Fun with Heidi

Me, Conor and Heidi have had a fantastic afternoon today, we took Heidi to flyball in Brigg. I have been in contact with them this week about taking her and their teams train on a Saturday so today we left the other two at home and concentrated on Heidi.

It was a real success, she had a fantastic time and even though she had only had a few goes at it in the past at our old club she remembered what to do and by the end was doing the jumps and triggering the box by herself and running back to Conor. I loaded the box so that she wasn't running to a stranger and she just loved it and was really quick too. We will definitely be taking her again.

After the training everyone let their dogs have a run around together so we let Heidi join in and she played brilliantly with them all (there must have been 20 dogs) so a great afternoon for us. There is no training next week but we are really looking forward to the following Saturday already!

Megan Passed!!!

Megan passed her Bronze Good Citizen this evening and here she is with her rosette. She did very well and completed all her exercises without having to re-do any which was good, she was one of only 4 to do the stay first time although everyone passed in the end.

If our instructor gets enough people to run a second Silver class in the new year that isn't a Thursday (it clashes with agility) then I intend to do it with Megan so fingers crossed!

Well done Megan x

Meeting Meg

We have had a busy couple of days, on Friday me and the doggies headed down to my mum and dad's for the day. The weather was for a change sunny so me and mum took them out for a good long walk around the fields at Etching Hill. The picture is of mum and the three of them. They ran around all crazy for ages and then on the walk back they must have been tired as not one of them pulled on their lead!

Whilst we were at mums I took the opportunity to visit my nan and grandad and to meet their new addition, Meg. They decided after Bobby died to get a rescue dog and so they have now got another Westie called Meg. They don't know a great deal about her other than she is about 5 or 6 and had been taken to the rescue centre by a breeder who no longer had any use for her.
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She is a lovely dog, she loves cuddles and just wants lots of affection, she will fit right in with them as they go walking lots and are at home all day so she will always have company. She has been to the groomers and had her hair cut too as she was all matted when they got her. Anyway here are a couple of pictures of her and I have put a couple more at the bottom.

I found a few photos on my phone yesterday that I hadn't added, mostly of Brian and Megan in mums garden over the summer but there are a few of Heidi and some others so I have put them on the bottom too, sorry about the quality of some, as I said they were taken on my phone!

Finally He Gets It!

Brian and the See-Saw is what I'm referring to!

Brian has always had a See-Saw phobia, I'm not entirely sure why as he has never had a bad experience on it but he either jumps off mid air or generally refuses to go on it.

Since we have been going to our new club every time he has had to go on the see-saw there has been me one side and Lucy the other making a really big fuss of him and giving him treats and his favorite, a bum rub!

Tonight we were moving to the back of the arena and had to pass the see-saw to get to the start and Brian ran up it, steadied himself and waited at the bottom for a fuss! We then went on to do our course which involved the see-saw and he did the same again so I think we may finally have cracked it! (The picture is of a dreaded see-saw moment at a UKA show earlier in the year-a few seconds later he flew off it mid air!)

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Megan had a good class tonight, after missing 3 weeks I wasn't sure how well it would go but she remembered her dog walk contact, is progressing nicely with her channel weaves (we were doing entries from further back tonight) and she did some good jumping so all in all a good nights training really.

CaniX

Today me and the dogs had a go at CaniX. I had thought about having a go at a little while back but having had no chance to train I didn't bother. Now with a bit more time on my hands I decided to give it a go. Today I ran with both of the girls attached to me for about 30mins. Brian came along too but he just did his own thing, running along with us off lead.

It was hard to start off with as they both pulled loads but after a few mins Megan settled into a good pace and didn't pull quite so hard, Heidi on the other hand pulled from start to finish! I used their flyball harnesses and a lead each and attached them to a webbing belt but by the end the belt had really dug into me so I have got my sewing kit out today and lined it with fleece so it shouldn't dig in so much tomorrow when we go.

I had a really good time, I don't think I could ever imagine me saying that about running but it was fun and the girls really loved it. They were really tired from it though, 5 minutes after getting back they were asleep and have only woken up every now and then for a couple of minutes since, I dont think I have ever seen them this tired! I am hoping to enter the starters event on 20 Dec on Cannock Chase near Rugeley which is where my mum and Dad live. I will only be doing it with one dog though, just not sure which one yet, I'll see how we get on over the next few weeks.

Last night was Good Citizen class for Meg and she did very well, remembering everything so hopefully all will be well next week. Unfortunately the Silver course is run on a Thursday so we wont be able to go unless they get enough people to run a second class.

I have been starting to look at Agility competitions for next year so I can start to plan where we will go, (locally anyway) hence the dogs diary is looking a little more full, although it's a long way off yet so lots may change between now and then and we will probably end up going somewhere completely different.