WAO - Team Australia

Well a lot has happened since my last post - and the most exciting news about agility that I just must post this - screaming from the rooftops :)

a quick summary first:

ok, ok, :) so WAO (World Agility Open) is a competition held each year. Australia sent a team last year to compete in the UK. So this year it's in Belgium.

Due to quarantine regulation Australia can't take our own dogs over so we have to have host ("borrowed") dogs to run.

Australia had the tryouts in December 2011. It was run under the ANKC height rules :( and I had Mini and Diva entered.

The tryouts were over 2 days and 7 runs - OMG I know - right :S but anyhoo that's what it was.

Anyhoo - I made it onto the team with Mini - I KNOW de Minmin - wooohooooo ;). So excited and what an awesome team is going too.

This is the team of handlers going over with me to Belgium :) what a fantastic bunch and what experience is going over to represent Australia - wow - I'll have to brush up my handling now - arrrgggg - Belgium :)

So for the team from this photo we have - starting at back left

Di Rose running 525,

Me aka Jules ;p running 400

Simone H (from QLD), the short one between Meegs and I & my new best pal running 650

Meegs - my always best pal running 525

Frank running 400

Second row - left to right"

Tom - my other best pal and big bro running 650

In the middle all in black with no glasses or hat - Simone T running 525

Right of Simone with blue hat - Tracey running 650

next to Tracey - Karen running 300.

Yeh Belgium is gonna be soooo friggin awesome I can't wait - yet I don't want it to come around too quick 'cause it'll be over soon after that :)

Also sharing a house with my 2 besties Meegs and Simone H so that will be such a hoot :) wooohoooo :).

Now onto the thing about host dogs. Well we are on the hunt for dogs for us to borrow to run in Belgium. It's proven to be much harder to find than we initially thought TBH.

So focusing on me I had the option of 2 dogs - Magners a Border Terrier and Morgan a Cav King Charles. Both these wee dogs are great and melted my heart. Also owners awesome and so kind.

Sometimes having a choice can be so hard rather than someone saying to you right this is how it's going down. Anyway I made my choice and not looked back for a second.

So on that note I would like to Introduce you to Magners my new dog - well for WAO anyway :)

Isn't he awesome - I love him sooooooo much.

he's got a right wee attitude - just like a typical terrier - such a cool little dog :).



His owners Lara and Michael are coming over to Belgium too - wooohoooo.

You know I've never met Lara in person but since we've been talking on facebook and e-mail I feel like I've know her for years. What an awesome person she is and so looking forward to having a good few beers with her too :)

Meegs and I will go over to UK and spend a day at my Bros in Leeds - hopefully more of the family can come see us there too. Travel to Birmingham on the friday and it's all go from there :)

I have a trial with Magners on Saturday morning - Meegs and I will be meeting up at a hotel with Lara, Mags (Magners) and his sister BB on Friday - probably getting smashed :) at a competition on Saturday morning with a hangover. Meegs picks up George from the same show - OMG what are the friggin odds seriously out of all the dogs and all the people it's us 2 lol - going to another show on Sunday and travel to Lara's place in gorgeous Cornwall after the show sunday. We'll hopefully get some training in on Monday and go to Belgium Tuesday. Arrive Belgium Tuesday afternoon with Meegs and George, Lara, Michael and Mags and Simone H, Laura and Buster on Tuesday - have lots to eat and drink and wake up Wednesday all refreshed :) hehehe.

The WAO comp is on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

You know I can't believe that I get to compete against the best in the world. OMG I am in AWE that I will actually get to stand on the same startline as these people - WOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway me and my wee Mags are gonna rock - even if we don't even qualify once - we're gonna have such a great time :)



BTW there are supporters shirt for sale if you wanna buy one - all for a good cause and we can never have too many agility shirts either :)

Oh and I've already been in training for running a small dog - Nic let me run Jasper (her friggin awesome sheltie) at the last ADAA trial. He's such a good dog. I just have to remember to not take off so quick like I would with my guys - Jasper and Magners legs are much littler lol than my lots - well mini doesn't count she just has to make it there :) see ya I'm off mini :)



also the seesaw takes a little longer to drop than when my guys are on it too :)



But in jumping I'm gonna have to have my running legs on - rather than my legs like lead and treetrunks - OMG - can this wee man move :)

so excited and will keep you posted :)

BELGIUM BELGIUM BELGIUM :)))))

oh and this too.........

Aussie Aussie Aussie :) xxxxx

Tess - Countess of Butchercote

I dedicate this post to Tess (Countess of Butchercote): December 1998 – June 2011. Such a majestic looking girl and a loving and sweet nature.

Tess is Samroc’s wee sister. She was born on Easterton farm, Scotland in December 1998 and was owned and loved by Lynne and her aunty Gwen.

Tess loved her agility and was truly awesome at it too – mega fast and extremely talented. She was a dog who gave her all and then some. Her and Lynne won into grade 7 in the UK.

Lynne and Tess were pairs partners with Gwen (Lynne's sister) and Abbey (Tess & Samroc's sister) and rocked in this too. Having the sisters winning at Dundee was such a highlight and a proud moment for Gwen and Lynne. Very proud of their girls.

Sadly Tess got cancer in June and lost her battle to survive at 12 years young.

My heart goes out to Lynne and Gwen who dearly miss wee special Tess. She's gone from this world but never forgotten. Remember the tears of joy and the smiles and laughs, the people you met and the places you were able to see together. How lucky you are to have had such a special wee life cross your path and give you such wonderful memories.



Rest in peace Tess - Countess of Butchercote: Agility legend & a dog of a lifetime xxxxx

Not blogged for a bit but missed my dogs.

I haven't been updating my blog recently and for good reason too this time.

I've been really sick and didn't know it - until I was admitted into hospital and in ICU for 2 days and kept in a ward for a further 3 days - hmmmmm!!!!!!

My potassium levels dropped critically low - 1.5 and supposed to be 3.5 - 5. It's a scare 'cause such low potassium can cause cardiac arrest and death.

The doctors said it was from drinking too much Coke - WTF!!!!!! 4-6 litres per day is too much?????

So I'm on limited amounts of Coke now and drinking water mainly - along with the occassional tea and coffee. Missing it like mad but have to think of the dogs.

Angela and Tom were both Godsends and I couldn't have gotten by without them.

Angela took me into the hospital and has been my Angel ever since. Not only was she in the hospital visiting me all the time but also would bring me in clean clothes, went to the house and looked after the dogs and done the housework, not to mention umteen other stuff she done where she could've been at home with her own dogs and family.

Tom went over to mine after work and stayed over with the dogs - getting up at a such an early hour before work so he could walk my lot and his - in different batches.

Thank you soooooo much Angela and Tom for all you done - you are both champions xxx.

Also to Megan and my big sis Amanda, Nige and Jasmine for coming into see me and cheering me up. My poor wee Niece Jasmine got the fright of her life when she came into ICU and saw tubes connected from everywhere in my body - cheered her up when we said I would get cake and ice cream when in hospital.

And thanks to my mum and big sis and big bro in the UK. My mum was almost on a plane here and I had to make her promise not to come, i'd be fine and when she comes out it's to be on holiday and not as a carer. It was cute though when she asked if there was a spare bed she could have and move beside me in the ICU ward - mum it's ICU, lol. I have my own private nurse to watch me around the clock, lol.

I must also thank Jodes and Kriszty who were on the phone and let me know I'm loved :))) And to everyone who sent me well wishes.

Out now and heaps better. Gotta keep getting blood tests every 2 weeks to monitor my levels, etc.

Getting back into the swing of things - will take a good few months before I'm back to normal - as normal as I can be :))

Samroc's family

Samroc's getting on a bit in years - he'll be 13yrs old on 6th July. He's still full of life and loves his toys.



Here's an amazing thing - Samroc doesn't do agility any more - no that's not the amazing thing though lol. Yesterday I was doing some training with the girls (believe it or not that's not the amazing thing either lol) and had Diva out at first - was working on contacts. Diva just continues to blow me away - she's friggin brilliant and puts 100% into everything she does - and has an absolute blast doing it too :)


I then took out Mini and Samroc came out too. We were working on the 2020 position as I found out that Mini clearly hasn't got a clue that you are to go to the end and do a 2020 and not just do a cute front paws in the air and place them in front of you half a metre up the down contact lol.

Well I was working with Mini and letting her find the position - "touch" she didn't get it - I moved slightly forward towards the end - "touch" didn't get it - took her off and positioned myself where I was last time - "touch" she got it - yay Minmin. So I moved back half a step - "touch" she didn't get it - back to where we were when she did last succeed - "touch" - at this point Samroc was somewhere behind me (now Mini's already below the down contact - Samroc came busting over, pushed mini off the contact and went into a 2020 position himself - awwww good boy :))). Now this is the amazing thing - I never ever done 2020 position on contacts with Samroc lol. This is obviously something he has picked up from watching me do it with Diva and Mini - wow - and he knew exactly where to stand.

Samroc doing a running contact at a trial

Now if that's not amazing I don't know what it - that dog is just soooooooooo awesome - he continues to stun me :) that's my boy. I'm gonna have my video camera on next time Mini's doing it - just in case he want's to do it again and I can get it on film :)



With all the new pups going around at the moment - it's amazing how quick they grow up into adult dogs - far too quickly :( I just have to add Samroc's pups photos in:



Left: Rocstar (Roc) Right: Solar Eclipse (Sol)



Left: Stormy Right: Lucy



Left: Jazzy 'G' (Jazz) Right: Roxy

I got an e-mail from Gwen in Scotland - she and her sister Lynne have Samroc's sisters and other relatives.

They all do agility and just like their big brother/uncle Samroc they are super fast :)

I am totally thrilled that she has managed to contact me and have lots of photos to share with you of Samroc's relatives - they are all absolutely stunning and I'm not being bias saying that - have a look for yourself:



Tess - Sam's little sister - from same parents a Samroc - 2nd litter. She is soooo like her big brother - wow.



Abby: Sam's little sister - from same parents as Samroc - 3rd litter. She's a beauty.



Abby and Tess winning pairs at Dundee



Brodie: Sam's wee brother - same dad different mum



Kel: Sam's wee sister - same dad different mum (from same litter as Brodie)



Lucy: Sam's wee sister - same dad different mum (from same litter as Brodie and Kel)



Robbie: Sam's wee brother - same parents as Brodie, Lucy & Kel - 2nd litter



Rory: Sam's wee brother - same parents as Robbie. OMG isn't he just a stunner - he is my ideal looking dog - wow he is gorgeous :)



Sally: Sam's niece - mum is Tess (different Tess from above - another sister named Tess :) - just to confuse you lol - both Tess's have same mum and dad as Samroc. Sally is named after her granny (Samroc's mummy).



Mini & Oliver: Samroc's nephew & niece from Rory (Sam's brother - different mum) and Sally (Sam's niece).



Jake: Samroc's adopted brother lol. Gwen's rescue BC X - will be 14 in April :)



Rory, Lucy & Jake all together at the beach :)



More of Sam's nieces and nephews at a training session :)

Here's some of Roc- Sam's daddy - old boy - awwwwwww



His coat turned red before he died

He was 14 years old when he went - not too bad for an old farm boy working dog

And he hated getting his photo taken - I remember when Sam Weaver would try and get Samroc's photo and he would look away or look at the ground - like father like son lol :)

There are more of Samroc's relatives doing agility in UK - will have to watch out for them and get out my pompoms to cheer them on

Guess who I'll be going to watch run when I go back on holiday :))

Who knows - in future years there might be a wee Samroc relative running around this house - Wouldn't that be nice :))

But I've got little Zumba to keep me occupied for a good wee while yet :)

6 weeks old and getting big

OMG - the pups are so grown up and looking like little dogs rather than little slugs lol.

Here they are at 6 weeks old - note the new names :-)))

Pup 1 - Was Mini Mav - now Dice

Dice will be going to live with Pam, Kevin and their furkids

Dice is such a fun pup. He is the best tugger and gets into everything.

Pup 2 - was Eclipse - now Jive.

Little Jive will be going to live with Andrea and Keith and their furkids

Jive is such an awesome friendly pup she is with a great nature.

Pup 3 - was Madge - now Ripley 'cause she's a little Ripper :-)))

Ripley will be going to live with Nic, Andy, Ben and the furkids.

I love her new name - and aren't her eyes stunning...........

Pup 4 - Was Mac - now undecided between Whip and a few others which I can't recall.

Wee Whip will be going to live with Jodes, Greg and Nichol.

Thought these photos were the funniest thing - he obviously hasn't realised that he's grown much bigger and can't easily fit in the ceramic plate any more lol.

Pup 5 - was Mambo - now undecided between Mambo, Ginny, Gizzy, Guess lol.

Wee cutie will be going to live with Tom and his fur crew

Mambo loves Samroc to bits - think she's gonna be a ladies man lol. She is one of the 3 who keep escaping from the outside puppy pen so is nicknamed one of the 3 amigos - and look at her - you would think butter wouldnae melt - hmmmm :-)))

Pup 6 - was Groovy Fugleena - now undecided between RocDJ and Madge

Little Madgeena will be staying right here with me, Diva, Samroc and Mini.

I think she is such a cutie pie now - not fugly like she was when she was born - maybe I've got used to her vbg. She looooooooooves people and dogs and gets into everything. She is one of the 3 amigos along with Mambo and Vogue - these 3 escape from the outside puppy pen and run around.

Pup 7 - Was Vogue, now undecided between Spyder, Mambo & OB

Spymamob VBG will be living with Steve, Nicola, Finn and Bailey with there fur crew.

Vogue is such an outgoing pup = I love the photos of her playing tug with diva and mini. Vogue is the 3rd of the 3 amigos and a very determined pup. She found her way out of the inside puppy pen too and kept getting out - cheeky chops. Too cleaver for her own good, I'll tell you that much.........

More updates coming soon