Not be out done by Puds, her kid's have been doing really well over the past couple of weeks as well.
Trauma won his second 'B' at Ditton Championship show
Pepsy was 2nd both in G3 aglity & G3 jumping qualifying for the DINAS final.
Roxy, at the same show won G4 jumping and 3rd in another G4 jumping class.
21st -30th August 2010
Phew! Combining a agility show, a Working Trial and a holiday with 4 dogs wasn't such a great idea as I am feeling absolutely exhausted!
We set the alarm for 5am and drove up to Tattenhall for 4 days of agility at 'Dashing Dogs'. Well I wasn't quite with it in the morning and Puds sensed this and pushed and growled at me and blew the weeves. Sketch missed the down plank of the dog walk, although I was kinda pleased as he did actually run down it quite fast, but it got me back to thinking about training this piece of equipment again as I haven't progressed to much after he hurt his back. (more on this later)
The rest of the week consisted of Puds either going into the wrong end of the tunnel, blowing more weeves and me thinking some of the courses were abit difficult so I just ended up training them.
Sketch got a respectable 9th in G3 agility which we could have done better if I had got into the right places and studied the course more although as I was helping on another ring all day this wasn't possible.
On friday we left Nantwich and drove across the pennies to stay at a place near Pennistone as Puds was to do her first PD.
Anyway the accommodation was really dog friendly and suggested a popular walk called the 'Windmill Walk'. Anyway I wasn't quite expecting this!
I woke up to the morning of the trial hearing very strong windy weather and heavy showers. It was good to meet David and Chris at the base which helped me, only slightly!, to focus on the day ahead. (I find holidays can put you in a completely different frame of mind).
I was drawn first to track which I was pleased about until I realised that I might have to do the PD patrol round first! I had rather hoped that I might be able to watch a few before it was my turn.
Anyway we left to do the 9.30am track and the field was really long and lush and the track pattern very straight forward. She sucessfully completed the track and got 3 out of the square so went back to the base for the control round.
Chris & Freddie were also successful in the nosework section
Again the control round was straight forward although I was interested in how she would do the speak command. I had started this exercise at the same time as the quartering and when we hit a problem with the quartering I kinda abandoned the speak exercise as she seemed to be getting confused. Anyway the barking was OK but when commanded to cease, she just continued. So we lost a mark for this, but now she seems more confident I shall start training it again.
Puds doing Heelwork in the really windy weather!
Puds off to the Sendaway point and me trying to stand upright!
Anyway into the patrol round which was a case of 'Lets see how this goes!' I must admit seeing all the criminals arrive I nearly wanted to run away. We watched John Wyke's champion dog do the run through and he made the whole thing look easy so I went back to collect Puds thinking how I could turn this into a positive training round for her.
The first exercise was the 'Chase'. Unfortunately the criminal could run really fast and as Puds dashed after him she couldn't quite grab the sleeve. Anyway she persisted and eventually stopped him and when I ran down to call her off I noticed she was hanging on with just one tooth!
The next exercise was the quartering and I was really pleased how this went seeing the problems she has had during the past. She was sent out to a gate in the top right hand corner of the field, redirected to the left to a hide, no one in this one, and then back along the wall to where a young man was hiding. Her barking attempts were quite good although at times she did look at me for confirmation but she did STAY!!!! Good girl Puds. After I searched the criminal and the hide I sent her to another hide, a short distance away, where again she was quite good. After searching this second hide I escorted the two criminals before one of them did the 'Attack on Handler'. Unfortunately as the criminal came for me he accidently put his foot down a hole and as Puds went to bite the sleeve he fell over which I could see unnerved her but she still tried to have ago.
The last bit of the test was the recall and this went well although I wasn't sure when to call her off and the steward had to remind me and as the criminal now was further away, before she chased I lost marks. Just inexperience really!
So after the round the judge gave some very positive comments and I was thrilled to later learn that Puds had gained her fist PD Open.
Proud of my little collie girly!
13th - 14th August 2010
I was really looking forward to this years Agility Festival as last year it was a really good show with lovely weather. Anyway this year, the first two days, the weather was awful!
Everything quickly turned to mud making the ground and contact equipment quite slippery for the dogs. Needless to say I didn't really do anything with Puds but as there was a 'Pay on the Day' training ring I thought I would train her weeves. Anyway the time was well spent as she was either missed the entry or slipped them, so abit of work to do here this week.
I ran Sketch in one jumping class to see how he was as I haven't done any agility training since he saw the chiropractor. He seemed OK just taking it steady through the weeves and unfortunately we got 'E'd' as he missed out a jump. The second day he was great. He really power jumped and his weeves in both classes were really fast, unfortunately he came out of the 10th weeve in one class and didn't like to rather wet heavy collapsible tunnel in the other. However I was really pleased with his attitude and hopefully he is now on the mend. I intend to start with a little DW training again this week, re-introducing him to some training but rather slowly.
At around lunch time the weather cleared up and everyone seemed in better spirits to watch the 'Starters Cup'.
Unfortunately the bright sunny spell didn't last very long and was followed but a thunder storm! At this point I decided to go home, such a shame for everyone.
However I did manage to get a quick picture of 'Pepsy' who got a very respectable 4th in Grade 3 jumping. Well done girls!
We are having a weeks holiday starting next saturday doing agility for 4 days at Dashing Dogs and then Puds has her first PD trial the following Sunday,so no more posting until I return.
8th August 2010
A fairly quite weekend!
Did some PD training on Thursday with some friends and Puds now seems to be so much confident. I set up a small test for her which included two criminals in the quartering exercise, with one in a hide and the other behind a tree. This all went rather well and not once did Puds think about running back to me and she even managed to sustain the barking.
During the second session we repeated the previous game but this time there wasn't anyone in the hide as I wanted to see if she would run off to the tree by herself rather than ask for instruction from me; and she did. After she found the person under the tree, we had a game whilst another person went back to the hide without her seeing. She was quite happy going back to the hide and was rewarded by the second criminal. Her whole attitude was so much better and she seems alot more confident of the game.
I had to dash back home as Sketch had an appointment with the chiropractor and I wasn't surprised to learn that he had pulled a muscle in his back. He is now on lead walk for 3 days, and becoming very bored with the whole thing. After the three days I can then start to reintroducing some training again.
Saturday night we went to St Noets to say hello to Becky and Rhys (Rosa's owners) who had got married. Becky looked beautiful and both of them really happy.
Sunday went along to Woburn Obedience show to meet up with Chad (Gina's brother) and Trauma (Sketch's brother); my regular yearly visit. (see picture below)
Two hansom boys
Trauma so far has won one 'B' and got a 2nd & 3rd.
It's so interesting talking to Dot (Trauma's owner) and comparing notes as Sketch seems to have so many similar traits to his brother. I wish them both well for the rest of the season.
4th August 2010
A late posting as after spending the weekend down in Sussex attending the Agility club show, we decided to stay on another couple of days and got back yesterday.
The first day of the show started surprisingly with light rain and foggy conditions and everyone was walking around in shorts and raincoats. I wasn't going to run Puds in these conditions but as the day went on, the sun came through a break in the clouds and a light wind quickly dried everything out.
Puds had a 3-5 Olympia qualifier and I thought the course was very straight forward. She ran well but I released her too quickly after the 'A' frame, something I hadn't planned to do, and she wrapped the wing of the jump quite well but because I wasn't far up enough she didn't spot the next jump and stuttered causing a refusal. Shame really as she is keeping the jumps up nicely at the moment.
Sketch only had one jumping class and I noticed in training the day before that he had slowed and seemed rather disinterested in training. During the class he didn't seem his usual self and was very slow in the weeves. Fortunately at the show a firm was doing muscle check assessments and after inspection, one of the assessors said he had hurt his back in a couple of places and to get him treated ASAP. Needless to say I didn't run the rest of his classes and he has been booked in tomorrow and will not have any training until I know what is going on.
Anyway it was good to meet up with both Pepsy and Roxy, two of Sketch's sisters, both are looking really good at the moment.
Roxy got a 3rd in this class which was a graded 4-6 and I thought was a rather challenging course. Don't think Roxy and Gill are going to hanging around in Grade 4 for very long!
28th July 2010
Because I didn't upload a picture or video with my last posting I took this one this morning of the same field as the posting on 3rd May. Where has all the time gone!!!!
As you can see the oil seed rape has now been harvested, the first signs of Autumn approaching.
24th July 2010
A day of near misses!
I entered Empingham agility show, haven't been to this show for quite a few years, and had quite forgotten how far away it was. I left the house at 6.30am and was travelling along the A607 when I heard a funny noise. Anyway I decided to ignore it carried on as I was only about 20 minutes away from the showground. Anyway the noise got really bad so I switched on my hazard lights and pulled over into the nearest layby.
It didn't take me long to realise that I had puncture on one of the rear tyres so I called the RAC immediately. Although I was pleased it was some thing straight forward (rather than something wrong with the engine) I remembered the last time I had a puncture the RAC van towed me into the nearest town and I spent a good few hours in the tyre specialists waiting room. My hopes for my morning runs were diminishing and then I wondered if I would ever get to the show at all!
Luckily whilst I waited for the RAC van to arrive I spotted a footpath and took the dogs for a good walk before my help arrived. A very jolly RAC chap turned up and fixed and changed the tyre there and then and sent me on my way!
I arrived at the show an hour late and still had Puds 4/5 agility and Sketch's 3 agility to walk and run. The 4/5 agility looked quite challenging with an enticing tunnel after the Dogwalk, 4 jump choices after the weeves, obstacle discrimination (between the seesaw and the 'A' frame) a pull though and a wing wrap. Anyway I decided it wasn't the course for Puds and tried to think which jump she would have down so I decided to train it with her. Anyway I was really pleased with her performance. She held all the contacts, she stayed in the weeves so I could run to the correct jump, she took a really good directional command to get the seesaw rather than the 'A' frame and she slowed her speed before the wing wrap. Anyway we came to grief when I stupidly put in a 'steady' command (a command I never use!) whilst she was on the A frame and she just jumped out of the side. It was entirely my fault and a great shame as we were only 5 jumps from home. O'oh such is life.
Now I quite fancied Sketch's course which consisted of a complicating start and finish but the rest of the course was really flowy. The first three jumps were almost like a serpentine, something that I train quite alot, which then lead onto the DW. Unfortunately we came to grief here as Sketch didn't appear to see the second jump at all and on reflection I think I gave him the change of direction command, too late, once he had landed and he didn't see my signal. Anyway I can't quite remember how the Dog walk went as my mind was still on the rather messy start although I think he was slightly slower on the down ramp than the up (understandable at the moment) although he did stop on the ground where the mark would have been. Although I gave the correct commands whilst he was on the Dogwalk I should have given him the 'mark' command followed by the release that I do at home. It's quite hard trying to get it all right!!!
17th July 2010
Went along to a Mick Tustain and Mike Woods PD training day held near Great Dunmow, Essex. This is the first time I have been along on one of their training days and I was looking forward to learning some new training ideas.
Most of the day was spent usefully on Puds biting technique as during the 'chase', where both distance and speed is involved, she doesn't know how to bite. What was particularly enlightening was a method to build more prey drive with the sleeve and getting Puds more possessive about it. This is a new training angle for me as I have been working on the theory of 'Grab the sleeve and you get your toy!' I was also shown some more precision biting games to play which will further teach her sleeve targeting as well as being motivational.
What I also find interesting about these days is seeing the variety of different breeds and all the different problems that people experience.
Dave Waite and his very driven Rottie bitch.
Mick helping Moira with her young collie with his bitting technique
Practicing the bark in the hide.
Lastly I was asked by Mick if I wanted to go in to the hide whilst he sent in his own Working Trials Champion dog 'Ike' a very highly charged malinois. This dog came rushing towards me at full speed barking and at the same time jumping up at me as if he was on springs! I don't think that at any time this dog would run away if I didn't give him his ball after 10 barks!
10th-11th July 2010
A weekend of 'mixed blessing!'
We were all set to travel up to Northumberland for Puds first attempt at PD Open. However since the last PD training workshop Puds quartering hit a real difficult patch, the whole behaviour just fell apart. Once she found the criminal (My very co operative husband) she would either, let out a very weak growl without a bark, just looked at him, wouldn't go down or come running straight back to me. For the last 3 weeks (Yes, 3 weeks!) I have been trying to establish what bits she does know so that I might use this as a starting point to move forward. But I couldn't find anything and I got to a point where I stopped the training, (only option available to me) and hopefully think of something after a time lapse.
Anyway the news came from Sussex that my mother needed a fairly urgent operation and we needed to be there so we travelled down to Sussex rather than to Northumberland instead. For the first two days the dogs were just dogs and enjoyed the new walks and a trip to the beach. Fortunately mother's operation was straight forward and she was able to return home on the Sunday. So after this bit of good news I felt like doing abit of training and asked my husband to go and hide in the hedges and I would send Puds off to find him to see what would happen. Anyway she went off at her usual top speed (no problem with this bit), went straight into the down position and although her first bark was weak, she then started barking really confidently. I can only say I was both surprised and really pleased about this and then did another couple of sessions that all went really well. After a couple of days she was back to the point before the whole behaviour began tumbling down.
I am still unsure of the actual turning point and as a trainer the three things that could have caused this turn around were; have some days off (helps with getting rid of the frustration!), moving to a completely different area/situation and start with stage 1 of the training and acting as if nothing negative has happened before.
My new criminal!
Looking forward to our next one in 7 weeks now; Great!
5th July 2010
Roxy and Gill now Grade 4 - Go girls!
Wellingborough agility show yesterday which feels like a trip home to me as I use to do some of the dog walks in the area when we lived in Northampton.
Sketch was entered in both a jumping and agility class and I thought he would fair better in the jumping as the weather was cooler. The start was quite tricky and I needed to pull him off a tunnel over another jump for a wing wrap before sending him into the tunnel. I though I would test my new left wing wrap command to see if he had learned it but unfortunately he got confused and stuttered causing a refusal. The rest he did quite well and got the tight weeve angle which alot of dogs were missing.
I rushed to do his agility class before lunch as I thought the weather would get even hotter. The course consisted of jump, flat tunnel a sharp turn to the right and then weeves. He dashed through the tunnel before turning which made him wide before the jump leading into the weeves.
After the 'A' frame were 3 jumps then a fourth jump was next to the 3rd so you needed to recall the dog over this before you then sent the dog into the tunnel. Sketch did the 3rd jump and spotted an off course jump and went dashing of towards this, very costly in time, but I managed to call him back and finish the course.
He was 4th before lunch and as there were another 150 dogs to go I thought we would be lucky to get anything. Anyway watching the rest of the class after the break, so many dogs were going out by either, missing the weeve entry, going into the wrong entrance of the tunnel as well as the usual errors on contacts. I was so surprise that at the end of the day he kept his 4th position and I was so proud of my little lad.
Anyway most of the round was caught on camera which was good as it illustrates his creepy Dog walk really well.
30th June 2010
New 'Training Blog' page added.
26th June 2010
Went along to 'Agility for Britain' near Daventry today and although it became rather hot fortunately a cool breeze made things rather tolerable.
Puds was first to go attempting her first run at Grade 4 and in true style knocked the first pole; well done Puds! Sketch did the same course as it was Graded 3/4 and this was the first agility class since I have been training his contacts in earnest. Well I am not sure whether to be pleased or not! He came 4th, which I was really pleased about especially as he had a wide turn before the second to last jump, which was costly in time and is an area where we can improve, and he stayed in the weeves. In fact in both his classes I left him in the weeves, ran past and called him. This seems to keep him in the weeves plus increase his speed, so very pleased with that. Anyway now for the disappointing bit; his downward contacts were slow and this is after alot of work put in by me. I can't make out whether he is going slow as he can't judge the two on two off position or if he still isn't sure what it is I want. If I knew the answer I would train him appropriately as I have a couple of ideas but don't want to confuse him.
Anyway no photos today but will try and get some this week when I take them swimming if the hot weather continues.
Stop Press: Roxy wins G3 Jumping at Thames. One more to go girls!
19th & 20th June 2010
Puds was booked on a Richard Cornwell and Dave Clark PD training weekend and as things went so well last year I thought this would be a good opportunity to see how she has progressed. Well unfortunately I think she has gone slightly backwards!
Competitors taking instructions from Dave and Richard (On left)
We started with quartering and I allowed her to see the two criminals (Helpers) walk off and go into a circular hide that had two foam poles across the entrance. She went dashing off, ran around the hide, couldn't see a way in and then she came back to me. (Unfortunately this would be very costly in points in a competition). Dave suggested back training this and firstly we took the foam poles away and introduced them again one by one and she then learned to jump through the gap to then bark at the criminals.
Richard's dog escorting the criminal (Bert, really looking the part!)
Puds isn't very confident with the quartering part and although she likes running out and finding someone her barking is weak and if she doesn't have her ball quick enough she legs it! It seems particularly bad when the situations are different, like having the gated hide The second and third hide locations were also different with someone up a ladder and someone lying down under a blanket. I decided to train these from a shorter distance to get her more confident.
Freddie the brave!
The second day consisted of searching the hide and criminals for weapons where the dog has to keep an eye on the criminals in case they run off! I didn't realise that whilst getting Puds from the van Dave suggested to the criminals to give me a few situations of what might happen in a competition. During the searching of the criminals, one of them grabbed both my arms and wouldn't let go and I instructed Puds to bite him and she did. I was so pleased as she and I have never been in this situation before and certainly haven't trained it. Good girl Puds! As I led the two criminals towards the gate one tried to attack me whilst the other ran away and again Puds bit the attacker before chasing and bitting the other one. I was so proud of my little dog as she just seemed to know what to do and rose to the occasion.
Me and Puds wondering how to escape from all those GSD!
So the two days concluded with constructive discussions and of course delicious cakes and everyone went away from the two days knowing what to train for the next few weeks. So for me and Puds it will be training lots of quartering situations as I have my first PD test in 3 weeks!
12th June 2010
I noticed at Packington (2 weeks ago) that during the Grade 3 jumping, Sketch came out of the 10th weeve so I put him back and he repeated this another two times. However I didn't take too much notice as in the next class, which had 6 weeves, he was OK. Last weekend I just ran Sketch in the jumping class and yes he came out of the 10th weeve again, ammm! a problem I thought. Anyway reading though my last years diary I noticed that he did the same thing this time last year and it took me until the end of the season to sort it out! So because of this, and resting Puds until her first Grade 4 class in a couple of weeks time I decided not to go to Thames agility show this weekend which was a shame as I wanted to test out Sketch's Dog walk contact which has started to look good.
Anyway back to the weeve problem. Because the correct weeve behaviour has gone again it makes me think it wasn't very strong in the first place. So how can I make him more confident in the weeves and understand what I want.
Step 1. I put the ball a couple of places from the exit of the weeves. Now this was interesting he did the weeves until he got to the last one, saw the ball, stopped and stalked it! Not what I wanted.
Step 2. Let him get into the weeves and then run past and chuck the ball back to him. Not bad but got slower because I don't think he could weeve as well as concentrate on me! (a boy thing!)
Step 3. By mistake when he got in the weeves I changed the command from 'Go' to 'Come' which means come to me at top speed and then catch the ball, his favourite game. He really loved this and motored through the weeves and didn't mind that I ran past him and he didn't come out! ammm!
So that's where we are at the moment. As with all dog training it's finding what is the key and I aim to fiddle around with various ideas before deciding how to move on. Fortunately I don't have a show now for a couple of weeks so it kinda takes the pressure off to try out any new ideas.
So as for pictures this week, I took this one of him, a couple of weeks ago, just as he is about to drop his coat.
Sketch two and a half years old.
Stop press: Heard from Gill, Roxy's owner that Roxy won Grade 3 jumping at Keston a couple of weeks ago. I wonder if I can quizz Gill about how she trained her weeves!
30th May 2010
Puds now Grade 4!
Well today Puds put in a fine performance and won grade 3 agility at Packington. It was the first class of the day and walking the course it looked quite straight forward with a couple of challenges. The start consisted of 4 jumps, slightly set off leading into a tunnel which needed some handling as some dogs were going into the wrong end. Coming out of the tunnel the exit pointed towards the weeves so a directional command was needed to angle the dog back to the dog walk. Then the next bit was nice and flowy until after the seesaw where there was a jump and then an off course jump, in the dog's line of vision, and you had to turn the dog to the left over a jump onto the 'A' frame. I put in a slow command at the jump and Puds responded really well (no stuttering) took the left turn onto the 'A' frame really well. After the 'A' frame was a jump to the right, weeves leading into the tunnel and then 4 jumps in a row but you had to do two of these and then a tight turn to the left to do the last jump. Watching the class a lot of dogs blew this by going to fast and either jumped the 3rd off course jump or turned too wide and ran round the final jump, hence a refusal So my plan was to leave her in the weeves, run past the jump after the exit of the tunnel, put in a slow command and then give her the left command. This worked really well and the whole course seemed to flow rather well.
So in 3 weeks times grade 4 and looking at the 4/5 course today, I am not all that keen on that!
A well seasoned competitor once said to me, 'Winnings great but you only move up to the level of you incompetence!
22nd May 2010
BATS agility.
I have always liked the BATS agility show as the venue is surrounded with acres of dog exercise area and marvelous views from the downs. The weather was fantastic, hot with a slight cool breeze.
Sketch had two jumping classes and I was pleased how he ran in the first class. I have been training the 'slow' command for 2/3 weeks now and the first course had 3 areas where I could use it and he responded really well. It was unfortunate that I didn't spot the weeve entry as being difficult at that angle and unfortunately he went into the second entrance. (see video below) In the second class there was a tight line inbetween jumps 5 & 6 and although I thought I had got out of his way, he missed it so I just carried on, but of course we were eliminated.
Puds had one agility class and although she kept all the jumps up, (really good girl Puds!) I didn't quite know how to do the two pull throughs at the top of the course. Although she came in towards me she didn't know how to turn and then take the second jump. Thinking about this later on, I don't think I have trained a pull through for well over a year. (Probably because I haven't come across one on a agility course for even longer than that!)
15th May 2010
Although I really like this time of year I find it all pretty similar to what happened last year.
I look forward to the agility shows on Saturday and always have a good day out regardless of what happens. I am always pleased with bits of 'Sketchs' and 'Puds' runs but there is always something that seems to catch us out. I feel I don't do the right training during the winter months as there aren't the shows to go to, to get me thinking what I ought to be training. So when it comes to the agility season I see what training would benefit my dogs and as a results I start training something new which results in a little temporary confusion.
A prime example was at Worcester agility show on Saturday. I have been teaching Puds to cut her speed before a jump as a pre cue to turning in another direction rather than going straight ahead. At home this has been going really well when I give her a signal but not so well on the word only. So this is what I have been training for the last 3 weeks and all has been going well. So at Worcester agility show there was a wrap around a jump wing and then back towards the direction we had just come from. Puds took the 'slow' command really well (too well!) and severely stuttered before the jump. Although the kind judge didn't give us a refusal it cost us a placing in a class where there were nearly 300 dogs entered.
I have the same problem with Working Trials and maybe it's that I am so familiar with all the exercises and the situations that are likely to occur. So maybe this is the benefit of hine sight and experience!
I thought the day went really well and we had some real beginer dogs, with their handlers, and a couple of very experienced agility dogs doing trials jumps for the first time. All dogs were given the opportunity to do some jumping lane work where we looked at 'bounce' jumping and 'collection'. Interestingly though the ones that struggled with elements of the lane work also had difficulty with either the clear or long jump.
The beginer dogs were shown how to start the scale, with only a few planks in, and how to teach going over to a mat. (see below)
I also suggested teaching, at this stage, the return to get the dogs use to this early on to become habit forming.
I then introduced the ramps and most of the dogs accepted these quite well whilst others needed a few more sessions to get use to them.
I then added some more planks for the more confident dogs.
It turned out to be a long day and I hope that everyone gained something from the day. As I was getting in my van about to leave, a AvonWT commitee member came rushing up and asked if I could run another one in a couple of months time!
3rd May 2010
I just love this time of year everything so fresh looking and green. It is also wonderful to cycle around the fields on my bike and come back with clean dogs! What a treat.
Spent the first of the May bank holidays down in Sussex for a special birthday party which was blessed with one of the better days weather wise. The intention was to then get up early and go to Vine Championship agility show on our way home. Anyway the getting up early part didn't quite work out and although I arrived at the show at 10.15am I couldn't believe that both of Sketch's jumping classes were calling to the end!. Anyway I watched the few remaining dogs run and decided that the course was too complicating for me to run without walking it firstly so I scratched from both. Puds was in pt2 agility which contained a few challenges but I was looking forward to giving it a go. The start consisted of 3 jumps and then weeves leading into a 'flick flack' jumping sequence. Anyway although she got the weeve entry she skipped the 2/3 weeve, I took her back and she repeated this error for the next 2 times until on the 4th attempt she actually got it right. I then thanked the judge and left the ring.
However always food for thought and I have noticed that she has done this a few times at home. It seems to have started when I put 2 toys out and I think she is rushing the weeves, leaving out a few thinking that I haven't noticed, to get to the ball as soon as possible. Anyway something to work on this week as next weekend no agiliy shows as I am taking a 'Jumping workshop' for working trials dogs for AVON DTS.
24th April 2010
It has been bit of an unusual week as I have been called up for jury service and I am attending court in Aylesbury. Fortunately this judge doesn't seem to work very long hours and most days I have been home by 4pm but the dogs haven't had any training and in desperation Sketch grabbed a ball and ran around the garden parading with it! I didn't play with him though as he is still on neck/back rest but hope to start training again with him this week, although I am still on a court case until Wednesday/Thursday.
Went along to WBSD agility show although didn't feel like it as feeling so tired lately, so came home early. Puds did a good round until she stuck her foot under one of the metal loops that was holding the weeves down. She yelped and came out of them so I reported it to the judge who promptly hammered it down which proved quite difficult as the ground was so hard. As I didn't have any other classes I offered to help and as the ring was short of a scribe I did this for an hour and I must admit I thought it was really good fun; Had to concentrate though!
Just received this lovely picture of 'Ziggy' aka 'Zig' and you cane see why she is called so.
Just heard from Becky that Rosa hip score has been returned, 6/7 plus 0/0 for her elbows. Again like her brother Sketch this is after a year of agility, so not bad really.
18th April 2010
All ready to go to the last Working Trial of the season with Sketch for his UD test. I was really looking forward to it as the weather forecast was good, the judge was good and I felt a good feeling about the whole thing. Anyway Sketch was booked in for his regular physio check up the night before and I was expecting the all clear as is usual for him; but alas not this time! Adam (physio) said that he had sustained a neck and back injury which was probably due to another dog hitting him in the side at force. At the moment I couldn't think how this had happened and later thinking back to a particular time when Gina chased him around the garden after the ball, things then all seemed to make sense. Anyway fortunately he is only to be out of action for a week so he missed the trial and Wallingford agility show, held yesterday and therefore I only had one class to run with Puds. Although Puds took the first pole, very tight start, (see 'Roxy's run as it was the same class) she worked the rest of the round well and I was really delighted when I raced past her, leaving her in the weeves, to get to the next jump; something I have been doing in training.
Anyway managed to get some video footage of 2 of Puds daughters both looking really good. Looking forward to hearing about their successes this season. Go girls!!!
Just heard 'Pepsy' came 14th in the agility class the following day.
Wallingford Pepsy
Wallingford Roxy
9th - 11th April 2010
This year I was asked to judge the TD nosework for Banbury DDTS working trial which was particularly scary as I haven't judged a working trial stake for 5-6 years.( Seem to remember saying I wasn't going to judge at trials again!!!!)
The weather for the first two days was beautiful and warm and the dogs really struggled whilst the last day, Sunday was so cold that I got a chill blain on one of my fingers!
I set a fairly straight forward track pattern (see below) which contained a couple of TD challenges.
Most competitors didn't expect an early article and although all the dogs indicated the article several handlers told their dogs to track on, resulting in missing the green string which was well hidden amoungst the winter wheat. (10 valuable marks lost!)
Myself and the tracklayer stood at pole B, once the dog and handler had tracked away from the pole, and whilst coming towards us, down the third leg, several handlers stopped their dogs, not believing that there would be an extra 15 paces beyond us. It was quite amusing watching people's faces and then seeing the utter relief once the dog found the article (Peg) on the short base line leg. (Fourth leg)
The search square followed which again caused some difficulties. There was hardly any breeze the first 2 days and many dogs ran around searching with their tongues hanging out. Interestingly though, the handlers and dogs that stayed routed to the top (into the wind) side of the square only managed to find 1 or 2 articles whilst handlers that moved around the whole square found three and four. The fowled area was walked on by the square steward and some dogs found this so interesting that they couldn't and wouldn't go and investigate beyond this where most of the articles were. The stick was the article that was found by every dog.
So by the end of the 3 days we had 9 out of 30 dogs that passed the TD test and two of those, much to my delight were Gill Lawrence with her 2 Bekkis dogs (see 24th January 2010 posting) with 'Toffee' gaining her second TD Open which means she can now enter TD Championship alongside her pal 'Tigger' Good luck both of you at Wessex DTS.
3th April 2010
Easter and Mud!
Well nothing different about Easter weather at Bretford DTS agility show!
Some people braved the camping and managed to park up on hard standing ground whilst others, although booked, decided to leave the caravan at home! Everyone was getting a move on as the weather forecast was for more rain which would have made things very difficult, but apart from one light shower, luckily it was a mixture of sunny bursts and puffy clouds and the ground started to dry out. Bretford DTS had thought things through and after today moved all the equipment onto another part of the field ready for tomorrow and Monday's shows.It is forecasted for better weather for the next 2 days.
I was generally pleased with my rounds. It was a mixture of me making small handling errors and the odd pole being knocked. Sketch blasted a really good agility class and unlike him knocked a jump after the tunnel. In his second class I gave him a directional command just before a jump which caused him to refuse, but all his weeves were good. Puds didn't see the jump positioned quite a distance from the Dog walk and stuttered as she wasn't sure where to go next. I am kicking myself as I know she does this and I should have left her on the end of the dog walk and taken several steps towards the jump. Her second class resulted in a knocked pole so I put her into the down and promptly left the ring.
The muddy duo!
No shows for the next 2 days but of PD training with Puds tomorrow and then an agility lesson on Monday.
Hot of the press!
Just received in the post today Sketch's hip score of 5/5, clever vet predicted this result, could have saved myself the BVA fee!
31st March 2010
Just heard from Lynda that Pepsy won 1st Novice Steeplechase, 2nd in Novice Steeplechase & 2nd in Novice agility at Waverunners agility show last weekend. What a good start to the season!
28th March 2010
Had entered West Herts W/T for Sketch to attempt his first WD Open today but I haven't been all that pleased with his scale training this week so decided to cancel. I am a great believer that if something you are training isn't perfect at home then it certainly isn't, as if by magic, going to be OK in a competition. Have been putting my thinking cap on about this problem and plan to have a different training approach this week (eg. go back and train what seemed to work last time!) and hopefully I might have it sorted out before Enfield trial this Friday.
Looking through Agilitynet schedules pages I noticed that Barking Mad agility show was on at Moulton College so I thought I would just go along for a social. It was a nice change not run a dog, funny how that might sound, as for me there wasn't any rushing about and plenty of time to watch and video other people.
Of course it was great to meet up with Becky and Rosa although Rosa was as high as a kite and barked all the way around her courses!
I took a couple of pictures of her to upload on the anadune website www.anadune.com/ and I am creating another page for the last litter as I tend to delete the pictures on the 'What's new' page after about a year and lose some really good pictures.
Very pretty and naughty!
21st March 2010
BCC of GB agility & breed show and first day of Spring!
It was really a beautiful warm sunny day especially after the downpour from the night before and luckily the ground dried up pretty quickly rather than turning to mud.
I had Sketch entered in one jumping and one agility class and Puds in two agility classes. Puds was first out of the van for her first agility class and although she knocked the second jump, which was after the tyre, I was really pleased with the way she ran. I decided to turn the rest of the round into a training round stopping and praising her for stopping on the contacts. Her second class was in the afternoon and I was delighted that she kept up all the jumps and did really good weeves, a handling error on behalf caused a refusal, my fault entirely.
Sketch's first class was 1-4 jumping and I was really please how he went. It started with tyre then weeves and he found the weeve entry and actually didn't come out of the last one for a change. After the cloth tunnel he didn't quite spot the next jump and I now know I should have made a mad dash and showed him; this caused him to stutter and although he got a clear round it kept us out of the prizes as there were nearly 400 entered in the class. With his agility class he was still abit creepy down the dog walk and actually ran passed the weeves to sniff the number! I called him back to do the weeves and again was pleased that he did them all.
It was quite a walk between the breed and the agility show and I found it very tiring. However I did manage to see the judging of the special agility class where you could accumulate points won both in this class and the agility classes and awarded a special prize. However as I was trying out my new camera I only took 2 pictures before it said 'memory card full' and I had only taken 4 picture in total. Then I remembered that I had a camera facility on my mobile phone which although did the job the second picture didn't come out too well especially as the organisers decided to continue with the judging of this class in side.
(Left - right, the boys!) Snowmere Tarn, ? Foxbarton Taittinger, Arnpriors Golden Penny from Aspen, Cookvale Code Red , Bryning Don't Stop Me Now at Ruffs
(Left-right the girls!) Bryning True Believer , Foxbarton Lady Chandon, Raeanne Star Attraction, Bekkis Aphrodite, ?
11th March 2010
Crufts!
This year I decided not to steward or enter any dogs in the 'Working Trials' class but to just enjoy myself and do the things I wanted to do, so what went wrong?
I wanted to watch the agility, which started at 8.30am in the main arena, but underestimated the time, spent getting into the NEC car park, the long walk to the buildings and or course the extra walk through the shopping and judging areas, so I didn't get there until 9am.
The morning's agility was the heats for the novice cup andthe team event, which looked very exciting and I planned to come back at 2.45pm to see the finals.
Border collie benching area, I can see why walking throught he gangways takes so long now!
I met up and spoke to some Border Collie foke and the went to catch up with a friend who was showing a BSD (Malinois) I thought this was a good spot to make a base as there was also a W/T demonstration just around the corner. From then on the plans went wrong! The malinois judge seem to take for ever to finish judging her previous breed, (Groenendael), and the W/T's demo was delayed with a heelwork to music demo, so you can probably guess that they both started at the same time. So not really seeing very much of either event I rushed back to watch the second part of agility which to my disbelief had already started! The hassle of trying to get anywhere through the shopping area is a nightmare and as I reached the Border Collie benching area, looking up at the big screen I realised I had missed it! so making swift changes to my plan I thought I would stay and watch the rest of the Border collie judging and take some pictures of the Working trials classes, which I later learned that I had also missed this as well! Again everything seem to come at the same time.
One of the earlier Border Collie bitch classes, not sure which one though!
So after the double disappointment I decided to head off home before the traffic started to build up and planned to watch it on television, but as I had so much office work to do on my return, I didn't have time to watch that either.
Anyway I have just signed up and paid the £10 for DSF TV coverage on the internet and I am gonig to watch all the events from my arm chair!
5-7th March 2010
A busy few days.
Friday, drove the long distance to Lincoln W/T a trial that I have never been to before as last time I entered (must be 9/10 years ago) it was cancelled due to the foot and mouth outbreak.
Puds was entered in WD and Sketch in UD. First out of the van was Puds to do her track which I thought was going to be difficult, if not impossible as the winter wheat was frozen solid. She picked up some scent along the walk in so I became a little optimistic. After a fairly unsteady first leg she worked well with me finding the first article and her finding the second, she rounded this of with a full mark square.
Rushed of to do the control with Sketch which was held on the showground. It was suituated near a really busy road and the 'Red Arrow' display team gave us a really good display whether we wanted it not! Anyway Sketch didn't seem all that focused, it could have been because of all the other distractions, and he looked at the scale as if to say 'What's that!' Although I was given a second attempt and he wasn't having any of it so I just put it down to a bad day.
Anyway I returned back to the control field again for Pud's control round. Although she lost abit of concerntration during the heelwork the rest of the round was good and she finished qualifying and getting her second WDex which you need for PD championship.
Saturday and Banbury DTC spring progress test. This time I was stewarding for Chris and we sorted out the Elelmentary and Elementary plus (included the long, clear and a sendway) which had an entry of 11 dogs and handlers.
Chris giving some helpful tips to one of the beginers
The standard was very high with all competitors in the elementary qualifying and although non in the elementary plus mainly due to the jumps, but the rest of the work we saw, was good.
Linda with 'Tassel' a pyerenan sheepdog
I didn't manage to see any the higher levels as these were in a different part of the field and ably judged by Tony and Jenny Orchard both very experienced KC judges.
Tony and Jenny getting prepared for the tests.
It finished about 1pm and then it was a mad dash off to the pub to give out the prizes to the sucessful ones.
Linda winner of the Levels 1-5 proudly showing her certificate and cup.
It turned out to be a really enjoyable morning and being a steward is a good postion, being amoungst the action whilst watching other people getting all nervous.
Sunday: Just shooting off to an Anthony Clark agility training session, always lots to learn. Looking forward to Monday for a rest!
27th February 2010
The last of my last 'Barking Mad' winter series show at Keysoe.
The weather continued to be awful with over night flooding, more rain and fog when I arrived; Is there any end to this winter? As I got there early I took the dogs for a good run and needless to say they came back soaked and muddy, and I hate keeping wet dogs in cars.
Puds was in the anysize class which was held outside. Although it was still raining the arena surface was non slippery being a mixture of course sand and shredded car tyres, so I decided to run her. The course was nice and flowing with a couple of traps and I decided this time to give her my body directional signs a lot earlier; something I have always been too slow to do. Anyway Puds went at her usual top speed and after the second loop I nearly lost her as I forgot my way but managed to recover and amazingly she managed to keep all the poles up and won the class.
Keysoe 2
Sketch was in the 3-5 agility class and although he back jumped the last but one jump (handling error on my behalf), I was really pleased with most of his round. His sit stay was really good, especially as we had to wait for the 'timer' to get sorted out, his 'Go on' is good and he did the weeves without coming out of the last one. He is still a bit hesitant on the contacts, partly my fault, and I hope that as he becomes more confident he will rush to the bottom rather than slow down.
Keysoe 3
Thanks for the filming Becky
20th February 2010
Puds is now WDex!!!!
Me with Judge Linda Newbold
I did have serious doubts of getting up 5am for the long journey to 'Holme Chapel', Cheshire for the North West Working Trial. I was relived to get there driving through pretty hairy conditions, icy roads and several inch's of snow in some parts.
The trial had experienced a very heavy frost the night before and the first three lucky competitors could see all of the track. I wasn't so lucky being the 11am track as the sun came out and there was barely any snow left and I certainly couldn't see any footprints. Puds was a bit skitty for the first 4/5 legs and missed the first article and then she really got into it and easily found the last article. She followed this by finding all 4 articles in the square which was hard as there wasn't any breeze.
We had to wait until after lunch before the control round which looked quite straight forward. Watching many of the dogs most found problems with the jumps. I can only say that they were positioned facing into the sun which happened to be quite low at this time of year.
The round started with the retrieve which Puds picked up by it's end, dropped in in front of me, then picked it up properly for the present. So we lost 1 mark for a bad pick up. Her heelwork wasn't bad although I could see her concentration waning so I gave her another command and lost another 1 mark. Her sendaway was fabulous and she gained full marks. She did the clear and the long jump first time, went over the scale, turned around and came back without sitting and waiting. So we lost 2 marks in the jumping section and seeing you need 14 or more, out of 20 we got enough in this section.
So at long last she is qualified to enter PD open trials and I plan to knuckle down during the summer months and get her ready for the PD trials in the autumn season.
11th February 2010
Oxford trial today and I have never felt so cold in my life! Just Puds entered today in the WDstake and I wasn't feeling to optimistic as the ground was frozen with a light covering of snow; unfortunately not enough that I couldn't see the footprints made by the tracklayer though!
Our track was at 10.30am and I hoped for some thawing but the minus 5C wind chill factor soon put a stop to that!
However Puds did a realIy good track and she really worked hard; also I do seem to be able to be reading her body language so much better now, so we went into the control round feeling rather optimistic.
Cold competitors waiting their turn.
Judge Shelia Tannet (On right) explaining what she wanted in the control round
Puds was rather excitable after coming out of the van and I had hoped that doing the rather long sendway she would calm down. (How wrong was I?) During the heelwork I gave her the left command and she did a complete spin nearly knocking me over. She got into her 'I'm going to dash off' mood, inbetween exercises, so I firmly told her to calm down which is usually a mistake. Anyway she just threw herself at the clear jump, knocking it over and refused the long jump twice!; something she has never done. She did the scale, ignoring my down command, turned around and came back straight away.
I can only say that she had her dizzy hat on today and unfortunately because of this we failed the 'Agility' section today. She seems to be the type of dog that needs training right up to the day before the competion, if not just to remind her of the exercises, but also to take some of the steam out! 'Ooh well such is Puds!
Anne Clark with Quincey.
7th February 2010
I wasn't planning to go along to Midland Border collie Championship show but my pre- planned agility lesson was rescheduled for early March so I thought I would venture out to Bretby nr Swalicotte, NOT Burton Upon Trent as I mistakenly thought driving along the A115 not being able to find the conference centre!
It was good to meet up with some familiar faces and of course some doggy relatives too.
Chase (Glenfound Simply Magical for Cochwillan)
A 'Bliss' great granson, also looking at becoming a good agility dog.
Sianworth Firecracker also a 'Bliss' great grandson having a word with a passer by.
So everyone turned up hoping to win one of these! but some people ended up with one of these! (see below picture)
Anyway the two best classes of the day 'Special Working Dog & Bitch' (see Below)
(Left to right) Foxbarton'That's Jazz CDex UDex (Working Trials) Lochiel Miss Independent at Ruffs (Agility) & Dorvale Wedded Bliss (Heelwork to music)
(Left to Right) Littlehorn Rolls Royce at Brooksbid CDex (Working Trials), Snowmere Tarn JW, AW (Agility) & Bryning Don't Stop me Now at Ruffs (Agility)
And Best in Show winner Sh Ch Sianworth Celtic Magician a 'Bliss' son and a Shelley grandson winning his 5th CC at the grand age of 10 and a half years old. Well done Sian, he really looked superb on the day. (and always seems to be laughing!)
30th January 2010
Agility this weekend again at Keysoe which was very cold and icy. Sketch did a good round in the 3-5 Agility and came 11th. (Video below) Still bits and pieces still to work on though as I still want a stop on the 'A' frame and Seesaw. I always look for areas where we could have improved our time and felt that I should have changed sides after the tunnel, (Something I had planned to do!) and could have got more of a direct line from the seesaw to the tunnel. However I did notice that he sometimes gains speed when I am in front of him.
Puds had a chance to do the 'Anysize' class and being Puds she knocked a pole. I find the best way forward for her pole knocking is to give her my negative command, (Out) which means bad luck you have blown it! I then put her in the down and then leave the ring; afterall I feel that It is my job to tell her which way to go and her job to keep the poles up! However I had realised that during the cold spell she has done very little jumping and couldn't quite manage the scale last week. I have been doing jumping lanes with her all week to improve her jumping fitness.
Managed to catch old girl 'Ziggy' (Gina's sister) and Barbara also doing the anysize class. Ziggy behaved like a true agility dog thinking Wait means Go!
24th January 2010
Had entered Avon trial for Sketch to do his UD Open and wasn't quite sure how things would go as he has been high as a kite since we have returned from our holiday. I have been to Avon trial (near Devies) before and I must say that it is one of the most scenenic routes to a trial.
Avon is a small (UD only) friendly trial with only 8 competitors entered today. In the tracking draw we were 5th and the sun shone really brightly and dressed up in coat and leggings, I wondered if I was going to get over heated!
He did a good track with him finding one article and me finding the other! Although I was pleased with his square, finding all 4 articles, he did mouth the piece of ribbon and chewed and tried to EAT the piece of knotted rope!. More work needed here.
During the control round I found it really hard to calm him down as was as high as a kite and lost alot of concentration. He pounced on the retrieve, came back, jumped on me, nearly knocking me over. Fortunately the judge just laughed! (Probably thinks it in the breeding!) His heelwork was awful, 6 good paces and then just doing his own thing, really naughty. However his went out with good speed on the sendaway, after a small blip, good jumps and down stay and therefore Sketch qualified UD Open and also came second.
Wasn't able to take any photos during the day but manged to twist judge's (Gill Lawrence) arm, for a couple of pictures of her two dogs, Sketch's half brother and sister. Thanks Gill and good luck in ticket with them both.
Bekkis Dulcimer CDex, UDex, WDex (Isn't she pretty?)
Just returned from Mauritius, sorry about the picture of the larger in it, my husband took the picture; it's a man thing! Anyway I don't think we could have picked a better week! So many things were cancelled at home, 'Leamington trial, training at my local club and agility shows with a few other shows trying to put on a brave face.
Anyway the 'Woolram' clan were ably looked after by our dog sitter who wasn't able to get off the farm all week but took these pictures of the gang who didn't look as if they missed me very much!
Sketch looking like monarch of the glen!
Puds.Dog sitter soon sussed out that she was the naughty one!
28th-30th December 2009
I decided to travel the long distance to Skipsea, nr Beverley, to go along to 'Yorkshire WT (Skipsea) trial. I haven't been to this trial for about 8 years and decided to stay over for a couple of nights, with a friend, in a guest house located about 5 miles away from the base. On the first day we had 2 dogs entered in WD and another in UD which looked as if it was going to be a busy first day for us. We duly arrived at 8am, in the dark and were asked if we could leave immediately to do our WD tracks as no one else had turned up! There were numerous cancellations because of the serve weather warning.
I did the 8.30am track with Puds and wasn't to hopeful as although there was a small amount of snow, the ground was frozen owing to an over night frost. Puds took the first leg easily and then we stopped at a corner, leading to a cut back, and we seemed to be there for absolutely ages. On a couple of occassions I let out the whole of my line and at last she found some remnants of the track. She seemed to find some legs easy and other near impossible and then we finally went wrong 3 legs from home. I was very pleased with her attempt in such difficult conditions; she then followed this by a full mark square. Obviously missing out the last three legs was costly and she only could afford to lose just 1 mark in the control round. (More of that later)
We then were taken to the UD control field for Marie's little crossbreed dog 'Toi' to do her bit. Toi did a good control round and was well into the marks for this section. Toi was then drawn second to do her track which she did really well although bringing out half the field between her toes! Toi passed the nosework section well and therefore gained her UDex and also a third prize. Well done girls.
The judge, square steward, tracklayer and Marie with Toi
Yes it was muddy!
Tracking up the first leg
Anyway we dashed back to do Pud's WD control round and with only one mark to spare I knew I had to pull out all the stops. Her heelwork was good, she did a very accurate sendaway and she got full marks for her retrieve, so everything was still up for grabs. She did the clear and long jump and the scale but when I called her back, over the scale, she just ran around the side, losing 5 marks, naughty Puds. So we ended up as WD only which is a strange qualification as it doesn't really stand for anything eg. she passed everything but didn't get enough overall, such is life.
Anyway we returned the next day for Sketch's CD which was a much more laid back day. As he has already got his CD I just wanted to just see how the jumps and heelwork were shaping up after further training. He did a did a good search square and retrieve ending up with full marks. He lost abit of concerntration on the heelwork but as he got into it his heelwork was lovely. He cleared the clear jump by about a foot and did the scale and long very well too. I was very surprised to learn that he had only lost 1 mark thoughout the day. We then decided to leave early as the weather forecast on our return was worsening, so we scratched from the stay,s but if he had done them he would have won the stake. Very proud of my little chap.
A bit blurred but he was dashing around alot!
20th December 2009
Thanks for the snowy pictures of 'Roxy' Gill.
13th December 2009
Went along on an 'Anthony Clark' handling workshop which was held at Anthony's training site at Southrop.
Again loads of useful handling tips which seem to make so much sense and I can see Sketch's confidence grow by the minuite. Sketch seems to be a dog that if I get it right he does as well, a very responsive and honest little chap. The first sequence consisted of several jumps leading into a tunnel trap, dog walk and then a 'flick flack'. It all went well until he missed the second jump into the flick flack. Anthony suggested walking right into the wing of the second jump which just worked a treat! The final handling sequence which consisted of tunnel traps, slow down commands, early directional commands and front crosses. If I had seen this combination at a show I think I would have pulled out of the class and just watched but after Anthony's detailed explanation it went really well and I was quite surprised that I could achieve something like this!. Maybe at last I am beginning to understand some of this agility handling!!
(The sequence leading to the tunnel trap; yes we had to send the dog through the entrance on the right.)
Anyway unfortunately only one picture to post as the camera didn't have enough power resulting in the battery going flat.
No more agility shows now for 2 weeks! what am I going to do for the next 2 weekends? Christmas, like it loathe it does get in the way rather!!
10th December 2009
Rather a late posting as I have just returned from Sussex to catch up with family members before xmas. My mother lives about 12 miles from the beach at Pevensey Bay and during the winter months there are just a few dog walkers around. I took the following pictures as the weather was glorious sunshine such a treat after days of heavy persistant rain.
please throw the ball into the waves!
and yes I did!
Have posted a short video of Sketch doing the agility class at 'Barking Mad' last Saturday. I was rather displeased with him breaking the sit stay as he not only took out the first jump but I didn't have time to give him the slow command to cut his speed before turning right around the box. It's partly my fault for letting him get away with it in competition. However I thought his seesaw and dog walk showed a better pace and not so creepy as it has been in the past.
22nd November
Took Sketch along to 'Dogs On top' unaffliated agility show held near Lutterworth. I went along to several of these shows last year and I must admit the new venue is a big improvement, room for 2 agility rings and a nice warm cafe. These events are a series of winter shows run by mother and daughter team Ruth & Denise Smith-Howell and I must admit that they do create a nice fun and relaxed show each time.
Denise having a well deserved cake break!
Although sketch was entered in 4 classes I only ran him in two as I wanted to take my toy in the ring and train the weeves. Unfortunately I realised that there weren't going to be any weeves, in any of the classes as the ground was to hard to peg them down, so we decided to just have abit of fun instead.
He did a really nice 'Starters Plus' agility course that was very flowy and although his contacts were good he is still abit creepy on the dog walk and seesaw. I need to do more work on both as these as they are abit costly in time, anyway he went on a gained a fourth prize which I was really pleased with. In his tunnel vision class he just couldn't resist tunnel number 2!
The presentation.
It was good meeting up with the usual agility foke but also someone some new people. There was Laura, who is a member of 'Banbury DTS' and just starting out in agility, and someone who I judged taking their, 'Bronze KCGC' earlier in the year, just as well that I had passed them!
18th November
Fabulous pictures of 'Lily', 'Sketch's' sister, thanks Gaynor I see you are looking after her.
13th November
I went along to Leamington DTS Working trial with mixed feelings as I had two dogs in two different stakes, not sure how I would cope with that, and the weather was supposed to horrendous, strong winds and heavy showers. So I packed the van with extra towels, change of clothing in anticipation of the day.
I drove of at 7am in the dark in lashing rain but looking at the clouds I was optmistic that it might stop. The forecast was that there was to be a temporary break before the really worst of it was on its way.
The day started of with Puds doing her WD control. I was pleased with all the exercises but she threw herself into the middle of the clear jump. I can only say that as it was on a hill it threw her and taking full resposibility for this myself as this is something I have overlooked in my training. She still has the old habit of going over the scale and dropping like a stone, facing completely the wrong way, therefore making coming back virtually impossible, so unfortunately we didn't get enough marks on the jumps and a lesson learned by me. I did go on and do the track as it has been over 9 years since I have done WD champ tracks and I was really pleased with the way she tracked in the rape.
Anyway I dashed back to the CD field for Sketch's first attempt at CD, not a stake I particulary like. I fully intended training and helping him as much as I could. The judge Barrie James http://www.sooshine-bordercollies.com/
CD judge Barrie James
set a straight forward test although the field containing cow pats and thistles and did present some challenges. During the retrieve it bounced several times before finally landing on a thistle, luckily this didn't deter Sketch and he cleanly picked it up. The heelwork was probably the worst that Sketch has ever done, he did 5 steps of nice heelwork before he stood on a thistle and that was that. From then on I can only describe his heelwork as a series of thistle hoping and non existant attention on me! I can only say that the judge must have been in a good mood as we manged to scape a few points!
Nervous competitors
The only other dodgy moment was when he was about to do the clear jump as he spotted dogs running around playing in the exercise area. Although he jumped it he certainly clipped it hard and luckily it stayed intact.
Competitor about to do the scale
So after the relief of him doing the 10 minuite down stay, which he has never done before, Sketch qualified and gained his CDex at his first attempt. Really pround with my little chap.
Woolram Lothario CDex (Sketch)
1st November
Just heard from 'Gill' with 'Roxy', (Sketch's sister) whose agility is just coming together; shame it's now the end of the KC show season. She gained a 5th & 11th at Dogs in Need (August show), 2 first places at UKA (Independent show) in September and her best so far 1st in Grade 1-7 Helter Skelter at South Eastern Independent show last month. Roxy even beat a couple of grade 7 dogs in this class; much to their surprise!
Keep working on keeping those poles up and it won't be long before both of you are out of Grade 3; go girls!
30th October
Puds had her first WD Championship Working Trial entered today. I hadn't been to 'ICENI' working Trial, based at Tolleshunt D'Arcy, for about 8/9 years when the last time was with Bee when she was about 3 yrs old; we came 3rd in TD. The conditions at ICENI had always been notoroius, usually being on sparse winter wheat in usually wet and windy weather conditions. Well we were right about the sparse winter wheat terrain but the weather was warm and mild with a light, breezy wind.
The exercise area was behind the scout hut base and led onto the north sea bed wall. I took these pictures of this rather fascinating scenery. There was a light sea mist to start which, which cleared when the sun came up.
So who planted all these trees? they look to be approximately 25yrs old and therefore the sea must have been further back some years ago.
The tracking fields. Doesn't look particulary sparse until you look at the second picture!
Anyway sufice to say we only achieved one leg before we were called off for going the wrong way, and we were in good company! (the two teams before us did the same) Puds took the first leg well, but as it was down wind she overshot the corner, which lead to a cut back behind as, but she just kept on going!
Although I need to establish have far she pulls me over down wind corners, a common error, I think Puds is always going to struggle tracking on bald Winter Wheat!
Anyway met up with the fine fellow, 'Laetare Yuma', owned by Anne Bussey', a 'Sketch', relative being a 'Woody' son.
19th October
Just heard that Dot & Trauma won their 3rd 'A' yesterday. They have won 4 Novices and 3 'A' this year, not bad going!
18th October
Went along to 'Barking Mad' agility at Keysoe, the first of the winter Series. I can't quite believe that it has come around to that time of year again especially with the weather being so unseasonal.
I was pleased with Sketch's Sit wait and Dogwalk contact althought he still doesn't seem to get the idea that he has to stay in the weeves! He also did this in his jumping class which was a shame as the rest of the round was good; I thought we had cracked it as he hasn't been doing it during training and at the course last weekend.
Gina enjoyed her day out and nearly missing the last jump!
It was great meeting up with Becky and Rosa again. Shame about the refusal in her agility though, just young dog stuff. Heard later that she had a clear round in the jumping class and came 6th. Really proud of you both.
10th & 11th October
Had a chance to go along on a 'Anthony Clarke' agility training camp weekend, although I opted out of the camping bit! Several others, some traveling from afar did, and the weather on the Saturday was beautiful warm sunshine and on the Sunday, although starting off grey with a few light showers, finally ending in lovely hot sunshine. Rather difficult to believe it is Autumn!
Anthony explaining a handling move to one of the group
Anthony split us in two groups with both groups having a morning and then an afternoon slot which worked quite well as my head, after the morning session, was buzzing! The course consisted of front & rear cross moves, in which situations they should be used, movational Dog Walks and weeves, course walking, course analysis and then running the whole thing. Most sections consisted of a set piece of strategically placed jumps, and sometimes including the tunnel or 'A' frame. It started with everyone having a go, sucessfully or not!, and then we were gathered into a group with the proper handling moves, postion of handler explained and discussed. We then again reran the course, with our new found knowledge, all finding what diferences that made!
Now what did he say about what to do here?
I haven't been on one of Anthony's courses before and I must say that I was very impressed with his calm and relaxed manner. Everyone was given the same amount of attention and indivdual training advice according to their own situation and level. I think for me the course certainly filled in the 'knowledge gaps' and I could see 'Sketch's confidence growing rapidly during the sessions; I felt that we are now edging further forward to being a team.
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