Sunday up in Duluth Grace and Magic both earned their TBAD and TG1 titles running teacup agility. The video is one of the games, Minuet, where the goal is to run the loop as many times as you can. Magic managed the most of any dog there! And Grace was like 4th overall. Grace also managed her first intermidiate level Q and she weaved nicely in 2 runs. Small accomplishments to some, but huge for us. Grace also managed to run 8 times with no health complications. If you watch the video of Grace she will loudly tell you how much fun she had, she has never barked quite so much as she did up there! Go Gracie!
Magic running Minuet
Grace runs Minuet,too.
Showing posts with label agility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label agility. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Teacup Agility
Last weekend Grace, Magic and I tried to run teacup agility. In teacup the equipment is smaller and the courses seem tighter. I chose this as Graces first attempt back to agility since she got sick since I thought the smaller trial, smaller equipment and nice local location would make it easier for her. Well she was amazing as far as her health and happiness. She never stopped wagging and smiling the whole weekend. She ran 6 times total, and we actually qualified 3 times, twice in standard and one game. In her second run of the weekend she started to give me serious attitude, so she got pulled off the course, but the rest of the times she was wonderful. We had a few bobbles, heck we are out of practice but overall she was terrific and I was so proud of my pumpkin girl.
Magic only went on Sunday. He ran all 6 classes and qualified 3 times, 2 games and one standard. His issue was leaping contacts. We really may have to consider changing to a 2 on 2 off. Running is not working with him at all. On the positive side, while he was a wild man, and we had a few miscommunications overall he tried really hard and I can't fault that. I messed up both dogs a couple of times when I forgot which dog I had and handled wrong. I need to work on that! But thats OK we have plenty of time to play together!
Magic only went on Sunday. He ran all 6 classes and qualified 3 times, 2 games and one standard. His issue was leaping contacts. We really may have to consider changing to a 2 on 2 off. Running is not working with him at all. On the positive side, while he was a wild man, and we had a few miscommunications overall he tried really hard and I can't fault that. I messed up both dogs a couple of times when I forgot which dog I had and handled wrong. I need to work on that! But thats OK we have plenty of time to play together!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Videos from Laura
Laura Waudby the wonderful person that she is took some video of the kids last night. Thanks Laura!
First up Magics Weavers run. I messed us up at obstacle 5, but you can see he did not hold his start line at all. We will work on that.
Magics Weavers run - bad handling Dawn
Here is Magics Hoopers run, It was really good until we failed! Oh well, NQ to run again right?
Magics Hoopers Run - Nice until we lost it
And here is Grace who is VERY happy, she was too happy for me not to smile at her. Love how she bounced right over though when I called her.
Grace Hoopers Run - with the Zoomies
First up Magics Weavers run. I messed us up at obstacle 5, but you can see he did not hold his start line at all. We will work on that.
Magics Weavers run - bad handling Dawn
Here is Magics Hoopers run, It was really good until we failed! Oh well, NQ to run again right?
Magics Hoopers Run - Nice until we lost it
And here is Grace who is VERY happy, she was too happy for me not to smile at her. Love how she bounced right over though when I called her.
Grace Hoopers Run - with the Zoomies
Friday, September 2, 2011
NADAC Agility
Tonight Magic Grace and I went and ran a little agility. The MN Mixed Breed Club holds a Friday night games trial, just Hoopers, Weavers and Tunnelers. Other than classes the corgis and I haven't been doing much agility, so I thought this might be fun. And it was.
We started out with Hoopers. Grace was up first. She was so excited she got the zoomies. She has never done that before at any type of trial - I know I shouldn't say it but it did make me laugh. It wasn't too long, and I got her back and we tried the class. We had a few issues, and we didn't qualify, but we finished the course, I created a plan and we tried it. Then it was Magic's turn. I had a different course planned for Magic, but I decided to try him on the one I did with Grace, and he nailed it pretty well, right up until the end when he took the start line hoop and earned an E. It was my fault, I should have run the course I had planned for him, a or I should have realized that he would see that hoop as in line. Oh well.
Next up was Weavers, where Magic and I just were not connected. I sent him off course on obstacle 5 and then we lost it in the 2nd set of weaves. These were the off side weaves and well he is not as strong on the right. We need to work that. We finished the course and his last set of weaves were very nice, so I was happy with that. No weavers for Grace because she doesnt weave.YET
Last was tunnelers. Grace was up first and although she broker her start line, the rest went pretty darn good. It started with 2 straight tunnels to a curved tunnel, and not only did Grace run those tunnels, she RAN them. Lots of speed-more than I get in class. She handled the turns really well, had no issue with my doing a blind cross, and when I asked her to turn away from me and go she did, really cleanly. That turn led to the final 2 tunnels heading out and she booked, she ran ahead of me and kept going! It really felt like a nice run and I was smiling and so was she .
Last up was Magic's tunnelers run, and it too was very nice, faster than Graces, but not by a huge amount. Both qualified and Magic took first and Grace second. Made my night. I have always loved playing with Magic, but overall I havent felt as connected to him as I did with Grace in her run. It just felt really good.
We started out with Hoopers. Grace was up first. She was so excited she got the zoomies. She has never done that before at any type of trial - I know I shouldn't say it but it did make me laugh. It wasn't too long, and I got her back and we tried the class. We had a few issues, and we didn't qualify, but we finished the course, I created a plan and we tried it. Then it was Magic's turn. I had a different course planned for Magic, but I decided to try him on the one I did with Grace, and he nailed it pretty well, right up until the end when he took the start line hoop and earned an E. It was my fault, I should have run the course I had planned for him, a or I should have realized that he would see that hoop as in line. Oh well.
Next up was Weavers, where Magic and I just were not connected. I sent him off course on obstacle 5 and then we lost it in the 2nd set of weaves. These were the off side weaves and well he is not as strong on the right. We need to work that. We finished the course and his last set of weaves were very nice, so I was happy with that. No weavers for Grace because she doesnt weave.YET
Last was tunnelers. Grace was up first and although she broker her start line, the rest went pretty darn good. It started with 2 straight tunnels to a curved tunnel, and not only did Grace run those tunnels, she RAN them. Lots of speed-more than I get in class. She handled the turns really well, had no issue with my doing a blind cross, and when I asked her to turn away from me and go she did, really cleanly. That turn led to the final 2 tunnels heading out and she booked, she ran ahead of me and kept going! It really felt like a nice run and I was smiling and so was she .
Last up was Magic's tunnelers run, and it too was very nice, faster than Graces, but not by a huge amount. Both qualified and Magic took first and Grace second. Made my night. I have always loved playing with Magic, but overall I havent felt as connected to him as I did with Grace in her run. It just felt really good.
Monday, July 4, 2011
I am beat!
I ran Magic for the first time in Open JWW. We were not successful as far as Q's go, but we ran pretty well. In Novice Standard, Magic did qualify yesterday. He was so happy and excited to be out running. Makes me realize that I should just get him out and do more trials. I would like to take him back to some classes, but I dont know if I can. He runs so differently than Grace, I have to learn to be a better partner for both. But the boy was a happy guy, so it was all fun.
Now next weekend is the Denise Fenzi seminar. I am hoping I can learn to be as muc fun doing obedience. I still haven't decided which dog to take....
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Agility in the pouring rain
The other week I decided that I needed to enter Grace in an agility trial before we get to Michigan next month. I thought she might need some experience at an actual trial. So I entered Grace in one round of tunnelers at a local NADAC trial. But gosh, if I am going, it seems so silly to just go for one run doesnt it, so I also entered Magic in all 3 of the available runs on Friday night. Hoopers, Tunnelers and Weavers. The closer we got to the actual trial the more nervous I became. I worried about Grace running off, I worried about Magic not remembering what to do, I worried about whether I could actually run a whole course. I worried.
Friday the day of the trial it was rainy. Really rainy too, not just a nice light sprinkle. But thankfully it was a warm rain, so although I chill so easily, I thought I would be able to handle getting a little wet. Well, a little wet certainly was not going to happen, as it was pouring at the trial site. Not the whole time, but often enough. Since we were only entered for the one day, I could not see bringing the easy up, so we just set the dog crates up and covered them with a tarp. For the most part they were dry, unless they were out running.
Magic was up first with a hoopers run. Hoopers is not offered at every trial and our last hoopers Q was 3-15-2008, and we really hadnt run any NADAC since 2009, and had only run one CPE trial in 2010. So I was pretty sure that we were just going to go out and have fun and not worry about how we did, or how badly we looked. We were just going to do our best, play and have a great time together. Hoopers, for those of you who don't do agility is a course where you sort of make up your own plan. There are 5 tests on the course set by the judge and a line of hoops in the middle that are non test hoops. For novice you have to do 3 non test hoops, successfully complete a test, do 2 non test hoops and then complete another test, then get the heck out of there.
I had watched most of the others run the course and very few of the people chose the tests that I thought we were going to try. I started to worry thinking that those very experienced folks were so much smarter than I was maybe I should change my plan. But in the end I decided to do the course that I planned anyways. Magic was super excited as we stepped up to wait our turn. He made it perfectly clear that he loves to play these games with me. I did not ask him for a huge lead out, as it wasnt necessary for the course, but he did wait for his release. He shot off the line and raced down the line of non test hoops, taking the first 4. He was headed for a test at the end of the line, but I called him to me and sent him through the first hoop and out to 2nd in the test. This was the harder hoop to get, because there were 2 side by side and the dog needed to take the further one from the handler, I pushed him out, he adjusted and took the right hoop, headed back to me took the last hoop of the test and I sent him on to the next 2 non test hoops. So far great! The second non test hoop was a bit beyond the next test I wanted to try, so I called him back and sent him through the first hoop of the test. This test was a 4 hoop test, one hoop centered in front and 2 behind it sided by side so the test was to take the front hoop, take either of the back hoops, wrap and come right back through the hoop next door and take the first hoop again. Magic did really well, his wrap/turn from the 2nd hoop to the 3rd one could have been tighter, but he did it very well in my opinion. Back to the last hoop of the test and out to the finish. WOOHOO success! I had no idea is we made time or if we really had done it right, but it felt so good. It felt like teamwork, it felt like it was just the 2 of us and the rest of the world didn't even exist. It makes me smile thinking about it.
I wont go into the blow by blow of the other 2 runs, but they were pretty awesome too. We did mess up in weavers when someone forget his start line stay and then missed a hoop. But the rest of the weavers run was really good. It felt good, he remembered how to weave and did all 3 sets on the first try. Tunnelers also went well, the course was great, and I loved it. I love that Magic is such a good partner. Now I have the bug again and really want to do more agility.
Grace had a hard time being patient and waiting for tunnelers. Whenever I had Magic out, she screamed her fool head off, so that means I have some work to do with her. But, she was eager and when it was her turn she was excited, she was happy and she was fun. OK, she didnt do the course and she kind of made her own, but for a dog that has not been a tunnel sucker she did take every tunnel she saw and she did so with speed and a wagging tail. I was worried about her taking off on me and I guess that is not going to be an issue-at least not in the sense that she would leave the agility field. She was so eager to run, she took every tunnel opening she was, but 2 times I was able to redirect her and I was able to call her off in the middle of the course and end our run. She seemed to have a great time! I am now less worried about the running off than I am about her creating her own path. I know we are not quite ready yet, and she will never be the same as Magic, but I had fun with her just the same.
We were wet, wet to the skin and beyond, but I went home smiling. Magic Q'd in 2 of the 3 runs taking first place in all. Grace stayed on the agility field, she worked with me somewhat and she was happy. I was too.
Friday the day of the trial it was rainy. Really rainy too, not just a nice light sprinkle. But thankfully it was a warm rain, so although I chill so easily, I thought I would be able to handle getting a little wet. Well, a little wet certainly was not going to happen, as it was pouring at the trial site. Not the whole time, but often enough. Since we were only entered for the one day, I could not see bringing the easy up, so we just set the dog crates up and covered them with a tarp. For the most part they were dry, unless they were out running.
Magic was up first with a hoopers run. Hoopers is not offered at every trial and our last hoopers Q was 3-15-2008, and we really hadnt run any NADAC since 2009, and had only run one CPE trial in 2010. So I was pretty sure that we were just going to go out and have fun and not worry about how we did, or how badly we looked. We were just going to do our best, play and have a great time together. Hoopers, for those of you who don't do agility is a course where you sort of make up your own plan. There are 5 tests on the course set by the judge and a line of hoops in the middle that are non test hoops. For novice you have to do 3 non test hoops, successfully complete a test, do 2 non test hoops and then complete another test, then get the heck out of there.
I had watched most of the others run the course and very few of the people chose the tests that I thought we were going to try. I started to worry thinking that those very experienced folks were so much smarter than I was maybe I should change my plan. But in the end I decided to do the course that I planned anyways. Magic was super excited as we stepped up to wait our turn. He made it perfectly clear that he loves to play these games with me. I did not ask him for a huge lead out, as it wasnt necessary for the course, but he did wait for his release. He shot off the line and raced down the line of non test hoops, taking the first 4. He was headed for a test at the end of the line, but I called him to me and sent him through the first hoop and out to 2nd in the test. This was the harder hoop to get, because there were 2 side by side and the dog needed to take the further one from the handler, I pushed him out, he adjusted and took the right hoop, headed back to me took the last hoop of the test and I sent him on to the next 2 non test hoops. So far great! The second non test hoop was a bit beyond the next test I wanted to try, so I called him back and sent him through the first hoop of the test. This test was a 4 hoop test, one hoop centered in front and 2 behind it sided by side so the test was to take the front hoop, take either of the back hoops, wrap and come right back through the hoop next door and take the first hoop again. Magic did really well, his wrap/turn from the 2nd hoop to the 3rd one could have been tighter, but he did it very well in my opinion. Back to the last hoop of the test and out to the finish. WOOHOO success! I had no idea is we made time or if we really had done it right, but it felt so good. It felt like teamwork, it felt like it was just the 2 of us and the rest of the world didn't even exist. It makes me smile thinking about it.
I wont go into the blow by blow of the other 2 runs, but they were pretty awesome too. We did mess up in weavers when someone forget his start line stay and then missed a hoop. But the rest of the weavers run was really good. It felt good, he remembered how to weave and did all 3 sets on the first try. Tunnelers also went well, the course was great, and I loved it. I love that Magic is such a good partner. Now I have the bug again and really want to do more agility.
Grace had a hard time being patient and waiting for tunnelers. Whenever I had Magic out, she screamed her fool head off, so that means I have some work to do with her. But, she was eager and when it was her turn she was excited, she was happy and she was fun. OK, she didnt do the course and she kind of made her own, but for a dog that has not been a tunnel sucker she did take every tunnel she saw and she did so with speed and a wagging tail. I was worried about her taking off on me and I guess that is not going to be an issue-at least not in the sense that she would leave the agility field. She was so eager to run, she took every tunnel opening she was, but 2 times I was able to redirect her and I was able to call her off in the middle of the course and end our run. She seemed to have a great time! I am now less worried about the running off than I am about her creating her own path. I know we are not quite ready yet, and she will never be the same as Magic, but I had fun with her just the same.
We were wet, wet to the skin and beyond, but I went home smiling. Magic Q'd in 2 of the 3 runs taking first place in all. Grace stayed on the agility field, she worked with me somewhat and she was happy. I was too.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Flyball and Agility
I just love my dogs. Magic is doing super in his flyball class. And Grace had her first agility class since I got sick. Even though its been weeks she did really well. On our first run, she got a little zoomie, and did try to cross in front of me and almost knocked me on my butt, which she then proceeded to yell at me for being in her way. The next run was much better. On our third run, she knocked a bar which honestly is a rarity for her. It was so funny she turned around and looked at it and I swear I heard her mumble WTF. So we re-did that and she did it clean and very nice. Our last 2 excercises were good as well. I am starting to get some speed out of her, and we may actually have to think about not having a running contact. She was in the yellow, but for the first time ever she did not run off the frame. But really I am so happy with her.
And nothing against Magic, but I am finding I like agility more with Grace than I did with Magic. Magic is always so far ahead of me that I wasnt enjoying it as much. Grace runs with me and although I know that means we will have slower runs, I really like playing with her.
And nothing against Magic, but I am finding I like agility more with Grace than I did with Magic. Magic is always so far ahead of me that I wasnt enjoying it as much. Grace runs with me and although I know that means we will have slower runs, I really like playing with her.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Teacup
Since they were having a teacup run through at Agile Canines tonight, I thought why not try it? Grace was up first. I asked Annelise if it would be OK, I dont want to mess up any of her new found learning. She suggested that we not do the teeter, but everything else should be OK. So we tried it. I expected her to at least think about the difference in the tunnel and chute size but it didnt even cause her to blink. She did really well. I was very pleased. I did giggle when I saw the little equipment though, my gosh is that cute!
Then it was Magic's turn. Well lets just say there will be no teacup in Magic's letter soup. He is just way too fast and I do not have enough control for him on these close twisty courses. He did handle the smaller teeter fine though, then he leaped off the top of the frame. So this weekend we will relax and stay home.
Which is probably a good thing financially anyways. Darryls temp job ended today and who knows when another will appear.
Then it was Magic's turn. Well lets just say there will be no teacup in Magic's letter soup. He is just way too fast and I do not have enough control for him on these close twisty courses. He did handle the smaller teeter fine though, then he leaped off the top of the frame. So this weekend we will relax and stay home.
Which is probably a good thing financially anyways. Darryls temp job ended today and who knows when another will appear.
Grace, an agility dog-who knew?
Grace was SO GOOD at agility last night. There was only one time she made a mistake and I am not sure my feet weren't directing her there. Every sequence we ran she did well. Yes we re-ran a couple so I could do a better job, but my girlie did SO GOOD. My naughty girlie.
I did finally figure some things out about her though. She does not want constant direction. She wants me to shut up and just show her what I want not to tell her. Last night when I didnt give her any commands beyond the GO to get started or a go on to keep going she didn't complain and bark at me. She ran the dogwalk, she did really fast weaves. She stayed with me and was such a good girl.
Or, is she is setting me up for a big Gracie joke?
Edit-I just read this and now all I can think of is the KFC commercials with the "so good" jingle. Gracie, she is s o g double o d good!
I did finally figure some things out about her though. She does not want constant direction. She wants me to shut up and just show her what I want not to tell her. Last night when I didnt give her any commands beyond the GO to get started or a go on to keep going she didn't complain and bark at me. She ran the dogwalk, she did really fast weaves. She stayed with me and was such a good girl.
Or, is she is setting me up for a big Gracie joke?
Edit-I just read this and now all I can think of is the KFC commercials with the "so good" jingle. Gracie, she is s o g double o d good!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Blah!
Quiet weekend\for the most part. Took the car in for a brake job and got groceries on Saturday. Sunday was the MMBC banquet brunch which was quite fun, and then the rest of the day was home. Last night I didnt get home from work on time, so we missed our class. Then the rest of the night I was just too blah to do anything. Well except knit. I did work on sock 2.
Tonight though I am going to go see a darling cardi pup, Rhys. We are going to tape his ears, since they just dont want to come all the way up. No flyball tonight either, darn. But maybe that is good as we havent been doing our bounce turn homework. Shame on me!
This Friday night there is a run through on the teacup equipment. I have never tried teacup with Magic as I think is just to darn fast for me to handle him on hte shorter closer courses, but I think I am going to take both dogs and give it a try. There is a trial this weekend. Grace doesnt weave alone yet, but maybe, if Magic and I can handle the smaller stuff we will give it a try? Not sure?
Tonight though I am going to go see a darling cardi pup, Rhys. We are going to tape his ears, since they just dont want to come all the way up. No flyball tonight either, darn. But maybe that is good as we havent been doing our bounce turn homework. Shame on me!
This Friday night there is a run through on the teacup equipment. I have never tried teacup with Magic as I think is just to darn fast for me to handle him on hte shorter closer courses, but I think I am going to take both dogs and give it a try. There is a trial this weekend. Grace doesnt weave alone yet, but maybe, if Magic and I can handle the smaller stuff we will give it a try? Not sure?
Monday, October 11, 2010
CPE Weekend
I am almost kicking myself now, for not getting back to agility much sooner. The look on Magics face at that first startline was wonderful. My boy was so happy to be there, and yet he was a really good boy. He let me get good lead outs where needed, he remained focused even with that long line of jumps just curving on and he tried to do everything I asked. Yes we had a few bobbles, but dang did we have fun! All in all, we had 5 qualifying runs out of 7 attempts. The 2 NQ's were dogwalk related. He has never shown problems with the dogwalk, but there was something about this one that made him a bit nervous.
The wide open courses were really fun and Magic loved the ability to really go. And it reinforced for me that I NEED to get my rear in gear and get in better shape too. I want to do this again.
Laura was kind enough to video us; Magics runs 10.9.10 Including the jump he crashed! Enjoy.
The wide open courses were really fun and Magic loved the ability to really go. And it reinforced for me that I NEED to get my rear in gear and get in better shape too. I want to do this again.
Laura was kind enough to video us; Magics runs 10.9.10 Including the jump he crashed! Enjoy.
Friday, October 1, 2010
FOCUS! and last nights class
Focus seems to be an issue in my training lately. Not only am I having a hard time focusing on what to train, I am having a hard time getting my dogs to focus as well. I am sure that the 2 are related, but I really need a training kick in the pants lately. So this week I took steps to work on this.
Sunday Magic and I are going to a Michele Pouliot seminar on improving performance for any performance sport. I am really excited and hope I can get a lot of helpful hints from this one. When asked in the registration what I hoped to accomplish I said that I really wanted to work on attention, focus and attitude. With Magic this is primarily a heeling issue, but with the girls this is an ALL the time issue. I am taking Magic as I think I will get more out of the seminar if I have a semi cooperative dog.
Then, I also signed Grace up for a 6 week class with Annelise on focus and attention. Now, I think this will be geared more toward agility, but hopefully it will carry over to the other things I would like to do with her.
I do want to say that last night at agility class Grace was much better than the week before. Even with a new dog in class she was much more willing to pay attention to me. AND, for the first time ever, we were able to be successful on everything we did in class the first time through (except 2o2o on the dogwalk which she hasnt learned yet). We are starting to run a bit longer jump sequences and Annelise usually puts in a fairly tough cross in there. And even though I almost ran into the jump, I got Grace through them all the first time-table at 16, no bars down, no off courses, even a little bit more distance. And unlike last week, she had no issues with taking the dogwalk at all, and even starting a running A frame went well. I was really pleased with my princess last night.
Sunday Magic and I are going to a Michele Pouliot seminar on improving performance for any performance sport. I am really excited and hope I can get a lot of helpful hints from this one. When asked in the registration what I hoped to accomplish I said that I really wanted to work on attention, focus and attitude. With Magic this is primarily a heeling issue, but with the girls this is an ALL the time issue. I am taking Magic as I think I will get more out of the seminar if I have a semi cooperative dog.
Then, I also signed Grace up for a 6 week class with Annelise on focus and attention. Now, I think this will be geared more toward agility, but hopefully it will carry over to the other things I would like to do with her.
I do want to say that last night at agility class Grace was much better than the week before. Even with a new dog in class she was much more willing to pay attention to me. AND, for the first time ever, we were able to be successful on everything we did in class the first time through (except 2o2o on the dogwalk which she hasnt learned yet). We are starting to run a bit longer jump sequences and Annelise usually puts in a fairly tough cross in there. And even though I almost ran into the jump, I got Grace through them all the first time-table at 16, no bars down, no off courses, even a little bit more distance. And unlike last week, she had no issues with taking the dogwalk at all, and even starting a running A frame went well. I was really pleased with my princess last night.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Grace, Fall Harvest
OH my gosh was she a poop last night. We missed agility class the last 2 weeks due to work issues. You would have thought she had never been to a class before. Her weaves were gone. GONE! She would take the dogwalk going one way, but not the other. She had zoomies and tried to play you can't catch me. What a stinker!! On the other hand, I think now our instructor understands when I say I cant trust her. She does make life interesting. LOL!
I love fall. I love the fall harvest and have been busy saving the season. Now I am working on apples. Since I only have an hour or so each evening, I have been canning just a couple of things a night. Last night was 2 quarts of wedges for pies, the night before 3 pints of slices. Before that applesauce and our family favorite grapplesauce (grape applesauce). Tonight I have to give 2 dogs baths, so I may not have time, but if I do I would like to get a couple of trays of slices on the dehydrator. Which should use up the apples I have, then tomorrow we can send Darryl out to get more, while Dave and I are at the dog show. And maybe more grapes if he can get them. And maybe more canning jars too. Have a great weekend!
I love fall. I love the fall harvest and have been busy saving the season. Now I am working on apples. Since I only have an hour or so each evening, I have been canning just a couple of things a night. Last night was 2 quarts of wedges for pies, the night before 3 pints of slices. Before that applesauce and our family favorite grapplesauce (grape applesauce). Tonight I have to give 2 dogs baths, so I may not have time, but if I do I would like to get a couple of trays of slices on the dehydrator. Which should use up the apples I have, then tomorrow we can send Darryl out to get more, while Dave and I are at the dog show. And maybe more grapes if he can get them. And maybe more canning jars too. Have a great weekend!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
AG1 & AG2!
Magic did great this weekend and I was really proud of him. 7 Q's out of 8 runs, and 2 new titles- AG1 and AG2. Yeah. Denise's Klee Kai's, Pixie and Kiki also earned AG1 titles. Klee Kais are very different than cardigans, but they were fun to trial and travel with. I thought the cardigans made interesting noises, Kiki and Pixie have a whole different set of vocal skills.
UKC agility is very novice handler friendly and I really would recommend it to most everyone. There were several new to agility competors and they all seemed to have a great time, and who also earned a first agility title. The club down in IA held a really great trial-friendly, fun 1st place awards, new title medallions and just overall a really fun atmosphere. I am tired but very happy and relaxed. I needed a great weekend like this one.
UKC agility is very novice handler friendly and I really would recommend it to most everyone. There were several new to agility competors and they all seemed to have a great time, and who also earned a first agility title. The club down in IA held a really great trial-friendly, fun 1st place awards, new title medallions and just overall a really fun atmosphere. I am tired but very happy and relaxed. I needed a great weekend like this one.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
UKC Agility
Magic and I are having a great time at the agility trial in Fort Dodge, IA. There are 2 trials each day and we were able to run in both Agility 1 and Agility 2. 2 was up first. The unique obstacles in 2 were the pause box, the crawl tunnel, the sway bridge the plank bridge and a couple of different jumps, a picket fence, log pile and and a flower box jump. I was worried that Magic would be confused by these, but they are set up between standards so they did look like jumps and really were not an issue. The crawl tunnel was a bit confusing, having to duck and go under, but we did practice this at home a bit last week and it carried over fine. The pause box was not a problem either. So he got q's and first places in both of those runs, but to be fair, being in the A class there was only a couple of dogs.
Then we had Agility 1, where the only odd obstacle was the hoop tunnel. Well he has run through hoops for NADAC, so this was just like several hoops together, and no problem at all. We did not Q our first run though, coming down the A frame Magic kind of stumbled and went down on his nose right at the base of the frame, which kind of flustered me, and I missed the next obstacle which was the table. He did have a bit of slipping issues today. It has been a while since he has run on wood, all the local clubs in Mpls now seem to have rubber surfaces, so that was a bit of a change for him. The next level 1 run was great though, no slipping and we Q'd again with a first.
Its been really fun to watch the new dogs, several were seeing this equipment for the first time, but all of them pretty much adapted well. The crawl tunnel is I think so far the hardestfor them. Looking forward to tomorrow to see what else new and fun we can do.
Then we had Agility 1, where the only odd obstacle was the hoop tunnel. Well he has run through hoops for NADAC, so this was just like several hoops together, and no problem at all. We did not Q our first run though, coming down the A frame Magic kind of stumbled and went down on his nose right at the base of the frame, which kind of flustered me, and I missed the next obstacle which was the table. He did have a bit of slipping issues today. It has been a while since he has run on wood, all the local clubs in Mpls now seem to have rubber surfaces, so that was a bit of a change for him. The next level 1 run was great though, no slipping and we Q'd again with a first.
Its been really fun to watch the new dogs, several were seeing this equipment for the first time, but all of them pretty much adapted well. The crawl tunnel is I think so far the hardestfor them. Looking forward to tomorrow to see what else new and fun we can do.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
UKC Agility
So, with a UKC agility trial in just a couple of days, David and I decided to try to create some version of a few of the more unusual obstacles. Of course money being tight right now, we cobbled together some cheap, but rather effective obstacles. For the hoop tunnel, a few hula hoops tied together, for the table jump table a couple of old folding tables laying on the ground. and for the crawl tunnel, a pvc frame covered by a blanket. So far, the hoop tunnel is no problem, of course this is much shorter than a real one, but he seemed to go all the way through. The table jumps, well, he would rather just go jump than to have to sit, but we might have a chance if he decides to actually listen to me tell him to sit when in a real trial situation. The crawl tunnel well, at 8 inches is not easy for Magic, but hs is starting to understand the idea of going under the tunnel. Tonight we are going to the local park to play on the sway bridge. Maybe, just maybe we can pull out 1 Q.....
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Another NEW experience on the horizon
This next weekend Magic and I are going to try UKC agility. UKC agility is rather different than the others from what I have been reading in the rule books. Like obedience you start out with points and every error reduces your points. The obstaclkes are very different as well as the performances. For example, they have a pause table and a pause box. You choose whether your dog sits or downs. They have a variety of different jumps, log jump, water jump, window jump. One jump set up is 2 tables with a jump in between and the dog must sit on the first table, jump the bar then sit again. There is a sway bridge, a plank bridge and a crawl tunnel. All very interesting I think.
Magic hasn't seen a pause box, so we created a faux box last night and played with it. We also set up a small table jump table thing too. That may be a challenge for us, he is so eager to GO JUMP, he wants to just run up and jump. Contacts are pointed off unless your dog goes straight up and down no going off at an angle. You also can retry though like in rally and just get points off, but I do expect to get fly offs as contacts have always been an issue for us. Additionally, you can trial in both level 1 and 2 simultaneously, although if you earn level 2 first, you do not get the award until after you earn level 1.
I am truly not expecting to come home with amazing runs, its been over a year since Magic has really done much agility. But I think it will be a hoot to try these new obstacles. And if we do actually Q its just a bonus! If we dont, heck that is OK too, we can look at it as a primer for when the UGSDA club holds thier first UKC trial here in MN. (Hopefully next winter?)
Magic hasn't seen a pause box, so we created a faux box last night and played with it. We also set up a small table jump table thing too. That may be a challenge for us, he is so eager to GO JUMP, he wants to just run up and jump. Contacts are pointed off unless your dog goes straight up and down no going off at an angle. You also can retry though like in rally and just get points off, but I do expect to get fly offs as contacts have always been an issue for us. Additionally, you can trial in both level 1 and 2 simultaneously, although if you earn level 2 first, you do not get the award until after you earn level 1.
I am truly not expecting to come home with amazing runs, its been over a year since Magic has really done much agility. But I think it will be a hoot to try these new obstacles. And if we do actually Q its just a bonus! If we dont, heck that is OK too, we can look at it as a primer for when the UGSDA club holds thier first UKC trial here in MN. (Hopefully next winter?)
Monday, July 5, 2010
Magic July 5, and the end of the herding group agility trial
It was a busy weekend for us. Today was day 3 of our agility trial. I am very happy to report that the trial seemed to be a success. I heard many great comments from the exhibitors. The team that put the trial together were awesome. I hope they know how much I appreciated all the work they did.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Grace at Agility Class
Grace did really well at her agility class tonight. She gave me unusually focused attention, which I thought was great since it was her first night in a new class with new dogs. She did much better than I did. Even while wearing her little panties. She did her 4 pole weaves with no help from me. Good girl!
I guess I will keep her, at least this week....
I guess I will keep her, at least this week....
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