crazy

My husband called me CRAZY! He's right, I have been running around like a crazy mad woman in the last few days!

My first successful hatched happened on Saturday while I was away at the UKA doing agility. All my chicken were unsuccessful, a couple of them tried to hatch but died inside the shell. The others died inside without hatching. Very upsetting and sad. The chicken took 21 days to hatch but the very first one actually tried to hatch at Day 20 and the second one tried to hatch at Day 21. After a terrible start of eggs hatching. I was kinda don't want to know about the duck eggs. I was really heart breaking and upset after seeing the little chicks died. This is one of the reason I chose to go to UKA that day. Duck took 28 days to hatch. I have friend who is keeping an eye on the incubator for me. 

While I was in the middle doing the Agility, I've got a text message to say I have a little duckling that made a lot of noise. I was really excited but after reading that his legs are not out yet, I was holding back my excitement. I know anything can go wrong ... Part of me wanted to come home straightaway and part of me don't want to go home! By the time we got home, I rushed to the incubator to meet my little Daffy. 

new born Indian Runner

Following all the instruction from the Internet, we are keeping Daffy in the incubator to dry up but the humidity dropped a lot and I need to increase that to get the others to hatch. I've decided to add some warm water and that's went thing go wrong :( Although I got Daffy out before adding the warm water but he went absolutely crazy in the incubator knocking himself all over the place. He just couldn't settle. I was very worried that I have done something to harm him. Although everyone said leaving him in for 24 hours to dry up, I just can't seeing him running around like headless chicken. I've decided to take him out into the brooder early. I have to set it up at the last minute and kept cuddle him (wrap him in a towel) to calm him down. When he was wrapped in the towel, he was ok but soon he was free, he just can't stop scratching his head, both side. Weird and worrying! It went on until past midnight and I was really tired. Colin against me taking him to bed with us, so I just have to hop he will be alright when I wake up the next morning.

I got up at 4:30am and sneakily go to the brooder and he was fine but soon he heard me, he went crazy again but the happy crazy self. Oh, how sweet! I gave him water and food but he wouldn't eat and it got me worried again. I thought the chick crumbs that I bought is not suitable (sometimes the Internet can gave you all the information to confuse you!), I got panic. Luckily, Maureen said she knew a place where they hatch chicks and ducklings, so we can go there to buy the right food for the little ones.

Hmm ... Maureen drove us to Hoar Park to get some food for Daffy. We were totally distracted by the poultry and waterfowl in the Children's Farm. I was amused by all the pure bred chicken and ducks. As we go along, I fell in love with this little frizzle.

introducing Little Miss Frizzle, she is a Silver Frizzle Pekin

Little Miss Frizzle is very little. OMG, I am actually worry that if a hawk is hovering above might be able to take her away! Well, even a crow will be able to do that! I like her frizzle feather though :) A lot of friends came around to "admire" her but not all like her. Some said she looks like she has been plug into a main! Hahaha ... oh well, she's my little frizzle :D

I also bought two little 4 weeks old chicks to mix with the ducklings and also to give her some company. I have got a Lavender Frizzle Pekin cockerel. I know I have said no more cockerel but he is so cute, I can't resist not to have him. He is very similar to Frizzle but is all grey, they call him Lavender. You can't quite see him in the photo below. He and his friend are rather timid, they have not been man handled before :(

Lavender Frizzle Pekin, Silver Partridge Pekin and 2 x Indian Runners

I've also bought a Silver Partridge Pekin, hopefully she is a hen as we can't quite sure the sex at this age. I am hoping to take a better photo when they are old enough to go out. 

By the time we got back from Hoar Park on Sunday afternoon, our second Indian Runner was hatching. Poor little duckling struggled to come out and I have to give her a hand to get her out. She is rather loud (I hope she is a duck), she has a very calm nature compared to Daffy. Daffy is a little hooligan. Whenever I try to handle him, he's everywhere trying to fly off. I sadly has drop him many times, thank God only very low :)

second hatched Indian Runner, hopefully she is  Daisy not Donald :)

There are still a few duck eggs in the incubator ready to hatch tomorrow or so. I hope at least one will hatch as I like to have 3 ducks. If they don't hatch, I will go and get another one later to keep these two company. 

Right, that's the chicken and duck story. Now, back to the crazy agility. 

We went to UKA National on Saturday. As Sizzle is now semi-retired, I have more time concentrate on Sonic and hopefully encourage Sipzie to come back to Agility. Poor Sipzie has gone through a funny stage that she thinks Agility is torture to her :( She ran very slowly, unmotivated and she would not play with her tuggy and ball anymore. How sad! Away from agility, she will play fetch the ball and tug. Funny girl!

I've entered two classes with her, the Agility and a Steeplechase. She didn't do too badly on the Agility, still unsure about the stop DW, she mixed it all up with the running AF and stop DW. She is very often pop out of 10th pole as well in the competition. I don't really mind her go wrong so long she is happy to run around in a ring. 

This is Sipzie's Beginners Agility: 

Sonic ran over the same course in the Novice level, this is a Tug E Nuff qualifier. Sonic won the class over 5 seconds and he was the 3rd fastest dogs among all heights. I am very happy with that as I know at a couple of places that I have to let him turn wide as I do not want to make a mistake but sadly, we didn't qualify because I tried to go careful in the Jumping round and how many times I reminded myself that Sonic only has ONE speed, there is no steady round from him, the minute he take off, he is off like a bullet and there is no way I can play safe with him. We got 10 refusal over the tunnels in the Jumping!

Sonic @ Tug E Nuff:

After a messy round in the Agility, I decided to run Sipzie in a Steeplechase to boost her confident again. She ran clear and come 2nd in the class. She was 3 seconds slower than the winner who is very little staffie cross. Lovely little dog. I remembered seeing the dog when she first came out.

Sipzie @ Novice Steeplechase: 

On Monday, I travel down to UKA again to attend their Level 2 Judging Seminar. This is my very first Agility seminar and I am loving it. Level 2 is a Game Judging Seminar and I love the Games, especially Gamblers. It's very exciting to learn all about it and also to discuss some course design. The best part of it was how to judge and there are so many angles to look at things ... I can't wait for my next Seminar!

You thought I have enough driving on Saturday and Monday (it's 1.5 hours each way, 83 miles each way); but yesterday morning, I suddenly decided I want to go and do some Agility, so off I went with the dogs. Another 166 miles! I entered Sipzie in the Beginners Agility and she won the class! WooHoo! She got all her contacts beautifully, she didn't messed it up, she ran her AF and stop on her DW and the best part yet to come ... she did her 12 weave! How good is that? I was over the moon with her. I was thinking to do a steeplechase but I thought I want it to end good and that's the only class she ran in, sadly no video, Colin was not with me. 

Sipzie and her winning, she was the fastest time in all heights. 

I've also ran Sonic yesterday in the Novice Agility and Jumping. Well, I used the Jumping round for NFC and he did some very good work and we managed 3 x ketschker turns and he did that very well. I am so happy and the best thing was to send him to the toy at the finish jump. I love to see him driving the finishing jump to his toy. I was losing that since I started competing with him. I am glad to see that is back again. We didn't do to well in the Agility. It was a good weave entry so I praise him "good boy", every single time I said "good boy", he came out. I said that 3 times and he pop out three times! When I shut up, he finished the weave beautifully! I've also noticed one thing, not just on the weave but if he does something good in the course and I said "good boy", he will come to me and refuse something! I find it very difficult not to say "good boy" as I like to praise him when he does something good. I've been saying "good boy" at training and at home and most of the time he stays in the weave. Any suggestion? 

I've  also entered him in the National yesterday. It's an Agility run and I'd like to be able to do something like that. It was a very nice course with some tricky trappy bits but I don't see why we can't managed :) The ran the Maxi dogs follow by Standard, Midi then Toy. 90% of the Maxi knocked the spread after the DW. It was in an angle. I think after stopping on the DW, the dog don't spread out very well? I am not sure why big dogs do that? In the Standard, some dogs knocked the spread too. It actually got me worried as I have never thought about the spread being a problem. Sonic was 2nd in the Midi to run, everyone that entered has to stick with the strict running order. We started off well and Sonic was so fast over the DW and his powerful speed coming down made him miss the spread. It was in an angle, I supposed I should give him a right command or a name call? I didn't do that and he ran around the spread, I was hoping to put him back but he back jump so we got eliminated. The other part that most dogs went wrong is the cloth tunnel to weave and the 2nd last jump to finish but Sonic managed that all beautifully. In fact, he ran a breath taking course after the elimination :) This is the first time I felt really good eventhough a elimination. My confident is sky high when we took the finish jump. Shamed no video. I really wish that was being filmed. 

Right, no more crazy 166 miles everyday. I am having a break from Agility until Sunday :)

new toy

My new toy arrived yesterday! WooHoo! I have been waiting impatiently for it :) As you can see my boys approved it too :) I have been "racing" up and down the farm yesterday and the boys were racing me too. That tired them out very quickly. Oops!

 my boys approving my new toy

 big boy Saturn will be driving it next. He can go shepherding with that in the hot weather :) 

 This is also Sing's wagon, just in case he gets too tired to walk up the hill :) But little Sizzle wants to share that too. 

 Sing is not so impressed by it, he rather walk then be "carry" :) Tough old boy!

Next project, I'll be looking to buy an ATV Flail Mower and either a Chain Harrow or a Pro Harrow. Let's the Farm work begins :)

Blissful country life

I can't believe we are here nearly 10 months now! Absolutely no regret moving to this beautiful country side, although we started with a lot of stress but hey, didn't life full of stress, up and down? I am Bless with what I have now, my lovely husband Colin, my wonderful pack of shelties, each and everyone of them have their own unique personality; and some most amazing friends that stand by me when I need you. 

photo courtesy of KK

You probably have noticed that I am blogging more often these days :) Well, the weather is too hot for me to go out and do jobs around the farm. I try to keep the dogs in as well to stop them from over heating. Poor Sonic just don't understand why he is not allow out. He is a farm dog, he loves the outdoor space wehave. He normally sit on The Ridge and watching the world goes by ... the Farm is rather secure with good fencing and hedges, honestly, the boys will not escape. If they take themselves out (normally to chase rabbit), they quite happily return when called. I am more worry about the girls, especially Sipzie and Seren. These two are just pure hooligan. Once they are off, THEY ARE OFF! You won't believe that until this point, I still need to keep them on the lead most of the time. They have the instinct to CHASE! Sigh ~ my girls are keeping very busy LOL. Thank God Spie has been really good, most of the time! 

Sonic the watched dog

We are taking this year to improve all our grassland. We have a lot of thistle growing in some of the fields, especially one of them is full of it! We have been spraying them and hopefully, they will die off soon and would not return for the next few years. This farm has not been work or properly look after for a long period of time before we bought it, so there's a lot to do to maintain the farm to good level. 

A lot of farmers are cutting hays at the moment. It's a dusty, dirty, messy job. It's not bad if you have a new tractor with air-conditioning. You will be dust free and cool inside while working. Don't think we can afford one! These tractors are so expensive!

All our land are out for sheep and horse grazing at the moment. They are good eater but they are fussy eater too. There are some (a lot acturally!) very annoying grass that is so tall and sticky, whenever I took the dogs out to our fields, they all came back with sticky fur and lots of grass seed on them. Yuk! I don't know how to get rid of them apart from brushing off. I have to sprinkle some talcum powder, not so bad on sable dogs but the black ones turn white! I managed to get the sticky bit off on their body but I can't get the sticky bit off their feet and underneath their stomach. It's such a messy job everyday! Brushing 8 shelties everytime we came back from a walk :(

Lately, me and Maureen (our lovely horse lady) been taking the dogs out for country walks or canal walk every evening. It's lovely to give the dogs a new scenery and they love to be OUT again! Sometimes, we walk miles and miles and miles ... we forgot poor Sing was struggling and we ended up carrying him home :)

Oh, my new adventure ... eggs hatching! I fancy some Indian Runner Ducks to practice some domestic herding with the shelties. I know it's easier to go and buy already sexed ducklings but Colin thought it will be more fun if we can hatch our own :) He bought me this incubator for my birthday. I bought some hatching eggs from eBay. 

I have 18 Indian Runner Duck eggs from 2 different people and so far, 4 eggs are not fertile. They still have another 10-15 days before hatching. I've also got some chicken as well. I don't really know much about chicken as I am far more interested in duck :) While browsing through eBay, I chose Brahma and Silkie. I bought 6 Lemon Pye Brahma and 6 White Silkie and it turn out to be that they are the best mothers :) Again, not all eggs are fertile. I've picked up the non-fertile eggs and fed them to the foxes :( So far, we hope 2 silkies and 4 Brahma will be peeking soon. 

As you can see my incubator indicate we are in Day 19 today, so anytime from now that the chicken will be hatching soon ...

Come'on little chick, brooder is ready!

Mr Refuser!

We were at Rugby Championship show this weekend. This is a new venue at Cotton Hall, Derbyshire. The old venue is only 3 miles from home (BooHoo!) I originally booked camping, as our Club now took over to organise the Rugby Championship show and all club members are down to help at the ring. The weather is seriously too hot (for me) to camp. Even with shade and shelter, I don't think the shelties will get very comfy expose to the heat all day. The organiser was great. There were paddling pool in every single ring and some extra ones everywhere. Dogs can hoop in and out to get cool. What a great thinking from these great people!

We ended up travel each day. Sonic has 3 runs each day and I've entered Sizzle in the Champ on Saturday and Team & KC Olympia on Sunday. Sonic finished all his runs by 10:30 on Saturday! I've got Sizzle eliminated in the Champ Jumping, so I voted not to run in the Champ Agility. He didn't run well in the Champ Jumping, it was very hot and he was unwilling to run :( So, we were home by 12:30 noon! All dogs and human were lying down on the tile floor to cool off. Thank God we have quite a big area of tile flooring. Oh dear! It was hot!

Sonic earned a new title on Saturday, MR REFUSER! In every single class, he refused a jump or two or even three! Hmm ... I've been doing a lot of practising sending him on to a jump from different angle and through tunnel and he was getting better before the weekend. I knew this is his weakest link. He did some lovely work but ALWAYS, there is a jump he refused! Sometimes, I get a big frustrated. I tried so hard to train him to take any obstacle in front of him or sending him to the next obstacle without me near the obstacle. He is getting better at training but when come to competition, we fail :(

Saturday:

In this run, he refused the jump after the tunnel, this is his usual problem, he's too busy looking at me, barking at me. I think it's probably my problem when training him when he was younger, I always have a toy in my hand and he's always look out for his toy. Since I moved here, I have noticed the problem and no longer have toys in my hand (occasionally I do), I either put it where I wanted to reward him or give it to someone else to throw it for him after he finishes a sequence.

Saturday, Combined 1-4 Jumping:

Our second class was the graded 4-5 Agility. Again, another refuser to the jump after the tunnel :( The other problem we have this weekend was the weave. We had two very difficult weave entry on the Agility course this weekend. He got both the entry the first time and I praise him "good boy" and he came off the weave! In this class, there was the long jump lying very close to the weave (you can't really see that in the video but the long jump is a trap). I was very pleased with his effort of getting the weave entry. He amazed me :) And, of course after the weave, I forgot where we were going! I was probably thinking I am running a different course. Oops!

Saturday, Graded 4-5 Agility:

This was his last run of the day, again, another refuser here! Sigh ~ I thought the weave entry is rather challenging for Grade 1 and 2. The angle is pretty bad, unless you did a front cross. I didn't want to do a front cross after the jump #4, then have to cross behind the weave again (lazy me!) I know pulling him into the weave will create quite an issue :) but this will become our homework this week :)

Saturday, Graded 1-4 Jumping:

Sizzle didn't run well in the Champ Jumping, I wasn't sure if the heat bother him or he is not well (again). The Champ Jumping was quite an interesting course. When I first walked it, it looked like a difficult course but after I walked it a few times, it becomes flowy. There is a lot of running there and the dog needs to extend but poor Sizzle isn't extending at all. He took a lot of short striding and when I saw him weaving, I knew he wasn't right. We got eliminated anyway, so I voted not to run him in the Champ Agility. We packed and go home. 

Champ Jumping:

Sunday:

I saw our physio Sally was there too and she was kindly to look at him for me, his back was pretty poor. I told Sally I need to run him in the Team (as there is no reserve). I pulled him out from the KC Olympia run. Sally worked on him for 45 minutes, he was much better and he definitely WALK better after the treatment. I was holding my breath whether he will "run" in the Team. His run was the last class of the day, so he has plenty of time to rest and recover. 

Mr Refuser was a bit slow on Sunday, not sure if the heat or tire or what but I definitely noticed he isn't as fast as his normal self. In the Combined 1-7 KC Olympia, I hadn't realised he missed the jump after the DW. The jump was a slight angle and I didn't want to tell him "right" just in case I pulled him off the DW too early and also, I've noticed he put extra 1.5 stride on the DW, this is why I said I have noticed he's slower. There is a difficult weave entry to this course. Tyre to the weave. Sonic got it the first time and I thought I praise him a bit later and he pop out soon he heard me saying "good boy". Duh! I've edited the part where I resend him to weave and he cause a bit of scene, taking too long! Yuk! His gobby self was back again :)

Sunday, KC Olympia:

We ran straight from the KC Olympia to this Combined 1-4 Jumping. I didn't really like this course in particular, I thought the spacing was a bit tight for my liking. I like spacey course where I can run and my dog can run that I don't have to bump into any obstacle (knowing how clumsy I am!) But, watching the video, I thought we ran pretty smoothly :), no gobbiness, no refuser, what a treat!

Sunday, Combined 1-4 Jumping:

Later, he ran in the Graded 1-4 Jumping, although not very smooth when he has to run out to an off angle jump, we managed to scrap a clear round. Hehehe ... 2 clear rounds in a day, bonus of the day, 2 x 2nd place :) that gives me hope again :)

Sunday, Graded 1-4 Jumping: 

After a good treatment, Sizzle is a totally a different dog again! He ran so well, he was so fast in the Team that he doubled up in the weave that cost him 5 faults but I was really happy to know that it's not the heat but he wasn't well. I so wish I can take my lovely physio Sally to me to everywhere show!

Sizzle with Team Little Bitz, as you can see he ran differently to Saturday :)

feeling hot hot hot

This HOT weather continues to be hot! YUK! I really is suffering, my nose just can't stop sneezing when I step outside, I am pretty sure is hayfever! I am not looking forward to compete this weekend as the temperature is rising! Apparently tomorrow will be the hottest day (so far) in the year :( Last weekend was bad enough. 

Last two weeks, I have my Malaysian friends came over to visit. They are princess Eva's mummy and daddy. They are also Rosie's (who did all my beautiful banners) parents. They came over to attend Rosie's concert, this will be Rosie's last year studying in England, the clever girl has earned herself a place in Hannover, so she will be starting her academy at Hannover after this summer holiday! I sure missing seeing her (not that I see her very often but knowing she is in England feel closer :))

Rosie's daddy KK took some cracking photos of my shelties as well as some photos around the farm and the animals. They stayed for a couple of nights and then went visiting the beautiful Scotland and Lake District and then came to stay for another 3 nights before heading home. 

It was so good to catch up with Priscila, she's closer to me than my family back home. We could talk about everything and understand each other. She kindly cook me some Malaysian food that I missed; and she brought me some Malaysian snack that me and shelties enjoyed, BTW, they are human graded LOL, My shelties are a bit spoilt by their Auntie Priscilla :) No wonder they love Auntie Priscilla so much :)

Here are some random photos taken by KK, courtesy of KK:

my two very handsome and gorgeous boys Sing and Saturn

my golden old boy Sing

Boys in the meadow ... Sonic, Saturn, Sing and Sizzle

As the Farmer is spraying the fields (weed killer to kill the thistle and stingy nettle), I have not been able to walk the dogs in our land (I try not to walk for at least 2 weeks!). I have been taking the girls out in the morning and the boys out in the evening to some country walk. I am really spoilt by living in the country side. Just outside our drive/track, there is this beautiful blissful country walk that you can walk for miles and miles through fields of crops and meadow and leading all the way to the Oxford Canal. 

Sing's poorly paw is getting very limpy, not sure if the heat affected that as well but poor Sing is very lame at the moment but he still want to go for a long walk with us. We all ended up take turn to carry him, such a spoilt boy but we love him really.

My new Yamaha Grizzly is arriving soon. I don't like green but I am not prepare to pay £500-800 to get my favourite blue one. Sing doesn't mind the colour but this will be his walking aid in the very near future. I can't leave him at home, that is not fair on him. He still want to know what the other boys up to. I think the best way to ignore this green is to keep telling myself it's blue. Hahaha ... I know I am an idiot!

 unfortunately Thistle are growing very well in our farm :(

 the water lily are so pretty

 you can just about seeing the water lily on the lake, what a pretty scenery

elderflower everywhere makes such a refreshing drink!

naked sheep lol

Sizzle always be Sing's shadow :)

Sing loves his frisbee

kung fu Sonic :)

just lately, Sizzle is very interested in the sheep and he indeed make a good sheepdog :)

triangle sheep herding :)

And here are some of my favourite agility shots:

 such a happy boy, he lives up for Agility for sure :)

 wowzer! The action and the landscape :)

 I love this photo of Saturn going into the entry. I have not done any agility with him for 3 years and he never forget. Weave is still his best!

 I also love this picture of him demonstrate the perfect 2o/2o. Can't even remember when did I doing 2o/2o with my dogs anymore :)

I started to do a little bit of training and baby agility with Spie and Seren ...

I am so happy on how Spie comes along. She is more confident now and is very happy. She is very keen to learn as you can see from the video below that she is rather enthusiastic :) I have not teach her a lot but spent more time in socialising her.

Here is happy Seren: 

What can I say about Seren, she is all crazy and cute! I only just started to teach her the wing wrap and she mastered that already :)

And these two Sing's puppies turn ONE tomorrow. Happy FIRST Birthday to Flint and Tease!

 Flint

Tease

Scorching fever!

Oh Boy! It's hot and sticky! I know almost everyone of you like this weather but I honestly hate it! I have to hide myself indoor most of the day. If I have to get out there to do a job, I basically crawl slower than a snail :(

Shelties hate it too because they can't understand why their mummy is so lazy and does not want to do anything exciting like she usually do. Mai puppy Sonic keeps growling at me, he wanted to go out so badly. I have to put a cool coat on him and ask him to take himself for a walk :) He is an outdoor dog. He probably is the only one that loves this space. He could spend 24/7 just sitting on the Ridge watching the animals go by ... funny little boy but I love him dearly! No matter what he does, he always bring smile to my face. 

We went to Wellingborough on Saturday. I don't fancy camping in this heat, so I have to drag myself to the show in the morning. Don't get me wrong. I still enjoy agility and I am still competitive but in different manners now :) Unfortunately, the heat beat me! I was over heated before 10am. I lost my concentration and I don't know if I really have a Hay Fever or what? Everytime when I get outdoor, my eyes were itching, I can't stop rubbing my eyes and then I started sneezing continuously! Poor Sing gone mad as he can't find a tissue box to bring it to me! He can get very upset if he thinks he can't do his job properly. Bless his old heart! I can never have another dog like him! If I were outdoor most day, I get sore throat and headache. I really think is that Hay Fever on top of a Cold? 

So, Wellingborough did't go well for me. Sonic was too gobby to start with. I was trying out my ketscher turn with him but failed miserably! The problem with Sonic at the moment, if he has his gobby head on, there's no way we can run a clear round but how to stop him being gobby, I am working hard on it. I am not that terribly bother by it, he is still a baby and he actually enjoy agility very much and I rather him be the happy self. Even in the heat, he ran his heart out, although gobby but his enthusiastic and speed remain. I think I just have to wait for him to "grow out" of it. I am in no hurry to climb the grade and I quite enjoy being at the lower grade, we sometimes get to run a flowey course :)

So, I ran all three of Sonic's classes on Saturday and decided not to run Sizzle. It's just too hot for him. It was 23c by 10am! We messed up the two combined Agility class BIG time. Oops! He was lucky to have a clear in the combined 4-7 Jumping and placed :) I thought he will get a refusal at the jump before the cloth tunnel. 

Combined 3-5 Agility:

Combined 4-7 Jumping:

Combined 1-7 Medium ABC:

I decided not to go on Sunday, the forecast was hotter than Saturday, I thought it's no point going if I can't put myself together in one piece :) We spent all day sitting under the gazebo, soak our feet in the paddling pool (it was supposed to be the duck pond!), we managed to get Seren and Spie to jump in the water with us, Sipzie decided she will run a mile. Silly girl! I gave the boys a full bath, so they can get dry naturally. I prefer them to dry naturally if I can but the weather has been not great in the last two years so they have to blow dry everytime, so yesterday, they rather enjoying their bath :) I guess they hate blow dry :)

My handsome old boy drying up in the heat after his bath :)

 Mai boy Sonic sunbathing to dry up :)

wet puppy Seren. She is all legs at the moment. She is such a lovely puppy, she has a fabulous temperament, always happy and bouncy and a fast learner too :)

 Spie has come out of her shell, she is gaining her confident and is settling in very well in the pack. 

even the cat gone a bit crazy in this heat :)

crazy puppy, the ball is bigger than her lol

Hmm ... triple trouble :)

The weekend before last, we went to Landsdown on Saturday and GT UKA on Sunday. I took Sizzle and Sonic with me while Colin stayed to watch the others. Sizzle was in the Crufts Team with Little Bitz, sadly, we came 2nd again, so no Crufts for us :( We have one last chance to try to qualify this year, that is next week at Rugby Champ Show. Sizzle was naughty on the see-saw that cost us a 5 :( I thought we have fix the problem but every now and then, his naughty see-saw came back :)

Small Crufts Team:

Sonic didn't do any good either, he was rather gobby (again!) on his first class, which is the G4-7 Jumping. He did some lovely sequence but my handling and his gobbiness put together didn't work, hahaha ...

I've only managed to have this run on the video as Colin is not with me, so it's hard to get people to video you :( I am not sure if we get place in this run. I thought I got marked a 5 on jump #3 as I being a stupid handler, I walked totally a different way to I ran here. I watched other handlers ran it and for some reason I went in and copied them :( Oops! Obviously didn't work for me! I think someone told me I ran clear but I forgot to go and check it out :(

At long last, I got to see my little "Scampi" TYE. Tye is Sing x Sunny puppy that went to a fantastic home in Cornwall with young Chloe. They adore each other. I am so happy that Tye is making Chloe very happy. This pairs is doing very well, Tye only just old enough to compete around Easter time and is now winning his way up and qualified with Chloe for Crufts 2014. We wish this little pairs the very best of luck!

I've managed to captured some handsome photos of little Tye @ Landsdown :)

a big leap to Cornwall :)

 

Little Rae who is half sister to Tye; or little niece to Tye, whichever way you like it :) was also at Landsdown.

Rae with daddy Sonic and half brother Tye :)

 Bless her! The ball is bigger than her :)

 handsome Tye, wheee ...

The two boys and I lodge in at ibis on Saturday night; we went to GT on Sunday. Sizzle did a superb Gamblers, he was very fast, back to his usual self (I was far behind him 3 jumps!) I chose the hard gambler and we did that perfectly and guess what? We were out of time by nearly 4 seconds! Honestly, I can't believe it! You know your dog, eventhough we weren't very close to the gambling line but I recon we can do the gambler in 8-10 seconds maximum. The Gambling time for Champ is 12 seconds. If the score sheet is 1-2 seconds out of time, I will not be surprised but 4 seconds! Hmm ... Well, that's the only run I have done with Sizzle and I was very happy how we ran although the result wasn't what I expect!

I entered Sonic in Novice Agility (CSJ Grand Prix), Novice Jumping and Novice Gambler. Sadly, he got blown off the DW in the Gamblers. This is not the first time he got blown off (he got blown off twice and ran straight up without hesitation) but he was a bit reluctant to go back up again :( My fear was he's injured as he was checked by Sally the day before at Landsdown and he was given PERFECT by my physio, so I was very worried! Tace, our Team England's physio was on site, so she has a quick check on him and said he was a bit tight on the left shoulder (where he felt off) and tight on the abdomen area. I have been rested him since and with arnica. 

Thank God, Gamblers was his last class. He didn't do well in the Jumping, he was too busy barking again, hahaha ... but I was very happy that he won the CSJ Grand Prix and qualified for the Semi Final in December. WooHoo! His time was the 3rd fastest in all height and all levels. I am really happy! That gives me something to looking forward to. 

No video but this photo is courtesy of UK Agility.