WBS Agility

Hhhmmm well I thought about skipping over this weekend, and try erasing it from my memory! Saturday started in the normal way, maisy was completely over the top and Hooned aroung her course with little regard to any contact commands, however she did take the correct weave entry and completed the 6 weaves very nicely, I think we both lost it after that!! we followed that with an appaling jumping round and finished of with what would have been her best round ever until i sent her back into the tunnel getting us eliminated, so we ended on a high, Sunday was a write off!! Maisy and I never got back into our stride and it just went from bad to worse, taking some positives out of the weekend i think we only took 2 poles and finishe the last class with maisy taking the correct weave entry and zooming through all 12 weaves so there are improvements but it does feel like onstep forward and 2 back!! hopefully next weekend will be a forward step.

Ellen let Amy borrow Hamish on Sunday as she was competing in a ???athalon!! running and cycling which she came 4th in Woop Woop.. Hamish had a lovely day out with us being thoroughly spoilt and looked after Amy very well, he had 2 clears gaining a 10th in Agility and a clear in Jumping, although they were eliminated for taking the wrong fence in the last class (something to do with Amy's windmill arms) Hamish went home a happy and contented boy.

Everyone else seemed to have some good and bad rounds, Charlie & I had a lovely game in the sun whilst Clare queued and Kathryn's girls had some lovely bits. Jo had some lovely clears with Ronny and Keisha, always very exciting to watch, and the cuddles from the young mali's were as usual very comforting after a dissapointing run.

I'm at the NEC on Saturday with maisy, with any luck we won't make complete fools of ourselves!! but at least the crowd will get their money's worth...

Mary Ray Day

Today Summer was a little star, she was so well behaved at the training centre, and never looked for me once. Most people had already asked for certain tricks to be trained so Amy just went along with what others were doing. Summer is now doing backwards circles and reverse weaves!! she picked these tricks up in a matter of minutes which again shows how quickly she learns, the clicker has really been an inspiration, I don't think there is anything we could't teach her with the clicker, I'm thinking of showing her how to turn on the hoover..

Summer & Amy

Tomorrow Amy and Summer are booked on a heelwork to music course with Mary Ray, although they have never competed in this sport they both really enjoy the training, and it's a good opportunity to get some more training tips especially from someone like Mary. I'll try to get some pictures and videos of the day and post on Friday.I stole some photo's from the mali-mania blogspot of Summer playing with Zippy at the agility show last weekend, last year Summer played with Kody but he's a bit big for her now so baby Zippy is her new bestest friend, unfortunatly he too will soon grow into a full size Mali but it shows them having great fun together.

Late nights and Early starts

Last night both Amy and I were out,I was standing in as babsitter while Amy hit the town with friends, I was home by 2am so with only 4 hours of sleep to get in I wasn't amused by Stephens loud snoring!! Amy apparantly was back by 3am!! we were on the road by 7am and first thing was to get a nice greasy sausage and egg bap to get us motivated for the day ahead. I had 3 classes today, Team dash with Maisy, Amy & Dylan, Claire & Charlie and Jo with Ronny, a jumping and an agility class. All in all I was thrilled, today for the first time I feel I am taking control and Maisy is following my lead rather than the other way round. She was working away from me and didn't have any poles down in the dash, so it was a great day. Dylan and Amy worked a super jumping round going clear and coming 22nd ot of over 220 dogs and had another clear in the dash. Summer was a little angel, she had a truely lovely time playing with Zippy and worked a very pleasing agility round and wasn't too shabby in the dash with the boxers and Kody. everyone else went home tired after another good da with their dogs. Clare left early as she collects her new GSD puppy today, she has named him Hardy, hopefully I'll have some pictures of him next weekend to share.

Newbury Agility

This weekend Amy and I are at Newbury showground, we have decided not to camp as it is only about 50 minutes drive. This morning we collected Ellen and Hamish on the way and met up with the usual gang at the show. Today all 3 of my classes were 1st in the ring meaning it would be an early finish. First was pairs jumping wich we had Maisy and Dylan in, Maisy went first and had a lovely round with just a few poles down which I am still not counting!! and Dylan followed with a lovely clear, it was just a fun class but was nice to get out of the way. Dylan then did his jumping and was flying round but just took one pole leaving him with 5 faults. then Maisy had her agility and jumping, both of which I was really pleased with, I have started to feel much less paniced in the ring which I think is making a huge difference. Ellen had 5 faults in both Agility and Jumping which was unfortunate handler error!! but Hamish had a lovely time. everyone else seemed to have had a good day, with some clears and some mishaps (Anne need I say more!! lol) but best of all we were back home by 12 meaning I could get some chores done and Summer could have a practice ready for tomorrow, as you can see from the video she is really coming along nicely.

Easter Agility

Goodness what a lot to get through! - I'll start with Maisy we started off on Saturday with some lovely rounds and by the end of the day I was elated with her progress, Sunday was a bit of a disaster I seem to have lost the plot and just didn't get into the "Zone" before my rounds, the Zone is something Clare and I often laugh about knowing someone who actually won't speak to anyone before running their dogs using that exact expression, however we can both now understand why it is so important and I took the time on Monday to really concentrate on Maisy and the rounds and I can happily report it was much much better, I have started walking my courses with Jo as Ronny and maisy are very similar, Jo has given me some really useful advice and for a short time in my last class yesterday I actually felt in control, I love watching Jo run her dogs, she puts so much into it making me realise it's an effort thing - Ellen will know what I'm tallking about....
Amy & Summer had an obedience show on Friday and Monday, Summer did her proud and was a little Angel, she was a little bouncy in her heelwork and was working a bit wider than usual but her retrieve was superb and she even managed her stays on Monday so Amy was thrilled. on Saturday afternoon they came to the show and Amy had a lesson with Alistair from Fox Agility, he really gave Amy some confidence and Summer really showed him how good she can be, Sunday she had an agility run and went really sweetly until I tried to move to the end of the course which Amy had clearly told me not to do!!! so I was in BIG trouble... She also took Dylan in the jumping where he was a little star and gained a lovely clear round and we took Maisy and Dylan in the pairs, Maisy didn't leave many poles for Dylan to jump, i think she was just making it easier for her brother!! needless to say we wern't placed in that.
Amy and I went to see Summers new brothers and sisters on Saturday evening, it was such a good job they are all spoken for at nearly 6 weeks old they were gorgeous, and we came away very contented and feeling a little jelous of their new owners.
As for everyone else at the Agility show I think I can say Kathryn and her dogs had a great weekend, the boxers and Jess are consistently getting clears and when I went into her caravan yesterday afternoon there were far too many rosettes in there for my liking!!! Ellen and Humbug Hamish had a few dissapointing rounds, and a couple of nice placings that little man is so capeable but seems a little confused at the moment, hopefully with a few more weekends under his belt that all important win won't be far away. Clare & Charlie had a good Saturday followed by a dissapointing Sunday and after a little rethink came out fighting again on Monday, Charlie really makes Clare work hard every inch of the way, right from the moment he gets out of the car. It's no wonder she is elated when he has a good run, I'll keep my fingers crossed this new method goes on working for a few weeks to come. Jo and the Malis had a mixed bag again, we watched as many of their rounds as possible, on Saturday evening we sat by the ringside to see the last class of the day, it was nearly 6.30 and both Keisha and Ronny were in the Agility, Keisha went first and set the bar with a fantastic clear round, she is a super technical dog to watch and didn't leave much room for improvement then it was Ronnies turn, he was a complete nutter speeding so fast over the dog walk he came off it, Jo decided that was enough and took him out of the ring before he injured himself! luckily he was taken home to think about his actions and seemed to come back in a much better mood for the remaider of the weekend - phew!
A couple of members from our club had their first show, and came away with good results, in all it was a nice competition with highs and lows. the company was nice if a little overpowering at times and I'm really looking forward to getting on with some training this week in preparation for next weekend at Newbury when we do it all over again....

shuttleworth update

Well, as you can see Charlie & Maisy had a great time at their first camping show of the season!! after a few rule enforcements Maisy and Charlie soon settled together to share the space, Charlie slept peacefully in his giant crate in the awning while Maisy was comfy in the truck.
Once again it was a mixed bag of results but on the whole I was pleased as Maisy was working away from me and taking directional commands although I was dissapointed as her weave entrances seem to have gone backwards!! Clare & Charlie had a couple of clears but he wasn't his normal self on Sunday and Clare pulled him from competition, initially we thought he might just be whimping out but his lameness proved otherwise and he looked as if he had pulled a muscle in his shoulder, lots of rest this week hopefully will bring him back on form for next week. Ellen & Hamish came 10th after a lovely round and had one or two little mistakes taking her out of other placings but they are really looking great as a team and the ellusive win won't be far off now. Jo and the Malis had a nice weekend although Jo doesn't feel Keisha is quite back on form, even though they got a blistering place in the agility. and Lastly Kathryn and Jess won into grade 3 - to be honest I'm getting a little bit bored of all their success"!!!!! (just kidding) and both boxers put in a sterling performance, especially diesel who didn't go under a single jump all weekend. It's Moreton morrel this weekend from Saturday to Monday, I have decided to attack each round and really go for it, I'm letting Maisy down now and really need to get my act together!! I'm really looking forward to another camping weekend, Steve has even said he might pop over for a couple of hours!! my god wonders will never cease.

Shuttleworth this weekend

I've been really impressed by Maisy's training this week, she is really watching for my directional commands and is working ahead of me with growing confidence, I feel much calmer with her now which hopefully I can take into this weekends competitions. On Friday Clare & I are taking my caravan to Shuttleworth for a weekend of agility competitions, this is the first time her GSD Charlie will have to sleep in his new soft crate in the awning, hopefully he won't make too much noise!! I have decided Maisy will sleep in the truck, it shouldn't be too cold but I'll take her jacket for her to wear anyway. It's also the first time I will be towing the caravan with Trev! I don't expect any problems though. Steve has even managed to fix my fridge so at least the wine will be chilled - you have to get your prioroties right. lots of our friends will be at this show camping so I'm sure it will be great fun, lots of pictures to follow.
Amy is staying at home with the other dogs, hopefully she will be using the time to put in some training for her first obedience competition of the year which is at Nottingham on Good Friday, she had her running orders yesterday and has been drawn 1st in "A" so it will be an early start, I don't think she has fully trained her "A" recall yet or scent so I guess she will use it as a training round in preparation for Novice. Amy is the queen of training rounds which is really good for an inexperienced dog like Summer, we keep on reffering to her as "The Puppy" but we have to remember she is nearly 2 now.... Amy has entered a few shows so I expect we will see some well earned results soon enough.