Tagged! Thanks Leanne...!

Okay, so here goes:

The instructions were …Open a document or file folder

Click on the fifth folder and then the fifth photo

Post the photo and describe it

Then tag 5 other bloggers

Okay, so it happens that this is a photo taken at the Irish National Stud last summer. This is an amazing place to visit - on the Naas road out of Dublin. As well as exquisite race horses and foals to look at, and a fantastic gift shop and cafe, there is the Japanese garden, where this picture was taken - a tiny garden but packed with surprises around every corner. It really leaves you feeling tranquil and relaxed. Definitely a place I would recommend for a visit if you are in Dublin or the area.

So, who to tag?

http://amazingpaws.blogspot.com/

http://robandmaggie.blogspot.com/

http://lilyfudge.blogspot.com/

http://flyinkai.blogspot.com/

http://bryningbcs.blogspot.com/

Training Last Night

I only worked Amber for a short time last night - half the course just to demonstrate where to go and how to get there(!) - and to practice our contacts and send aways. I also did some focused work on pull throughs with her as I always have problems with handling multiple pull throughs, and we haven't done them for some time - in denial I think!! Anyway, she was great, as ever - very noisy and full of energy and concentation. Working Amber is always like a very fast, energetic, noisy game of Master Chess!!

So, to the Boy. I asked people to be quite tough with him (not harsh - just not welcoming) if he came visiting. I started working on the pull-through sequence, teaching him what I wanted. I knew he would find this quite boring to start with, with too much concentration required before he had checked out who was there. Yes - I set him up to want to go off and see people.... and he did, but what a surprise he got! No welcoming faces at all. He was quite obviously a bit put out as he returned to me and worked quietly and with the focus I had come to expect. So, the damage done last weekend, when it became too exciting for him to remember he was supposed to be working, has been partially put right. We have, of course, been working on the 'stay with me' fun exercises when out for walks etc too.

I then put him over the more difficult of the 2 courses, with a tight wrap start; tunnel avoidance flick flack (that's a 'flapjack' for Lee Windeatt and any other southerners reading this!) and tough A-scale/tunnel discrimination, with both ends of the tunnel well out in front of the A-scale, which of course was the one to be taken. Later in the course it was the tunnel that had to be taken - again, not problems. Every contact nailed; weaves like a pro - no pulling out before the end, so progress there too.

All in all, a really good night's training for my dogs! (Just a bit guilty that Corker My Main Man doesn't feature at all.... so I've included him by using his picture at the top..........)

Consistency

Well, the trend from the last few days has continued at flyball training, and then at NAWS - Bryn bogging off to 'meet and greet' what he believes is his adoring fan club/audience. This is really frustrating, and will not do! He has too much promise at agility in many ways for this naughtiness to be allowed to remain. Some reward based obedience is called for I think....

So, we went weave training tonight - he did it again a couple of times, but people were primed to send him away and he came back readily enough. We also managed to consolidate his weaves again - he had started to bob out towards the end if I ran past him or went off at an angle. By then end of the session he was weaving well wherever I was - alongside, recall, sendaway etc. His weave entries are ace! Especially for a young, immature dog.

And that is the crux of the matter I think - immaturity. I may have been asking too much from him in terms of independent working, and he may have thought it meant 'do your own thing'. Perhaps I need to step back a bit, and support him a little more for a while.

Amber was working well at NAWS, but as I was helping to run the show, I wasn't as good as I needed to be. Lovely courses - wasted by me! I have noticed that, at almost 9 years old, recovery time is a bit longer these days. Must keep an eye on her.

Training Last Night

Was depressing and frustrating! I looked at every exercise and thought confidently: 'Yes, we can do that - just position here, move there, cue like this' etc And each time it fell apart unexpectedly. As the evening went on, I got worse, Bryn got slower, and then decided he was having more fun visiting other handlers and dogs than being with me. And he hasn't done that since he was a pup!
So, the high hopes I had for Sunday's NAWS show are somewhat more tempered now, and my confidence in my little boy is dented, to say nothing of my confidence in my handling. I really must remember that on Wedenesday both Bryn and Amber were working well, and can do so again.....
Flyball for both tomorrow, weather permitting.

Training with Lee Windeatt

I was really fortunate to be able to get a place on a training day with Lee Windeatt, who had ventured into the frozen North to bring knowledge to us barbarians - not really; he is far too pleasant and positive to ever take that attitude, though he did have one or two problems with the language.....

Bryn was down for the morning session for Grades 1 to 3, and, having looked at the list of names, I realised that I was definitely the Elder Citizen of the group, ie the most 'challenged' in terms of fitness and speed. However, the Boy Bryn did okay I felt and I was given some things to ponder over in terms of handling skills. I was amazed at one complete change in handling (for me) that worked instantly for Bryn. A very simple and subtle movement that made real differences to line and commitment. Lots to work on - sometimes it's just nice to have existing training reinforced by a guest trainer; sometimes it's good to have totally new ideas. Today Bryn and I got both.

Have to say a big thanks to Natalie (See Kai's Blog) for organising it all!! More please!

Still blaming the 'flu!!

Which isn't really fair - more a cop out.

Went to one of my favourite indoor winter shows on Saturday - Wilmslow at Myerscough. This club always runs a well organised, happy show - lots of smiling faces despite the very cold weather, and excellent courses from most of the judges - thank you for standing there freezing your bits off while we ran around and got warm!

Amber was in full flight mode, and nailed every contact and weave or tunnel entry all day. This, of course, completely threw me, so I cocked up the handling for her.... 5F, 10F and 15F were our results. To be fair to myself, I wasn't able to breathe very well still, and my legs felt like someone had drained the energy from them, and my head was a bit fuzzy, but I should have done better than I did.

Bryn also suffered from crap handler syndrome - he was shifting a bit - faster than he has done at shows - and of course nailed all contacts beautifully, layered elements of courses like a Grade 6 dog (not the Grade 3 he is) but took out some poles on turns because I flicked my shoulders around too sharply for him. Again, no eliminations, just a few faults. The one that still puzzles me is in the jumping when he came out of the weaves 2 before the end - twice - something he never usually does, and there were only 6 weaves anyway. He was either distracted by something ringside ( the weaves were next to the ring ropes) or spotted the tunnel further on the course ahead of us. As it is not like him, I'll have to try to replicate the situation and work out what caused it, as well as training him through it. Weaves are one of his strengths, so I don't want problems to start.

Corker had a lovely day being admired whenever he went for a walk, and strutting his stuff as my Main Man and Guardian of the Universe. He is such a lovely companion dog for me to have, and really enjoys his role much more than having to work for a living like the other two.Ha, ha!

I blame the 'flu!!!

I've only just noticed that people have been leaving comments on the posts - really interesting comments too. I'm mortified that I've only just noticed - can't possibly be my age ;) so must still be the effects of 'flu.........
Sorry people - thank you, and please keep leaving the comments!

Corker - the Mystery Deepens

We got the biopsy results for Corker's 'illness' today - they show absolutely nothing wrong at all. (£1700 spent for Corker to have a couple of days at the vets with a variety of tests and medications, which he seemingly enjoyed...)
Which is good news except that we still don't know what was the matter in the first place. The vet pointed out that the last similar incident was almost exactly a year ago....can the time of year be significant?? And the pan scrubber that went missing? Oh, Amber sicked that up a couple of days ago!
Anyway, as suspected, Corker is fine....which is more than I can say for myself, as I've been struggling with a bout of 'flu (the real sort) while trying to take care of him........ Luckily, Amber and Bryn have been angels throughout. Sometimes you just have to love them!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! Just where did the last one go?? Blink and you missed it!

This was the first New Year's Eve without Meg. For 14 years she was terrified by fireworks, trying to dig holes in the bath to escape from them, or trying to sit on top of my head .... she was so scared. The other dogs thought she was fair game at these times, which made things worse for all of us.
This year there was ...... nothing.......no reaction at all. It was bliss.
Bless you Meg, but it certainly was a pleasanter New Year's Eve without your terror....probably for you too!

New Year Resolutions:
Enjoy my dogs and their 'work'
Keep things in perspective
Recognise and achieve the potential that I have and that each of my dogs has.

What are yours?

Seeking Attention

Corker has been determined to get my attention this Christmas.
First he went unexpectedly lame - not completely off his foot, but in obvious pain and reluctant to have it looked at. Couldn't see any cuts or thorns, so I decided just to rest him - which meant he didn't get to come for the morning frolic on the sports fields at Arrow Park, Redditch. Amazingly, ;)) his foot was better the next morning when I was getting the dogs ready for the walk, and has been fine since.....
But last night, 11.30pm on Sunday (!) he began behaving in a bizarre fashion, trying to eat the carpet and his bedding and obviously agitated. Been here before! Last time it was a blockage caused by eating duct tape - don't ask! So, out of my sick bed (I picked up a heavy cold this Christmas) and into the car to the emergency vets. Xrays showed a blockage, so he was kept in over night. Further Xrays and an endoscopy this morning showed green and white fibres but no real blockage. And I have since discovered that the green pan scrubber is missing - could there be a connection? (Oh yes!)

So, they are keeping him in a further 24 hours to see if he can pass food through his system, or if the blockage has just moved further down the system. They have also taken some biopsy samples, just in case there is a tumour or something nasty lurking there.
Appparently Corker is fine in himself and lapping up the attention of the nurses.........meanwhile, it seems very quiet here at home.

Pushing the Training

I'm really pleased with how the Boy Wonder (Bryn) is working in training. Both last night and tonight I pushed the boundaries with him - asked for increased speed, faster contacts, more difficult weave entries, greater distance from me when working away, trickier close work - all with great degrees of success. He really is a joy to work!
Took Amber to the physiotherapist before Bryn and I went training, and as I suspected, her hips/pelvis were causing problems for her, probably originating in a deterioration in the movement of her 'dodgy' left hock. The physio thinks this will recur from time to time, but that she will be okay for agility. She also thinks that Amber will exhibit lameness if it becomes a real problem for her - she doesn't show any signs of lameness at present. So, she's on gentle exercise for the next 3 days, then a return to normal exercise. All training is suspended over the Christmas/New year period, which will be to her advantage at present.
Corker continues to play 'Lord of the Manor', trying hard to be the boss of the house but failing hopelessly whenever someone tickles his ears! He takes his job of guardian of the house and car so very seriously - but doesn't really know quite what constitutes a threat. He's a big wuzz!

Wyre

6 December was Wyre Show also at Myerscough - but what a difference! Slightly smaller entries meant more room to park and move about, and less noise (marginally) Lots of smiling faces among the organisers who are always helpful and friendly. Jackie Kenny and I measured 13 dogs during the lunch time without it seeming a chore or rushed at all - nice relaxed show. Among those being measured was Bryn's litter sister Faith, and another couple of Nat's dogs - she had one measure into each category LOL! Faith, needless to say, was Large.

I had injured my leg the week before at NAWS (where Bryn came 2nd in the Agility) so I was hobbling around the courses in the morning, which didn't suit Amber at all, though she tried her best for me, bless her. Bryn did better - 17th in Grade 3 Agility, despite 5 faults for a rolled pole when he checked whether me hopping meant something or not. In the afternoon my leg was loads better and so was our result - Bryn came 8th in Combined 3 to 5 Agility - I was over the moon!

Training last night - Amber had scraped her stopper pad, so no training in a mucky riding school for her. Bryn was worked instead, and he made the Grade 5 course I designed (by accident!) look easy on the second run. He really is such a joy to work with.

Newton Heath November Show

Myerscough is always a noisy venue, but this show seemed to be even more noisy than usual. Amber only had one run - Combined 6&7 Agility (she should have had a Combined 6&7 Jumping as well, but when they moved the class to make it run over the just completed Grade 1 course (!!!) I pulled out and went home. It was just a circular course with no skills required so obviously the fastest handler and dog was going to win regardless of whether they could actually do agility or not. She worked well in the Agility but slid off the dog walk sideways just before the contact - so no place for her.
Bryn was in 'nice' mode - no real exertion just nice steady work. That was okay and got us 10th in the Grade 3 Agility, but just a little more speed and less niceness might have had him considerbly higher, on a course that apparently got a lot of eliminations.
Can't say I really enjoyed the show. There was a lot of hanging around, the tannoy system is poor resulting in some people missing their runs, and some bad advice was given by the show management to the judges eg don't let handlers walk the course between Parts 1&2, contrary to KC rules, and wrong advice about how many jumps a course had to have. Add to this that they only give Clear Round rosettes to Grade 1 & 2 Agility, not to other classes, and that Small & Medium dogs only have 2 classes while Large dogs have 3, and there was an undercurrent of displeasure about. Add to this, for me, the fiasco of the Grade 6&7 Jumping...... it has left me seriously considering whether to enter any more of their shows. I guess it will depend upon the classes being offered for my dogs.

The Boy and Girl Done Good!

We went to Chatsworth County Show last weekend. There was a KC Open Show there on Friday for Small, Medium (Grades 1 to 7) and Large (Grades 1 to 3) dogs, and on Saturday there was a Limited Show for Large dogs of all Grades.
Well, Amber worked her legs off in her classes on Friday, though the massively wide jump wings and 5 foot poles meant that some of her lines were compromised, hence a fouth in Helter Skelter, not her forte, was her only placed result. Bryn, also did some excellent work in all classes and achieved his first placed rosette at an Open KC show by coming 5th in the Jumping class on Friday. On Saturday he ran first in the Power and Speed and was leading the class for the first 60% of the class but eventually ran out at 11th, being beaten by Grade 6 and 7 dogs - not bad for a 22 month old baby in Grade 3!!
I'm so proud of both of my dogs - I'm still buzzing about the way they ran for me a week after the event. The nearby burger bar sent a huge bag of beef, bacon and burger across as a reward for the way they tackled the course - and in Amber's case, her entertainment value.

Another Breed First for Amber

Not content with being the first Australian Cattle Dog to reach the dizzy heights of Grade 6, Amber has now become the first ACD to get her Agility Warrant! What a star!!

Bryn at Lune Valley

Well the boy done good! Despite being held on the contacts for at least 4 seconds for each one, he managed 2 Clear Rounds in Grade 3 and Grade 1 to 3 Agility inside the time set. So, he now has his first rosettes from a KC show. What a good boy!

Ireland 2008

We had another wonderful visit to Ireland at the beginning of June. We started at the IKC show in Dublin, then competed for 2 days at Athy to the south of Dublin, then had a day's training near Carlow, before moving up to Northern Ireland for Lisburn and Castlereagh shows the next weekend. Bryn enjoyed himself (!) and learned how to leave the wait on the start line to go and visit the judge - doh!!
Amber came home with no less than 6 rosettes, and narrowly missed winning one of her classes in the North - if only! But she was tiring by then from all the travel and the immense heat.
Yet again my friends from the south made me feel like a member of the family, and I was so sad to leave them to come home. I can't wait to see them all again.

Bryn's Debut

I can't believe that Bryn is 19 months old already - and debuted at Dordale last weekend without any problems (despite a handler who spent so much time admiring him that she forgot to tell him where to go!)

He was running clear in the Grade 3 Agility when he uncharacteristically missed a (difficult) weave entry. The two jumping courses Grade 3 and Combined 1 to 5) were well run by him, the 1 to 5 suiting him really well, but I wasn't on top of the game.

Now looking forward to competing properly in the future!

New Boy on the Block

At the end of November the Yetton Top team will be joined by newcomer Bryn, a 7 week old Border Collie, bred by Nat Holtappel.
It remains to be seen what Meg, Amber and Corker make of him!

Pembrokeshire Show - August 2006

Well, a four and a half hour journey through the hills of Wales, and along the beautiful coastline, resulted in our arrival at the Pembrokeshire County Show - which is MASSIVE. The agility is just 4 rings in one corner of a huge agricultural and general 3 day show, but a very popular corner with crowds coming to watch every day, even when it rained.
I was juding Small and Medium Open Jumping, Small/Medium Pairs Jumping, Starters Jumping and Anysize Jumping on Tuesday, the first day of the show, and again my courses were well received by competitors. I was surprised at how many 'top' handlers had made the long trek into the south-west of Wales for the show, but the majority of competitors were local people at their local show.
On Wednesday I decided to 'blast' all the courses I ran with Meg and Amber, as they had had 3 days of being at the camper while I judged, or in the camper for a long journey. Time for just fun! We got no clears, but had a really good time, and Amber took the commentator in the Main Ring by surprise with her speed: "They breed them fast in Australia, don't they!" he said in a shocked voice as she stormed the course (but got a pole down)
On Thursday I was determined to tighten up on the start line waits with Amber, even if it meant 'throwing' the classes. As a result she won the Open Agility 2 clear seconds ahead of the (advanced) dogs that were second and third!! The judge was very impressed - so was I, particularly by her independent running contacts and weaves!
I was still in a happy daze when we entered the Helter Skelter, so I manged to put her over the wrong jump! Then we went into the Main Ring for the Open Jumping. I was still determined to get a sound wait on the start line, but this time she broke and came past the first fence to me. 5 faults, so we started again. She waited, and I released her - having already got faults I went as fast as I could for speed - picked up another 5 faults because of my positioning, but got the fastest time of the class again. After the class, the others and the commentator told me that all the money had been on Amber to win - I should have told them that I was more interested in the start line!
So, Friday dawned wet and wild as I started what should have been a six hour journey home. NINE hours later we arrived, tired and hungry - the motorway bit at the end of the journey had been shut, and we, with thousands of other vehicles, had been forced onto A and B roads to cross the Pennines back into Yorkshire. This last bit had added an incredible 2 hours to the journey!!
So now, back to training for our last weekend show, Dog Vegas at Scunthorpe, in a couple of weeks. Can Amber and I get another good result? 'Work in Progress' as they say!