It was FUN!!!!!

So my update from this past weekends agility trial is I had so much fun.
I travelled up w/ my friend and her 2 dogs, so that in combination w/ my 3 my CRV was packed, however we had packed smart and even w/ all our stuff we still had room to spare, not a lot mind but room none the less. We arrived at the barn in good time around 8:30pm and set up camp ( I was very pleasantly surprised by the accommodations it is a very nice heated horse barn and the stall we camped in was at the end of the row and so we had lots of room)
The next morning was a cool one and I don't know if it was the cooler weather, the arena surface, where we were benched, experience, or the fact that my nerves are now gone when I run w/ Massey but she ran awesome. Massey often will get distracted when running a course so I know now where I need to remind her that I am there and so other than a couple of times she stayed w/ me the whole time, and w/ each run she was getting more and more confident and faster.
Our trouble areas seem to be the chute and me not making sure she is fully committed to taking It before I leave and the start line even though I have her attention right up to the release spot she still drops her head for a moment to sniff so I shall be working on those 2 things, but w/ that being said she was so great she was having fun and and so was I often w/ my training path w/ her it has so not been fun so I am glad that we are now on the same page and are having fun. :o)
I was also very touched (ok I may have shed a tear, lol) to have received an award for Starters Handler and dog showing great developing teamwork from Fionavar K9 training and Lynda Caughlin this means so much to me as I may not be the best handler out there and lord knows I have had my ups and downs w/ Massey but I listen, practice and try my best and it nice to have this recognized by an outsider who does not know my history w/ Massey.
On a side note both Esmae and Crawford travelled very well, when I had some down time I did training w/ both dogs and was very pleased to see that neither of them seemed fazed by the hustle and bustle of a trial.
I had such a great time w/ my wonderful and helpful traveling companion, the rest of the Go Dog Go crew, watching and learning the different handling techniques and meeting new people. Fingers crossed I get into the upcoming November trial in Calgary. :o)))))

Excited

I am so excited and looking forward to this weekends agility trial.
It will certainly be an adventure as I will be staying on site (at a horse barn) in a box stall with my friend, her 2 dogs and my three dogs.
I don't typically rough it, usually my idea of camping consists of a 5th wheel complete w/ solar panel for electricity for essentials ie: hairdryer and a full bathroom w/ shower.
Needless to say that although there is electricity and bathrooms on site there will be no showers or hairdryers on this weekend trip. ugh!
It will also be my first trip traveling w/ all 3 dogs, (Massey is the only one competing but I thought I'd bring the other 2 for socialization.) which can be an adventure all on it's own.
This will be Massey's first indoor trial and as she gets easily distracted in new settings I am not overly confident on how she will perform however I am super excited about it and hopefully that will rub off on her.

No more excuses

I love riding my horse, like a lot.
This past few months I've been super busy and have not made/had the time to ride. I've been busy with work, dog activities and the weather has just plane sucked.
While my work schedule has somewhat slowed down, I still have my dog activities and as we are heading into winter the weather will continue to suck, Max and I will just have to tough it out and I will make the time to ride, it may not be a long ride, but I am determined to get out and just do it!
so........ No more excuses!

Come on everybody, let's roll

Massey loves to roll.
Sometimes I don't even know what she is rolling in, I wonder if she even knows.
Davin and Esmae don't seem to quite see what the fun in rolling is.
However.......




Crawford does!!!!!






:o)))
Another dog that loves to roll.
PS; and yes they all got bathed (again) once we got home.

I don't wanna get up

It's almost 10am on a Tuesday morning.

I am up.

The aussies are up.

The cats are up.

The horses are up.

The corgi???????

Not up.

PS. as scary as it seems this is an actual photo, no posing.
omg!! what is happening to me? not only is there a dog on the bed he is also in the bed. lol

Training Sessions

When I'm training the dogs in the house I find it easiest if I go in the office and shut the door, that way I can work on what I want to with out the other dogs getting in the way.
At this time Crawford is the one being trained. Esmae waits patiently on the other side of the door for her turn.
Speaking of Esmae, at class last night she was pretty unmotivated, I got some good advice from my instructors as to how to make the reward (and me) to be more exciting and thus more rewarding for her. I also think I need to find the perfect motivational tool for her, be that food or toy. I know one thing for sure she certainly likes it when I can run with her, so that is something I need to continue doing with her.
I also had it "mentioned" to me how important it is to do right side weave entries (something I failed to really teach Massey).
I have inadvertently taught/let Esmae to back weave or to go back up the A-frame etc, until last night night I didn't realise how foolish this was.
All in all there was a lot to think about at last nights class, and if I am serious about competing with Esmae and I am, I need to really take these suggestions to heart and while training on my own hopefully will not teach her any more bad habits.

Upside Down

I've never had a dog with short little legs before and was finding it difficult to see where to cut their nails.
Amanda recommended that to put Crawford on his back. This totally works!, not only do I get to have great vision on where to cut his nails he also totally thinks it a fun game.
Thanks Amanda. :O)