Great progress

I was delighted to learn today that Melinda & Spike won out of Grade 2 by winning the Agility at Blackdown this weekend just gone. She's worried they won't be competitive at Grade 3, but I don't think she needs to be - we just need to find the motivation button on him so that he always works at top speed for her. Plus, Brendan & Bunny getting placed 3rd in the Grade 5 Agility & Jumping at the same show - they're so close to winning I've decided to put a bottle of champagne in the fridge in preparation :-))

The competition class at Daybreak is working really well for everyone and I'm so pleased with the way peoples handling is improving. Martin Tait's joining us again this Sunday and then again next Tuesday for our usual session - I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everyone shows him how well they've been progressing!

Great day!

This is going to be short - it's been a really long day! Severnside held yet another successful Spring show within the North Somerset show in Wraxall today. Lots of members were placed and their names announced over the tannoy, notably Lel & Hattie - winning Grade 2 Agility in their first Grade 2 class! Well done them, it's a great partnership and it's no surprise that they've done so well already this season. Plus some great work from Sara & Blaze, who went clear in Grade 1 jumping and was only just out of the placings. Definitely a dog to watch in the future.

What is a very pleasant surprise to me is that I'm able to post the news that Ella & I won Grade 1 Agility today, which means we are now a Grade 2 partnership after only our first Kennel Club show of the year! I'm thrilled, not least because all I really wanted or expected out of today was to nail those dratted weaves. She did just that, in the 3 classes with the dreaded obstacle - and I'm sure could have given me another 1st place in the jumping had I not turned too quickly and made her clip a pole down. I would have been satisfied with that, but am delighted with what I got.

Today I am grateful for Ella's win, the support of my husband and mum, my beautiful children and some great friends.

Great evenings training!

Well I said I'd probably post something after tonight's session, and sure enough here I go! We had great weather, a great group of dogs and handlers, and an even greater trainer - Martin Tait really had us thinking and everyone had a really enjoyable time. Lots to work on of course, even from those who appeared to have done it right - there's always room for improvement, always milliseconds to be shaved off our times. The dogs must love Martin coming along and sorting us out, they of course just follow our directions and I'm sure quite often wish it were them directing us! :-)

Ella & I had a good session and I'm pleased with what we achieved. My timing isn't as off as I had feared it might be, and although we had some broken waits and a self-released a-frame contact, these were corrected and weren't too much to worry about. Group sessions are fantastic for us because she's so hyped up watching the other dogs, it's closer to a show situation than we get during our 1-2-1 sessions. That said I'm looking forward to my 1-2-1 with Martin in a couple of weeks time. It'll be nice to really work through some of our issues and feel like we're getting back on track.

Website updates

Despite a very long weekend, I felt the urge to update the Daybreak websites (dog training & pet care - http://www.daybreakpets.co.uk/) to include baby Callum & whilst I was at it, the rabbits too. This was prompted by the capture of some beautiful pictures of the boys which I wanted to share - my favourite is this one I think:

Now I know I'm their mother, but aren't they just scrummy! Not to mention good little people - we went caravan hunting at the end of the day yesterday, and despite obviously being tired were ever so good. I think Jamie is quite looking forward to caravanning at the shows, if we can ever find a suitable caravan that is!

With the shows in mind I'm really looking forward to a training session with Martin Tait on Tuesday evening for my competition class at Daybreak. If I could explain to Ella I know she'd be equally excited, so perhaps it's better that I can't - two of us excited probably wouldn't be a good thing! Plus, along with my friend Caroline & her dog Jake, we might be paying a visit to Tace Allen for the dogs to have a once over. I don't have any specific concerns, but would like to make sure Ella's in tip top condition to start the season. We ask a lot of our agility dogs and I think it's only fair we repay them by making sure they're fit for the job we ask of them.

So expect an update after Tuesday I guess - can't wait!

UK Agility Beckford

Well some success at the UK Agility Easter show yesterday, 2nd in the Beginners Standard Steeplechase, and although unplaced because of faults in the rest of her rounds she worked really well. The bloomin' weaves are letting us down and I'm seriously considering petitioning the Kennel Club & UK Agility to ban them! A photographer caught her in the weaves, although sadly as you'll see if you look at where she is, it's as she's making a mistake through them - durrhh!

Still I'm not too disheartened. Callum was only 7 weeks old yesterday and for our only problem to be the weave poles after such a layoff, I haven't much to complain about. And it was such fun to be back at shows and bumping into people I haven't seen for ages! Not to mention being able to run around with her, rather than what seemed like a very long way behind her!

Plus Hattie & Helen Sharp won another 1st place rosette in their Novice Toy Jumping class, so they're really going to have to start thinking about an extension for all Hattie's winnings :-))

Out of little acorns..

Some lovely things of this past week or so:

1. Baby Callum giving me and my mum his first smiles - aaah!! :-))


2. Having a lovely evening out with my husband Mike on Saturday for his hockey club's annual dinner
3. Lel & Hattie winning Grade 1 agility on Saturday - go girls!
4. Ella & I winning the agility round in Sundays league match, and nailing two sets of 12 weave poles during the evening - perhaps winning Grade 1 isn't as far off as I worry it might be?!
5. Lel & Hattie coming 3rd in the agility during the same league match
6. New starters group at Severnside really inspiring me, and enjoying being back teaching agility

Summer's round the corner!

The clocks do their thing tomorrow, and even lighter evenings are just around the corner! It's such a positive time of the year and I'm very excited about going into this summer with my wonderful husband, two wonderful sons and two very special dogs. Last Sunday Ella and I did a league match for Severnside (Callum was only 4 weeks old on the Friday) not really expecting much as we've had such a lot of time off. She was her usual confident self, and provided me with two great rounds, weaves withstanding :-) Safe to say she hasn't forgotten it all, and the season is looking promising.

I went into the match with a different attitude than I have done in the past. I wasn't interested in winning (although I can't say it wouldn't have been nice!), I was just interested in having fun with my wonderful dog. In the past few weeks 3 close agility friends have lost their dogs to old age, dogs who shaped their lives and inspire them still. With that at the forefront of my mind, not to mention my own experience with Kai, I ran my girl with a glad heart and winged heels. We had such fun and I intend that each run this year should encompass those happy feelings.