Helping out at agility class
0 Comments Published by Gussie on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 at 11/11/2008 11:02:00 PM.
I got a text this Sunday asking if I could help at the beginners agility class that afternoon. Well, this week it was no big deal to stay on after the more advanced class, plus the weather was looking cold but fine.
We had a good practice course to run. But for an initial fluffed weave entry, we got round it, me initially following the green path for jumps 13-15. We then broke down the various elements of the course, and I tried following the purple line. Much less scope for blunders doing it that way for us - I need to practice that manoeuvre this week before the Glennifer show on Saturday. We ran the course a couple of times at the end of the class - clear both times.
It's been a few months since I helped out with the beginner's class - I first helped out in August. (Since then we've been coached by another, more experienced handler - I and a couple of others step into the breach with the beginners when Gary can't make it).
I remember how I felt when I first helped out. Snoutbeagle described brilliantly her experience of helping at her agility club. I completely related to what she wrote about feeling anxious at first. "You'll be OK," said our trainer. "You've got rosettes."
Now I've got used to all the faces looking at me expectantly, I find I'm a bit more in the groove - walking round the field suggesting what we'll practice, then watching the teams and making positive suggestions. On Sunday I helped a pair of newly rescued border collies, a slightly fearty golden retriever and an enthusiastic German shepherd. We worked on A-frame contacts, then some jumping, then the soft tunnel, then some more jumping - and we put it altogether into a simple sequence at the end. It's really great to seeing the dogs and handlers getting more confident, and every dog and handler has different things that need attention, all down to their personality and level of training. "It's so much to remember," said one handler. I nearly burst out laughing. Because I still feel like that!
We had a good practice course to run. But for an initial fluffed weave entry, we got round it, me initially following the green path for jumps 13-15. We then broke down the various elements of the course, and I tried following the purple line. Much less scope for blunders doing it that way for us - I need to practice that manoeuvre this week before the Glennifer show on Saturday. We ran the course a couple of times at the end of the class - clear both times.
It's been a few months since I helped out with the beginner's class - I first helped out in August. (Since then we've been coached by another, more experienced handler - I and a couple of others step into the breach with the beginners when Gary can't make it).
I remember how I felt when I first helped out. Snoutbeagle described brilliantly her experience of helping at her agility club. I completely related to what she wrote about feeling anxious at first. "You'll be OK," said our trainer. "You've got rosettes."
Now I've got used to all the faces looking at me expectantly, I find I'm a bit more in the groove - walking round the field suggesting what we'll practice, then watching the teams and making positive suggestions. On Sunday I helped a pair of newly rescued border collies, a slightly fearty golden retriever and an enthusiastic German shepherd. We worked on A-frame contacts, then some jumping, then the soft tunnel, then some more jumping - and we put it altogether into a simple sequence at the end. It's really great to seeing the dogs and handlers getting more confident, and every dog and handler has different things that need attention, all down to their personality and level of training. "It's so much to remember," said one handler. I nearly burst out laughing. Because I still feel like that!
Labels: Agility
Equipment of a non-agility sort
0 Comments Published by Gussie on Thursday, October 09, 2008 at 10/09/2008 08:56:00 PM.
Since my bag was nicked in Madrid, I've been without a camera. The thieves got my camera phone AND my new shiny camera. Until the insurance money comes through I'm a bit stuck. I relied on my camera phone for impromptu pics for the blog, even though the quality wasn't great. It's driving me NUTS. So I'm borrowing an old digital camera to tide me along. About time too. I'm reduced to posting pictures of my scabby old boots.
I have to have super-grippy feet for agility. I don't feel safe otherwise. (Here's why - get well soon). It's still amazing to me that I own two pairs of shoes specially for a competitive sport. I was so unsporty at school.
Anyhoo. With the season changing I'm moving back into my old football (soccer) boots for agility. Much as I love my Inov8 Mudclaws they aren't waterproof. I may yet splash out on some waterproof socks as I find fell-running shoes are very comfy.
Everyone at the Scottish shows seems to wear Mudclaws - they're so this season. Look down at a show and all sorts of different agility people have the same feet.
Waterproof socks? When I were a lass, we wore plastic carriers inside uz shoes to keep uz feet dry. And we thought uzselves lucky.
I have to have super-grippy feet for agility. I don't feel safe otherwise. (Here's why - get well soon). It's still amazing to me that I own two pairs of shoes specially for a competitive sport. I was so unsporty at school.
Anyhoo. With the season changing I'm moving back into my old football (soccer) boots for agility. Much as I love my Inov8 Mudclaws they aren't waterproof. I may yet splash out on some waterproof socks as I find fell-running shoes are very comfy.
Everyone at the Scottish shows seems to wear Mudclaws - they're so this season. Look down at a show and all sorts of different agility people have the same feet.
Waterproof socks? When I were a lass, we wore plastic carriers inside uz shoes to keep uz feet dry. And we thought uzselves lucky.
Labels: Agility
Back to life, back to agility
1 Comments Published by Gussie on Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 10/05/2008 03:41:00 PM.
Our club has started winter training on Sunday lunchtimes (in the summer we practise on Tuesday evening, not really an option when the nights start drawing in). After having September off it was fun to see everyone and to catch up on news and successes - Glen (border collie) had got a 9th place at the Dundee show, and Danny (another border collie) a 1st place in a grade so high we will never see it ;-)
In spite of frosty roofs first thing this morning it was scorching sunshine by the time we set up the equipment! We were all a bit hot and bothered. Even so, Jake ran really well. We spent an intensive hour working on two things - turns, and also getting contacts at speed.
In this sequence we ran the loop (starting with the weave) several times. Then we put in some turns
A-B-C-D-B and on to the A frame and the rest of the circuit
A-B-(back of)D-(back of C)-D-B and on to the A-frame and the rest of the circuit.
The other sequence we worked on was on similar lines.
When we got home I gave Jake an isotonic drink. He lapped it up with great gusto and promptly crashed out on the rug in a patch of sun. H'm, not quite the effect advertised on the packaging, though I'm sure it did him good.
In spite of frosty roofs first thing this morning it was scorching sunshine by the time we set up the equipment! We were all a bit hot and bothered. Even so, Jake ran really well. We spent an intensive hour working on two things - turns, and also getting contacts at speed.
In this sequence we ran the loop (starting with the weave) several times. Then we put in some turns
A-B-C-D-B and on to the A frame and the rest of the circuit
A-B-(back of)D-(back of C)-D-B and on to the A-frame and the rest of the circuit.
The other sequence we worked on was on similar lines.
When we got home I gave Jake an isotonic drink. He lapped it up with great gusto and promptly crashed out on the rug in a patch of sun. H'm, not quite the effect advertised on the packaging, though I'm sure it did him good.
Labels: Agility
On the paws of a dilemna
3 Comments Published by Gussie on Monday, September 01, 2008 at 9/01/2008 07:59:00 AM.
In UK Kennel Club agility there are seven grades. It's traditional to win out of a grade by getting either a first place in an agility class, or with three first places in jumping classes. There are seven grades in all. We started at the very lowest rung - grade 1 - as both Jake and I were new to agility competitions. But you don't have to progress by winning 1st place. Every clear run and the various other 2nd and 3rd (etc) places have gained us points. With his second place in the SKC agility class, Jake got another 19 points to add to his agility record book. That makes over 80 in total - enough for us to move up to grade 2 if we want. (You need to gain 75 points, of which a proportion must be in an agility rather than a jumping class).
I'm so proud that we've reached this point! And it's wonderful to know that we could move to grade 2 if we want. BUT. I've decided to hang on a little longer and see if we can win out of Grade 1. The thing is, we would have more competition in grades 2+ as the dogs and handlers are faster and more experienced. So we would in all probability get fewer high placings (and so fewer points). I'm very happy to be stacking up points towards Jake's bronze agility warrant, for which we need 200 points. My not-so-secret ambition for Jake is for him to have some post-nominals. :-)
I asked our teacher what she thought. She emailed back ... "It's up to you of course, but you would miss out on that 1st place grade 1 trophy that you will never ever get again with Jake or any future dogs. You are so close, and I am absolutely confident that you will get it. However the points system was put in place to allow dogs that are consistent to move up the grades. Its all down to personal choice..."
There are a few shows in our part of Scotland over the autumn and winter - let's see if we can win out by early summer 2009. If we haven't by the May 2009 SKC show, then it might be time to consider moving up to grade 2 on points.
It's interesting coming smack up against my own competitiveness - I don't think my colleagues and friends would have necessarily know this about me. Though my nearest and dearest did of course. Always, always, I have to think - are we both enjoying competing? Cos all these ribbons and points are for me, really. Jake's just happy to run the course with me and to be fussed over afterwards, however it went.
Labels: Agility
For once, not the silliest thing in the park
3 Comments Published by Gussie on Saturday, August 16, 2008 at 8/16/2008 06:12:00 PM.
It's a Saturday afternoon and miracle of miracles, it isn't raining. So Jake and I stroll to the park with some weaves and jumps. As it isn't at all windy I take the set of four jumps that made from PVC tubes - very wobbly in the wind, as they don't stick into the ground itself. (Even on a calm day they can list a bit on uneven ground.) Lots of good practise of pull-throughs, lefts and rights, a star and weaves from both sides and so on and so forth. There's lots to be done with four jumps and 6 weave poles.
BUT the notable thing was that we weren't the main point of interest. For once it wasn't us that the toddlers HAD to go and stare at. It wasn't us the other dogs ran at, barking.
It wasn't even the small four-pole marquee that someone had put up to protect their barbecue and 20 or so of their closest friends. No. The silliest thing in the park today was a bunch of women in inflatable sumo outfits, wrestling. Sorry not to go and take pictures. I was too busy enjoying the anonymity.
Playdate - or agility practise?
5 Comments Published by Gussie on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 6/25/2008 08:43:00 PM.
Jake & pal snuck in some practise between classes by the Water of Leith ...
For Wordless Wednesday.
For Wordless Wednesday.
Labels: Agility, Park life, Wordless Wednesday
We're working on speeding up Jake's weave. I'm shaping for speed at the moment (though not letting him away with inaccuracy). A few different tactics:
- I hiss like a furious snake as he goes through the poles (he LOVES that)
- I do my hurry-hurry arm movement and move my feet quickly (dignity? long gone)
- I occasionally lure him through with ham – (harder for me)
I’m really pleased that hissss is his preferred weave-noise. I had been doing a yodelling whee!whee!whee! which even I was a bit embarrassed about in public parks. (And I'm well beyond normal levels of embarrassment in those spaces.)
At agility class this week we were working with a training weave. This afternoon I copied the effect by tilting the first few poles - the idea being to secure the correct entry. The first time I had the pole at too great an angle and Jake jumped it! Quickly fixed, and from then on Jake was finding the weave entry with no problems, even coming from some unusual angles. (I was also working with a couple of jumps to practice turns and pull-throughs for variety.) I always think of levers on a steam train when I see the weave poles angled like this.
It's the second time we've pitched up in this particular park. The tree kept the rain off very effectively. The picture doesn't show this very well, but look closely and you'll see a full-blown cricket match in full swing in the main part of the park - with all the players in their Whites! Takes me back to my yoof in England. Who'd have thought we were in a Scottish park?
- I hiss like a furious snake as he goes through the poles (he LOVES that)
- I do my hurry-hurry arm movement and move my feet quickly (dignity? long gone)
- I occasionally lure him through with ham – (harder for me)
I’m really pleased that hissss is his preferred weave-noise. I had been doing a yodelling whee!whee!whee! which even I was a bit embarrassed about in public parks. (And I'm well beyond normal levels of embarrassment in those spaces.)
At agility class this week we were working with a training weave. This afternoon I copied the effect by tilting the first few poles - the idea being to secure the correct entry. The first time I had the pole at too great an angle and Jake jumped it! Quickly fixed, and from then on Jake was finding the weave entry with no problems, even coming from some unusual angles. (I was also working with a couple of jumps to practice turns and pull-throughs for variety.) I always think of levers on a steam train when I see the weave poles angled like this.
It's the second time we've pitched up in this particular park. The tree kept the rain off very effectively. The picture doesn't show this very well, but look closely and you'll see a full-blown cricket match in full swing in the main part of the park - with all the players in their Whites! Takes me back to my yoof in England. Who'd have thought we were in a Scottish park?
Labels: Agility
Let sleeping ducks lie
6 Comments Published by Gussie on Thursday, June 05, 2008 at 6/05/2008 08:59:00 PM.
There are no pictures with this post because the action all happened at dusk. Last night I took Jake out for his usual evening constitutional. A clear night in Edinburgh at this time of year - even with the dark moon it was still 10.30pm, and just enough light in the sky to make the world look velvety. As we walked along the waterside we saw bats dipping overhead and water voles scuttling across the path (to Jake's great joy). To my left on the verge I noticed some plump tortoise-shell textured stones. Even as I realised they were actually sleeping ducks and thought must call Jake to heel I heard a skittering of paws and Jake was staring up absolutely enchanted as the ducks took flight, honking furiously. Poor birds.
So I suspect I'm back to square one with my duck-proofing.
PS. We've had a fortnight off agility. Partly because I wanted to let Jake rest up after a very intensive period of training/shows, and partly because I had to go to London for work last week. So at this Tuesday night's class Jake was super-motivated and super-speedy. We're now easing back into training for a show the weekend after next.
So I suspect I'm back to square one with my duck-proofing.
PS. We've had a fortnight off agility. Partly because I wanted to let Jake rest up after a very intensive period of training/shows, and partly because I had to go to London for work last week. So at this Tuesday night's class Jake was super-motivated and super-speedy. We're now easing back into training for a show the weekend after next.
The show at the end of the runway
2 Comments Published by Gussie on Friday, May 23, 2008 at 5/23/2008 11:11:00 PM.
The Scottish Kennel Club May show runs for several days, only one of which includes agility. But what a treat having a show in Edinburgh! A mere 20 minute drive! That meant we only had to get up at our usual weekday time and fitted in our usual morning walk and then (luxury) had bacon rolls for breakfast. (Jake says - can't all the shows be in Edinburgh?)
We filed into the Royal Highland Showground (no pressure) at 0800 with many, many other dogs. For us, it was weird and wonderful to be rolling up at the same time as the gundog and utility breeds. We saw Clumber spaniels, Munsterlanders, English pointers, poodles parcelled in protective plastic and chow chows wearing bibs. The conformation classes were held in a range of upmarket marquees - and there we found aisles of posh catering and doggy shopping. Not the usual burger van and one or two stalls selling training gear and treats! No, here we had paw plungers, extreme crating options, doggy pushchairs, our old friends Dorwest Herbs, professional grooming equipment and organic food supplies - and for the humans, steak baguettes. "Are you here for the agility?" asked one vendor. When I (only slightly sarcastically) asked how he knew, he said "Well, you're dressed more like agility people." Humph.
The SKC won't allow any dogs to be left in cars so that meant a hike to the agility area with chairs, bags of provisions, crates and anything else we could carry. There were a couple of tents where people could leave their dogs in crates, but we preferred to keep Jake with us. He spent a lot of time snoozing ringside. Our trainer had two of her dogs with her, and one ripped his way out of his fabric crate in the marquee while she was running her other dog. Whoops ...
The other weird thing was that the showground is on the perimeter of Edinburgh airport, so when facing in one direction, you'd look up from Champ Agility and see a Boeing 737 trundling past on its way to Malaga.
Anyway! Jake was very chilled on this occasion. We entered three classes, and as usual, it was the last class where we did best - Rod reckons it's a conspiracy to delay leaving the show.
Graded Jumping 1-2 - we arrived, I walked the course, we ran it - blimey! On reflection, I don't think I like being drawn to run 9th in our first class of the day. Jake popped out of the weave - and watching the video I see it's because I took my attention off him for a second to take in the next obstacle. I can trust him with that when we're practising, but it's a different story in the ring! Apart from that it was a nice run.
Graded Agility 1-4 - I loved this course. It was a pleasure to run - flowing, with enough little catches to keep us on our toes. We did lots right. We got faults because I should have taken a couple of my turns more tightly (so Jake found himself in the wrong place, or ambiguously signalled) and then we completely lost it in the final stretch. But I learn so much from these not-so-great runs - what we need to work on, and ways to (try to) recover when the best laid plans fail. If only we could have run it again, we'd have nailed it. :-)
Combined Agility 1-2 - we went clear - even though Jake nearly started sniffing the ground halfway through the weave! He was tired, and hot - it was 1400 and he hadn't had his usual mid-morning nap. Still, a clear run! If it had been a graded class we would have placed, but that's life. It's all points for Jake's record book - we're progressing slowly towards grade 2, and maybe one day Jake's bronze agility warrant. S l o w l y.
We filed into the Royal Highland Showground (no pressure) at 0800 with many, many other dogs. For us, it was weird and wonderful to be rolling up at the same time as the gundog and utility breeds. We saw Clumber spaniels, Munsterlanders, English pointers, poodles parcelled in protective plastic and chow chows wearing bibs. The conformation classes were held in a range of upmarket marquees - and there we found aisles of posh catering and doggy shopping. Not the usual burger van and one or two stalls selling training gear and treats! No, here we had paw plungers, extreme crating options, doggy pushchairs, our old friends Dorwest Herbs, professional grooming equipment and organic food supplies - and for the humans, steak baguettes. "Are you here for the agility?" asked one vendor. When I (only slightly sarcastically) asked how he knew, he said "Well, you're dressed more like agility people." Humph.
The SKC won't allow any dogs to be left in cars so that meant a hike to the agility area with chairs, bags of provisions, crates and anything else we could carry. There were a couple of tents where people could leave their dogs in crates, but we preferred to keep Jake with us. He spent a lot of time snoozing ringside. Our trainer had two of her dogs with her, and one ripped his way out of his fabric crate in the marquee while she was running her other dog. Whoops ...
The other weird thing was that the showground is on the perimeter of Edinburgh airport, so when facing in one direction, you'd look up from Champ Agility and see a Boeing 737 trundling past on its way to Malaga.
Anyway! Jake was very chilled on this occasion. We entered three classes, and as usual, it was the last class where we did best - Rod reckons it's a conspiracy to delay leaving the show.
Graded Jumping 1-2 - we arrived, I walked the course, we ran it - blimey! On reflection, I don't think I like being drawn to run 9th in our first class of the day. Jake popped out of the weave - and watching the video I see it's because I took my attention off him for a second to take in the next obstacle. I can trust him with that when we're practising, but it's a different story in the ring! Apart from that it was a nice run.
Graded Agility 1-4 - I loved this course. It was a pleasure to run - flowing, with enough little catches to keep us on our toes. We did lots right. We got faults because I should have taken a couple of my turns more tightly (so Jake found himself in the wrong place, or ambiguously signalled) and then we completely lost it in the final stretch. But I learn so much from these not-so-great runs - what we need to work on, and ways to (try to) recover when the best laid plans fail. If only we could have run it again, we'd have nailed it. :-)
Combined Agility 1-2 - we went clear - even though Jake nearly started sniffing the ground halfway through the weave! He was tired, and hot - it was 1400 and he hadn't had his usual mid-morning nap. Still, a clear run! If it had been a graded class we would have placed, but that's life. It's all points for Jake's record book - we're progressing slowly towards grade 2, and maybe one day Jake's bronze agility warrant. S l o w l y.
Labels: Agility, Agility shows
Green paws at Woodside
2 Comments Published by Gussie on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 at 5/06/2008 10:24:00 PM.
Not a bad spot for a show! And in spite of the forecast (and the ominous skies) there were only the lightest of showers all weekend.
Very soon after I took this picture, back in the exercise area, I saw Jake’s shoulder go down for a roll ... I dived for his collar and pulled him out of a cow pat just in time. Only to step in it myself! From that moment my left shoe was irresistible to the other 800+ dogs in the show. I called him Green Paw from then on but strictly speaking, the name applied to us both.
Anyway! I'll try to be brief with show notes.
Graded 1-2 jumping class: we should have been OK on this course, but Jake was Mr WAAHH-IT’S-AGILITY: broke his stay, got ahead of me, was deaf to my direction command, took a wrong turn… oh well!
Then we headed for the ABC combined 1-7 class. The ring was parallel with the the burger van, and Jake walked to heel with his head at 90 degrees as though he was passing the Queen. The ABC course was (as expected!) well above our level, but it was fun to walk and plan. Jake and I got round the first section of the course with only one muffed contact, and then, as I did a pull through in the far corner of the ring Jake found himself facing the burger van – and nipped under the rope to investigate!
Then onto a combined 1-4 agility class. It was entertaining walking the course with 270 other people! Luckily for us we were drawn to run in the first 30. Jake was a bit more in his stride by then, and I was really pleased as we navigated the tricky parts as planned - Jake held his stay - and went straight into an opening slalom, correctly ignoring the enticing dog walk right in view - - entry into the weave was great, even after a stretch of running / jumping at full pelt - we got the tricksy tunnel sequence – yay! BUT we were eliminated over a simple thing - (again) down to my handling. C'est la vie!
Apres-show, Jake enjoyed a few mouthfuls of very excellent local delicacy : Scotch Pie.
On Sunday we had a much better day. Jake was steadier and more focussed. Jumping combined 1-3: I thought we might go clear, but we fluffed the weave entry. But check! we got the box work right. Check! Jake was taking "left" and "right" commands brilliantly.
Agility graded 1-2: We got a clear round and came 2nd - blimey! So we scooped another tartan rosette and our first trophy. Much excitement and a hug from our teacher!
Jumping graded 1-2: So much went right with this course. But the now-traditional fluffing of the weave entry (oh, and a knocked pole) was our undoing. But check! Stay held until 3rd obstacle. Check! A turn I always find tricky executed properly. Check! Right turn (away from the jump straight ahead) into a snake. The two parts of the run either side of the doomed weave felt really fluid and FAST, Jake and I watching and reacting to each other so quickly we weren't really thinking - what a buzz. That's why I love agility.
Very soon after I took this picture, back in the exercise area, I saw Jake’s shoulder go down for a roll ... I dived for his collar and pulled him out of a cow pat just in time. Only to step in it myself! From that moment my left shoe was irresistible to the other 800+ dogs in the show. I called him Green Paw from then on but strictly speaking, the name applied to us both.
Anyway! I'll try to be brief with show notes.
Graded 1-2 jumping class: we should have been OK on this course, but Jake was Mr WAAHH-IT’S-AGILITY: broke his stay, got ahead of me, was deaf to my direction command, took a wrong turn… oh well!
Then we headed for the ABC combined 1-7 class. The ring was parallel with the the burger van, and Jake walked to heel with his head at 90 degrees as though he was passing the Queen. The ABC course was (as expected!) well above our level, but it was fun to walk and plan. Jake and I got round the first section of the course with only one muffed contact, and then, as I did a pull through in the far corner of the ring Jake found himself facing the burger van – and nipped under the rope to investigate!
Then onto a combined 1-4 agility class. It was entertaining walking the course with 270 other people! Luckily for us we were drawn to run in the first 30. Jake was a bit more in his stride by then, and I was really pleased as we navigated the tricky parts as planned - Jake held his stay - and went straight into an opening slalom, correctly ignoring the enticing dog walk right in view - - entry into the weave was great, even after a stretch of running / jumping at full pelt - we got the tricksy tunnel sequence – yay! BUT we were eliminated over a simple thing - (again) down to my handling. C'est la vie!
Apres-show, Jake enjoyed a few mouthfuls of very excellent local delicacy : Scotch Pie.
On Sunday we had a much better day. Jake was steadier and more focussed. Jumping combined 1-3: I thought we might go clear, but we fluffed the weave entry. But check! we got the box work right. Check! Jake was taking "left" and "right" commands brilliantly.
Agility graded 1-2: We got a clear round and came 2nd - blimey! So we scooped another tartan rosette and our first trophy. Much excitement and a hug from our teacher!
Jumping graded 1-2: So much went right with this course. But the now-traditional fluffing of the weave entry (oh, and a knocked pole) was our undoing. But check! Stay held until 3rd obstacle. Check! A turn I always find tricky executed properly. Check! Right turn (away from the jump straight ahead) into a snake. The two parts of the run either side of the doomed weave felt really fluid and FAST, Jake and I watching and reacting to each other so quickly we weren't really thinking - what a buzz. That's why I love agility.
Labels: Agility, Agility shows
Why it’s not a good idea to complete show entries late at night
3 Comments Published by Gussie on Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 5/01/2008 07:13:00 PM.
We’re off to the Woodside show in Biggar this weekend. Rod had the following conversation at work:
Rod: “Yes, this weekend it’s the Biggar show.”
Colleague: “Ah. Where is it?”
I remember laughing uncontrollably when I found a publication in a library catalogue by the Biggar Womens’ Institute. I digress! Biggar is a lovely town, with award-winning fish and chips and the best Scotch Pies we know. Jake loves to hoover up scraps in Biggar. Good dog show too, apparently.
ANYWAY. I was just looking at the running orders and nearly swallowed my teeth – because I seem to have inadvertently entered us for the Kennel Club Olympia ABC (anything but collies) Agility Stakes (combined large grades 1-7) instead of the more appropriate Agility 1-2 Graded class. Please stop laughing at the back.
Labels: Agility, Agility shows
Jake’s first KC show
8 Comments Published by Gussie on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 4/22/2008 08:08:00 PM.
We left home sooo early to arrive in good time for the start of Saturday's show as measuring (for dogs new to Kennel Club competition) was scheduled for the start of the day. The downside of that was we had a long wait until our turn to run, but that gave us plenty of time to scope out the venue, stroll round the five rings, watch friends running their classes, give Jake a romp in the exercise area and eat lunch far too early. Next time we must pack two lunches, one for mid morning and one for actual lunchtime. The show was outside and in spite of the mud-bath feared at the start of the week, we had cold but sunny weather and the ground was good to run on. Our agility teacher was camping so we had a much-needed cuppa in her caravan.
Jake was much more relaxed at this show than he has been in the fun shows in an equestrian centre this winter – being outdoors must seem a much more familiar setting for agility, even with hundreds of people and dogs milling around 5 rings.
We entered three classes:
Graded 1-2 Agility
This was a nice straightforward course and if I’d been a bit quicker with my command sending Jake out to a particular jump and timed my own turn a little better we probably wouldn’t have got 5 faults. The other 5 faults were down to me not timing my weave command right, so he missed the entry – fixed that in the other courses we ran. What was really weird was that Jake (and several other dogs – but not all) were very distracted by smells on the ground and on the equipment. And I’ve never, ever seen him stop for a huge sniff halfway down over the A-frame. I’m used to having to steady him off the A-frame, not coax him down! Had some beasties been scurrying on the equipment? Had some previous dog pee’d? Something on the A-frame smelled wonderful. All in all, 10 faults and an OK time. I was pleased with lots about this run – as usual, the main problem was operator error!
Combined 1-2 Agility
We went straight on to our next run. With hindsight we should have cooled off a bit and warmed up again – Jake’s adrenaline must have been pumping! We didn’t get off to the best of starts - Jake broke his stay and knocked a pole off the second jump (Rod and our teacher reckon he started and then got confused cos he realised I hadn’t yet given him any signals …) – somehow I still managed the much-practised pull-through to jump three. I really blew it further along the course on a three-jump star – I pulled Jake to me instead of sending him out, which he obligingly did, so we were eliminated for taking the jump in the wrong direction. Whoops! All in all, in spite of the start and my fluffed star I was really pleased at how most of this run went. Jake’s speed, contracts, weave entry and focus on me (after the start, ahem) were all really good.
Graded 1-2 Jumping
This class was really late in the day, so late we were losing the will to live - we so nearly left early and missed it. Good job we didn’t, as we came 3rd! The course began with two jumps and a weave, and I decided to start well past the first jump and WALK alongside the 2nd jump, the idea being this would steady Jake towards the weave. It worked! The rest of the course was basically a spiral RUN – much less twisty-turny than I feared. Watching the video I see that towards the end I’ve run out of breath to shout anything but the final “over”. The two fastest dogs were ahead of us by 5 seconds – two fleet-footed (border) collies that barely touched the ground. We would usually go faster than this – Jake is usually ahead of me on this sort of run - but we would never, ever have shaved 5 seconds off our time!
Here's the video evidence.
Labels: Agility, Agility shows
Practise, practise, practise
0 Comments Published by Gussie on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 4/16/2008 06:44:00 PM.
A sunny afternoon – and it’s my afternoon at home!
So of course Jake and I carry the portable kit to the park. It’s beautiful – nearly spring, buds on the cherry trees, lots of people pushing buggies and walking their pooches, kids swarming all over the playpark, a little boy playing with his three, yes, three Yorkies. Jake and I headed into our usual out-of-the-way corner, the one which isn’t too boggy or churned up by football boots. It’s absolutely fine practising in our local park. We're laid back about chatting to interested passers-by (usually the ones with kids or their own dogs). The distractions are great practice though I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t sure of Jake’s recall and it certainly wouldn’t work if he was a dog who liked to join in football games.
We practise with the equipment I can carry – which is two lightweight jumps and a set of matching weaves. We usually manage to do a fair bit with that small amount of kit. Today I had three ambitions -
1. Practising my swivel turns on a pull-through - as recommended by Gary at our club practice on Sunday. For me, much easier in one direction than the other. We're getting more fluent, slowly. (And I'm practising my part of the manoeuvre around the house, to the the surprise of other family members).
2. Heheheh. Practising not always taking the obstacle right in front of one’s nose. Jake did really well at this, though I did catch him out the first time. Keep your eye on me, son!
3. Finally, we kept the fun one 'til last - practising accurate entry into the weave at speed. Worked like a dream in the park, even with me standing by the weave to cue Jake to start. Oh, it’s soooo different in the ring!
So of course Jake and I carry the portable kit to the park. It’s beautiful – nearly spring, buds on the cherry trees, lots of people pushing buggies and walking their pooches, kids swarming all over the playpark, a little boy playing with his three, yes, three Yorkies. Jake and I headed into our usual out-of-the-way corner, the one which isn’t too boggy or churned up by football boots. It’s absolutely fine practising in our local park. We're laid back about chatting to interested passers-by (usually the ones with kids or their own dogs). The distractions are great practice though I wouldn’t do it if I wasn’t sure of Jake’s recall and it certainly wouldn’t work if he was a dog who liked to join in football games.
We practise with the equipment I can carry – which is two lightweight jumps and a set of matching weaves. We usually manage to do a fair bit with that small amount of kit. Today I had three ambitions -
1. Practising my swivel turns on a pull-through - as recommended by Gary at our club practice on Sunday. For me, much easier in one direction than the other. We're getting more fluent, slowly. (And I'm practising my part of the manoeuvre around the house, to the the surprise of other family members).
2. Heheheh. Practising not always taking the obstacle right in front of one’s nose. Jake did really well at this, though I did catch him out the first time. Keep your eye on me, son!
3. Finally, we kept the fun one 'til last - practising accurate entry into the weave at speed. Worked like a dream in the park, even with me standing by the weave to cue Jake to start. Oh, it’s soooo different in the ring!
Labels: Agility
The Zen of Agility Shows
3 Comments Published by Gussie on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 at 4/08/2008 06:32:00 PM.
Well, we went to our first show of the year. The Fun Dog Shows in Fife have run every month through the winter - a great opportunity to practice the experience of being in the ring, standing in the queue to run (etc) before we start on KC shows.
We had a whale of a time, though technically it wasn’t one of our better outings. Unlike our November show, we didn’t manage a single clear round! We entered four classes, all for the large dogs grades combined 1-3:
1st Jumping Class – notable because I sent Jake over the wrong jump at the end of the course. Operator error!
2nd Jumping Class – notable because Jake spotted an A-frame off-course (just behind the course fence) and he nipped round to run up it anyway. Great contacts!
“Awww…” went the crowd.
“Eliminate,” went the judge.
Watching the video clips, it’s clear I didn’t call “over” to reinforce my hand signal to the jump.
1st Agility class - notable because it included the one pull-through I have a mental block with … I can do 3 out of 4 possible approaches and guess which one was on the course. Waaah.
2nd Agility class – notable because we had successfully cleared our bête noir (over-running the weave after a jump) and I like to think we were well on our way to a clear round – when Jake spotted Rod filming - and promptly ran off-course to say hello … What's great about this happening is that everyone starts to tell you their horror stories of when their dogs ran amok / away. That's probably another post in itself...
Here is the glorious moment where Jake votes with his paws. At the very start, see how he looks right at the camera, as if to say “I’ll be over in a moment.” And then I’m left standing in the ring clapping like … like a woman whose dog decided he’d had enough!
What did we learn?
1. To take it easy the day before – we’ve been watching out for Jake but not so much for the human team member, who'd had a gruelling day at work!
2. To watch out for changes to our usual morning routine caused by the early start – all the toilet and walk and feeding routines being out of kilter can affect the Sensitive Dog. We are getting better at this, and this time I got up really, really early to give Jake his usual dawn walk & breakfast before we set off.
3. To run off some of Jake's steam on portable kit or in the training area before we go in the ring – it might just help him get some focus before we get in the ring and see the equipment for the first time. Did I ever mention lurchers are fast?
4. To make sure I have the toy du jour and not last week’s toy. I had pocketed the wrong tug and got a look of utter contempt from Jake when I produced it. “That toy is dead to me,” was the implication. Not that Jake particularly needs geeing up in the queue to run …
5. To make sure Jake is used to Rod filming on the edge of an agility course! Jake’s much more focussed when he’s used to his proud family being on the sidelines, which we have practiced in the past. We just didn’t practice before this show and we paid, we paid …
6. Jake LOVES to do full runs, but in practice we tend to break things down into components. We need to practice the thrill of a new, full course in the hope Jake steadies a little.
7. It’s only a game! Looking back at the videos I can see we were both having great fun even though we didn’t do as well as we sometimes do. I remember coming off every course (except the last) absolutely buzzing.
8. Every show is less scary than the last. Though I reserve the right to be really properly scared before our first KC show, coming soon.
Finally, here's more advice for people new to agility shows.
We had a whale of a time, though technically it wasn’t one of our better outings. Unlike our November show, we didn’t manage a single clear round! We entered four classes, all for the large dogs grades combined 1-3:
1st Jumping Class – notable because I sent Jake over the wrong jump at the end of the course. Operator error!
2nd Jumping Class – notable because Jake spotted an A-frame off-course (just behind the course fence) and he nipped round to run up it anyway. Great contacts!
“Awww…” went the crowd.
“Eliminate,” went the judge.
Watching the video clips, it’s clear I didn’t call “over” to reinforce my hand signal to the jump.
1st Agility class - notable because it included the one pull-through I have a mental block with … I can do 3 out of 4 possible approaches and guess which one was on the course. Waaah.
2nd Agility class – notable because we had successfully cleared our bête noir (over-running the weave after a jump) and I like to think we were well on our way to a clear round – when Jake spotted Rod filming - and promptly ran off-course to say hello … What's great about this happening is that everyone starts to tell you their horror stories of when their dogs ran amok / away. That's probably another post in itself...
Here is the glorious moment where Jake votes with his paws. At the very start, see how he looks right at the camera, as if to say “I’ll be over in a moment.” And then I’m left standing in the ring clapping like … like a woman whose dog decided he’d had enough!
What did we learn?
1. To take it easy the day before – we’ve been watching out for Jake but not so much for the human team member, who'd had a gruelling day at work!
2. To watch out for changes to our usual morning routine caused by the early start – all the toilet and walk and feeding routines being out of kilter can affect the Sensitive Dog. We are getting better at this, and this time I got up really, really early to give Jake his usual dawn walk & breakfast before we set off.
3. To run off some of Jake's steam on portable kit or in the training area before we go in the ring – it might just help him get some focus before we get in the ring and see the equipment for the first time. Did I ever mention lurchers are fast?
4. To make sure I have the toy du jour and not last week’s toy. I had pocketed the wrong tug and got a look of utter contempt from Jake when I produced it. “That toy is dead to me,” was the implication. Not that Jake particularly needs geeing up in the queue to run …
5. To make sure Jake is used to Rod filming on the edge of an agility course! Jake’s much more focussed when he’s used to his proud family being on the sidelines, which we have practiced in the past. We just didn’t practice before this show and we paid, we paid …
6. Jake LOVES to do full runs, but in practice we tend to break things down into components. We need to practice the thrill of a new, full course in the hope Jake steadies a little.
7. It’s only a game! Looking back at the videos I can see we were both having great fun even though we didn’t do as well as we sometimes do. I remember coming off every course (except the last) absolutely buzzing.
8. Every show is less scary than the last. Though I reserve the right to be really properly scared before our first KC show, coming soon.
Finally, here's more advice for people new to agility shows.
Labels: Agility, Agility shows
Some agility courses
2 Comments Published by Gussie on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 2/26/2008 09:29:00 PM.
On Sunday we ran variations of this course. This was the easy-peasy version, the more advanced folk were doing more complex things with jumps 3-5, running round the back of the tunnel ... I think the layout was based on course from a show the previous day. Jake and I were working on turns and me being in the right place at the right time. Always so easy on the third attempt - ha!
Meanwhile I have a pile of entry forms to complete, and am engaged in displacement activity by poring over examples of course layouts on Mia Laamanen's site. All inspired by reading about the Silvia Trkman seminar on Johann and Snoutbeagle's blogs.
Meanwhile I have a pile of entry forms to complete, and am engaged in displacement activity by poring over examples of course layouts on Mia Laamanen's site. All inspired by reading about the Silvia Trkman seminar on Johann and Snoutbeagle's blogs.
Labels: Agility
Agility interloper
2 Comments Published by Gussie on Sunday, February 10, 2008 at 2/10/2008 06:18:00 PM.
At the end of our agility practice last week we realised we’d gained a border collie. It took a moment to realise as our teacher has four collies, and there are as many again in the club, all milling around. But after a quick headcount we realised we really did have an extra collie. We caught hold of him: a very handsome entire dog, well looked after, quite chilled round the other dogs and not fussed about the equipment. With no collar or other visible ID. H’mm. We thought the worst. Had someone decided to ditch their dog right next to the one place where it would be looked after? It’s not unknown.
Then we realised that the dog looked familiar. Just like a dog that lives on the far side of the park where we practice, who used to come to the club last summer. We said that dog’s name … the collie looked up - yup, it was Rolo. Luckily our trainer still had a number for Rolo's people in her phone. One quick call and a few minutes later Rolo was collected by his family – he’d escaped from his back garden. He’s on his way to be micro-chipped and we hope, to wear a collar and ID. You need both as backup – belt and braces!
Seriously, in the UK it's the law that dogs wear ID which identify a contact phone number and a home address (not everyone seems to know about the address). The shortest way to express a UK postal address on a dog tag is nn/postcode where nn is your house number. We have both our mobile numbers on Jake’s collar as well as our landline. I’ve been able to return a lost dog to its people in a car park near a local beauty spot because their mobile number was on the dog’s ID.
You might be thinking that Jake sports a collar tag the size of a dinner plate, but fortunately this is not the case. We swear by the flat collar tags supplied by Indigo Collar Tags (in the UK). They hold several lines of information and sit flush to the collar. This style of collar/ID is the only one permitted in KC agility shows! And more to the point they don’t fall off / get snagged in bushes every couple of months.
Labels: Agility
Back to life, back to agility
4 Comments Published by Gussie on Sunday, January 20, 2008 at 1/20/2008 11:47:00 PM.
Shame on me. I was too jet-lagged to go to the agility show on Saturday but I did make it to our usual Sunday club training. It was great to see the gang again after Christmas. I was a bit rusty, but Jake was most patient and by the end our turns were much slicker. We went home tired but with several exercises planned out for the next couple of weeks.
What we’ll be doing is variations on
And variations on the two jump minuet which we’ve been practising during the holidays.
Plus practising entry to the weave, of course. Though when I trusted Jake to do it he was fine. When I tried to direct him I confused him. The dug kens whit tae dae.
I've been watching clips of people practising all this stuff – I’m training myself to watch the handlers as much as the dogs, cos I am the weakest link. First the two jump drill on Agility Nerd and then Chi, one of the OBay Shelties. I had to mute the laptop as Chi’s excited barking woke Jake from his otherwise heavy slumber at my side on the sofa.
What we’ll be doing is variations on
And variations on the two jump minuet which we’ve been practising during the holidays.
Plus practising entry to the weave, of course. Though when I trusted Jake to do it he was fine. When I tried to direct him I confused him. The dug kens whit tae dae.
I've been watching clips of people practising all this stuff – I’m training myself to watch the handlers as much as the dogs, cos I am the weakest link. First the two jump drill on Agility Nerd and then Chi, one of the OBay Shelties. I had to mute the laptop as Chi’s excited barking woke Jake from his otherwise heavy slumber at my side on the sofa.
Labels: Agility
Mad dog lady rained out of local park
0 Comments Published by Gussie on Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 11/22/2007 12:06:00 AM.
With a show on Saturday, I had planned to use my afternoon off today to take the agility kit to the park and get some weave and jump/turn practice with Jakey-Boy. But it has been persisting it down for nearly 24 hours! I’m not risking any of our six ankles jumping and weaving on soggy, boggy grass.
I used to feel self-conscious at the start of summer when I first took the weave poles to the park. (We don’t have the sort of back garden for setting up equipment. It’s too full of washing on the line and overgrown bushes. And we don’t do lawn). We get crowds of kids, other dog walkers, the wife and its world stopping to watch. At first I though Jake would be somehow miffed not to have his usual park experience (mooch. Sniff. Raise leg. Chase pals if any are there at the same time. Mooch. Sniff. Play training games or fetch with human companion. Mooch. Sniff.). But the other week I caught him pawing at the bag with the weave poles in. He wants to weave. (He wants the ham he gets for weaving.)
There is a small element of triumph and yes, showing off. When we got Jake he was the park yob – boisterous adolescent leggy hound from hell. So now when he ignores the teenage collie that tries to entice him out of the weave into a game of chase I’m chuffed to bits. With the extra practice once or twice a week Jake’s weaving is getting pretty good. He’s pretty reliable entering the weave from both sides, accurate going through, and we’re working on speed.
I can’t quite believe that I now carry a sack of poles to the park once or twice a week. Jake of course doesn’t think there’s anything odd in it at all. Of course the world will revolve round me! Why wouldn’t it?
I used to feel self-conscious at the start of summer when I first took the weave poles to the park. (We don’t have the sort of back garden for setting up equipment. It’s too full of washing on the line and overgrown bushes. And we don’t do lawn). We get crowds of kids, other dog walkers, the wife and its world stopping to watch. At first I though Jake would be somehow miffed not to have his usual park experience (mooch. Sniff. Raise leg. Chase pals if any are there at the same time. Mooch. Sniff. Play training games or fetch with human companion. Mooch. Sniff.). But the other week I caught him pawing at the bag with the weave poles in. He wants to weave. (He wants the ham he gets for weaving.)
There is a small element of triumph and yes, showing off. When we got Jake he was the park yob – boisterous adolescent leggy hound from hell. So now when he ignores the teenage collie that tries to entice him out of the weave into a game of chase I’m chuffed to bits. With the extra practice once or twice a week Jake’s weaving is getting pretty good. He’s pretty reliable entering the weave from both sides, accurate going through, and we’re working on speed.
I can’t quite believe that I now carry a sack of poles to the park once or twice a week. Jake of course doesn’t think there’s anything odd in it at all. Of course the world will revolve round me! Why wouldn’t it?
All that agility in the rain-sodden fields, it fair wears a dog out.
We'll just rotate the pic for max effect:
We'll just rotate the pic for max effect:
Labels: Agility
It has recently come to our notice that some of Jake's friends think he belongs to us, and are using such terms as "pet" or "owner." How last century! More appropriate terms are companion animal, fellow domestic mammal, and from Jake's point of view, companion people, fellow pack members, aka personal maid and Mother Hubbard.
The dame made a curtsey,
The dog made a bow;
The dame said, Your servant,
The dog said, Bow-Wow.
Hand in hand is the only way to land... we see ya, ya big sook.
The dame made a curtsey,
The dog made a bow;
The dame said, Your servant,
The dog said, Bow-Wow.
Jake would like it be known that he merely finds Rod's slipper a comfy headrest. It in no way implies he misses his fellow domestic mammal, nor should a traditional owner/pet scenario be assumed.
Hand in hand is the only way to land... we see ya, ya big sook.
And there will be none of this.
We left Jakey at home while we popped out to vote. Other dogs in our neighbourhood did trot to the polling station with their people: Oscar the shih tzu, collie father-&-son Blue and Fram (sp?). Who would the dogs vote for? The Collie Borg party? (Because all collies would vote alike – with great accuracy). Scottish Shih-Tzus for Independence?
Meanwhile the hot topic at agility (apart from trauma because a fellow human has injured herself quite badly, but we’ll not dwell on that) is – choosing a suitably three-part name for the assorted mutts and rescues to register on the Kennel Club Activity Register. This allows us to engage in displacement activity – why fret that our teacher thinks we’re nearly ready to compete when we can be having a laugh choosing poncy names? We have to submit three options in case some other hound already has snaffled the first or second choice.
I quite like Jake’s the King of the Castle, or Little Lord Fauntledog, or [Our suburb name]’s Fawnface.
Meanwhile the hot topic at agility (apart from trauma because a fellow human has injured herself quite badly, but we’ll not dwell on that) is – choosing a suitably three-part name for the assorted mutts and rescues to register on the Kennel Club Activity Register. This allows us to engage in displacement activity – why fret that our teacher thinks we’re nearly ready to compete when we can be having a laugh choosing poncy names? We have to submit three options in case some other hound already has snaffled the first or second choice.
I quite like Jake’s the King of the Castle, or Little Lord Fauntledog, or [Our suburb name]’s Fawnface.
Jake's Progress goes to er, Crufts?
So we left Jake for a lurcher pyjama party with Molly & Steve, and headed south to a strange parallel universe where pedigree is everything. It’s strange, going to Crufts after all those years of watching it on the telly. Our slender excuse for stamping our carbon size 7s all the way down to Brum was to see our agility trainer who was competing with Wigton DTC in the agility semi-finals with Murphy, and running in the Rescue Agility showcase with Bracken. And as a bonus we saw other peeps we know in the flyball semi-final (running with Broxburn DTC).
I’m not quite sure about this pedigree thing, but I mustn’t fall into my favourite vice, inverted snobbery. (Though I’d be in good company with Roy Hattersley). Go mongrels! And kudos to the Kennel Club which is apparently one of the few in the world which allows crossbreeds to compete in obedience, agility, and freestyle. Makes you wonder what all the mutts in the rest of the world do – are there underground clubs where people are doing heelwork to music with labradoodles? The first rule of dog club is that nobody talks about dog club…
What struck me was how many of the pedigree dogs looked a bit like Jake. The Lancashire Heeler is like a stumpy-legged Jake. The Manchester Terrier is like a short-arsed Jake. The English Toy Terrier is a Jake you could carry in your handbag. We even found a hound that is the dead spit of Molly (a whippet x) – the Cirneco dell’Etna.
And you can buy anything for your dog. We were quite restrained - Jake got a Scotland rugby shirt, some kewl new toys… but the best bit was being in the packed NEC Arena, almost exactly where I sat to see the Pet Shop Boys years ago. But this time watching dogs dancing and mini poodles jumping their mini jumps as though being shot out of mini rockets. This only reinforced Rod’s deep-seated resolve to rescue a mini poodle for Dog Number Two.
So we left Jake for a lurcher pyjama party with Molly & Steve, and headed south to a strange parallel universe where pedigree is everything. It’s strange, going to Crufts after all those years of watching it on the telly. Our slender excuse for stamping our carbon size 7s all the way down to Brum was to see our agility trainer who was competing with Wigton DTC in the agility semi-finals with Murphy, and running in the Rescue Agility showcase with Bracken. And as a bonus we saw other peeps we know in the flyball semi-final (running with Broxburn DTC).
I’m not quite sure about this pedigree thing, but I mustn’t fall into my favourite vice, inverted snobbery. (Though I’d be in good company with Roy Hattersley). Go mongrels! And kudos to the Kennel Club which is apparently one of the few in the world which allows crossbreeds to compete in obedience, agility, and freestyle. Makes you wonder what all the mutts in the rest of the world do – are there underground clubs where people are doing heelwork to music with labradoodles? The first rule of dog club is that nobody talks about dog club…
What struck me was how many of the pedigree dogs looked a bit like Jake. The Lancashire Heeler is like a stumpy-legged Jake. The Manchester Terrier is like a short-arsed Jake. The English Toy Terrier is a Jake you could carry in your handbag. We even found a hound that is the dead spit of Molly (a whippet x) – the Cirneco dell’Etna.
And you can buy anything for your dog. We were quite restrained - Jake got a Scotland rugby shirt, some kewl new toys… but the best bit was being in the packed NEC Arena, almost exactly where I sat to see the Pet Shop Boys years ago. But this time watching dogs dancing and mini poodles jumping their mini jumps as though being shot out of mini rockets. This only reinforced Rod’s deep-seated resolve to rescue a mini poodle for Dog Number Two.
Labels: Agility
Jake is exhausted after a two hour agility class. He did very well. And I didn't fall on my arse once!
Some pics of less worthy moments this weekend...
A gallop on Portobello beach
This year's humiliating Christmas present
Some pics of less worthy moments this weekend...
A gallop on Portobello beach
This year's humiliating Christmas present
Labels: Agility
Jumping Jake flash...
To take our minds off what Sandy might be eating in Korea, we've been pressing on with agility...
Check out the corkscrewing tail!
He flies through the air with the greatest of ease...
It's that Ladbrookes moment:
To take our minds off what Sandy might be eating in Korea, we've been pressing on with agility...
Check out the corkscrewing tail!
He flies through the air with the greatest of ease...
It's that Ladbrookes moment:
Labels: Agility
Crufts is here... Apart from all the pedigree propaganda on the BBC coverage (there are apparently seven types of dogs you can choose as puppies, and none of them are mongrels... the only crossbreeds are labradoodles & cockerpoos... grrr...) we're having fun watching out for Jake's agility teacher, who's competing with super-obedient Murphy.
Here is the ever-agile Jake contemplating a future in the Lurcher Agility League.
Here is the ever-agile Jake contemplating a future in the Lurcher Agility League.
Labels: Agility
Who let the cats out
What self respecting cat would hang round in the bushes next to a dog agility class? One with a death wish or with a serious sense of mischief. Jake, whose end of term report, sorry, Xmas card, read "Jake is extremely intelligent...," sat patiently at the start of the course, only to take off into the bushes. Though even members of the collie borg did the same. (More of the collie borg in another post).
Now that we know that Jake is extremely clever, we keep spotting signs of his extreme cleverness. Viz how he has learned that whining at our bedside in the middle of the night gets him unceremoniously sent back downstairs. How extremely clever of him to simply sneak in under the duvet, on the off-chance his people are fast asleep, and first realise they are a trois when one of them falls onto the carpet. Or there's a fluffy arse in their face. Or very long lurcher legs digging into their back.
Revenge is sweet.
Here is Jake in his Xmas jumper, handknitted by a nice ebay seller. So very cosy for those 300 mile drives accross country to see relatives. How cute he looks. Bwah-hah-hah. But His Extreme Cleverness has taught himself to sit up and beg, and it's as much as his Gussie & Roderick can do to try to attach a command ("meercat") to it. How the relatives coo over his new trick! How many biscuits & scraps of turkey are his reward!
And how many high jumps at agility to work them off.
What self respecting cat would hang round in the bushes next to a dog agility class? One with a death wish or with a serious sense of mischief. Jake, whose end of term report, sorry, Xmas card, read "Jake is extremely intelligent...," sat patiently at the start of the course, only to take off into the bushes. Though even members of the collie borg did the same. (More of the collie borg in another post).
Now that we know that Jake is extremely clever, we keep spotting signs of his extreme cleverness. Viz how he has learned that whining at our bedside in the middle of the night gets him unceremoniously sent back downstairs. How extremely clever of him to simply sneak in under the duvet, on the off-chance his people are fast asleep, and first realise they are a trois when one of them falls onto the carpet. Or there's a fluffy arse in their face. Or very long lurcher legs digging into their back.
Revenge is sweet.
Here is Jake in his Xmas jumper, handknitted by a nice ebay seller. So very cosy for those 300 mile drives accross country to see relatives. How cute he looks. Bwah-hah-hah. But His Extreme Cleverness has taught himself to sit up and beg, and it's as much as his Gussie & Roderick can do to try to attach a command ("meercat") to it. How the relatives coo over his new trick! How many biscuits & scraps of turkey are his reward!
And how many high jumps at agility to work them off.
Labels: Agility
Some Sunday observations: Jake much prefers doing agilty with people who don't have hangovers. AKA slick Roderick, ace agility handler. Jake also would probably wish it be known he was unjustly accused of farting in the car when actually it was an uprooted sprout plant in the boot.
Labels: Agility
