Heidi & Tug's first agility trial

Today was a big day for Heidi and Tug - their first agility trail.  I entered Heidi in all 5 runs, and Crystal and Tug were entered in 2 runs. 

The first run of the day was Full House.  I call this a run-a-muck game.  You have a time limit to collect points by performing obstacles in any order that you choose.   Heidi started the run by heading over to the table, which normally stops the clock.  Lucky for us, the clock had not started, so we didn't get zero points - not really a great start to the day.  She then did a few obstacles, then jumped on me, barked at me, and snapped at my legs.  Hmm, she doesn't do that in class - guess we were wound up.  Tug started out about the same, except he didn't snap at Crystal's legs.

After that, we were entered in Jumpers.  This is a marked course, with only jumps and tunnels.  Heidi had a slighly better run, only barking and nipping at me a few times.  Tug's run started awesome, until the ninth obstacle.  After doing jump number 9, he decided he had enough.  The audience entertainment then followed as Tug went into zoomie mode.  Maybe not so fun for Crystal, but very cute to watch, and Tug sure seemed to enjoy himself.

Heidi's third run of the day was Standard, which is just that, a standard agility run with a numbered course.  Heidi was awesome - just like class.  No barking or nipping, just a nice run.  At this point our weekend was successfull.  Heidi received her first qualifying run.  Go Heidi.  We completed the day with 2 more runs, one of which was a qualifying run.  All in all, a very fun day. 

Heidi's First Agility Run - Full House

Tug gets the zoomies

Heidi's much better Standard Run

Flyball Izzy

Izzy and I participated in a U-FLI flyball tournament this past weekend.  Izzy had an awesome time - what's better then racing other dogs, getting a tennis ball, AND getting treats!  Izzy received 2 new titles TF-1 and TF-2.  Izzy's team also got 1st place in their division.

Since the tournament was over 2 hours away, we decided to stay up in Euclid for the weekend.  We shared a room with a friend who brought her miniture poodle and her Hungarian Mudi puppy, who is 4 months old.  At first, Izzy & Heidi were playing with each other - of course on the bed.  The puppy was getting upset because he couldn't get up on the bed to join in.  I helped him up, and he joined right in the fun.  He quickly learned how to get up on the bed himself so he wouldn't miss any of the action.  They had a great time.

Dodger, Trophy, Izzy, Yippee

Cleveland Specialty

This past weekend, we went to the IX Center in Cleveland for the dog show. 

On Friday, I only showed Moon.  He was excellent in the ring, and was awarded the Select dog (2nd place), which gave him a 5 point major win towards his grand champion title.  Just 2 more points to go. 

Saturday there was a keeshond specialty, so I entered all 3 dogs - I must be crazy.  Grooming 3 dogs on a rainy day is insane.  At least Heidi and Moon aren't in full coat right now, so it was easier.  First was sweepstakes, for the younger dogs.  Heidi was excellent in the ring, and received 2nd place in her class.  Tug also got 2nd place in his class - way to go Tug.  My friend Rick showed Moon in Best of Breed, while I showed Izzy.  Neither dog got anything, but they were very good in the ring.  I was very pleased that Moon did so well, since it was his first time being shown by Rick. 

Heidi doing her triangle in sweeps



Moon also showed on Sunday, and again didn't get anything, but the judge was really looking at him.  In the end, she gave the Select dog to Moon's father Kuniva.

Flyball Practice

Took the girls to flyball class.  They're crazy for it.  I was going to start with Heidi, but Izzy was so excited in the car, I let her go first.  Izzy is very focussed on the ball and very motivated.  After Izzy, I went back out to get Heidi.  Izzy was mad that it wasn't still her turn.  Heidi was so excited, she could hardly stand still to get her collar on.  Got her in the building, and let her try the full 4 jumps with the box (up until now we have been either working on the box by itself, or the jumps without the box).  We put some gates up by the far jump to help guide Heidi into the jump lane.  She was crazy fast. 

Izzy showing her moves

Heidi's first full run

What can you do with 2 boxes?

What's better then one box?  That would be two boxes.  Now I'm sure that the box is better then the gift.

Agility Weekend

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving.

After over-eating on Thursday and Friday, we headed out to an agility trial for the rest of the weekend.  Moon & Izzy were entered in an AKC trial.  Moon had some nice parts to his runs, but messed up the weave poles, so no qualifying runs for him.  Izzy had a fabulous weekend.  She qualified all 4 of her runs to earn 2 double Q's and a bunch of points toward her Mach title.  On Sunday, I was stunned when we got to the start line and she actually sat while I led out one obstacle.  In class she always does this great, but when we go to a trial, she forgets how to wait and makes he run for it.  She also sat on the table when I told her to - again, she does this at class, but never at a trial.  I almost keeled over with delight.  In my mind, those 2 things alone made for a successful day, but in addition, she also nailed her weave poles (another area we mess up in trials), and she ran the course clean.  I think I was the happiest person at the trial. 

Herding

Today Izzy, Moon, and Heidi were entered in a Herding Capability Test (from the American Herding Breed Association).  This was a keeshond only event, and 9 dogs were entered.  Our Judge and Trainer Denise Teal was awesome.  She was patient with the dogs that weren't quite that interested in herding sheep, and was very good with the ones that were a bit over-anxious with them.

The first part of the day was a talk about what they look for during the test, followed by a couple demo's.  First was Denise's border collie, Hope, then a demo by Toni (keeshond).  Both dogs moved the sheep around the ring, but with very different styles. 

After that, each dog got to go in the ring for around 10 minutes to get acquainted with the sheep.   Izzy spent most of her time sniffing around the ground and eating sheep poop - I guess that's a real delicacy.  She did have some glimmers of herding instinct, but then got distracted by the wonderful smells and trying to find mommy.  Moon went in, and was showing real interest in the sheep.  He would move them around but then get distracted.  Then was Heidi's turn.  At first, she was like - what the heck are those things, and can I get them to chase me. Then she decided to bark at them to see if they would do something.  The she realized that if she got behind them and got close, they would move, and if she moved fast, they would run, and that was totally fun.  Denise then had to explain to Heidi that she needs to not move so quickly, and stop barking in order to keep playing the game.

After lunch it was time for the actual test.  Izzy went in first and had no interest in playing this game.  She just wanted mommy.  Moon went in the ring and would just start to herd, and then turn off.  Denise noted that he just needed to take one more step to get around the stock and he would be on his way.  Well, 2 non-passes so far. 

Heidi bounds into the ring and says - hey I remember this game.  First I bark at the sheep and then Denise explains to me that I'm not supposed to do that.  Then I run after the sheep, and Denise explains that maybe that's a little too much.  Then we're good to go. Heidi passes the instinct test first leg.  Denise said she's a spitfire, and noted on her form that she is very enthusiastic with good potential. 
(The whipping noise that you hear in the video is just that - a noise.  Denise isn't whipping the dog, she's whipping in the air to make a noise to either slow down the dog or to re-direct their path).

Heidi and the sheep

Heidi finishing the test - and passing.