Temporary Loss of Control

Yesterday Amy and I had a fun show at Cheltenham Racecourse, neither of us really had the energy to go but I'm glad we made the effort, even if we only stayed for 2 classes. Maisy had a great agility round only missing the A frame contact which was the 2nd obstacle, but after that put in a very nice controlled clear, and followed it by getting eliminated in a simple Helta Skelta, I didn't give her the correct signal to go out over a jump and she ran straight past it! she followed that by taking a few poles off a corner where the striding pattern changed as did many of the other dogs. Summer ran a lovely agility round but unfortunately Ben was cheering loudly from the sidelines which just put her off towards the end! and she took 2 poles in the Helta Skelta, which shows she was in full "Monkey" mode and having great fun.
Before we headed home we took the opportunity to take Summer and Rupert for a run, I really should have given it a bit more thought as lately I walk Maisy and Rupert together, leaving Amy to walk Ben & Summer. As we took off their leads the two of them hooned off into the distance without a glance back at us! and then they just kept going!! OH DEAR! I gave a quick call hoping one of them would turn tail and head back but not even an ear flick! and I knew it was time to take control when Amy said if I called Rupert Summer would come! and there was me thinking Rupert was the baby dog and that if only Amy would call Summer Rupert would follow. Anyway after a couple of good loud "COME HERE" commands they of course turned and headed in our direction without a care in the world... so the moral to the story - Always walk Summer and Rupert with a responsible adult dog - now where am I going to find one of those?

On a lighter note

Thankfully the pack seem to have settled down after the loss of Dylan, it was quite a suprise to me as I had anticipated Ben being the worse affected, however he seems to be brighter than ever, probably because he doesn't feel the need to look out for his shaddow anymore, but Maisy who I'd never had thought would have batted an eyelid seemed very depressed for a few days, but seems to be back to her old self again now so hopefully we can look forward to the future.
Rupert's hip scores came back yesterday and are a very respectable 3:3, he has also started on full height this week, so far so good, only knocking the odd pole down on turns, and His weaves are almost there. I've been working hard on Maisy's weave entrances which seem to be great at home but for some reason go to pot at training, unfortunately both Jo and I have commitments for the next few weeks so our training sessions have stopped, she has reasured me that its all going well but I'm not so sure. Amy and Summer are really coming on, they have now started at Chippy at the same time as maisy and I but in a different class, This is proving to be very hard work for Amy, but by the end of each session she is seeing improvement in Summers concentration! she is such a monkey as she can focus 100% at a show. We have a fun show this Sunday so it will be nice to get the dogs into the competition environment without the pressure.

Dylan 17.08.03 - 09.02.11

Yesterday we said goodbye to our little lad "Dylan" It was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make. Run Free my angel.

They say memories are golden, well maybe that is true.

I never wanted memories I only wanted you.

A million times I needed you, a million times I cried.

If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died.

In life I loved you dearly, In death I love you still.

In my heart you hold a place no one could ever fill.

If tears could build a stairway, and heartache make a lane,

I'd walk the path to heaven and bring you back again.