Gem and I had four wet runs on Saturday, but lucky for us the supposed “Heavy Rain” that was forecast never eventuated.

Her first run surprised me; she not only tolerated the rain, but seemed quite enthusiastic.   We’ve only ever entered the ‘open’ classes about 11-12 times [...]]]> I’m firmly convinced that Agility causes rain.

Gem and I had four wet runs on Saturday, but lucky for us the supposed “Heavy Rain” that was forecast never eventuated.

Her first run surprised me; she not only tolerated the rain, but seemed quite enthusiastic.   We’ve only ever entered the ‘open’ classes about 11-12 times (including the two on Saturday) but never quite broke through to qualify.   Annoyingly, our DQ/NQ was only once the ‘distance challenge,’ where the dog has to work away from the handler – a coordinated turn away that we have now mastered.

No, almost all of our NQs have been down to a single bar down, missed contact, or a missed weave entry or exit.

Saturday, she finally did it – and in Agility, no less!  So she’s on her way to her ADO title now, with only four more to go

Her other three runs, I’d rather forget.   Knowing that the weather could be foul, and that Gem doesn’t always have the ‘legs’ to do more than 3-4 runs per day (all that jumping, NOT the running!) meant that I had to concentrate on the Agility categories.   Two ADX runs, the successful ADO run, and another ADO run in the afternoon.

I’m afraid the two ADX (Excellent Agility) runs were an even split; in the first, Gem popped out of the weavers at #10 again (sigh!) whereas in the second ADX course, it was my fault – she was really motoring and thus my “out, tunnel!” cues were about a second too late (or 3-4 metres!) by which time she had committed to the alternate choice and climbed the A-frame.

The other ADO run, she did the opposite and was a little slower.   She needed to do a wrap around a jump; if you imagine the bar as 9-o’clock to 3-o’clock, she came in at 4 o’clock and needed to come out at 6 o’clock… but between me not keeping my hand out, and her speed being down, she never actually wrapped around the jump upright, and was still on the far side of the jump (12 o’clock, if you’re keeping track) when I completed the front cross – so she jumped back over it

Of course, the only run where she didn’t complete the weave faultlessly was the one where it was the only fault in the run.

She did exactly what the nut behind the wheel said, for three out of four runs — so when we got home and dried out, she was treated exactly as if we came home with three passes instead of one.  She didn’t drop a single bar all day!

When she can read the numbers on the course and do it without me, then I’ll criticise her for going off-course for want of clear instruction!

Five years old already… and still a big puppy!

We are going to have to teach you to direct those bicycle-chasing urges of yours into more suitable activities of fetching and retrieving.  Even if it nearly kills one of us

Well, apart from the remaining celebrations and special [...]]]> Who’s a big boy, then?

Five years old already… and still a big puppy!

We are going to have to teach you to direct those bicycle-chasing urges of yours into more suitable activities of fetching and retrieving.  Even if it nearly kills one of us

Well, apart from the remaining celebrations and special dinner, that wraps it up for 2010.  Finn’s is the last of the four birthdays in a given year (apart from mine, and I don’t count.)

At least we managed to sneak in a third good Novice performance just in time

I’ve loaded a new mobile-ready theme on the weeblog.  It’s geared to look like an iPhone app, but doesn’t affect a normal desktop [...]]]> Well folks, while I wait for Apple to produce an iPhone that a) works; b) doesn’t have a vulnerability to the “Vulcan death grip”; and c) isn’t made of unobtanium anyway…

I’ve loaded a new mobile-ready theme on the weeblog.  It’s geared to look like an iPhone app, but doesn’t affect a normal desktop user – the option to turn it on will only appear on a recognised “mobile” device such as an iPhone.   Apparently, it’ll leave a cookie on the phone to ‘remember’ that the theme is enabled, for the next visit.

It’s much faster to use, as it only loads what is on the screen.

It isn’t a complete skin for WordPress, but most of the common functions are there.  The main “missing link” is the Add New Post functionality – which will plop the default page on the tiny screen.  So, YES, it is technically feasible to blog from anywhere in 3G or WiFi range now – but it isn’t exactly practical

Brevity may be the soul of wit, but is tersity that of adversity?

If you’re reading this on an iPhone (or similar) try the “Mobile” switch at the bottom of the page, and see if you like it.  Your selection will only affect the phone you are using (and only for that session if cookies are disabled.)

To save bandwidth and time, try going to a  single posting on the first visit, such as

http://weeblog.eweturn.net/?p=223

I’m afraid that the default WeeBlog WordPress theme may look good on a full-screen device, but it is decidedly compromised on a tiny one.  (Three columns on a mobile is a bit much!)

Oh, and the theme considers an iPad as a full-screen device, so you don’t get the option – I tried both devices in the simulator.   Should also work on iPod touch, Palm devices, Android devices, and even Blackberries (aka Crackberries.)

Ang?  Anna?

Having said that, Pepper did some very nice [...]]]> What can I say but that I suffered the consequences of not training for 3 weeks and being away for the week prior. I will go out in full sun in 40 degrees but rain, cold and darkness send me like a bear into a cave.

Having said that, Pepper did some very nice exercises even though he was full of Mehican Jhumping Bheans and in hindsight (such a wonderful thing) a good walk and play beforehand would have done wonders.

So, Heel on Lead (16/30) – this was woeful as he is normally ‘with me’ at least 80% of the time, this was the opposite with 80% of his efforts devoted to sniffing, forgetting to sit and missing turns. He was a lot better in the fast pace though. He is also just learning stands and we hadn’t done any from a moving position and there were at least three in the heelwork (aarrgghhh). To make up, his downs were fast and straight so that was something.

Stand for Exam (0/10) – he sat and he sat again.   Oh well.  Judge Giles let us try again and by George, he got it. I don’t think he moved a foot – but just too little too late.

Recall (17/20) – He did a lovely recall, just a little slow to get up off his hiney; I am still working out the best ‘voice’ and hand position – Rosie likes high hands and a high voice. Pepper seems to like lower – his father’s son it seems. Anyhow, I think he sat a tad to the right and I gave an extra wait when I returned, just to be sure. We’ve only just started ‘formal’ recalls so that was just a fantastic effort.

Stays (0/20 and 20/20) – I would have bet the house that he was going to lie down in the sit stay and he didn’t disappoint. However, he didn’t move AND it was his first ever stay in a group of dogs with a line of people looking at him. I held my breath in the down stay as no sooner had we turned around and halted, I could see his head stretch up, stretch left, stretch right…. yup, daddy had just entered the ring right behind me for his stays. Just when I thought he was a goner … he relaxed and all was good.

At 14 months he was the youngest dog in the competition by over a month, with two dogs in the 2nd round being just a month older – so personally I think he was a STAR

As for Rosie, given her stress levels in the ring I think she might get a break for a few months – I was far less nervous with Pepper simply because I knew he wouldn’t react to my stress, so maybe Rosie and I need some time apart (unless it involves a tennis ball) until I’m no longer ‘implosive’.

So that was Saturday morning; we had to do a runner at lunch as Pepper and Rosie’s Oma was very sick with pneumonia – it was interesting to see their reactions when Oma came back from the doctor and was sleeping on the sofa – both kept looking at her face, Pepper lay next to the sofa the whole afternoon and Rosie kept wanting to lick her when she was breathing funny. Oma is doing a lot better today and will hopefully be watching in September when Pepper has attempt #2.

A big congratulations to Finn and to everyone who had achievements big and small on the day

Pepper, Rosie and Ang

I’ll let Ang tell her story, but no matter what she says, she’s damn close to getting a good pass at Novice.  Just a bit of detail work on the heel position, [...]]]> The whole gang were there today, Gemma, Finn and myself, and Rosie and Pepper with Ang at BDOC for the double trial.

I’ll let Ang tell her story, but no matter what she says, she’s damn close to getting a good pass at Novice.  Just a bit of detail work on the heel position, and Rosie will be right up there.

Because there were so many entries, the club put on extra judges; instead of waiting through CCD and UDX respectively, Finn and Gem were on quite early.   Before the boredom set in.

Finn was, to quote the judge, “On Fire” in the morning session.  Just a little too eager to please.  When he realised he was too forged (forward) at some HALTs, instead of squirming backwards, he chose to go around me (in a “finish”) and sit at my left.  This is actually legal… and it was the worst of his goofs in the morning, for a creditable 190 score (equal first) and his Novice (Companion Dog, or CD) title!

On seeing the way the UD ring was set up, I could tell that Gemma (and a few others) would have difficulty in finding the “sendaway square.”  Sure enough, Gemma didn’t make it there both times – and since we had nothing to gain from continuing, I pulled her out to get the trial moving along.  The morning UD class was always going to be the last to finish.

Ang had to leave for family reasons after the first trial. 

Immediately after presentations for the AM trial, we were back in the saddle for the PM trial.   Finn only had time to lie down before I had him back at the ring and ready for his second run… which wasn’t exactly sparkling.  By this stage, he’d been up for over seven hours, and spent most of that dozing and being bored out of his skull.

His heelwork in the afternoon was not ‘on fire’ by any stretch, but he did quite well (without the loops!) until we got to the recall.  A noisy vehicle put him off just as I was calling him, and that was that.  No matter, he did very well in the morning.

Gemma was in the UD ring soon after, and unlike the morning SHE was ‘on fire.’   Until the second scent-discrimination exercise.  She’d only lost four points up until then, but she was so intent on following the antics of another dog she knows (and in particular, who she knows is about to have a play…) that she lost the plot.  She brought back the wrong metal, gave a creditable (but distracted) third Scent Discrim, and proceeded to give a continual running commentary all the way through Signals!  By this stage, of course, it didn’t matter – the metal had sealed our fate for the day.  She barely passed signals on points, but the eight demerits for ‘continual vocalisation’ put that exercise in the toilet too.   Directed Retrieve was OK apart from her first rotation to face the gloves.  Despite being way out of position, she took the direction and brought back the right glove.

Title track, Gemma:

• UD title in the bag (times three in fact)
• OC (Obedience Champion) title is two passes away (3 of 5 collected already)
• ADX – 3rd of 5 passes – 2 to go
• JDM – 1st of 7 passes – 1 to go!
• ET – done and dusted

Title track, Finn:

• CD 3rd of 3 passes collected today, with a win (on count-back) good man!
• CDX won’t be happening anytime soon (requires retrieving, which is anathema)
• ET – done and dusted
• Aust.Ch. – 25/100 points and counting (but he’ll need his coat back first )

So, as usual today was a mixed bag.

…but the bag contains a nice “Congratulations on your Novice Title” sash

Gemma had four runs in today’s trial at BDOC.   Open Agility, Excellent Agility, Masters Jumping and Open Jumping.

The Open and Excellent courses were all well within our comfort zones, but eluded us by a bar or a weaver exit, [...]]]> Some days, you can’t put a foot wrong.  Others, the most surprising things happen.

Gemma had four runs in today’s trial at BDOC.   Open Agility, Excellent Agility, Masters Jumping and Open Jumping.

The Open and Excellent courses were all well within our comfort zones, but eluded us by a bar or a weaver exit, or both.  More frustrating than disappointing, really.

This was Gemma’s first ever “Masters” course, and I was convinced that I’d fall flat on my face with all the turns and critical placements.

Imagine my surprise when we were the only ones that didn’t fault the course!

Gem was fast throughout the day, though a little loose.  Even so, she sneaked in under the course time of 39 seconds by barely one second.  Second place was just over one second over time (Gemma’s classmate from Level 4, Casey.)

One of the jumps in that course had five cones on it.  Five!  Given Gemma’s’ predilection for clipping bars, I thought that one would drop fer-sure!

Whatever the case, whatever the result, Gemma had a great time on the courses.  She was a good 10 seconds faster than her normal speed, which is a good thing — without it, she never would have made the SCT on the Masters course.

Way to go, Gem.  Your first Masters course, and you won it (and you were the only one who had a clean round, too!)

We’ll have to arrange some fun activities for you today, and a nice chicken dinner

Nothing too strenuous, mind – you have four runs to do at the Agility/Jumping trial tomorrow, and it’s been a while since you’ve had any training (weather!) and even decent walks have been few [...]]]> Five years old today!

We’ll have to arrange some fun activities for you today, and a nice chicken dinner

Nothing too strenuous, mind – you have four runs to do at the Agility/Jumping trial tomorrow, and it’s been a while since you’ve had any training (weather!) and even decent walks have been few and far between lately.

With certain exceptions, of course – a couple of walks to- and around the lake, and the nearly 5 hour walk around to Lanyon valley (around the foothills of Tuggeranong Hill).

Let’s try to finish your ADX and OC, hey girl?

I was watching an episode of Psych on the computer, and wondered… “was that flash in the program, or here?  must be in the program, there’s no rain.”

Nope.

Two seconds later, an almighty BOOM (and echos) shook the house.  Luckily, the kids were all here [...]]]> Well, that was certainly an “interesting” few minutes.

I was watching an episode of Psych on the computer, and wondered… “was that flash in the program, or here?  must be in the program, there’s no rain.”

Nope.

Two seconds later, an almighty BOOM (and echos) shook the house.  Luckily, the kids were all here in the room with me.  Make no mistake, they did not like that noise!

It wasn’t a look that you normally see outside of a cartoon.  That wild-eyed, ear-down panic that normally precedes the anvil dropping on the ‘toon’s head by about 3 seconds.

Then came the rain and hail, and a few minutes later, another flash… about 4 seconds away this time… and a minute later, it was all over again, like nothing happened.

Apart from the 5cm deep standing water in the entire backyard, that is…

I’m just glad I was here for them.  Leading by example.   Calm and relaxed.

(I just wish the firewall was as easy to console – it needed a reboot and fsck.  Yeah, the RF energy from the lightning was strong enough to scramble it!  It’s not plugged into the mains, either)

She was uncharacteristically slow and hesitant, and I’m not entirely sure why.  She had two goes at a certain infamous Novice course from some weeks back (with seven side changes) and was forever putting me off balance [...]]]> Shadow had her first run with the ‘big kids’ in her combined Level 4/Novice Agility class tonight.

She was uncharacteristically slow and hesitant, and I’m not entirely sure why.  She had two goes at a certain infamous Novice course from some weeks back (with seven side changes) and was forever putting me off balance because she was just sooooo slow.

So we did some other exercises in the jumping box and weavers, and even some contact work and came back later to re-run the course in the closing stages of the class.

At least I think it was still Shadow.   Looked like Shadow.

She bolted through the course!

This was her first attempt at a full course, and with so many turns in it, it surely activated her apparent “uh oh” response to my front-crosses.   She hasn’t quite learned yet that in this context, turning and facing her with my arm out is not the same as turning around and glaring at her with my hands on my hips when she is acting up/barking/jumping on people.   The smoother and slower turns don’t seem to activate this response, so I have to be careful.

She does seem to be getting used to the start-line procedure though.  She’s very reluctant to sit for the start/lead-out and usually has to be told more than once, with increasing emphasis.  This leads to the reverse of the usual start-line problem: she’s reluctant to actually get up and start, lest I tell her off again.   With time, she is definitely learning the rules.

After class, I let her loose with other dogs and gained some (but probably not all) insight into her earlier mental state: she was very friendly with the girls, but equally wary of the boys, especially big ones.

First-time nerves?  Too much practice earlier in the day?  (a dozen passes through the weavers, after two weeks off).  I’ve never known Shadow to be so… concerned.   She clearly has a first-hand knowledge of what boys do with girls now.  Maybe it was one thing, maybe another, maybe a combination of many things.

One thing’s for sure: she lost interest in food rewards during the class, but worked eagerly for the throw-toy, so that’s what we’ll be using in future.  Unlike Gemma, she can actually concentrate sometimes after seeing a toy come out.

The little one is coming of age.  She used to be an iron maiden, but no more.  She has a soft side, and isn’t afraid of showing it now.