...so it felt more than a bit peculiar...

...off we went up to Hare N Hounds, 

....not to run, but to help Brenda with her CSJ/RAS Medium ABC final. Well it felt really odd, didn't have to get up at silly o'clock, meandered up the A1 at a very civilised 10am to get there before lunch, sun was shining, lovely blue skies all round.

Final was very exciting indeed, wow some fab runs, I was queue person, everyone had to run in drawn order, so just ticked them off my list and wished them good luck!! Won by Amanda Hampson with Rogue (again!!)

So it all went very smoothly, go fab choccies from Brenda for helping, said hi to a few people I'd not seen in a while, Flynn was very gentlemanlike with Ms Pickle lol! She really is very pretty....and clever too from the results she's getting!! Well dones also to everyone really, great sets of results everywhere!! Claire and Helen were having an awesome weekend plus all from training were doing well too.

Must say my dogs looked very confused indeed...Jette was pulling to get to the rings, but she got her pigs ear just for being lovely. It's Lune this weekend, but realistically think it's over now for us, do we do the last one run.....?

So that was it, off we went home....nice leisurely drive back in time for evening walkies...
love 'em, perfect end to a lovely day.

So now it's over to Flynn, we may be some time ha ha, but he did do a whole jumping session with no knocked poles, so we might be back, maybe not next year....

Keep having fun everyone while we're away, want to hear how you're all doing, 
wish you all good luck! :-)

made the decision this morning...

.....finally after months of deliberation,

I am going to retire Jette, I was hoping to maybe squeeze an extra year into her jumping but I've been wondering about her eyesight for a while now, she's not seeing full height jump poles, so think it's wise retire her now. Happy days girlie, enjoy your runs in veterans, gosh who's going to tell her!!!

I'll miss running her, she's my crazy labbie girlie.....

Aw poorly toothy girlie!!

Well it had to be done, Ms Jette needed her tooth sorting, she was really good and didn't eat the locum vet either :-)

Took a couple of days to come round though, showing her age bless (aren't we all!!) Still all mended now.

So just been training away, lovely really, went over to DigIt and judged the jumping on the Sunday, which went well I think, well no-one complained ha ha. Day before Jette got 4th in the Novice Steeplechase at UKA but she seems really off shows at the moment whereas at training she is on stonking form.... so decided to just keep her training, it doesn't matter, whatever she's happy with.

Flynn had his first big boy Steeplechase, poles everywhere but he handled lovely and got his startline wait so not all bad :-) Good boy Flynn!!

As always it's lovely to see people and catch up, was a sunny weekend too so lots of smilie faces!! House is on the market now so mega-stress all round....eeeeeeek!! All these viewings and even worse, all this flippin' cleaning, more than a girl can take!!

Next weekend we've got Hare N Hounds, wonder if we'll actually get there this time....

Been over to Langsett res walking, had the place to ourselves, just lovely....

big birthday bumps for the boy!!!

Ha ha, that time of year again, the boy makes 3 years old!!! Happy Birthday mate, you're a joy to have in the house, always make me laugh and still have the wriggliest bum going :-)

We tried to go to Weardale,

I knew we shouldn't have bothered even trying...just driving home from the shops on the Friday, some dosey plonker ran into the back of my car and jammed the lock on the tailgate....so off I went to try and get it fixed in time, sadly not to be but we did get there in time for Sunday and Helen and Belle had such a weekend, won into 4 in style!!!!! Wow so many places and rosies it's hard to imagine her van carrying them all back home lol!!!

Jette had some good runs, clear in the jumping, one off a place in the agility so all good :-) Training was proofed in the other jumping when I said 'go' and she did, straight over a cloth tunnel...sideways on ha ha!! Well she did exactly what I asked ha ha, she really enjoyed herself, super giddy :-) Sadly no classes for Flynn but seeing as it's his birthday week, he's been spoiled rotten anyway....

Jette had Lucy training last night and was a proper giddy kipper....just spotted she's got a broken tooth though so have rung the vet....think the root might have to come out, not manky or urgent or anything so will see what he says next week....hope it can wait till I'm off work in a couple of weeks time, always like to be home when they have an op.

Hare N Hounds next...wonder if Jette's tooth will hold out....

Flynn!!...pleeeeeeese don't do that again.....!!

Jette:

Well we've done loads, where do we start!! Let's start with the big boy's watery adventures.... we often go walking up the Sands at Holmfirth, I get to play with my toy and raid the floor of fish n chips and Willow gets an 'ickle wander round the playing fields, the Big Boy always finishes his walk with a dip in the river, so all was normal until the other week.  

Mum was frantic!!! 

Flynn was going under the water it had rained so hard, poor lad was trying to swim up-current and the water was just going over his head and pushing him under.... luckily mum had his toy and ran downstream to a water pipe crossing the river, called him downstream and managed to get in the river and grab him as he was washed past...
don't think he quite realised what happened lol!!!! All very scary indeed!!!

Me and mum (very wet now!!) wandered back up the river with the camera, soooo much water coming down, we were supposed to be running at Otley but mum had said no because of the rain but didn't realise there was this much!!

Flynn got my Lucy training slot (boohoo!!) cos I had my back massaged by a lovely chiro lady called Christine, so have been resting up for a bit, feels lovely now!! Willow got hers done as well and she looks fab for an old 'un!! Amazing the difference it makes...... luvvvvverly :-)

So then we were supposed to be going on the Dawn Weaver weekend at DigIt but mum's friend passed away so she went to York to say goodbye....so sad :( when it came to the Sunday though we went to the show and had a lovely day in memory of Lindsay who always said 'time we had some fun!!!' so we did.... I got to do jumpies and won the steeplechase with unplaced 2nds in agility and jumping to Gill's 1st place....
oh OK then seeing as it's you then ha ha!!

Flynn did some very nice stuff, poles everywhere as usual but even I thought he ran them well and we all got a good day out and we all got pig's ears lol!! :-) 

Loved Jen Lewis's courses, just what we needed!!

Pleeeeese someone turn the rain tap off for the next show in a couple of weeks time even I'm glad we're not camping, crikey it's starting again....hope everyone at Lune manages to have a good time, mum's waiting to hear how you've all done :-)

At least the furries made it safely to the other side....

...which is more than the big boy Flynn did...

....wet April?...meet wetter May :-)

...pitter patter....pitter patter....deluge and sun :-)

Mud:10 Sun:2 Car noises:1

Flynn:
we went across the Pennines to Sandbach on Saturday so I could practice my big boy stuff in the ring at UKA, mum was worried there would be weaves...and there were, I've not sussed them yet and I was very giddy indeed in the ring ha ha!! Clipped 4 poles (first time running standard height) and a runby in weaves, but got round and got lovely big red rosie for 1st place (there was only me in it but don't tell anyone lol!) It was actually quite a sunny day for a change, but the venue had been moved cos the ground was waterlogged...at least it wasn't canceled though :-)


Mum was knackered helping on ring all day so we came home in the afternoon for something to eat and drink... we were going to go back next day for more but my tomboy mate Jette had done 2 lovely jumping runs for mum and Willow was getting stiff and wanted to come out to play, so we came back for walkies (which I really don't see the point of!!!) Jette might be in Steeplechase Novice now but who knows (or understands UKA rules and points)!!! I had lovely time watching over Willow and Jette (my chicks) while mum was away on the ring, don't worry mum they are fine with me!!
Gill had some lovely runs with Ruger, he's going to be fab.... and Rosie was lovely for Sue, as always :-)
....I'm listening mum honest.... tee hee!!

The weekend before we'd been over to Dovestones and I was a complete hero and helped rescued some lambs from a mad beagle who was chasing them up and down those hills, we helped the ranger get them back with their mums...but best was the lone sheep who came to collect them in the midst of all the racey-chasing, and took them back to their bleating mums...the beagle was long gone by this time as someone had body-dived him to the floor to stop him....norty Archie, bet you're in big-beagle-bother matey!!!

We've not got anything for absolutely weeks now...mum says we can practice those sticky-uppy-things....

Here's Mr Flynn going jumpies courtesy photos2remember

Dilly-dogs....

Next it was Dilly Dogs, I'd foolishly(willingly?) agreed to judge the jumping...I quite like judging there really, just means it's less time to spend with my own dogs... designed some courses to really get the dogs moving and extending, and it worked!! Seems like people really enjoyed the courses as it was a cold day, and it kept everyone moving, plus great help on the ring made things go really smoothly so thanks everyone for that!!


In the morning we had a tricky agility course...weaves out of tunnel, Jette got them and came 2nd, one of only 3 clears, but I wasn't happy with her run, she seemed very slow and un-Jetlike somehow, couldn't put a finger on it, she seemed OK really but just not her usual self, so pulled her from the jumping as she's been asleep for a while and not warmed up properly. Flynn managed a clear again, although I nearly came unstuck coming round to the tunnel 2nd time round....anyway well done matey boy, you got a clear!


Don't get me wrong, I was over the moon Jette came away with 2nd, we hardly ever pick up a place there, but Brenda also noticed Jette just wasn't happy. I'm thinking she is picking noise up from the pylons as she doesn't like Scunny either....maybe she can hear white noise we can't?...Something I'm looking into for a possibility anyway.


Was lovely again to meet up with people, Kylie had come with Finn her youngster who is so much like Flynn in attitude, they could have been separated at birth, excepting of course she's an ACD ha ha!! met Helen with her hounds too, not seen her at all since she left training, miss her chats... lovely day out despite the cold and wind, we've nothing much for a few weeks now so going to keep the dogs fit and do some walking (if it ever stops raining!) :-)

Helen with Belle came 2nd in the jumping, way to go!!!


Flynn and Jette's rosies, Jette is busy with bones and doesn't want her pic taken...

..doesn't time just fly?

Mum:
time seems to be just flying this year, no idea where it goes....we went to Hare N Hounds at Duncombe Park, lovely venue but sooooo cold and a bit drizzly/rainy in the night too, first time out in new tent. Sadly Jette was very norty indeed, ate all the NatureDiet (18 meals for her) and so couldn't run her at all, by the time we got to the venue, her tummy was soooooo fat she looked like a Thelwell dog, Ms Madam!! Her crowning glory was pooing it out in the tent during the night... euwwwwww!!

Anyway, nice to see friends as always and everyone seemed to be doing really well, Flynn managed his first ever clear round in anysize jumping, good man!! He practiced his bestest-bow-tie-wait in great style...good job someone makes me laugh lol!! And we got a lovely walk with Helen and spotted deer deep into the woods, worth going for that lovely walk!! Willow had a fab time, kept her nice and snug in her coat and she really enjoyed having new things to sniff and roll in :-) Borrowed a couple of great dog coats from Kirsty for PJs in the night and the dogs were kept nice and warm.

Getting home at last and a lovely hot bath, we were Lucy O training at Lees new venue, Jette's tummy had subsided back to her normal waistline by this time (of course it had!!) and she had a lovely time on her best behaviour for Auntie Lucy, lots of basic foundation work, which we need, so all good.

Flynn had his class at White Rose and he very nearly got a wiggle on in the weaves, how exciting!!! Brenda set a lovely exercise so we could do the channel weaves in context and boy the man did good!! Very pleased with him.

As we were on holiday I'd also booked a Dave Munnings session for both dogs and another Laura Chudleigh for Jette. At DM's it pelted hailstones down...and the heavens opened with a huge downpour...Flynn was undeterred and just carried on, his drive was lovely and he worked really very well, but Jette wasn't having any of it...all those rear crossed were just too much for her to bare, she looked so dejected just standing there, I gave her a kiss and a cuddle, ran her over a couple of jumps and called it a day....clearly she was voting this wasn't for us....

So when it came to Sunday, I was thinking should I take her to Laura C's? I was debating all sorts of excuses with myself not to go... puncture, family crisis, what!!! Then I thought, I'll be late as the traffic was bad, so I could just drive past, turn around and go home? Coward!! As we got there on time I thought, I don't have to book another...just go it'll be fine, but Jette loved it and so did I...what a change from the Friday with a session of very positive training? I'd really practised the startline wait...and it showed!! 100% improvement, just fab, well done Jette and well done me!!!
Well done Laura C for winning the Champ class at Scunny the day before too!!

Think I need beer now.... So then it was on to Lincoln, was just going on the Sunday for this one, with Helen and Belle but also met up with Sara and Tilly. What started out looking like a wash out (driving onto the venue looked like a war zone, would have taken pics but scared of getting stuck!) ended up with the sun shining and laughs all round plus a tour of Claire's lovely camper van, very jealous indeedy!!! Just me in a tent now lol!!? So Jette's jumping was manic, didn't want to weave mum, just jump, jump, tunnel, whether that was the course or not lol! Didn't run the agility thought it too slippy so just ran the other jumping which was lovely. Nowhere near fast enough to do anything but lovely run all the same. Well done Jette jumpie girlie :-) Flynn-bobs just clipped a pole again (for same reason will you not learn mum!!!) on his jumping run, fast and confident which is just what I'm wanting. We spent a lot of the day cheering Sara and Tilly on, nearly out of Grade 1 by 1sec......come on Sara it's your turn now!! Never mind next time, and Sara got a lovely trophy (wonder who designed that then!!) along with Mel who had a fab day with Spike. Had a really lovely day, thanks everyone :-) Flynn would say something but he's a bit kippered.....

..where does the time go!

Gosh just looked at the blog and where has the last month gone...I don't think we've done much but it's gone in a blur and it's April already!!

We made it to Hare N Hounds, lovely show as always (sunny this time!) but no bacon buttie this time for helping brrrrrr!! Could've done with that to warm the hands up lol! Jette was on form, clear in the Agility and the ABC, lovely lovely run, she couldn't have done it better, clever, clever girlie, makes her Starlight Trickledown AW(S) I'm just so proud of my jumpie-smilie-girlie :-)

Flynn had his first ever KC run only his 2nd ever show and he very nearly went clear in the anysize jumping if his numptie mum didn't squeak excitedly at the last jump and put him off...what a clever boy he is too.

Had a nice catch-up with Kirsty too with Top-of-the-Class Ms Clo!! then headed home to watch the agility at Crufts, wow what fab runs and Lou!! Saw you walking that course, well done girl, was cheering at the telly for you!! :-)

So Flynn is going into big class at White Rose, I think his conformation is a big hindrance now in his jumping, with his front legs so short in proportion, but, just to prove his mum wrong, he actually did the v-weaves at Dilly Dogs in the practice ring...just to show us he could, Helen watched, just so we knew we weren't dreaming ha ha. We didn't get to run in the jumping, was called home early, but Jette got 2 very fast spectacular 'e's in the agility, with contacts I might add, of course she got contacts!!!

I just laughed, what do you do?

Snow at Easter did someone say??????


Here's a clip of us having fun at hydro....

...someone's got a birthday!!!

Willow:
Happy Birthday to me!!! I got 12 birthday bumps and lovely lamb bones to chomp on, what could be better than that!! Hip, Hip Hooray!! 12 years old today :-)

It's been a bit on the cold side for me, mum's wrapped me up and we've managed a couple of hydro visits, they make me feel a lot better and help the wonky leg. It was Hare N Hounds in Feb but I stayed at home, warm and cosy. Mum came home early and I got my own special walk and Jette did well and got 10th in the jumping, mum got her 'e'd in the ABC cos she forgot the course ha ha! Numptie mum :-)

Flynn the 'special' boy is still training mum says, she keeps at it but says they just aren't gelling yet as a team, so will just stick with it, he enjoy the training but not a weave in sight!!

This is how cold it was at HNH, soooo glad I stayed home!!

Hope it warms up for Easter, we're going camping!!!

Flippin' heck it's freeeeezing...!

Not posted in a few weeks, been quite busy, had our last Grade 2 show at Hare N Hounds, Jette celebrated pinging in real style, was very giddy indeed. Jumping was a 'challenging' course, walked it loads of times and was pleased to get round even with the last pole down boo hoo ha ha!! Still got 3rd, only 1 clear round.
Finally got Honey cuddles, what a gorgeous girlie she is, just love her and might have to kidnap her....awwwwwwh! Claire and Bella got 3rd place in Grade 5 Agility, what superstars breaking that Collie/ABC mould :)
Totally deserving to be there!! Go Grade 6 at this rate!!
Also Mr Tim Ginger-lugs got a clear in the anysize, what a superstar!!!!

The next weekend was looking bit agility-less so managed to get a reserve place on the Laura Chudleigh training day at Sicklinghall which came up due to bad weather. It was Grades 1-3,very technical I thought, really also very good even if I did find it difficult in places, got a couple of very positive things to build on. Jette was good and very patient with me as her numptie mum ha ha!

Then we had Lucy training, also for Jette, and my goodness did that girl fly!! She just responds so well to Lucy, she's confident, drivey, happy, what a fabulous session and what a shame these have come to an end. It's taught me so much and I'm really grateful to both Lucy for coming over and braving the horrid M62, and Brenda for organising it.

Flynn is back in regular training and I might be on the way to cracking my handling with him. I need to be very calm and quiet and smooth...not an easy task after Jette lol who is very racey-chasey! All the ground work is still paying off and hoping to start weave training soon with him when the ground frees up from the hard frosts. He's a clever big boy who loves to train, might keep him as my secret weapon...the dog that trains but never runs, 00-Flynn!!

Hare N Hounds this weekend...wonder if we'll get there? Snow's on the way, might be sledging instead, no matter, will still be fun :-)

Here's a pic of Willow an ex-student of mine drew for me...

Happy New 2012!!!

Mum:
well woke up new Year's Day and felt great...not felt like this for ages, really full of life and very positive about everything despite all the rubbish stuff going on and the awful weather, up to our eyes in mud and darkness...but there felt to be a hint of Spring in the air even though it chucked it down all day lol!!

Flynn:
I've not had much to say lately, been playing with mum and toys a lot but Wednesday night lo and behold we were back at training!!! Mum said I was a very good boy, even though she's put me back in the young dog class so I'm not overfaced with all those obstacles. We were seeing if I could remember what I'd been all those months ago and guess what I did!!!!

Jette:
I've been on a rest for a few weeks, can't say I like it but at last we've been back to hydro a couple of times and things seem more like they should. Mum thinks I"m getting old now and I need extra TLC, which I like but, come Saturday morning, the show bag was packed, the treats were chopped up and we were off, it was my day out!!! whoop!! Pulled mum into the arena at Wilmslow, she said she felt sick, I didn't, it was jump weave start and I was off!!! Not time to feel sick, whoop!! Tight turns, lovely flick flack and I got all my contacts, clear round, good me!!! There were hardly any clears, I got my pig's ear but then I could hear the shriek from the cafe a mile off as Kirsty, Brenda and mum were whooping!!! We'd won it!!!! We'd flippin' won it!!! and we would have been 4th in Grade 3 so what a run that was, mum was in tears, we'd made Grade 3 at last after 13 2nd places, and we won by 4 secs....wow!!!!
I also got a nice clear in the jumping and won the runoff but it was really nice my mate Maisie Mouse got a place, Brenda had a lovely run with Bryn and we all got lovely walkies together, what a great day out and we got to catch up with mates too.
What a start to the New Year!!! Happy 2012 indeed :D

Aren't I clever :D

...and time for play!!

..Merry Christmas everyone....

Awwhhhhh!

...ready...

...steady....

...GO!!!...

.....awhhhhh!...

...and time for rest....

Mum:
what a year, really crammed full of ever-so-exciting and ever-so-fed-up, what a mixture, a real roller coaster.... to end the year we had Dig It Dogs Christmas show, I knew it would be really good fun for both Jette and Flynn and I wasn't wrong, dolled up with tinsel and silliness I also entered Flynn in anysize....enough said!! He's just nowhere near ready, I didn't realise just how far away from ready he really is, showed no semblance of anything remotely like agility really, he had a fab time, the jumping wasn't too bad but the agility just had too many wonderful obstacles in it and he couldn't decide which one to go on first lol!!! Time to take a step back. To be fair to the lad he queued really well so can get a prize for best queuer, and also he didn't bog-off in the ring so a prize for that too and there weren't too many poles down...but I did run him on small lol!!!
Handsome he may be...but also mad as a hatter too so no shows for him...sorry Flynn, maybe next year (or the year after!!) :-)

Jette rocketed in with a 1st in the jumping, lovely run, fabulous feeling, she just opened up and went!!! 2nd in the pairs and 3rd in the agility, what a girl!!! She does love her runs....!

To finish the year we had 121s with Lucy O, I'd booked time off work to make sure we got there but then heard a dog had the squits, we were with this other dog at the weekend so did the decent thing and backed out of the training, what with Lucy going to Olympia with Ben and all.... so that was a really damp squib, Jette knew we were going and was on her toes all day...poor girlie... :(

Willow old-but-wise-one kept me on my toes by having her face swell up alarmingly like a flippin' football!!! Luckily I'd only worked half a day so rushed her to the vet who operated the same afternoon, abscess from a dodgy tooth root to blame, I wouldn't have known, there was no smell and these things come on really quickly so I was lucky to get her in....phew!!!! All home and recovering well though, Willow babes don't do that!!! She's had loads of extra cuddles and cheese (with antibiotics hidden....!)

So that's all there is to say except....

...and a Happy New Year!!!

..and someone's birthday in the mix....

Mum:
Off we went to Hare N Hounds, love this show, feels like home :-)
Agility run was super fast, 26. something secs but blew the dogwalk contact. Beautiful run though. Lovely startline jump sequence we could do Lucy-O style and it worked fab :-)
Next came the jumping...we were walking it thinking 'what grade is this?' Felt more like a 3/4 than a 1-3, 3 pull throughs, yuk! Still we tried our best and got 2 out of the 3 pull-throughs which then of course, turned into a flick-flack which Jette loves. We gave it our best shot and got 'e' for 'excelled' ha ha!! Next was Docs Agility, again quite a tricky course, we tried our very best again but Jette got fed up with the new spaced weaves (which she hates!) and just pulled up mid weave. Never mind Jette, sorry they've changed them when you've just got so good at them, boo hoo!! :-(
Kirsty and I had a fab walk though with dogs up the muddy fields and Tim did a lovely run for her in the jumping, well done Timster and your big gingerlugs!!
It's always feels nice to be there no matter how the runs go :-)

We had Nat's training session for Flynn, it was great to see the groundwork I'd been doing translated over to the equipment, very pleased indeed with him and just need to teach him how to jump properly :-)

Someone had a birthday....it might have been Jette who is now turned 8, can someone tell her please ha ha!!!!

Then the next day we had Wyre. What a busy couple of weeks!!! I was on my own for this... Mel and Brenda went so I did know someone nice to chat with and, despite the mud and rain, we all had a good day. Jette pulled a lovely 2nd in the jumping, really fab driven run and lots of competition so really, really pleased for her.

As for the agility runs...well what more can I add, the cheeky minx did a super run in Docs....then blasted off the dogwalk next to last obstacle from home. Doc was ready to clap and we both giggled at her...what do you do....she enjoyed her birthday weekend it seems, love you girlie :-)

If you've not seen it, this is 'the look'....

Happy Birthday gorgeous... xxxx

...training and Wilmslow....

Mum:
In sheer frustration at not having any training, I'd booked Flynn a 121 at Lucy's, then thought s*d it and booked Jette one too, luckily Mel said she'd share the slots with her dogs so I wasn't running like a headless chicken for 2 hrs. After finding Lucy's venue on a very foggy Sunday morning, we just had the best 2 hrs. Even though Flynn hadn't done anything in weeks, I'd still done his groundwork so he got back into it really quickly, Jette on the other hand couldn't believe her fav person in all the world was actually there and not in Halifax lol!! Both dogs worked well and we got a lot out of the time...I liked the forward thinking for Flynn and have tried it now with both dogs on the rec, it's fun!!!
Flynn very nearly weaved by himself so lots to practice on.
Came away with an old set of channel weaves (don't ask!!) and a split lip thank you, courtesy Jette, who else!!!
On the strength of this, have booked Flynn a Dave Munning pre-comp class next Spring on drive and focus...now that will be interesting too!!

Jette:
On Saturday it was show day, I knew cos mum had packed the show bag and chopped the sausages the night before. We didn't go that far, just over to Myerscough, I like the canal walk there with Billy-Woof but the arena's a bit noisy. Nice to have an away day anyway :-) First up after a looooooong wait was the Agility, I must have forgotten we were at a show and surprised mum with 2 Aframe contacts, she was ecstatic, it was a really nice smooth run, not much we could have tightened up (except the start sequence....mum we could have done that like in training?)

Then we had another long wait for the next class, well into the afternoon, mum had dosed off by this point and couldn't remember the course from this morning...plus they called my name out for a rosie from this morning (3rd!!!!) mum didn't think we were placed so totally pleasantly surprised. Kirsty went and got my lovely yellow rosie for me, thank you Kirsty!!! So mum was totally off guard when we went in the ring ha ha!!! What delight!!! Dogwalk PING!!!! Aframe PING!!!! Weaves PING!!!!! but I did get my right hand weave entry just to show I could....what a hoot, fab fun :-)

Then into the jumping, I knew mum loved this course but I was feeling very, very norty by now, late in the afternoon, so in my giddiness clipped the first pole and weave entry PING!!!!

Mum just laughed....she's Ok my mum, thinks if she trains me I actually listen ha ha!!! Hare N Hounds next week, what shall I do there....hmmmmm

..there's only one thing to possibly say....

...welcome Nyah Mae, you had a little bit of trouble coming into the world but it's a better place already for you being here, Holly-mum and baby doing well and at home now :-)

rising above it all....

Mum:
Rising above the domestic mess, it's time things became positive!!!
We got to Lucy O training whoop!!!! What a lovely evening and so nice to see people again. Jette was on tippy-toes when I said she was going Lucy-jumpies lol!! It didn't really matter what exercises we did, it was all good to be back :-)
Trying for the contact training we've been doing with Lucy, I've devised a set-up from the car involving Willow's car ramp, it's a bit crude maybe, but it works, I can run past the car and set Jette off to achieve a nice contact wait whilst and release...can only build on this and see if it works at Hare N Hounds next weekend!!!

Cheeky monkey even waits whilst her pic is taken lol!!!

We had a lovely walk at Langsett, did the full moorland walk with Flynn and Jake plus got Jette swimming in the res, was just like being on holiday and can't believe how near this is to home!! Lovely company, sunny day, came home all refreshed :-)

So to Hare N Hounds....we had a jumping and agility first thing, I knew the jumping judge set tough (for me) courses so got to the show really early so I could walk it over and over...to be honest my heart sank, I was really looking forward to this but I couldn't see it working for us, rear crosses all the way round and so tight I couldn't work out how to get in front of Jette who hates rear crosses with a passion...so very nearly bottled it... the agility was full of contact traps another nemesis, so had to give myself a pep talk, we'd come all this way we should run it and s*d it if we couldn't make it work...
Agility run was first, we were straight in, no waiting, so I thought, I'll just run it like the car ramp training and, blow me, it worked!! All contacts and clear :-) Was feeling better now for the jumping, ran the ABC first as a warm up and ran clear too, then straight in the jumping...first half of the course was OK, managed to get in front of Jette but after the difficult weave entry, ended up in the wrong place and had to run it from behind for a very scary clear, a bit scrappy but Jette worked it and really helped me out, what a good girlie!!!
Results, 2 more 2nd places yeah!!!!

Best bit about the show though was seeing lots of people, so great to catch up with everyone. Kirsty was there too and we had fab walks with the dogs (including Willow!!!) in sunshine, which just made for a perfect day, everyone was smiling and enjoying the show with loads of ace results. Saffs (who had been really poorly and just recovered) stormed in with wins, Julie with Timmy won up as did Ann so there were plenty of good runs to celebrate, one of the nicest shows for ages :-) Bella did Claire really proud with an 8th in the ABC agility, wow how good is that!!!! Pesky kelpies, who needs them go super-labs!!!

I wish I had a camera to get Tim's finish jumps for Kirsty, he was fast, focused and looked amazing :-)

On the home front, Hols baby says she doesn't want to come out yet...but really it could be anytime, how lovely, scary and exciting all mixed up!!!

on tour....!

Mum:
Last weekend we went on Natalie Mitchell's training day in Cheshire, pre-booked a while ago, we were lucky to get on as Nat had a reserve list of handlers waiting in the wings..
Jette and I loved it and, despite it being quite a long session for us, 2.5 hrs, Jette was really up for it. I knew nearly everyone there too which made for a positive, relaxed, working atmosphere. The exercises were set at an appropriate level with challenges for all of us without being over-faced. Some interesting approaches too, especially liked the reward/startline wait which I've been practising with both dogs ever since. It really increased focus and drive :-) Also a different approach to wing wraps/turns I found easier to understand than some I've tried of late. Good day, hope it's one of many more, would highly recommend to everyone.

Fabulous choice of venue too, Dig It Dogs near Sandbach, easy to get to and great facility! Nice to see Clover and Kirsty in her new posh van too!!

Then, driving home, I cut across to Dove Stones again... weather was very foggy and damp but the dogs didn't seem to mind and enjoyed their walks and play.

What a difference some sunshine makes!!
I could hear Jette snorting under the bedroom door, this normally signals breakfast lol!! Then, squinting, opening eyes, saw the weather, we got sunshine!!!! All day!!! I'd booked hydrotherapy so made plans to drive on from the pool at Luddenden to Hardcastle Crags instead of coming home. Wow what a lovely day, dogs enjoyed themselves hugely and what a fantastic place to visit, Gibson Mill is just such a picture lying at the foot of the steep valley, really atmospheric!

Coming home I stopped off to stretch the dogs legs before bedtime and also to try and get Flynn weaving. I've had use of some stick in weaves from a friend, which will have to go back to her, so wanted to utilise them as much as possible over the weekend. Building on what we'd started to work on at the club, just 10 mins each time both days.... just trying to stop Flynn jumping them instead of weaving through. He did well, seems to be getting it and this time I've removed the toy so he's not going forward haphazardly, it seems to help him think through the movement more, so yeah!! Progress!!

Sunday, another lovely day so off we went to Cannon Hall for ball games and fun. Returning laden with recreational bones from the farm shop for a leisurely doggy Sunday evening, we stopped off again for weave practice and, lo and behold, it seems to be working and Flynn actually went through 6 weaves by himself. Well pleased we've not over worked this obstacle, so he can learn to understand it. Result!!!

What a lovely weekend!! Jette has Lucy O training Tuesday, she'll really enjoy that I know, not sure if we'll have access to these sessions anymore now we're not training with the club at the moment, but maybe we can go on the reserve list if not, Jette soooooo loves her Auntie Lucy!!

We've still not got any regular training in place, which isn't good for Flynn especially, but I'm hope something will crop up for him eventually and, in the meantime, hey, touring is great! (especially when the sun shines.....) :-)

...the best laid plans of mice and men....

Mum:
Isn't it funny, you're just carrying on with everything in life and all of a sudden, overnight, it gets hugely crap....!

Well life is what happens in between....

So along with my OH of 30 years dumping me, housesitting for a friend where there's nowhere to walk dogs....all of a sudden I've lost my agility training slots. It's no-one's fault, just down to club restructuring but there you go, lost! So instead of my lovely Wednesday evenings training with chums, going to shows and camping with mates, I can't afford the new fees/class structure, we'll have to find something else to do, poor Jette's jumpies, poor Flynn's ever-so-nearly weavies!!!
All that work gone...and we were just telling everyone how good the club/training was and how everyone was really enjoying it...ho hum!

Well I've training sessions with Nat and Lucy for Jette, and Jette's got a couple of shows booked too, but Flynny-bobs won't have anything to do so will have to look at new things for him....bummer! It would be hard to place him successfully at another club, most don't 'get' ABC dogs, which was where this club excelled and why Jette responded so well.

I've pulled both Jette and Flynn out of shows booked next year. He was coming-to-play-out for the very first time at NAWS, but can't do agility on a stop start basis 'cos of his elbows, he either does it weekly or not at all as he could easily pick up an injury if his elbow joint doesn't stay conditioned.

Brenda soothsayer remarked I wouldn't be bringing Flynn out till he's 7 and then I'll say he's too old....as it turns out she may well be right!

We will keep ourselves entertained, we'll go on weekend beach trips, forest walks, something all the dogs can manage (including Willow who's doing very well on her new tablets) all of which we'll enjoy and all of which is very nice, but it's just not agility...

So here we are for the first time on tour at Dove Stones