Newton Heath - Rivi's and Zev's tale

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 :-)

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

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

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 ;-)

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 ;-)