Lucy Osborne's Puppy Training

Reno and I had a great day at Lucy's training yesterday. I couldn't believe that I knew 4 out of 5 of the other people on the course. I knew that Allison and Sue were going with Faym and Guess (even though we booked it separately without mentioning it to each other) and Kate would be there with Megan but I was really surprised to see Rae there with her new puppy, Obie. It was lovely to catch up as, due to Rae's injury we haven't seen much of each other over the past year.

Reno was probably the least experienced of all the puppies on the course, but what he lacked in experience he made up for in enthusiasm! The sequences that we did were a little more complex then Reno has been used to but Lucy had some great tips for keeping his confidence and speed up which worked really well. It was pleasing that his enthusiasm lasted for the full 2hrs because previously he has seemed to switch off quite quickly. He had a go at doing a full set of channel weaves for the 1st time and really loved them.

After the training Kate and I took Megan and Reno to a local park with Lucy and her puppy. Kate took some lovely photo's. Check out her blog to see a couple more.

October "Nuts"

Just spent a lovely weekend with the Doggie-boys.

On Saturday afternoon we went to Paul and Pen's paddock for a bit of Agility practice. When we arrived they were busy re-painting the contact equipment. Now our pack can be easily identified by the blue paint blobs on them! I'm hoping Reno's wears of soon as I'm not sure what the judge at Midlands Counties will make of a blue tinted Malinois!!

Yesterday was the first Agility Nuts show of the winter season and Kiros ran really well going clear in 3 out of his 4 runs. Although the classes were small there were three really promising young dogs there that were running really well. I was delighted when Kiros won Ann's Power and Speed shaving a fraction of a second off the youngsters times. He came 4th and 3rd in the other 2 classes.

I'm really looking forward to next weekend as I'm taking Reno to Lucy Osborne's. This will be the first time that he has done something like this so I'm hoping he isn't going to be the disruptive influence! He has enjoyed the foundation training that we have done so far but likes to do a couple of "laps of honour" after every tunnel or line of jumps, bless him.

Speedy and Zippy have started proper Agility training and sound like they are doing very well. I'm taking Re to Pen's class on Thursdays (when I can make it) and we are starting to progress onto small jumping sequences, jumping lanes, target training and channel weaves set at 8" (which Reno fits through easily without wiggling due to him being so skinny!). I'm also hoping that Jo will be starting a Puppy group on Mondays soon so am looking forward to that.

It's been a long time!

So what have we been up to since 7th Sept?

A visit to Dorset for the 1st weekend. Reno and Ollie still love each other loads. They really aren't aware of the size difference and Ollie has a unique way of getting Reno on the ground - watch him going for the legs!!

Next came Nottingham ADTC Fun Day. A relaxed day with three easy jumping classes. Kiros won two of the classes and had a Judges Special in the third class as he would have won if he hadn't had a pole down.

Hazel attempted to take some photo's of him jumping but he was too fast!!

Then onto Dog Vegas Agility show at Bakewell. Lovely venue, perfect weather and sensible courses. We only managed two clears but came away with respectable placing in each. 7th in Grade 6 Agility on Saturday and 4th in the "Money" class on Sunday winning us £7. Well done Kiros!!

Last weekend we were at Lune, our first indoor show of the winter season. Kiros loves running indoors and again came away with a reasonable place in Grade 6 Agility, 5th.

This weekend coming sees the first of the Agility Nuts winter shows. Ann is Judging in the afternoon so I'll be ring managing for her but will have all morning to concentrate on my Doggies. I'm really looking forward to it.

Reno's training is coming on well. Pen has moved to an indoor venue so he found that very exciting last Thursday, especially as there were different Dogs in the class.

I've been taking him to most shows that I have been to and he is getting very used to them. I was really proud of him on Saturday at Lune as the venue must be strange and very noisy for a puppy. He took it all in his stride apart from being "spooked" when Steve Croxford jumped over the barrier in front of him but Steve, being the experienced Dog person that he is, just ignored it and fed him a few treats. He's now Reno's new best friend!!

Reno is entered in a couple of Breed Shows. Midlands Counties on his Birthday (24th Oct) and then one in Newark the weekend after. Only two weeks to go. I really should be practicing!!

Well done to everyone who has done so well recently particularly Jo for qualifying Keisha for next years ABC semi.

Chatsworth Country Fair and Gedling Show

On Saturday we went to Chatsworth Country Fair and had a great day. Kiros had 4 runs but two of them were for Grades 1-5 only so he had to run "Not for Competition" in them and, of course was clear in both. In fact he ran the fastest time in the Agility.

Typically I caused some faults in the other two classes.

Reno and Ronnie came along for the experience.

Ade walked Reno around Chatsworth for at least 2hrs and he was fine with the crowds, fairground noises and guns so I decided to take him to our local show yesterday. They had an exemption show on so I thought it would be good practice for him.

I got there to late to enter him in most handsome dog and the other classes weren’t suitable for him. I walked him around for a while. It was very different from Chatsworth – Although not as big there were a lot more Children about, running and screaming. He was doing really well until we were waiting at a stand for a drink to be made and a Child (who had been running around him shooting him with a toy gun which he was fine with) trod on his tail! That didn't really help prove to him that kids are nothing to be scared of.

Then a Wild West Shoot Out started in the main ring. Reno was ok to start with then, as the shots got more frequent, he freaked and slipped his collar – He ran to get under a car(stationary) but half way there decided that it would be better to come back to me, thankfully!

So I’m now worried that all Ade’s hard work on Saturday has been undone and he is traumatised for life. He pulled me home until we got out of earshot of the fair. Poor little boy. Not sure if I should try and do something about it or just ignore it? I’m getting a bit worried about how he will react to fireworks. Suggestions welcome!!