My silly girl is growing up!
Showing off her paw targeting skill
Saturday, August 17, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
The Summer Slump
It has finally happened here in Texas, the high pressure, high heat cap has settled over us. We have quite a few days of 100+ heat both behind us and ahead of us. The low at night is in the 80s. And some days the humidity is almost unbearable.
This is always the hardest part of Summer. Even with good AC, the house is never quite cool enough to your liking, the pool is warm, you sweat at the idea of stepping outside and when you do step outside you are drenched in a short time. You guzzle water and try to conserve energy. The dogs sleep, sit in their wading pool and dig craters in their yard when they go outside. Being dogs in general, and collies specifically, they really do seem to take it better than us humans (who are forever complaining and wishing we had it better!) do.
The flower baskets on the front porch have just about succumbed to the heat, but the little garden plot is stubbornly hanging on and is still giving us tomatoes and peppers.
These are the dog days of Summer, the final countdown month until Fall. We are just concentrating on staying cool and surviving right now.
Training with the collies has slowed way, way down. Even at night, inside, we only do short sessions. Everyone just feels tired.
But sometimes I see the light slant just right in the late afternoon and realize that it won't be long before Fall, we just have to hang tight. As we have done year after year.
In an effort to do something new for August, I signed up to audit a course from Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. I applied for a scholarship (only for the Bronze level) since money is extremely tight and was one of the winners for this cycle of classes. Big surprise! We are auditing the Obedience Skillbuilding 1 Class. Refresher for us? Probably in a lot of ways but we either weren't ready or interested for the other classes, and I have a couple of dogs here who know nothing about scenting or pot pivots and it will get us up and moving this month.
The Class will be covering:
I have three dogs at varying stages of training and all could benefit by something being taught in this course. I've already rounded up the items needed for the class and they are now happily sitting out where I can see them. No excuses now.
I found a picture of the dog that started it all, my Novice A dog who got me hooked onto obedience and just doing thing with my dogs. Thanks for everything, D!
This is always the hardest part of Summer. Even with good AC, the house is never quite cool enough to your liking, the pool is warm, you sweat at the idea of stepping outside and when you do step outside you are drenched in a short time. You guzzle water and try to conserve energy. The dogs sleep, sit in their wading pool and dig craters in their yard when they go outside. Being dogs in general, and collies specifically, they really do seem to take it better than us humans (who are forever complaining and wishing we had it better!) do.
The flower baskets on the front porch have just about succumbed to the heat, but the little garden plot is stubbornly hanging on and is still giving us tomatoes and peppers.
These are the dog days of Summer, the final countdown month until Fall. We are just concentrating on staying cool and surviving right now.
Training with the collies has slowed way, way down. Even at night, inside, we only do short sessions. Everyone just feels tired.
But sometimes I see the light slant just right in the late afternoon and realize that it won't be long before Fall, we just have to hang tight. As we have done year after year.
In an effort to do something new for August, I signed up to audit a course from Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. I applied for a scholarship (only for the Bronze level) since money is extremely tight and was one of the winners for this cycle of classes. Big surprise! We are auditing the Obedience Skillbuilding 1 Class. Refresher for us? Probably in a lot of ways but we either weren't ready or interested for the other classes, and I have a couple of dogs here who know nothing about scenting or pot pivots and it will get us up and moving this month.
The Class will be covering:
- Handler skills - the better we are at marking, reward placement, etc, the smoother training will go.
- Looking at how laying a solid foundation helps in a variety of different dog sports.
- Nose Targeting
- Paw Targeting
- Chin Targeting - something I've never done before
- Pivot Platform - haven't been doing this near as much as I should
- Positions - Tuck Sit/Fold Back Down/Kick Back Stand
- Wrapping - this concept is new to me
- Take It/Hold
- Jumping - Oh dear, this means digging my old set of jumps out of storage - or an excuse to make new ones!
- Scent Discrimination - finally I can put all of these mint tins to good use!
I have three dogs at varying stages of training and all could benefit by something being taught in this course. I've already rounded up the items needed for the class and they are now happily sitting out where I can see them. No excuses now.
I found a picture of the dog that started it all, my Novice A dog who got me hooked onto obedience and just doing thing with my dogs. Thanks for everything, D!
My Novice A Dog: CH Dickon CD RA CGC
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Summer Update
Since yet again I have slacked on updating, here's the latest news.
In early May, Darcie picked up her 11th point in her final outing from the 12-18 class. She dumped coat immediately after that and is spending her days sitting in her wading pool and enjoying life in the way that only Darcie can.
I heard about an ASCA Rally/Obedience Trial coming to the area on Memorial Day weekend. After reading through the rules and signs I decided it would be fun to take Tess out for her RN. And if she enjoyed getting out again, maybe we would start full time training and work towards higher titles.
Getting back into the training routine wasn't easy. The heat is so bad here that we were having to get out the door at 6:30 AM to get out on the road and find places to train. But we had a blast.
We spent most of Memorial Day weekend at the trial. Visiting with dear old friends and making new ones. Darcie came along for the ride and had a blast. Even during two very loud thunderstorms in a metal building she maintained her good attitude and played and tugged like the weather was perfect outside.
Our hard work certainly payed off. :)
Tess picked up her first leg with a 186/4th in the class. The left pivot really got
her the first leg, but she tried hard and that's all that matters.
She got her second leg with a 197/2nd in the class. Nailed her pivot!
On June 25th a local club held an evening trial. That was a new thing to us so I entered and Tess, a friend and I hopped in the car and set out to see if we could title.
In early May, Darcie picked up her 11th point in her final outing from the 12-18 class. She dumped coat immediately after that and is spending her days sitting in her wading pool and enjoying life in the way that only Darcie can.
I heard about an ASCA Rally/Obedience Trial coming to the area on Memorial Day weekend. After reading through the rules and signs I decided it would be fun to take Tess out for her RN. And if she enjoyed getting out again, maybe we would start full time training and work towards higher titles.
Getting back into the training routine wasn't easy. The heat is so bad here that we were having to get out the door at 6:30 AM to get out on the road and find places to train. But we had a blast.
We spent most of Memorial Day weekend at the trial. Visiting with dear old friends and making new ones. Darcie came along for the ride and had a blast. Even during two very loud thunderstorms in a metal building she maintained her good attitude and played and tugged like the weather was perfect outside.
Our hard work certainly payed off. :)
She got her second leg with a 197/2nd in the class. Nailed her pivot!
On June 25th a local club held an evening trial. That was a new thing to us so I entered and Tess, a friend and I hopped in the car and set out to see if we could title.
And she did. 192/2nd place. She is now: Tex-Sun Testify To Love BN RN CGC ASCA RN
She says she is just the coolest dog ever. And she'll be back out working on higher Rally titles and her CD in the near future.
Two days later, I lost my beloved Charm. It's heartbreaking to lose a dog that has been a part of your life for 12 years, but I have two of her daughters and a grandson, and every day I see a part of her in them. Life with dogs is not easy. Allowing yourself to love/become attached to anything always carries risk. There will be loss, and gain, happy times and sad times. But it's a good life, a very good life.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
In Memory of Charm
“I wonder if it is heretical to believe that when at last my tired
feet shall tread the Other Shore, a madly welcoming swirl of exultant
collies—the splendid Sunnybank dogs that have been my chums here—will
bound forward, circling and barking around me, to lead me Home!” - Albert Payson Terhune
feet shall tread the Other Shore, a madly welcoming swirl of exultant
collies—the splendid Sunnybank dogs that have been my chums here—will
bound forward, circling and barking around me, to lead me Home!” - Albert Payson Terhune
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Our 2013 so far
My last post was at Christmas. I know, shame on me. But since there have been a few exciting things that have happened since then, I thought it was time to update.
Our first show of the year was the Nolan River KC, in Glen Rose, TX. Despite the cold, the red dirt and the smell, this is probably my favorite show of the year. There is lots to see an do at this show. Health clinics, herding instinct test, coursing ability test, rally, obedience, a conformation match, an obedience match and lots of great vendors. Additionally there are lots of specialties on Friday and a Non Sporting group show.
My Collie club held both of their Specialties on Friday. Darcie showed very well and got a look in Winners both times but didn't do anything. That is fine. She is young. She is still maturing. Most importantly she had a BLAST in the ring. And that's really all I care about. I want every time in the ring to be a fun place for her and I want to build on each experience.
She also got to meet her breeder and had so much fun 'catching up.' Her breeder is very pleased with how she's looking.
Saturday was the All Breed show. It's a lot busier than the Friday shows. Dogs coming and going and people everywhere. Darcie took it all in stride and thought it was great fun. She handles everything with confidence and enthusiasm, and I couldn't be happier with her.
She showed very well and walked out of the ring with a 5 point major, owner/handled! I was thrilled! And so happy that her breeder was there to see it!
At the end of January we headed up to Norman, Oklahoma for four specialty shows. Two on Friday, two on Saturday. Darcie thought the entire weekend was great fun, in spite of the cold and drizzly weather. She did nothing in the AM specialty, but was Winners Bitch for a 4 point major at the PM specialty! I was on Cloud 9!
Saturday she took a 5 point major Reserve Winners at the AM show and did nothing at the PM show. But that was okay. I came to get her second major. And we got that. Mission accomplished.
Our first show of the year was the Nolan River KC, in Glen Rose, TX. Despite the cold, the red dirt and the smell, this is probably my favorite show of the year. There is lots to see an do at this show. Health clinics, herding instinct test, coursing ability test, rally, obedience, a conformation match, an obedience match and lots of great vendors. Additionally there are lots of specialties on Friday and a Non Sporting group show.
My Collie club held both of their Specialties on Friday. Darcie showed very well and got a look in Winners both times but didn't do anything. That is fine. She is young. She is still maturing. Most importantly she had a BLAST in the ring. And that's really all I care about. I want every time in the ring to be a fun place for her and I want to build on each experience.
She also got to meet her breeder and had so much fun 'catching up.' Her breeder is very pleased with how she's looking.
Saturday was the All Breed show. It's a lot busier than the Friday shows. Dogs coming and going and people everywhere. Darcie took it all in stride and thought it was great fun. She handles everything with confidence and enthusiasm, and I couldn't be happier with her.
She showed very well and walked out of the ring with a 5 point major, owner/handled! I was thrilled! And so happy that her breeder was there to see it!
At the end of January we headed up to Norman, Oklahoma for four specialty shows. Two on Friday, two on Saturday. Darcie thought the entire weekend was great fun, in spite of the cold and drizzly weather. She did nothing in the AM specialty, but was Winners Bitch for a 4 point major at the PM specialty! I was on Cloud 9!
Saturday she took a 5 point major Reserve Winners at the AM show and did nothing at the PM show. But that was okay. I came to get her second major. And we got that. Mission accomplished.
5pt RWB
In March we had the local all breed show in Ft Worth. Since it's so close to my house I entered her on Saturday just for fun, and to give me a legitimate excuse to go look at the vendors.
Getting ready for a dog show is fun!
There was no point but we showed anyway, as there was a bitch special entered. She showed and moved perfectly and had fun, but just couldn't pull off the BOS over the much more mature special - no complaints!
Guarding my purse
The home for a few weeks to get dirty and have some fun.
Hurry up and take the darn picture!
We have a friend who has been struggling through cancer radiation treatments. Because she loves the Collies so much, we decided to put together a collie support picture for her,.
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