Good times

Here's a collection of old and new pics of us doing what we like best - hanging out in nice places!

And our training paradise:

 

May update (excellent core strength and overall condition!)

Sen

We participated in this year’s Western Australian State Agility Championships. Had a fabulous time! Really nice courses, really nice weather, increasing numbers of nice people and a very well-organised and run event. I went into it with only one goal – keep Sen smiling! She has not trained course runs or equipment for ages as we have worked only on fitness and on her mental resilience, so it was quite unrealistic to expect no mistakes.

I am happy to say that on this weekend she was a lot calmer than I think she has ever been so at trials. Her tail was for the most part always wagging so something must be going right with her training. Several people mentioned that she was working much better, and she was! I was super-satisfied with all six runs she had. For the most part she stayed with the program. Attempted check-outs there were but these were much more half-hearted efforts than usual and she always came back to finish the run.

 

She won one ADX (Excellent Agility) heat, and made two smoking Masters Jumping runs that I was super happy we managed to handle nicely as a team (one otherwise clear DQ because of a check-out, and one with a dropped last bar – the first time for us to get that oh-so-special agility experience J). One Open Jumping distance challenge was too much for her, the other she nailed (and then I got so excited I forgot that oh yeah that tyre is next,J). There were two lots of 10 weaves instead of 12 – a pesky little issue for us at the moment. She checked out at the start in the ADX final (maybe the crowd, maybe the overwhelming weekend, probably the heat – who knows, I can’t ask her), but that really didn’t matter as we had such a winner weekend in terms of attitude improvement (BOTH of us). It was great to feel and be back on track with her.

I treated her to a massage (who’d have thought she could be massaged!!! – six months ago that would have been impossible J). The only condition issue noted was slightly weak muscles on the front of the right leg. Balance work for small muscles was recommended. I was pleased that the masseuse/vet thought both of my dogs had excellent core strength and overall condition.

I got a treat too! in the form of these great pictures by Jemma Bell:
 

 

 

Chook

Mr C also excelled himself at this trial (periodic manic excitement barking aside). He was well-mannered, could be let off-lead to exercise with the other dogs which he did politely and always came back when called, waited in his crate for the most part without much noise and was happy to play and heel through the run waiting area among the hyped-up big dogs. He seems to be quite at ease in trial environments, although I note that he is still cautious.

 

The Chookster also got a massage and no problem areas were found. She did note that he had unusually high-set patellae, which was not a problem as long as he stays in shape but was just something to keep in mind should anything ever go wrong in that region.

A few weeks ago Chook participated in a practice obedience trial (heeling, sits, down, stand, stay, recall, and a few tricks). To my surprise he did really lovely work. Seems that something is sinking in with his training after all!