Native Performance Dog Food - Part 1

A couple of weeks ago, I received an email asking me if I would be willing to try and review the new dog food Native Performance.  For my participation I would be sent a bag of food and all I needed to do was review it.  I agreed to give it a try.  They asked which formula would best fit our dogs, and I selected the Energy Level 2.  My crew are pretty active, for city dogs, and this formula felt like the best fit for us. A week or so later we received a large bag in the mail.

The corgi crew have been eating this food now for about a week and a half.  They all love the food, even Grace who can be rather particular. (Note, unlike the other dogs, due to her condition, Grace is not able to be on this full time, but I wanted to see if she would eat it. Since she does like it we may try the highest calorie version for her down the road.)

Its early in the test, but so far I am rather pleased with what I am noticing.   Of the 3 dogs who are eating this exclusively I am noticing slightly smaller poops, with much less stink to them. Siren has a tendency to be gassy on kibble, but I am not noticing any significant gas so far.  All 3 dogs are doing well weight wise.

The biggest change I am noticing is that they all seem to have a bit more energy. We have had major play sessions since being on this food.  And the sessions are longer and more vigorous. Even after 2 days of agility they came home and still played for hours.  Now can I say for sure its the food, no, as the weather has been pretty nice lately and the daylight hours have increased, but even Darryl noticed enough of an energy change to make a comment about it.

We haven't gone through the whole bag yet, but so far I am rather happy with the results.

Note-while I am not being paid for this review, we were provided with the food free of cost.

Lure Coursing Fun Run

Took all 4 dogs today to a lure coursing fun run.  It was a straight course run, about 100-150 yards ( I am guessing as I really have no idea) It was a really great way for inexperienced dogs to try it.  Magic ran first and of course had a blast_he ran to the end, shook the lure and turned around and ran back to me.  Then Grace ran, she ran most of the way, but when the lure stopped at the end, she turned around and ran back to me. I think she watched Magic.  Then it was Sirens turn and she did really well, never took her eyes off the lure and ran focused all the way.  Peace was last up, and she hadnt been outside a tthe time to watch the other 3, so she was a little less sure. I had David start her and I went to the finish.  She ran 3/4th of the way, but when she got by the equipment. lure operator and photographer she did get a bit distracted and stop.  But I called her name and reminded her to get it, and she started running again, and did zig after the lure. So all in all I feel like it was a very successful day!  Magic did grumble something about wanting more, but we had to come home so Grace could eat, so we only ran the one time.

Magic & Grace, TBAD, TG1

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.

Rinnie Pulls

Here is an older video if Rinnie pulling.

Grace Rally Photos

Grace actually can heel pretty nicely when she chooses too. 

Apparently the stand command is not her favorite. Love her expression!

And here she is telling me something. I am sure I did something wrong. If funny through all the pictures, either Graces mouth is going or mine is.  We must chatter nonstop!  All photos from Great Dane Photos.

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!

My Letter to UKC

Dear UKC.
I have been reading and thinking about the decision made by UKC to no longer allow event staff to participate in UKC events which they are working. I am very saddened by this decision for many reasons. First and foremost I see this as the death of UKC events here in Minnesota. You may or may not be aware of how active a dog event area Minnesota is. There are very few weekends each year that there is not some dog event available, and in many cases more than one. This weekend alone, January 21-22, 2012 there are 4 that I am aware of, the UKC obedience and rally trial I am chairing, a ASCA event including conformation obedience and rally, an AKC agility vent and a USDAA agility event, all within the metro area.

There is a very small group of competitors in MN who do UKC. Those of us that do though, are the same group willing to work and hold these shows. We hold the shows, we chair them, secretary them and work them so that we HAVE the opportunity to play with our dogs. If UKC takes that opportunity away what incentive do we have to hold the events? Everyone in these clubs work and show. I know I would not have willingly given up hours and hours of time to hold a show and not be able to participate in one of the few weekends we have.

I love UKC, I had a wonderful time at Gateway in 2010, at Premier in 2011. But the basis for my ability and desire to do these bigger shows is based on my opportunities to show here at home. One of my dogs again is in the top 10 for conformation another managed to make the all star rally list. The one who is on the rally all star list did so by showing at our local shows. However, had I not been able to compete in a whole weekend’s worth of events he never would have had a chance as our opportunities are so limited. Had he not made the list, we would not be planning a trip to Premier this year. I know I am not the only person here who feels this way as the UKC participants have had many discussions over the last few days. Since our biggest conformation club locally has already stated they cannot go forward with these rules in place, our local performance club may not be able to either as we do share many event locations and costs. I am sure we will be discussion this at the event this weekend.

I see this as a death spiral for UKC, at least in here in Minnesota.

Dawn Fisher
Daybreake Cardigans