Agility Nuts KC Show

I enjoyed this show. It seemed well run and friendly. I didn't see the computers in the score tents like you do at the other agiltiy nuts shows. I guess maybe they are incompatible with KC or people used to KC ways. The rest was pretty much as normal, with a few oddities thrown in by the venue. The venue was on the whole good, and easy to find.

Spike and I got a 3rd in jumping, which was the only result of the weekend for us. We just don't seem to be communicating as well as we were. I have also let his basics slip, distance weaves and good contact stops used to be the order of the day, but if I run past he releases, and sometimes he doesn't seem to understand which obstacle I want him to take. Also we often see things in competitions that we do not see in training.

Much of this is due to having limited time to train two dog either of which would really be enough for most people. I am hoping that over the winter I can put the training in place to emerge next year with two dogs running to their potential, which is huge. I am also hoping to have a job to fund lots of shows.

West Lakes show

Back at this great venue again. This year staying on for a few days of holiday (punctuated by job interviews).

Spike got a 3rd in jumping a 10th in the amazing clock face/ black hole course (agility), and 2nd in 3-4 combined agility. Just happened to have a tunnel in the same place (under the dogwalk) as I set for club training last week.

Instructing blog

http://robatfidos.blogspot.com/

Instructorship!

I am now instructing at FIDOS. I am mainly doing the beginners class which suits me as I am a stickler for getting contacts right, and foundation work. One or two of the class look like they will go far, as the dogs (and perhaps more importantly the owners) are interested. Everyone in the class is fine, and they should all enjoy it.

I was hoping to do some more short exercises off lead this week and get people doing front crosses (or at least understanding what the point is). However we have a KC outbreak in the beginners class with 2 going down with it. We don't think it came from FIDOS, but it is hard to know as it does not show up instantly. So we are having at least this week off, and will review the situation.

Dog Vegas 21-23rd May

Three days, no clear rounds at all. Spike was strange to run, going off over wrong courses and then not doing all 12 weaves. I need to do more with him. Also weave spacing might be different at home training and comps.

Ben was wayward on contacts, but settling into competitions. We got a 5f (A-frame contact) and a "bad luck" from the judge. So close. But dangerous, we could go G4 by mistake if he goes clear in agility. Universally acknowledged as being a very fast dog. Sadly on the first couple of days he got over excited and I even carried him out on Saturday. I have to grab him quick or he bounces all over the place and knocks stuff over. Hopefully we are past that now and can just concentrate on the job at hand. He absolutely loves it, just not totally clear on what he is supposed to do.

h&h Easter

A bit hit and miss. Spike popped his weaves 5 times (and then got them with me standing over him a bit more). Ben decided stopping for contacts was so boring he would just blast around. So I had to re-introduce the "touch" word. It worked, but I am trying to phase it out so this is a step backwards.

Spike got a 3rd in agility, and Ben would have been clear in a quite complicated jumping round, if I had not gone the wrong way (he was really flying and doing all his lefts and rights perfectly).

Scunthorpe

A good start to the outside KC season. Could have got some good places with Spike, but just had the odd pole here and there. He's running well though and much happier in the queues this year too. Just as excitingly Ben had a couple of very good rounds and will be challenging immediately that he starts going clear. He's only 2 so this year could be a good one for us.