long time no see- Baby D!

Ooops has it been that long???

My dogs are just fab and am loving having my time back to work on them. Detour had his first show (Ajaxs UKA) we did all but one run NFC and that run was a steeplechase that he won! Lovely boy. I also worked his at Thatcham UKA and ran a lot NFC but also did some 'proper' ones and he had another steeplechase win and a jumping win too. Mostly I was proud of other bits though. He managed to queue (albeit slightly out of the line) without stressing too much. He hit 100% of his weave entries which really made me smile- LOVE 2x2s! Startlines were good, I didnt push them too much but did lots of rewarding for them. What I was most delighted about was his jumping. I don't think D is a naturally gifted jumper, I still don't claim he is perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but for a young immature boy he is so fab! He chooses his bounce strides really well and will also select when to add a stride. Compression for a turn is harder for him so needs more work. He had some poles down at the lower UKA heights (none when I moved him to Maxi). But overall he is a pretty good proof  that jump training can help. I know it's unessasary, but just had to share this lovely comment from our training forum... "Detour is definitely a credit to you, I was queueing during one of his steeplechase runs and he is stunning to watch, there were actually gasps in the queue as he bounce jumped the straights where every other dog put in at least 2 strides! I can't believe he's so young still"! Well how chuffed am I with that! By no means am I trying to say D is perfect or going to go out and win, but I am totally over the moon with him. I have no lofty aspirations for my little dog, but I do love to see him confident and happy. I am so proud of how far he has come and what a lovely, willing dog he is to work with.

Bye Bye Babies!

All my puppies have flown the nest and are doing well. I was really sad to see them all go but am incredibly proud of them. They are happy, confident, noisy little girls and I think they will make their new families very happy :)

Here is a stacked photo of Quiz- think she is pretty perfect actually!

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On the upside I am now emotionally and physically present for my dogs training again. I just couldnt find the energy or drive to train that much when the pups were here and it's great to be back on form.

Detour is working really well, learning so fast and does things sometimes that make me go 'wow, how did you know that'! He is just an angel and I adore working him.

Miss Hoaxey is back whoohoo! I love having my angel back at agility after having the pups, she is really fit and well and as fast as ever I think. She is hard to work as always, such an eye for where she thinks the course goes, but so much fun- I am looking forward to this season with her.

Boo is my angel as ever, he has been working as a schoolmaster for a friend of mine Jules who he loves. It's great for him as he gets to do agility and great for Jules as he is such a nice dog to work. I am still training him too and he is working as well as ever. His physio stuff with Donna Wills is paying off and eve more excitingly I have won him a new coat!

I entered a draw at Crufts and actually won! It is awesome new technology called the Springs Things Canine Massage Rug and does all sorts of nifty things to help warm your dog up. I will hopefully use on Boo mostly but will use it on Hoax too although it might be a bit big! I am so excited to have won something so awesome!

Puppy Progression

The pups continue to thrive. They have had a trip to the stables and seen horses and other dogs and have each been working on individual sessions too. They have all been off to the park with me and Hoax but without siblings for a short time and then brought back to their 'comfort' at home with siblings etc. They all coped absolutely fine with it and I hope this will make their transition to new homes easier for them and new moms!

They have also each done more lead work and are picking up that they need to follow with leads on. If they get static and dont want to move into the tension on lead I just wait keeping gentle tension until they decide to move into it then they get stuffed with treats! They LOVE food so I am just using a good quality kibble for treats etc.

Only three sleeps left before first ones go! :-(

visitors everywhere!

So we have had lots of visitors in and out this week from friends kids to hyper squeaky adults to gruff strange men. The pups havent been bothered by any of it. Each day it seems we have a different pup who is going for the dominant role and a different pup who is the hyper one! They are all total pigs and LOVE food, kibble was introduced as part of their diet and is a more than ample enough reward for them all. I have been doing a little shaping with each pup, just simple things like sit instead of jumping earns reinforcment. I have a lightweight lead that each pup has got used to trailing around, the other pups tug it and step on it and I think all that helps them get used to those odd collar pulls. I also take hold of their lead and do short, gentle and intermittent pulls and  reward them for moving towards the pressure, all pups accept this happily!

Here are a few pics taken by Nik Fowler (Hoax breeder) today in the garden- lovely!

Boobaby: Harry!

The new Boobaby on the block is called Harry. He is just gorgeous. A singleton pup but mum and boy are so very healthy and well. I think he is going to be the most stunning dog when he grows up!

Welcome little Harry!

Harry!



Mum: Ross