Well it's 3 more sleeps now until I find out if I'm in the states and nationals with Diva or if she's got a belly full of walnuts :-))) I hate the anticipation but it is kinda exciting too.
Samroc's all fine after the operation - moving freely and not in pain - thankfully. We've been back to the vets 2ce now since the surgery. First time was last Saturday - the swelling had went down heaps but there looked to be a testicle still remaining. He also had a painful lump on the back of his neck - which I though was due to the head collar/bucket/leg bruiser :-))
So we went to the vets and I said to the girl behind the desk that he still has a testicle. She had told me that she was in on the surgery and there were definitely 2 removed - my reply was - well he's obviously had 3 then 'cause he's still got one. She came rushing around to have a look and said it was just swelling, because they were soooooo swollen. His lump on the back of the neck was due to an allergic reaction to the injections he had. I was told to give it another week and if the testicles hadn't went down to go back in.
So a week later and we went back in - no change at all and it still felt very much like a testicle. So the vet took his temperature and all was well. He had a look and said it was either a blood clot or scar tissue, either way it will go away on it's own.
So Sambo gets his stitches out when diva gets the ultrasound.
We had an ADAA competition on this weekend. I only had wee Minmin in it. We had only entered Fri and sat - not Sunday. Thought that was enough for me. Anyway we had 10 runs over the 2 days and I think we walked out of most of them. Mini was soooo hyped and was being silly (more than per norm) and was barking frantic, not listening and running around things - it's the Koolie :-)) Anyway she done 3 not bad runs - snooker, one of the intermediate or open jumping and the teams. The rest was mighty shocking. She was really chatty and not listening at all - oh boy I hope she settles down for the nationals and the states. Come one Mini. It'll be soooo embarrassing if we can't get around a course without having to pull out. I've entered her in 400 height to see if that makes it any easier for her to concentrate. It may fall flat in my face and she's even more mental - can only try though. If she is better on the 400 I may have to start competing on that height - or at least for a while until she gets the hang of what her job is out there. I'm nervous about the trials already and we've got ages to go - butterflies!!!!!
As long as she has fun and doesn't do stupid stuff that can cause injuries I'm happy - pass or not just enjoy it.
Linda and Sue sent me her run in ADAA snooker - thank you guys, I've posted it on youtube. I had to laugh - when I was watching it I was going - awwwwwww, lol. She's such a cutie and really fun to watch - makes me laugh. She's like a noisy teddy that you just wanna cuddle (after you've taken the voice box out, lol).
I love ADAA trials - they have 2 rings and everyone mucks in helping scribe, steward, setting up courses, taking them down and changing the heights. There's also no mucking about - the start line and finish lines are at the opposite ends so when the current dog is on the say 3rd last obstacle the next dog is lined up, collar off - ready to run. You can do a quick check with the table to see if they're ready then off you go. The only time you don't go right away is if the current dog doesn't do the last obstacle to stop the timing gates. Otherwise you just run as soon as the other dog has finished (unless the judge asks you to wait of course if they need to speak to the table). You also don't have to worry if you're in another ring as they take the next dog and everyone is lining up in as close order as possible but it doesn't matter if your say 4th in and you go 2nd or 3rd or 10th if the other dog isn't there or you aren't there - there's also no one pushing in because they have 20 dogs to run, or you're lining up at the gate then 10 people come over from another ring and push in front of you because they're before you in the catalogue and have just come from another ring so get to push in rather than joining the queue. It's great fun and the courses are always flowing and sensible. The style is more like what is adopted across the globe, if you have a look at the Olympia finals course or the AKC nationals courses they are beautiful and open and flowing with challenges, these are like the ADAA courses. Go ADAA I look forward to competing in many many more trials.
Well just a few more days now 'til my next blog post - ohhhhhh!!!! But as my Nana used to say "whit's fur ye'll no go by ye" - too true Nana.
Here's wee Mini's snooker run - thanks again Linda and Sue
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Yin and Yang
What is pain...........
Pain is having toothache when you eat and having to chew on the other side
Pain is not winning the lotto and having to go to work to pay the bills
Pain is waiting for news that you are so excited about you just wanna know now
The worst pain is watching your best pal suffering and nothing you can do to help.
So there are different types of pain and suffering. For me out of the list above the worst pain is number 4 – and that is just agonising.
Samroc’s back has been playing up – which it sometimes does. This is usually fixed with a massage and either heat and rest, or exercise – which is usually a walk then a swim with his floaty jacket on to take the strain out of his back.
He wasn’t himself for a few days and getting stiffer and stiffer. At late the worst case scenario is his muscles needing to warm up – rather than the whole rest thing – this was an issue in the earlier stages after his recovery period of his injury. Nevertheless he is older and rest is a thing the body needs to recover. We had tried the light walk and swim but this didn’t seem to fix. So we’ll do the heat and rest.
On Monday morning he was still stiff so I decided to rest him and just took the girls out. Got home and went to work. The trials and tribulations of getting old I suppose, my wee man is old and very stiff. I got home from work that evening and he was ten times worse, he could hardly move his back legs apart and stumbled over – I rushed over to pick him up and feel his muscles – on feeling his back legs my thumb brushed against something weird feeling – which was under his tail – what the......... moved his tail to the side and OMG – VET NOW...........
I lifted him as gentle as possible and proceeded to rush to the car – put him in the car and rushed down to the vet. One of his testicles had swollen to the size of a tennis ball. The vet said it was an infection. There were 2 possibilities – 1 it was just an infection and antibiotics would take away this, or 2 it was a torsed testicle, which means it was in torsion i.e. had rotated and was blocking off blood supply – this would mean surgery. They gave him 3 injections and said to come back in the morning for another appointment. That whole night was hell. We spent the most of the night on the floor having hugs and watching TV.
We waited on the vets opening at 8am – by this time the testis were like a balloon - larger than a grapefruit and his back was like an arch. He couldn’t move his back legs – OMG how much pain is this dog in and he’s not saying a word. Got to the vets and I told the girl at the front to take him through for surgery and not worry about the consultation. I give him a big hug and kiss and they took him though the back. I had been told to call after 3pm.
I cried all the way to work. I know he needs the surgery but the thought of my wee man going under – with his age and all..... So I tidy myself up – breath hard and get myself together and proceeded to walk into work. My mobile goes – it’s the vets – OMG what’s happened, phew they haven’t started yet. Done a test and his kidneys and liver are fine and he should be ok under anaesthetic but they would like to give him fluids – anything he needs give him it. He said they would be doing surgery in the next half hour and to call at 11am. You can imagine the wait.
11am – the call. I spoke to the receptionist and she put me on hold to go and find out. I felt like I was on hold for aaaagggeeeessssss........she came back and said the surgery was all fine and blah blah blah – I couldn’t hear her, is Sam ok, the surgery all went well, blah blah, blah – but is HE OK???? – “yes”! OMG, when can I pick him up – 3pm, phone down, head down and crying like a child. OMG they tears that are just incontrollable and like a waterfall – but with relief.
So I’ve got my boy home again. He was still very drowsy and not sure what the heck was going on. We got home and lay on the floor watching TV. I was supposed to go to training to instruct but I couldn’t leave him like that. I felt bad for not going down to help but my boy needed me and I couldn’t take him with me. Later on he started coming too again and wanted food. He ate slowly but was at least eating.
He’s got a bucket on and got 2 drains sticking outside his has-been testis to remove the excess fluid. Thank the lord he is safe and sound and it is over. He goes back on Friday to have the drains removed and in a fortnight to have the stitches out. Just time now to heal him – I bet he’s relieved he’s got them off. He’s punishing me with that bucket though you know. I won’t need to shave my legs for a while – Sam’s decided to shave them for me with the edge of his bucket – oh well we can be in pain together – owch!
I'm only going as long as NO ONE sees me with this on
Much more comfy now!!!
Pain is having toothache when you eat and having to chew on the other side
Pain is not winning the lotto and having to go to work to pay the bills
Pain is waiting for news that you are so excited about you just wanna know now
The worst pain is watching your best pal suffering and nothing you can do to help.
So there are different types of pain and suffering. For me out of the list above the worst pain is number 4 – and that is just agonising.
Samroc’s back has been playing up – which it sometimes does. This is usually fixed with a massage and either heat and rest, or exercise – which is usually a walk then a swim with his floaty jacket on to take the strain out of his back.
He wasn’t himself for a few days and getting stiffer and stiffer. At late the worst case scenario is his muscles needing to warm up – rather than the whole rest thing – this was an issue in the earlier stages after his recovery period of his injury. Nevertheless he is older and rest is a thing the body needs to recover. We had tried the light walk and swim but this didn’t seem to fix. So we’ll do the heat and rest.
On Monday morning he was still stiff so I decided to rest him and just took the girls out. Got home and went to work. The trials and tribulations of getting old I suppose, my wee man is old and very stiff. I got home from work that evening and he was ten times worse, he could hardly move his back legs apart and stumbled over – I rushed over to pick him up and feel his muscles – on feeling his back legs my thumb brushed against something weird feeling – which was under his tail – what the......... moved his tail to the side and OMG – VET NOW...........
I lifted him as gentle as possible and proceeded to rush to the car – put him in the car and rushed down to the vet. One of his testicles had swollen to the size of a tennis ball. The vet said it was an infection. There were 2 possibilities – 1 it was just an infection and antibiotics would take away this, or 2 it was a torsed testicle, which means it was in torsion i.e. had rotated and was blocking off blood supply – this would mean surgery. They gave him 3 injections and said to come back in the morning for another appointment. That whole night was hell. We spent the most of the night on the floor having hugs and watching TV.
We waited on the vets opening at 8am – by this time the testis were like a balloon - larger than a grapefruit and his back was like an arch. He couldn’t move his back legs – OMG how much pain is this dog in and he’s not saying a word. Got to the vets and I told the girl at the front to take him through for surgery and not worry about the consultation. I give him a big hug and kiss and they took him though the back. I had been told to call after 3pm.
I cried all the way to work. I know he needs the surgery but the thought of my wee man going under – with his age and all..... So I tidy myself up – breath hard and get myself together and proceeded to walk into work. My mobile goes – it’s the vets – OMG what’s happened, phew they haven’t started yet. Done a test and his kidneys and liver are fine and he should be ok under anaesthetic but they would like to give him fluids – anything he needs give him it. He said they would be doing surgery in the next half hour and to call at 11am. You can imagine the wait.
11am – the call. I spoke to the receptionist and she put me on hold to go and find out. I felt like I was on hold for aaaagggeeeessssss........she came back and said the surgery was all fine and blah blah blah – I couldn’t hear her, is Sam ok, the surgery all went well, blah blah, blah – but is HE OK???? – “yes”! OMG, when can I pick him up – 3pm, phone down, head down and crying like a child. OMG they tears that are just incontrollable and like a waterfall – but with relief.
So I’ve got my boy home again. He was still very drowsy and not sure what the heck was going on. We got home and lay on the floor watching TV. I was supposed to go to training to instruct but I couldn’t leave him like that. I felt bad for not going down to help but my boy needed me and I couldn’t take him with me. Later on he started coming too again and wanted food. He ate slowly but was at least eating.
He’s got a bucket on and got 2 drains sticking outside his has-been testis to remove the excess fluid. Thank the lord he is safe and sound and it is over. He goes back on Friday to have the drains removed and in a fortnight to have the stitches out. Just time now to heal him – I bet he’s relieved he’s got them off. He’s punishing me with that bucket though you know. I won’t need to shave my legs for a while – Sam’s decided to shave them for me with the edge of his bucket – oh well we can be in pain together – owch!
I'm only going as long as NO ONE sees me with this on
Much more comfy now!!!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tis the season to be jolly........
No I'm not loosing my marbles - well to be debated.
No I'm not celebrating X-mas in July early; and
No my time machine isn't working and it's December again
So we've got the Western Classic coming up this weekend. One of WA's greatest and biggest agility comps of the year where you win clocks and plates and other goodies. If you win a class you also get your photo in the Canine news, which mine tend to turn out like something from Shrek - sure the post should read "princess Fiona with ............" That's what happened to my modelling career, the camera's wouldn't work right, lol - yeh right.
So I've got Diva and Mini entered in the teams event on Monday. Both in the same team, along with Brynn with Tom and Epic with Megan. No reserve as per norm.
I've got them in the individual events on the Sunday - think it's just their classes though and no opens (which I normally enter at the big ones - will have to wait and see the catalogue as I've had sooooo much going on - especially with work and not sure if I'm arthur or martha at the mo.
I like the classic - it's a good event. At night time too, which is much cooler considering the blistering hot conditions during the day - and I'm not just saying that because I'm Scottish - even the Aussies agree.
I had both Diva and Mini in last year. Wee Mini was in Novice agility and Novice jumping - this year she's still in Novice agility (lol - sorry Mini) and Excellent jumping - wooohoooo Minmin :-)))
My wee Diva was in excellent jumping and excellent agility - she's now in Masters for both - and may I add has her Masters jumping title too - go the Divster. We only have 2 passes in Masters Agility but we won't go there (silly handler, lol).
So on Monday I went into work and didn't get home until about 8.30pm. Had left the house about 7.15ish so it's a long day. Stopped off a HJ's to get a burger and also the dogs a cone each (they love the ice-cream). Got in with a normal overwhelming greating from them all. Later in the evening as I was sitting infront of the laptop (yeh I know workaholic) I noticed someone giving someone else a bit more attention than normal and that someone else not liking it at all).
What.....it can't be yet....you're early....way early......
So I got a tissue and done the check and yep - that someone is Samroc and that someone else is Diva. She's in season.
Just one more week - oh well, when you argue with mother nature you're not only gonna loose, you're gonna get beaten to a pulp.
I went and spoke with the vet regarding AI a few months ago and they said to bring her in when she comes into season.
I finished work on Tuesday and took her into the vets to be tested. Got results back on Wednesday and went back in on thursday to get more tests done. I've to go back in on Saturday and see the vet. I've got a feeling they're gonna call me in on either Sunday or Monday - just my luck. Oh well if they do then I have to go - it's my priority over a trial.
Sorry wee Mini - I'm sure you won't mind too much.
So fingers x'd "'tis the season to be jolly".
I'll keep the blog updated with any news.
No I'm not celebrating X-mas in July early; and
No my time machine isn't working and it's December again
So we've got the Western Classic coming up this weekend. One of WA's greatest and biggest agility comps of the year where you win clocks and plates and other goodies. If you win a class you also get your photo in the Canine news, which mine tend to turn out like something from Shrek - sure the post should read "princess Fiona with ............" That's what happened to my modelling career, the camera's wouldn't work right, lol - yeh right.
So I've got Diva and Mini entered in the teams event on Monday. Both in the same team, along with Brynn with Tom and Epic with Megan. No reserve as per norm.
I've got them in the individual events on the Sunday - think it's just their classes though and no opens (which I normally enter at the big ones - will have to wait and see the catalogue as I've had sooooo much going on - especially with work and not sure if I'm arthur or martha at the mo.
I like the classic - it's a good event. At night time too, which is much cooler considering the blistering hot conditions during the day - and I'm not just saying that because I'm Scottish - even the Aussies agree.
I had both Diva and Mini in last year. Wee Mini was in Novice agility and Novice jumping - this year she's still in Novice agility (lol - sorry Mini) and Excellent jumping - wooohoooo Minmin :-)))
My wee Diva was in excellent jumping and excellent agility - she's now in Masters for both - and may I add has her Masters jumping title too - go the Divster. We only have 2 passes in Masters Agility but we won't go there (silly handler, lol).
So on Monday I went into work and didn't get home until about 8.30pm. Had left the house about 7.15ish so it's a long day. Stopped off a HJ's to get a burger and also the dogs a cone each (they love the ice-cream). Got in with a normal overwhelming greating from them all. Later in the evening as I was sitting infront of the laptop (yeh I know workaholic) I noticed someone giving someone else a bit more attention than normal and that someone else not liking it at all).
What.....it can't be yet....you're early....way early......
So I got a tissue and done the check and yep - that someone is Samroc and that someone else is Diva. She's in season.
Just one more week - oh well, when you argue with mother nature you're not only gonna loose, you're gonna get beaten to a pulp.
I went and spoke with the vet regarding AI a few months ago and they said to bring her in when she comes into season.
I finished work on Tuesday and took her into the vets to be tested. Got results back on Wednesday and went back in on thursday to get more tests done. I've to go back in on Saturday and see the vet. I've got a feeling they're gonna call me in on either Sunday or Monday - just my luck. Oh well if they do then I have to go - it's my priority over a trial.
Sorry wee Mini - I'm sure you won't mind too much.
So fingers x'd "'tis the season to be jolly".
I'll keep the blog updated with any news.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
I said heyeyeyey, I said hey - what's going on :-)
Well time flies when you're getting old :-))
It's now February 2010, and my last blog post was last year, lol. So what's going on - hmmmmmmm Well apart from having been REALLLY REEEAAALLLLY sick and getting better, starting back at work after having a nice break off, having to withstand consecutive days of heat above 43 degrees and of course starting a new year there's been heaps in my agility life.
Well Diva gained her Masters jumping title at the end of last year - wooohoooo. 1 down 1 to go. She now has 2 passes in masters agility - 2 down 5 to go, lol.
Mini's doing really well too - only thing was I thought she had her ANKC novice agility title - had stopped trialling her because we'd be in excellent which has the seesaw and we're working on that - turns out I was getting confused with her titles and passes with ADAA and she actually still needs one pass in ANKC to get into excellent - what the....... the worst thing about it was at the end of the year when she got a clear in novice agility I was dancing around and weeeeeeeee - shouted out at the presentation "title" and got a great cheer and clap - oops. So when she does get a clear (note I'm not saying if - finger's x'd, lol) then I have 2 options - 1 to take it happily and quietly and really be jumping for joy in my head - or 2, shout out "title for real" and get rotten eggs and tomatoes thrown at me, lol. Either way I want that pass now - come on Mini - and what's the odds I try too hard and will be writing on this blog next february - "mini nearly got that pass in novice agility ........"
I've been doing training with them and got a good wee routine now - Diva goes on a tuesday, both train on a thursday and Mini on a Friday. Samroc can have mondays and wednesdays all to himself, lol.
I've stopped taking Diva training on a Friday altogether. Until the club gets new equipment in I can't chance it with her - she goes too fast - and wee Mini is starting to pick up the pace too so it may be the case with her on a Friday too and I may have to switch days (or clubs) to take wee Mini's solo act.
I got a real fright a few weeks ago which made me sick to my stomach. I was working on the walk with wee Diva and working on sending her on without having to have me at the end - also working on speed - which she was doing awesome. On our last turn on the dog-walk (last turn not because we had done enough but because of the following) - she screamed up the up ramp, her back legs were just on the along ramp and the up ramp of the walk fell on the floor - OMG. After Samroc I get all nervous, anxious and sickly when I see things like this happen - so I continued on and went to the seesaw - I didn't want to affect her at all and as she had just gotten into the "safe zone" of the along ramp she wasn't injured. So wee Diva doesn't play on a Friday. Mini's not as fast as Diva but she's starting to get her speed up the more we do and the more it sinks in the quicker she's getting.
Apart from that all's good. I really need to work on my handling skills though. This is our biggest downfall in the ring. My fitness level for one is a major flop and is holding us back in heaps - then I'll blame my handling. You can train your dogs to be awesome, fast and accurate but that means nothing if you can't help them out in the ring - so........
New Years ressie(s) ........
1. work on fitness
2. work on handling
3. keep training the dogs in a regular routine
Aims for this year:
ANKC
Help Diva achieve her Masters Agility title
Help Mini achieve her Excellent jumping title
Help Mini achieve her Novice agility title
Get at least 3 passes in Excellent agility with Mini
ADAA
Help Diva achieve her seniors title
Help Mini achieve her Intermediate title
Agility general:
Have Mini doing all contacts well
Have Diva sending onto all contacts well Have Diva's seesaw down pact
Have Mini's weaves fast and independant - including doing a RHS weave - oh boy
Not have as much handling errors on the course by me - bigger oh boy.
Well that's the plan. So I don't have any photos to put on or many videos - I'm working on another movie which isn't complete as yet.
In the meantime I'll get back to dressmaking (that's for Simonne and Robin).
I've posted a video for my buddies Nicola and Steve. Nicola normally runs Sage (an awesome fast BC), but this time Steve runs her down in Albany in Masters Jumping and does a phenom run with her and wins the class.
Cheers for now and remember to have fun with your dog - play hard and safe and remember to have fun :-)))
It's now February 2010, and my last blog post was last year, lol. So what's going on - hmmmmmmm Well apart from having been REALLLY REEEAAALLLLY sick and getting better, starting back at work after having a nice break off, having to withstand consecutive days of heat above 43 degrees and of course starting a new year there's been heaps in my agility life.
Well Diva gained her Masters jumping title at the end of last year - wooohoooo. 1 down 1 to go. She now has 2 passes in masters agility - 2 down 5 to go, lol.
Mini's doing really well too - only thing was I thought she had her ANKC novice agility title - had stopped trialling her because we'd be in excellent which has the seesaw and we're working on that - turns out I was getting confused with her titles and passes with ADAA and she actually still needs one pass in ANKC to get into excellent - what the....... the worst thing about it was at the end of the year when she got a clear in novice agility I was dancing around and weeeeeeeee - shouted out at the presentation "title" and got a great cheer and clap - oops. So when she does get a clear (note I'm not saying if - finger's x'd, lol) then I have 2 options - 1 to take it happily and quietly and really be jumping for joy in my head - or 2, shout out "title for real" and get rotten eggs and tomatoes thrown at me, lol. Either way I want that pass now - come on Mini - and what's the odds I try too hard and will be writing on this blog next february - "mini nearly got that pass in novice agility ........"
I've been doing training with them and got a good wee routine now - Diva goes on a tuesday, both train on a thursday and Mini on a Friday. Samroc can have mondays and wednesdays all to himself, lol.
I've stopped taking Diva training on a Friday altogether. Until the club gets new equipment in I can't chance it with her - she goes too fast - and wee Mini is starting to pick up the pace too so it may be the case with her on a Friday too and I may have to switch days (or clubs) to take wee Mini's solo act.
I got a real fright a few weeks ago which made me sick to my stomach. I was working on the walk with wee Diva and working on sending her on without having to have me at the end - also working on speed - which she was doing awesome. On our last turn on the dog-walk (last turn not because we had done enough but because of the following) - she screamed up the up ramp, her back legs were just on the along ramp and the up ramp of the walk fell on the floor - OMG. After Samroc I get all nervous, anxious and sickly when I see things like this happen - so I continued on and went to the seesaw - I didn't want to affect her at all and as she had just gotten into the "safe zone" of the along ramp she wasn't injured. So wee Diva doesn't play on a Friday. Mini's not as fast as Diva but she's starting to get her speed up the more we do and the more it sinks in the quicker she's getting.
Apart from that all's good. I really need to work on my handling skills though. This is our biggest downfall in the ring. My fitness level for one is a major flop and is holding us back in heaps - then I'll blame my handling. You can train your dogs to be awesome, fast and accurate but that means nothing if you can't help them out in the ring - so........
New Years ressie(s) ........
1. work on fitness
2. work on handling
3. keep training the dogs in a regular routine
Aims for this year:
ANKC
Help Diva achieve her Masters Agility title
Help Mini achieve her Excellent jumping title
Help Mini achieve her Novice agility title
Get at least 3 passes in Excellent agility with Mini
ADAA
Help Diva achieve her seniors title
Help Mini achieve her Intermediate title
Agility general:
Have Mini doing all contacts well
Have Diva sending onto all contacts well Have Diva's seesaw down pact
Have Mini's weaves fast and independant - including doing a RHS weave - oh boy
Not have as much handling errors on the course by me - bigger oh boy.
Well that's the plan. So I don't have any photos to put on or many videos - I'm working on another movie which isn't complete as yet.
In the meantime I'll get back to dressmaking (that's for Simonne and Robin).
I've posted a video for my buddies Nicola and Steve. Nicola normally runs Sage (an awesome fast BC), but this time Steve runs her down in Albany in Masters Jumping and does a phenom run with her and wins the class.
Cheers for now and remember to have fun with your dog - play hard and safe and remember to have fun :-)))
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Trials to date
Well I managed to get a few more trials in since the west coast challenge with the German Shepherd Club on 17/10/09. Unfortunately I’ve had more hard luck stories (or more like bad handling stories lol) than good.
As we are coming to the end of the year and agility has a wee break over the summer we only have a few trials left. I’ll post about the trials we have done since the west coast challenge on one post rather than heaps of individuals (since I’m still slack at updating this blog)
Trial: Rockingham double header, 18/10/09 – didn’t do. Ok off to a bad start but here are the ones we did do, lol.
CAWA fundraiser jumping double header, 30/10/09
Diva: zero .Mini: zero
Comments: Had a crash with Richard the judge in excellent jumping when running Mini, lol. He was running to get out of the way and it so happened that was the way I was running and yep we crashed. Richard was lovely and gave me a re-run, but I think I rushed to much, didn't give wee Mini a solid enough cue for the tunnel, I started running diagonally away and yep she came with me, got a refusal, doh!, that was her only fault though, owch! At least I got a dance on the course though, lol.
CAWA fundraiser agility double header, 31/10/09
Diva: zero .Mini: zero
Comments: Mini wasn’t entered so zero, lol. I'd pulled Mini out of agility for a few trials since she only needs one pass to get her novice title and move into excellent. Seeing she can't do the seesaw I thought I'd hang fire until the last few of the year and try and get a pass - now thinking I probably should've entered all to try for the pass then pull her out once she got her title - oh well, to late now, lol.
ACWA jumping trial, 04/11/09
Diva: 2nd Masters Jumping .Mini: zero
Comments: Was a fun round with Diva, got pinched at the post by Andrea and Smudge by 0.02s – OMG, how close. Agility has gotten really exciting over here in recent times. The dogs are running at fab speed with great tightness. It's now down to who done a certain cross or pull or whatever that split second time quicker - and if you make a minor stuff up you've lost it. It's great to see and exciting to be part of.
Perth training trial, 07/11/09
Diva: 1st Masters Jumping .Mini: zero
Comments: We had a chuckle about this one, Andrea beat me last week, I beat Frank this week so Frank has to beat Andrea next week and we're all square, lol. Like I said before it is sooooo close with our WA Masters dogs it's really anyones game.
Rottie Club, 14/11/09
Diva: Zero Mini: 1st Excellent jumping
Comments: This is the only trial in my life that I have actually been really upset. Not just saying this but Diva done the most awesome run ever in Masters Agility – up until the a-frame. We were working really well as a team and she was having a run to remember – she was truly awesome. Then after the a-frame I shut down. Dunno what was going through my head. I think I panicked about nearly getting around clear and got myself way into the wrong position, stuffed up a pull through (OMG majorly) – got back on track and again was on the wrong side – we had one bar to go to get a clear and that was a jump to the left – what did I do – OMG not sure if I can relive this again, lol – I sent her over the bar to the right – WTF. I honestly wanted to go home, and I never get like that. Poor Diva, what am I thinking.
Albany 22/11/09: didn’t do, lol. Come on I have done heaps of others J
Southern River, 28/11/09
Diva: Zero Mini: Zero
Comments: Mini should have gotten 2 clear rounds here. If you read my other posts you will know that I have no problems at all about blaming the handler (i.e. me) for stuffing up 99.9% of the course. HOWEVER, and I say this with a grin, knowing this trial was not my fault, and no it’s not even a training issue – YAY, I can escape the blame on this one – or actually these 2, lol. Mini in excellent jumping – got almost all the way around the course – wasn’t the smoothest run but hey she’s still learning, get the straight jumps on the way home and voila we’re done. But my wee Minmin decides to do one of the 5 jumps then veer off to the other side of the ring to the start line. I actually stopped and watched in amazement – where is she going????? Hmmm, we will never know what she was thinking – was funny though. She had a sniff of my hat which was at the marshalling area at the start then seemed to be most interested in the timing gates and had a good long sniff of them before coming back to me – Mini you’re a star, lol.
What tops it off though is her agility round. Again got all the way round and had a straight line left – 4 obstacles, she done 1, then was hooning to 2, I’m running behind her and she’s getting further ahead, over 3, yes we’ve done it, I’m still running behind a little further back now and mini runs AROUND the last jump, WTF. It took her more effort to run around it that over it, lol. What a wally. She cracks me up. Not sure if it’s the timing gates or if she just really is blonde, lol.
CAWA trials I have left before January ’10.
ACWA 09/12/09,
Dobe 12/12/09,
Dogswest 13/12/09
I have 3 CAWA trials left to achieve my target which I set a while back. I have also added a new target to the list - get a clear round with both Diva and Mini on the same night, lol.
ADAA
We have 2 ADAA trials in December. Both double headers. The first is on this weekend then the other in a few weeks.
Both Diva and Mini are in the International program and both jump 550mm. Mini is in starters and Diva is in Intermediate. Both of them need one more pass in agility to move up to the next level – Mini will be intermediate and not sure what Diva’s is (still learning about ADAA) – it may be Open or Advanced??? Will have to check on that one
I love ADAA and really enjoy their trials and mostly the courses.
I also have set myself goals for the 2 ADAA trials coming up to achieve before the end of the year.
Diva to get an agility pass this weekend to gain her Intermediate title.
Mini to get an agility pass this weekend to gain her starters title.
New plan of action here - stop over thinking and go out there and have fun. Take the good with the bad but enjoy it always.
Jules
Friday, November 13, 2009
17/10/09 - West Coast Challenge (GSDA)
The GSDA West Coast Challenge is one of my favourite trials of the year.
It's a big one for me. This is the trial I remember the most about when Samroc and I first came over to OZ and started competing here.
Not only do they have spectacular trophies, they used to invite the winners from the agility and jumping classes along to their AGM which is all about the members. Boy the club really is a good one for the members. It was a really feel good night, all the GSDA presentations were done and there was food and drinks too - a real club party and real celebration of the year just gone.
Unfortunately this no longer happens. They still give out the fab trophies but no longer an invite. That's ok - I still have the memories and I think this is why this trial is so special to me.
So on the day - we get there and it's an afternoon trial as per norm. Well what on earth is mother nature thinking - it was 38 degrees. OMG talk about a heatwave.
Masters agility with my wee Diva was such a shame - again the handler let her down. She done all the hard bits and only had a short jumping sequence to go and yep - I royally screwed up. I sent her on to go though the tunnel and bolted diagonally away, trying to get into position. Now that's ok if a) I've got a much slower dog and can get there before she comes out the tunnel, b) I keep my eye on my dog coming out of the tunnel in case she comes out quicker than anticipated, c) I'm an Olympian sprinter. We'll unfortunately none of the above in this instance - and a definate ruling out of "a" and "c" for future reference too BTW. As I got into position I turned around to see wee Diva had shot out the tunnel and had already taken the tyre which was straight ahead of her path - good girl - silly handler -aaaarrrrgggg!!!!!! The dog is absolutely great - it's the handler than needs to learn to cope with such a fast dog - out of practise on the masters courses I think.
Novice agility - another oops. The 3rd or 4th obstacle was the weaves and mini missed the correct entry - aw well she waited on the start line :-) good girl mini
Excellent jumping. This was a real shame. It was a lovely course and a real "mini" course too. This was the kind of course mini really enjoys and powers through too. So what happened????? well guess who didn't walk it?? hmmmmmm - yep me. I thought it was the open jumping course (didn't enter open) - so I went in kinda blind. I came straight out of novice agility and had to bolt over to the excellent jumping ring. There was only 1 dog left to run before the luck last - mini and me. That;s not too bad I'll watch the dog go around and see where we have to go. The course had a lot of spirals in it which was kinda hard to read the numbers as you go around, lol. So the 2nd last dog goes in before us and nooooooooooooooooooo - gets and off course and retires, aarrrrggg.
I got a lead out and frantically trying to read the numbers as I'm leading out to see where I'm going - GO - we almost got it - 1 refusal, owch. I was reading the numbers as we were going and mucked up a section - I started heading off the tunnel to another jump and mini came with me - awwwwwww. Sorry mini - she done a lovely round besides that though. Shame.
So lets leave the best til last. Masters jumping. A trickey course. Had to really work it but lovely and flowing if you got it right. On the collapsible tunnel there was a massive thud - I think diva had smacked into the inside. The grip at the bottom of this tunnel is way insufficient and that's probably to do with it. I hadn't realised at first - head the noise but she came shooting out and on fire so we continued the course. She got a nice clear round but it wasn't until the run home I realised in my head what had happened back there and started freaking out. We crossed the finish line and i cuddled her and checked her out - she was fine thank God.
Well we ended up getting a first and wee diva was all fine - not injured at all. So she can stick the trophy where the sun don't shine - giving me a fright like that, lol. Well done little Div - very proud of you!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
11/11/09 ACWA agility trial
Sunday 11th October ’09 we had the ACWA agility trial.
ACWA trial had individuals then strategic pairs. I love playing strat. pairs – such a hoot.
We had individuals first. This was to be Diva’s first Masters agility – oooohhhh!!!
Mini was up first in novice agility. She only needs one more pass to get her title and graduate into excellent – which has the seesaw and yep we can’t do that just yet. So there is no hurry at the moment to get out of Novice. (She’s still not “great” on her other contacts, start line or weaves either so there’s definitely no rush. We got a refusal on a collapsible tunnel – go figure, the wee scaff ran past it barking at me, lol. That’s cool though ‘cause she got all her contacts and weaves – yey minmin.
I think it was excellent jumping next (can’t remember too well) but I think she broke the start line and I would’ve made some stupid handling faux pas which I am obviously blocking from my memory, lol. No pass their either.
Wee Diva’s turn and we had Masters agility. Lovely challenging course and I stuffed up big time. Handling at one section was a crock and I made her pull down a bar. Dam it – sorry Diva. She had a close call on the seesaw and didn’t give the wait at the end I want (and it looked like she came off early too) – I stuck her back on; got the seesaw I wanted then retired. Looking back on Jens video she actually did get the seesaw but it still isn’t what I want so glad I did what I did – sorry for mucking up the jump Diva.
Masters jumping was the last of the individuals and boy if I had a gun I’d ask someone to shoot me. It was a nice challenging course and we got the pull through and just a 180 (or more like a 230) on another jump next – that’s cool – “out” would’ve probably been suffice – but what actually came out was “go tunnel” (which was in fact the next obstacle after the "230" jump) – well before I realised what I had done wee div had shot through the tunnel – what the........ OMG, good girl.
If there was a first place for the worst handling I’d definitely win the masters class in that easy. I even think I’m currently winning for worst handler of the year award, lol. I must say though I’m not entirely to blame. Some of this blame must go to Stacy P. Since she’s not been over to do a seminar this year and kick my butt then I have to put some of the blame onto her. Sorry Stace but the facts are the facts, lol. I’ll just have to keep on failing miserably and plodding along until you come over and show me what’s up with me (besides the obvious), lol. Feeling guilty yet, vbg – got your flight booked yet, lol. – Just remember to bring Jule P with you – she doesn’t know it yet but she gets to run Mini :-) Now that’ an experience and a half – you’ll thank me one day Jule (or never speak to me again) lol.
So we have strat. pairs in the afternoon. I love strat. pairs. I had done so miserable in the previous rounds that I was gonna try really, really hard. Well do my best anyway.
Mini and Dancer were on first. They are in Novice S.P’s. When we started strat pairs a year ago it included Mini only doing the a-frame and jumps, wee Dancer had to do majority of the course. Mini got to do contacts, the weaves and jumps – yay mini.
Dancer is blinding quick and was owning the course – go Dancer. Wee Mini isn’t exactly slow and was screaming too. We lost a bit of time on one of the change over’s. I was getting Mini lined up for the weaves and forgot you could hold the dog still when you’re not in play – so mini’s bark bark bark and dancer had already done the tunnel and jumps before I knew it. I forgot how fast Dancer is and I’m sure her feet didn’t touch the ground over the line of jumps after the tunnel, lol. There was smoke coming off her she was going that fast. Anyway I managed to get Mini lined up again and into the weaves, jump and a-frame. Phew!! The rest of the course was awesome for them.
This was the best strat pairs Mini and Dancer had had together (now that Mini’s getting her act together and not the spare wheel anymore, lol). They both did an awesome job.
They now just need 1 more pass to get into excellent. It’s got the seesaw in it so that’ll have to definitely be Dancer’s thing until Mini learns it and shares the burden, lol. Hey Dancer’s got an awesome seesaw anyway so that’s fine by me.
To top it off they ended up getting first place, yay girls. As you can imagine Megan and I were over the moon. They won a rosette and a bottle of wine each – yummy.
Diva and Epic were next. It was their first masters strat pairs and boy did they do their thing. Diva was absolutely on fire and I couldn’t ask any more of her than what she gave. Epic was hooning round too.
We kinda mistimed one thing on a change over which was near the end. Diva came out the tunnel over a jump, change over; epic to do the a-frame, change over again and diva do the jumps out.
This would make it flowing and quick as Diva comes out the tunnel and takes the jump in the sequence, continue over the not in play jump straight ahead of us and continue down the “in play” line of jumps home. As wee Div’ was taking the not in play jump Epic would do the a-frame.
Well didn’t quite flow like that. As I said Div was screaming and did the jump after the tunnel, the not in play jump then the start of the line home jumps in a nano second, crap, we had to pull back and do the jump again.
We haven’t done strat pairs for a year and are a bit rusty with our timing – but they had both screamed around the rest of the course and obviously made up heaps of time there because they still got first place – wooohoooo!!!
On top of the world is only a portion of what Megan and I were feeling. So we won another rosette and another bottle of wine – hangover waiting to happen, lol.
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