Time Out

So yesterday Steve and I got home from a few days away in the caravan with Maisy and Rupert. We had booked a site at the foot of the Malvern hills so that we had plenty of walking opportunities. Saturday took us on a fairly strenuous walk across the top of the hills from little Malvern to Great Malvern, we didn't quite manage the full distance but enjoyed the excellent views and were more than ready for afternoon tea when we arrived back at the caravan whilst the dogs enjoyed a well deserved nap. The weather remained cold but dry even reaching -4 on Sunday night, but the dogs were wrapped up well in the awning, and emerged from their crate all warm and snuggly. So this week we are back in training mode. Amy and I have been accepted as agility measurer's subject to training in December which is great news, we are both really looking forward to getting stuck into that in 2011.

V V Vroom

Last weekend Amy & Summer attended a training fun day with Alistair Bray, Amy text me several times during the day to ask what had I done to her dog!?! I really have to run now to keep up with her... This just goes to prove that Summer is feeling fit and well and enjoying her life to the full. Amy will have to learn to watch her dog run the course from behind rather than along side her all the time, this will be an alien experience for them both after all the obedience training they have done, but it looks like Summer may have cracked it first!!
Maisy and I were at Chipping Norton last night, for some reason Maisy had her mad head on so together with my slow reactions it didn't turn out to be the best session I have had! but thats not to say i didn't enjoy it, it was just more difficult than before, however by the end of the hour she was back to very nice contacts!! PHEW.
This afternoon Steve and I are taking Maisy & Rupert away in the caravan for the weekend, we are heading off to Great Malvern so there will be plenty of crisp autmnal walks followed by plenty of alcohol to ward off any winter germs, unfortunately this does mean I'll miss training with Jo on Sunday but we have a great programme in place so I'm sure we can quickly catch up.

More Training

So now we have had 2 training sessions with Chipping Norton and 2 with Jo. At Chipping Norton Deena had set a jumping course up with some tricky pull in's and a very trappy Tunnel, I found it alot more difficult than the previous week as my mind doesn't work fast enough for Maisy's speed! Ellen & Hamish seemed to be taking it all in their stride and were looking fab so it was almost a relief at the end when they made a couple of mistakes! probably down to tiredness rather than ability! as he was flying all night. Maisy and I seemed to get better as the night went on and I came away really pleased with the progress, Yesterday was more hard work as Rupert & Maisy endured 2 hours of training with Jo, again concentrating on jumping sequences with Maisy really handling from a distance, and using some techniques I've never used before, Maisy was again excellent and I was suprised at how easy she finds it while I struggle. Rupert moved on to straight lines followed by a star, he is another dog who prefers me to work him from a distance and we realised he is much better going right than left! so thats what we will be practicing before our next lesson! I was a bit worried by one of Jo's comments " he's just like Maisy and Ronny" OMG what have I let myself in for?? well really I should be thrilled, if he turns out to have half their drive and enthusiasm I should be very pleased indeed. I have next weekend off from training with Jo so fingers crossed we haven't forgotten it all before the next time.

So Winter Training Begins

Last night was the first inside winter training session with Chipping Norton DTS, Ellen and I have both moved up to the grade 3-7 class and were a bit nervous how we would cope. I have to say Deena the trainer was great and I am pleased to say both Maisy and Hamish held their own, and I felt didn't look at all out of place. We are now really excited about the winter ahead. Maisy Rupert and I start training with Jo on Sunday which is something I've really been looking forward to, her baby Zippy has been a bit off colour recently so hopefully he is feeling well enough for a little game with Rupert after training.