walk and I missed the colour. I got everything else, but missing the last colour put me out. The pic shows me on top of the Dog Walk when we were at Alice Springs. Karen's brother in law took the photo, so thank you to him for the great action shots.

I missed a jump in the Agility Excellent course and then got DQ for jumping it wrong way, so last night was not very successful at all. Hope the Jumping and Gamblers courses go better tonight.

Fannie Bay

2011-07-08T17:01:00.004+09:30

The Touring Tollers were at Fannie Bay today. We went for a drive around, had a look over Darwin Harbour and had lunch at Fannie Bay. The pic shows us on the cliff top overlooking Fanny Bay with the Casino just visible in the background.

Did not do very much today, saving my strength for the Agility and Snooker trials tonight.

Tropical Tollers

2011-07-07T17:06:00.002+09:30

Hannah and I are in the tropics at Darwin. We got here today, the humans set up our camp and we had a sleep outside. It is warm all the time, we are finding it hard to find a cool place to snooze.

The pic shows us having a run on the way here at a rest stop. It looks like we are off lead, but it just goes to show you can not trust a picture if Photoshop is handy. The leads made the picture look funny so they got painted out.

Tomorrow we are going to an Agility trial. Not much hope in this heat! I am an Arctic dog, not a Tropical dog. Humans- I could bite them at times.

Max Points and Gamble Dog

2011-07-03T12:59:00.003+09:30

Both of us had good news for the weekend in Alice Springs. I am now on 78 points towards my Championship, and I can not get any more until I am twelve months old because I need 25 after my first birthday.

Yesterday Tiffany passed her third Novice Gamblers Trial and now is a Gamble Dog. Her full name will be Champion Sherbrooke Tiffany Ale, CD, AD, JD, GD.

I did not do too well in the obedience trial. The pic shows me doing Heel Free, well I am free, Kathy is nowhere near me. Anyway Judge Clive was not happy and I non qualified. Tiffany just missed her JDX trial by 2.44 seconds. That's how long over time she was after getting a fault free round. At least she is getting close again after losing her confidence a bit after Keith went away for 4 days.

Alice Springs Success

2011-07-01T18:22:00.002+09:30

The first day at the Alice Springs show went well for Hannah, she got 12 more points towards her championship title, and I got one more pass in a Gamblers trial. Don't ask about the ADX or JDX trials.

The pic shows me going over a bar jump at full speed, just before I did a wrong jump in the JDX class.

Hannah has had her drugs reduced for the first time after her relapse and she is doing very well. The show judges were not bothered about the bare spot on her back and they both gave Hannah a Challenge worth 6 points each.

We start again tomorrow only this time Hannah is in a Novice Obedience trial too.

Outback Tollers

2011-06-27T19:28:00.002+09:30

This is Hannah's first trip to the outback, so I am showing her all the tricks I have learned during my bush experience to the Cape York Peninsula. The pic shows us just north of Port Augusta having a break from travelling.

There are many things a dog needs to know in the bush, such as if you pick up a stick and it wriggles, let it go - it is probably a snake.

Tasty morsels lying around could be a Fox Bait. Little insects have nasty stings. Crocodiles live in the rivers, so don't swim unless a human goes in first! There is lots to show her, luckily she is a quick learner.

Hannah's First Novice

2011-06-25T19:53:00.002+09:30

Hannah is feeling a lot better on the extra steroids, so much so that she went in her first novice trial. The individual exercises were done very well with only losing 8 points. The pic shows Hannah coming in on the Recall and is just about to sit.

The stays were going well until the end of the one minute sit stay. Kathy was actually on the way back when Hannah lay down. It was a warm sunny day, and she was a little tired as a result of the drugs, and Hannah could not hold the sit any longer. The three minute down stay was done easily, so Hannah missed out on her first Novice pass by about 10 seconds. "Missed it by that much" as Max Smart used to say. Still, it was a good effort for a pup that has a heavy medication and has only just completed CCD last week.

Relapse

2011-06-24T10:48:00.003+09:30

Hannah has got her SRMA back again. On Wednesday night she was a bit sensitive, and by Thursday morning she could not move her head again. The Vet has put her steroids up to a high level and she is feeling a lot better. The pic shows me watching over her after she has had her drugs this morning.

A relapse is not uncommon but she was doing so well we all thought she was over it. This just means that it will take a bit longer before she will be completely recovered and back to being a happy Toller.

Hannah was going to try her first Novice trial this week end, but it looks like we may be a scratching.

Tiffany passes a JDX trial

2011-06-20T09:45:00.004+09:30

Tiffany has passed her first Jumping Dog Excellent trial. It was not pretty, but it was a pass. The pic shows her clearing the spread hurdle at the start of the run. There was a twisty bit in the middle that caused a panic when Tiffany went one way and Keith wanted her to go a different way, but they sorted it out and got round with a couple of seconds to spare.

I spent the day resting on my laurels from my CCD title on Saturday. My drugs have been reduced again, I am feeling a lot better, and we are back to playing full time. We got hold of a cardboard box and shredded it all over the house, the toy box has been upended and all the toys are spread everywhere, the house is in a continual mess, but we are happy.

Sherbrooke Highway Hannah CCD

2011-06-18T15:41:00.002+09:30

Hannah has passed her Third Trial in the CCD class and is now a Community Companion Dog. She did it with 2 first places, and 1 Second place, in 1 week. Not bad for an 11 month old puppy!
The pic shows Hannah running in to Kathy on the Recall exercise.We all got a bit nervous when the dog next to her in the Stays gave her a long stare, but she just turned her face away and refused to play. That is holding her nerve, and keeping her mind on the job.
Keith will not put me in trials yet because I keep dropping the dumbbell and take too long to drop in the recall, but just to encourage him, I did it right in the practice today.
We are going home to celebrate Hanna's success tonight, and get ready for Agility Trials tomorrow.

Tourist in Whyalla

2011-06-13T16:13:00.000+09:30

We spent the day seeing all the sights of Whyalla, and we had Freki with us too. He is just one pass away from being an Obedience Champion.

Our first trip was to the wetlands where we walked round the lakes, then to Flinders look-out for a view of Whyalla, and finally to Hummock Hill. The pic shows us at Hummock Hill overlooking the Marina.

In the afternoon we went to Point Lowly and then round the coast to see the Tuna Farms. We had a walk on the beach, but it was covered in rocks so it was not good to walk on. Now we are home and ready for a sleep.

Terrific Tollers

2011-06-12T16:32:00.000+09:30

We have had success today. Hannah passed her second CCD trial in second place, and I passed my first Snooker novice trial, in fourth place. The pic shows us with our sashes and cards. Keith was a bit disappointed when we did not pass any of the Agility or Jumping trials, but we did get round with only a couple of faults in some, and got DQ in others.
Hannah now needs one more pass to get the letters CCD after her name, so hopefully that will be soon.

Hannah wins 1st Place

2011-06-11T18:32:00.001+09:30

Would you believe it, I won first place in the CCD trial today with 95 out of 100 points. I had to wait all day before going in the ring. We were there at 8:00 for Tiffany to compete in the Agility, and I had to wait until 2:00pm before I got in the ring. Kathy was worried we would not do very well as we had not done much training while I was in quarantine, but there was no need to worry, Tollers have good memories. The pic shows me with my Trophy, just like Tiffany won last year, so we are keeping it in the family.Tiffany made a few mistakes in her trials, but she still did well, getting round the course with 2 faults in Agility and only one fault in Jumping. She was disqualified on the other two runs, but still did well.

Agility Trials Fail

2011-06-05T22:24:00.000+09:30

I went trialling on Saturday, it was a bright sunny day, my siesta was overdue and they expect me to run round the course !
Well I didn't. It began to cool down by mid afternoon when the cloud cover came in, so I did have a go at the afternoon Agility Excellent course, until Keith forgot to call me in after the scramble and I went past the next bar. Apart from that, we went well.
At the end of the day, I ran 4 courses and failed all 4. It was not a total disaster, the pic shows me clearing a bar in the Jumping course. We have more trials next week.
Hannah is getting better. She is allowed out and we went training on Thursday and went out to see a Retrieving Ability Test on Sunday morning then visited Molly in the afternoon. Hannah still gets tired quickly, but we can play a lot more, and now she is allowed out we will be getting more exercise together.

Ch.Tiffany CD, AD, and JD

2011-05-28T21:18:00.003+09:30

My big sister Tiffany has passed another trial and got more letters after her name. She is now a Jumping Dog, and she did it with a First Place! The pic shows her with her sash and trophy. The run went well and Keith did not forget to change sides. He did get behind because he has a cold and could not breathe, shout or run fast, but Tiffany waited for him to catch up at the Tunnel and they got round in the fastest time.

I could not be there to see her pass as I am still in quarantine because of my SRMA. I am on less steroids now and I am putting on weight, but my immune system is still not up to strength so I have to stay home with Kathy. Maybe next week I can start going out again, and then I can get letters after my name, just like Tiffany.

Hannah on the mend.

2011-05-17T20:48:00.002+09:30

Hannah went to see the vet today and has had her steroids reduced. This means that she is being weaned off the steroids so her immune system can start working again. It is a slow process that will take a long time, but at least she is on the mend. It will still be a couple of weeks before she can go out and mix with the other dogs.

She gets very tired easily, and needs to put on some weight, but you can see from the picture she is looking good.

We have had a quiet week end with just us and Kathy.

Keith disappeared again, this time for 4 days, while he went to WA and we had to stay home. Maybe next year we will all get to visit the West.

Super Models

2011-05-09T12:00:00.002+09:30

We have got new coats for the winter. Hannah and I are shown modelling the coats in the photo. The coats cover our backs to keep us warm and dry, but are short enough to let us run about unrestricted. The coats also cover Hannah's bald spot where she was shaved. It took ages to get the photo shoot, we had to get dressed up, then posed, but it was worth the effort. Do you know there are millions of females in the world, but only half a dozen Super Models? That is half a dozen Super Models and two Tollers now!

All the results are back from Hannah's tests. She has SRMA, it did not come from her fur mum, it was possible that she has had it for a long time and the crash into the clothes line stirred it up, but basically, no body knows how she got it or why. Her immune system took a dislike to the lining of her spinal cord and started to attack it. The Steroids will fix it, but it will take a long time. In a few months she will be back to normal but in the meantime we have to be careful with Hannah.

Hannah and SRMA

2011-05-02T10:42:00.005+09:30

I am feeling a lot better than I was last week. Tiffany has been very gentle with me as I could not move my neck and it hurt whenever I moved. Thanks to the drugs I am on, we can play a bit again which is making both of us happy. The pic shows where they shaved my back so that they could do a Spinal Tap to draw fluid from my spine and send it off for analysis. The results are still not back yet, so I am still on the temporary treatment. They think I have Steroid Responsive Meningitis Arteritis or SRMA. The link will take you to a report from the University of Glasgow that explains what it is, if you can understand the big words. Not many people had heard of it before although there is a lot of information on the web about it. There is no clear cut cause, the diagnosis is often mistaken for ear problems or physical injury so it is difficult to identify. It looks like I will be on steroids for a long time with regular check-ups. Keith said the vet ordered a new Mercedes as soon as we left the surgery. Not true, it was a Lexus.

Tiffany had a good day on Sunday, she passed her first Novice Gamblers trial and just missed one colour on the dog walk for the closing sequence of the Snooker trial.

Trials Over

2011-04-26T11:02:00.002+09:30

I had a good weekend at the Trials in Mount Gambier. I passed 4 of 6 attempts, getting 3 out of 3 for Agility Novice, with 2 first places and a title, but only 1 of 3 Jumping Novice trials. Keith had to judge the fourth trial, and they wont let me run under him. The pic shows me touching the colour on the way over the scramble. Thank you to Kelly's sister for the photo.

Hannah however did not have a good week end. She was feeling well enough for the show on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday she was in a lot of pain and stayed in bed for most of the time. We came home early on Monday so she could rest at home. Today she seem a lot better, but she is still not right. Her left shoulder seems to be the main source of her pain, but her neck still wont bend very well either.

Tiffany AD

2011-04-23T21:22:00.004+09:30

We finally did it, I got Agility Dog as a title after my name (subject to Keith paying the money to get it registered.) The pic shows me with all the sashes I won today. We did the morning trial with judge Joy and got first place, then the afternoon trial was with Judge Dave. Keith got everything wrong. He forgot to change sides at the scramble so I had to cover for him, then he forgot to change sides again at the table. I could have bitten him. Anyway I got round the course despite Keith. This pass was the third one and so I can claim the title Agility Dog. The last time Keith got an Agility title was with Tisha the Golden Retriever in 1992, also under Judge Dave. We also passed a Jumping trial today so I need one more to get Jumping Dog title. Maybe tomorrow will be the day.

Hannah is still crook. She could not go into the show today and she has been in the caravan with Kathy all day. I am getting very worried about her.

Hannah on 54 points

2011-04-22T20:22:00.003+09:30

Hannah has 54 points towards her Champion Title. Despite suffering from the injury to her neck, she has gone through the ring with her tail high, stepping out proud as punch. I had a bit of a chat with her before she went in to boost her morale, and she went out and did everything right. She was getting tired by the time she went for Minor in Group, and she was glad to come out and have a bit of a kip while we had lunch.

After lunch we went for a run at the dog club grounds. I did some agility training, but Hannah just went for a quiet walk. Tomorrow Hannah has another show, and I am in the Agility trials.

Hannah is injured

2011-04-21T19:44:00.003+09:30

Hannah ran into the clothes line while we were playing and hurt her neck. She went to the vet and got checked out, the verdict was she has done something to her neck muscle and is in a lot of pain. The pic shows her in the caravan at Mount Gambier, tucked up in bed trying to keep still and warm. We have not been able to play for 2 days now, and KnK say it will be 2 weeks before she is back to normal.

I have to make sure I don't bump her as she squeals if I do, so I have to keep quiet and still too. I am in the trials on Saturday, I hope Hannah is better by then because I miss my playmate.

Tiffany's Two Passes

2011-04-18T09:34:00.003+09:30

At the Agility trial I passed one Agility and one Jumping trial. The pic shows me clearing the broad jump in the Jumping Trial with just one jump to go. My ear leathers are sticking up due to the force of the wind. (My ears usually hang down like all gun dog ears. Keith says they hang down so it will stop the echo when the gun goes off.)

I nearly passed the other two trials, but Keith stopped too soon at one jump and so I went the wrong side of it, and in the other trial, Keith was so worried about getting the weaving poles right he pushed me up the scramble.

I need two more passes in Agility and Jumping to get more letters after my name, so hopefully Keith can get it right next week-end.

The Great Pen Mystery

2011-04-15T16:59:00.003+09:30

There was a big blue stain on the floor in the family room, and another one on the carpet in the lounge. There were the remains of a pen nearby. The question was, Who Done It?.

The most likely suspects were rounded up and put on an identity parade. Tiffany had to turn her face so she would not laugh, but Hannah had no defence to the blue feet and blue mouth.

She finally admitted her guilt, claiming it was the Genie at the bottom of a Jim Beam Bottle that made her do what she didn't want to do.

Fortunately the ink was water based and washed out easily. Hannah however got a not so gentle dunking in the laundry trough and a rub down with a rough towel.

Agility Trials

2011-04-12T17:17:00.004+09:30

I was in the Agility Trials and Jumping Trials on the week end. 4 classes, 4 fails. Keith was not happy. We have started some intensive training with new jumps and weaving poles at home, and a plan to convert a work platform into a dog walk.

The day started badly with rain making the ground slippy and smelly, so I could not resist the wonderful smells that were coming off the ground in the first trial. We withdrew early.

I got round the other three courses, but with some mistakes. Keith thinks if I get a series of jumps and/or poles every day, I will get used to following orders. That will be the day.

Hot Dog

2011-04-04T10:20:00.002+09:30

There we were, just hanging around with nothing much to do, when I saw the BBQ needed cleaning. Well, me being a good dog, I thought I would help out Keith by giving it a good licking. Tiffany said she would stand guard and warn me if the Humans were around, but she must have dozed off, because all of a sudden, there was Keith with the camera. Sprung again!

I got a lecture about how hot the BBQ can get and I would have my paws burned off, and then we got locked up while the BBQ got disinfected. Don't know why he had to do that. I got the plates thoroughly cleaned so there was not a trace of anything on it. Humans get paranoid about germs, but after a Toller's Tongue has been around, there is not enough left for even one germ to live on.

April Fools Day

2011-04-01T11:59:00.002+10:30

Its April Fools Day, so we played a trick on the Humans. We went rushing outside, barking and carrying on like there was something terrible in the back yard, KnK came running out to see what was wrong, and we just wagged our tails at them, then sauntered back inside. Anyway, they took it well because they gave us a bone each for lunch, that's Hannah in the pic just finishing hers. Hannah has started Agility training in the puppy class. It does make life difficult when I am running a practice sequence in the next ring and Hannah starts barking and tries to run with me, but we cope.

Ch. Tiff CD

2011-03-20T09:33:00.006+10:30

I have got a new name. I am now

Champion Sherbrooke Tiffany Ale CD
after passing my third Novice trial last night, and getting 3rd place too.

Keith was nervous and Karin had to give him a Mars bar to get his blood sugar up, but we went in and I covered for all his nerves. I gave everybody a fright when I moved my front feet to greet the judge in the stand for exam, (well I always say hello to her when I see her) but I kept my back feet in place.

I feel a bit miffed about it all really, I had to pass three trials to get CCD after my name, then I pass three more, at a higher level, and they take one of my letters off me. Doesn't seem fair does it?

Our New Kennel

2011-03-15T14:17:00.004+10:30

We have been away for 5 days in our new kennel. We have to share it with the Humans, but we need them to fill the food bowls so it is probably for the best.
Our first trip was to the dog trials at Warrnambool, KnK were judging so we could not compete, but we still had a good run with the other dogs. The new kennel was great, we had lots more room to move and we don't get frightened by the roof moving up and down like we did in the old one.
KnK will be fixing up a few things in it, then we are off again for Easter.

Happy Birthday Tiffany

2011-03-07T15:06:00.005+10:30

My big sister Tiffany is 2 years old today. We had a bone each to celebrate, Tiffany is shown in the pic as it is her birthday.
In the last year Tiffany has:
Become a Champion of her Breed.
Become a Community Companion Dog in Obedience trials.
Passed 2 Novice Obedience trials.
Competed in Agility, Jumping and Games trials.
Travelled interstate to Vic., NSW, Qld and NT.
Been to the Tip of Cape York.
Visted dog clubs in Vic, NSW, Qld and NT.
Became the Top Lady Dog in the Gundog Club Obedience section.
Played with dogs all over the country.

This is what life is like when you are a Toller.

Tiffany Passed!

2011-03-06T10:38:00.003+10:30

Tiffany now has TWO passes in Novice after last nights trial. The pic shows her with her sash and card.
It was a team effort. We were both in the crate and I gave her a good talking to, letting her know she had to stay with Keith all the time. I stayed out of sight and kept quiet while Tiffany was working, she did get out of position a bit, but my pre-trial chat helped her to keep up, and she remembered to get back in position. In the stays, my help with distraction training paid off. Tiffany watched another dog break, but she did not move and kept one eye on Keith all the time. Tiffany needs one more pass to get the title Companion Dog, and that could be in 2 weeks time.
My turn in trials is coming up soon; just waiting on Kathy.

Back in Training

2011-02-28T14:56:00.003+10:30

Here we are, back in training. I am practising for the Down Stay, and Hannah is being the distraction. Hopefully I will be able to stay still for three minutes on Saturday at the dog trial.

Last week was not too good. I thought I did well, I did all the jumps in the opening sequence of the Snooker Trial, got all the way round the closing sequence up to the last obstacle which was the Weaving Poles, and just because I missed ONE pole, two from the end, they said I failed! Then we did the Gamblers Trial. I got well over the minimum of 20 points in the opening sequence, did the first two jumps in the closing sequence, and just because I ran past the broad jump, one jump from the end, they failed me again. Most unfair.

Holiday Time

2011-02-17T08:40:00.002+10:30

We have finished the competitions and now we are on holiday. The pic shows us at Kiama, on our walk along the cliff path.

We had a day out at Dolls Point while the humans visited relatives and we had a walk along the coast. Dogs were not allowed on the beach so we could not have a swim.

Today we are traveling again, heading for home.

Hannah - Minor Puppy in Group

2011-02-13T14:53:00.002+10:30

Here is Hannah in the show ring getting awarded Minor Puppy in Group at the Sapphire Coast Kennel Club Show. She was magnificent in the ring, performing expertly as though she had done it all her life. Out of the three shows, Hannah made Best of Breed three times and Minor Puppy in Group twice. She is on 48 point towards her Champion Title.
I got so excited for Hannah I messed up in the Trial Ring, only passing 1 trial. It has got Keith worrying about what keeps going wrong. He said I was getting worse, not better. It is all too much excitement for one dog to cope with for so many events in two weeks.

Success

2011-02-06T13:57:00.002+10:30

We have had a successful week-end at Bermagui. Tiffany had a 181 and 2nd place in the Novice trial, and I got 3 Best of Breed in the shows. I now have 30 points towards my Champion title and Tiffany has her first pass towards her Companion Dog Title. Tiffany had some bad luck in two of the trials, she was spooked by someone in the shadows on Friday night and broke the down stay when she was on a pass, then on Sunday she got distracted by a smell, stopped to sniff and that was the end of the trial.

The pic shows us with our awards. Next week there are more shows and trials, so we have some time to rest and recover.

Hannah - 24

2011-02-05T13:46:00.002+10:30

Hannah has now got 24 points. She was Best of Breed last night and again this morning, just tomorrow's show to go for her.
The trials were a different story. While we were waiting, a big thunderstorm came in. There were bangs and flashes and lots of rain which caused them to delay the start until 7. pm to allow the thunder to go away. Lots of dogs went home, but Hannah and I did not get upset by the storm. Anyway, I went into the ring and was doing well until Keith gave me a shocking down signal and I was not sure what he wanted. I did my best and we just scraped through. In the Stays, I did the sit stay but halfway through the down stay someone was pushing a dog trolley in the shadows. It was upsetting most of the dogs. I barked at them to go away but they kept on coming. Eventually the Irish next to me jumped up and barked, which frightened me and I jumped up too. Well that was the end of that trial. Another one tonight and then one more on Sunday morning for my last chance of the week-end.

Dogs at Play

2011-02-04T09:43:00.002+10:30

Here we are having a run at the dog area of the Bermagui caravan park. Tiffany can't speak because she has a mouth full of tennis ball. There are lots of dogs here, getting ready for the shows and trials tonight. I am in my third show and Tiffany is in the novice obedience trial. Tonight should be an exciting night.
We had a big storm when we first got here, the humans were out in it tying everything down and getting wet through. Tiffany and I stayed in the dry and gave the occasional woof of encouragement. Well, you could not send a dog out on a night like that.

Its Too Hot

2011-02-01T11:53:00.002+10:30

We are having a rest from traveling. We have had an early run while it was still cool, but now it is getting hot. Hannah is lying on the cool bed, and I found this spot on the bed where the fan blows cool air from the air conditioner. We keep getting dragged outside in case we need the loo, but we don't stay out long. There is a strong north wind blowing even hotter air on us, so we are back inside as quick as we can.

Hannah won Best of Breed on Sunday so now she has 12 points towards her title.

Hannah's First Points

2011-01-29T14:37:00.002+10:30

Hannah has scored her first points in the show ring. All those weeks of me showing her how it was done, calling on all my experience, the rigorous training, and it all paid off. She did forget the bit about keeping calm and aloof in the ring when she wagged her tail off at the judge, but my woofs of encouragement settled her for the triangle, and she performed like an expert. The pic shows her just coming up to the first turn, head up, tail out and stepping high, looking proud as a Toller. It looks like we will have two of us champions, as long as she listens to me!

Tailem Bend

2011-01-28T21:05:00.004+10:30

We are off on the road again. We spent all day doing things like packing the van and loading the Nissan, then just when we thought we were going to get our dinner, they loaded us up and took off to Tailem Bend. The pic shows us overlooking the Murray River in flood. The big expanse of water is the flood plain, the river is behind the trees in the distance.
The late start on Thursday meant we were a bit closer to Warrnambool so that the Friday drive was a bit easier. We had stops on the way and got to Warrnambool about 4:30 pm, set up the camp and so we are ready for Hannah's first real show tomorrow.

January at Home

2011-01-16T16:22:00.002+10:30

We have been staying home for a while. The humans are doing things round the house and caravan getting ready for the next trip. The pic show us on our walk in the dog park. Hannah is almost as big as me and she is not 6 months old yet!
Our new toys did not last long, the squeak came out of the rabbit, the nose is off the weasel and there is a big hole in the soccer ball. We got hold of Kathy's reading glasses, but they were not much fun, once the plastic ear piece came off there was nothing to chew. Did you know dog teeth can gouge a lump out of a prescription lens?
Anyway, KnK keep using the "B" word so I had better hide before they get the shampoo out.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T17:22:00.002+10:30

Its Christmas for Dogs Too!

We have Kevin staying with us for a few days, so the three of us went to visit Molly on Christmas Day. We had lots of runs and plays at Molly's place and had a feed of Scooby Snacks for lunch. All Molly's toys were spread everywhere and by 3:00 pm we were exhausted and had to sleep. It was about then that we had to come home leaving Molly to clear up her toys. It was a great Christmas, and we still have the evening to go.

Merry Christmas to all our readers all over the world.

Summer Storm

2010-12-08T10:27:00.003+10:30

Here we are, resting after a hard night of thunder storms. Rain, Wind, Thunder and Lightning all night, neither of us got a wink of sleep. The rain started yesterday afternoon, too late to save the Aussie cricket team, but it kept on for the rest of the day and was still raining a bit this morning. Now it is OK for the humans, they have indoor plumbing, but we have to go outside. Poor Hannah aged 4.5 months, had a reef knot in her back legs waiting for a break in the storm. Ah well, things have calmed down now, so we will try to catch up on our beauty sleep.

Party Time

2010-11-29T09:42:00.002+10:30

We had a party on Sunday. Audrey and Kevin came to play for the day so there were four of us running round playing chasey, hunt the ball, find the Cricket and the best game of all, see who can scrounge the most food!. The pic shows us playing chasey, Hannah on the left, then Kevin, Audrey the Deerhound and then me with the sock in my mouth. They were all trying to get the sock off me.
There were lots of humans there too, but all they did was sit around talking, drinking and occasionally dropping a snack for us.
Hannah and I slept like babies last night.

Top Lady Dog

2010-11-25T14:13:00.002+10:30

I won the Top Obedience Bitch at the club for the year, and all I got was a bit of glass. I can't play with it, I can't eat it, I can't even read it, all I can do with it is look at it.

You would think that after such an award I would have got a new toy, or a lump of steak or even an extra bonio, but no, I had to sit here and pose for ages while Keith fiddled with his camera, and this pic was the best we could do. Hannah was running about barking and carrying on like a pork chop laughing at me while I had to pose. Life is tough when you are a Toller.

Hannah's Show

2010-11-16T10:56:00.004+10:30

Hannah has been in her first show as a Baby Puppy. There were two shows and she was the best Toller Baby Puppy both days. I taught her all the things she has to do in the show ring, but she forgot and went to play with the judges and started to gallop a bit in the triangle. Kathy soon brought her into line so there was no harm done. After all she is only 3 months old, and KNK could not even walk until they were 12 months old. The pic shows Hannah stretching out in her turn at the Triangle.

Tiffany is recovering

2010-11-09T22:21:00.003+10:30

Tiffany went away for most of Monday, and when she came home she was all floppy, sleepy and could not walk very well, a bit like Keith after he has had a Glenfiddich. She has been shaved on her leg and has stitches in her belly. She was a lot better today, but KNK won't let us play. The pic shows us lying quietly in the sun on the back lawn.
Keith said she has been converted from a Miss to a Ms. and she will be back to normal soon. I just want my big sister back so we can play again.

Agility Trials

2010-11-07T13:30:00.003+10:30

Tiffany here, last night I was in the Jumping and Agility trials. We were doing really well until we came to the second jump. I went round it on the first attempt, then got it on the second try. The next section of the course was great, the pic shows me touching the colour on the way off the dog walk. After the weaving poles we had 4 jumps to go but Keith got in my way and I went over the wrong jump, so that was the end of the trial. Not bad for the first attempt. We won't talk about the Jumping class, OK?
Hannah had an evening of being fussed over and patted by everyone. She is losing her puppy hair and is growing her big dog coat. Everyone thinks she is a beauty.
I am going into see Doctor Sally tomorrow to become a Neutered Dog, Not sure what that means, but it is bound to be good.

Bones

2010-11-03T10:20:00.003+10:30

Hannah here. We got a bone to chew. It was so big we had an end each and did not get in each others way. It was too big really, so Keith cut it up into smaller pieces and gave us a piece each. That started fun and games, because whatever I have, I always want what Tiffany has, and what ever Tiffany has, she always wants what I have. So for the next half hour we were continually swapping bones until Keith could not stand the noise any more and separated us. At least I got to chew in peace for a while.

The Caravan

2010-10-22T12:03:00.002+10:30

This is Hannah's first time in the caravan, and she loves it. We are playing with the new toy we got from Freki, well we got one each but we always play with the one toy.

Hannah has picked up a couple of nick-names. Some called her Buddha because she looks a bit plump with all that puppy hair, but she is quite trim under it all. Her other nick-name is Bat Dog, because if you say her name over and over, quickly, it sounds like the Batman theme. Try it, Hannah, Hannah, Hannah, Hannah, Bat Dog! ........ Now you will be humming the Batman theme for the rest of the day!

Sherbrooke Highway Hannah

2010-10-13T13:27:00.003+10:30

Hi. This is Hannah the Toller, or Sherbrooke Highway Hannah if you need my formal name. The pic shows me testing my new cushion I got from Jessie, Billy, Big Mac and Gracie. You can see my coat is getting darker and I am not so fluffy.
Tiffany is in the dog house. A couple of weeks ago she was in a dog trial and got up in the down stay, then in the afternoon trial went even worse. Last night Keith took Tiffany training, and she got up in the down stay again! Keith is not happy. Tiffany had her electric blanket turned down as a punishment.
My 12 weeks in quarantine are up on Friday so I will be allowed out to meet all the other dogs and people that have wished me well. We will be at the Gundog Club show and trial on Saturday, then next week I can go to the dog clubs too.
Look out world, Hannah's coming.

Together

2010-09-30T08:04:00.004+09:30

Since Hannah arrived we have been inseparable. I have shown her how to dig holes, how to play chasey, how to get in and out of the house through the dog doors, but I did not have to teach her how to eat! She can eat her own weight in dog biscuits in 10 seconds. If eating was an Olympic sport, Hannah would be the Gold medalist.
I have been under the weather recently with a tummy wog, and Hannah was a bit off colour too. I was supposed to see Dr. Sally to get a special award. I was going to be made a Neutered Dog but that will have to wait now until I am fully recovered.

Blogspot has a Stats link that shows where the readers of the blog come from. Hello to all the readers in Australia, UK, America, Canada, Russia, Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
I did not realise I was so popular.

Hannah's Video, with me too.

2010-09-19T18:02:00.002+09:30

We have done a video of our first meeting and our playing together. It took ages to get all the scenes and a lot went on the cutting room floor, but the finished product is worth it.

Click on the link under "Video Links". It is not as big as my adventure at the Tip of Cape York, but it could still take a while to load.

Hannah and I get on life a house on fire, we play all the time except when Hannah has to sleep, and then I play games with KnK. I don't want them to feel left out now that Hannah is here.

Hannah is Here

2010-09-17T13:59:00.002+09:30

My sister Hannah is here at last, just 8 weeks old and she has thick fur, white socks, a white tail tip and already loves to play. She looks quite pale in the photo but she has a nice red colour in real life, not as dark as me, but still nice.
We have been playing in the garden, but she can not do much - yet!
Kathy has put my old basket under the desk so that Hannah can sleep there, right next to my day bed so I can keep an eye on her.
I will have to think up a new name for the blog to include Hannah in it because she will be in everything I do from now on. Perhaps "Tiffany's Tail and Hannah's House - the story of Two NSDTRs"
Keith said Hannah is a palindrome, but she looks like a perfectly normal puppy to me.

New Video of my Adventures.

2010-09-11T16:03:00.004+09:30

This kangalow, or maybe buffaroo, has been covered in concrete and stuck in the ground at Camooweal. I kept well away from it.

The Video of my adventure at the Tip of the Cape York Peninsula has just been released, starring ME!.

It tells how KNK could not find the path from the Cape York car park to the Tip, and how I save the day by sniffing out the safe way.

It is about 8 meg so it could take a while to load. Click the link "Tiffany Saves The Day" under Videos on the left of the screen. Turn the sound on, but don't make the screen too big because the video will go all funny if you do.

Agility Training

2010-09-08T10:24:00.003+09:30

I was invited to train at the Alice Springs Dog Club. Here are some pics of me doing my stuff. The main one of me on the table was picked because I was standing still and looked sharp. In the others I am jumping the Broad Jump and coming out of the Tunnel but I was moving too fast for the camera and appeared a little blurred. (OK, you can bang on about F stops, ISO settings and light levels, but I was still too fast for the camera!)

We are here for a week, Trials at the weekend and then we are heading home.

When we get home, my baby sister Hannah will be coming to join me. With two of us working on the humans, they won't stand a chance.

Hotter than Hell on a Hot Day

2010-09-03T16:27:00.002+09:30

Here I am in the caravan at Camooweal. Why am I in the caravan you may ask, the answer is, because that's where the air conditioner is. I have genetically evolved to cope with Canadian winters, where barks come out as frozen blocks and you have to throw them on a fire so that you can hear them, and they have brought me to the hottest place they could find on the edge of the Northern Territory Desert.

Humans! There are times when I could bite them.

A Real Australian

2010-08-31T09:19:00.002+09:30

There is a sign here that says "You are not a real Australian until you have been to Mount Isa", well I am in Mount Isa so I am a Real Australian. It doesn't seem any different, but it must be somehow.

The pic shows me at the Chinaman Creek recreation reserve between Mount Isa and Cloncurry where we went for a visit and a run.

I get a run in the dog park near the caravan park, and lots of people want to pat me here, so life is good in Mount Isa.

Gulf Girl

2010-08-25T13:17:00.002+09:30

I am on the Gulf of Carpenteria's south eastern corner at Karumba Point. Hot during the day, and hot at night too. I can not go for a swim in the Gulf because there is an 18 foot crocodile that lives in the river mouth right next to the caravan park. Lucky for me the van is air conditioned or I would not get any sleep at all.

I was taken round the Baramundi Farm here, but all there is to see are tanks full of fish. KnK seemed interested in the farm but I found the lady with the bucket of fish food far more interesting.

Atherton Training

2010-08-19T09:13:00.002+09:30

Last night I went to the Tablelands Obedience Dog Club at Atherton. (The pic shows me looking at the Tablelands)
The club made all of us welcome and I had a practice on their Agility equipment. I tricked Keith by doing the weavers perfectly from the left, but I would not do them at all from the right. I have to do things like this to keep him trying.
Anyway, there is a trial on Saturday and Sunday so I will be back for a visit then.

Quiet Time Out

2010-08-15T09:23:00.004+09:30

We have settled in Atherton for a while. The park is not very busy and there is a big open area at the back for me to have a run. Keith set up some jumps and weaving poles so I have been doing some training as well as chasing a ball.

KnK found a dog wash and car wash. I went through both. Inside the car for the car wash, I saw this big scary thing spraying soap and water all over us and making a lot of loud noise. I was glad when that was over. Then they put me in the dog wash and cleaned all the sand, grit, mud, slime and anything else that had stuck to my fur while we were camping on the Cape. They turned the blow dryer on me and I attacked it, but it still got me dry.

Since then I have been having a lazy time, playing ball and sleeping.

Cooktown Rock

2010-08-12T21:10:00.003+09:30

After being cooped up in a tent for a week, I have finally got a chance to have a good run. I am at Finch Beach near Cooktown where there is a huge rock that I could run up, across the top and then down the other side. It was just like a big dog walk really.

Later on I went along the edge of the sea and barked at the waves, sniffed all the mangrove roots and jumped all over Kathy leaving sandy, wet footprints all over her. Oh what happiness!

Number plates grow on trees.

2010-08-10T09:47:00.004+09:30

At Bramwell Junction Roadhouse, I found out where number plates come from. They grow on trees. Here I am next to the number plate tree, and you can see there is a good crop this year.

Our last night in the tent was at Archer River with cows in the same paddock as us! We have had horses, kangaroos and now cows sharing our camp site.

At last I am back in the caravan and do not have to share my bed with wild animals.

PS, the number plates don't really grow on trees, those in the picture have been found on the road after being shaken off the cars by the corrugations. If you come up here, make sure your nuts and bolts are tight.

Tip Top Toller

2010-08-06T20:30:00.007+09:30

Swimming on top of Australia

I am as far north as it is possible to go, on the Tip of Cape York at the Top of Australia, and the only Toller in sight.

Right next to the sign that said we were at the Tip was a rock pool that was free from crocodiles so I had a swim, chased fish and cooled down after the long walk across the beach.

The walk back to the car tired me out and I slept most of the way back to camp, except for the times the shaking of the car on the corrugated roads woke me up.

Tiffany of the Outback

2010-08-05T20:02:00.002+09:30

For three days now I have been traveling on dirt roads, sleeping in a tent and going as far north as a Toller can go. I am nearly at the most northern point on the Australian mainland. Tommorrow will be the day we get there.

KnK took me through some creeks, but the Jardine River near the top of the Cape York Peninsula is too deep so we took the Ferry. I posed for a picture to prove I was there. We are camped on a beach but I am not allowed off lead on the beach because of the crocodiles, however I did find some Sea Glass for Auntie Wendy.

The Toller on Cape York

2010-08-01T09:41:00.003+09:30

We stopped at a lookout on the way to Cooktown, and I posed for the picture of me on the start of the Cape York Peninsular.

All the rain that happened earlier did not reach here so we just might be going further into the Cape, going where no Toller has gone before, well at least not this Toller.

Lots of dogs at the Cooktown Caravan Park, and we are right in the bush too, so we have birds in the trees and those Bush Turkeys trotting around on the ground.