Contact training

Ruger had lost his contact behaviour at Wigan and has been dodgy for the last few shows. We haven't trained contacts though since last October, or not on a regular basis. Now I have the contacts back and painted, thanks to Deb, Danni and Ali :) I have spent this week training. Ruger is really over the top when it comes to toy focus so I decided to use food instead and reward correct, calm behaviour. This has worked well and after 3 days and various short sessions, I can now run on and he will stop, if command is used :) I am happy with this as I will move on to independent contacts later. Next thing is to put this into practice at Ribble tomorrow

Wigan Alsatian

At last Wigan were lucky with the weather :) They used a new showground bit further away but only 40 mins so can't complain. We only entered the Sunday. Ruger was very consistent and got E'd in each class, he wasn't right though and not really concentrating. Zara was also consistent and only dropped one pole all day, got all contacts and weaves :) :) She started off with 11th in the Adams Derby, first time she has been placed in that, so a good start to the day. She then went clear in G4 Agility to get 3rd place :) :) :) her next run was G4-5 Jumping and although clear she was so slow and only just in the course time, which is very unusual for her, as although she isn't a fast dog, she's normally well within the time, so clear round rosette for the one. We put it down to the hot weather, but 10 mins later she flew round the other G4-5 Jumping course knocking one pole, but still getting 4th place :) Deb and Lassie had either 2nd or 3rd in G1 Agility :) and right at the end Chewie ran a stunning jumping course in the G1-3, but Ali pushed him into a jump so he knocked the pole for 5F, and came 2nd :) :) :) 13 seconds faster than the winner :0 All in all a good show!!!

Wye Valley

Really nice show, well organised and friendly. We had 2 days of lovely runs, but no clears, just unlucky really as both dogs were great. Ruger just has decided he doesn't do weaves on the first attempt :( He had a lovely G3 Agility run, great weave entry and left at no 10! so 5F, its quite frustrating as when he does them he's fab. Last run on Sunday was C1-7 jumping and Ruger ran well ahead but listening, so I shouted WEAVE from miles behind and he did :) for a lovely clear just sadly out of the places, I don't like 1-7's and can't understand why large shows schedule them, especially when they are then divided into parts 1-4, doesn't make any sense to me.

Hare & Hounds

Last H & H show we went to at Easter had snow, what a difference, the sun was out and the ground did not show the signs of flooding they had last week. We had some good runs I messed up twice on Zara's runs to get us 5f, but she did manage to go clear in both her 4-5 jumping classes, sadly not in the places though, but lovely work from Zara. Ruger was a bit wild in some of his runs, he enjoyed them but got E'd in most. His best runs were just 5 faults for weaves :( Deb & Lassie got 3rd in Agility with a lovely run. Danni and Jet worked well and would have been 2nd if in Grade 2, but someone had put her results in with grade 2 instead of G1, so she had to give the rosette back :( give them their due the organisers gave her a tuggy toy and a bag of doggy treats to compensate, it is a really friendly show, pity I can't do August!

High Peak

High Peak was at the Lever Sports Ground, which is relatively local (one hour away) and a venue I like. On Saturday we had some nice runs, but unlucky for Zara although she did get 5th place in the Dog Vegas 3-5 com Qualifier with 5 faults and she also gets a place in the finals YAH!!!! Sunday she had a clear in the G4-5 Jumping with a nice run but outside the placings. Ruger ran some excellent runs but decided that weaves are only for training AARRGH!! On Sunday he ran a lovely agility run in the Dog Vegas 1-3 com Qualifier just missing the down contact on the dogwalk (unusual) but ran at the 12 weaves and flung himself through at top speed for a 5 faults round which was 2 seconds quicker than the winner :( although he did get 4th place and a place in the finals :) Deb, Danni and Ali competed on the Sunday and had some nice but unlucky runs. Debs last run was G1-2 jumping and Lassie went clear giving them 2nd place :)