Sipzie and Vindi

I need to share these photos with you, Vindi is like Sipzie's shadow, she will follow whenever she goes ...

I have been teaching Sipzie some tricks, she is fast learner ... I always find SHY is the hardest to teach, here we are ...

Sizzle said: You need to lift your paw higher, just like this!

catch up on agility news ... RVA

I find it difficult to find some spare time to blog at the moment, Sipzie is so full of energy, she keeps me busy all the time, if not, I have to give my attention to the boys who felt left out at the moment, especially poor little Sizz -man. Sipzie really likes him a lot, I wonder is it the colouring that look like Ypra? Or was it she can feel Sizzle is the youngest and playful? ...  All my boys are a real gentleman, they never learn to play rough and they do not like to play rough. Sipzie sometimes can be a bit too much for Sizzle, she is a powerful sheltie, size wise, mmm ... she is double the size of him! So, that does not help either! Luckily the kitty keeps her very busy too. Vindi is always looking for Sipzie and Sipzie is loving the kitty :)

We were at RVA, Peterborough last weekend. I was having two minds whether to go or not to go. Reason being, I only have Sipzie on Tuesday and I want to make sure she settles into our family, so taking her camping on Thursday maybe a bit too soon to get her out from the house. Also, I want to get her out and about to learn her new surrounding which will be part of our life in the future ... anyway, she settled in right away. She didn't show any sign of stress or discomfort. She joins in the pack like she has been here all the time.

So, I decided to take the caravan and the dogs off to RVA on my own on Thursday. Last week was very hot, Friday and Saturday were over 30c. Luckily, there were only 2 classes for each dog, an Agility and a Jumping class. I've entered Saturn and Sizzle, so I was having quite a relaxing time to socialise Sipzie when I am not running, that works out very well.

There were a Championship Breed Show at the same showground last weekend, Shelties is in Pastorla Group and the judging was on Friday. I got to sneak to have a look at some Beauty shelties during our lunch break. I've got to meet up with Saturn's breeder, she also has Sizzle's sire and Samber's sire.

As I was on my own on Friday, Colin was at work, so no video. I was just about to manage on my own. I purposely camp close to the hedge to get some shed and away from others, so walking to the rings were a bit further but not too bad.

 Saturn and his Jump/Hurdle trophy from Saturday

Saturn and Sizzle were running over the same courses but at different heights. I ran Saturn in the Agility this weekend, I think it is about time we should try to get him over some contacts. He was a good boy, his DW was so much better and his A Frame is getting there, he sometimes release himself before me but his SS is still awful. We did get placings in the Agility when he got his contacts. I am really happy with our progress. Saturn did some awesome Jumping last weekend, he won one of the class and we got a lovely trophy, it is a shape of a Jump/Hurdle. I always wanted a trophy with agility equipment and I am so glad that one of my boys fulfilled my dream. On Sunday, Saturn also did a lovely Jumping, unfortunately he missed the weave entry. The weave was placed very close to a cloth tunnel, it was very windy and the cloth tunnel end was blown open and he shoot out too fast and miss the entry. It was such a shamed as he ran beautifully and his time is good enough to win the class after redo the weave again. Saturn also did a lovely round in the C1-7 Steeplechase, he got a 5th in it.

this is Saturn's G4-7 Jumping on Saturday, 1st place:

this is Saturn's G4-7 Jumping on Sunday that he missed the weave entry:

 

 

Saturn's C1-7 Steeplechase:

This is Sizzle's first Grade 7 show. I was nervous, he is up against those big boys and girls. He is such a good boy, he worked very hard and he got a 2nd in Agility and 3rd in Jumping on Friday; 3rd in Agility on Saturday, I messed up the pull through in the Jumping with him again!!! Then 3rd in Agility on Sunday again, I messed up his Jumping, pull through again!! He also did a lovely C1-7 Steeplechase.

this is Sizzle's G4-7 Agility from Sunday:

Sizzle's C1-7 Steelplechase:

We are off to Rugby later this evening, tomorrow is Sizzle's first Champ. Yes, I am nervous and excited. I just wanted to go out and enjoy ourselves.

Here are some photos from Sing x Samber's puppies

here are daddy's girls at 11 months old, I can't believe they will be ONE next month! Where all the times go?

Sadie enjoying the sun in the garden

 

Tig was watching us enjoying our BBQ last weekend at RVA

lucky Skye holidaying in France

 

Sipzie update

I cannot believe Sipzie is with us for a week now, the past week just flew by so quickly ... especially when you have an energetic "puppy"! She is full of bean, full of energy, full of life, full of fun, full of excitement ...

She settling extremely well with us, I need not have to worry at all. I thought with her age and being attach to Miguel, she will miss him terribly and her pack back in Belgium but she proves me wrong! She was looking for Miguel after we separated from Pet Traveling Scheme at Calais but soon we got into the train, she settled in nicely with Colin at the back travelling with her.

Our journey back was smooth, no holding up traffic or road work delay. I was expecting the boys to go crazy and over excited to welcome a new girl to their family, again I was wrong. They were too happy to see me and Colin (not surprised since we left home at 5am and back at 2pm! They were missing us!) and ignored her.

Sipzie took everything in her own stride, she is a bubbly happy outgoing girl, she immediately play with me in the garden soon we got home, then she settled in to play with Sizzle. She loves Sizzle very much. She thinks he is the most wonderful buddy in the world. She took her new family environment immediately, there is no sign of nerves or stress. 

She becomes very attach to me immediately, that is all I want. I think she is meant to be my baby after all.

She settled in her first night with no trouble at all, she slept on our bed and the boys being a typical Englishmen, they all jump off the bed to let her sleep with us but soon she jump off, they jump back into the bed and tuck themselves right close to me! She is a clean girl, she asked to go out at night which is wonderful eventhough she woke me up at 12 midnight. I do not mind that at all, I am delightful how well trained she is.

On Wednesday, we met up with Priscilla (Eva's mum). She is here to visit Rosalind, her daughter who is studying music in Cobham. We went for a walk at Oxshott Common, Sipzie was off lead walking with us for the entire walk. She sometimes wander off to sniff and check out the surrounding but most of the times she stayed right close to me. She really is an attach girl.

After the walk, we then went training. I have Priscilla holding her for me while I ran Sizzle. I was told she was whining and crying for me, I guess that is a good sign?

Then, on Thursday, I took the caravan and the dogs to Peterborough for Just Dog Live weekend. The weather was so hot and camping didn't make life easier. As I was on my own on Thursday and Friday, I tried to stay in the caravan with the dogs to keep them company and to make sure they stay in the shed. Thursday wasn't too bad, I arrived about 2pm and still be able to find some nice camping spot. We had a relaxing Thursday, after setting up the caravan and our garden, I took Sipzie for a little wander around the showground to socialise.

Friday was a little difficult without Colin. I have to run Sizzle and Saturn and help for one hour. That is a compulsory help, so it made it quite difficult for me especially in this heat. The boys are getting so much better to stay in the camping while I pop to quick loo trip but not Sipzie. On Friday morning, I left the dogs inside the caravan but have a window open to let the air in. I was going as far as 100 yards, I feel a cold wet nose touching my leg, there is Little Miss Sipzie walking alongside me!! That gave me a good scared!

When I went to run the boys, I make sure I close all the windows but left the top for ventilation. I have to say the temperature must be over 30c+ on Friday and Saturday, each time I came back from running a dog, the caravan was so hot and poor dogs were so hot too but I dare not want to lose her and have no choice. The one hour help in the afternoon was a hell for me, I was worried sick all the time about them being over heated in the caravan!

I was so glad to have Colin to join me on Friday night, this mean I can rely on him to look after the dogs while I was out in the ring. We took Sipzie with us each time I ran a dog. She was crying each time I ran the boys. Saturn wasn't bother by her at all but Sizzle wasn't too happy. She is a little too pushy and Sizzle a gentle wee boy and he does not want to share his mummy with her!

After my Agility run with Sizzle on Saturday morning. I asked Colin to take them back to the caravan as I am going to check out the other ring, then I got caught and chatted up with a sheltie friend. As we were happy chatting away, there come a nice little tri sheltie running towards us. I thought such a nice looking dog, then to realised she is my Sipzie! I was so shocked and called her name, she was so happy to see me and jump into my arm! Bless her! Just as I have her, the tannoy said: Lian Knight, your sheltie is on the loose! Arrrrggghhh ... I thought, NO! Not another one or two? As I was just next to the secretary tent, I pop over to ask them WHICH ONE? I started to get very panic and ran back to the caravan with her, then half way, I saw my lovely friend Angie belting down this end, she told me Sipzie ran towards the ring and closely followed by Saturn and Sizzle but Colin managed to get the boys back but not Sizzle and Sally (Tig's mum) was running after her! Well, I am very famous now! Apparently all my shelties are trespassing Ring 2 in a rocket speed! I thought the boys are getting so much better with Colin but I was told soon they see Sipzie escaped, they just follow her! Well, now, she is on the lead whenever I am not with her!

We finished about noon on Sunday but I have to fulfill my one hour help duty so we didn't get away until 3pm. We did get home before 7pm. More about our agility news in the later post. You cannot believe how energetic she is, she is keeping me busy all the time. She is not like a puppy that will spend most of the time sleeping. She is up most of the time and we have a lot catching up to do.

here are some photos:

Sipzie and her old daddy Migi

Miguel and his girls Ypra & Sipzie

here are Sipzie and her beautiful mum Ypra:

a very happy me and my very special little girl

she is a lunatic

 

Gosh! Another addition to The KNIGHTs Shelties family!

NO! Not another sheltie!

This is going crazy ... we were at Calais waiting for Sipzie yesterday morning, my neighbour rang me to ask if we want a kitten? Mmmmm ... we were looking to adopt a kitty a while ago. Colin is a cat person and he misses Tikka so much. After Tikka's tragedy, we never thought we could accept another cat again. A few weeks ago, we beginning to talk about A CAT! We weren't too sure if it is right to have a cat as we go to dog shows on the weekend and we have so many dogs at home, we just worried we won't have time for a cat and to put the cat at stressed with so many dogs surrounding him. Then, after "our talk", we got a new litter tray drop in our front garden the next morning! SPOOKY! I thought! Colin and I thought this is kinda faith? I was started to search on Internet to adopt a cat. I do not want another persian, a ginger one or a white one with those lovely blue eyes will do me but nothing really come through. We left it as it is.

After my neighbour's call, we still having two minds because I told Colin I won't have time for a cat let alone a kitten! My neighbour kept sending me text to say how cute, how lovely the kitten is. We agreed to pop over to see the kitty when we got home. When we got home, I was busy to get Sipzie to settle and play with her and totally forgot about the kitty. Then, my neighbour spotted us in the garden and came banging on the door. Colin and I have no escape but to go and see the kitty.

Result: 

 introducing our 8 weeks old kitten, Vindi

I think Colin is a happy man with a cat!

Sipzie meeting Vindi

Home at last!

We picked up Little Miss from Calais this morning. 

She is finally HOME at long last!

more later, I am going to enjoy the time we have lost!

counting down ... 24 hours to go ...

Can somebody fast forward the clock please?

we have joy, we have fun, we have season in the sun ...

I decided not to go camping at Wellingborough on Friday, Colin has to work late and my running orders were kinda upside down. I have all my classes first thing in the morning (I finished all my runs by 10:15am!) on Saturday, then on Sunday, all my classes are in the afternoon. Doesn't sound like a good plan to run two days, so I voted for a day off and enjoy some quality fun time with the dogs and Colin.

We had to wake up very early on Saturday morning, we left home at 5:30am and got to the showground at 7:40am. Just enough time for me to walk three courses. First, I walk the Small Agility Challenge, it look pretty straight forward but there were a couple of traps that I have to watch out for; then I walked my Medium Tunnel Vision for Saturn. There were six tunnels (5 pipe tunnels and 1 cloth tunnel), it was a nice run for a tunnel crazy dog; then I walked the Small/Mixi pairs. Well, the pairs course is definitely not a fast course, all the jumps were so tight together, I find it difficult to run Saturn, he has a long stride, so to jump clear, I have to control him all the time. 

All my running orders were very early, basically I was hopping one ring to another, this is why I finished by 10:15am!! I like it that way though, no hanging about.

I ran Sizzle & Smo pairs first, both boys ran well, this pair were on the lead for a long time, they ended up in 3rd place! Saturn & Brax pairs also ran well, they were just behind Sizzle & Smo pairs, we ended up 4th place! After the pairs, I ran over to the Small Agility Challenge ring. The course is spread out, so there is a lot of running to do and get into the right position with the dog. Luckily Sizzle is quite good in working ahead of me. His see-saw is getting better each time, eventhough I like him to run all the way to the end to tip the see-saw, he didn't do it this time but he knew he has to wait for the tip before releasing himself, such a good boy. The only thing that worried me is he hesitate on the up plank on the DW. This is the first time he has done that, he has never done that before at training or competition. People who stood outside the ring watching told me, 9 out of 10 dogs does that, why?

Then, I ran over to the Tunnel Vision to run Saturn. He wasn't running well to start with, he was flat, so I thought I will do a run start with him and blimey, I still be able to catch up with him, so he is definitely is slow! He also not running well in the C4-7 Jumping. I guess he was busy chasing foxes in the garden on Friday night. We were sleeping in the lounge for the last week, we have the french window/patio window open wide to get the breeze in, so all the shelties were on guard. They dash into the garden every half an hour! I now learn that is a bad idea to sleep in the lounge with the window open the night before our competition! We now move back to our bedroom! 

We didn't get home till late last evening. Eventhough we finished early but we sat there watching the Knockout for a little while.

Today, we took the dogs out for a good long walk and relax in the garden, what a wonderful life!

our runs at Wellingborough:

 

Sizzle & Smo pairs

a very tired Sizzle after his run yesterday

some photos taken today:

nothing makes Sing very happy than throwing him his tennis ball

 ... and the swim of course!

 here is Sizzle and his fetching action!

 he loves his swim too

 Seagull just wanted to look pretty

 Saturn is busy rabbit hunting

Sizzle and Sing joined in for an investigation

"stupid" Seagull and grooming

 

Well, I have taken Seagull out to the Common to meet those geese, you thought he will be wary? Nope, being a "stupid" Seagull, he ran straight up to them again when he saw the other people feeding them! I have to put him on the lead to walk the entire walk! I don't think he is after the geese but is definitely after the bread! He is so greedy!

Seagull is a funny sheltie, he makes me laugh and he makes me cry! He is not a human friendly dog, he is nervous, shy and timid but he loves other animals, dogs, cats, rabbits ... anything! He did chase squirrel and fox though! I never give up socialising him, I take him to people who we know is gentle with him and being patient with him. Over the years, he finally "accept" my nephews, Ling Ling and our lovely friends Jim and Joan. He also beginning to accept Russel and KY, so that is good.

Why are we calling him stupid Seagull? Well ... he always walked into a park car or the lamp post on the pavement and he sometimes run straight into the french window at home! Also, we met a Greyhound/Lurher in the Common a few years ago, Seagull ran straight up to him to say hello (see, he can be so friendly, to other dogs only!), it turned out that the Greyhound/Lurher wasn't a friendly one. He got aggressive over Seagull, we have to separate him from Seagull to set him free. The Greyhound/Lurher owner was very understanding, she apologise and walked the opposite way. After a while, we cross each other's path again. You thought Seagull will avoid him? Nope, he ran towards him happily wagging his tail. Again, the Greyhound/Lurher wanted to eat him!!! Arrrgghhh ... I am not angry with the Greyhound/Lurher but I am frustrated with Seagull, so he is on the lead for the entire walk. I have also learned over the years that if I see anything I don't feel comfortable with, he will have to go on the lead!

After he got attack by the goose, he looked really scruffy and dirty, so I decided to give him a full bath.

 scruffy furball

I normally blow dry him when the weather is cold but being so hot, I let it dry naturally, so with a big thick heavy coat he has, it took him 2 days to fully dry up. Grooming Seagull is a nightmare job. I brush him everyday and that is not enough. I groom him every week to take some dead hair off and that is still not good enough. People who met Seagull knows he has a HUGE thick heavy coat.

I always give the dogs a good groom (strip off) after their bath. I find it easy to groom after the bath. Seagull is no different, after one and a half hour job, this is the result:

Now, I am tired!