Rupert Agility

4 Way Match

Yesterday Ellen & I attended our clubs 4 way match, this was our first 3-5 course so on the way we had been imagining all sorts of trappy things, but actually the courses were really nice. Rupert had also been allowed to take part NFC and on medium so this would be a really good test of where we are in terms of competition work. First was the agility, and the first problem I had was that I was walking the course with Rupert in mind and was finding it difficult to get the course in my mind for running Maisy! this is something I'm going to have to work on. Ellen captured Ruperts round on video for me and I was really pleased with him, only taking a pole down on a tight turn and running past the long jump, but as we haven't done a lot of work on that I didn't mind at all, all his contacts were fabby. both Ellen and I managed to get ourselves E'd in this round, I think Hamish took the Tunnel and Maisy came out of the weaves because I ran the wrong side and she anticipated the next obstacle it all went to pot a bit after that BUT she got all 3 contacts really well so I was thrilled with her performance. Then we had a nice lunch break and walked the jumping course. I really tried to walk it for both dogs and I think I was a bit better, however I was E'd early on for not helping Maisy on a pull in making her back jump and again not giving her a chance to get the weave entry so she went in the 2nd but after that she worked the tricky bit with ease so again a really posotive round, and Hamish just couldnt get into the first weave giving him 5 faults but he got a place rosette and all important points for the team. Rupert was a little star again, I helped him with his pull in but not the weaves - Naughty Mummy! but he ran very well just getting a little confused at a tricky bit were I took my eye off the ball! and then finished with a lovely go on at the end. All in all we had a good day, and I think I am now looking forward to the season ahead!

Season Nearly here

The weather has really picked up this week so lots more training to get on with before the season really starts in a couple of weeks. Amy has now started to re-train Summers weaves and contacts, this is something that's difficult to do in a club environment as it takes time, and I must say little Summer is really enjoying playing the stop games on the contacts and being allowed to race as fast as she can through the swivel weaves, so hopefully she will bring the Cheekyness to the shows and show us what she can do.
Rupert has really started to blossom, I am so pleased with his progress, he's a real tryer. On Saturday afternoon we had another 2 hour group session with Toni Dawkins, this time we had been put in the 1-4 class and he really excelled, and yesterday we had our final training session with Jo, she was putting up some really tricky stuff, and again he didn't find any of it too difficult especially when I ran him like I run Maisy, but all of us including Jo where exhausted at the end!
Maisy has been brilliant recently, I know it's mainly down to my handling skills as Jo keeps telling me I'm getting much better, But Maisy is such an honest little dog and tries so hard to get it right but there is so little room for error on my part, this week because we were doing pretty much the same with both dogs it did dawn on me again just how fast she is, and Rupert isn't slow by any stretch of the imagination!
We have plenty of homework to be getting on with before Shuttleworth in 2 weeks, I have already entered Ruperts first shows in July which at the moment seems a long way off, but thats a good thing, it will give me a chance to run some of these grade 3-5 courses and set them up at home to try Rupert on before his debut!! HOW EXCITING.
I've attached a short video of Ruperts weaves, he has picked them up quickly and is quite fixated by them! a little more confidence work is needed, but on the whole for a 15 month old I think he is in just the right place with them.

Batgirl!

Crufts 2011

We are back after another exhausting 4 days, we always forget how tiring it really is taking dogs to Crufts.

Friday was Rupert's debut in the breed ring, as expected he didn't make the final cut, but I was so pleased with the way he handled so that was great. One of his problems is that he doesn't extend when trottin, this is mainly due to him never really having been asked to do it, so I may work on that for any future events I take him to. Amy was going to take Summer in the handling, but as the day went on the YKC ring was getting further and further behind, in the end they were running 2 hours late for Amy's class which went in at 5:15pm, after being in halls since 7am Summer was fast asleep so Amy decided to take in Rupert after all, and although his inexperience was apparant, he actually gave another great performance and it was lovely to watch him working so nicely for Amy.

Sunday was Maisy's turn in the YKC flyball, she and the rest of the team were brilliant, the kids did a fantastic job and came a very close 4th - Well done Warwickshire Whizkidz. in the afternoon it was Summers turn in the Dogstable course, this is a mix of obedience and agility, meaning the fast agility dogs have to calm down quickly for the obedience elements of the course. Amy was near the last to go and as she heelworked Summer into the ring we could tell she was on form, they both worked their socks off right till the end which was a very simple down command to finish, as Amy gave Summer the command Summer obviously got a scent of someone she knew and was doing her meerkat impression for what seemed like ages, then she finally went down resluting in Amy giving her a very big kiss in relief. the results where up and she had won the over 18 age group. Brilliant.

A few well dones - Gloria getting VHC in her breed class, I know Anne is very proud.

Jo & Keisha getting a brilliant 2nd in ABC jumping.

Deena for her brilliant scoreing in the main ring

Sandra & Jaffa for winning C for the midlands obedience team

Huge congratulations to all of you.

Loving this weather

It's lovely walking the dogs on a bright sunny morning, I needed my Sunnies this morning it was so bright! it makes a nice change from the dreary weather we have been having, it finally feels like spring is on the way.

It's a really busy week for us in preparation for Crufts this weekend, Amy & Summer are training hard for the Dogstable and Handling classes, and it's all looking really good so far. Steve has been booked to do our dog swap on Sunday afternoon, bringing Summer and taking Maisy, this will be like an Army manouver as Summer is not allowed to see either Maisy or me before she goes in the ring!! Rupert has been trimmed ready for his Crufts Debut so all he needs is a bath and a final going over by Hils & Sheila on the day. Maisy and Amy had their final flyball training session yesterday, but I think Maisy is always ready to play the flyball game! but this will be her last ever time, I said the same last year, but I really mean it this time, her flyball days are over as I want to save her legs for agility.

Steve has been busy in the garden as we have decided that we are going to cover the whole back garden with artificial grass, so I will have a 12m x 11m obedince ring!! or as steve says Putting green!! either way it means no more MUD, we are hoping to have it all finished for Amy's 21st party at the end of May, I'll get pictures when it's finished.

working hard

Last weekend Amy & I took Rupert and Summer to act as stooge dogs at the MBCC Breed assesment day, originally Amy was going to handle Rupert but he had other ideas and it worked out much better once I took the lead! he has turned into a real Mummy's boy, not that I'm complaining, after all it's me I want him to have eye's for in competition not Amy. So it's now transpired that I'll be treading the green carpet at Crufts in the breed ring! not something I cherish if I'm honest, I've never needed anyone elses opinion on how perfectly put together my dogs are, in my eye's they are perfect!
Summer will now be going in the junior handling class with Amy, and she's never looked so good, she's put on weight and her coat is very shiney so all we need now is a quick visit to Darian HQ tomorrow afternoon for a trim and we're ready for the off.
On the training front, Rupert now does upright weaves, still with the help of the guides on the first and last 2 poles, and after last week when he was beginning to show signs that his confidence has growm, this week he has been back on good form. Maisy has been brilliant too, last week although she was still very excited after waiting an hour in the car for her turn, managed some great jumping sequences and Summer seems to have started working for the whole class even if she is a little noisy to start with, so all in all we seem to be in a good place, we just need the season to start now. We are back with Jo on Sunday and I can't wait to show her how we have been getting on, I hope she's impressed :-)