Agility

So unofficialy Wicca is the NUMBER 1 Cardigan Welsh Corgi in AAC Agility! How cool is that!

Official results will be posted on aac.ca in a few weeks I am sure, but I couldn't wait and went through the results myself.

We had our best year yet- ending at 20 Q's which is a lot for us. We've certainly had our struggles- weave pole entries, start lines, missed communication, knocked bars, bad handling. We've done it all I'm afraid. On the plus side we are getting better as a team. She is more responsive to me now- which is awesome. But also in doing that I've had to tidy up my handling and be sure that what I am telling her is really what I want her to be doing! Confusing eh?


I am much better at front crosses- I can now comfortably do one just about anywhere, my rear crosses continue to be great. Distance has always come easy for Wicca and I but we've fine tuned some things this year. I am going to break down and teach a verbal cue for a 180' turn away from me (think off a contact to a tunnel) I have resisted, but I do think it will help clear up some issues with my evil arm.... :o) Snooker is not as much of a challenge for us anymore. At least I don't dread the class anymore.....

Do you want to know what I dread????

THREADLES.....

I still struggle with threadles. They are the bane of my existance. Someone asked me why I hadn't posted what my 2009 Goals were.

I have only one.

To successfully handle a Threadle on a course. Running, at full speed.

Uh Huh.

We have 365 days to practice.

Hopefully we can get it right before the year is up!

Back to the Nitty Gritty...

Tomorrow is the first day back at work, and real life. I've really enjoyed my holidays- these have been the first real holidays I've ever had. It was pretty nice I must admit!

I got a lot of stuff done with my dogs, and had lots of down time which was nice. Now we are heading back into the nitty gritty- January is a packed month!

This coming weekend I have Wicca and Boone entered in an AAC trial in Calgary- we are all a bit rusty after not doing much over the holidays, but it will be fun I'm sure. I plan on taking Pixel along for the socialising- and to show off her cuteness! :o)

The following weekend is Outreach #1 with Kim- it is in Calgary, which kind of sucks, but oh well. Kim always has lots of great pointers and suggestions so I am looking forward to that. She will be at the trial this weekend so I am sure she will be watching us! And taking notes on us for later!

The weekend after that is either nothing, or herding. Depending on the weather! I'd like Pixel to go out and see some herding- I think she'll love it...She certainly likes to herd everything around in the house!

The last weekend of the month I have Wicca entered in Rally! And Pixel entered in her first show! I am so excited :o) I sent my entries in today online. It should be a lot of fun. Wicca should have no problem with the rally, and how cute is little Miss Pixel going to be in the ring. She'll probably be the only one entered but what the heck!

And then the weekend after that is a Terry Simons seminar here ins Lethbridge. I have Boone and Wicca both entered in that. Should be interesting! Hopefully my brains don't explode!

Birthday Walk

So aside from being New Years Eve Day, it is also my birthday. I am 26. I am not a party girl type of person- nor am I the type for big celebrations. I spent the day doing things I like to do with people I like.

I went for another dogrun walk today- I met with Jolene, Sandy, and Wendy at Peenaquim park and we had a blast. Between the four of us we had 11 dogs!!! Good thing the park wasn't busy today! Wicca had a good time looking for the "mouse" that she was sure was buried in the snow. Pixel and Perkins had fun chasing each other- Perkins was much happier today at the park then yesterday- must have been his cool new sweater! Vito again followed Lacey around.

Spent some time this afternoon with my little nephew Nolen- and had a good visit with my sister- I hope to get new baby pics soon!

I had dinner with my parents- Chinese food which wasn't half bad. :o) Don't worry no food touched, and no, I didn't eat the noodles. :o)

Tonite Wendy and I are heading over to Jolene's to play games and have a few drinks. I'll be at home and in bed with the dogs by the time midnight comes around!

A perfect day!

Tomorrow we are going to the reserve to pick up three frozen pup-sicles....hopefully they are okay one more night!

Oh- I think I have watched my own video about 100 times already. I really like it. Didn't even make me cry. :o)

2008

Snow Dogs

Chase!

Vito chased Lacey. The Whole Time.

Pixel had a great time running in the snow!

A Cold Boonie

Boone only wanted the cookies...

She had fallen in the snowbank, and was trying hard to get out!

Can you see Lacey under all those dogs???

Thanks to Wendy for taking all these photos!

Peanut Butter

Agility and Training

Yesterday I did some agility training with the dogs. I had a hard time. Really. It was like there was a fog and I couldn't focus or compute. We started out pretty rough. My poor dogs.

I did get better though- once I was able to focus.

Boone did good- he is such a goof and is very happy to be training. Almost a little too happy. He gets very overstimulated and then will start just guessing as to where he should go next instead of actually listening to me. We first tried to get him to read my deccel cue as a cue that there is a change coming up and to not charge into the tunnel. It didn't work so well. I haven't done much of that with him yet and it really shows. I ended up using a lead out pivot to get him in the far tunnel mouth. His weaves are improving- still has some issues if I rush him, or crown him in the poles. I need to give him space for him to concentrate.

Wicca was a good girl. We worked on a few gambles- both of which she rocked even though I didn't think she would do them on the first try :o)
We also did some handling stuff. I suck. Really. My dog is so good. Too bad I can't get my sh*t together most of the time. The odd time we'll have one of those perfect feeling moments, otherwise I end up having to repeat it over, and over again until I finally get it. Geesh. I'm out of practice I guess! Can't wait to get back to the arena, and for the Terry Simons seminar. Last year it was SO good. I am very excited about it.

Jolene and I are going to do some foo foo dog training this afternoon- I am hoping to enter Pixel in February. Hopefully her AKC paperwork gets here in time! Pixel is so cute. Like, really, really cute. She already knows how to "Stand" - we need to work on stacking, and teeth. Oh, and gaiting...We haven't done that before...should be fun!

Holidays

I am off work until the 5th of January! Wow.

i was worried that I would be bored. So far I haven't had time to be bored!

Today I got up at 6 with the dogs- and then went back to bed until 9. Which felt pretty good!

Feeding seven dogs is quite an ordeal I must say- finally they are starting to understand where they are supposed to be while i get the food ready. Perkins eats in the bathroom, my guys in crates and Coulee and Lacey eat in their normal spots. For the first few days it was total Chaos while they ran around my feet trying to trip me.

Later in the morning I did some training in the basement- heeling and pivots with Wicca, Boone, and Vito. Attention and recall work with Pixel. And fetch and 1,2,3 Go game with Lacey and Coulee. Perkins (the weiner dog) got to watch from the sofa. Dog training is not his thing :o)


Then I had a shower, went to the mall, went to walmart, stopped in at work to see Chewy, visited with family, and got home an hour ago.

Since then I've poop scooped the yard- which was NOT fun in the wind, and snow... played fetch with the dogs, and attempted again to cut Wendy's cats nails...

The dogs and I are going to head out for a walk in a little bit. I was kind of hoping that the wind would magically go away. No Such luck. It is still blowing like a banshee out there!

new do

so it is not very festive, but I like it. Plain and to the point. Which pretty much sums me up. :o)

and on another note....

I am pretty sick of the snow and cold...here are a few photos of Boone enjoying the summer weather earlier this year to warm us up.........

man, he is just the cutest dog....

Wonderful Day

Today has been a great day, I took the dogs for a really nice walk early this morning, and had a good time visiting with my family after that. As always I got way too many gifts, and feel completely spoiled. My sisters baby is still very cute, and did really well this morning- he basically slept all through the gift exchange!

I came home for a break and to take the dogs for another walk. There is a really nice park right behind Wendy's house so I took the dogs in groups of threes for a good game of fetch. Coulee had a really hard time when it wasn't her turn to get the ball!!!
The dogs did good and didn't even get cold feet which was good- I wasn't looking forward to carrying dogs home! Thankfully the weather has been good today it is only minus 10 or so- versus the minus forty we've had all week!

I am looking forward to dinner later today, although I actually have to help cook stuff so we'll see how that goes! I have never been the type to cook much so hopefully I won't kill anyone!

Hope everyone else has had a good day!

I don't have any of my own photos here(and no camera).... so here is a photo of Coulee and Lacey that Wendy took right before she left.

Emotional

Emotional is not a word that i would use to describe myself. Except for today. My whole day has been a day of ups and downs...

Today I ruined someone's christmas, and made some one elses amazing. A rescue dog was scheduled to head off to his new home today. The foster home asks me an hour before he is supposed to be picked up if they can keep him. Oy. Long story short the foster home is now no longer a foster home and are the proud new owners of a goofy yellow lab, and the potential would have been adopters are heartbroken. I am sure they will get over it as they never even actually met the dog, but I can't imagine how she must feel. I hate making people upset. I feel awful.

And then I got home (well, Wendy's house) and found that one of my favorite bloggers have found their lost Cardigan!!! Woohoo! I even cried just a little. I have felt just awful for them through the whole ordeal, and am very thankful that their little dog Clue made it home.

And then it's Christmas. This is the first year without my Grandma. I am pretty upset about it. I miss her a lot. My Grandpa is struggling even though he isn't telling anyone. Everyone is putting on a happy face, but I can tell that my mom is near a break down. Tonite I am sure we will all have a good cry for her, and then hopefully all the good things will overshadow the emptiness. She was an amazing person- full of life, and piss and vinegar. We always joked that she was too bossy to die. I take after my Gram in many ways....

And to add to all of that I still miss my Sam. A lot. It has been a few months now but i still think of him everyday. I am thankful for having a chance to own and love such a wonderful dog, but man do I miss him still.

But I am okay, and will be even better after a nap. :o)

Except that I have seven dogs playing at my feet so it is unlikely that I will get that nap. But a girl can hope...

Happy Holidays!!!!

Doggie Decorating...

Someone forwarded me this in an email. I LOVE it!!!

It is not in english (the text) but wow, great dogs. Love the Berner galloping through the hallway...reminds me of a certain dog I know....



They are a dog training drill team...very cool other videos as well.

Growing Up

Pixel is going to be five months old in a few days. Hard to believe!

Oh Christmas Tree....

yup, that's right. there are corgis' in my tree...

Speaking of Boone...

Out-takes

A few weeks ago my friend Wendy and I hauled the sofa from the daycare down to the river bottom. Why you ask? Well to take photos of course!!!!

I wanted a photo of me and the dogs for Christmas...Wendy took lots and lots of photos...

Do you see a theme in the outtakes???

Boone was not co-operating....

kissing, what camera?, tongue out, eyes closed....professional model he is not :o)

Isn't it Lovely????

My friend Jan of "Jan and Dave" made this bag for me for Christmas. It is a great bag- big enough for LOTS of stuff- pockets and all sorts of things. The best part of course is the two cardigans- a tri on one side, and a merle on the other. How Perfect! :o)

Thanks Jan and Dave!!!!

6th Photo

Sarah tagged me from Dig It Fetch it Herd It...How fun!

Here's the deal:

You have to check your Photo Archives (or wherever you store your images) then select the 6th file folder, open it & post the 6th picture contained there, with the story behind it.

Now I have to tag six friends to do the same:

Slow as Molasses
4 Dog Craziness
Days at Daybreake
BorderBlog
and anyone else who'd like to play!

Make sure to comment so I know you've played!

Anyway, here is my photo

This was taken at my friends family farm- we take the dogs down there to run like hooligans. Wicca was fetching a stick- and Sam got all caught up in the moment- and then he remembered he doesn't like water... :o) It was pretty funny. Oh, and that's Boone fuzzy butt in the corner..

Indoor Games

It has been brutally cold here the past few days. The dogs run out, do their business and then run back in- quite often on three feet.

We have done a few short walks- but Pixel really hates boots at this point so it was quite a struggle for a whole lot of nothing... :o)

So to keep them busy, and to tire them out we have been doing lots of fun things indoors.

First each dog gets 5ish minutes of "training"- sits, downs, stand, heeling, pivots, nose touches, tricks.... I usually take about 12 cookies and we do only as much as 12cookies allow...

Then I put all the dogs away and hide a water bottle with kibble in it somewhere in the living room. One at a time they get to come out and "find" the hidden treasure. Each of them does something a little different when they find it. Wicca carries it away and gets the kibble out. Vito throws it in the air and rolls around on it. Boone paws and pokes at it until I get the kibble out for him, and Pixel tries to eat through the bottle right then and there...

Another game we play is upstairs fetching. I throw the toy to the top of the stairs and send the dog...Pixel doesn't play this game yet, but the others do.

We have also been experimenting with the yoga ball and perch. All of the dogs can get on the ball now- even Pixel. They all like the perch- Pixel in particular is sure it's a food dispenser

One of the favorites in the house are the 1,2,3 Go races. I put all the dog in sit stays(except Pixel who I still restrain) then I throw cookies across the floor and whisper 1, 2, 3 OKAY! The dogs release on the Okay- of course the dog who get their first is going to get more cookies...then I call them all back - the first dog back gets the cookie. The others get nothin....Wicca and Pixel have this figured out pretty well and are always the first ones back..the boys, not so much.

Any other fun indoor games ideas???