Well, Hoaxey is in season and she and Boo have spent the last two weeks trying to get to each other. I have done great keeping them seperate, until yesterday. I popped into the conservatory closing the door behing me, or I so thought, Hoaxey must have pushed through just behind me leaving the door ajar, next thing I knew Linx barked at me and I turned round to see Boo smiling at me, on top of Hoax.
Luckily Mum and Nic were here and Nic looked after Ethan while Mum came and helped me hold Boo and Hoax. I didnt try to pull them apart as Im terrified of hurting my dogs :( They did tie and so me and Mum sat on the floor with them and talked through my options. I assumed straight away that I would get Hoaxey injected but after talking to Mum and researching the web there is too much of a risk associated with this and Im not willing to do that.
Hoax was still bleeding as far as I knew and was on day 14 of her season, however she isnt bleeding anymore. I had always planned on breeding from Hoax and Boo but not this year. With a young baby and Hoaxeys first full agility season ahead of her I was looking forward to working her up the levels.
I have decided that it was my mess up but if it takes then it takes, Im certainly not going to do anything that would harm Hoax. I also am going to make darn sure they dont get together again. I guess now we will just have to wait and see...
Monday, 27 April 2009
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
UKA Shows
Well we have had a few weekends at UKA shows now and have had a chance to get a feeling for both dogs.
Boo is working well and apart from trying to be naughty on his contacts sometimes and releasing himself he is working really well. He feels great and I think we may actually have a chance for the IFCS qualifiers after all. Lots of UKA shows are key as I need to keep working on training rounds and mix in some competitive ones. Also I need points towards the qualifiers so will keep pushing for that. He has had a nice few places and if I can keep his turns tight on a run is right up there.
Hoax is, as always, great or awful. She did some lovely runs and won all classes, bar one, that she went clear in. She coped with the higher UKA height really well and her contacts and waits were nice. But weaves are still and issue. The entry is the biggest problem at the moment as she keeps going in the second pole regardless of entry angle etc. I started to feel like I had an issue and was being odd and hanging back etc even when she did get the entry. Rather than starting to worry I decided I would train all my runs except Steeplechase as there are no weaves in this. I can then reward good performance and not worry and really drive through the weaves. She seemed to improve a little and I will continue to do this next week aswell.
Back at home I have set six weaves in the garden with a bar just on poles 2/4 as thats the pole she has an issue with. I am driving her at it very fast and from odd angles too to help her really think about the entry. (Thanks Toni D) I am just going to keep working her weaves and use lots of high value rewards and hope it comes good.
Boo is working well and apart from trying to be naughty on his contacts sometimes and releasing himself he is working really well. He feels great and I think we may actually have a chance for the IFCS qualifiers after all. Lots of UKA shows are key as I need to keep working on training rounds and mix in some competitive ones. Also I need points towards the qualifiers so will keep pushing for that. He has had a nice few places and if I can keep his turns tight on a run is right up there.
Hoax is, as always, great or awful. She did some lovely runs and won all classes, bar one, that she went clear in. She coped with the higher UKA height really well and her contacts and waits were nice. But weaves are still and issue. The entry is the biggest problem at the moment as she keeps going in the second pole regardless of entry angle etc. I started to feel like I had an issue and was being odd and hanging back etc even when she did get the entry. Rather than starting to worry I decided I would train all my runs except Steeplechase as there are no weaves in this. I can then reward good performance and not worry and really drive through the weaves. She seemed to improve a little and I will continue to do this next week aswell.
Back at home I have set six weaves in the garden with a bar just on poles 2/4 as thats the pole she has an issue with. I am driving her at it very fast and from odd angles too to help her really think about the entry. (Thanks Toni D) I am just going to keep working her weaves and use lots of high value rewards and hope it comes good.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Hoaxeys first show of 2009
Well, last Sunday I went over to Chippenham Small/ Med champ show with Hoaxey and Boo as company for her. I arrived at 10.30am and missed walking her first course. It was a flowing jumping course with two tight pinwheels. The ring plan said 87 in the class so I watched a few dogs then strolled off to get her. When I got back the ring was empty so I asked what was happening only to be told that the class was closing! The ring plan was wrong and there was just 20 odd in it! I got in just in time and bar a few duff handling manouvers, when I didnt get where I expected too, I got her round nicely. She was quick and really enjoyed herself. She went clear in this- good merlie and won it. I was pleased but felt bad as I think its awful when someone comes at the last second and takes the win from someone else :(
I then sat around for about six hours before my agility runs by which time I was shattered and wanted to get home to my baby boy and Hoaxey was high! She was really pushy on her startlines and then messed up the weaves which threw me for the whole course. Then went straight into the next one- she had creepy waits again and then took the first pole... I must make sure her waits are solid as it will only loose me more runs. I must take it easy and focus on waits and not be in such a rush just to get started!
Generally I was pleased with her as she was fast and confident and thats enough for me for now. Ive always said that as long as Boo and Hoax are fast and happy I don't mind if they go wrong. My reasoning is this; if they go wrong its a deficit in my training or in my handling- something that I can fix. Speed is much harder to get. So my dogs always get a crazy game of tug at the end of the run regardless of whats gone wrong.
TRAINING NIGHT
I took Hoax training on Tuesday night and Roger had put up a wicked course. I loved it and was really pleased with Hoax she did some great stuff. She has so much confidence in training and really attacks things so I hope this transfers to competition sometimes. It took Boo a few seasons to do the same so with Hoax still just two I am not in a rush :)
I then sat around for about six hours before my agility runs by which time I was shattered and wanted to get home to my baby boy and Hoaxey was high! She was really pushy on her startlines and then messed up the weaves which threw me for the whole course. Then went straight into the next one- she had creepy waits again and then took the first pole... I must make sure her waits are solid as it will only loose me more runs. I must take it easy and focus on waits and not be in such a rush just to get started!
Generally I was pleased with her as she was fast and confident and thats enough for me for now. Ive always said that as long as Boo and Hoax are fast and happy I don't mind if they go wrong. My reasoning is this; if they go wrong its a deficit in my training or in my handling- something that I can fix. Speed is much harder to get. So my dogs always get a crazy game of tug at the end of the run regardless of whats gone wrong.
TRAINING NIGHT
I took Hoax training on Tuesday night and Roger had put up a wicked course. I loved it and was really pleased with Hoax she did some great stuff. She has so much confidence in training and really attacks things so I hope this transfers to competition sometimes. It took Boo a few seasons to do the same so with Hoax still just two I am not in a rush :)
Friday, 6 March 2009
Foreign Baby Boos!
Ooo forgot- a wonderful lady brought her bitch all the way from Holland to use Boo on last week- she is stunning and Im so proud she thought Boo was worth the trip! Meet Boos foreign wife at http://www.hallobordercollies.nl/Lynn.html isnt she a sexy little Minx! :) Well Boo though she was... ;)
Time and Effort
Well, we came back from holiday last week and I really should get back to training. I sit here and watch Crufts, read blogs and get the warmth in my belly that makes me really want to train my dogs. Or maybe thats the glass of Chenin Blanc doing the warming.... anyway I miss the old me. I miss having the time and focus to really train my dogs. Hoax has had a splattering of training sessions over the winter and Boo has only had one or two :( The end of the day comes and I have no energy left for my poor woofs. I train once a week at MAD and try to dedicate this to Baby Hoaxey. I feel bad in a way as both my dogs have promise but I just havent put the time into them. I know their weaknesses only too well but havent had the time to train them since before I got pregnant- that goes back to winter 2007!!!
My competitive spirit is still running strong but I cannot expect my dogs to perform if I cant put the time in. Am I content to just 'have fun'???
My competitive spirit is still running strong but I cannot expect my dogs to perform if I cant put the time in. Am I content to just 'have fun'???
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