Wynnes Journey with their Dogs

The project contines...the AF commences

2012-01-15T10:32:00.001Z

Yipee - Marc's practical skills have been used well today and he has completed the rubberisation of the DW :-) so will be able to start using it in a few days. Whilst this was going on I thought best try and introduce the concept of the running a-f. And bugger me - despite Rivi not having been on one since prestbury park and the fact it was on its lowest height she still 'froze' the blasted agility gremlin of a 'stutter' was still there. I tried to 'play' around with it but I felt I was in danger of losing all the progress made with the DW - yikes - not good at all

So no free a-f for me...how can I eliminate/terminate/suppress this a-f gremlin??!! I dug out our 'baby' af plank that Rivi always liked, and she went over it, but not mirroring the new behaviour learnt on the DW. So I needed her to think of running and still make definite contact with the contact zone too. So I came up with the following way to do it.

The key is for me is:

it resulted in success in terms of achieving my initial goal for training a running AF i.e movement
it provides me with a foundation to build on
and as said before the ultimate for me is always that my Rivi is a happyoli
that I enjoy and get a really sense of satisfaction in being constructive and creative in training - or just having sheer luck that it worked :-)

Its early days I know and who knows if it right or not but at the moment it working for us - we have had 3 great sessions and even if I move the 'send around' cone Rivi absolutely achieves the behaviour :-)

Inspiration and rubberisation

2012-01-11T18:04:00.000Z

Had the grand plan to rubberise the dog walk whislt the dogs and us have our christmas break - only for Marc to find the wood had rottened. So not only does it need rubberising, we have had to replace the bit the dogs run on (planks) which of course requires priming, painting, drying and then it can be rubberised. We are using Contact A Coat but not putting slats on. Having watched a huge number of contact videos (running and 2o2o) I am unsure about slats and the impact on dogs paws. Do they need to be more minimal like a ripple rather than a ridge? So that will be another learning curve for 2012 as I learn about rubber contacts.

With short day light hours and winter weather - training is a bit on hold. I am hopeful in about 2 weeks I should be able to dash outside when I get home and do some and get the project back on track.

Since undertaking this retraining project with Rivi I think it has really enhanced our relationship, working together to overcome our agility 'gremlin'.

But to keep me going some brilliant motivation from Silva Trkman - just look at this video. Totally brill :-)

The shortest day...The longest night...

2011-12-21T14:53:00.004Z

Its a pivotal day the shortest day and the longest night - I am always thankful to celebrate the return of longer daylight days.

The Winter Solstice a celebration of light returning and the earth awakening. A time of togetherness and glimmerings of hope for the new year, and toasts to those we have loved and lost. Of remembrance, thanks and celebration.

A festival of lights - twinkling brights, welcoming the light with candles and also lit for remembrance of those loved and lost. An Evergreen solstice thanks to the garden which happens to have holly. (but I do need to introduce mistletoe )

A celebration of all good things had and to come - to be enjoyed and treasured. A friend knowing my appreciation of the Winter Solstice sent me this poem called The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper

'So the shortest day came, and the year died,
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

They lighted candles in the winter trees;

They hung their homes with evergreen;

They burned beseeching fires all night long

To keep the year alive,

And when the new year’s sunshine blazed awake

They shouted, reveling.

Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us – Listen!!

All the long echoes sing the same delight,
This shortest day,
As promise wakens in the sleeping land:
They carol, fest, give thanks,
And dearly love their friends,
And hope for peace.
And so do we, here, now,
This year and every year.
Welcome Yule!!'

UKAgility Finals - Dec 2011 :-)

2011-12-11T21:17:00.002Z

Back in May at the UKAgility Show 2011 - Zev and Me qualified for the Tug-e-Euff Performance Challenge Final to be held on the 3rd December. On the 2nd December 2011, on the friday evening I was nervous and cranky - not of me and Zev, but I had no idea what it would be like - it was a new event and on paper seemed a really good idea. Could all the costs such as petrol/hotel etc be justified?

The Grand Entrance
UKAgility Finals Weekend 2011

I need not of worried - it is the best agility event in the UK that I have been too. It was professionally run - the team of helpers - combined with Greg and Laura's experience. It is the first time for me in Agility I have seen the emphasis on the agility and the competitiors and their dogs. For the presentations at the end all the competitors were included which I thought was a really nice touch.

I had just a fabulous day - Zev worked his little sheltie paws off for me as always - how lucky am I to have such an incredible sheltie. He won the jumping round. Here is the video...

Which meant we went into pole position in the final round. But I cocked it up, the angle on to the dog walk - I should have helped Zev with it more - assuming he would take it - and he did not - and the gutting part of it is his times even with so much time wasted was still so good - how exciting. The results can be found on the UKAgility web site - so we ended up 5th overall. Huge congratulations to Ziga and Liz (Zev's brother) who won the event overall.

However, it was no matter - yes as a human being sure I would have luv to have won - but I will have to do it next year instead - the big step for me here is that I have been hit by the 'finals' bug - I wanna be in more with Zev.

The day was full on nice bonuses catching up with friends, meeting a potential sire of my next border collie puppy, making new acquaintances, met Zev's half brother Gimzo who just like Zev is too handsome and cute for words. I was so wishing that I have another but I am just gonna have to wait...but but the temptation.....

Then Bernadette as thoughtful as ever gave me and Zev our own sheltie charm...

Like I say it was just one of those fabulous days full of nice bonuses. With special thanks to:

All the helpers that did such a great job
Laura and Greg Derrett for having the vision and drive to deliver a great standalone final event - specifically for agility
Marc for putting up with me being cranky on Friday evening
And my Zev - always the showman :-)

Rivi and Raised Plank - the Project Continues

2011-11-27T18:01:00.003Z

As we reach the end of November I reviewed our project's progress. Originally I planned with Rivi to progress with her RCs as quickly as possible so that we could get back to competing in the new year and coz I was concerned about the plank raised on a table. However, the winter daylight hours have totally screwed my project time line up. Two good things have come of this [1] it has made me get use to the plank on the table [2] the fact that it has taken until now in a training session for Rivi not to offer 2o2o position which has been embedded deeply.

It will be more realistic to think about heading back into the agility ring in the spring. It is a long time to be out of doing the most favorite part of agility. Jumping classes are good and give a buzz, but to me Agility is Agility when the contacts are in the course. It is what it is all about.

With teaching Rivi RCs I have learnt so frickin' much, even just stuff like the foot(paw)fall, the speed , using the reward mark to get the desired footfall (3 paws plus) and the impact if I change the location of where we do it. Then, progress this week is Rivi is really starting to shift, by that I mean starting to actually run and she is not offering 2o2o.

It is blooming gratifying. And if I can get her to like RC as much as the poles and jumping I will know my babyoli is a happyoli :-) and that is the ultimate for me.

The next step is to progress to the dog walk....

p.s Also in the video it is Zev and Nuts having a real good time watching Rivi doing her RC training

Rivi and Intro to Raised Plank - Project Continues

2011-11-13T13:58:00.000Z

As mentioned previously my education in training Rivi continues - We hit a real low the previous week as she would not even go on the plank. We worked through it and I decided to raised the plank height as the 'inbetweeny' height was just not for her.

This is Rivi's sixth session on the height that is set so that the angle is fairly close to a standard height jump. I want to move off this raised plank as quickly as possible, as I am concerned about safety. Although I always keep risk to the minimum and make it safe as I can.

The main progress is Rivi is getting to understand that bounce or jump over means no reward. I had to sort out a criteria. Which has come to be at the moment:-
- leap over - no reward marker
- two paw hit equal one reward
- 3 paw run through equal jackpot

This criteria is suiting me and Rivi at this stage, as it really is engaging her brain in a very positive and determined way. As she wants that MM to keep dispensing. (good progress after her initial reaction to the MM) It also provides 'building blocks' towards our end goal and gives us a chance as a team to work together to achieve that aim.

At the end of the day, far as I can work out the dog is targeting the contact zone at speed. There is no reward for leaping/bouncing over it. What I need to achieve in the end product is a definite drive down to and through the contact zone with ideally 2 or 3 paws hitting the said zone. It is going to be an interesting few months as our journey with this progresses.

The pressure is on for me as I must achieve this goal, as Rivi is such a fabulous dog and I want the bonus of us doing agility well together - No bias there then!!! ;-)

Rivi and Intro to Plank - the project continues

2011-11-05T16:41:00.000Z

The retraining of Rivi progresses. With the intro to the plank, our biggest thing to over come here is for Rivi not to think about stopping at the end of the plank. We have been through a real learning curve this week.

This retraining is about complex levels of interpretation, stringing behaviours together and encouraging Rivi to have belief in offering new behaviours that are in conflict with 3 years of previous training. It reminds me very much of the crossover stage when the use of clickers became available to reward mark. I’m trying to achieve something and not sure what the end product will be. I have to think about my judgement calls in terms of - how to progress, what to reward and jackpot. In the great scheme of things it is very early days. However, we will continue the project...

Go ape...!!!

2011-10-24T20:13:00.000+01:00

Went 'Go Ape' this weekend - a birthday activity organised by a friend. It was a mix of emotions from 'nerve racking' to 'exhilarating' to 'why did I worry about doing that?'. My language did turn the air blue initially. Although I did try to say "flipping nora" instead. But I got calmer and more rational as I completed each course. My senses were heightened literally by the height, the tiny ropes, hoops, logs and barrels that you try and use to get from one tree to the next. I really had to talk myself through a couple of them.

But now looking back I have to look at the video as I can't believe I have done it. Especially knowing what I am like, I think Marc was surprised too.

What a great way to spend a few hours with friends, and then walk the dogs afterwards :-) what next???????

Running Contacts with Rivi - getting started

2011-10-20T18:57:00.000+01:00

Well, it was hard to be good at Chippenham, Rivi worked beautifully in the champ jumping. Oh the temptation to run her in the champ agility - but I was strong (methinks like being on a diet!) and did not subcumb.... I know it is really important that I remain focus on my goal to retrain - it is really critical if we are going to be even more competitive next year...

The outline retraining stages so far are:-
1] introduce to MM
2] run to MM running over a bit of carpet
3] to running the carpet to MM with me in differing positions
4] to angles on to the carpet and maintain criteria on carpet

And that is where the complexity creeps in there is the speed, the judgement, can you say well that one was a bit high or the paw pattern not quite right, can you try again please. Can I try and train the dog, watch the dog, run at the same time, click and reward spot on and not be in a tiz? ha ha could make you dizzy just thinking about it.

Once over her shock of meeting the MM - Rivi has 'cottoned' on to the fact it involves running and she loves to run. She is really enjoying the training, and that is always my overall goal. I signed up with a Daisy Peel - classroom and that is quite a nerve racking thing to do i.e costs/group mix/trainer approach. A bit of a leap of faith - but I like what I have seen on her blog etc.,. and took the plunge. So far it is really good, following the steps that I expected and can work with.
- Plus there is the sharing of the learning curve which is really cool even in a virtual world.
- Plus it made me buy a MM and it is a brilliant tool which had been on my to buy list since Zev was a puppy! I wish I had got it sooner now I just need two of them ;-)
- Plus Zev has just as much fun joining in although he already does running contacts

Chippenham - the 2011 Agility Season finishes

2011-10-09T19:49:00.001+01:00

DAMM, what a good way to finish the agility season. Final ticket show of the year and I had the good fortune with Zev to be awarded the Reserve Challenge Certificate. Sure I am totally human and would have preferred to have won it, but being corny but true I am just so chuffed to have the opportunity to share my life with such a fabulous sheltie. Sure at times I am a wee bit frazzled as previously mentioned he sure does know how to press my buttons. Which is a great thing or life would be a trifle dull ;-) So this year two RCCs and also I need to sort out claiming our Agility Warrant Gold, as Zev he achieved enough points at the beginning on the season.

This is the video of the final round:

I want to fine tune his contacts - this season with lurching from wood to rubber surfaces has been at times 'hair raising' and disconcerting. Whilst I like the rubber - I do feel it would have been safer and better for the dogs if it had been a overnight change to one type of surface. Hopefully next year all the agility shows will do rubber contacts.

I really don't think there should be another year of 'mix and match' it is a risky situation especially when its wet weather. How the heck to you tell your dog that is going like crazy, "watch out the contacts are wood this time!" On the plus side its been good as it made me convert Zev to full running contacts. It is such a buzz not to think about having to stop and go, it is just so exhilarating.

Dixie Licks Does Good.....And Marc too;-)

2011-09-18T20:58:00.000+01:00

We headed to Bromsgrove for the weekend, it had a Adams Derby Qualifier which is a nice final for young dogs if can qualify. It is power and speed, so the first section is contacts and maximum spread and long jump. The speed is poles and jumping. Then crikey I missed Dixie and Marc's run, as our runs clashed. Bummer, not only did I miss them run, they did a good 'un' and won the qualifier. No mean feat for Dixie, who must be one of the smallest 'large' dogs in KC agility.

But look at Dixie, she says she born to pose too
:-) She is now 21 months and is well cute.

All the guys did good, but this is Dixie's time to hog a blog posting as I know it is usually my guys that I write or should I put rave about?

Rivi second champ final and the stutter strikes!!!!

2011-09-06T21:35:00.000+01:00

Well, the Rivioli was not gonna be left behind at Wyre, and I was so pleased to get her through to the final too. I don't like to leave a dog behind, in any sense. I want to get her through to the finals at much as Zev. Heres the jumping round (the twiddle being entirely my fault - wrong directional cue):-

However, what has been looming and despite my best efforts I have not cracked her aframe performance. Her see-saw is good and her dog walk performance has really come on. This is the agility qualifying round

With the aframe, the stutter has come back affecting this final and the one at Prestbury - it is so so frustrating.....

I am now conscious of it, can you imagine having such a gorgeous dog, that has one performance issue. It is like a loathsome acne spot on one's face!!!! So at Wyre I made the decision to devote from Oct to Dec 11, to retraining the aframe and the dogwalk. I even declined a call up to the semis, for the same reason. We have improved so much performance wise in other aspects I just need to sort this issue out.

No semis. No WAO tryouts. Yes to developing a contact that suits Rivi and enables us enjoy it even more. And who knows a side benefit of being a more successful partnership?

Reserve Ticket for Zev at Wyre :-)

2011-08-30T22:09:00.000+01:00

Wyre - Stunning location

August has been a cracking month, with Zev already making two finals at DINAS. But frustratingly, I did not deliver the handling/focus required in the finals. At the end of the month we went to Wyre a new agility show, with Champ Classes. And what a weekend, torrential rain on Friday, which saw the Saturday Show cancelled and rightly so. It is always a tough call, but the right decision as the ground was just so waterlogged in parts. The irony is Saturday was actually a beautiful day and some people arranged to walk to the local village with their dogs so we went along. The stroll into the villeage turned into a walk up the fell, well I called it a fell as it seems to be high enough to me. The guys had a great time and so did we, a real holiday 'day', finished at the pub for a cold lager and chips - naughty!!! Sunday dawned and it had rained again, there was mud in places, but the show was going ahead. Luckily the Champ Ring had the best ground and we decided to see how it goes. This is Zev's and mine champ qualifying jumping round, as you can see my handling is 'way wide' on a couple of turns, could have got an 'elephant' though, never mind a medium sheltie!

The champ qualifying agility round, this vid really makes me smile, as you can see progress in Zev's performance for running contacts and his drive. We came second in this; our highest place so far in Champ qualifying rounds.

We made it to the finals, as I did with Rivi and Marc with Big. What an exciting day, all the guys in the finals. Zev would be last but one to run. Would I hold it together? "Yes I did", and actually for the first time, I felt more in control of my excitement and just generally more focused. This is Zev's and mine run and led us to be awarded the Reserve Ticket.

This is our highest place so far in a champ final. I was so thrilled and so excited, and so was Zev - excited that is ;-) The people running Wyre made great efforts despite the conditions and I luv'd that they awarded the CC and Reserve CC Tickets, there and then with a proper presentation in the ring. Everybody watching could celebrate and applaud, I hope this is copied at other shows, as it is a totally fab thing to do. And really celebrates what is a fantastic agility moment.

x 2 for Rivi ;-)

2011-08-11T07:21:00.000+01:00

Rivi and I finally got our grade 7 wins - two in one afternoon. We don't actually need them in terms of qualification for anything, but it is nice to do and was one of our goals for the season. Having had seconds and thirds and and some really excruciating off courses during the past few weeks, it has really been a rollercoaster ride this season.

So we have gone and done it and, it was not just one win but two :-) even as I write this it seemed a totally surreal afternoon, especially when on the Saturday it was like I had been sucked into some weird arcade game and the controls were malfunctioning. Then all of a sudden the malfunction was over and it was as if it never happened.

It gave me a good lesson in resilience and working through stuff at a competition, because sometime you just have to. Just gotta step up and sort it there and then - best you can. Because how you react when things go 'wrong' from a handler perspective, has a critical impact how you grow as a partnership.

Because as the weekend proved tomorrow is another day :-)

Big's is Back at Weardale - Yahooooooooooo

2011-08-04T18:37:00.003+01:00

Saturday at Weardale Mister Big's first run back is champ jumping. I was almost sick waiting for his run and filming it. The nerves, and I was not even running him. Big's has had a total of 11 weeks out of agility, and for the weeks 8 to 11 was raring to go. But we were determined he was not gonna be a what I call a 'boomerang dog' and a careful fitness regime followed before we were ready to unlease him back to agility. And blimey what a run:

He won this class and needless to say Bigs is well up for doing agility, happy to discharge his lapdog persona of the past 2 months. Whilst an off course in the agility due to pilot error meant no final. It did not matter for Mr Bigs is back well and truly :-) and the cheeky git still wants to be Sir Shag A Lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! boy oh boy has this tiny poodle got oodles of character as well as looks. Crikey this is official I am gushing - cue red cheeks as I write this. Still a little gushing - harmless, methinks.

Weardale - Zev is de Man

2011-07-27T17:37:00.004+01:00

Well, what can I say. This is Zev's 5th final this year. I was 'bummed' at Rugby we qualified for the final, and just as I was about to walk the champ final course someone queried my placement. Needless to say, I trust and rely the score people so I suggested that they speak to the judge. This then made me worried, should I be in the final or not? It turned out my placement was correct, however I lost valuable course walking time checking my results and it ruined the fun of the final for me and usually I luv being in a champ final. However as always onwards and forward, I chucked this years Rugby into the memory dung heap and looked forward to Weardale and what a day it was with Zev. We were 4th in both the agility and jumping qualifying rounds.Heres the Jumping round:-

Heres the qualifing agility round -

In the final we came 3rd. I was so thrilled, that is the thing with Zev whether we run good and clean or not, he runs his heart out for me. And that really does give me such a buzz. And actually there are so many aspects of our performance that I was pleased with, from pull-thrus (not his favourite), working ahead, dealing with changes in contact surfaces (rubber whilst brilliant, has affected Zev's style which is scoot and go considerably - major retraining having to happen.) We are evolving as a partnership for sure. This is the final round -

My thanks to Weardale for such a great show, scenery, location and people. And you could check your scores easily and quickley, which is fab and very helpful. Plus the black, pink and white equipments looked really smart. Just what agility should be - enjoyed :-)

The garden and agility - bliss

2011-07-10T21:21:00.000+01:00

Yahooo, at long last we can use the whole bottom area of the garden for agility. OK, it is not the perfect lawn but it is so much better than it was, and as we had another weekend at home we could properly put it into use. I must admit I was quite daunted, I don't want to overtrain and the garden is our R&R area too for all of us. Where do you start, when one of the things that you dream of starts to become a reality? Oh, the responsibility of being able to do proper stuff in your garden, for when the weather is good at least.

Zev - shaking his toy - good 'n' proper - July 11

So Marc set a course and I handled it 3 times. As if the guys had three runs at a show. And I am really lucky that not only we have a garden where we can now do this, but Marc set a course that contained what I need to work on, which is setting the correct line for Rivi and Zev, when there is a nice 'handlers trap' to fall into, especially of a fast, technical course. And the guys loved it. It was like "wow can do this at home too not just little bits" :-)

Newton Heath - Rivi's and Zev's tale

2011-06-29T22:32:00.000+01:00

Rivi and me - having a fab time at NH June 11

Newton Heath - I wrote in Rivi's and Zev's training journal - it has just been an amazing day, as the agility season so far has been zooming high and then crash and burning ...metaphorically of course. Rivi and I got to our first champ final and came second in the Championship Jumping. I so needed that as I needed to know if I handled good then a good placement would be the outcome. I admit I find it hard handling Rivi as we have been of late a less consistent team, but I am fast learning how sweet it feels when it goes well. And that enables me to focus on what we can do. It was great to be in two finals. Zev and Me in the Champ finals. Note to self need new baseball hat!

In the final I had five faults with both of them. But my goal of getting them both to a final and achieving some good handling was achieved. And as you can see with the photo of Rivi above, its just so awesome that togetherness that you can share. Sure I could have a better photo of me, but it just captures the sheer joy and bliss of a great day with the guys.

Dixie Licks makes her KC Agility Debut :-)

2011-06-19T21:13:00.009+01:00

Well my excitement levels for Dixie's first KC show was fairly high, even the British summer weather could not get in the way of that. And here is Marc running her in her first agility and they came 3rd :-) Here is the vid...

She handled the whole debut with great aplomb and took it all in her stride as did Marc!

p.s Mr Big still out for at least 4-6 weeks...hmmp!!!!!!!

Hinckley...Great but Bigs Still Out

2011-06-08T21:40:00.007+01:00

Hinckley, always put on a great show, it proves that a quality show does not need to be massive. It only had five rings with champs and qualifiers. And I pretty much had similar results to Nottingham. Rivi worked beautifully, we are improving and consolidating. Really enjoying the runs, just need to progress to making them flawless. Zev and me made the Champ final too, not a terrific run handling wise but Zev had a brilliant time.

Update on Mr Big: -Previously I had made light of the daft reason for Bigs having to have a little rest. How foolish was I? Two fridays ago getting ready for Nottingham we discover it was not just the rear end. Cue Bigs screaming in the garden, cue emergency trip to vets with us thinking he had broken himself big time (excuse the pun) . We had one stressed Biggles and two very stressed humans. Fortunately no breaks and Bigs stress/pain eased by morphine and other drugs.

Good news is that two weeks on vets are no longer classing his front right shoulder as having a partial dislocation, which means he wont be needing an operation. But he will be missing more that two weeks of action for sure. But the main thing is he is feeling better in himself. He is also now miffed that he not allowed to run amok and cause poodle chaos where ever he goes!!!!!! ;-)

I feel good...so good

2011-05-31T20:44:00.000+01:00

Yahoooo, I am back. I had a brilliant weekend at Nottingham Champ Show. It was hard, as the 3 heights of champ were in split over two rings, and along with cruft singles in another separate ring -which I blew. (Mind you Nottingham DTC are really good and put all these rings together). Then I made a mental note to self "stop worrying about it - the juggling of key runs is a skill I need to learn."

Rivi worked super, however we went off course - my fault. But the Rivi is really liking these rubber contacts, she looked so more confident and sure 'pawed' and we worked so well together. And we also faced our Nemesis with a team run and we ran clear - so needed that after the big 'e' at Crufts.

Then Zev what a little star, with myself sorted out, he was on top form speed wise and I luv it when he is like this - on the edge of the seat ride around an agility course. We went into the final 5th from pole position, which was a great result. Unfortunately due to how they place - we got no rosettes :-( How I wish they would do finalist rosettes or even a card like Rugby DTC used to do, it would just be nice to have a memento of such a fab day and doing so well.

And for me I just could not stop smiling, for the first time I felt like I belong in Champ or Grade 7 classes. Plus I was enjoying my agility and that is really important to me as it was a shock at the last couple of shows not to be in that mind frame.

With the confidence issue I had always had a conflict about positive mantras and affirmations, despite my understanding of psychology and applied behaviour. By sheer chance I was reading Glamour - Fashion Magazine June 2011 Edition (which is great for fashion and other girly stuff) and there was an article called 'YOU can do anything' Which was a frickin' brilliant read and the tip 4 'Don't Fake It' was just what I needed to read. It says in the article for some people the affirmation/mantra approach can have the opposite effect of its intention. All the sport psychology that pushes this affirmation/mantra approach , can actually creates more self doubt in some individuals.

Since I read this article at breakfast on Saturday morning it stayed with me and it was just what I needed. That was £2.00 very well spent. Thank you Glamour

Summing up: I was just feeling so good and proud of me and my guys - yahooo indeedy :-)

Mr Bigs out of action....for a daft reason ;-)

2011-05-26T19:41:00.000+01:00

Mr Big - Power Mode

Mr Bigs....out of action as his recent new nickname of Sir Shag A Lot because he was delirious and seriously a humping whilst Dixie had her first full season. He has sore muscles in a certain region. Hence the lost of form, hope to resume form in about 3 to 6 weeks.

Tiny and cute - Mr Big as a puppy

So its true you can have to much of a good thing...and now I think he addicted as he still wants to be a humping...a daft reason to be out of action for sure ;-)

Ready for.....another Nuts

2011-05-25T21:02:00.004+01:00

Yep it that all important decision time, to think of getting a puppy in 2012.
Sometimes with great bonds I think perhaps you only come across it once or twice in a life time, like a great love ♥. I have already been blessed - with my guys can it happen again?

Nuts ♥

So the hunt is on for a puppy to join me and my guys next year. Rivi will be five and by the time you factor in 3 years before edging to the top level if it all goes well the next puppy would not be in enroarching on Rivi in agility terms until Rivi is eight, which should be a nice progression. Worked out with the extensive gap I had before Nuts retired in 2007 and now in late 2010 finally back in Grade 7 but first full season 2011- that is a long time out at that level. But will have to focus on less is more - rather like training - quality not quantity ;-) that is to be the focus. No more worrying about lack of experience and time out. I am so over it :-) da da a light bulb moment, whilst writing my blog!!!!

This puppy plan will probably be totally mad really with work, studying and the guys and general day to day stuff. But if you wanna do it you just gotta otherwise your life is forever on hold and its to short for that. As a friend said "if you wanna make it work, then you will".

Getting the blip sorted...in Perspective

2011-05-15T20:38:00.002+01:00

Me & Nuts - Switzerland 2006

Its odd how one blip, starts a chain reaction in my thinking processes, on a subconscious level that I was not aware of until I analysed why my handling was going 'haywire'. Confidence can be so fragile, it is easily shattered, but so resilient it finds a way to resurface. This year sees me with the first full season of having two dogs at Grade 7, in Champ class and thinking of qualifiers. They are good enough for us to do well and I think this rather smacked me in the face the other weekend....I found "doubting thomas" was back subconsciously....hmmmp!!!! Had not seen him around for a while, and it took me a while to realise he had hitched a lift ;-)

Nuts and Dixie - How do you do :-) May 11

I think the difference for me this year is the lost of naivety. With running Nuts the world was my oyster, and I was blissful in complete naivety. Now with Rivi and Zev, I realised what I know now I did not know then. And realised my source of conflict in myself. The doubting of the way I wanted to tackle a course. Confusing my guys for sure...which mortified me even more.Yikes, they so know if I am not 'full throttle'.

Nuts and Dixie - May 11

Then I remembered what I learnt i.e LB book that helped me take me and my guys in the direction we are going. Then I remembered something that I loose occasionally and then find again and it comes to the fore. Which is resolve, determination and belief.

So at training, I tackled the courses at training and hurled myself into them ....I choose my own handling way that suits me and allows me to be consistent and confident... and most important of all to have an absolute blast with my guys. And I am sure Rivi and Zev would probably have said "phew....our proper Christine is back, lets rock 'n' roll"

Nuts turning on the charm for Dixie - May 11

Needless to say it was a good night of training and "doubting thomas, hit the dirt". Now I just need to hit some competitions, which I will at the end of May as it is time to Rock 'n' Roll as it is all back in perspective.

p.s The pictures are of my darling Nuts with Dixie. Totally cute :-)

Yahoo its bank holidays galore...and a blip hits

2011-05-05T21:51:00.003+01:00

Rivi, Zev and Mr Bigs April/May 20011

Luv the extra bank holidays - means I with the guys more and less guilt trips about having to work. Plus we were crazy and booked four days of agility at Newbury. In the depth of Winter it seemed a good idea. The weeks are hurling along - and crikey, getting to grips with Grade 7 - the season has started so well - with so many rosettes and Zev and me managing to qualify for one of the UKA finals in December. However amongst all this I started to lose my nerve irratically, the busier the ring i.e crowded, the less confident I was. This was the blip that hit. Which is interesting from a behavioural perspective as success should be reinforcing - but no my brain which I always seem to be training to be positive was rebelling .....The blip that hit was:-

"......... at the point of several wins ... went into the agility with Rivi and as she starts to do her poles a dog flew out of its ring.... and made a bee line for Rivi and it was not nice...it knocked my legs in its determination to get Rivi...'lucky I clocked it'....I told it to 'get out' in no uncertain terms.Which it did..... Have the whole incident on video, unfortunately you can't see the handler, as Marc was videoing me and Rivi.... the handler of dog was so gutless as not to even apologise to me and Rivi. Thankfully Rivi is fine, due to my intervention and bravado. Over in a matter of seconds this whole incident. But for me, it stressed me enough to make my stomach hurt on the rerun and really shook me up. I have horrid bruises on my legs where the dog impacted on my legs. Still onwards and forwards - time to bounce back....as they say 'another day, another dollar' and the main thing is my Beautyoli is absolutely fine....

Yahooo it the Easter Holidays....

2011-04-21T22:10:00.001+01:00

How lucky am I last weekend Zev's breeder Bernadette kindly video'd my Zev - we won this class. I was so chuffed. Indeed his season has started off almighty well - three wins. This is not a flawless run but it sure was committed and his weave entries are now started to come good. I am thrilled with how my man is starting to become a 'grown up'. We did have some off course runs as I continue to push for that extra edge, but I was totally buzzing:-)

Rivi and me what a mixture, I must admit after our first run I was gutted as she froze on me, and with the bits of training and how she is maturing into a happyoli I was so not expecting it. I was did not know what to think, friends commiserated and the 'jellyfish' people were 'oh a controlled round, not much omph, has she!!!!'

Well did I jack it in - heck no. The rest of our rounds were scrappy, but I was not giving in. Rivi is too beautiful to quit on, and on a good day she is a dream. She is what she is, and I adore the days she is a dream to run. And on the crappy runs she is still none the wiser, all I have to work on is her believing she is awesome. This is only our 5th grade 7 show, we need to get some experience and settle into this level of competition. We ended up with a 12th and a 5th, a great bounce back. Hoping Marc will video her runs over easter:-)

p.s jellyfish people - from Bridget Jones - a complement with a sting in the tail!
p.p.s it is going to be an interesting season for sure
p.p.p.s Happy Easter Holidays....................

The Zevman has his turn...

2011-04-05T21:18:00.002+01:00

This shows Zev and me having our turn based on an exercise from the Clean Run Exercise Source book by Pamela Green. And Rivi aka Perfectoli is waiting on the sidelines.

Our training was been tougher than usual this past month as we are going through that transitional phase of speed increasing, and my timing then being out of sync, or I am seeking more independent weave and go outs and Zev would happily be superglued to my side. This has probably been work in progress since we started our journey together. He will also tell me in his own sheltie way his opinion, which is invaluable feedback.

I think it would be safer and easier to stick within a comfort zone, but that would not be as exhilarating, and I do luv that buzz when it starts to come good and the challenge of pushing us as a team.

Two weeks to go to our first weekend show of the year = Yipeee.

Dixie Training and Recallers be inspired

2011-03-27T21:17:00.000+01:00

As the agility circuit has not really kicked off, we have been working hard in the garden and it is really starting to pay off as we can start doing more agility focused training. The first vid is of Dixie and Marc doing their 'poles'. Purists of the 2x2 will have to look away ;-)

Then we laid out an exercise from the Clean Run Exercise Source book by Pamela Green. Really useful little book of sequences to tryout. Next year we hope to get a whole set of agility jumps. But to be honest, when we train, we don't worry about height if we may be focusing on other skills, or we may mix and match. When we get to club the guys get the opportunity to jump their height for KC competition.

Then, catching up with blogging I came across with the recallers video on Susan Garrett's blog, and so I watched and voted and heaved a sign of relief, my guys do that. Then got the email ''Psst, Your Dog Wants You to See This . . .'' it was pre subscription and I was curious, could we be better? So, I get to watch the "evaluate your dogs recall'' and it made me smile. A great summary of foundation basics to build a great bond and recall. And no excuses, get on an do it approach. Great stuff and accessible. How cool is that :-)

I also liked that Susan clarified the 'ruff love' as I do not agree with this book and its good to see concerns being recognized and a recognition of more controlled freedom, regarding more opportunities to make decisions and rewarding the desired behaviours.

High and Low and High

2011-03-20T20:33:00.001Z

Wings in the Snow

Went to Crufts with the Rivi and Wings. The team qualified for the final so that was the high. The low was me and Rivi went off course on the last but one obstacle, so not expecting that. But my Rivi was super, and the high was I know now she can cope with the big arena, and she was just an absolute joy to be with, and we had a great time together. Although the low as going off course had a big impact on the team members and of cause the results, we ended up 3rd, and that is oh so gutting and for a second a bit crushing too :-( But you just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and prepare and know that next time it will be the perfect run. Agility performance for me is partly defined by how you bounce back...

The Perfectoli

I have ordered the runs from dfs Crufts so hopefully I can post them 'warts and all'. When I first watched the runs, on dfs Crufts catch up video service, I felt like I was gonna watch a scary horror movie, yep - I was clutching a cushion to hide behind , waiting for that split moment of an agility run, when the ecstasy of a run turns to shitsville. Watching it really put it back in perspective especially watching Rivi, her beautiful coat gleaming under the lighting and moving so swift and smoothly. Ty to Marc, who said I really did need to watch it, he was dare I say it "right!!!!!"

In the meantime, I thought I would load a photo of us posing and the team dogs wearing their Dog Games harnesses. Unfortunately I could not get the photo to load. We also had great team tee-shirts kindly sponsored by Johnson's Dog Wormers.

So onward and forward to the coming agility season only only a few weeks to go :-)

Zev...I'm smitten and bias ;-)

2011-03-08T21:34:00.000Z

Its incredible that Zev is now 3. One minutes an impossibly cute sheltie pup and now an incredibly handsome sheltie grown-up. Below is an extract of what I wrote about Zev for the Agility Club magazine due to coming 2nd in his grade in what is I guess a national league for members of the Agility Club.

"....He is my forth agility partner and I wrote the following when he was 8 months old and it is still true now (he will be 3 in March 11) Zev came into my life, when he was 8 weeks old. His personality is determined, endearing, and pushy but never overt, quick, bossy, thoughtful, noisy, quiet, affectionate, and at times impatient. His temperament is to die for; if I could get a border collie with his temperament it would be just perfect. He is so light on his paws, has great movement and so totally handsome. I will be bias about this, as he is mine, and I am well and truly smitten. His sheer excitement at doing something is truly infectious. If he could, he would join in when I do my wii fit in the lounge, as he always wants to be doing. He has impeccable manners and canine body language. I can take him anywhere..."

Yep, I guess you could say I am well and truely smitten, hence the bias :-)

Economy Gym...It works for me! :-)

2011-03-05T18:16:00.000Z

The Zevman - 2011 - just luv the expression

I decided not to renew my gym membership, a tough decision coz I actually enjoy working out and feeling fit. However, I felt so guilty leaving my guys again in the evening, even though they had Marc with them, their reproachful looks was such that I needed to find a better solution. Plus a tough winter making it also impossible to go, which meant I was paying out hard earnt cash for something I could not use. My gym programme was making me 'bigger' in turn of muscle and was not a look I wanted. (vids in the summer - not good I looked heavy and I was heavy muscle -not a good look even if I was fit - yuck and yuck!!!) I needed an economical and effective way of being fit, that would help me a achieve the body I want and feel good both for agility and life in general - not an easy task - believe me.

Zev - Gonna get the ball

Nuts is not up to running any great distance so that was out of the question and again the weather! Also, to be honest I love walking my dogs enjoying their antics, and savouring the relaxation of it. I did not want to turn that into a regime as that is my chillin' with my guys time.

In January, I googled fitness DVDS, which I used previously, but now I needed something that offered cardio, tone and strength for someone where the battle with time needs to be won. Would I be able to get such a combination, and enjoy the routine enough to keep at it. And blimey I found it. Yep, a fitness DVD that lives up to its reputation and some. Its the Davina Body Buff - it is totally brilliant - for the first time I am doing effective abs workout and I get the stretching exercises because I can feel the effectiveness. I am losing the muscle bulk, as the intensity of the cardio even when doing the arm section, means that it is a leaner look.

Zev - I got the ball :-)

The DVD is 7 segments in all, and you can pick and mix or do it all. Need an economy gym this is it, already had arm weights so for me the cost was £12.97 for the DVD - I have already gone down a dress size and my target is to get down another so I will be the same as I was in my 20s. Now that will be totally cool. And Marc is totally appreciating it and he did not want me to lose weight! - and it makes me feel fab and it will so benefit my agility and in turm my guys as I have more energy and stamina :-)

Totally random photos - but Zev photos so well, and well I'm hardly gonna put pictures of me working out just yet!!!!!!!! ;-)

DixieLicks @ 14 months :-)

2011-02-21T20:38:00.002Z

Well I guess I have not written much about the Dixie, so what is there to say? So far she is a very cute, bright, swift and dinky border collie. Loves mud and wet and wears the lawn out quicker than all the other guys combined. It seems like forever the conversation when agility folk met her is she going to medium? And fortunately her 'unofficial' measure puts her in the large height category for KC, which is a relief. We think she is about 17.5 inches - phew! However as you see the height is no issue for her, as her build is good for agility and is incredibly strong for her size, rather like Mr Bigs but scaled up ;-)

This was her second attempt at full height on a 3 jump combination. Then there was what to do with the contacts. Marc has decided for the time being Stand TOTO will be the starting point. Hence this vid, of Dixie doing her version of Stage 3 in training her position. Ignore the hop over the dog walk plank, it did make me chuckle ;-)

And you see agility training proper has commence, she has even started her 2by2, and is now at 6 poles, which hopefully I will get on vid when they do them next. Marc is what I call a '2by2er' - it just suits him. It still makes me ask more questions than I can answer, especially the right hand hook round entry. But it works, and I will have my channels and be a 'channeller'. Different methods same results. I guess it is the optium mix of method, application, suitability, value and buzz. As for Dixie, she is just having the bestest time.

"By gove", have we got it?

2011-02-13T20:12:00.009Z

Whilst at training, one minute I am thinking and appreciating how well the retraining of Rivi's AF has progressed. Then brought back down to earth with a 'bump' as Rivi's DW contact was commented on!!! I was really embarrassed. I don't know why, as it was given in a constructive way and meant well. But what it did do? - thanked them for their feedback as it enabled me to go away and think. It occurred to me:-

That with the snow and flu, I had simply not thought about the DW. Rivi was quite rightly was offering her down TOTO on the DW as I had not explained to her the change, indeed I had not even thought about it.

So three times last week I used a step in the house to allow Rivi to offer the stand TOTO, then today I transferred it to a plank. (I'm lucky to have a single step, as it seems to look very awkward when done over more than this.) This to me was stage 1 and 2 and "by gove" we got it. Then Stage 3 - within 2 sessions of 10 minutes, Rivi was offering me the stand TOTO, even when doing the plank at a run :-)

Then this week at training, she offered it on the DW - yahooooo!!! And Zev benefited from the refresher. Reinforcing basics - fun and just as vital as me needing to keep 'raising my game'.

As for the RunCon I have not resolved them in my mind from several perspectives including behavioural, physical, ethical and a coaching point of view. I luv'd this post about contacts Agility - The Chaos Theory as I very much mixed feelings about them and won't do what I consider to be over training.

Trying out RunCons, has been a good learning experience and Rivi has taught me so much about being creative, focused and keeping moving forward. For me it is great that I have found a solution, that most importantly means my Rivi is flourishing. She happy I happy - end of :-)

So "By gove", have we got it?

Handling like this???

2011-02-03T21:31:00.000Z

Handling, handling, handling. This week I have had the good fortune to have two great training sessions. Opportunities to explore different ways of handling turns in a supportive environment, where you can try different things and analyse how it might work, how does it feel - does it suit you style, does it have flow, does it suit suit your partner, does it help turn acceleration or provide better clarity of where turning to? To talk things through, articulating and discussing it, embeds learning processes. So refreshing, challenging and exhilarating.

So I tried some handling cues the turn through the gap of two jumps in a style that I had seen whilst watching last years FCI Agility World Champs.

Just love training and it has been such a buzz being able to get some done.

Zev did some training on Sat, kindly arranged by Bernadette and held at Lesley's place. See the OBay blog for the video's from that. Really enjoyed being with the shelties, and the collies, and the honorary poodle. Variety is the spice of life!!!!

The smooth'ish' groove....

2011-01-27T18:22:00.002Z

Well, another and this time local show, and onwards and forwards with getting some jumping practice in. We had 3 clean runs, and we got a 3rd in this jumping and a 5th in the agility. The jumping was was an exciting course, and not much room between obstacles for sure. Or at least that is how it felt. I was so pleased we pulled it off in a smooth'ish' fashion, and it was so lovely that we got a round of applause for getting round.

I was so extra pleased with the weave entry as training wise I wanted to believe that she could do it, but so many handlers had their dog on the right. Should I have Rivi on my left or right – decisions to be made. My 'reverse' thinking skills told me Rivi ideally should really only be on my right if I wanted her to take the pipe tunnel in this scenario. My grateful thanks to Lesley Olden who taught me this concept as it enables me to think more clearly if I have a debate on handling options, due to the way a course is laid out.

Really looking forward to getting us some more Grade 7 and Championship experience this year. Having already started entering some summer shows!!! :-)

How do you know?

2011-01-18T21:28:00.001Z

How do you know to get back into the groove? Is there a best way or is it trust your instincts?

The weekend after the tryouts, we had another show. Do we go, yes. The weather forecast was for light rain. Well gosh knows that the forecasters version of heavy rain is as it was raining so hard and so windy. To me it was torrential. Thank goodness for waterproofs for humans and dogs. Apart from our extremeties we stayed dry and snuck. Its madness I thought but actually it was OK.

The first two runs with Rivi, well we were like bottles of shaken fizzy pop. Rather ironic since I have given up fizzy drinks except as a treat at the weekend. The excitment was in her eyes. But bugger, still poles down. Should I run her in the 3rd and 4th runs? Much debate, should I run her, she was totally sound - the issue was getting back into the groove. We are just rusty, so we decide to press on, and all the poles stayed up. Which means the last two shows we have done, we have had placements. But most important, the jumping skill she has is coming back.

Then last night at training, the rustyoli had gone and smootholi is back, no poles down, her speed is back both over the ground and her contacts are the fastest they have been. Plus she is a very very happy doggy :-) Yipee that is a win-win situation. I do like the guys to be happy.

As a friend said. "Bring on the season and the wins-oli :-)"

I luv how friends are getting Rivi's endearment names and making them up too.

A sign of relief from me, as we are this week back to training twice a week and that means the guys are entertained.

WAO England Tryouts 2011

2011-01-11T20:36:00.002Z

After blissful day on the 26th Dec, the flu strikes. I am sick and I am shocked as I have not been sick like this since decades ago!!!!! So between the snow, the winter darkness and flu, Rivi's preparation for the WAO Tryouts was around 3 training sessions in 8 weeks - not good. Still tired...and with a niggling cough, I ummm and arrgghh do I go or not? Due to the heights being different at the WAO to the Kennel Club, UKA and FCI rules, we did not enter Zev and Big as they would have had to jump a higher height which in relation to their size was wholly inappropriate. Should I just go with Rivi, I felt mean for Zev and Big and then as Marc said the hotel is booked the entry paid, lets go.

So go we did, I was thrilled with the Rivioli, and I was pleased with myself. Sure I will always be loud when I run, all control of my voice is lost. And now I just have the attitude it is part of me and my guys don't care as they know loud voice equals great fun. There was fantastic courses to run, and bar one run, where I did a stupid handling error and sent Rivi off course, I handled good. But it was a good lesson for me, as now I know how to deal with that type of sequence. Rivi's showed the lack of training by having an uncharacteristic number of poles. It was a shock for me being out of breath after a run, the flu had really taken its toll on my fitness. I think we ended up about 12th overall. The event gave me lots of handling experience, dealing with the hanging around, how to deal with it from a psychological perspective. Just so productive all round.

I was smitten with agility all over again. In the depths of the flu I had consider knocking agility on the head, thinking rational thoughts about the ridiculous cost of fuel and lack of money to do other stuff. But after the first run I was buzzing and chuckled that I ever entertained the notion of giving it all up.

Rivi did her utmost for me, took the hanging around in her stride and was just so cute, I came away from the runs so happy, once I got over a blasted coughing fit. This was the first major tryout she has attended.
Why was I so happy, coz Rivi had a great time and I for the first time in agility felt like a 'grown up'. Coz despite the many wins and how well we do. 'Doubting Thomas' always wanted to get on my shoulder and I would argue with myself to remove the doubts but the niggle remained. And I knew that until I resolved this niggle it would have the potential to jeopardize my progression as a handler. But this weekend exorcised the 'doubting thomas' demon. Me and Rivi deserved to be there and that increased my enjoyment, the realisation that my handling has improved, so had my determination and belief.

I guess this probably is a bizarre read, as people say I come across as really confident and loud. Loud I am, blame my Essex roots ;-), the confidence has been as they say work in progress.

So to the organisers of the WAO Tryouts, thank you for a fabulous weekend. It was well organized, realistic and a fantastic experience. The people on ring duty did an excellent job.

To the individual winners and the opportunity to represent England, congratulations. There were awesome established teams and newer ones coming through.

Let the weather improve and training recommence :-)

Walking & Snow Angels.....

2010-12-26T16:00:00.003Z

Nuts Xmas 10

I luv walking and in particular seeing sunrise, which is one of the few benefits of Winter, as sunrise is not till 7.30am.

Sunrise Xmas 10

I just enjoy the tranquility, freshness, the calm, and sunrises are as spectacular as sun sets. And a big hurrah, as the shortest day has past and slowly longer days will return, as I do miss day light. As it means no longer having to wear a head torche and gear the guys up in their high visibility jackets. Mind you damm glad these gadgets were invented.

Marc said to me around 9.30am today "you walked your guys already?''
Me "Yes, darling".
I think it still surprises him that I enjoy my early morning walks. .

Zev Xmas 10

But for me it heralds a new day and new hopes. The moon was even still up and I saw a hare (which the guys know not to chase). It was so cold this morning, we got back home frosted, but it was great fun and the sun was making a valiant effort to shine through.

On a practical note I have shaved Zev's tummy and as I always trim the guys 'trousers/knickers' (you know the bit under the tail), hock and feet hair and it means they do not get 'silly' damp and covered in those silly snow balls, that cause havoc, with walking.

Making Snow Angels - Xmas 2010

What can you do after walking your guys at sunrise. Make a snow angel!!!!!!!!!!

Marc really thought I had lost the plot, when I said I needed to make a snow angel. I guess I have totally watched too many cute and whimsy American Christmas films, where you see snow angels being made and Marc probably sleeps through those films hmmmm. Not being sure how much longer the snow would last, I seized the moment, and I made my snow angel. So that is now ticked off my things to do list, who knows one day I may grow up, but I really hope not :-)

It's Christmas....yahooooooooooo!

2010-12-24T17:19:00.000Z

Love it or hate it. And I love it, as the holidays have begun :-) And Marc loves being with me and the guys...perfect.

Just had to post this photo of Nuts, so apt with the current snow. And one of my favourites, even though it was taken a about 3 years ago.

Merry Christmas...

Olympia and We are snowed...

2010-12-22T22:31:00.002Z

Its back, worse than before, yep the snow that the young uns of our group seem to find so delightful has decided to come back. But today it did look rather splendid and once I managed to get back home from work I could enjoy the scenery. Its OK on the main roads, but the last mile or so feels more like 20. Fortunately I can work from home tomorrow if it still bad. Then just need to get through Friday and then its the holidays for just over a whole week. Yahooo, can't wait.........

Big had a great time last weekend at Olympia with Marc, I stayed home with the other dogs. Next year I hope to have a dog sitter for all our guys so that I can go to, which would be rather great. Whilst glory was not to happen this time round, it was a really good experience for Bigs, who absolutely lapped up the attention. The photo is of Bigs under the Olympia Christmas Tree, which is of course the best place to pose. My thanks to the OBays for the photo.

Can you believe it? Yes I can :-)

2010-12-20T21:34:00.001Z

A friend sent a text just saying "Can you believe it?". What can I say but "Yes, I frickin' can".
For years she has worked towards her goal, had some set backs. But always going forward, stretching training skills, examining her relationship with her dogs, taking the occasional wrong turn, sometimes just doing things the hard way (it seems to be the human way of learning!). But always bouncing back. Rarely easy, often hard, but with some tears and with some great laughs. But it not matter what the time or the frame, what matters is that she always strived to improve for her guys both as a person and a trainer. Now that effort into the teamwork is getting the results.

So what can I say, but have a brilliant time competing, your excitement just to be competing on the green carpet at Crufts is infectious and made me think of this song.

Have a totally brilliant time, its your turn for sure... :-)

The A-F cometh...and finally unwrapped :-)

2010-12-12T16:46:00.000Z

The guys get such pleasure running

in the snow

Would you believe it the day the long awaited A-F arrived, the snow arrived and it stayed wrapped up in the outbuilding (posh term of a corrugated stable) for three weeks. This weekend the snow melted, I felt like a witch running around "its melting, its melting". Funny how simple things can make you happy. And the melt took a couple of days and the last day was really treacherous as we ended up with ice about 3 inches thick with melting snow on top. It was so slippery it was ridiculous, thank gosh the guys listen to "don't pull its dangerous" and we did not have any accidents. My sympathies to those where it is even worse.

Zev with his new toy the A-F.
Luv his action - Dec 10

But I digress, the snow has melted and we could at last unpack the A-F and get it out. Zev is so funny as when you put stuff out as he already tries to do it. So soon as a weave base is out, he is offering agility behaviours, I like 'Zev wait for the poles to be put in!!!!' They all luv'd the new A-F, more toys in the garden. Big's followed suit and then the Rivioli. And it is definitely the right colour and width, as previously thought, Rivi 'hugs' the decent on the narrower versions. You can see by the photo, so between now and the WAO tryouts I have some homework with Rivi, to ensure that she feels totally invincible when she comes across the narrower A-F as it does for her alter the perception of steepness. Rivi's behavior flies in the the face, of people saying it don't matter, all I can say is wait till you have a dog that even when moving at speed, notices things you would not think were noticeable. That is my guys always teaching me something.

The Rivi doing the 'hug' - Dec 10

Look at Big's extension
as he goes :-) Dec 10

Don't ya ???

2010-11-30T17:58:00.001Z

Don't ya just luv love. The cold spell has highlighted Nuts is aging, yep showing the signs of creeping in to old age. The odd accident with the 'pee' and now the lameness has come back if he over does it. When I made the decision to retire him at 7 and half I did grieve that I would no longer have the joy of running him. But because he had arthritis, that would not have shown up until older age, I made that decision the guidance of a vet that I am fortunate to trust and admire. Come Feb 2011 he will be 11 and whilst that it no great age for me it sounds the clock of time marching on and it is scary as hell, (if such a place exists). I think that is the trouble with loving with dogs, their passage of time is not kind.

A great photo by a South African Couple whose name
escapes me = apologies

I sincerely hope that the passage of time will be extremely kind and Nuts will make very very old bones as I could not be prouder to have him by my side. The thought of losing him scares me silly.

Nuts luvs football

I do not understand people that run dogs in agility that may make them lame or suffer wear and tear. Surely, if you know agility may be the cause then its time to find other things to do? But I guess each to their own, we all only try to do what we believe is right? To me agility is a bonus and when I had to give it up with Nuts, I selfishly shed many a tear, wailed at friends, who so kindly understood As running him was such a delight even when it went totally 'arse up' due to handling errors (excuse the expression, please). But even though he has not worked agility or obedience for 3 years or more, that bond has not changed at all. I think my love for being fit and hurling myself around an agility course was consolidated with him. How could it not? And to Nuts I owe forever and a day.

So don't just luv Love? I know I do...

Awards time...

2010-11-28T18:14:00.001Z

Agility Club Awards -2010 and nope
did not get the trophy in the picture!!

Agility Club - Awards. That time of year again, for AGMs and clapping hands and dogs being given an additional bath and groom, for which Zev is not impressed at all. Rivi however absolutely adores being groomed and keeps jumping on the grooming table to try and push in.

Agility Club Awards and yep trophy in
picuture ;-)

Well, well, Mr Bigs has his first big big trophy - this beautiful crystal bowl for the Agility Club - Annual Awards.

Then Zev also got his own one too, not letting the Mr Big have it all his own way, came second in his division and got his first beautiful crystal vase.

And my Rivioli, bless her even with the time out still managed to come 6th. Great mementos of a cracking 2010 season.

Dixie - Dec 2010

The other pic is of Dixie, who we think has now finished most of her major growing and has had a season and just now needs to mature both physically and mentally. In the new year Marc will be starting her introduction to agility, but for now she has been over a low dog walk about 5 times not for dogwalk performance purposes but for confidence around different heights, so when she comes to learn the dogwalk it will be about performance rather that dealing with what it is too. Dixie already does the sofa, bed and wobble board with no problem. And as you can see from the photo powers out of going around cones and can focus on Marc even with all the other guys running around and having a cool time.

The Cool Kong King running with is
favourite toy

Knowing what to drink or pick!

2010-11-21T22:28:00.001Z

Puppy downs - Zev - Summer 2008

There is a saying "you can lead the horse to water but you can't make it drink". Which really has pararells with learning. Yep the mind is wandering and I pondered some possibilities

You can go to a seminar in training and decide not to 'drink' from the trough i.e you are not receptive to the knowledge being offered
You can cherry pick the ideas being floated around - try stuff out and decide whether to keep or not
Or you can enbrace it totally and not be receptive to any further or different ideas
Or can embrace it until you find something that works even better.

With the first - not much point in going or it may be that the seminar was not what you thought. Had that once it was 'toe-curling'. Still learned what I did not want to do. So in a sense I was receptive enough to understand what was being taught, but know myself enough to realise with the best will in the world it was not for me. With others the lesson taught have stayed with me, and I hear them in my mind as clear as if I had been told it today.

With the second 'cherry picking' how do you cherry pick from the knowledge that you are literally 'drinking' up? There is people's training, DVDs and books I have really enjoyed but I may not agree with them totally. That can be true of agility training, I can really admire how someone runs with their partner, but it don't mean I wanna be them or even I could be them. So its trial and error, some things really suit and others don't. I have to work it out and my guys indulge me through the process.

Waits so useful for posing as well as agility ;-)

With the third, should I try and fit a handling system? It might be at the beginning of learning a new sport and in agility there is oh so many elements, the speed, co-ordination, movement, directions both physically and verbally, dealing with training, dealing with competing, that a system provides a structure and a route to gaining a foundation in agility. I did not learn from a specific handling system when I started out, more like point at the obstacle and hope for the best! My poor, poor Storm, how did he put up with me????

With the fourth I have yet so stumble across so perfect a training system that it does it all ;-)

So I guess, for me handling is about knowing me, knowing and understanding my partner, and trying to analyse a course so that I can give the possible flow, bearing in mind our strengths. If I get it right I will be able to direct my partner smoothly and there will be no 'wrong footing' or 'off course lines'. With training I try to use an approach that suits me, so like with waits, I like to 'bang' in the reward for the dog trying to do what I want whether it be a puppy wait or a wait for agility. So I guess I'm a cherry picker, with a systematic approach. It keeps me creative, inquisitive, willing to try new handling moves and techniques striving forward in the quest to keep on running a fast and exhilarating run.

Irrepressible - the Zev Man :-)

2010-11-11T19:16:00.000Z

Yep it is those pesky dark winter nights getting in the way of being active. Luving Ugly Betty the 'blackout' episode is just one of the best and having just re watched Bridget Jones - Edge of Reason. Its the bounce back spirit of it all, and the sheer optimism that something will always be better if we try hard enough. Yep, a good dose of feel good. Just what I needed when winter day light hours curtailing our outside fun a chance to curl up on the sofa with the guys.

And then I found this cutest picture of Zev as a puppy, the sheer joy it is one of those that I treasure.

Zev was just running round as pups do. He still does these same expressions. That smiley face and being high on life. Zev the irrepressible....

Evolving in Agility....

2010-10-28T18:40:00.003+01:00

One of the great things with agility is the training element and the discussions that go with it. In one particular conversation it was about stagnating and how to progress/develop or if you like how to evolve. To me one of the biggest realisations I had with agility is that people who improve seem to:
1] take responsibility for improving their self
2] take responsibility for theirs and their partners performance
3] develop a way of training and being that suits them
4] share knowledge and learning to develop skills
5] are inquisitive enough to develop their skills and knowledge and apply it effectively

Then I also think from personal experience:
a] be strong enough to work through the 'slumpy/hitting the sh.t' times and still smile and be an awesome team mate to their four legged partner.
b] making the decision to develop yourself and even though it may be daunting to have the determination to follow it through and develop a sense of belief
c] retain sense of humour as the video shows below. Totally my fault and still makes me laugh. Always in agility it keeps you level headed, how can it not with moments like this?

d] your dog is invariably right if they go off course!
e] time together = quality and togetherness
f] knowing that the agility is a bonus

Whilst there is I guess always some people that you will attribute to your personal growth, and it is fantastic that I have had and continue to have the good fortune to meet those people that have assisted me on the agility journey or any other journey for that matter.

But ultimately the growth of measurable improvement also has to come from within. hmmm heavy stuff, but ultimately for me its true.

Wynne Freedom :-) 2010

Pride and joy and..... mowers….

2010-10-17T22:24:00.001+01:00

What do you know? Well now you know me and the Rivioli, are just not born posers, unlike Zev who really does photograph handsomely and easily. Do you know how hard it is to get a photo with both Rivi and I having our eyes open at the same time, let alone looking in the same direction?!!!!.. Then there is the botheration of shadows and all manner of things. The photo was originally be taken to show some of their rosettes from the 2010 season (as they had over 30 wins between them). But we we did not get them all in. But heck the most important thing in the photos is the guys and from the way I am looking I am guessing it is pretty damm obvious that they are my pride and joy :-)

The first time on the mower - Oct 10

Then the other busyness of the weekend the girl’s toy arrived a whizzy mower, Marc managed to get one second hand. Initially I was quite nervous, riding it, but the time it saved was amazing as was the ease of collection of cut grass and as a bonus it collected the fallen leaves too. Grass cutting time reduced from a day and half to 2 hours and I am not even proficient in it yet. Happy days….more time to do what I really want…and saved from the relentless grind of time consuming grass cutting, which after having a astro turf garden has been a bit of a surprise.

And the Mister Big, is great at posing too...

Mister Big - Oct 10

End of the Season

2010-10-14T21:40:00.002+01:00

I am so chuff with how our guys have progress over the season, both as individual characters and as agility partners. Zev, is just impossibly perfect for me and so knows how to press my buttons. Rivi is as I say is my 'one and only'.

I think Zev and I have had to grow far more in the ‘public’ spotlight so to speak. This video I really enjoy as it is a good example of how much more he is ready to work ahead of me and is getting more experience and determined about the agility game.

Inspired.....and lots of thoughts....

2010-10-05T22:15:00.001+01:00

Having watched the FCI World Agility Championships - courtesy of Agility Vision I am feeling so inspired. I have a couple of new moves I want to train over the winter, as demonstrated by Jenny Dam and a few other competitors. The only way I can describe it is a flick forward and turn. I will video my practice over the winter and post it. It does seem to save time and put your partner on a nice flowing arc. Congratulations to all at the event and the winners, there was some totally awesome handling and partnerships on display. I was clapping and cheering and occassionally tutting at the screen, bizzare really, but at that level its impossible to watch it unmoved.

This winter will see us having to keep a programme of winter training more structured due to Bigs going to Olympia. The video is of one of Marc's and Big's last agility runs of the 2010 season. What a great season it has been for them.

I think agility is in danger of becoming a 12 month cyle!!!!!!!!!!! Marc has ordered a new a-f, which I desperately as Rivi has now spooked at the Green and Yellow, narrow a-fs too many times for it to be co-incidental! It is useful keeping a journal as that is how I worked out what was happening. Hopefully by doing it once a week and banging in a big reward this 'blip' will vanished for next year. I hope it arrives soon...as we have not had one since last year!

Then daydreaming: I wished we were like America and could work towards titles like the ADCH and MACH. I wish we were like the FCI Agility World Championships and did our Championship Tests over two rounds too. But these are 'icing on the cake' wishes.

Hows Agility Make You Feel?......

2010-09-23T20:45:00.000+01:00

Well I know how it makes me feel. Whislt all my guys have songs I associate with them. This song sums up the feelings of running Zev and Rivi, whether day dreaming about a great run or heading to the start line.

Especially the words, the first three lines. Its totally infectious and feel good.

So as the OBay thing of seven things - mine is seven things I love about agility. Not analysed just what I thought right here - right now.
1. The buzz of training
2. The sheer fun that we have as a team
3. Rapport, bonding what ever you call it, it is a great bonus to walking and chillin with them
4. Watching some awesome partnerships
5. The indulgence and forgiveness of my guys if I send them off course ;-)
6. Doing a great sport and striving to improve and the satisfaction of improving
7. The highs
8. opps there is eight on my list of seven. Its the feel good factor

With the weekend just gone special mention to Zev, who won his first C1-7 class. I was so proud of his performance, he sheer effort and increase in speed over this season is both exciting and humbling at the same time. And thank you to Bromgrove, who were so generous with the trophies, it was nice to get something for another part of our agility journey.

Weeheeee...Bigs and Marc off to Olympia

2010-09-05T20:54:00.000+01:00

Well, weeehhheeeeeeeeeeee indeedy!!! Mister Big's first agility season has showed no signs of letting up. On Friday just gone him and Marc went and qualified for Olympia. Last weekend at Northern Week Big qualified for his first champ final, it was also his first champ class. We went just for the weekend and very nice it was too. This is Big's and Marc Agility Champ run. And for me it was great to see Marc back in Champ after having to retire Raz from agility.

It was good to watch the olympia semis, finally at last I was excited about it and getting why people were excited. The revamped organisation of qualifying dates and how it is run is now so much better. It gives a specific dedicated weekend for the semi qualifiers so diary planning is so much easier. It is tough even watching, as people so wanna do it. I was willing everyone round. I do make a good cheerleader, even if i say so myself ;-) So I was the perfect wife and gave up a day of agility to go and support Marc and Big's and what a great result.

But with a weekend at home, I am conflicted - luv being at home, got loads done in the garden but heck I wanna be doing agility.

Dixie and Rivi. Still Rivi looking the Seriousoli.The DixieLicks needs to grow some more we hope!

Learning still and as McDonald's says I am luving it :-)

2010-08-26T21:16:00.000+01:00

Blimey what a couple of months, Wings, Rivi, Zev and Big has all qualified and participated in a final. In addition Rivi, Zev and Big have all progressed to Grade 7 and now eligible for Championship classes. With Zev and Big is was a bit oh crikey as they are so young, and even though they did not get placed in the finals due to pilot errors they had a great time and a very positive experience of going into a ring with people around watching, clapping and oohing and arrhing. And in another routine jumping round, Zev got a spontaneous round of applause for a cracking weave entry. But ''Oh Drats '' not caught on film. But this does mean our goals for the year more than achieved :-)

The great thing with the KC Festival and DINAS is the opportunity to watch European and International competitiors. I love the European approach, appreciative of good stuff (clapping), support when things so wrong (more clapping slower and uplifting) and then watching some awesome European/International handling I feel very inspired and going to be improving my handling style even further. Take more risks, run more stylishly - i live in hope;-)

The Video is of a nice run that Wings and Marc did this year.

Then the old learning curve. Having read my posting about being tired and making excuses/or reality take your pick. I thought I have forgotten a crucial part of Lanny Bassham's book when he talks about an event where it was bone chillin' cold and stuff and how he overcome it. That got me thinking was the motivation to win an overrider of the over conditions? It would seem so. And then I had to give myself a talking too, as it is so easy to slip into 'bad' mental habits. Gosh I wish I had a coach for agility, but I will have to make do with myself. And that made me think even more that next year I need to have some very focused goals that I want to achieve both for training and competition.

Yep summer is over the rain has come and that means no training tonight :-( our club is only indoors from Oct to March and it is so wet and yucky. Oh frustrating or what as now with other stuff more settled I am really getting into training, not just for my dogs but think I would be ready to tread my toes in the water and start training others again. With the knowledge I have gained this year...agility seems more exciting than ever.

What a weekend....

2010-08-11T19:31:00.001+01:00

An epic drive for me although probably for some nothing - 4.5hours of driving to attend my old club show in Fordingbridge. It was a great excuse to see some girlfriends and Saturday night we laughed so much I was nearly crying with laughter. Competing wise my guys were great but I was not the 'jet lagged' feeling stayed with me all day. I was only fit for socialising and eating. Fortunately my guys are very tolerant of my human foibles.

This was Zevs and Mine agility run. He was super and just coming out of the canvas tunnel he turned to look for me and ran around the last jump. What the heck his performance is continuing improve, we did 'pull thrus', 'outs' and everything else I asked. His see-saw is getting scary fast, he virtually skids over it. I may have to look at retaining it so that he has more control over the tilt. People were 'gutted for me' as it was a KC qualifier, but all that mattered was the progress we are making. It was easy with Rivi and Zev I can play with them and they are oblivious, but friends disappointment as they want to see Zev and Rivi at more finals is harder. A friend texted me and said "I want you to win, more than you want to win".

I do want to win, but I don't want to lose good grace, positive focus and the joy of running. The wins or qualifications will come. This year I have not thought we ready to hit those heights. Zev and me are so excitable when we start chasing qualifiers next year. Perhaps I am wrong, and I know opportunities should be seized. But how you deal with things is oh so important to me too. There is a fantastic motivational poster at work that says "Attitudes are contagious - Is yours worth catching" (copyrighted) I think it was by corporate impressions . Such a great tag line and thought provoking too.
Then what a donut moment I had in my last posting saying perhaps I was asking too much. The truth of the matter is I probably don't ask for enough. I am so known for 'babying' my guys. However come September I may be getting to classes twice a week rather than once, where I can train how I want. It is hard to find places to train where you are not being instructed :-)

Then my grapes, the birds have been nicking them!!!!

Intact - before the birds helping themselves

The birds have had grapes for a change!!!!!!!!!!!!!oh well

The Babyoli - back with a bang :-) Weeeeeheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-08-03T21:24:00.001+01:00

Back with a bam. The Babyoli is back and what a comeback, two 1st in Agility, a 2nd & 5th in Jumping. The two agility wins put her into Grade 7. Then the icing on the cake was we came 2nd in the Adams Novice Derby that she qualified for last September. I have deliberately erred on the side and caution and gave her extended time off to recover from her poorly paw which is now a very sound and healthy paw again. Phew for our first run I was actually a bit nervous, would she be OK? Logically, medically, physically and rationally there was nothing to be concerned about. But as I would walk to the end of the universe for my guys, I was just you know was a tad concerned. But I need not have been, way cooooool! The video is of the Final...a yes, yes, yes moment indeed!

Then Mister Big and Marc went Grade 7 to. So next year they will all be in Championship Classes. The rise of Big's through the grades has been fast. He only made his first KC show at Easter. This is one of his winning runs, from the weekend.

Then the handsome irrespressible Zev had a 2nd and 3rd in Grade 7 jumping classes. I was thrilled with this. The vid of one of his runs shows a pole come down and if you watch carefully it is actually knocked down by his tail, how frustrating is that! On the whole the run was fast, responsive and with the longest leadout we have done, so I was very pleased. However I have been lax with Zev he is so charming and I have not followed my criteria to its usual standards and I realised this last night, when Marc said "Zev is quiet going on the up and running across the dog walk, but he barks all the way down". Which tells me I have been asking to much to soon. And whilst he is fast, I can run too fast for him, which then gets him all barky in telling me off mode. Which is fair enough. Note for Zev:- your handler has had a 'lightbulb' moment.

July - a year on.....Phew!

2010-07-25T21:35:00.002+01:00

Play Fest - The guys have a complete 'riot' in the garden.
And its corny to say but a joy to watch.

July - a year on. Last July was when I made the decision life had to change and to change direction it included quitting my job to get things back on track. It has been a scary few months, well 10 months its was what it took to achieve and in that time the following has occurred.

New job - back in human resources and so far so good
New home - great - stacks to do but we knew it would be a long term project
The guys doing good, Raz does cause us a worry but on the whole its good.
Zev's progress from the start of the season to now. We have been through some upward gear changes and some blips as sometimes he just seems to go to fast for his brain. He is now nicknamed the bionic sheltie at club ha ha and yep I really have to run and push us both. But ultimately it is really satisfying and oh so fun. His other nicknames are 'Sir Snobalot' as he only interested in others when they have food otherwise he gives people a rather disdainful look and 'Turbo Womble'.
Rivi - bummer that with a rip roaring start we have missed almost two months of the agility season. However she herself is doing great and today we did some Salo puppy foundation stuff today to refresh basics as we start our way back to agility
Big. What can I say. He is truly irrepressible and now at training really starting to open up and that is starting to transfer into the agility competitions.
Dixie in season. And just started the Salo puppy foundation - and cool. Must video as very effortless, with the others you can see the learning progress and therefore can see the learning. With Dixie it is just effortless!!!

Joe Boy

Sometimes change is good and sometimes it is good to 'go for it'. Yep things can be scary, but better than the alternative of being not happy and not making an effort to change things.

Well another weekend at home. Missing doing the agility competing. Missed doing Weardale however it was so great to see Mum and Dad who came up for the weekend. Been too too long. Marc and Dad beavered away and I now have two compost bins and loads more clearing done in the garden. Had cheesecake - naughty but very nice and not a creamy cheesecake but puff pastry and icing and coconut - total sugar fix :-). No one seems to make cakes like Gilberts Bakery. That is missing from the Midlands..oh well.We also had Joe come and stay while Alan and Jackie compete at the Agility European Open. Joe is rather old and had a stroke earlier in the year so not easy at all. But he a fantastic dog and it is rather sad, he is at this stage of life. However he seems to have enjoyed himself and followed Marc and Dad up and down whilst they mowed the lawn.

The beginning of the compost bins

Gilberts Bakery - Cheesecake - totally yummy

Zev in his garden 'den' - chomping on his dog biscuit

A very up and down weekend......

2010-07-18T22:11:00.000+01:00

After the excitment of Tuffley and training going well, it was time for the Rugby KC show. The very exciting thing was that Marc and Big's qualified for the Semis this September. And this is their qualifiying run.

For Zev and me it started OK and managed to get round the Champ Jumping and came 10th despite it not being a flawless run.

Onward and forward to the Champ Agility and there we were cruising the course and I went to cross behind the aframe and the judge was in the way - i just bellowed for them to get out the way, and Zev coz he must have seen me slow up turned around and came back down the aframe. I was gutted and then I was cross with myself as I let it annoy me and that meant I handled the rest of the course not well at all so we ended up being eliminated. I did try and reflect and wondered if it had been me, but even people I did not know came up and said about it. It was really disappointing, and I got no apology. I did not expect a rerun but an apology would have been decent. Who knows in the great scheme of things, even if this had not happened I might have got Zev eliminated anyway, but I will never know. Still this is agility and there is always something new to reflect upon, learn to deal with and move on from. Especially losing my focus and feeling very irritated - so not happening again as it so not me and totally exhausting.

And only another two weeks and hopefully I will have Rivi to run again...am totally missing running the Babyoli.

Celebrations....in July so far

2010-07-11T21:26:00.001+01:00

Having much to celebrate....

First - Zev's and me being in our first agility championship class at Tuffley show. I was so proud to run with my man. My cheeks ached from smiling so much all day. More so than usual. We gained a forth and sixth place in the qualifying rounds to put us into the final. But no videos..hmmm...we left the camera at home. Still a good start and I was pleased with me too, as I feel on the whole my handling is progressing and Zev was so responsive and did some real great stuff, even if I say so myself ;-) And thanks to Tuffley for the fab champ rosettes I was thrilled to get them and a great memento.
Second - the irrepressible Mr Bigs and Marc won two grade 6s classes at their first grade 6 show. So they too are having a cracking season.
Third - on the 10th July my Rivi has finally had her stitches out and the pad has healed really nicely. And I was allowed to lead walk her for 10 minutes today and can gradually build up the length of time each day. The vet had done a great stitching job and the boots that we got from Ann at camddwrcanine have been brilliant whilst she went in the garden to do her doggy stuff. I was so worried it might split again, but the being so so careful has so far paid off. Rivi has been so good and brave with the whole thing, So hoping we will be back to agility at the end of July or August have to see how it goes. So at least 6 weeks missed. Yikes indeedy.
As we have had some time at home and no shows we have enjoyed exploring what is growing in the garden. It is so different seeing things grow rather than just buying them from the supermarket. And the cherries we picked were fabulous.

The Tryouts and null points...

2010-06-28T22:29:00.000+01:00

Saturday only running Zev was odd, and we only had one clear. The other run he was going clear but the release on the dog walk was not optimum so I asked the judge if we could do it again. And the judge kindly agreed. What a nice understanding judge :-) I keep throwing runs when I should be collecting points!

Then the tryouts loomed, what can I say, me and Zev had some uncharacteristic blips, which no matter as I was only taking him for the experience of trying out. Zev was so good with all the hanging around and me having butterflies of excitement. I was so proud of him. He is just such a nice dog to have at your side.

For the first time ever, I have gone to the tryouts and achieved no points. Blinking heck...but hey the next time we go the only way is up as you cannot achieve minus points!!!! It was like being in the Eurovision song contest. I think this was disappointing in terms of that but in terms of running Zev I had a lovely time and he is such a babe, and his stamina was awesome. Whilst I was very careful due to the heat and other factors when we returned to our camp, he was like "yeah, time to have a riot" and I had to say "hey Zev your human is wilting",

The bonus was watching some great teams, including Zev's momma Zen and Bernadette qualifying again. Way cool :-) and congratulations to all that qualified.

P.s Mr Big had some great runs at the show and next week has his first grade 6 show and Zev has his first champ class. And hopefully, Rivi will only be out of action for another two weeks as she is BORED...but being a real darling and has not even taken the bandage off, which considering her one of her nicknames is 'princess pea' this is a relief.

Oh poor Pawsoli.....

2010-06-23T20:03:00.000+01:00

There was me excited and looking foraward to the tryouts and bummer whilst taking the guys for their walk this morning my Babyoli somehow managed to slice her main right front pad so badly it needs stitches and for her to have the stitiches she needed to be sedated. So she will be out of action for 3 to 4 weeks. I am peeved and relieved. So totally peeved Rivi is hurt, peeved as Rivi is such an active dog and it will tough for the next few weeks for her not really getting why no walkies, no games etc.,. selfishly I am peeved there will be no tryouts and agility as I love running with her. But..but...by the same token relieved in the great scheme of things it just a cut paw (well not just a cut it is a serious cut) and hopefully will heal in no time at all, as the stitches will be out in 12-14 days. Hmmm.............my poor Babyoli.

The photo is when I met Rivi for the first time. Not the bestest photo, but makes me chuckle that she gave me a good inspection and then sort of said 'ohh she'll do'.

Newton Heath...new venue

2010-06-21T23:02:00.000+01:00

Well it was a new venue for the show and it was stunning. With agility we are so lucky that some of the venues allow us to see some really beautiful areas of the UK. The new Newton Heath show ground was one such venue Arley Hall & Gardens. We could let the guys off and have a lovely walk with them as there was so much space and the scenery was just fabulous and being able to do agility too! :-) We hope to go back someday, and spend more time there.

We all did good and had some good runs and wins. Next weekend will be a bit mad, I decided to enter the tryouts for the FCI team, however with the deciding factor that I want the experience of trying out again. This is my first year back as a grade 6/7 handler and need to refresh skills and revisit some situations to confirm whether my aspirations for Rivi and Zev would be the same as they were with Nuts. I used to luv doing the tryouts with Nuts. Will Rivi and Zev enjoy the event too, I will be finding out? I looking forward to seeing some great handling from other teams and giving my guys and myself a great experience with out the self inflicted pressure of I must do it this year. This year is all about the foundation for our future at this level. Weeeeheeee, I am excited already :-)

p.s hope that Marc will enter Mister Bigs next year if all goes well.

Humbled and sad....and proud

2010-06-17T18:33:00.000+01:00

In Life there are always moments that humble me, more often at times I least expect and I am humbled by the capacity of how thoughtful people can be. Last night I saw Gem, no 'D', had not seen her for around 3 weeks, and I knew something was up. The seriousness of the 'something up' took my breath away, her beautiful big man, 'D' was no longer with us a victim of gastric torsion. We hugged, Rivi hugged, we hugged the sadness and the tears. And the shock that Diesel, coming up to 4 years old will no longer be bounding around. So why am I humbled? Coz in the shock of the loss Gem still managed to give me a card and a present so say thank you for helping with their training, support and friendship. That is why I am so touched and at the same time so sad for Gem and 'D'. In reply I can say I am proud...to have met them and been around at the start of their taste for agility. Hopefully, one day Gem will come back to agility as her interest and efforts in learning to be a compassionate, thoughtful, understanding agility partner and most of all enjoying the sport with her dog, was impressive.

It seems far too many have loved and lost far to soon, and know heartache when it should have been the most distance glimmer in a future not yet due to arrive :-(

The Video is of Rivi with one of her recent wins at the weekend just gone. The guys all did great, and it was a great weekend, but really wanted this posting to be a tribute to Gem and 'D'

Hinckley...summer seems to be coming

2010-06-06T22:13:00.000+01:00

This was a good weekend, Hinckley run a great show. The Zev video is of a course we just enjoyed it was a very fast course and a great finish to the weekend and we even managed to come 5th and I was well chuffed.

Rivi and me - we gained some placements as they were clean rounds and most importantly we worked together. I feel that my work to get us back on track is starting to come together and my timing is improving. Probably helps that I am getting back into gym - my fitness level really impacts on my handling.

The Bigs was great and he is gaining the all important experience that will give him more confidence and in turn more speed. A friend kindly took a picture of him in action for us at a show we went to the other week..

Nottingham...News...Read all about it...

2010-06-01T21:55:00.000+01:00

What a weekend after a few weekends at home it was good to be back doing a agility. It is additive for sure.

The Front Page News: My beautiful Zev, went grade 7, so we can now do champ classes. Weeeheee, I was so proud of my little man, my stomach must have had a 'million butterflys' dancing in it. I find it incredible that in three shows we have achieved the necessary wins to progress. And he is going up another gear, on two of our runs I was really out of puff. I know that being grade 7 will be hard and that we are going to have to polish our selves so that we are no longer a rough diamond team, but a brilliantly cut diamond team. It is going to be a heck of a ride and I am so looking forward to us getting some experience at this level in preparation for next year's agility season.

News Flash: For Mister Big it was his first grade 5 show and he won into grade 6. He is the Big Man for sure.

The Back Page News: Rivi and me, still have not yet refound our harmony on course yet. Some bits we did were great and I was like 'heck, we are getting somewhere' then another we were so appalling together I wondered 'heck, what do I do?' What did I do? Carried on so that I could get something positive to reward her for and it worked we managed to string two obstacles together. At the end of the day, learning to work through the 'down turns' is what makes the 'up turns' so magical, so Rivi and I continued to do the classes we had entered of which one included the qualifier for the DFS Crufts Team Relay. And we qualified, so Rivi and Me with our team mates are off to DFS Crufts next year. Thank gosh that was one of our clean runs!!!!

The Small Print: Dixie had a fab time, as her sister came to visit and they had a great reunion, merrily playing tag around the caravan.

The Dixie

2010-05-27T22:35:00.001+01:00

What can I say, the Dixie continues to be so very cute, incredibly strong herding drive, oh so smart and great fun. Mandy who breed the Comebyanway Border Collies and who owns Dixie's sire has sent me some photos so that people can see her 'mum and dad'. Why did we end up with a Nedlo pup, well actually another Nedlo pup. Well, the reason being I instantly liked Dot (mum) when I first met her when she was six months old and said, "ohhh, if she has pups in the future can I have one?". Then Will the Sire, is lovely too. A promising combination. Needless to say the timing was always wrong for me and I did not end up with a Dot pup, but Marc has!!!!!!

With thanks to Mandy and Lesley, who put the combination together

2 down 2 to go...for Zev

2010-05-17T18:59:00.000+01:00

Last weekend was our agility club show - we have small/mediums on the Saturday and then large on the Sunday. Zev continues to amaze me with just how he is. At Shrewsbury the weekend before he won grade 6 jumping, and now the following weekend he has won grade 6 agility. So that is two wins towards grade 7. He also did his first team run for the ESSC and the team came second. Zev and I ran 4th. I luv running last, I like the game on aspect since if the first 3 team members go clear, you know you need that clear and its 'step on up' time so to speak. See Lian's blog for the team run. I am very grateful this was videod as it was our club show, there was simply no time for Marc and I to video.
Biggles was on freebies and Rivi was superb and I was still slightly out of sync - however I am progressing which is very pleasing - bring on Nottingham in a couple of weeks.

This and next weekend is home time. I have new taps in the kitchen...I am easily pleased and it has just been great being outside in the garden and getting stuff done, planning and dreaming for the future.....The photos are just a record of some progress we have made with the garden and little Dixie sneaks in a couple. I will post about her soon...

Just a picture...Bank Holiday Weekend

2010-05-04T21:26:00.002+01:00

Well, another fab if crazy and surreal weekend. Luv'd this beautiful picture taken by a friend, who has one of those super duper cameras and wanted to try it out. Thank you for a super photo.
It was a crazy weekend for sure. Big won into grade 5, Zev won a grade 6 jumping, which was great for me as I watched the grade 6 mediums and some were so fast and whizzy, we went to check if he had scrapped in with a place and he had won it. It was a great boost. Rivi had some great results including a win, however in a couple of classes she back jumped a jump and I don't teach this. Analysis, she is getting so responsive and tight when I cue her to turn. She is literally doing it there and then and thus coming back over the jump! Her contacts are coming back after a spook at a previous show. (She froze on dog walk, a few dogs later the down plank had bounced out of its hinges!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Then in a combined 6-7 class she came 3rd, it was a fab course designed by Lee Gibson. The trouble with running his courses, they are so well designed and challenging and fast, you just wanna run it again and again. As they are just exhilarating.

That is why agility is additive, its the sheer thrill of doing well over great courses.

I've told a fib..............

2010-04-29T21:25:00.000+01:00

I told a fib in my previous posting, oh horror....not like me at all. But I thought about Rivioli and why did I not notice that she was going up a gear and realised actually it had been brewing for a couple of weeks. That totally reminded me of a seminar I went to by Dr. Ian Dunbar - years ago, and one of the points made that I remember is dogs always give information it is about how we interpret it and indeed if we interpret it at all? So I mulled a little more and thought back to Easter and training and yep the 'indications' were there, I was just so busy being so darn positive. I had cheerfully disregarded them rather than be positive and solution driven? Big 'whoopsie oops' on my part and therein the tale of......."I've told a fib"

Dogs invariably tell us, we just have to be prepared to interpret!

Lincoln and Rivi changes gear

2010-04-27T22:07:00.002+01:00

What weekend, it was me and Rivi on a crazy weekend. Rivi has change gear and forgot to tell me!!!! She was so fast, so far gone and ping ping ping. More pings than a ping ball machine! We only have 2 runs where I looked remotely like a co-pilot. We were apparently hugely entertaining to watch due to this, and why is it your crap moments are noticed and the hundreds of beautiful moments go largely uncommented? Still hopefully all the e’s are now out of our system. I don’t think I have ever had so many 'e's. The advantages of selective memory ;-) My timing was so far behind this new gear she has found I was saying tunnel at the point she had already been there, done that and wanting to do the next thing and then she is so good and helpful she was pinging over everything. Still thats agility the crazy rollcoaster ride of partnering the Rivioli. A beatuiful smooth uphill climb and then woohooo we tilt over into the crazy downhill part.

Zev was just fabulous, I can just read his expression and it’s like ‘game on’, I live in hope that he will pass the tip on to Rivi to let me know about gear changes!!! He got progressively faster as the weekend went on. How I wish we had our last grade 5 run on tape. With this earlier agility run I took the long way round to the A-F to ensure a straight approach in light of the wet ground conditions and made myside do a rear cross rather than a front cross.

Next weekend sees Zev in grade 6 and Bigs in grade 4 and an upward climb back to smooth for me and the Rivioli. The determination is kicking in.....

Naff photo - but sums it up... :-)

2010-04-19T21:28:00.000+01:00

Another great weekend at Wallingford, weather, company and agility all great. Rivi, Zev and Big all achieved wins with us as their co-pilots. But for Zev and Big they are on freebies, so their wins don't count. With the Rivoli, the win counts to her progression. So one more to go and we will be in Grade 7 and eligible for champ classes. Blimey, this season we are so ahead of aspirations, its incredible. The photo whilst naff i.e shadows, the glamour of wearing crocks, fleeces etc.,. clearly gives the other side of why I enjoy camping at agility shows in great weather. It is just chilling with the guys. And this naff photo demonstrates it perfectly...thanks to Marc :-)

Easter ....wooohoooooooo..........

2010-04-11T19:31:00.001+01:00

Well, smack and bam did our guys exceed all our aspirations and hopes for the Easter Weekend. Bigs is now grade 4, Zev is now grade 6 and Rivi had 2 wins towards grade 7. It was just surreal....I am still in a dreamy daze and I was actually very emotional as I am now getting so near to one of my goals which is being in Champ classes with my guys. I used to luv stepping on that start line with Nuts and thinking 'yeah, game on', learning that nerves are adrenalin and priming me for action - what a thrill.

One of the courses Rivi won was a real Grade 7 level as the 6 and 7s were running over the same course, and I was so chuffed as at one point I felt myself going to fall over and I mentally told myself 'you are not falling over, it is going too well' and blimey I did not and we won. Watch the video and you see the recovery.

Agility it is just so amazing how the guys continue to improve, get faster and even little Bigs on his first run his contacts were considerably slower than at training. But with each day the performance of obstacles improved. And that is gratifying knowing that so much more fun is still to come. And all I remember are the ones that went right, as so much went right and the 'if onlys' binned and forgotten. I am so glad I retrained my brain to think and focus on the positive. Those pesky 'doubting thomas's' are now very few and far between and have become more of an analytical tool.

This weekend at home - in a day dream and much achieved and Marc cooked for friends - he has got the hang of the electric cooker, more so than me ;-) However, I am excellent at pouring the wine.

Its coming along...

2010-03-30T20:20:00.002+01:00

Well it was so worth all the hard work this weekend. Reorganising the garden to suit us is a major undertaking. It will probably take about 20 stages in all but stage one - took one fence out for what is to be the agility area - four hours of sheer physical work we were so 'pooped' afterwards, but it was so worth it as tonight we could do our poles. So that part of the garden is now opened up. We certainly are the bounce back kids, have been landed with negative equity not once but twice, yikes!!!!!!!!! It has taken us 20 years to get to this stage. And yesterday the weather was so fab, the guys had a brilliant time just playing, 'sunbathing', exploring and mooching around. It is going to be hard work for sure, but it will be so worth it. It took Marc a good 5 hours to mow the grass, I think Santa will need to get him a sit on mower! Today it has poured with rain so no before and after photos yet. So this weekend our thoughts turn to agility, hence the picture of Wings doing agiity. Hopefully the weather will be better than the forecast. However the temperature has dropped and its mighty chilly, with snow even being forecast! But on Radio BBC West Midlands yesterday I had to chuckle it was talking about: movement for happiness how good is that promoting being happy? Sounds totally surreal. How refreshing to listen to a radio station that makes you laugh and smile :-)

Blogging with a smile :-)

2010-03-22T21:49:00.000Z

We went to the Border Collie Club show today, I guess it may become the midland equivalent of mid-downs in the south to kick off the season, and we got through the day pretty damm good, Raz was happy to be with us for walks and checking ring duty. This is a very important duty and keeps ours guys that don't compete actively involved in our day, the other is collecting rosettes duties. So it is a busy day for all the guys.

Well me and the Rivioli, what can I say, she is going up a gear and showing more keeness and determination, I wanna run her again and again. So looking forward to Easter and having several days of competition and getting back into the groove. The Zev makes me feel the same, managing to gain a 2nd and a 3rd in combined classes. I was so chuffed at the improvement and know that there is more to come. I did get told that Shelties just run the speed they do at agility and you can't change it, well Zev is a sheltie and his speed is increasing. I just thanked the person for the info and smiled :-) perhaps me and Zev are unique. I do not know? But I would have thought with the right training and appropriate value reward, improvement in performance would be possible, sport is about improving and enhancing unless there was a physical, emotional or psychological reason why that would not have an impact...sure is food for thought.

Good weather, good company and great dogs. Met a young dog that was beautiful and so like Nuts, I was wow, wow and wow. Enough to put a smile on anyone's face, Summerwick is right 'Happy Days'... the gloom is lifted :-)

p.s Zev is now two, and it fab that Bernadette photos them so young, you can see Zev has gone from cutest puppy to most handsome sheltie :-) how lucky am I - loads...how bias am I...totally....

Raz - life is screwed a bit more.

2010-03-18T20:47:00.000Z

Bummer time, UKA on the 6th of March, should have been a wild and exciting time. Bigs made his debut; Dixie went to her first show. Rivi won, Zev won and Big won. We should have been singing 'zipeedodazipeeday my oh my what a wonderful day' That beautiful song. But we were in a conflict of emotions, as in Raz's run he ran smack in to Marc after turning in towards Marc on a turn. It upset Raz and winded Marc, Raz is a very powerful dog and moving at speed, the bruising says it all. At training the next day Raz was all 'flicky' head as he has to move his whole head as his peripheral vision in his remaining eye has reduced considerably. So Raz at not quite 7 years old is retired. And I was so angry for my sweet, crazy, gorgeous Raz. I ended up with the flu. Writing this I am still angry, hmmm counterproductive and useless.

Managing sight loss is hard with an incredibly fit active dog. At home he manages fantastically well, however on walks he has spooked as he finds it hard to make out what is approaching him. People then make an assumption he is naughty/odd which is so far from the truth. However by using a head collar, it seems to have made him feel more secure on his walks, but that means he needs to be on lead. What a blessing that we have ended up in our current house so that he can safely enjoy the freedom of a large garden. He is no longer so happy travelling, as the poor light of the interior makes it difficult. I am still researching a solution for this.
One of life ironies I guess a dog with so much talent. Shot up through the obedience classes, even coping with sendaways and in agility what a ride and he has done so good with Marc. So the what ifs and what could have been, what might have been are cast aside and Raz moves to another phase of his life with us, what lies ahead we don't really know, all we can do is try to do our best by him and hope he has the mental strenght to cope with it.
I don't write this for pity, I want people to understand the impact for Raz and how it has effected him, and its not just a case of his sight is crap, it effects him mentally, emotionally and physically.

.

Dixie's spring afternoon

2010-03-05T21:49:00.001Z

Its weird, how life goes on...Loobie being gone is just so so odd. I did not know her as a youngter...I was just getting to know Lesley towards the end of Loobie' agility career, and I wondered is it to soon to post but Marc took these photo's this week and for our guys's life simply goes on. They might know I am sad, but their simple appreciation of the small pleasure's in the garden on a sunny spring afternoon was so good for the spirit. I had missed the entire thing (working!) so Marc captured on photo a brief insight to one afternoon in Dixie's puppyhood. Seeing the photo's and their captured moments of play and bonding, did make me smile briefly once more.

The Champ is Gone....

2010-03-01T23:22:00.006Z

Crappy Monday...today I learnt the Champ has had to leave us. I can’t believe that she is gone, just 3 weeks shy of 16. She was the champ both in agility and as a dog to live with. She started Lesley's association with the renown Waggerland line of Mike Snows and are the foundation to Lesley's own Nedlo breeding. So Loobie, who to me she was simply the Champ and that is what I called her. When I started out in agility watching Lesley and Loobie work was amazing, she was the first large UK Agility Champion and Peter Lewis sums it up

News dated December 01 - AGILITY HEADLINES - IT'S LESLEY AGAIN!
Lesley Olden does it again by winning the Pedigree Agility Stakes with her Working Sheepdog Waggerland Whoosh of Nedlo just prior to Christmas at the Olympia Horse Show. This is Lesley's fourth win at this famous and prestigious final and the second for her bitch she calls Loobie.

Well I could not write that any better than Peter, Lesley and Loobie won so much and in style. I am fortunate that I got to know the Champ away from the agility arena too, and she was just so sorted, so nice to have around and fun to play with and in her twilight years I would take her for a bimble around the farm. Visiting these last few times has been extraordinarily hard, as we never knew if it was going to be the last time we would see her. I think at this point it is all I can write, but I just wanted to pay tribute to one of the most fantastic dogs I have been privileged to meet. And who without a doubt should be remembered as an Agility Legend.

Loobie your the Champ, and we will miss you beautiful girl.

Dixie Licks .....paws under the table

2010-02-28T20:36:00.000Z

Well, the Dixie has settled in fabulously well. She has now had her injections, so feel that we can breathe a bit easier. She has already been to a party with her mate JD and had a great time, she really enjoyed the fuss and playing with JD and then settled into a nice sleep in Marc's arm. We have friends for the weekend and again she took it in her stride and wags her tail in a well cute way when saying hello, just like in a cartoon. There should have been a pretty slide show to review the 4 weeks she has been with us. But for a very pretty border collie we have not got many at all that are any good!

I think it is fair to say, she has her 'paws well and truly under the table' so to speak. She seems to understand that Raz might not always see her, Zev is being a fabulous role model with playing nice and having good manners. I am blessed with Zev that he has taken on that role in the pack, as that previously was Storm's role and it is a really important role when living with multiple dogs. I digress; Dixie can work things out real damm quick, and can shot through doors quick too. She has learnt sit for her dinner and that being called in from the garden is treat time. She is playing puppy tug games with Marc whilst the others run around, which is great as like with all our puppies we don't believe in shutting them away from the others. We are lucky that we are able to do this and it is what suits us. I was advised to keep Storm separate and it was the worst advice I got. I found it stressful and unnatural and I am sure Storm did too. We have evolved a way of just having our puppies with the adults and they learnt we are the key. I just wish I would apologise to Storm for all the times that I took the advice that I now realized was so wrong for us. Hindsight great for learning; but has a toxic side effect of guilt tripping. Dixie is only in her den when we are out and they are not supervised, that way focusing on us is normal and distractions are normal too. Hopefully not famous last words, but heck it has worked with all our others ;-)

Dixie...Welcome little girl to the Wynne's Household and our thanks to Lesley Olden, breeder of the Nedlos for entrusting us with another :-)

Shelties in the Limelight at Newton Heath

2010-02-21T10:21:00.001Z

What a day, Friday the snow was so thick in the morning, we thought ‘oh no show’. Friday Night it cleared so on to Newton Heath we go. As you see from the photo no snow. It was a lovely sunny crisp day. And there was some great results Zev won his Medium Grade 4 Agility to go grade 5 and then we did a lovely jumpers round and won that too. What was extra special was Sizzle who is Zev’s buddy did exactly the same in Small Grade 4. These shelties were rocking, with two excited and extremely chuffed handlers. As you can see from the photos they are two stunning tri shelties and Zev’s birthday is the 8th March and Sizzles is the 27th March, so it will be great to watch their progression over the coming years.

My Babyoli was super, unfortunately her pilot had a tiny blip and at that speed it had an impact; but what the heck the great stuff was she was a happy doggy, and was motoring and did some fab stuff with me and it was just joyful to be running with her. Which is really exciting for the coming season and I think she is ready to start learning more technical stuff for grade 6. The courses set by the judges were excellent. And it would have been great to do them again. No vids as the camera/video thing was playing up! How disappointing is that!

A special mention must go to our Raz, who with Marc came third in the Gr7 agility, not bad for our one eyed boy. He continues to amaze us with how he gets round. But Marc is getting used to analysing it from Raz’s vision perspective and as long as Raz is safe and happy we will let him do it. The sight issue has affected him far more in daily life, and we are so glad we have moved before he loses his remaining vision.

Then the weather today is back to, well the photo says it all. Surreal that it cleared for one day for us to go to the show.

Valentine..be mine xxx

2010-02-14T20:40:00.000Z

Thought processes - telepathic or coincidence? We still buy and give valentine cards to each other. This year we both hit the same theme - bugs albeit cute ones!

10 years young....

2010-02-12T18:04:00.000Z

Some say relationships diminish when you retire a dog. Well, Nuts has been retired for nearly 3 years, and we are no less close. How can a relationship be just defined by 25 seconds in the ring? It can’t for me. Sure he has opted for a stuffed bone on training night, snuck at home. He joins in other activities by being there with his toy, it’s hard to quantify a bond, but he just is and we just are. So Nuts is my Bolt, I can’t believe he is now ten. A whole decade of time, and I worry that even if we could share a human life time of decades, it would never be enough.

On the Disney theme, Zev is like Pongo terribly earnest, loyal, cute to a fault, really excitable and pushy too - the handsomest sidekick in the world.
Well what about Rivioli, well nothing I think has captured her essence really. She acts all confident and full of it, but its all bravado, she needs that ego stroked 100%. It is like running a steam train; you never stop shovelling the coal. But I am extremely happy to keep on shovelling, because she is my one and only.

So my Nuts, Happy Birthday…and thank you...

A Whirl of a Weekend - doing agility!

2010-02-08T20:43:00.000Z

Well it was a whirl of a weekend. We had just moved and really could have done with being at home. But no we could not, Zev had a OBay training session with Lesley Olden, and I just could not miss it. It is is lovely to train with the other OBays as on one hand its nice, relaxed and supportive; and on the other everyone determined to train well, work hard in a really positive way. Mass tugging, happy shelties, happy owners :-) Great and to be honest I worked so hard I was in a total dizzy whirl in my head, good thing the session was finished off with a human reward of a pub lunch....

Lesley set some great segments for us to analysis and work out different ways of handling for maximum speed. Some of it was a little advanced for Zev and Me. As I said I need to work out some stuff to train my handling and Zev's responses let alone think of handling it competitively. But I was thrilled with my little big man. Interestingly with Zev our times on segments for different ways of handling and routes for Zev did not alter the times that much and more often not at all. No video as Marc was busy bonding with Dixie and looking after the other puppies and our guys, so that Lesley could deliver the training session.

The videos are from the next day which was a TinR event also at Lesley's in her lovely 'shed'. With TinR I try to tackle it as if competing and then suddenly launch the reward. However for blog purposes I have just showed the runs where we did the entire course. Chuffed with it all but hi-lights are Big taking his first TinR event all in his stride, Rivi for the commitment she is starting to demonstrate and Zev for starting to swiftly stride out and work on ahead. Bring the agility season on :-)

And the final whirl of the weekend, little Dixie joined us in our journey :-)

We have moved - oh yes :-)

2010-02-02T21:51:00.000Z

It has been a crazy 3 weeks. The move nearly did not happen!!!!!!!! F—kety f—k as the solicitor made a mistake with the sums. SO so lucky Marc stood his ground and pushed that our figures were right and the bank verified our figures. Moving in England is so stressful as it is so hard to control the process.

I said to Marc this is such a ‘Bridget Jones’ moment, he replied that is twee. So I said what the heck I’ll be the queen of twee ;-) Like most social creatures we have unique points and other points that interconnect us. The popularity of ‘Bridget Jones’ clearly demonstrates interconnectedness. Probably on blogs world wide - these 'Bridget Jones' moments.......

My Bridget Jones check list that sprung to mind is:-
1. Great husband
2. New home – for the first time not a stop gap
3. 6 great dogs. Opps make that 7
4. Diet progressing well – new office does not have pesky vending machines that lure you off the chosen path of good intentions.
5. Life is good
6. Agility training is coming back
7. Career restart going very well
8. Back to power walking in the morning with my guys
9. Internet finally back in use
10. Guys settling in well and being super with Dixie

Still to happen:-
• Finish unpacking
• Get to gym regularly
• Clear back log of emails

De-cluttering in progress...

2010-01-17T18:15:00.001Z

What a great week, but I admit it is both exhausting and fab being back at work. The guys have been so so good, my stress level was in override as I felt so damm guilty. Their like we’re chilling on the sofa, munching chews – we are fine.

The last couple of weekends have seen us having intense clear outs – we are go from a 4 bed roomed, 3 receptions room house to a 2 up 2 down semi detached. Hence the need for a major de-clutter. I love hoarding, but out have gone the rosettes, the assignments that got me my BSc and Certificate in Applied Animal Behaviour, the bank statements that went back to 1999 (shameful I know) and tons of other stuff. This whole de-clutter thing is supposed to leave you feeling cleansed, I was like feeling sick, there is a comfort in hoarding for me, that is a record of my life. I’m chucking it – help. The OBay blog, reminded me of the importance of keeping stuff. But gosh, I really needed to start sorting out what is clutter and what is priceless in terms of meaning. Any stuff with the guys I find incredibly hard to throw out (or recycle). With Storm I did a scrap book and Nuts has got one too, in a way I guess there a diary of their journey with me. But there is no room for their puppy collars, that special tee-shirt you wore on a particularly great day. So I hit the stores to find my solution.

Outcome - I have started Rivi’s Box this weekend as Marc was saying sort out the stuff or else. Yikes!!!! Marc and I are Yin and Yang - I clutter, he minimal - so we meet somewhere in the middle to create a balance. So with the rosettes - I took the middle and sometimes the ribbon too. And stuck them on to card, with little notes, i.e. first clear, first win, first pull thru, what the heck I just enjoyed this run. Writing little anecdotes; keeping the well done cards just to make me smile and capture the moments. These go in Rivi’s box, with a matching photo album (optimistic) and life/training journal (diligently keep for the first two years), the puppy collar and whatever else comes along the way. So, one started and another 5 to create.

P.S Marc has warned me with the move, no pc connection for up to 10 days. In internet terms that is a lifetime….

Weehee - 2010 is starting to take off........

2010-01-10T18:41:00.001Z

Yahoo, weehee, woohooo, whatever the term. The excitement is here, tomorrow I start a new job in Human Resources, an even better job than the one I was offered before Christmas! Which is totally fabulous, and I am so thrilled. I had been so hoping and striving to get a job in HR. So five months later the dream job has come along. Persistence, experience and good fortune in meeting the right people has paid off.

I’m so excited…I will be heading back to college in September for evening classes, to study for the professional qualification to back up my previous work experience. So the stage of my new four year plan will commence.

It will be weird having to leave the guys for a few hours each day again, and will miss them terribly. But I am sure it will be the best thing in the long run. The other excitement is it looks like we are finally going to be moving on the 22nd of Jan.

So January the happening month snow havoc or not.

This weekend I brought a hanging bird table and the food which within 10 minutes of being installed in the garden was being used by ‘Mr’ Robin and other garden birds. This was a relief; as I getting really concerned about the impact of the extended snow season was beginning to have on the garden 'regulars'.

Going stir crazy...

2010-01-06T21:25:00.002Z

The blinking weather is now seriously curtailing our fun. The ice forming under the bed of snow makes activities with the guys a real hazard. I really quite envy their grace and agile movement in the snow. There is me plodding along in clompy boots and ski suit, muttering…”fricking ice, fricking ruts in the ground hidden by the snow”. Sliding all over the place as the snow was so soft, leaving my clompy boots to find the ice. Hmmm my good humour deserted me, I apologised to the guys but they were so busy having a whale of a time, they had not noticed my mutterings. Good thing no one else was about, I would have been ‘carted’ off or getting seriously weird looks. It was with this rant going on in my head; I thought I should be so excited but instead...

I’m so frustrated

Going stir crazy

Ice hazards worthy of ‘Mario’ world

Causing havoc on our world

We wanna play

We wanna train

But it’s a no go zone

We do the mini indoor stuff

And goof around

But tis no substitute for letting loose and ripping around outside….

Then Zev, looking so frigging handsome in this shot and its a partial frame!!!!!!!!!!!!

What the heck! Lets Embrace 2010

2009-12-31T09:25:00.000Z

2009, a s--t time for many in terms of the recession. Well hope springs eternally and optimistically. That has to be one of the most endearing traits of humans to hope and try and improve things for tomorrow.

The web world of bloging etc never ceases to astound me how distance is minimised and you’re connected to others, through shared passions, and the assumption of trust. Methinks quite dog like the trust, that goes with the bloging world :-) I was intrigued to have a happy holidays greeting on my blog, and clicked on the link and it took me to a blog Lifewithdogs that is far-out, humorous and with a passion for helping dogs. People all over try to help those less fourtunate, and I am awed and humbled by their efforts.

One of my special memories for 2009, I helped some people with their dog, they had paid £100.00 to a ‘behaviourist’ to help them and for that the outcome was a very confused, nervous dog and a very concerned owner. I don’t train dogs for payment at the moment, but every so often someone says help and I do, take on a case where previous efforts have not worked for whatever reason. For the sheer heck of it and interest, I say ‘I’ll meet up’ and Marc comes and assists. The outcome was ‘well cool’ a happy owner and happy dog. My approach would not and does not suit everyone, but sometimes I meet someone and what I do just clicks for them and it is great outcome.

We have always had two re-homes in our pack, however with Raz’s deteriorating sight, we are trying to hold off taking in another as he has become ‘Calamity’ Raz. In December needing a haematoma drained x2, and in the end operated on, all this caused by him banging his head. OUCH! I think we spent a fair bit of time down the Vets this December. Fortunately he is better, the stitches out, the wound nicely healed and he retains his irrepressible spirit that made him crazy gorgeous Raz.

So what the heck, lets embrace 2010, and keep hope and optimism fuelled by doing a good deed.

Happy New Year

P.S The photo shows Mr Big found some treasure on his Christmas Day walk! Hmmm…I’m sure a cat or fox had a great Christmas eve meal.
P.P.S I really must work out the difference between following and listing a blog, I remain confused.
P.P.P.S Watched Bolt over the Christmas season, a Walt Disney gem for sure, it is laugh out loud funny and endearing. The side character Rhino is hysterical, well was to me - the perfect complement to Bolt and Mittens. I’m sure Marc cracked a smile or two :-)

Zev – Jumping at Rugby Christmas 09

2009-12-28T17:53:00.001Z

The video is of Zev at Rugby, I realised after the show he had kept company with grade 7 dogs, as the class was combined. Even with Zev’s “whoa, we actually doing agility at a show, I’m gonna do the bestest wait in the whole world!”. It was like starting all over again and we even pulled off a ‘back flick away’ coming out of the tunnel :-) It was certainly a flick-flacks and tunnels ‘r’ us type of course, with inexperience on our side - well Zev's side - I was so proud of him.
So bring on the 2010 agility season I am so looking forward to running Rivi and Zev. And from April I will have the fun of watching Marc run Mister Big débuting on the agility scene. Oh yeah...bring it on....

Loving the Christmas holidays, such a shame it only happens once a year.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-24T08:19:00.000Z

W ell, must confess I have had my 'head in the sand' for this Christmas well and truly. I adore the spirit of Christmas, luv the fact that we can celebrate the passing of the shortest day, and be cheered by twinkling Christmas lights, log fires and the sound of Christmas songs. For me it is time for a celebration of the good things in life, watching its 'A Wonderful Life' , good wine, snuckling up on the sofa, chilling out, and extra time with the hubby and the guys. Yep, bliss....

So this Christmas a celebration of the spirit; normal service will be resume next year (with prezzies) :-) This song sure made me chuckle and remember how I luv’d Disney cartons as a kid, especially 101 Dalmatians and Lady and the Tramp. They transport you to another time and place, as if I only watched them yesterday.

Merry Christmas

Christmas comes early...Yes...Yes...Yes.. :-)

2009-12-19T14:11:00.003Z

Both Bigs and I have received Christmas presents early. First, I have got a job so from the new year I will no longer be economically inactive (tell that to the credit card that got me through the last few months!). I decided back in the summer enough was enough with my previous job in one of the worse recessions, and left. It was a huge disappointment to be in placed in such a position. But heck, what is life but a learning curve? The job I landed, I am really excited about I will just have to see how it pans out. So come the end of January I will have money, I will be employed, and able to afford agility shows! It is such a great feeling and a huge relief. And I have missed having my own money for sure. Whilst it has been a difficult process I have no regrets, the only regret would be if I had not taken the action to change the way things are going. To Marc and friends who have helped me through this period - thank you.

On to Big's Christmas present, he had finally outgrown his puppy coat and we know he not going to get any bigger so the time has come for him to have a grown up coat. He is just such a cutie and wears his new coat with such panache. And with the cold weather hitting the UK, it came just in time. Now all I have to do is try and find Rivi a coat that fits her gazelle like figure.

Weeheee - fun in the snow

2009-12-17T17:49:00.001Z

Why the snow sends the guys into orbits of sheer joy, I don't know. But they certainly made me smile with their antics, running around with a bit of conifer trimming. It was hard to keep them in view!

Oh no…rusty-i-tis creeps in.....

2009-12-14T15:36:00.001Z

Dammit, went to Rugby Christmas show and having not done a show for 2½ months meant rusty-i-tis was surely showing with me. As my focus on jobs and house stuff, meant I felt like the tin man from the Wizard of Oz, where is the oil when you need it? Just the split second timing of ‘outs’ and ‘change of direction’ signals… hmmm I did train the guys to be responsive. Which is of course the upside to all this :-) Rivi does stuff that just sends me into ‘floating on a cloud’ land even on a course that I ‘glitched’, and I’m really excited about competing with them both next year.

I vowed to Marc, we are not having such a break in future. Which was a bit dramatic, as we have always had time off and pretty much have most of the winter off; I liked the balance. However, the way I was I don’t think that I am going to be able to if I want to raise my game. Zev, bless him it was like doing his first show all over again, he came 7th in a combined class of 81 dogs which was not bad at all. I confess in this posting I am being picky, and don’t get me wrong Zev and Rivi had a fabulous time, and were none the wiser about their handler’s glitches. Interestingly even with just two runs each they found it mentally a very tiring day out. Which is another element of the dreaded rusty-i-tis affliction – out of practice with the hanging around and mega loads of stimuli going on.

So I am now on a mission to banish the rusty-i-tis, it will be erased until a memory no more; my movements will be perfected, my signals clear and timely, shows have been entered – well one a month. Just to keep me and my guys ticking over and ensure the banishment works ;-)

Hmmm, but Christmas is a coming, might still have the time off, after all…..

Holy Smackerel!!!!!! – 17 years

2009-12-04T11:36:00.000Z

SMACK & BAM would you know it, me and Marc have made it to a whole 17 years of marriage! Whilst life inevitably throws up its up and downs at us, we have so far always managed to stick our tongues out at the downs and smile at the ups. What keeps it going? Well during the summer when I was making some tough decisions Marc says to me “listened to a song on the radio and it reminded me of you”. I was thinking ‘oh fu-kty fu-k what can it be? Would I like it or not? Marc and I don’t have a lot of overlaps in our musical taste, that is for sure. And the song? It was Can't Take My Eyes Off You’ by Andy Williams. Cost what 79p on itunes? Made me feel better than a million bucks :-) Ok it would be nice to have a million bucks right now. But heck I’ll remember this and I guess it moments like this that keeps it going.

Darling, Happy Anniversary…………….xxx

My Cleveroli :-)

2009-11-30T10:03:00.002Z

Cleveroli... Well Rivi said "enough of Zev and Bigs it is her time to blog again". And what a day she had on Saturday. Rivi went to collect an award at The Agility Club, as she had come second in the large grade 3 category. Its her first big bit of crystal. The photo is really naff, but Rivi is a bit like me, not comfortable posing for the camera indoors and acutally not outdoors either. Zev and Mister Big have yet to pass on their all round posing skills. Also her pale eyes mean with our current photo taking skills she all ways end up with 'glowing' eyes. I tried the 'eye fix' to touch up and that was even worse.

Its weird but some think trophies are all about winning and in a way they are, but for me when I look at it I see a a reminder of the journey, the fun and the sheer joy of running a course with my Rivioli.

She was very well behaved at the event and funny as she was the only dog to notice a large mirror where the photos were being taken and she just could not stop staring at the reflections. Well that is my Rivioli very aware of the environment ;-)

Zev caught on video by OBay Shelties :-)

2009-11-27T19:07:00.000Z

Well, I just had to link to this video that OBay Shelties had done of Zev at training whilst on the birthday celebration. He is so full on and passionate, and luvs his cool kong and doing his agility. I could wax lyrical all night about my perfect wild man....and I could dance all night.....see the OBay Blog for videos of his great litter mates.

An OBay Weekend :-)

2009-11-23T14:23:00.001Z

What a special treat for Zev and I really enjoyed it too. Due to the some of the OBay girls celebrating 1st birthdays, we got to go down for the weekend. See the OBay blog for pictures and notes. I was so pleased with Zev it is the first time we have stayed away without the others with him. He was the perfect gentleman apart from getting me up at 2am in the morning, just to check that he was not missing any action!!!!!!!!!!! Ohhhhh me and 2am in the morning are not a well made match at all. He let his hair fly with the customary “wall of death” around the lounge as he got very excited playing with Itz and Zaz. The training session was good for us, I really liked the way Johanna set the session and gave explanations about the reasons for tackling a sequence of obstacles. That meant I could relax, enjoy and think ‘game on’ to trying a different way to handle a sequence. As someone who loves the speed and freer style of some handling combinations external to the UK, it was an opportunity to be seized. It would have been great to have done it all again with Rivi, Johanna I need a large dog training session – pretty please. There was that many dogs in the house that afternoon, and it fantastic how much laughter and fun was generated just by watching all the shelties having a great time.

To the OBay Gang, thank you for a fabulous time. Needless to say Zev was also very excited to be back home with the others. The photo shows him luring Big into a chase game, before rain stopped play…..

Dirty Dancing - A weekend in London

2009-11-16T11:20:00.004Z

What a fabulous weekend, did the girly thing, went to London for theatre, food and a real chilled time. Marc kindly stayed home and looked after the guys. Actually he did one better than that he dropped me off and picked me up. What a fabulous hubby he is. Well, Dirty Dancing was just so good, how they brought the film/story to life in what must be London's cutest and also very grand theatre, the revolving stage, went up and down and round. The actors - I take my hat off to them, not only are they singing and dancing, their doing it on a stage that constantly moves. It was great, for those hours the rest of the world just slipped away.

Sometimes you see a play/book/film and then when you see another version it is not as good. Not the case here at all, it was so well done. This show lived up to all preconceived ideas. All the audience was wildly cheering, clapping and jigging about. It was just so fun.

Then off to Covent Garden, and eating at the Cafe Des Amis http://www.cafedesamis.co.uk/

Which whilst only offering one vegetarian option for starters and main, they were the best I have had in a restaurant. The service was lovely and dessert mango tart was a perfect finish. Proper food, with flavour and very well cooked, the restaurant itself is both a comfortable and stylish place. It’s a different and great world there in London’s theatre land. So a pact was made for us girls to descend on Jo at least once a year, and go to see a stage show and to eat. Another life to live…weeeheee.

Then back on the tube and we stayed at Jo's to be greeted by Jigs, who is so cool. .He goes everywhere with her on the tubes. A true dog about town. She says friends now come round just to have a cuddle with him. Totally understandable.

Did I miss my guys or what? When Marc picked me up, he brought Zev and Big and they did their first stroll around London and went off lead in Finsbury Park. Needless to say Zev and Big took it all in their stride and got lots of admiring glances and smiles and "oh how cute". Then we hurried back to the rest of the guys at home, its great to go out and do different stuff, but at the same time, I can’t wait to get back home and be reunited with all the guys.

Mister Big joins in with the Big Guys

2009-11-09T10:55:00.000Z

Yesterday at training saw Bigs start to do courses with Marc, an exciting time for them. At Beacon an FCI style course is set and if you have an inexperience team, they are expected to take a simpler route through the course. As you are expected to be able to train and work things out for yourself. This means that all the levels of dogs with experience handlers at Beacon are accommodated in one session, it also makes you raise your game. Well, with 3 Beacon members at the Worlds this year, there must be something to the method. As it is a sports ground, your dogs have to learn to ignore the football matches that are going on at the same time to! This is agility training at the sharp end, no soft and fluffy perfect set up, just get on and do it, train yourself, train your dog and have a good time in the process.

As you can see Bigs is very cute and very promising. It is early days yet, but I look forward to seeing Marc and Bigs competing next year. We are also grateful to the Vanitonia Breeders for letting us have such a super chappie.

Found it….a place to call home

2009-11-07T15:49:00.005Z

Well three months later we have found the house, its small, a simple two up two down semi detached, but it has half an acre of garden. Perfect for the guys and us, we will be able to grow vegetables and have chickens! It even has a small grape greenhouse, with a green and red vine. Wings will adore watching chickens. The gusto kids, under Nut’s watchful eye will be able to run around to their hearts content.

We have always wanted to have a place with a good size garden. And as we are now both over forty we were getting to a stage where it would be now or never unless we won the lottery. Damm, why does property and land have to be so expensive in this country?

The place is on the Derbyshire border, whilst another county, it is not much further north than we are now. Which is great for Marc’s job and going to agility shows. We will not need to change agility clubs so a bonus there. So our return to the south has been delayed for a good while, it is not possible to say for good. Marc and I seem to move every 5 years or so, perhaps we are just restless or have a bit of wanderlust in our souls?

The village is in the National Forest, so there will be lots of walks we can do with the guys. The National Forest is a radical and bold vision to restore some forestation to the midlands, which is one of the most deforested regions in the UK. And its quite funny, the trees that are planted are really young – think knee high height. But in years to come it will evolve into a real feature and environmental achievement for the region.

So we should either be in the new place just before or after Christmas subject to contract. This means I can relax, today has been a chilled walking day and the guys are all sound asleep and looking really content and I can have a glass of bubbly to celebrate. To new beginnings :-)

Perhaps Love?

2009-11-05T14:59:00.001Z

Some question whether love at first sight or instant connections exist. All I know is what I have learnt seen and felt. For me there is no doubt that it exists, and has led my life since meeting Marc, it is 20 years this coming Christmas Eve (I’m almost scared to say that, in case something goes wrong, but Marc said “don’t be daft”). I can still recall the moment when we first met, the conversation and the excitement. How I loved that outfit I wore – sassy cropped fcuk jacket, short skirt and heels and the big hair. In that rather crowded pub that I and girlfriends had gone to because our first choice became so packed it was unbearable. Fate or Destiny; another posting. I can still recall the moment we met, the walk home, the tea and coffee and lending Marc a brother’s jumper to walk home at 4am. The first date – a football match he had promised his younger brother but included me. It was memorable; I got hit by the ball!!!

You can debate if its love, lust, the fusion of mutual chemicals causing the attraction. All I know is that feeling changed my journey. And I have not found anyone that put it any better than in an American drama called Everwood. I luv, this series, it is so well written and acted I am addicted. Best thing since the West Wing, although a different plot, it assumes the followers have some capacity for thought.

The lines go:

By the character Irv: “I left this house because I though the world was calling me to a journey. I couldn’t step a foot away you, Edna. You’re my journey. Wherever you are that’s the adventure, I know that now.”

The cynics may say its all rubbish designed to tug at the heartstrings. But heck, so what if it is, it works for me. So many friends are on their second or third marriage, and I’m still stuck on the 1st. That does not make it right or wrong. Its just love really does come in many forms and sometimes it stays and sometimes sadly it goes. It can stay a lifetime or it can be lost in a blink of an eye...sometimes its brief intensity can be as much as a life time of passion. There is no rhyme or reason to love, it just is. For some finding the love can be a lifetime’s journey, its true. One person I know met the love of his life when he was in his fifties. For some it is overrated, for me its magic; the power it has to make you change your life, your outlook, it provides a place of sanctuary and provides a place to flourish, it gives you the confidence that perhaps was hidden before. Most of all it is someone to share your journey through life, wherever it may take you.

Perhaps Love the song, sums it up in many ways performed by Placideo Domingo and John Denver.

Nope - I Just Don't Get It?

2009-10-25T19:55:00.009Z

I really just don’t get it. I have thought about it, re read theories on behaviour and learning and “nope, I still don’t get it”. So what I am not getting? The growing custom if your dog goes wrong on a contact point, putting it back on and then walking out the ring. Surely the fault has arisen due to inconsistent criteria? And then by putting the dog back on the contact, however nicely and then walking out the ring, surely the only thing you are teaching the dog is “you do that contact, touch that zone and it ends”. "Yep, that is correct you get it right - we walk out”. Which I just don't get, where is the reward for the correct/corrected desired behaviour?

Still that is one of the interesting elements of training agility, the reason why people and dogs do what they do. The training methods, the outcomes, the scenarios, the reasoning, the approaches, the relationships, the cooperation, the team work, the attitude, the spirit etc,. It is all ‘food for thought’ and Rivi clearly thinks it worth chewing over ;-)