Since no one else has done it, I'll post results from last weekend. Please add the things I forget. And please, someone else make some posts, or this will become Ryan's Vlog (video blog, because yeah, here's another video).
Albany shows- Betsy and Oz went Reserve WD one day, Chloe with a sick Vicki handling went BOW for 2 points, our friend Barb's Manny went WD both days for 2 points each day. Jimmy was there, also with a sick Vicki handling, and he was as joyful as always.
Happy did a Rally Excellent run, but Betsy said I didn't miss much by not seeing it. Gary was showing in Obedience and got a 189/first leg with Finn, and a 186/first leg with Billie, whose puppies are now 3 months old and know how to defend their motorhome against intruders, such as hairy Malinois who come to visit. I've never heard such barking!! Oh wait, yes I have. I'm glad I don't raise large-breed puppies any more.
And now, the Vlog. I wasn't going to post videos from this weekend, but Betsy said Rain's Rally Novice run needs to be posted. It was pretty good, I thought, especially for his first time ever in a performance ring (we haven't even hit up any matches, I'm kind of lazy about that). Lots of people told me it was great, and our friend Donna from earthdog came over and smacked me and said, "you just knocked me down a placement!" They didn't post my score (we were the last dog) before awards, so it was a surprise to be called out for First with a perfect score of 100. I was tickled with the pottery bowl trophy, which Rain kept trying to take out of my hand, and really pleased overall. At the same time, the little part of me that always strives to be better than I was last time said, "There's no where to go from here, but down."
Anyway, here it is.
And Sammy, on Friday, earned her second agility FAST preferred leg. Can you spot the mistake? (not the weaves, this is novice remember, that's not a fault here)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Rain and Zing's Great Day
My weekend was not all fun easy agility runs with a broke-in dog, as the last post may have folks believe. On Sunday I got a WORKOUT with Rain at his first Schutzhund practice. Marie, a club member, worked her puppy Zing (who, at just shy of 6 months, outweighs Rain by 7 pounds at 63lbs).
We started the morning driving through pounding rain to the tracking field, but got to lay tracks and work them between showers. We then caravanned back to the working field and did some obedience work, then bite work.
Rain did some awesome obedience and several people were impressed by him, but my experience is when people don't know you/the dog, they are impressed by whatever skills one has (which is what coming into the Cairn world with previous dog show experience was like- everyone said to me, "you're such a natural handler!" and I always wanted to say, "actually, I spent 7 years working really hard to learn to be this good.") So people were impressed that Rain, at 18 months, can heel with attention and go over hurdles. But he did work really nicely, showed tons of drive and was generally fun. And everyone loved his hug (leaping into my arms). Hopefully next time we go, we'll have the leaping onto my back thing learned.
In this video of Rain's bite work, my favorite parts are at 30 seconds, when I say, "Pull on HIM?" We kind of just jumped into this work without me having much idea of what this specific helper, Gino, would want me to do. This is obvious again at the end, when Gino tells me a string of things we're about to do, ending with "take him off." I assume I'm supposed to do something, and then take Rain off the dummy, which doesn't make sense, but Gino's doing this session. So we do the little runaway and Gino says, "Take him off!" and I go to pull Rain off the dummy, and Marie, filming, says "Back to the car, run back to the car!" ohhhhh- take him off the FIELD. Right. Off we go.
There is a great moment at 2:55, which is when Gino first gives Rain a bit of a challenge. Before that, it's just a game of tug, which Rain finds fun, although a little surprising because usually tug happens with me, not with strangers out in front of me. Now, just shy of 3 minutes, Gino turns a little more square to Rain, leans toward him a bit, and changes his expression from neutral to narrowed, focused ("hard") eyes. Rain's eyes went from being on the tug and line, up Gino's arm and to his face during that change. Immediatly, Gino swung his arm up and went "huh!" at Rain. Watch Rain's back legs- his response was to throw himself harder into the tug. I'd like to say I know for sure that he went from prey drive to fight drive there, but I think it's a little soon to make that declaration. I do know he did exactly what I wanted of him. Gino does it again, and immediatly drops the line, so Rain wins.
Here is a video of Zing doing his puppy bite work. What is there to say other than he's adorable? Sadly, the barking is not him. Both of these dogs need to learn to bark!
Gino is a wonderful helper. He worked all the puppies that day, using huge, exaggerated "I'm being pulled around by you" steps to build their confidence. He was fun to watch working the adult dogs, stepping toward them and pushing them to fight back. I'm looking forward to working with him and this club more.
We started the morning driving through pounding rain to the tracking field, but got to lay tracks and work them between showers. We then caravanned back to the working field and did some obedience work, then bite work.
Rain did some awesome obedience and several people were impressed by him, but my experience is when people don't know you/the dog, they are impressed by whatever skills one has (which is what coming into the Cairn world with previous dog show experience was like- everyone said to me, "you're such a natural handler!" and I always wanted to say, "actually, I spent 7 years working really hard to learn to be this good.") So people were impressed that Rain, at 18 months, can heel with attention and go over hurdles. But he did work really nicely, showed tons of drive and was generally fun. And everyone loved his hug (leaping into my arms). Hopefully next time we go, we'll have the leaping onto my back thing learned.
In this video of Rain's bite work, my favorite parts are at 30 seconds, when I say, "Pull on HIM?" We kind of just jumped into this work without me having much idea of what this specific helper, Gino, would want me to do. This is obvious again at the end, when Gino tells me a string of things we're about to do, ending with "take him off." I assume I'm supposed to do something, and then take Rain off the dummy, which doesn't make sense, but Gino's doing this session. So we do the little runaway and Gino says, "Take him off!" and I go to pull Rain off the dummy, and Marie, filming, says "Back to the car, run back to the car!" ohhhhh- take him off the FIELD. Right. Off we go.
There is a great moment at 2:55, which is when Gino first gives Rain a bit of a challenge. Before that, it's just a game of tug, which Rain finds fun, although a little surprising because usually tug happens with me, not with strangers out in front of me. Now, just shy of 3 minutes, Gino turns a little more square to Rain, leans toward him a bit, and changes his expression from neutral to narrowed, focused ("hard") eyes. Rain's eyes went from being on the tug and line, up Gino's arm and to his face during that change. Immediatly, Gino swung his arm up and went "huh!" at Rain. Watch Rain's back legs- his response was to throw himself harder into the tug. I'd like to say I know for sure that he went from prey drive to fight drive there, but I think it's a little soon to make that declaration. I do know he did exactly what I wanted of him. Gino does it again, and immediatly drops the line, so Rain wins.
Here is a video of Zing doing his puppy bite work. What is there to say other than he's adorable? Sadly, the barking is not him. Both of these dogs need to learn to bark!
Gino is a wonderful helper. He worked all the puppies that day, using huge, exaggerated "I'm being pulled around by you" steps to build their confidence. He was fun to watch working the adult dogs, stepping toward them and pushing them to fight back. I'm looking forward to working with him and this club more.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Should I be afraid?
This is the lady one of my puppies lives with!
Should I be afraid? Heck no!! Ivy is going to have the best life ever!
Heidi does EVERYTHING with her dogs. Here she and her girl Brin are doing a Freestyle routine.
I am so excited to see what Ivy (Croftersdream Calypsi O Cairngorm) will do in her lifetime! She is one lucky girl dog..
Should I be afraid? Heck no!! Ivy is going to have the best life ever!Heidi does EVERYTHING with her dogs. Here she and her girl Brin are doing a Freestyle routine.
I am so excited to see what Ivy (Croftersdream Calypsi O Cairngorm) will do in her lifetime! She is one lucky girl dog..
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Sammy and Happy's great day
Yesterday I took Sammy and Rain down to an agility match. Betsy came with Happy, Oz, Vicky M. and her dog Fergus to watch.
Sammy had some awesome runs. She was fast and sharp, hitting all her crosses and runninng like mad. On our second run we tried the obstacles that has been our nemisis for the last few months... the dogwalk. The video is below. Note the soundtrack. After that bit of help, she was cured- she ran three more times and did the dogwalk without hesitation. High hopes for Albany next Friday!
Rain just came to practice Rally for his debut next Sunday. He was fairly good, and when we were done, I had him jump into my arms and was carrying him out to the car. A person coming in passed us and said, "Hello Carousel dog." I guess friendly, happy Malinois in this area all come from the same place.
Happy had some awesome agiliy runs. His first run was a blast from the past, classical Happy.... leash off, zooming circles- Happy laps!! Once Betsy ran from him and started the course, he decided to come with and ran fast and jumped high (oftentimes higher than necessary, just to show that he can do it, too). His second run (with a sit/stay at the start) is on video. His soundtrack is "Cakewalk."
Enjoy!
Sammy had some awesome runs. She was fast and sharp, hitting all her crosses and runninng like mad. On our second run we tried the obstacles that has been our nemisis for the last few months... the dogwalk. The video is below. Note the soundtrack. After that bit of help, she was cured- she ran three more times and did the dogwalk without hesitation. High hopes for Albany next Friday!
Rain just came to practice Rally for his debut next Sunday. He was fairly good, and when we were done, I had him jump into my arms and was carrying him out to the car. A person coming in passed us and said, "Hello Carousel dog." I guess friendly, happy Malinois in this area all come from the same place.
Happy had some awesome agiliy runs. His first run was a blast from the past, classical Happy.... leash off, zooming circles- Happy laps!! Once Betsy ran from him and started the course, he decided to come with and ran fast and jumped high (oftentimes higher than necessary, just to show that he can do it, too). His second run (with a sit/stay at the start) is on video. His soundtrack is "Cakewalk."
Enjoy!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Mac Retiring!
Here is an announcement from Karen Majka regarding her inspiring Cairn terrier.
MACH2 Critterkin's Ben Macdhui CD RE SE PAX MFPMAD SAM RCH GCH JMEAC OCC OJC TN-O TG-N
MACH2 Critterkin's Ben Macdhui CD RE SE PAX MFPMAD SAM RCH GCH JMEAC OCC OJC TN-O TG-N
"Although I'm sad it's ending, he's had a fabulous agility career so I can't complain. He's earned a total of 44 agility titles in AKC, USDAA, and NADAC. He was the 4th cairn to get a first MACH, 4th to get a second MACH, and the 2nd to earn the PAX. He's the only cairn with Excellent and Master FAST titles. He was the 2nd of only 2 cairns to go MAD in USDAA. He's the only cairn with multiple Master & Champion games titles in USDAA. Morgan is the only other cairn to earn a Master game title.
I had saved the 2nd bottle of champagne from his first MACH party. It was supposed to celebrate his ADCH if that ever occured (it didn't), but now will be his retirement champagne. Although he won't get any! He'll get his usual, a frozen jar of baby food, which he feels is better than anything else. Unfortunately a lot of the friends that we started in agility with won't be at this show. I need to get the videocamera in the car so I can get these runs taped.
I'm glad he's still happy and healthy, not quite 9 yrs old, so should be with me for a long time to come. I didn't want to risk his old age comfort for more agility runs.
Happy Retirement, Mac!!
Karen "
I had saved the 2nd bottle of champagne from his first MACH party. It was supposed to celebrate his ADCH if that ever occured (it didn't), but now will be his retirement champagne. Although he won't get any! He'll get his usual, a frozen jar of baby food, which he feels is better than anything else. Unfortunately a lot of the friends that we started in agility with won't be at this show. I need to get the videocamera in the car so I can get these runs taped.
I'm glad he's still happy and healthy, not quite 9 yrs old, so should be with me for a long time to come. I didn't want to risk his old age comfort for more agility runs.
Happy Retirement, Mac!!
Karen "
Friday, March 13, 2009
and CGC's!
I forgot in the last post, both Bety's Oz and my Rain earned their Canine Good Citizen "titles" on Saturday. Both Val and I are evaluators for the test- we really should get to work with the club on running a test!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Seattle KC
A great time was had by all last weekend in Seattle. We really need to be better about posting results and fun stuff for our readers and far-away friends- we tend not to post if all or most of us were at the same event.
We had a great time at Val's on Saturday night, after I finally told Val about the party happening there that Vicki had informed me of weeks ago. Janice came over too and laughed while we talked ancient history about dogs and people.
Dena got out of Seattle just in time to drive through some snow on I-5. She called us and Vicki, Betsy and Barb packed up and left to get ahead of the weather. I stuck around a little longer but didn't hit any bad weather and got home before dark (yay daylight savings time!).
So here's a recap of the results-
Betsy and Happy, only 16 days post-neuter, had an amazing Rally Advanced run on Saturday. The qualifying score earned them their RA title! Happy is now tied with his brother Kona in Rally, and they BOTH beat their father Stiller by 1 leg (Stiller needs 1 more RA leg for his title). That is just a momentary setback, though- I'm sure Stiller will get there soon.
Jamie from Seattle got a second RA leg on Nancy's dog Clark. Yay for more and more people stepping into performance events!!
Alex, Olivia, and Daisy all placed in a large Open Bitch class. Oz won his Open Dog class on Saturday. The puppies (Tipsy and Padme) each had a class to themselves and were adorable. Padme no longer looks like a caterpillar and Tipsy still has her tough little attitude, which she loses when she kisses Gramma Val's face.
Barb did very well on Saturday, taking WB for a 3-point major with Bree, which finished her. Barb's Manny went WD and later BOW to share the major, and Bentley, Marty's littermate, went RWD. I went RWB with Chloe from Bred-By.
Susan's Daisy from Battleground won the breed and got pulled in the group.
On Sunday, Manny again went WD and Daisy again took the breed, with Joyce's Jack going BOS.
Chloe and I went WB and BOW for two points (darn that Bree finishing and moving up! although, we decided it was better for another bitch to get two points than for Bree to stay in the classes to hold the major and end up winning it). Yay for little Chloe! Her ring attitude is shaping up- she took a lunge at the Afghans in the next ring, then proceeded to bark at the Frenchies behind us. She is developing her very own Terrier Code of Rules, which for her seems to include No Flowing Hair While Running, and No Squishy Faces With Panting. I'm excited to see her again down in Albany and see what rules she has added then.
We had a great time at Val's on Saturday night, after I finally told Val about the party happening there that Vicki had informed me of weeks ago. Janice came over too and laughed while we talked ancient history about dogs and people.
Dena got out of Seattle just in time to drive through some snow on I-5. She called us and Vicki, Betsy and Barb packed up and left to get ahead of the weather. I stuck around a little longer but didn't hit any bad weather and got home before dark (yay daylight savings time!).
So here's a recap of the results-
Betsy and Happy, only 16 days post-neuter, had an amazing Rally Advanced run on Saturday. The qualifying score earned them their RA title! Happy is now tied with his brother Kona in Rally, and they BOTH beat their father Stiller by 1 leg (Stiller needs 1 more RA leg for his title). That is just a momentary setback, though- I'm sure Stiller will get there soon.
Jamie from Seattle got a second RA leg on Nancy's dog Clark. Yay for more and more people stepping into performance events!!
Alex, Olivia, and Daisy all placed in a large Open Bitch class. Oz won his Open Dog class on Saturday. The puppies (Tipsy and Padme) each had a class to themselves and were adorable. Padme no longer looks like a caterpillar and Tipsy still has her tough little attitude, which she loses when she kisses Gramma Val's face.
Barb did very well on Saturday, taking WB for a 3-point major with Bree, which finished her. Barb's Manny went WD and later BOW to share the major, and Bentley, Marty's littermate, went RWD. I went RWB with Chloe from Bred-By.
Susan's Daisy from Battleground won the breed and got pulled in the group.
On Sunday, Manny again went WD and Daisy again took the breed, with Joyce's Jack going BOS.
Chloe and I went WB and BOW for two points (darn that Bree finishing and moving up! although, we decided it was better for another bitch to get two points than for Bree to stay in the classes to hold the major and end up winning it). Yay for little Chloe! Her ring attitude is shaping up- she took a lunge at the Afghans in the next ring, then proceeded to bark at the Frenchies behind us. She is developing her very own Terrier Code of Rules, which for her seems to include No Flowing Hair While Running, and No Squishy Faces With Panting. I'm excited to see her again down in Albany and see what rules she has added then.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Our Packy is Back!!
After a very long month (or so) Crystal (my daughter the parts manager @ Kadels in Clackamas) called me today to tell me Packy was all fixed. The boys decided to celebrate in the backend. Packy is a 2005 Honda Element, the best darned little car for dogs and me... It's has no rugs to worry about getting dirty, the seats are totally washable and the back seats come out. I can also get a tent to hook to the back for camping... :) I really missed my little "Rubbermaid Tote", as Crystal Calls it.
Wish us luck as we putt around town and our journeys to dog shows.. Kadels had strict orders to get rid of the target on the back of Packy.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Merl's mischief
While I was at the Rally Fun Match today with Kona, Merl had quite a good time. Somehow, Greg thought Hattie would prevent him from puppy mischief while he worked in the front yard! His response to my disbelief was; "Well, I thought with his belly band on, Hattie would ....." (You fill in the ending.) In truth, Hattie slept while Merl let his feelings about being on his own be known! He emptied the trash bin next to the washer, tore up the map of the Isle of Skye as well as a calendar picture of a Cairn Terrier. Greg was so proud of him. Go figure.....Schuster Belly Bands to be at SKC Show!
I will have a variety of Barb Schuster Belly Bands to sell for her at the Seattle Kennel Club Show.
Sizes ranging from 17 inches to 23.5 inches. They all sell for $10 each, with the exception of the 23.5 inch which are $12.50.
There are some really cute ones with rats, pirates and skull and crossbones...so, bring your checks, or good old fashioned money!
Sizes ranging from 17 inches to 23.5 inches. They all sell for $10 each, with the exception of the 23.5 inch which are $12.50.
There are some really cute ones with rats, pirates and skull and crossbones...so, bring your checks, or good old fashioned money!
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