Sunday

This weekends trial was held by the North Star Herding Group Club. It was a good size trial with over 600 runs both Saturday and Sunday, and over 300 excellent runs on Friday. Since I am a member of the club, I felt I needed to work at the trial both days, so was there from start to end of day. (Note-I usually volunteer to help at trials, but this one it sort of felt like a requirement) It was a pleasure to work the excellent and open rings and to really be able to study those courses as the more experienced handlers and dogs were running. There are quite a few corgis at our trials up here in Minnesota, of course not as many as the BC's, but quite a few. I love to watch them run, but I have to say some of my favorite dogs to watch aren't the BC's. I most like to watch the ones that maybe are a bit more unique in their running style, the little mini dachshund running 4 inches, and without quite enough oomph to make the a frame, the IGs that really just love to run, preferably without all the obstacles, the bassett with the zoomies. I could go on......
This was a very fun weekend, and I enjoyed myself quite a bit. While I have met lots of new people, and made lots of new acquaintances while doing agility, there is something specially nice about trialing with true friends. Playing this weekend with Garrett and Sadie, Magic's sister, and also with Lynn and Libbie was terrific. Its funny, but all three of us only managed 1 out of 4 for the weekend. But Sadie did pick up her NAJ title! Yeah Sadie and Garrett! I am looking forward to seeing the collage that Garrett is having the photographers make of Sadie's runs. She did awesome, specially considering she got measured up into a higher jump height than she has ever run before.
We didn't manage any successful runs on Sunday, but each run we had was fun. I got lost on the jumpers run, and in Standard Magic was a bit unsure about the tire-I am not sure why as he has never refused the tire before, but we sure had fun on the rest of the run. He gave me everything, and he really tried hard to do what I asked even when I would confuse him. I admit I don't care for the AKC courses, and I know its partially because I am not confident about our abilities. I know that I am the weak point of our team, and while I also know Magic doesn't care about Q's, I feel as if I let us down. And I know we need to get back to some classes, and I know I need to start working more at home too. But enough about that, lets look forward to the next trials and new challenges.

AKC trial weekend

Well, we don't seem to do as well at AKC as Nadac, but we did pull off a standard leg today. No JJW though, we just can't seem to make the 12 inch jumps. Magics first AKC trial we ran preferred so we jumped 8, and he q'd both runs in JJW, but none in standard. So I am guessing it may be the 12 vs 8 inch difference. Time will tell I suppose, but we will keep going and playing, because Magic doesn't seem to care if we get that green ribbon, and truthfully, neither do I, although I will admit it is a nice treat when we do!

Magics sister Sadie was there today too, which was a lot of fun. We don't get to see her often so that made for a very nice day. Oh and seeing Sadies Dad, Garrett was good too.

Tomorrow is another day and we get to play again. Wish I could do this stuff everyday.

Agility pups

Look at me! I think I wanna be a 'gility dog! Mom was coachin me.

Nine

6 weeks

Reba

Siren

Chance

Peace

Nine

Bolt

Bedbug

Ziggy

We are growing up! It wont be too long before they will be leaving for thier new lives. Just thinking about that brings me to tears.

Ears

Agility Photos

Great Dane Photos took pictures at the trial this weekend. They do the best job, simply amazing I think. And incredibly quick - they already have the photos up on thier website. Go here if you would like to see Magic.

http://greatdanephotos.com/store/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=3269

I could spend my whole salary, but had to limit myself as they are shooting next weekend too. They do some pretty incredible collages and I would like to see what she gets next weekend and do a one. Enjoy!

Agility Sunday

Well it was another rather good day. I love the floor surface at Soccer Blast, it's an indoor soccer field. The surface is astroturf over some kind of flooring with some give to it. Usually I hurt a fair bit after a weekend of 12 runs and working some classes, but tonight my body knows we worked, but its tolerable. Magic and 1 again earned 4 Q's today, but yeah-no huge fly offs. In our jumpers run, I didn't trust that he would stay with me so I front crossed him to sort of block the off course jump, which threw him off, and in trying to bring him back to me he back jumped the jump. Our weavers run was the one that really confused me, I thought we had it, and while his weaves were slow (walking) I thought we pulled it off, so seeing the NQ in the results had me stumped. Several hours later when I was still trying to figure it out, I asked the judge who was very nice. Apparently Magic entered on the wrong side of the weaves. I was slightly in front of him, and missed the entry. The judge said that he was really sorry as that particular run of weaves was his smoothest and cleanest. Oh well, mystery solve. But, the weaves are coming out tomorrow and we are going to work hard on them this week. We have AKC next week and I am really hoping for some good runs.
All in all a great weekend, I hadn't realized how much I was missing agility until we started again.

Nadac

Today was fun! Magic and I had a fun day. We managed Q's in 4 out of 6 runs, earning his first standard title. Today it really felt like we were a team and connected. We Q'd in both standard runs, jumpers and for the first time in weavers too. In chances we dropped the 9th bar, of course it was my fault. Usually I am behind the boy, but todays distance challenge was wonderful for us and it allowed me to get in front of him, and I think that really confused him, as it doesn't hardly happen during a run. One of the comments I heard was that he looked like he was trying so hard to catch up he just flattened the jump too much.
However, today we also had our shortest run ever. We were the last runner of the last course of the day. In touch n go, the course was tunnel, to the 2nd tunnel, which was wrapped under the dogwalk. Magic took the dogwalk, but it must have clicked in his head after he got there that I said tunnel, because he bailed off the top. So, scoop off and yup we are done, Thanks! He is fine so far, but I will be watching for any sign of pain tonight and tomorrow. I am hoping the photographer got a shot of his spectacular leap though as it was quite impressive.
All in all it was a fun day, and for not having practiced I was very happy with my buddy.

Agility and Magic

Well with all the activity around the house, puppies, funerals, work and the like, poor Magic has been neglected. Completely. So what (less than) bright idea do I have- how about a trial or two. So the next 2 weekends we are going to play at agility. Mind you, we have done nothing, no practice, no classes, and heck not even any agility related play here at home. Might be interesting, definately will be fun, but I sure am not expecting successful. This weekend we are going to do some NADAC, and next weekend some AKC. It will be fun to see some friends, and it will be fun for Magic to get to play. Wonder what courses he will design this weekend?

Meanwhile I am wishing all my friends some weekend fun and some successes, whether in the conformation, obedience or agility rings. Enjoy yourself and your dog and remember that this is FUN. (It's killing me not to be at the Conformation show where the pups father is being shown. They were done hours ago and I haven't heard how they did.....)

Pups at 5 weeks

Haven't we grown? The pups are 5 weeks old now, and becoming more independent each day.

Reba, although the smallest is the bravest of the bunch. She was the first one to escape the puppy pen, she was the first one to try to eat new things, (leaves from the tree), and she is the first one to really venture away from the group to explore outside.

Peace, despite her name, is a bit of a roughhousing girl, she will take on the boys, Ziggy or Nine and will wrestle quite vigorously.

Ziggy is the defender, those school buses do not belong on his block.

Nine is our energizer bunny, always ready willing to go, go, go. I see agility in this guys future.

Bolt, Bedbug and Chance are the love bugs of the bunch. Quite content to hang out with me. Just looking for an opportunity to chomp on a nose or give little puupy kisses.

Siren is just too cute for words. Everything she does is done with thoughtfulness and creativity, including hiding Mom's slipper.

I adore the entire bunch of little poop machines!

Tug

Tug!

Escape!

I wasn't fast enough with the camera to catch Reba, who was the first one out, but I got Peace in mid leap. As you can sort of see, Grace is encouraging her-imagine that Grace teaching the puppies to escape.....

More Outside Pictures

Well it finally stopped raining so we got to go outside again.

They ran, played and did lots of investigating. Well, until they pooped out that is.

Naptime in the dirt.

Show dog practice!

Tonight we tried to practice standing on the table.

Bedbug tried hard to get the yogurt. They all did. I dont think we really got one good picture, but the pups seemed to be enjoying it.

Chance is such a sweet boy! I just love his face. His mask is staying dark, where the others seem to be fading.

Outside!

We went outside today for the first time. None of us went too far investigating, except for under the steps. We all thought under the steps was very intriging.

I am a slacker

I admit it, I am a slacker. I should have done some training this weekend. I should have gone to the UKC obedience trial, but I didn't. I should have taken puppy pictures, but I didn't. I should have worked on my garden or cleaned my house, but alas, I did not. I did go to the dog show and watched some friends show, and I did spend a ton of time playing with the puppies. In my defense it was way to muggy for me to want to do much, but sit around. I am not one that handles heat and humidity well.

The pups had thier first visitors this weekend. Several friends came to visit and get pup snuggles. I also let the pups have their first real opportunity to play with the bigger dogs. Kazin is still totally fascinated with them, and will let them crawl all over him. Dolly wants to play, but at 8 months herself, really doesn't understand how to be gentle. Magic on the other hand wants absolutely NOTHING to do with those noisy moving little monsters. As soon as one starts to go toward him he hightails it out of the room, or takes refuge on the furniture. He also cannot understand why they get stuffies? He spent about 2 hours yesterday trying to figure out how to get inside the xpen to get the toy without the pups coming anywhere near him. I wish I had gotten a picture because at one point he was on top of the back of the chair, trying to step across the open space between the chair and the xpen, with one foot balancing on top of the x pen. I think when I caught him he was trying to decide if he could make the leap! (I have a 30" high xpen around the pups, so this was quite the trick.) I almost gave in and let him have one of the stuffed toys, but it was way too hot to be picking up stuffing from the house. Poor boy, he will just have to be happy with his rope toy, or his chewed up frisbee.

Look how big they are! It simply amazes me to see the pups change almost every day. I really like them all, it is going to be a very hard decision on who to keep when the time comes. I am really hoping for a pup that can do it all with me, conformation, agility, obedience for sure. I would love to have Grace's look at me attitude and confidence, combined with a little of Magic's willingness, and yet I would love to have a dog that is a cuddler, as neither Magic or Grace is. So many things to think about!

Training

Well, I said I wanted to get back to some active training with the corgis, so last night we did a evaluation of where we are. Magic-well frankly Magic hates heeling and I am not sure how to get this turned around. We are working toward his CDX, but unless I can get him to heel I think we can forget it altogether! The rest of the exercises he can do, although we are no where near perfect yet, but even in the backyard with food rewards he would rather not heel. I don't know if its because we were doing agility, and that is so much more fun, or what, but I need to find a solution. His broad jump is OK, but we need to practice this some. His retrieve is extremely exhuberant, really probably too much so. Its been over 2 years since Magic and I have taken an obedience class and I am thinking maybe that is the start to the solution. But I know I need him to think its fun.

Grace-Being a new momma, we didn't do anything too strenuous, but we did a bit of heeling. Grace has a very nice heel, although we do need to work on being closer to my leg. Both dogs heel a bit wide-Magic more so, so it must be in the way I taught them. Grace does need to remember to sit automaticlaly though. And maybe that is just more of a reminder as we go forward, as I seem to remember she was better at that before. Grace needs to better understand the stay command though, so we are going to work on that over the next few. I am thinking maybe we should try for her RA before we try for CD legs.

I wish we had more APDT rally here in MN, both dogs seemed so much better after we did that last trial. I am pretty sure the fact that Magic got treats in the ring during the show was the key. He did manage to earn the APDT Award of Excellence with his RL1, so I know we can do it.

Hopefully I will figure out a better way so that whichever pup stays, they get a good solid happy heel!

Kazin

Kazin is fascinated with the puppies. Its funny, Grace doesn't mind Kazin checking out the babies at all, but both of the corgis get warned away if they want to see them. Last night, Grace wasnt; in the box with the pups, so Kazin, my neutered male mix decided to go take her place. Grace stood at the door, and supervised, but had no objection at all to Kazin stepping in for her. Poor Kazin though, he couldnt understand what those pups wanted...

Almost 3 weeks old

Reba

Siren

Peace

Ziggy

Nine (the family is thinking this needs to be Nein!)

Chance

Bolt

Bedbug

The pups are 18 days old in these pictures. They are starting to play and to show a little of their personalities. We hear puppy barks, growls and Siren even pointed her little nose to the sky and howled.

I am so glad that the puppies and Grace are back at home. I missed them so much but at the same time it was so wonderful to know that I didn't have to worry about them and that I could focus on Dad and spend as much time at the hospice as I did. But now that they are back I am making sure I make up all the missed cuddles. Grace seems happy to be home too, and is also catching up on her missed snuggles.

Now that the funeral is over though, it is time to get back to training. I hope to put together a training plan for both Magic and Grace so that we can get back to the ring. I hope to start working toward Graces CD and RA and Magic's CDX and NA, NAJ. I would like to accomplish these by the end of the year, but that may be a stretch.

Smart Puppy

Diana, who was caring for the puppies sent me this Wednesday night, but with everything else happening, I didnt get the blog updated as I had hoped. Oh well.


Ok, tonite's award for smartest puppy goes to...Nine.
Tonight after they were fed we needed to get them out of their box so I could change all of the bedding - & of course all puppies were on the opposite side from the door. So I tap the side a couple of times & start calling "Puppy, puppy, puppy" (well, I had to give it a try - never too early to start training :) & Mr Nine perks up his head & actually starts to walk towards me - not all the way to the door, but at least far enough that I could reach him. 2nd place goes to Bolt, who didn't start walking towards me, but did perk up his head & at least looked like he was listening :)
Losers of tonite's event were Bedbug & Reba, who slept together at the opposite side of the box the ENTIRE time I was grabbing out puppies without even flintching - so I guess they get the Soundest Sleepers award :)
Also current best bark award goes to Ziggy, who is the one most often heard giving an actual bark.