Wyre

Only Zara competing at Wyre, too busy for Ruger. On Saturday we had some silly runs and managed to collect lots of points, oh sorry I mean faults!!!!!! Sunday was much better with 2 clears. We had a 13th place in the Agility Secrets qualifier which was a combined 4-6, so really happy with that. Then we had a clear round in the G4 agility, but just out of the places.

Crufts 2014

We spent 2 days at Crufts this year, it was strange to be there without our dogs, first time we have done that for a few years! But we managed to get a good look round and I attended 4 Kennel Club Acredited Instructor seminars which were very interesting. A fascinating discussion about nutrition in the canine athlete has made us rethink Ruger's and possibily Zara's diets. It was interesting to hear how what we eat can affect our performance and how dogs get their energy. Jackie Boyd also gave an interesting talk about sporting dogs, mainly focusing on her research into jumping. She was engaging and realistic in her lecture and I came away with some new ideas, but she also confirmed some of my own thinking too. We met up with people we haven't seen for a while which was lovely.

Ribble

My posts are a little out of order at the minute. Zara ran well at Ribble getting a clear in G4 Agility but just out of the places, but a good run.

Margaret

Sadly we said goodbye to Margaret Whitehead in January. Margaret started right at the beginning with K9 Skool and was a character. She started off with her Bichon Frise, Candy with puppy classes in 2008, despite being on 2 walking sticks she persevered and gained the puppy foundation, bronze and silver good citizen awards. The following year she enrolled Holly her new puppy, also a Bichon. With Holly Margaret attended agility classes and used to make us all laugh with Holly's hoodies. When she had to give up training due to ill health Margaret kept in touch. Her life revolved around her dogs, sewing and family. RIP Margaret you will always be remembered as an inspiration to others.

Adams February Show

Well all I can say about Zara is she was brill :) Should have been 3/3 clears, but we had an unplaced clear in C4-7 jumping, a 4th in G4-7 Agility (with faults :( ) and an E in G1-4 Agility, Zara was clear and lovely run, but I managed to miss out a jump aarrrggghhh!!!!! From Zara's point of view she didn't knock one pole, she got all her contacts and had no refusals, wow, well pleased with her :)
I haven't competed with Ruger this winter as the indoor shows are too close and noisy (or some are!) so this was his first competition for a while. He did relly well, his first run was Graded 1-3 Agility and went clear with a strangely steady run, to get 10th place. The jumping course was a lovely Ruger course but he got scared on the startline and then for the first time ever noticed Simon, who was filming him and headed over to him and jumped the wrong jump. His last agility was a bit messy but clear, but not fast enough for a place. I was really happy with him though he did well.