Good News!

We have found another training venue and it is so much better than the last one. It is a lovely big barn without posts in the middle!!!! We have also been given the OK to use the school outside as well. At this point I would like to say that I have been very grateful to use the smaller barn with the posts over the past years, even though I used to moan about the poles I always then followed up with 'but at least we have somewhere to train - which is better than nowhere' We are going to our new venue from next Monday - so very exciting times.

On the show front; I have competed in 2 limit shows over the last 2 weekends and things are looking good for the coming open season - or are the dogs just lulling me into a false sense of security? (probably). Out of 6 classes (over the 2 weeks) Dylan has won 3 and come 2nd in another. He would have won another class if he'd had a decent handler. Oooops! As for Taz, well he remains, shall we say, a challenge but what fun! No more competitions until 20th March which is the day after my niece's hen party so I don't expect to do much there - if I even manage to get there at all.

Another day in my life.......

I have just checked the statistics on my blog and I have had more visitors from the USA than my own country. I can't believe anyone actually reads this rubbish though. I ramble on and on about my dogs and very little else. It doesn't make for good entertainment. I would love to make it more 'readable' but am unsure what to talk about - quite frankly my life really is 'that' boring!

I have just returned from Exeter with my husband after looking for dining room furniture. OMG we can't agree what to have. I am quite happy to wait until we find something that we both like but he has gone off in a sulk and is hardly talking. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife! Men!!

Back to the usual subject -Dogs! We are going to lose our agility training venue at the end of the year (They are re-developing). I'm not sure where we will go - the hunt is on but it is not very easy to find somewhere that is suitable. From my own point of view it's not the end of the world; because I can still go training at Feniton on Saturday and with Sally on Tuesday and also practice in my field but it would be such a huge shame to lose agility from our club, so we must therefore keep searching. Fingers, legs, arms in fact everything crossed in the hope that we can find somewhere.

Yawn, yawn

Tomorrow I have to be up at 6.30am (and it's Saturday!!) and I'm not even going to an agility show. TDCS is holding it's annual limit show and I am stewarding. I can't believe that I have to get up so early to only travel to the other side of our village and spend the day doing something I don't particularly like. I really don't see the fun in breed showing at all but it wouldn't do for us all the be the same. Roll on the summer when I shall be getting up early for something I enjoy doing. Not really looking forward to tomorrow, as I expect you can tell - boring!!!!!

I have had a lovely weekend including 2 days training with Dave Munnings. I don't think I did too badly, Dyl was a good boy, with only the occasional spin/bark. I'm glad he did it because it's no good going to these things saying you have a problem and then the dog does everything perfectly. Dave said that he couldn't believe Dyl has a problem going on cos to watch him in full flight he looks like he will go forever. He recommended that I do a lot of 1 and 2 jump excercises, and work them further and further away from the jump. The last jump is the worst (and always has been). Dave thought it might be because Dylan doesn't want to finish. I then told him that when I throw his toy at the end he picks it up and runs into the middle of the course and lies down it's almost like he's saying I want more, also when we are up the field and it's time to go , we set off back to the car and when I get there I only have Taz with me and Dylan is lying amongst the agility equipment - He always come immediately I call him, but it makes you wonder that perhaps Dave is right. (He does the same at Sally's.)
Good news on the moving front - we have built a new industrial unit for our business and are in the process of moving. Poor Pete has had to work all weekend making sure things get safely from old unit to new and thankfully things seem to have gone ok. I shall be glad when the move is complete and we are totally in. It is a worry and Pete is not sleeping very well at the moment (and he has a nasty cold) but hopefully things will soon settle and we can get bac to normal. At least there is nothing major to worry about (at the moment - see nothing to worry about and I'm worrying about that!!)
I have a competition at the weekend - UKA in Cornwall. I am not expecting to do anything at this show because I am in the process of trying to change my handling system and the dogs are wondering what on earth is going on. No that's not true really - they are fine with things, it'me, I have to work on my timing etc, when I get it right it will be good as Dylan really tightens up his turns, I didn't know he could turn so well! Trouble is in competition you only get one go at it. Must walk the course properly and work out what goes where and when!!

A New Year Dawns

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm off to the Golf Club soon for lunch - as if I really need more food!! I shall be glad to get back to my now normal diet; for those of you that don't know me well; since January 2010 I have changed my eating habits completely - in an attempt to be more fit and healthy - I now feel so much better and have managed to lose 3 stone in weight but there is still more to go.
2011 I am hoping is going to be a good year for us; work wise, home wise and dog wise.
Last year I didn't quite manage to achieve my goals - although I exceeded my wildest dreams in UKA, it was Grade 3 (or above) Kennel Club that I really wanted - well it will have to be this year. As I have previously said, I have confidence now that Dylan will be able to achieve this - he is more than capable, I just mustn't let him down. Training starts again next week and now that the weather has improved we will also be able to get up the field to practice.
Sigining off for now..........watch this space

Last one of the year

All the shows for this year have now finished with the final one for us being last Sunday. I look forward to next year with great enthusiasm. Dylan finished with yet another win in the agility. I am so proud of this little dog. He tries so hard for me and when we fail it is my fault and not his. Our next outing is not until middle of Jan and we are bound to be unbeatable (he he) as I will have had a couple of training sessions with Dave Munnings by then, so look out world here we come!!!!
I want to wish all those going to Olympia the very best of luck and above all I hope they enjoy themselves even if not successful. I will hopefully be watching on the telly or live streaming.
To everyone else; have a lovely christmas and a happy new year.

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

How I hate the winter. Dark mornings, dark evenings, cold, wind, rain................doom & gloom. Would like to be able to get up the field more but the weather just won't allow it. Today the weather was good but I had too much to do to go - why is it that whenever I am able to go, the weather says 'NO' and when the weather says 'YES' I am unable to for whatever reason.

I have decided that next season things will be different for Taz.
I've noticed that the couple of time he got his weaves, I'd just chucked him at them and hoped for the best, the times he missed; I'd almost baby'd (is this a word?) him which I would never do in training. He got his entries most times and then turned around and came out only for me to put him back in (learnt behaviour?). Next season we will keep going....... hopefully he will soon cotton on and just keep going himself. What ever happens it can't be any worse than what we've got at the moment. He knocks poles like there is no tomorrow and is starting to fly his contacts so I am just going to enjoy him. No pressure any more Taz, we are just out for fun - (apart from your contacts which will ALL be held and should you come off before being released you will be put back on).