DON'T YOU DARE STEAL MY JOY - by Connie Cleveland

I was unsettled this morning. I knew the World Agility Championship is on and it is happening in the UK. I was hoping to go and support Team GB, especially those very clever shelties that got select to represent GB. Unfortunately I cannot find anyone who willingly (or trusty enough) to look after my dogs, so I got to stay at home. I am hopeful that someone like Agility Vision will do a live streaming video so I can watch from home but I was very disappointed that I cannot find anyone who is doing that!

I was browsing for more information about the World Agility Championship and read a post in the Agility Forum posted by Tim Dyer. This is such a beautiful article and meaningful so I thought I will cross post here and share:

DON'T YOU DARE STEAL MY JOY

by Connie Cleveland

On the occasion of my tenth anniversary, my husband asked me how I wanted to celebrate. I asked that we take a very dear friend, my adopted grandmother and one of the greatest of all the great southern ladies, out to dinner with us.

At dinner, my husband, Brian, presented me with a diamond ring. It was gorgeous and I was speechless, but even as I thanked him, I worried about the expense and extravagance of such a gift. As if he knew that the next line belonged to my grandmother, my husband excused himself from the table.

He was barely out of sight when she reached across the table and grabbed me by the shoulder, "I know what you're thinking, I know you think he couldn't afford it and it's too extravagant. I don't care if he had to put a second mortgage on the house to buy it, don't you steal his joy! It's beautiful. Accept it as the token of his love that it is and say nothing about how he shouldn't have bought it for you." Then she repeated, "Don't you dare steal his joy!"

That was the end of the conversation. She sat back in her seat, smiled at my returning husband, and we had a lovely dinner. I took her advice and put my reservations out of my mind. The ring has never come off my finger, but most importantly, I learned a wonderfully important lesson, never to steal another man's joy.

Are you a joy stealer?

"You know if my dog hadn't gone down on the sit, I would have won the class", said, unfeelingly, to the winner.

"I sure didn't think your dog worked that high a score."

"I can't believe you placed, I thought Jane Oneup and her dog would beat you."

"I thought I had that class won! My dog had a great performance, " said to the winner.

"Isn't that judge an idiot? I can't believe the dogs he put up!" said to the winner.

"Boy, aren't you glad Mrs Winallthetime wasn't here today or you might not have won."

"You passed that Master test because the water blind was so easy."

"That was the stupidest set of water marks I've ever seen. No trial should end that easily," said to the winner.

Do you discourage or encourage fellow competitors? Do you tell them their goals are too lofty and their dreams too big? Are you trying to be helpful or trying to keep them from accomplishing something that you never had the ability or perseverance to do yourself? It is equally as harmful to steal joy by destroying the dream.

"No Basset Hounds get UD's," said to the owner of the Bassett in Utility class.

"I've never seen a Rottweiler that could do fronts and finishes", said to the owner of the Rottweiler practicing fronts and finishes.

"Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a UD and a Master Hunter? Do you know how few people have ever done it?" said to the first time dog owner setting out to do both.

When FC AFC OTCH Law Abiding Ezra had both his field championships and 65 OTCH points including all the necessary first places, someone had the guts to come up to me, his owner, trainer and handler and say, "No dog will ever be a field champion and an obedience champion." My jaw drops when I think about it. Isn't it unfortunate that I remember this attempt at stealing my joy much more than I remember all the cards and letters and congratulations I received when those last 35 points were earned?

If you are willing to destroy someone's dream, perhaps you don't realize that it is the JOY of pursuing the dream that keeps the dreamer motivated, not just reaching the accomplishment.

My husband and I travel and compete together. I remember an event, early in our relationship when I watched his Doberman fail articles. "Darn it, " I said, as he came out of the ring," she didn't even try to find the right one!" "Oh", he replied, "but, weren't her heeling and signals wonderful?"

Unknowingly, I had almost stolen his joy. He was celebrating the improvement on the exercise that had been giving him trouble, and I was focused on the failure. Since that experience, Brian and I have learned that the best response to a questionable performance, "What did you think?" That way, if the handler is excited about some aspect of the performance, you can share that excitement. If the handler is disappointed in another aspect, you can share the disappointment. You are safely removed from being a joy stealer.

I hope you have a lot of dreams and goals for your dogs in (the coming year). Undoubtedly there will be moments of disappointment as you venture through the landmines of injury, failures and other setbacks. Remember that the joy of the journey is worth the difficulties along the way and don't let anyone steal that joy. Guard it well and at he end of the road you can own it and revel in it with all the other memories of the trip.

I'm going to add a few more that I have heard:

"If my dog hadn't knocked that bar, you would never have gotten 2nd place and gotten enough points for your MACH" said to a girl who had just found out that her 2nd place had netted her enough points to finish out her MACH with her heart dog.

A girl waiting in line for her National Championship Finalist shirt mentioned she was nervous to be showing in the finals. Another competitor replied "Why? It's just Preferred."

"What was your dog's time? My dog slaughtered your dog's time." Said after the slower dog qualified and the faster dog did not because he knocked bars and/or went off course.

So, stop and think. . .is your joy dependent on stealing someone else's? None of us is going to get rich at this sport. We do it to have fun with our dogs and our friends. So, it is the journey that counts. Let's hope we can all respect and enjoy each other's journey.

After reading this, I have learned to ENJOY every single run with my dogs, whether it is a good one or a bad one.

Sipzie

Sorry I haven't posted any news about Sipzie. She is doing great. Miguel said she is very attach to him (Ooops! I hope she will attach to me when she joins me!) I am really missing her, VERY MUCH. She has grown into a pretty young lady. I have received some great picture of her and her mama Ypra. Miguel always take good pictures. I have booked the Crossing to go and pick her up on 6th July, 7.5 weeks to go! Can't wait!!

drying in progress ...

Well, the paint on the see-saw dried up nicely so I started to apply the rubber chip on the see-saw this morning. I was a bit nervous to start with, I was worried that I wouldn't have enough rubber chip if I didn't sprinkle evenly but I was being silly. It was plenty. I wanted to apply the RED area first but it was much bigger area so I being sensible to start off with one of the white area. Everything went well (to my standard).  I know it won't be perfect but as long as I do my best, I am happy. After all, it is only home use and I am not a pro, so nobody can complain about it. I certainly don't think the shelties would complain! Now, I have to wait for the contactcoat to dry before I can use it.

busy and a long painful wait!

I have been very busy yesterday and today! I met up with Jenny and her lovely Border Collie Copine for a good walk at Wimbledon Common yesterday. We had a good solid 2.5 hours walk. We didn't slow down, we kept marching! It wasn't plan for a long walk but Jenny and I got lost in the wood, so it ended up a good long walk! We then have some yummy food in the Windmill Cafe to regain our energy to drive home!

You thought I will be tired? Nope, I spent all afternoon moving the agility equipments around and maw the lawn! I must have burnt off all my calories! I was expecting a back ache this morning but nope, I am fine and full of energy! I think the long walk must do me good. 

I decided to re-do my See-Saw. My SS is actually a part of the Contact Trainer I bought a few years ago. Unfortunately the CT didn't works, so I called Premier who made the CT to see if they are happy to take part of the CT back and exchange for a full A Frame. Premier has excellent service, they sent me a brand new full A Frame almost immediately and I kept the SS part. The SS Part isn't really a SS, it has slats, it's more like a DW plank on the SS base. I think that confused Saturn when I trained him as a puppy. Just before I had Sizzle on the SS, I removed those slats but I didn't do a good job, I made a messed on the plank but it was ok. Also, for some reason, I misplaced the bolt on the base and found another smaller one to fit in the hole, so the SS is actually not steady!

After Sizzle's SS problem, I seriously thinking of re-surface the SS. I decided to try the rubber chip from Contactcoat. I bought my See-Saw kit from them last weekend. I spent nearly a week to digest the instruction, at this point, I wish I have a handy-man husband!

I sand the plank down this morning and clean and wash off all the dirt and let the plank dry up. I am also a little bit ambitious to change the original colour. The plank was Blue and White to match the A Frame and DW in the garden but I am fed-up with Blue & White, so to give it a bit of life in the garden, I chose RED!

So far, I have just painted the RED and waiting for it to dry up nicely before I can paint the two ends of white. This is going to be a long painful wait before I can use the SS again!

a "hung" agility weekend

Well, after a hung parliament, I followed the trend to have a hung agility weekend! I just cannot believe I have an all e'd (eliminated) weekend! Every single class I have entered, I've got eliminated! Even Mr Reliable (Sing) got eliminated twice! Arrrggghhh ... what's wrong with me?

I knew I couldn't concentrate on Saturday, I don't know why. I was probably still very tired from the previous long agility weekend. I decided to drive up to Walsall on Friday night for Beacon on Saturday. The venue was three hours from home, it would be too much for me to do the driving in the morning.

I google and was very surprised to discover Holiday Inn Express in Walsall, not only they allow pet but is also FREE! WooHoo! In the past, we always stayed at Travel Lodges and they charged £20/dog + room rate. I have been competing with Sing, Saturn and Sizzle so imagine I have to pay £60 extra on top of the room rate. The room rate is normally less than the price of 3 dogs! We normally got there very late, around 11pm ish and left before 7am in the morning, so staying at Travel Lodge makes agility very expensive! 

I highly recommend Holiday Inn Express Walsall if you are up Birmingham way, it is brilliant! As long as you have well-trained, well-behaved dogs, they are welcome and stay for nothing! The hotel policy said they will charge £50 if they mess in the room. I think that is very fair. The hotel itself is so clean and tidy. Staff are friendly and helpful. The room we stayed is very good size (double bed with pull out), we even have air-conditioning in the room (bonus!) and you also get complimentary breakfast in the morning! Isn't that  heaven? Colin certainly enjoyed the free breakfast very much. He said their sausages taste lovely!

I know my shelties love to join us in the bed, so I carry a fleece blanket  to throw over the bed so they can still enjoy staying on the bed with us and not messing the bed up. Both Sing and Sizzle settled in very well this time but not Saturn. I cannot figure out why, he wasn't happy at all. He woke me up at 2:30am (crying) to let him out and so I did. We then struggled to get back to sleep, so all Saturday, Colin and I and Saturn were very tired!

the boys on the bed  

Sizzle always carry his favourite duck (present from Aunty Yvonne and sister Ellie) whenever he goes. He MUST play with this toy duck every night before going to bed, even just for a couple of throw. This has becomes his night time routine. I found the same toy at Pets at Home recently, so I thought I will buy one and put it in the caravan so I don't have to carry the same toy in and out the caravan and home but nope, he still loves only this toy!

 Sing is always independent. We bought Seagull to keep him company so I can go to work when he was younger but sadly he does not enjoy Seagull's company. I then gave up work and to be with them. Later, we have other shelties to join our family. Sing remains the independent one. He gets on well with all of them but very seldom play with them like he plays with Sizzle. He and Saturn was good pal until Sizzle came along. Sizzle is like a spark in his life. He loves to have him around. He tease him, he plays with him and he chase him whenever they are out and about. I think Sizzle makes Sing feel young again! He was like a lunatic in the hotel room chasing Sizzle. I did tell the reception these three dogs are very well-behaved, mmm .... if you looked at Sing on Friday night, you thought I am a liar!

Back to our unsuccessful agility weekend. Saturday at Beacon, weather wasn't very kind to us, it was  very cold and wet, constantly raining and the wind made me feel like we are in the deep winter again! Sizzle has 3 individual runs and one Team run. Sing and Saturn has one run each.

First up was Saturn in the Combined 6,7 Jumping. I can see the tunnel trap when I walked the course.  I was hoping to catch him before he sees the tunnel but I lost him! The tunnel is such an invitation to my shelties! I remembered my Lincoln weekend, they kept going into the tunnels again and again! Other than he ran into the tunnel to get himself eliminated, he actually ran well. I even managed to do my layering by staying this side of the tunnel. Yeah!

And, I decided to run Sing in the Graded 1-6 Agility eventhough the ground condition was a bit wet. I want to give him a practice before Sunday's Team run. I have not training since he was injured a few months ago, so I really do not know what to expect from him. He was keen and eager to go. I thought he started well, I was worried about the wet ground so I dare not push him for speed. He tripped on a turn and then he started to slow down a little. Unfortunately I didn't turn him well after the DW so he back jump the jump and got eliminated! That's entirely my fault!

Sadly, I can't get a single thing right with Sizzle this weekend. We had some interesting courses on both Saturday and Sunday. I love all the courses.  I consider myself a Novice handler and new to 6 & 7 courses.  After this weekend, I think I need a lot more "control" with him to do the 6 & 7 courses. Sizzle is brilliant. He is always keen, with his speed and running contacts, I have to be in the right place at the right time to do the right thing. I didn't managed a single right thing this weekend with him. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and did the wrong thing!

He is still a baby and I haven't thought him many things yet. We are still weak on the see-saw and me running ahead of him in the weave or crossing behind the weave. If I can rely on him to do the obstacles on his own, that will make such a big difference.

I can see a slight improvement on the SS this weekend, not great but we both were a little patient than last weekend so only a couple of times he leap off the SS before it tip. I still have to work hard on that though. His SS is no way near perfect. I still need to get him to run all the way up to the end and wait til it tip. We  still practicing a lot of the SS basic. Sometimes he looks very confuse but hopefully I can sort this out soon. The longer it takes, it will confuse me too!

I also starting to teach him to come close to me after this weekend, either come in front of me (in between my legs) or beside me. We have a couple of courses this weekend with obstacles discrimination and we fail entirely! I have been practicing with treat last night for the first time and he did well. This morning, we were out in the Common walking and I tried to call him to me and he responded well so I chuck him the toy! I am hoping he will run to me and grab my tuggy but he isn't a tugging dog but we are going to work on it. I also want to work this with Sing and Saturn.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The Crufts Team qualifier started this weekend, ESSC (English Shetland Sheepdog Club) has sent a Medium Team and a Small Team to take part. Sizzle is in the Small Team and Sing is the reserve in the Medium Team.

The Medium Team did well at Beacon on Saturday, they came 2nd. Unfortunately, only the winner go through to Crufts 2011. Well done to Pat & BeatBeat, Paul & Fudge, Lisa & Tyler and Christine & Zev, they worked so hard to come and 2nd. We are very proud of you!

Unfortunately, Sizzle and I let the Team down on Saturday at Beacon. I lost Sizzle in the snake sequence, you can see me in the video looked so lost and didn't even know where my little dog was!

Then, at Tunbridge Wells on Sunday, I let the Medium Team down with Sing went into the wrong end of the tunnel!

The Small Team also didn't get qualified at Tunbridge Wells, we will try harder next time!

 

Thanks to all Team members that run for ESSC! Better luck next time!

Sing

Just a quick update re Sing.

I think he is looking so much better, in general. He hasn't show any sign of lame or lifting his front left paw. He is not looking stiff but very agile and lively!

For the last few weeks, he has been wearing the "Back on Track" coat most of the time; getting his Cartrophen injections from the Vet for 4 consecutive weeks; Yumove supplement; massage; swimming ... etc.

I do not know which one helps him but one thing I know he is recovering well. He is full of bean. Just two days ago, he kept bringing me his tennis ball to play in the lounge again. We have an issue about playing tennis ball in the lounge since last October. Since then, we never be able to play tennis ball in the same place again but now, everything is back to normal. I guess his back/spine issue is gone.

I still not taking him back to agility training yet, I ran him at Lincoln two weeks ago and he won the G6 Agility; then I ran him at the Sheltie Show on Sunday, he won the C6/7 Jumping. I've got his running order for this weekend, I am not sure if I want to run him on Saturday in the individual class because Brodie got blown off the DW at Vyne and he is on the rest for two weeks. Sing is the reserve for the Team so he has to step in for Brodie on Sunday. I do not want to overdo with him. If the weather is dry tomorrow, I will probably run him in one of the Agility class then Team on Sunday but if the weather is wet, I will keep him for the Team on Sunday.

Sing with his Lincoln and Sheltie Show winnings

I am agility-out!

I am agility-out! It has been a very long weekend for me! I am really tired and exhasuted. I could hardly run at training today!

I took the caravan and the shelties to Newbury on Thursday, Colin didn't join me until Friday evening. I was ok as we were surrounded by people I know well. The weather hasn't been great, it was awful at some point. We had high wind, stormy, rainy weather, hailstone the whole weekend ... we also have a few hours of sun and dry weather.

It wasn't my plan to have 4 days of Agility. My original plan was to go to Colchester on Saturday, Sheltie Show on Sunday and Severnside on Monday but I was the Show Secretary (scarry!) for the Sheltie Show and I wanted to cheer for Matt & Brax for their first champ at Vyne, so I have to change my plan. Bringing the caravan to Newybury and do the UKA show on Friday and Saturday seems to be the sensible idea eventhough it sounds ambitious. 

Friday was a blur. I managed to walk all Sizzle's classes and ran all of them, he got 1st places in Novice Jumping and Novice Steeplechase. Our Novice Agility ran well apart from him flying off the see-saw! Colin was at work, so no video from Friday. I am so used to Colin being my groom and take care of the boys while I watch other people run. As he wasn't there on Friday, so I spent most of the time in the caravan with the dogs. I have heard from the announcement that the gate was open and the venue is open to the public. There might be travelers came into the showground so we have to watch out for our dogs and belongings. I am a worrier so I rather stay with the dogs to make sure they are safe. Samber is not a good camper, I cannot keep her safe in the garden, she always try to escape, either go underneath the fencing or jump over the fencing. Very naughty little girl! 

In the morning, I also heard that there might be no PA system as the villagers are complaining. Anyway, I missed walking two of Saturn's runs. I got to watch a few other dogs running and trying to remember which way to go. The Senior Jumping was a blur. We ran it, I thought we went clear but the judge didn't clap. I asked one of my friends if we went clear, she told me we got eliminated! Later I went to the score tent to check and we actually went clear and got a 3rd place. I have no clue about the Senior Agility course, so I walked in to do the NFC (Nor For Competition) round, I did all the contacts and came out. I managed to walk the Senior Steeplechase and he came 3rd in that too.

I was so glad to have Colin joining us on Friday evening. I was hoping to do better on Saturday. I managed to walk all Sizzle and Saturn's classes but Saturn wasn't well on Saturday. I noticed he went stiff after his first run of the Novice Steeplechase. Luckily there is Tace Allen on site, she is a Therapist. I've got her to check over Saturn for me and she found a few tight spots on him, the worst was the muscle on his right groin is very sore, that probably explain why he is stiff and not running his full speed. So, Saturn is on the rest for the next couple of weeks.

I only have Sizzle to concentrate which is good but also feel funny. I am so used to running two or three dogs, so running one dog made me feel lazy. I did a late entry on Novice Gambler for Sizzle as well. The new rule of the UKA is you need some game point to move from Novice to Senior. I try to avoid Game as long as I can as I have no idea how to snooker/gambler/snake and ladder ... etc. Our first run was Novice Agility. The ground was very wet and the contacts were very wet too. I was very worried that Sizzle might slip on the see-saw if he ran up fast. I decided to do a front cross so I can pretend to catch him (to stop him from jumping off the see-saw and also just in case he slip), of course it went horribly wrong. He probably dislike me trying to catch him, so he went around my back and back jump, so we got eliminated! BooHoo! Big mistake!

Our 2nd run was the Novice Gambler. I remembered doing a Gambler with Sing a long time ago but can't quite remember how to do it. I like to run a course with all numbers set up, I hate to run "my own course" especially you have a time limit to do the course. We were allow 35 seconds to do anything we want and each obstacle has their own points. I think the highest being 5 points (DW and 12 weaves), A Frame is 4 points and SS and 6 weaves are 3 points ... etc. Once the whistle blow for time, you need to run to the jumps that set up by the judge to do the gambler. It was very stressful for me. I have no idea what I can do in 35 seconds and I do not know how to position myself to do the gambler. The funny thing was, Sizzle decided to take the tunnel (I wasn't plan for that) after the 12 weaves and at the same time the whistle blow. I was shocked but luckily I gather my mind quick enough to run the gambler. We made it in time. He finished the Gambler within time. He actually collected 59 points and Gamble! WooHoo! I was told he collected the highest points in the Novice! Yeah! Yes, he won the Gambler!

Our third run was Novice Jumping. He got 2nd in that.

After that, we had a long wait before our Novice Steeplechase. I remembered Sizzle and I both fell asleep until we heard the announcement and I suddenly jumped up. Poor Sizzle was still half asleep by the time I took him to the ring. I found it very tiring running the Steeplechase course. It was up and down the hill. At the last turn, Sizzle actually turned the wrong way! Luckily he managed to collect himself. I think we need a lot of homework for directional commands, I've noticed this is our weakest this weekend.

On Sunday, we left the caravan and off to the Sheltie Show. It was pouring down with heavy rain, I felt so lucky that we were indoor. I was nervous and panic as this is the first time for me to being a show secretary. I remembered all the stuff for the show but forgot my own stuff, such as treat/toy and camera! What a disaster! I have entered three dogs but ran Sing in the 6/7 Agility and Jumping. He won the 6/7 Jumping which surprised me! See, he keeps telling me that he is not giving up agility! I didn't run Saturn in the Agility and Jumping but ran him in the Tunnel Vision, he was crazy and did a fab round. We got 3rd in that Tunnel Vision and 1st in the Pairs with Matthew and the little pocket rocket Bracken. I wish I remember the camera as that was a very good round from both of them. I've got Sizzle eliminated in the 6/7 Agility. He got 4th in the 6/7 jumping and 5th in the Tunnel Vision. Again, he turned the wrong way after the Tunnel. I really have to do more homework on our directional commands. The Show went well apart from the Timer didn't turn up. Luckily we have some husbands to help time keeping with the stop watches. Thanks to everyone who help running the show!

 this video is shot by Luds and Dale Fitzwater of Fleurdemai Shetland Sheepdog, the first run in the video was me and Sing and you can also find me running Sizzle somewhere in the middle:

Bank holiday Monday at Newbury was very cold and windy, we even have hailstone and rain in between the high wind.

I was very tired after the Sheltie Show, both mentally and physically. I didn't do well at all, I just can't concentrate in running my dog. My first run with Sizzle was the Grade 6 Agility, this is his first G6 show, I love the course and I was hoping to do well. We started off well until the judge faulted our DW. Sizzle didn't change his stride but he kinda came off side. I think a gust of high wind must have blow him off a little bit, I am not sure but I am not too worry about it. I should have continue to work hard but I didn't. I let him take the long jump the wrong way and got eliminated, then we went off course but the good work in this class was his see-saw. He did stayed on the see-saw until I released him. I am very please with that.

 

Then, we have our Combined 6/7 Jumping. I thought we ran well and we are just one place out of placing. Again, he didn't get my directional command right, he turned the wrong way and took a longer route.

Disaster strike at our last run. It was Combined 5-6 Agility. Due to the high wind, the judge pulled out the DW as there were many dogs fell off the DW. Sizzle started off steadily, I wonder the see-saw might have put him off a little bit? I have been training him on the see-saw too much lately and I think he is a bit worried about it. Just as we started flowing, we heard his favourite toy going off outside the ring. I do not know who squeak the talk toy but he wanted to go and chase it. I managed to get his attention back but not for long, after he came down the A Frame and back into the tunnel, he pulled out at 4th pole and looking for the toy! Arrrggghhh ... I do not know what to do, so I picked him up and walked out. I never expect this to happen. Sizzle has been a very good boy since we started competing, he never bother by any distraction and this is new to me. I keep the "bird toy" when he is flat out at training so he really is into the toy. I am actually shocked when he lost his attention. Now, I have something to work on!

this is our disaster run, you can hear the little bird toy going off:

The highlight of this weekend is to see my little Zap again. This is the first time I've got to see him since he left me at 8 weeks. He is a handsome little man.

The 2nd highlight of this weekend is to watch Brax at her first champ, she is a tiny super star. Read more about her run here.

For now, I just wanted to rest. I hope I will recover in time for the weekend. The Sheltie Team has their first Crufts Team heat this weekend and I am so much looking forward to it! Can't wait!

Lincoln & Sing

Agility season is definitely into the full swing now, I have been going to an agility show every weekend this month, KC and UKA! I live up to my new name, agility addict! hahaha ...

We went to LAE (Lincoln Agility Enthusiasts) this weekend. It was a long way from home so Colin has to take a day off from work so we can travel up on Friday morning. We woke up at 5am and left home just before 6am. We were lucky that traffic wasn't too bad but we were slow towing as there were a lot more road works that I expected and we also got stuck behind some big lorries most of the journey! We got to the showground around 11:30am, we did have an hour break on the service station though.

Lincoln people make all of us feel so welcome, this is my 2nd time at this show. My first time was 2008. I love the showground, the ground was very good to run on, flat, no bumpy lumpy and it is HUGE. We had a massive secure exercise area for the dogs to run around.

I need to say a BIG THANK YOU to Lincoln especially Trevor with his PLATINUM SERVICE who helped us with the caravan. I usually charged up the battery when we got back from a show so we are ready for the next camping trip. Unfortunately, we think the charger has gone his best date, so we had a FLAT battery! Anything battery operated is not working!! Arrrrggghhh ... Colin and I are quite an easy person, we don't fuss about luxury when we go camping. We always use the minimum from our caravan. We have never use the toilet, we use the toilet as a storage for doggie stuff. Now, it didn't get dark until 8:15pm, so we can still sit outside in the warmish weather until 9pm before going to bed. The only inconvenience bit is we cannot trigger the water pump! I need water especially when it is hot. Trevor was very kind to lend me his spare battery and took my battery away to charge, we got all the lights and ignition to work but not the water! I had a good check up on the caravan yesterday, everything is working fine, hopefully it behaves his normal self this weekend.

Saturday was lovely at Lincoln, beautiful blue sky and sunny weather, I've got sun burn almost straightaway! We also have a free entertainment from the Red Arrows! There were two red arrows practicing and they kept drawing a heart on the sky, at one point I was so distracted that I nearly miss my run!

Sizzle had four runs each day and he pop out from the last weave pole in three classes per day, the one that he didn't miss, he either win it or got placed. Homework this week is WEAVE! I tried to watch the videos over and over again but I can't quite see why, I have a feeling it was me and my body language. I remembered when Sing used to pop the last weave, it was me being IMPATIENT and wanted to rush to the next obstacle. That's me! I am always in the RUSH, I need to learn to be PATIENT.

Sizzle was on fire this weekend, especially on Saturday. I have not seen him running in full speed for a long time. He woke me up at 6am with his energetic self, he wanted to play. He brought me his toys, I ignored him and he kept bringing me more toys! His first run (Graded 4,5 Agility) was very powerful, he was so eager to go. Unfortunately he pop the last weave and I didn't swing him back to redo the weave, then we went off course as I lost my momentum. Our 2nd run was the Graded 4, 5 Jumping, again he did that beautifully and pop the last weave! I asked the judge permission to redo the weave. Our 3rd run was the Combined 4,5 Agility. It was a Jump to See-Saw to start with, I knew his see-saw is still not perfect, so I tried to lead out and hope to catch him and he knew what my plan was so he hesitate to go all the way, so he has a very slow see-saw. After that, he flew the course, got his weave but we got faulted on the A Frame!!!! To me, he GOT his contact but maybe I did the blind turn (which wasn't the way I walked the course) he hit higher than usual, so the judge raised his hand. It was a shamed but hey ho, this is the game. You need to play with the judge's rule! To me, it was a very good round from Sizzle. The last run of Saturday was the Combined 4,5 Jumping, judging by the same judge. Sizzle had a wide turn, you can hear me shouting "left left left", that cost him the 2nd place. We were so very close to the winner!

this is Sizzle's combined 4,5 Agility run:

this is Sizzle's Combined 4,5 Jumping run:

The weatherman said it would the hottest day of the year so far on Sunday but we got RAIN instead! I woke up at 6am to let the dogs out and by 6:20, I can hear the rhythm of the rain falling on top of our caravan roof! Where is the hottest weather they have promised? I thought I won't be able to run on Sunday as I hate running in the wet condition. I can't have another injured dog.

The judging started at 8:30, luckily by then, the rain has stopped but the shower/drizzle been on and off all day on Sunday. I was very lucky that each time when I ran my dog, the rain stops. Sizzle's first run was the Graded 4,5 Agility. He started off well, it was jump-DW-weave to start the sequence. I don't really like this course as all the contacts are off angle especially from the AF to the SS. I was very worried that the dog will slip off the SS as it was very wet on the ground and the contacts. I was very happy Sizzle got his weave entry as it was a right turn into the weave, with running contact, you ran all the way down from the DW in speed, I am worry that he won't be able to pick the entry but he managed the entry and pop the last pole again! I should have ask him to redo the weave but I didn't again! Then, we went off course! I decided to take a longer route to do the AF (have him on my right) to give him better run up and then do another front cross on the SS (but I didn't get that). I saw a few dogs having trouble on the SS due to the angle, especially those fast dogs. Slow dogs were alright.

Then, in our 2nd run, Combined 4,5 Jumping, he pop the last weave pole again and I make sure I redo it. In our 3rd run, it was the Combined 4,5 Agility. Rosie Pearson's course. She set up an interesting handling course, there is an obstacle discrimination. We did very well until the jump before the obstacle discrimination. I pulled him away too hard that he missed the jump he supposed to jump, then we went off course! His last run was the Graded 4,5 Jumping. I really do not know what to expect but I tried my best to make sure he stays in the weave and he did and he won that class!

Well, Saturn and I only managed one clear round this weekend. All his runs were eliminated! I did ran him in the Agility though, he was kinda good and bad. He didn't miss his contacts but at one class, he hesitate on the DW into the position. I think we are slowly getting there. We just need more practice!

Here is a little good note about Sing. I have not train him, compete with him after Crufts. He has a complete rest and at one point, I thought I never get to run him again. He has some good times and bad times but I continuously give him massage and swimming with the help of Back on Track coat , Catrophen jab and Yumega ... anything you name it we have tried most of it.

When I started the season without him, I was very emotional. He is my first agility dog, we started everything together. I have never assume I will go to an agility show and not running him. I remembered we went to Downlands in March, I cannot run him, he was winding and crying each time I took Sizzle or Saturn to run. I can even hear him crying when I was inside the arena (we parked very close to the arena). It broke my heart!

He does agility to please me and he want to please me!

Last week, he was full of bean. I trained him at club for 10 minutes. We did some low jumps and weave and tunnels, he flew around, until we did the DW, he was so fast that he fell off the DW, on his bad shoulder! Ouch! That hurt! I gave him arnica straightaway! He didn't look bad at all. When we got to Lincoln, he ran around like a lunatic in the exercise area. I thought I will give him a run on Saturday to see how he copes. This was his last entry. I have withdrawn all his future entries but I can't cancel Lincoln as it was already closed by the time I decided not to run him. Since this was the last entry, and he was looking good, so I picked to run the Graded 6,7 Agility.

I just wanted Sing to go out and enjoy to be with me, I knew he loves to run with his mummy. We both ran our heart out and went clear. I then put him away and didn't even bother to check his time. There were some good dogs competing in the same Grade and I never dream of getting a place with him. Later, I met one of our fellow competitors, he told me Sing has won the class! What? You must be kidding? I can't believe it. I ran to the score tent to check but they have taken the result away. I was left hanging in the air guessing was it really Sing has won that class? Later at the presentation proved that Sing has actually WON that class! WooHoo for my cripple boy! I want to cry and I did cry! How many times over the last couple of years I said I want to retire him? He isn't giving up yet, you know?

I have not yet decide when to run him again, maybe not for a long time but for now, he continues with his massage and swimming to get him fit, oh yes, he needs to loose weight if he is going to do agility again! Hahaha ...

We got to meet up with Tig-let again, Sally was there competing with her Border Collies on Sunday. I managed to take a quick photo of her with her mummy and daddy. She has her daddy's smile, didn't she? The season has started, I will get to see some of the puppies! Yeah!

I missed my last Jumping run with Saturn on Sunday, we wanted to go home at 3pm but I was still running Sizzle until 4pm! We managed to leave at 5pm and got home at 9pm without stopping. It was tiring but good weekend.

Agility @ UKA Prested Hall

Last weekend we went to UKA Prested Hall. I didn't realised it took us two hours to get there, this tells you never rely on me with directions, I am totally hopeless! If I were to know it takes me that long to get there, I would have booked camping. Prested Hall is very nice and the weather was lovely on the weekend. I got terrible sun burn on my face after Saturday!

We had to wake up 5am on Saturday morning as I have two classes to walk. With the UKA show, you need to walk your course eventhough it is not your height. I generally did badly at the UKA shows because by the time they lower down to my height, I forgot the course already! Especially when I have to run three dogs and they are at different levels!

It was quite a foggy morning to start with, the ground was a little wet but as soon as the sun burnt off the mist, it was lovely and sunny all day. Saturn was the first one in, running in his Novice Time Fault and Out. He has enough points to go Senior last year but I didn't do any Game classes. We need some Game points to take us up to Senior and I think it is about time I be brave to do the Games.

Saturn and I are still in the re-train progress for his contacts. I have not enter him in Agility at the Kennel Club shows. I want to make sure we both are confidence before we run the Agility at KC shows. At UKA, you are allow to train your dog in the ring if you wish, that is a big advantage for a young and problem dog.

At home and at Club, Saturn makes a big progress in all his contacts. I cannot say he is very fast running over all the contacts but I can see he is gaining more and more confidence each time he does his contacts. He knew his position, no hesitation at all. The only problem we have at training is he is still slowly walking over the peak of the A Frame. I cannot speed him up over that peak! I try to roll the treat down to let him chase the treat but didn't get a great response!

Back to our UKA, with TFO, you gotto run and run until the judge shouts TIMED or blow his whistle, then you need to run the faster you can to the finish jump to record the time. If you get a fault, you are out. Saturn was good (his standard), he didn't hesitate on the DW, he ran all the way down, maybe not as speedy as a good dog can be but I am happy that he didn't hesitate. We did the DW twice and both time he was good. He was looking around on top of the A Frame the first time but I managed to get his attention back to me. I did released him fast the first time to get him over the hesitation, the second time I got worried when the judge suddenly shout "TIMED", I lost my mind and ran and I forgot we are still in the training process. I wasn't too happy about his see-saw but there you go. He won the TFO and gain himself enough point to move up to Senior.

Later in the Agility, he blew everything off, he hesitate the position on the DW and freeze on top of the A Frame. I have to carry him out of the ring. 

On Sunday, we have Power & Speed as first run for Saturn. In P & S, you need to go clear in the power section before you are allow to do the speed section. In the Power section is consist of all contacts and weave and the judge allow you certain time (in this case, 38 seconds). I knew I am taking this opportunity to train Saturn's contacts. He was good on the A Frame, got into position and wait for my released word. See-saw ok and a little hesitate on the DW position but I gave him time to figure that out and he was good. I didn't carry on running onto the Speed section. I want to praise him when he took the last jump in the Power section. When we restart for the Speed section, I kinda confused where the 2nd jump was so we got eliminated! How funny! All the other got eliminated or faulted on the Power section and I am the only one that got eliminated on the Speed section! But I was pleased with Saturn. I know he needs more time to gain his confidence on the contacts.

Later in the Agility, he blew everything up again! Now, I beginning to wonder ... he can only do the contacts right first thing in the morning? mmmm ....

here is Saturn and some of his runs:

Sizzle was a good boy, he is always so keen and enthusiastic about Agility. We had to wait for a long time before his first run on Saturday. He did a very nice round in the Beginners Agility but got eliminated in the Beginners Jumping. It was my fault, I wanted to pull him but I was too far behind and too late, he went into the wrong end of the tunnel (yellow tunnel), otherwise it was lovely. I have never done clapping when he was weaving but I knew I was already eliminated, so I thought I will try to see if that affect/distract him but it seems that he weave faster? Then, we have another long wait before the Beginners Steeplechase. This Beginners Steeplechase Challenge is a Heat, the top three dogs will go into the Final held in August. There were some very good and fast little dogs there. Sizzle came 3rd and qualified for the Final. 

On Sunday, Sizzle won the Beginners Jumping. He moved up the Novice Steeplechase. It was a big course, long way round. I nearly run out of puff. Sizzle got a 3rd in that. Then, we have another long wait for the Beginners Agility. This Agility is CSJ Grand Prix Heat, the top three of the same height dogs in all levels (from Beginners to Champ levels) go through. All dogs run over the same course. I thought since all levels run over the same course, the course shouldn't be too hard but when I walk the course, I immediately saw the trap for me. DW to pull through over the jump. I knew I am still practicing the pull through and with the running DW, it is not easy especially the beginning sequence didn't allow me to be ahead of Sizzle on the DW ...

 this is my own draft, the scale may not be right especially after the see-saw:

I walked the course many times and in many ways. I am hoping to come through between #2 and #3, but then I will stuck behind #4 and give me no chance to catch up with him on the DW. I decided to go the long way, so I can send him over #4 and RUN as fast as I can to beat him to the DW. The set up of this course was a bit weird, the end of the DW was very close to the metal fencing, the fence is probably on top of the line 12! My option was if I can beat Sizzle to the DW, I will do a push through, if I am so far behind, I will try the pull through. Luckily I wasn't that far behind and I lost a little bit of time to do the push through. I know doing the push through mean I am stuck behind the A Frame! When Eleanor set up some cross behind the A Frame for us to practice, I always moan about it. I told her we don't need the cross behind with running contacts, how wrong was I? Now, I really appreciate she made me do it! 

Oh yes, Sizzle won that class too. He got a 2nd place in the Overall, just half a second behind a Grade 7 dog. I am really pleased! And yes, he also qualified for the Final in August! 

Now I feel much better, I can't wait to go back training! I haven't done any training for 4 weeks!! Lian and the shelties need training!

here is some of Sizzle's runs:

MAN and his BEST FRIEND

 

 Colin with his girls ... Samber & Skye

good news, bad news, up and down since Easter ...

I am not a bad blogger but I have been extremely stressed since Easter.

The weather wasn't great for Easter but we still went away in our caravan to the Easter Egg-gility at Solihull. We left on Friday morning, the weather was dry and sunny. Just as we came off M42, it started to pour! This is our first time going to Bretford Show, so we were a bit lost in directions, Sat Nav wasn't very helpful either! We managed to find the venue ok. As we pulled in with our caravan, I have to say I was shocked. I saw quite a few caravans already there, parked on the hard standing. We were directed to park on the hard standing too. With the wet and muddy condition, I was actually quite happy to park on the hard standing. This also mean no garden for the dogs! I cannot really complain as everyone is the same. I think we were lucky that the show still go ahead for us, agility addicts!

This photo was taken from our caravan front window. This is our view, Colin has a great sense of humour, he said we are overlooking at some beautiful lakes (puddles!) and the golden mountains (those piles of sand in the far end for the stable used!)

 side view from our caravan

Sizzle got very bored stuck inside the caravan

He really wanted to go out!

The ground was very wet, muddy, soggy, swampy ... The shelties all turning brown instead of sables! You can't spot any difference in Titan as he is nearly all black! Sizzle and Saturn looked really dirty on their white ruff. Sing and Seagull turned brown after their walks in the field. Samber was in season, so she stayed at home.

Our first day at the Easter show started off poorly. I woke up early morning with a text message from my nephew back home to say my mum had another stroke and she was rushed to hospital. You can imagine how I feel after reading the text message. I tried to get in touch with my family but no one was answering my phone/message. I was extremely stressed, not knowing what was going on ... luckily I managed to talk to my mum around noon. She was ok. Phew!

Our first run was Saturn in the Combined 6-7 Jumping. The course was quite challenging, lots of pull through and push through. By the time I managed all the pull through and push through, I forgot which jump to take and turn my body in the wrong direction and got Saturn eliminated. Poor Saturn, I let him down again and again!

Next up was Sizzle in Combined 4-5 Jumping. With the ground condition, I cannot run in my full speed so I wasn't able to switch/front cross in the box so he took the wrong jump and got eliminated!

After two eliminations, I thought my Easter Agility will be full of Eliminations but Sizzle always surprised me to what he can do. He won the Graded 4-5 Agility, this win takes him up to Grade 6! WooHoo! That gives me some confidence to run again!

 here is some of Sizzle's runs at Easter, I tried to include all runs in one video but youtube thinks my video is too long! At the end of this video, in Sizzle's Monday Combined 4-5 Agility, when we missed the last jump, it wasn't me that made the complaining noise! Someone must have felt the frustration! Hahaha ... I meant to do a front cross on the jump after the see-saw but I didn't and I do not know why I tell him "back"? He did what he told to do, so I cannot complain!

 here are some of Saturn's runs at Easter:

Saturn and me are not back as a team yet, we made quite a lot of silly mistakes together and I know it is all my bad handling. I have been very emotional since my mum had her stroke, I knew I wasn't running the way I used to run my dogs. I cannot tell them how sorry I am but I am trying my best.

I really enjoyed my Easter Agility, most of the courses I ran had lots of pull through and push through. I tried very hard and my very best to do every pull through and push through. I knew I messed up some of my runs but I am very happy with what I have achieved. The weather wasn't too bad, Saturday probably was the worst as it was wet and cold, Easter Sunday was dry. The show organiser was very thoughtful, they reserved some areas and moved the rings around so we don't have to run on the thick mud and soft ground. Monday was very windy, at one point, I don't think I can even run Sizzle in the agility ring, I was so afraid that he is going to blow off the Dog Walk.

Sizzle was great, he always tried very hard to run his best. I know his see-saw isn't perfect yet, at show, I tried to recall the see-saw if I get the chance, so I can make sure he gets the see-saw. Now, the weather has improved, I can get him out in the garden more to practice our see-saw. From our Easter show, I have found a new weakness which I need to practice on.


We got home from the Easter show on Monday evening, just before dark. The traffic and weather has been very kind to us so we can get home without any trouble at all.


I have spoken to my mum a few times during the week. She sounded very tired. Most of the time, she was silent when I talked to her. It was heartbreaking knowing that I am thousand miles away from her. I knew she is missing my late brother so much, she kept asking me where is he and why is he not coming home to her? I am so upset that I do not know how to answer her ...


My week went in a blur, I was depressed and upset, I felt awful. I told Colin I don't want to go to Spring at Shuttleworth show. I don't think I can cope. Colin thought I would be better off going to the show instead of staying at home and get worried, so off we left on Friday night with the caravan to Shuttleworth.


I was feeling tired on Saturday and I really don't feel I have the energy to run a dog but I did tried my best. Sizzle did some nice runs. Our first run was Graded 4-7 Agility, we managed the wrong end of the tunnel after the DW and into 2 sets of 6 weaves but we got faulted on the see-saw. I knew our see-saw is always hit and miss, I determine to train the see-saw to its perfection!

Later in the Combined 1-7 Agility, Sizzle did a nice left turn after the DW, but I was left behind and I lost him the jump before the A Frame, he nearly took the finishing jump but came back when I called, he struggled to climb the A Frame, so we finished in a hairy way:

By Sunday, I was feeling very awful and hardly concentrate my mind, I did do the Agility with Sizzle but I misjudge my call off the DW, so Sizzle came off too early and miss the contact! This is the first time at show he missed his DW. I have to restrain his turning off the DW.

We also managed our pull through in our Jumping round! Yeah! He wasn't place (he just slipped out of the placings) but I was more than happy. I think to be able to do a pull through mean a lot to me!

At the end of morning, I can hardly stand my ground so I asked Matthew to run Sizzle in the Combined 1-7 Jumping for me. Sizzle is a mummy's boy, he kept looking back for me on the startline. He was unsure about running for Matt but he was a good boy, he ran clear with him.

Saturn and me still can't get a clear round! There is always something stopping us getting a clear, either he refuse a jump or he took the wrong jump!


I've been to the doctor yesterday, got some anti-biotic, hopefully that will make me feel better. For now, I am wrapping up warm and have lots of cuddles from the shelties!

Happy Easter

The KNIGHTs Shelties would like to wish everyone a 

Happy Easter!