Long Overdue Update

Well I have been a very, very bad boy keeping this blog up to date. It's just that now that the warm weather is here I've been super busy playing outdoors. I have lots of exciting agility updates starting with me getting my AADC title at Spot On! It's very exciting because now I won't have to do a table in every Standard Run - for those of you not familliar with agility it is a very difficult obstacle for this blue boy because it requires me to lie down for 5 whole seconds right in the middle of my agility run - it's MUCH more difficult than it sounds - trust me! I also got my last Advanced Snooker so now I get to try my paw at Master Snooker - Mom is hoping we don't have any more 0 or 1 point runs.

Last weekend I went to my very first Ontario Regionals. It's a very big competition with over 400 teams competing. I had some really nice runs and some we'd like to forget and ended up finishing with 372 points and qualifying for Nationals. I'm very proud since this was my first time at a big competition like this and I only just turned 2. My friend Shona took some pics of me running in the Steeplechase - thanks Shona!!!

First Seminar of 2008

Last weekend I got to go to my first agility seminar of 2008. It was with Terry Simons who is from California. I had lots of fun and worked really, really, really hard. Our first seminar was about how to do better at snooker - considering I have earned 1 or less points in 2 of my last 3 snooker runs I was really excited to get some tips. Then I did a weave seminar on Saturday and an advanced front cross one on Sunday. I learned lots and took away stuff to work on for a long time. Terry kept telling my Mom to remember I am only two years old and to take her time with me. We are going to focus on tightening up my turns and shortening my path around the course over the next few months. Two weeks from now I get to go to another workshop with Gary White at one of our favourite agility spots - Spot On! I had my first trial there and was top Starter Dog so we really like it.

Off Leash and Lovin It!

Okay I know, I know this update is long overdue. I've been a busy boy hanging out with my family and friends the last couple weeks. We're taking a break from trials during April but we are going to a Terry Simons workshop next weekend. We really like his teaching style and energy so we're very excited to go.

Last week the agility barn was being used by the horses that live in the barn but Colleen convinced my Mom to take me on my very first off leash walk. It was sooooooo much fun - I raced through the forest and the stream and had lots of fun bouncing around like a rabbit. Halfway though I guess I got a little too out of control and I had to finish the walk on leash but wow did I have fun. Since then I've gone on two more off leash walks! I've learned just how completely nuts I am about water and that I lose all impulse control after splashing around in it - I can't wait to go swimming this summer.

Oh yeah and Moms big surprise was our very own Dodge Grand Caravan. I was beginning to get a bit of a size complex after pulling into the parking lot of trial after trial in our little car and being surrounded by giant sized family vehicles! Mom says she can't believe she got a van but it was the most practical choice. I'm loving it - riding in style now like the rest of my four legged friends.

I threw in a pic of me driving the car we used to take to all the trials - this weekend at the seminar I'll get Mom to take a pic of me in my new sweet ride.

Going the Distance

Last weekend we went to the Acton Agility trial in Flamborough and had lots of fun. I got a Steeplechase and Master Jumper Q but more importantly I got my last Master Gamble Q for my MGDC title (that's Master Gamble Dog of Canada). Mom thought I would suck at distance work but I proved her wrong! :) On Sunday we pushed really hard in our runs and went for speed and didn't care about Qs - I think I like running this way much better. Saturday we got to run our Jumpers run to really loud rockin music and that was awesome!!!! I wish more places did that.

Unfortunately I didn't get any new pics taken at this trial but I have decided to include some recent March pictures so everyone can see the torture I have to go through evertime a holiday comes along. See if you can guess what I'm thinking in these pics...hint - I can't publish it here. Oh wait I look happy in the one with the green shamrocks - must have had too much of that brown sudsy stuff.

Mom says she has exciting news for me tomorrow so stay tuned...

Master Jumper Dog of Canada, yep that's me!

Wow what a fun weekend in Kingston! Friday Mom, Shona and my friends Abbey and Baxter all piled into our sweet rental car and headed off to the Morningstar Agility Trial. First thing we did at the trial was get my first official measurement now that I'm 2. Friday night was three gambles. I only needed one to get my Master Gamble title but I was just so excited I was too busy barking at Mom to run out to the right obstacles. Mom said she thought at least I got all my energy out - boy was she wrong! Friday night we hung out in Shona's room at the hotel and ordered pizza. The pizza man was sooooo late so I had to growl and bark at him when he finally showed up. Oh well we ended up getting it for free! After a night of agility and pizza I was one tired puppy so we headed of to bed.

Saturday I had 6 runs so I was really excited. I started with Master Jumper, I only needed one Q for my title but I just couldn't stop at an off course jump even though Mom was calling me really loudly. Then I had two standards and yup I only needed one of those for a title as well but they keep putting this table in them that I'm supposed to stop and lie down on for 5 whole seconds. I thought agility was all about speed and I told Mom so when I got up on the table. She kept telling me to lie down and I kept telling her agility is not about lying down but she just didn't seem to understand me even when I started barking really loudly at her. Then we had Snooker, I had a great plan worked out but I had to stop after 1 obstacle! Mom took my leash off and threw it behind her, we set up and I wrapped the first red jump but then as we we're turning to the next jump I saw my leash lying on the ground in front of me. I grabbed it an brought it to Mom to play tug but she kept saying "leave it" "leave it" I didn't understand why she didn't want to play tug with me! Anyway we had to leave the course and Mom said at least I got 1 point in this run and beat my 0 score from last trial so I was very proud of myself. Finally we had our second Master Jumper run. I was very excited and wouldn't sit at the start line, the judges really wanted the trial to move along so Mom left me in a stand. I waited like a good boy though and ran fast and clean. Last we had Team. I was running with my good buddy B we had lots of fun running together and smoked course time but no Q.

My friend Patrick came to visit us on Saturday and stayed the night at the hotel. We were all very tired from a long day of agility though and went to bed right away. Sunday I had 2 standards but they still put that table in, I'm not sure why but I get the feeling I'll be seeing alot of tables in practice now. I also got to play in team

again with buddy B. My Q rate at this trial went way down but Mom and I had lots of fun playing together and she says that's all that matters. I did also get a shiny new medal and a new title, you may now refer to me as Master Jumper Dog of Canada! Wow I'm one tired puppy but I can't wait for the next one!

1 more sleep!

Only one more sleep and we leave for our big agility trial in Kingston. It feels like so long since we've been to one. The best part is I get to sleep in the bed at the hotel - no crates for this aussie! Aunt Shona just bought a brand new camera so I might even get to post some new agility pics when we get back.

Winter Blues

Today we had to cut agility practice short because there was a storm coming, and tomorrow we're not going to flyball because there's a storm and Mom says we might not get to go to our agility seminar this weekend because...yes you guessed it...there's a storm! Winter Sucks! Of course it IS fun bouncing around the snow in the backyard like a bunny rabbit and I seem to find so many more sticks to play with, hmmmm, maybe winter isn't all bad.

Then again...Mom also says when its really cold I have wear my fleecy pjs when we go to the agility barn. They're just the most embarassing! I can't even imagine what all the other dogs are saying behind my back. Once I even had to wear them at an agility trial so everyone could see what an adorable outfit she bought me - GAG!!!!! I remember she used to say she would never put clothes on a dog, what happened!?!?!?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my 2nd birthday - can you believe it I'm 2 already?!?! The first two years of my life have been soooo much fun. I've got to learn lots of dog sports and travel all over Ontario to play my favourite game - you guessed it agility. So I've been trying to be a very good puppy and not go searching the house for what I'm sure will be the hugest present ever but I'm not sure I can hold out any longer...my nerves are starting to twitch...okay...okay I've gotten control of myself - now that I'm two Mom says I'm a big boy and I have to behave myself - that sucks!

Oh by the way I have to thank my arch nemesis - flying red dog for showing me how to blog - he's one smart border collie (I hate admitting that!).