Not done alot since the last posting, we were at Wilmslow agility show last week but no clears. Zara was mental in the first agility round as she hadn't competed for 6 weeks, she enjoyed her run although she pretended I wasn't there, and ran her own course, after that she did 2 lovely runs but was unlucky with poles again. I was pleased with Mawgan as she gave a one second stay just enough that she doesn't knock the first pole, once she got past that first 2 jumps her control was lovely, we may get another clear one day!!!

Yesterday I passed the Judges Rules and Regulations exam, so I am looking forward to the course design and judging assessment early next year.

Well looking forward to Wyre next weekend, last show of the year, hopefully the weather won't be too bad, so it can go ahead.

Quiet Month

Not really alot has happened in the last month, we have had no shows to report on, quite boring really!!

For halloween we went to Lee Gibson's for training, that was really good, it was very noisy with lots of barking collies so very much like a show. My reason for training in a class was to work on Mawgan's stay and sure enough as soon as I removed her lead she was away at 100 mph like being at a show, great, I worked with her stays and using a clicker was eventually successful enough to get past the first jump before releasing her, if I could do that at a show I would be happy. I also worked Zara a little and as always was very pleased with her performance, she did some tight turns and only knocked a couple of poles, mainly after exiting the tunnel and I wanted more speed, gives me something to work on her turns were ace. After training Lee put on a buffet and some of us had brought lanterns, see the piccie of Ruger with his.

I must mention that although I haven't been to any shows for what seems like years there were excellent results at Hare and Hounds this weekend, on Saturday Jules and Jette won Grade 1 Jumping and on Sunday Kirsty and Tim won their first placing 3rd in Grade 2 Agility with Kirsty's Maisie coming 2nd in same class.

Great Weekend

Started the weekend off at Lune agility show on Saturday, nice and local is always a bonus. Mawgan has improved as although she still will not stay the short pause at the start means that she is not knocking the first pole!! She did 3 good runs just missing the contacts in the agility classes, I got us E'd in one jumping class as I forgot the course and told her to go the wrong way aaargh! Zara was great, just a few poles and a stunning jumping run, but just clipped the second to last pole to get 14th place, if clear she would have won the class by nearly 1 second, I was so happy with her time, as I hadn't expected her to be competitive at Grade 3, but she has proved me wrong. Ruger enjoyed meeting new people and was very well behaved.
On Sunday we went to the BSD Club of GB with Ruger, he was entered in Junior as there was no puppy class, he was very good (although he did tell the judge what a bad handler I am when I stood on his paw) and it was a lovely surprise when he was awarded 1st prize, he also got Best Puppy in Breed which is his first trophy, a silver tankard, the only problem with that is he wants beer in it!!!
Overall a very successful weekend, I am so proud of my lovely dogs. I will post some pictures when I can find my camera.

Best Puppy

Last Saturday Ruger was a star at Darlington, getting Best Puppy in Breed and Reserve Best Dog (not as grand as it sounds as he was the only puppy in his class!!!!!) the main thing for us was that the judge commented on how good his temperament is, that means alot, and I am so pleased with the way he behaved in the ring.

Ruger's First Breed Show

Some good news about the Guide Dogs Open Day from last week is that apart from raising a good amount of money for this worthy cause, 6 needy dogs were rehomed by the Dog Wardens who had a stand there, fantastic, and also guide Dogs have recruited some much needed volunteer puppy walkers.

Yesterday Ruger had his first show at Richmond Champ Show. He was so good and stood nicely for inspection, but his handler (who could that be?) forgot that although agility is about speed showing isn't, so I sprinted round the ring with Ruger bouncing up and down, it was so much fun, I was given a second chance and the judge was so nice about it. We came 2nd (out of 2 entries) but well done to Jan and Caper, he is stunning and went on to get Best in Breed and the dog CC, well deserved.

Today I set off to Wigan Alsatian for a day of agility with the girls, but after walking the courses I was in two minds as to if I would run as it was so muddy , I had plenty of tine to decide as I had high running orders, however the show committee made the difficult but right decision to cancel the show due to safety.

Guide Dogs Open Day

We have had a fantastic day, at the new Guide Dog Training Centre in Manchester. They asked if we (K9 Skool) could do an agility display, so I asked how many people at training would like to take part and found we had a good team. It was good to see a mixture of breeds taking part, Alfie (Lab), Penny (GSDxLab), Kenzie (Lab), Whistler (WSD), Zara (GSDx), Molly (Weimeraner), Candy (Boxer), Archie (Cocker), Charlie (Springer), Charlie (Cocker), Raddlie & Saffie (Min. Schnauzers) and Mawgan (GSDx Groenendael), all the dogs ran well with a large crowd, we thought it was going to be quieter, but it was all good practice for those who compete! Simon kept the crowd entertained on the mike, I don't know how he does it. Thanks everyone for a lovely day and also to our ring party Ali, Christopher, Judy, Sarah and Tayler. There were lots of lovely dogs and cute puppies, I hope that Guide Dogs raised lots of money, their new training centre is fantastic, especially the enrichment areas for the dogs to exercise and have fun in.

LLancaiach Fun Dog Show

For the bank holiday we headed down to South Wales to visit Simon's parents and the Barking Mad Dog Show, in aid of Hope Rescue at Llancaiach Fawr, what a lovely weekend, good weather and a lovely show with a good friendly atmosphere. In previous years this was a small show with have a go agility, and we always enjoyed it, this year BHC agility put on a limited show, so 50 agility dogs were there and hundreds of other dogs. My first class of the day was agility, Mawgan broke her stay so I left the ring, little Zara did a lovely clear round and took 2nd place. Then I took Ruger into his first ever class, best puppy under 12 months, there were about 70 puppies in the class, and some real cuties (especially a cute fluffy little GSD) so I was very happy that Ruger was picked out for the final 15 and then took 2nd place. Zara was picked out for the final 15 in prettiest bitch and best crossbreed but unfortunately didn't get placed (even though she was the best LOL). In jumping again Mawgan broke the stay and I took her out, Zara didn't let me down and went clear, no place this time but lovely round. Then for the steeplechase, the challenge was to remember how to get round the tunnels in the middle, it was a very clever course, not actually difficult but you had to concentrate. Breakthrough of the year Mawgan gave me a 2 second stay, I didn't push for too much but she didn't move until I released her, I was so pleased with her, and then she went clear and came 5th. Zara ran very well but got distracted in the corner added in a stride and took out the wing (at least it wasn't a pole), so I pushed her for speed and she actually cleared everything else with pressure, so she is getting more accuracy. It was a lovely day apart from all three dogs getting places, they really enjoyed the day out it was a good socialisation opportunity for Ruger and he was so well behaved in the ring, I fell more confident with him for Richmond show next week.