WSOTC weekend
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls

Well the courses were pretty twisty turny Friday night and some on other courses.

Kitt made it thru on the skin of our teeth with a bar down before the WP. Standard Q 2nd pl. Sat no q’s Kitt came out of the WP’s early on both courses (I suspect I was not driving hard enough) Gem came out of one of them as well. Sunday-Kitt Dbl Q #15….we’re going to make it !

 

Gem, poor little dear, can’t hold a contact to save her life. I must say if I were doing running contacts with her they would be pretty cool! BUT we are not …lol.

 

She has figured out her start line pretty nicely lately, just need to reel her back a bit on the contacts.

 

Walking off for 2 days helped but had little affect on her. She is such a naughty fun girl!

 

I sent her off course on Sundays JWW course, a part of the course pass thru twice and of course one obstacle was different each pass, oh well she was listening nicely.

 

Still no lameness for Kitt, pretty cool! I do suspect she is not free of any tenderness but nothing she shows even after a full 3 day USDAA Regional weekend!.

 

Weather was lovely this weekend and Sunday was a welcome relief of being overcast.

 

Tai is with us till next Sat. he and Gem play so well together, its like the younger brother older sister thing…that is tom boyish older sister. They ran, looped thru Argus’s big grass field both hanging to each end of a 3’ stick just running in big circles, it was pretty cute. Tai is older by 6 weeks though.

 

Several MACH’s to be had this weekend and lovely ribbons WSOTC had for them

 

I will mention Jill Crawford’s JJ has one DQ to go for his first MACH!


AKC Weekend coming up
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls

Seems like forever since we have done an AKC trial. I am actually looking forward to the 3 day event at Argus starting this afternoon.

 

The hype that is in USDAA “air” sure is not the same at AKC trials. For me and probably many others it may be just because I am not running around to be in various rings at seemingly the same time.

Not walking 3 rings at once. I find the energy level to be much lower which actually I am looking forward to, for one weekend anyway.

It sure is making qualifying for AKC nationals difficult by not running them though, oh well..it will happen or not.

 

Kitts pad blister from last weekends activites is not fully mended yet, but good enough to play for 3 days with light activity in the down time.

 
Did anyone see the USDAA news section on Humility? Interesting stuff from various points of view and stages of abilities. Yes I'm in there, it sure was scarey giving permission to post those kinds of thoughts...lol...oh well part of the personal growth.

Good Luck all if you are playing, Tai gets to come stay with me for a week so Gem has a boy to boss around for a while, smiles.


CAT Dam Team, Kitt & Gem are available
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls
Anyone looking for team dogs?

Kitt & Gem are available.

Gem, it would be nice to be on a training team , i.e. qualifying is not important.

Both jump Championship 22”

Let me know,

Blynn Baker
425-445-0484
blynnb@mindspring.com

4th July 4 day vacation
all 3
[info]bcgirls
What a busy, relaxing 4 day weekend it was! Yipee

Thursday slept in after one trip outside for the dogs in the early morning. Awoken by a phone call at 9:30 good thing I don’t recall who…lol.

Hung out, folded laundry and called to see if my Pt Defiance park plans were on with a friend or not. They were not a miscommunication so I went with my 3 girls.

Went first to Owen's Beach which is a skinny beach line and had plenty of folks enjoying it. So we went South on the shoreline and threw sticks for the girls, all was good till Nikki went in and I threw her joy of joys an oversized large stick almost log size in thickness. She was literally 6’ off shore when she started to swim in circles with this 3-4” diameter stick and about 4’ long. She worked hard on circling..lol and kept moving out away from the shoreline. Well she got stuck mentally swimming and managed to get out about 70’ from shore. Mind you the whole time I am calling, yelling, tossing rocks other sticks to break her gaze but she kept circling and going out to sea *&&^$^%^&*. I turned to this couple straddling a tree trunk and apparently smoking something that was not legal, they turned away from me and hid her purse from what she thought was my view. I asked them if they had any idea what trouble it would be for me to dive in and swim out to her. They were of no help at all for I did not speak their language.

So I kept up my attempts to break her gaze while she kept going further and further out. A yellow dinghy crossed our path and I waved my arms to catch his sight, I could see he saw me but did not stop till my waves became quite insistent! I pointed over to where Nikki was and he could not see her due to the waves being higher than she. But again with more persistence he went back and circled her a few times and pulled her up out of the water like she was nothing soaking wet. His adrenaline must have kicked in as well. Nikki did try to swim towards him a couple of times but quickly turned back to circling, she must have been exhausted. He plopped her on the boat deck and motored into shore and let her out. I slipped her leash on and walked around a very few steps..her body looked exhausted, droopy and worn out. She flipped her head back to me with her doggie communication “What the hell was that?”. It was pretty funny actually, now that she was back on shore. Walked a few steps and sat on a big log and talked to her a bit.

Had a nice dinner with Daisy, Kathy S & sister Nancy who was up from Texas for 4 days. Nice visit.

Friday, hard to remember right now.

Oh, tidy up my place and went to see Transformers with Daisy at the Super Mall. It was good action packed not too many dull moments. As usual Daisy talks about things not in my world, other movies and series, funny shows etc. I am rather unexciting to be around in general as many of you know. Daisy with enough history together someday I may actually know the movie, TV series you talk about…lol.

Friday night I met Daniel, a Jr. in High School who was at Argus for the 3 day UKC event with his parents. I was sitting in the fireplace room in Brutus Hall with each of my girls separately working on crate games, balance ball work, end contact behaviors etc.
Nikki was last and did a little less strenuous activities like catching treats from the tip of her nose.
Daniel thought he could teach her how to move her head side ways, let the treat drop and move back to catch the treat…it was a nice idea. Apparently he taught a golden to do this…I think it was the Golden that knew how to do this!

Anyway his company was enjoyable, entertaining and he joined me again outside Sat. evening with Kitt, Nikki and Gem on ropes to keep Nikki from chasing fireworks and Gem from greeting others as they walk by with their dogs. Daniel enjoyed roughing housing with the girls, they weren’t so sure about it but were good sports. Then we watched “Cops & CIS” while his folks were out dining. They have two Klee Kai’s, one friendly the other a bit skittish.

Sunday, took the girls herding at elinda's trainers place, Solar, Gem, Nikki, Kitt had a ball. They loved it then went and watched some of the Aussie extravaganza in Graham. Nice venue for sure. Got to see Bran, Bug, Dot work stock. Then took pups to a park north bound on Meridian just up from Graham fairgrounds. There is a circular pond there and all 6 BC’s enjoyed the swim and dry off period by chasing toys. Wiki learned to like swimming, it will be tricky now to get her out.

Went to Target got my boss a b-day card, gift at the nursery a wine bottle stopper.
Anyways got two journal books one each for Kitt, Gem to record our agility trials. Thus far BAAD, RHR NWest Regional's are scotch taped in and most are commented on. My quest to journal Kitt’s one bar runs, she is running very lovely with the same ole one bar thing. So will give this a try on my instructors’ suggestion and see where it takes us.

There was much more to the 4 day staycation than journeled, but I’m sure you have heard enough.

Good to be back to work!

USDAA NWest Regionals
all 3
[info]bcgirls
A little for now...still catching up as are most others that were there.

What a busy 4-day weekend it was (there was a fair amount of prep work ahead time by Jill's crew of which we did awesome).

Friday was team day, and Kitt's team with Flirt, Trick placed 9th due to a couple errors of mine otherwise 6th or better :-(

Team jumpers took a lot of us out. It was actually a very nice challenging course just too advanced for Gem and I, Kitt did lovely with one lead change I did not recognize that was needed at the moment. A little much for an all level of dog Team jumpers course.

Was not a stellar Team day for me with off course with both dogs in Relay and Jumpers. I felt pretty poorly about that!

Kitt got nice team scores in the other 3 events.

Gem did well in Gamblers and Snookers, Standard I can't remember what happened with her there, way too long ago :-)

Gem picked up a needed Advance Standard leg 2nd(a big gift from the judge, we lead out to start the judge pulled us off etc. to fix, do something and then Gem faulted the first obstacle when we ran. Then the timer didn't work and the judge gave us a re run thought to be just for time but she gave us a complete redo and we q'd that time) along with a Adv Snooker 4th, Adv Gamblers 2nd & Adv Pairs 2nd.

Kitt ran beautifully this weekend, a little contact rework in Gamblers and she was good to go. Two beautiful R1's in GP & Steeplechase advanced to R2 again lovely runs with one bar a piece. In Steeple Chase it put us out of Semi-Finals at Nationals by a hair. But she is running lovely...very thrilled about that.

Gem is handling contacts very lovely speedy fast and accurate...just releasing on her own a bit...need to bring in the reins just a hair on that. She won't like that too much, but awesome work none the less.
So Gem needs two more Adv Standard legs to move up to Masters, I would rather hand in Advance a while til she figures out how to be fast and hold contacts:-)

Won a raffle item...Gem got a free massage from Bob Freeborn on Sunday...thanks Bob!

The week
[info]bcgirls
Well Saturday, Sunday was Susan Garrett's Advances in Dog Training! Awesome reminders on dog training...looking forward to being better focused on this aspect of training.

Since Dogs World focus's on SG's curriculum as our curriculum it was nice to get first hand exposure to her methods, refinements and there were a fair amount, at least to me there was.

The contingency portion will be very helpful in cementing a behavior even more. Looking forward to powering up the contacts with that.

Also limiting/focusing on one placement of reward for contacts, over the head/between the ears approach to keep all focus down/forward. I have rewarded opposite of head and over the ears. It does make sense.

2x2 and body awareness on Sat pm again was also great, more dyna disc work but with like 6 dyna disc's not just one. Compression, extension. Putting 6 close together then spreading them apart for extension and rear end awareness. Dog seeks out with rear and front legs as the circle of discs expand to make contact with them. Also sit pretty exercises, sit raised to stand up position back down again to a sit, her dogs did this awesomely.

Would like to be there today especially for the Contacts, weaves day...but need to work my regular job!

Tuesday, took girls to Flaming Geyser...good thing they did not know it would be 15 minutes to be able to get to Horizon Pet in Black Diamond to at least get Kitt bathed with their free with regular purchases self serve dog bathe's. I don't know how Kitt gets to smelling so much...more oils than the other too. Gem is getting bathed Thursday, she did not look dirty till Kitt came home clean! oh and cleaned the van out..yipee!

Wednesday, plans to teach this evening then head home to continue the RHR set-up, organize etc. and organize myself before Friday comes. Really looking forward to the event...just another trial I know...but it is fun to have it so close to home and everyone in their competitive games.

See you all there soon..I hear the raffle is going to be awesome Liz!

Blynn
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USDAA in Redmond, OR another beautiful day at the fairgrounds & girls will be girls
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls

Well my headache improved 3 fold on Sunday, I could laugh and smile again and not so serious on little Gemmers mistakes.

 

Andrea’s mid evil neck or pressure point contraption seemed to really take the edge off, plus some other herbal remedies, It was nice to get some sleep Saturday night.

 

I arrived a tad late for Kitt’s gamblers run time, but they squeezed me in at the end, very nice of them. She ran well but no Q. A little tricky weave gamble. Gem’s Advance class had the same gamble, opposite tunnel entrance which made it harder but she got the gamble and ran out of time due to a realignment at the start of the gamble.

Still not doing well on holding contacts maybe 50%...no that’s too high. Just not where I wanted to be going into Regional’s in 2 weeks. End behavior on plank work for two weeks I guess! Kitt could use some as well.

 

Gems Advance standard was technically clean but self released on her DW after pausing so I asked her to sit, and those that know her know that is no easy task when she is in “Gem drive”. Blatant release on the teeter so we left. Her teeters are awesome slam down to the end at a terrific speed and decent control.

 

So basic issue, a stay problem!

 

More stays at new locations, strip malls, shopping centers other new places the next two weeks. Her start line did improve on Sunday so that was great! She gave me a taste of what it will be like in the future with a few weeks were she was doing awesome at trials. Like a “junkie” I want more…patience, I must show patience and train…lol

 

It was very fun to get a 2nd place Q with Tai in Advance standard Sunday, and Gem did get a 5th in Steeple Chase finals with an error. So not too many clean runs apparently on that. She or I am $9 richer…total winnings for Gems $29 to date for miss Gemmers.

 

Always more dog training to do.

 

Gem & Echo who are 3 weeks apart in age beat out there mature dog mates, Kitt & Ceilidh in R2 of Steeple Chase kind a fun. 

I keep telling Andrea that if Echo (who took 6th pl) & Gem were teeny boppers in High School what their friendship would be like…”spark, laugh, spark, cry, awh I’m sorry lets go to a movie”. Echo approach’s low with lots of face licking and twisty of body posture, Gem says stop that and leave me alone with a lick, lick snap behavior. Echo says oh let me try again…smile, kiss, kiss….Gem says )*&&^^^%^& and gets rough. It would be an interesting after school skit…lol and lots of Gem in the corner till recess. They are funny for sure.

Ended the OR road trip in Tacoma at a Mexican restaurant with Lisa to drop Tai with her, nice food more of a fancy mexican atmosphere but new dishes and appetizers so that was very nice. Andrea and I told the weekends agility stories to Lisa and Tai shooting straight out of tunnels and not looking back to see where his handler was, we enjoyed that story several times!  Tai's was actually the easiest to run of the 3, when they stop on contacts it makes it so nice to get where I need to be to run it well.

Kitt, Gem both got massages from me last evening before I went to sleep...they were too tired to return the favor.

Must go now and have more coffee....
 

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USDAA in Redmond
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls
The new trial site is simply gourgeous, quite the grounds out in the middle of...Oregon! It is quite a hike for those in the RV area but being a smaller trial the grass parking next to the back of the bldg. is working well.

Pretty good day I will start with miss Gemmers, she and I have digressed a bit start lines and self release on the contacts and she is not in very many classes to work thru some of this self control. She managed to do better in Steeple Chase. The contacts are lovely running contacts. Very low and just lovely but I know they will not hold up in time. So much work to do before Regionals to have some semblence of a good behavior there. She managed to make it into R2 of Steeple Chase!

Tai, what a good boy, with a few stern "sits" at the start line he was awesome. Both Advanced Std and Steeplechase he were great until the tunnel and Mr Tai went straight out of both and didn't look back...oh well everything else was very lovely, one bar in Grand Prix but lovely.

Kitt did pretty well Masters Gamblers Q, R2 of Steeplce Chase and 4th in Grand Prix with a flip the wrong direction after one jump and saved it. She tangled with the tire a bit because the line was so off after the flip away I truly thought she had not gone thru the tire but folks and the judge said she had. The weave entry was very tricky on the GP course and all 3 kinds nailed it...that felt cool!

Other than sporting a very, very nasty headache today which is very distracting to me I hardly plan anything while walking a course. Nothing seems to matter even the needed GP q's for the pups. These headaches actually make me think of stopping everything in life and let the cards fall where they may, work, agility..fortunately not the dogs. But with a mid evel looking device Andrea D loaned me to stretch my neck and take the edge off it was a nice trial site.

Slept for a few hours after taking a bath I seemed to miss the thunder, lightning that was going on.

Now to go back and eat some kind fo Asian take out, they forgot to put plastic wear in the bag and fortunately the front desk had some and now delayed getting back to the room.

Sleep tight
Blynn

Thursday 6/11
all 3
[info]bcgirls

Thursday

 

I down loaded an audio book (per Lynn Chase’s recommendation, thank you so much, Robert Crais a character series) for the trip to OR this weekend.

 

Currently I am listening to the “Lost World” not realizing it is the same Jurassic Park movie series when I ordered it. Well Lost World has not been easy to get into…until the Englishmen were being chased by the red skinned, haired short stocky ape like men…finally into it now and still on Part I of II. So plenty to listen to while going to and from Prineville or is it now Redmond for the USDAA trial! Looks like a lovely fairgrounds. Last year in Prineville was simply beautiful and the surrounding scenery is just breath taking…it is this that, is really drawing me back and a needed GPrix q for natl’s!

 

Currently I am at Lisa’s B’s house sitting. Loaded up my weeks worth of stuff and hauled it all back to Argus last evening except for the needed weekend items. Cleaned Lisa’s place and packed the dogs in the van and took off. Unloaded at Argus and then went straight to Flaming Geyser State park. Kitt just loves this place, the other dogs do too but something is extra special to her about the freedom she feels there…very endearing.

 

Tai was new to the bunch and did very well of course. They spent less time in the water than usual, ok less intentional than I was planning for the dogs seemed to make it happen regardless. A few fishermen and a couple on horses back…that made me a little nervous. Not sure about Tai’s reaction and concerned about Nikki. Both paid no attention to them…the water and sticks were near by…phew.

 

We walked the perimeter slowly, the dogs just run dove into thin grassy path areas to go down to the water and come back all wet. Just near the end we, they came upon some fly fishing type. Thought we would be disturbing to their fishing plans and didn’t not let the dogs hang out in that vicinity long. The fishermen seemed not to notice us, the water is high and fast where they were but along the edge its fine for the dogs to get themselves wet and wade thru the water though.

 

Headed home to Browns Point and stopped at Dairy Queen…I was so engrossed in “Lost World” I passed by the order window, too funny. It took 30 minutes for 3 cars to go thru. When I got to the window most were standing around while 3 worked, oh well.

 

Sugar is at grandmas and grandpas.

 

Got home and since the house had been cleaned before I left all I did was sit down…sweet. Then I popped in “Benjamin Buttons” movie and watched the whole thing from around 11 till it finished. My eyes are sleepy this morning not a smart start for a long day of driving.

 

Catching up with JB, she’s at Fido’s playing today then heading south to the trial.

 

Stuff from a single person…

 

Have a great weekend

 

Blynn


Saturday
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls
Nice morning at Argus. ZAP NADAC trial is happening there this weekend. 

Brutus hall does not seem to be rented much these days many rooms unslept in....makes it easier to sleep for me though. Folks often leave a light on down stairs in the room off the kitchen and the light how ever dim it is shines brightly on those plexi glass panels, thus there are dark chocolate curtains there.

Its time to pull out the room air conditioner and put in the bedroom window. RIcky has some way of latching it simply with pressure and a board well placed. I installed it last year and was nervous all summer with it. This time if Ricky will, I will ask for his assistance:-)

Gem let me sleep till almost 6:00. took them all out and fed them. Then they had to wait til l got up much later but still before the alarm went off. Started the laundry and started the packing routine for house sitting at Lisa's. It is so much more pleasant if I can take an easy pace at it...I am much happier.  So once loaded and again I have way too much in the van, it does include camping items for BAAD trial next weekend. I am actually looking more forward to the solo drive than I thought. i-pod and another audio book will make it all work.

I was planning on leave Nikki at her papa's on the way down an dp/up Sunday in Vancouver on the way home. But a miss communication I guess so there will be 4 BC's in the van plus all the weeks worth of stuff. May need to dump a load on Thursday back home to make it all fit comfortably over the weekend.

Another first today since my separation and divorce. My x finally stated he is interested in someone, which translates that he has been seeing her for some time and has now mentioned it to me..of course I could be all wrong here and he is being up front early on. It feels good though...there is a little some thing in my throat but good vibes!  Its weird to share some things we do like nothings changed and we just live in different homes, But I can't go back. Hope he finds what he needs, wants and is happy.

Daisy and I spent much of the afternoon (ok I was late because I did not want to be rushed to go some where again this am) cleaning the agility surface and putting on rubber pellets to the table and teeter. They look great and may be ready for use at Wednesday's class.

It has been great to work Kitt twice in the last 24 hours without any soundness issues!!!!!!! Now I must use self control and work single jump work and end behavior on contacts, those definitely deteriorate without training. I hope to be running my little lilac girl for years to come.

I have found myself thinking of the next BC. I suspect because Nikki is aging...not because of "want' of my next agility partner. Kitt & Gem should be running for several years to come. I probably will be a 2 dog family longer than i expect before the next little dynamo comes along. Probably has something to do with all the BC pups around.

Well need to wash this face and head for bed.

Night all
Blynn

Nikki is 13th
all 3
[info]bcgirls
My photo of just her is in an incompatable format...so another time but she is the B/W smooth coat on the left of my pic.

She is 13 (6-2-1996) now and aging fairly well. She has finally become some what of a responsive pet when off leash running in parks, swimming or hanging. Ok well not so good at just hangin around while her people talk.

I got Nikki on 7/1996 from the Renton news paper, pet ads column for $75. She was my replacement for my Sheltie Tina that had passed the previous Oct/Nov. Having competed in Alaska with my shelties and always motivating them to be happy and perform in obed. I was looking for a dog that I did not have to prop up all the time.  Well Nikki is not the typical motivated BC and I still needed to prop her up emotionally. Her highest obed. score we earned was her last leg for her UD title with a 198.

She has a few titled achievements... but her best for me is her ability to be who she is and not who someone else wanted her to be come hell or high water. I had to settle with the idea that Nikki would probably go (she is still alive) bolting out the door, running off at the park and get hurt....but no "she always comes back".

Not enough time to get into the true sense of Nikki here, but those that know her know what I mean.

My best to all those strong willed yet loveable canine partners.

I Love you Nikki, see you tonight.
Blynn

RHR USDAA weekend
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls

I can’t express (well I could but fluidity of words and grandous gestures are something I am not good at..lol) how fun it is to run two dogs that enjoy the game as I.

 

Thinking of Kitt makes we well (ok I know I got a little miffed when she couldn’t seem to keep her body in the weaves for Snooker, but its short lived) up that her little toe injury has been uneventful for 4+ weeks now since she has been on a soft tissue, joint product called “Repair” from Enzymedica, Super Supplements carries it and an individual from the store had just finished up attending a product, company review and was very impressed by it and suggested it. Granted she has had a few things done to help her out…but this is the most recent and most affective to date. She is 1/3 way thru her 2nd bottle, so pretty darn quick results.

 

http://www.enzymedica.com/

 

There have been a few things like chasing a cat (again) across the gravel at Argus and increased exercise that would typically have caused her to be tender toed. But nothing.

 

4 runs a day would typically have caused her to be a bit sore….no zip naughta this weekend and not after two days of 4 runs. Nor at Fleet feets trial a couple of weeks ago.

 

Hard to imagine her living another 8 years (her grandma will be 17 in July) or so being sore and or without the needed exercise for her mental well being.

 

Contacts are in need of training…can’t seem to get by without that in our tool box.

 

Kitt earned a team qualifier for nationals and a 3rd Steeple Chase Q at RHR.

 

Gem, did wonderfully for a little munchkin. Consistent as could be and earned a needed 2nd Steeple Chase Q for Nationals with a 4th place in the finals. She aided her team well this weekend. She just did a bang up job, missed one AF contact in Team standard and pushed AF’s in Steeple Chase…so will be working to recover those this next month.

 

Hope all enjoyed the weather this weekend it was beautiful. Things ran a bit laaaate on Sat. and Sunday had equipment delays in the am. A good trial run for RHR Regionals coming up here in a few weeks.

 

Later, Blynn

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Memorial weekend
Gemmers
[info]bcgirls

It was simply perfect…

 

I entered one day and Saturday began with AKC in Graham and only Gem was entered since I’ am trying not to run Kitt on back to back weekends that include USDAA (too many runs to keep her well). Since Fleet Feet and RHR are on either weekend it was Gem and I running…ok I ran Flirt as well since Kathy S had to go to Texas for family.

 

Gem picked up her 1st double Q!!! or official DQ, she had one when she was in A, B classes but as you all know those don’t count.

 

Sat’s Std run I hardly watched any of it and was not well placed flow wise thru the course and it showed. I called her fairly hard off the chute and she responded like a mature dog, pretty cool.

She got stuck on the table getting into the down position but we got a Q.

JWW was pretty fun in the sense that I layered the jump after the poles and a fairly sharp angle and the little darling stayed in the weaves and kept the bar up afterwards on a delayed f/c turn. A wide turn here or there but she performed like a little trooper.

She also picked up another Open FAST Q, I gave her a very poor approach to the AFrame, I over shot her on the approach and she came off the opposing descent side but the crowd said she touched the yellow (I didn’t think she had) we paused for a moment. I know it was my approach that caused it…but she is a little thinker and pausing will help her understand that something different would be appropriate for the next awkward approach that I give her. She’s smart and will figure it out…I hope.

 

Flirty and I well we tried, in std we got to 4 + obstacles left on the course to perform and she left in the weave poles too much to run without her mother around.

 

JWW we had fewer obstacles completed but she came to me after the run, FAST she did pretty well and came to me again at the end so that was all good.

It was interesting that she did not finish Std because she pulled me into the ring on the leash so I had hopes that she could run without Kathy there, not high ones but hopes of completing the course.

 

It was very difficult not running Kitt on Saturday, so we played in the grass and sprinkler and went for some walks.

 

Sunday was lovely, stayed in bed til 8:00am made breakfast then began the chore of restructuring the roof on the girl’s dog runs. They have been in shambles lately and last week was the last blow when rain bucketed down and took the tarp, supports with it to the ground. So now it is in much better condition with new tarps that blend with the obed. Bldg. (the blue tarp was not my idea…alas it is gone) and blends so much better now. It took quite a while since the kennels are now mounted to the bldg. and it took a bit of work to free the tarp from the bldg and put the new ones up. Moved some of the play chips to the 2nd run and put fresh up front, Kitt thanked me, she does not like any previously soiled surface for her tootsie toes.

 

Then laundry quite a bit of laundry, took some things out of the van because new play chips for the kennels would be needed and I got that on Monday. There was a little bit of swinging going on in the swing chair with a beer…um good!

 

Had two private lessons with students, it was great fun working with a little Chihuahua, her mom is a great gal, actually trains her dogs and she has 3 currently in training in a new dog sport, no easy task. The young male BC was much improved in motivation with his handler and tugging games to excite him into play with her, I’ am excited now that we have something to motivate this young team.

 

Stopped at Daisy’s place to let her dogs out while she was gone. Fly and Solar made a lot of ruckus as they ran thru the screen door…I was happy to see that this was a repeat behavior (or did I just want to see think that) as the screen was already loose from prior occurrences. These two romped a bit and then laid down. No motion…and attempts to move them only made them get up and go to another quadrant from my position and lay down again. So I remembered that they go thru the garage to the potty yard to do their thing. So back in the house we went and then to the potty yard. Both pottied almost immediately. Jester was a good boy and did both bathroom behaviors as requested.

 

More laundry and kennel work on Monday, took Kitt swimming in the late afternoon. The current was too strong to swim up it so she swung in towards the shore each time and came up behind me. There were a lot of pick Knickers that took up the shallow swimming location. 

 

All that sleep I caught up on was lost last evening when I went to sleep late and awoke to Gems face licking.

 

I will brag for Sandy Birdsall her young BC “Keys” passed both herding tests this weekend and again on Monday for his PT title. Terbo Start me up, PT. Keys sire is a half sibling to Gem from the same dam who is related to my Kitt.

 

Have a good week all and hope your weekend was special to you.

 

Looking forward to the USDAA trial on grass this weekend, suppose to be hot!

Blynn

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Fleet Feet USDAA weekend
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls

The weather was delightful, warm and dry at the Fleet Feet USDAA tournament trial in Turner, OR. It was so nice to be there.

 

Lisa Berglund and I got there early enough Sat am to park under the few trees along the fence next to the bldg. Set-up two x-pens with mats under them and they had a lovely area to stretch & layout on, bark at the other dogs playing ball in the field. Ok that was Gem barking.

 

Best dog thing that happened…Kitts toe held up very well. It has been tricky figuring out what over taxes it. The surface was clay with a thin layer of sand on it, which worked well to my surprise. The gravel that surrounded the bldg. was very pointy and rough and still no tenderness there. If she is tender it will definitely show up on gravel.

 

It was nice to be under cover from the sun. Barb has a big round livestock tank that the dogs could swim in 6-8’ across in diameter and 2’ high maybe and a little kids pool for the little guys.

 

Kitt did well for her team a little low snooker score and an off course in Team Relay. The baton swung as I ran of course and Kitt took one of those arm swings as a flip out to a chute, otherwise she did lovely all weekend. The difficulty of Team Standard was something that typically shows up at a Regional…no not even there it was just tough. Many, many teams bought this course. Somehow I managed to keep both girls on course with some refusals. It was quite a victory to get thru with that.

 

Kitt got placements in Team Gamblers & Standard, little Gemmie got a lovely 3rd place in Team Jumpers…it was pretty cool! Both girls ran lovely in Jumpers Kitt and & I over shot the weave entry but she ran it just beautifully. Gem’s team came in 4th in Team Relay and 10th over all in Team so she is Q’d. Kitt still needs her DTeam Q…on ward ho will try again in a couple of weeks. Thanks all 4 team mates, Solar, Flirt, Roo, Speck!

 

Have a great week and I am looking forward to a 3 day weekend!!!! Yah Hooooooo

Blynn


Weekends activities
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls

Well a little change up from previous weekends and trialing weekends coming up.

 

I must have down time…I learn this lesson over and over…each time I get more committed to managing external happenings. I am improving!

 

Do you need down time from trialing, training etc. or does your ticker just keep on tickin thru all the training, teaching, trialing, traveling….hum they all start with a “T” I must remember not to name my next dog starting with a “T” even though I like the sound of it.

 

Sat. ole’ Nikki and I ventured to the German shepherd specialty in Renton, WA at Carco Park. It started with my long time friend Sandy Birdsall (since the early 1980;s). We have known each other and trained, trialed together when we lived in Alaska and had Shelties. We both eventually moved to WA and she got me hooked on Agility, from the days of the obedience and breed ring. Thanks Sandy it is definitely more exciting in every way possible.

 

Any who, Sandy’s Ricky got his first EX Rally Q, her old dog Flyer and my Nikki got their 2nd RN q's. Flyer with a 3rd and Nikki with a 4th 93 pts. Nikki was a bit poopy in the hot weather…she was waiting for her cabana boy and Margareta to be served around each cone. A few tight leashes and not too tight left about turns and we arrived at a 93.  
It’s pretty special to be able to take a dog 3 weeks shy of 13 years of age and have her do so well, still able to chase and catch Frisbees in the air..ok 3” from the ground but she does lift.
She gets pretty snarly (looks pretty scarey if I were to be eye level, but empty threats) when any dog (maybe not Kitt so much but on occasion) gets within 3-4’ of her. She would be very easily deterred if someone told her differently.

 

Went to Kent Street Station and tried on some sandals. Watched Star Trek of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The names were all the same but of course the younger version. I thought they did a great job of not trying to mimic the old stars which made it very nice to follow along and not anticipate as well as enjoy the new cast.

 

Went straight away to “Stupid Prices” in Kent and met up with JB who came from Argus CPE trial selling her shirts. Then we went and shared an appetizer along with crab chowder soup and of course a drink. We have not spent much time together in recent weeks and it was nice to catch up again.

 

I think I went home after checking the mail at the post office or to Lisa’s for house sitting, the time is unmemoriable so can't recall.
I played with the dogs in the back yard except Kitt. We went to the near by park so she could romp about and have some individual time together. We took a different route and came up a very, very noisy group of very young kids. Throwing soda pop and their paper plates in the new tennis courts. Smashing the soda pop cans all over the courts. I did it, I called 911…between 2 dropped calls and them finding the proper police station for Browns Point (NW Tacoma, amazing how quickly the police can call one back on a cell phone without ever haven given them the number)

I never saw that they came out while I was there with Kitt but the next am when I took the whole gang to the park (5 dogs) an older “adult” and some kids came out to pick up the mess. Rain will have to wash away all the soda pop that was left on the nice turf.

 

Sunday, I woke up way too early 5:30 fed the dogs so I could go back to bed and no one would bug me. Cleaned the back yard (Tai & Gem have a grand time in Lisa's yard) and some other chores, picked up lunch for the Free Style workshop attendees at DW and dropped it off.
After lunch we learned the line dance. Never thought I would learn it at a dog training event but very applicable to the sport. I tell its very detailed work, choreography, musicality etc. a lot goes into it.

 

Left and did some errands came back and met up with Daisy for hike in Mud Dam Mtn. 5 miles NE of Enumclaw fairgrounds ( a must to remember after the OKC trials). We walked for a good stint and met no one until we were almost done. Then it got hairy for a moment or two. The incoming family and pack of dogs were a bit rough. I quickly tried to get Gem, Nikki on leash. Gem was wanting to get down there I think because Kitt was surrounded but of course I don’t really know her well enough in this new situation to tell yet, but adding Gem to that group would not be a calming influence.

I kept my eye on Kitt as I leashed the other two. I was concerned that if I called Kitt out of the middle of that group she may become a target to chase down. So I watched for a moment that I thought the dogs were turning away from her because their owners were trying to get a hold of them. It seemed to work Kitt came out of the group with not a big threat chasing after her. Phew!

 

Then hit Enumclaw for a nice Mexican beer & dinner. Not sure how Daisy liked it since she is still in search of replacing her old family Mexican restaurant her and David left back in OR.

 

Have a nice week, looking forward to an out of town trial in OR this weekend.


Sno-King weekend
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls
Friday night was very nice, salmon bbq plans and it was delicious. The pups played about while we waited, waited for the charcoal to turn grey...we waited as long as possible..don't think they were quite grey but close.

Sat Kitt got a JWW Q, Sun a Std Q.

Gemmie is doing wonderful on her starts lines, and weave entries and exits (knock on wood). Sat's std course had a tricky weave entry that truly got most of the dogs...Gemmers made it though and it had an exit that use to be tricky for her...very happy about those items.

The agility equipment was freshly coated with the rubber pellets and Gem did not know what to do with the teeter slide she normally does. She attempted her slide a couple of times and then popped off...very sad because she was quing till that point.

An equipment familiarization would have been a nice thing for the club to offer:-)

Sun JWW one station knocked down 2nd to last jump of course:-) It was a little weird she was going a little wide on the turns and I called to make sure she got the jump but not early enough apparently. Was a smidge sore at the time but okay. More jump work in store for her, needs to add a stride in places she is not.

I am finding my head in a more consistently good place these days when trialing.
Leaving the social scene early enough before my runs to get my mental game on is very important to our success. A timing work in progress.

Off to Rally, Nov B with the ole girl Nikki at Carco Park in Renton, WA.

Pred
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls
Well Gem awoke me as usual around 5:30 this morning. She is getting better about controlling her licking behavior that of course sends me into a "uuggh leave me alone" phase of the morning which is not what am's need to be about.

However this morning I discovered that she had gotten in to a bottle of Pred (found out later they were 10 mg). When allergies are flaring with Kitt she gets a pill and they have been flaring lately. My count is low so I split the emergency pack that resides in the car and put some in the house in a container (old Tupperware, soft lid fit) Well it was crunched and no pills about the floor. Can't for the life of me recall how many I put in there probably 6.

She was very low key this morning, kinda laying flat on the floor and a little less life in her this am. I probably should have brought her with me to work...

My vet thinks her kidneys will be affected for a few days by but should be ok...anyone have an experience with this?

They are very old pills, Kitt gets 3-4 a year so they have lasted a long time.

PSPC AKC weekend
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls

Ok Dan B…how about one Standard course without Aframe tunnel discrimination next time…lol.

 

Actually the courses were nice this weekend, suttle lines in standard. The Aframe discrimination kept us all on our toes this weekend. Kitt was sucked in on Friday, Gem lost it on Sat. she actually took the Aframe though.

 

Gem did great on her start lines all 5 runs, Sundays JWW was a little ify…my mouth opened and she took a bit of an advantage and left early. Her weaves were terrific got all her entries and exits even with some lateral moves and f/c at the end I am very proud of those two things. She had a bar in most of her runs except Fridays JWW and she finished her AXJ title, yippee!

I know her back is a bit tweaked and needs work as does Kitts…oh hell…mine does too.

 

Kitt was on fire this weekend, 3 JWW q’s one as a DQ on Sunday!

Fridays std as mentioned bit the off course tunnel, aframe combo. My falt of course I was going to do a r/c and backed out of it (as I apparently changed my mind midstream) and pulled her on the wrong line to the tunnel instead of the Aframe. Sat’s Std one bar L Sunday she did lovely again for DQ #14. We will make it yet!

 

There were a few MACH’s, Dutch the Sheltie, Dizzy the Border Terrier were two I recall, sorry if I missed anyone.

 

Next weekend outside on grass, can’t wait!

 

Blynn


State Parks
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls

I took the pups, all four, Lisa Berglund who has BC-Tai, Golden-Sugar plus Kitt, Gem. (Nikki is with her papa in Vancouver still) to Dash Point state park last evening for a hike.  398 acres~

It was lovely, put on sandals of which I changed to tennies when I got there (good thing cause there was muck near the trials) Any hoo, the trial was very nice and moderately wide enough for all dogs to run back and forth and not bump shoulders as they go and check in for meat balls for being good pups.

There were several very short off shoot trails that lead mostly to a very nice little brook that they all waded thru. The brook came in very handy when they found total muck spots up to and past their bellies. I managed to keep them all out of it except Gem on the way back to the car.

There were cool stairs that criss crossed the little valley a few times with the brook below.

The place is on 509 West of Federal Way but just North of Browns Point, the beach it does have is on the Sound.

Definitely a do over!

http://www.unearthedoutdoors.net/parks/148


Stuff
Kitt May 2009
[info]bcgirls
Well Nikki has been staying with her papa for a week now and Dan will have her another week in Vancouver, WA.

My girls have been quite different with her absence. Gem actually laid down in the evening on the floor, Kitt is back to some old silly rolling habits on the floor, couch and on me. Making funny noises and being silly. I had not realized were missing of late...but they have been. Kitt picked up Nikkis snuggling places..by me :-)

Gem is not constantly hoovering around the room...now I realize how much of that was about her working on her position with Nikki. fun stuff.

I am house sitting for a girl friend in Browns Point, lovely home, doggie door, what a treat that is. I can get ready so much easier in the mornings for work just feed the pups fake like I am going down the stairs so they think I am following with them to the doggie door to do their am business, then sneak back in bed. The Sound is a few blocks from the house and a park 1.5 blocks, simply lovely. Oh and work is ten minutes shorter.

Doing another fun run at Sumner tomorrow. Helped another friend put on a community event today in  Bothell. She has done radio, news paper advertising for people to come and know she is the community with her dog boarding business. Toe nail trims, agility fun and had a nice frisbee demo from Woofd group.

Got a chance to try out some plastic covered magnets I got over the winter to use to hold up tarps on the van. Worked like a charm. They are tiny but powerful even strong enough to pinch a bit. I ge my fingers out of the way when putting them away they latch up with gusto.

Talked to me niece Rachelle, North of Toronto. She had a little girl Sydney on Monday, 6.9, 20" her I phone pic is very cute. My brother and sis in law are up there for a 2+ week stay. Sounds like all went very well.
Night all see you tomorrow
Blynn

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