Back to training...

So my Mom has been neglecting my agility training these days spending all her time with the border collie boys :( She says that she was giving me a much deserved break but I think that is just bull. I guess she is feeling guilty (I think biting her the other day helped her to realize this) so she took me outside today to work on skills she says. I thought I had pretty good skills but she said we are on a mission this winter/spring for something really cool (a secret but if it works...she will tell me and then I will tell you).

So for the next 6 months I will be using this blog with my Mom's help to track my training to see if we can become an even better team. Might be a bit boring so I will label the post "Training" if you would rather not read about it. If I have something exciting happen in my life I will put a cool title to let you know.

Day 1 of back to training:
Mom has moved the jumps up to 16" today. She says going forward, I will only jump 16" in training and CKC agility. Sadly they will not let me move up to 16" in AAC so we may have to do some of those trials at 10" or FEO.

We first started with weave entries. I never learned 2x2 weaving and instead of going back to basics, Mom has decided to just use poles 1-2 at an angle of 1 o'clock and 7 o'clock to help with entries, we also had 4 more poles totally straight and all 6 poles were staked. We started with offside entries first, and at pretty easy entries. We were able to do entries from 2 feet back from pole 1, Mom really pushing me to stride through the whole 6, throwing a cookie for reward. We did 6 of those in the first session. We then moved to onside entries and I had a bit of trouble understanding the open entry of pole 1-2 so I was going in after pole 3. Mom had to support the entry to get it right...she is re-thinking the open poles. We did 6 on that side also.

We moved onto jumping then. First we did 2 jumps with Mom doing a post turn, I stayed out and jumped those well. I did 2 of those each direction. Next we did serpentines. I missed the serp jump the first time coming past it to my mom. I wasn't rewarded for that so the next time I did it correctly. I did 2 of those in each direction also. Next we did threadles and I found that much easier to come in than take jump 2 but was running under jump 2 when being sent back out. Mom needed to move back and give me a bit move room to get a stride to jump the 16" at a slice. I did a few of those after really nicely she said. Our final work was on 270's. Mom was very proud of me for staying out and doing them. I did come in a few times as I wasn't really reading Mom's body but she says that I was good and that is why we are practicing. For the final one I got a jackpot of my breakfast! woohoo.

So that is it for now. Mom said she will be more organized with the record keeping tomorrow like she does with the boys. Our training plan tomorrow is:

Weave Entries - onside/offside
270's
Threadles
Serpentines
Set Point jumps

New Sport?!

Did I ever have FUN on Saturday! My mom took me to a Dock Diving trial to try my paw at a new sport. I LOVE water and swimming so much, it is my second favorite thing to do, after agility of course. I had been learning to dive off the dock all summer so this was the test.

I did 6 jumps all together and had a personal best jump of 4'8" which both Mom and I thought was pretty darn good for such a small terrier like I am. Sadly I didn't make the finals (imagine!) but when they were handing out the ribbons I got called up to receive the "Shortest Jump" ribbon...how rude, lol ;)

Look at me jump!! Don't you think that looks hard?! and look how cute I am!!

For my final jump I just wouldn't go off the dock (it is 3' above the water...and the water was sooo cold) so Mom let me go from the ramp...what fun!!

So next year I am going to work hard with mom to see if I can learn to jump a little bit further. It is definitely a sport that I could love.

Canadian National Agility Championships were a blast!

Well it has been a few months since I have last written but I really had nothing to report. After achieving my Agility Champion title, my mom and I took almost 2 months off from agility trials and just concentrated on skills getting ready for our trip to New Brunswick and the Canadian National Agility Championships.

My human parents decided that if we were going to head to the east coast of Canada that we would make a vacation out of the trip. This was the first time any of us have visited the area.

We left very early on Saturday morning, heading through Quebec which took a very long time!! I am not really sure that my mom remembered that I hate to drive as this was the most driving I have ever had to endure. By the time we entered New Brunswick, mom let me come to the front and sit on her lap! (that never happens!!) We stopped at the welcome centre to get some maps and stuff so we took a picture of the Welcome sign :)

Mom and I in New Brunswick :)

We just stopped for the night in Edmunston then the next morning headed south to Moncton, NB where we stayed for 4 nights. On the way to Moncton, we stopped in Hartland to see the longest covered bridge in the World. I really just wanted to jump in the water below but no swimming for me that day (supposedly it was too cold and rainy!?)

Longest covered bridge in the world - Hartland, NB

Ripley, Baxter, Mom & I at the bridge (see I wanted to jump into the water!)

The next day we headed out early again to go to PEI. In order to get onto the island you either have to cross the Confederation Bridge which is 12.9 km's of the most amazing bridge or else you have to take a ferry. We took the bridge and even I thought it was cool ;)

Confederation Bridge - 12.9 km's long

We spent a nice day in PEI doing lots of walking in Charlottetown before heading north to Cavendish and the home of the novel Anne of Green Gables. My parents did some shopping in a few little towns and then even went in to a restaurant that they raved about (without us I might add!!). They said that if anyone ever went to PEI, they must stop at the Prince Edward Island Preserve Co.'s restaurant as it was just amazing food. (http://www.preservecompany.com)

I noticed on the way back to Moncton that there were lots of signs with these huge looking dogs on them beside a car. My parents were hoping to see these huge animals but I know I speak for Baxter, Rip and I when I say that we are glad we didn't see one!

Look at the size of that dog!!

The next day we headed to our 4th province, Nova Scotia. I was truly getting sick of getting up early each morning and then spend the day in that terrible car! What were my parents thinking?!?! We spend the day in Halifax which was a very nice city. We walked along the pier and again I was denied swimming. My parents ate in a seafood restaurant on the pier but did we get invited?! Nooooo....

Mom and I in Nova Scotia

Wednesday morning we left our nice hotel room in Moncton to head to Sussex and the Nationals. We didn't drive directly there as we went to visit Hopewell Rocks and Fundy National Park. I was the lucky dog to get to go down to the sand and walk around the rocks. My parents thought I might have been able to go swimming but once we were down there they realized that it was too muddy and didn't let me go :( It was however very cool to see and if you ever get to NB, this is a place to visit. (www.thehopewellrocks.ca)

Hopewell Rocks, NB

The cutest wire fox terrier at Hopewell Rocks ;)

After leaving Hopewell my mom said they had to find us a place to swim (isn't she the best?!) While we were driving to visit a lighthouse they spotted a great little place to let us swim. Man was it ever great!! I got to try out my new life jacket that mom bought for this trip, don't I look special?

Swimming in the Bay of Fundy

CANADIAN NATIONAL AGILITY CHAMPIONSHIPS!

We arrived in Sussex, NB and settled into our little townhouse that we rented for the 5 nights with our friends Tiffany, Dave, Kyra, Rio and Piper.

Thursday morning Tiffany, mom, Rio, Piper and I headed to the Nationals site to do the warm up games. We waited for most of the day in line ups trying to get into the ring. We did 3 warm up rounds which I just wasn't in the mood for. What do you expect when I have been driving around Canada the past 5 days and then waiting in the blazing sun all day?! I think mom was worried but I wasn't.

Friday was a GREAT day! We started the morning off with Standard 1. I had a great run making no mistakes earning a 9th place ribbon! Next was Jumpers 1, again having a perfect round coming in 11th place (missing 10th by less than .07 seconds) Our final round of the day was Steeplechase 1. I had a smoking round coming away with my 3rd clean round of the day, 10th place, a Q, my Masters Steeplechase Dog of Canada (MSCDC) Title and the chance to go to the 2nd round!! (a first for me). We went home very happy with our day.

Wasting no time on the teeter in Standard 1

Saturday was not such a great day. Our first round of the day was Standard 2. I was running really nice when we came to the A-frame. I don't know what came into me but I decided to leap from the top of the frame rather than going into the yellow (woops). Mom said that because I had leaped, she couldn't be in the right spot to get me into the weaves so we came away with 15 faults for that round. Our next round was Gamble 1. Mom brought out my squeaky ball to work on my "out" work and I just couldn't help myself but it blew my mind!! I couldn't think of anything but my ball. When we went into the ring I was sure that I could find the ball. I didn't listen to mom at all, just ran around taking jumps to see if the ball would appear. Mom said the only good thing was that I took jumps and tunnels while I totally ignored her. When the final gamble bell went, I tried really hard for her getting the out to the tunnel but when it came to that final jump...I just couldn't do it :( Our final round was Steeplechase 2. Mom said that they only way we could get into the finals is if we run like crazy. I was running such an amazing run, having a beautiful running A-frame, 2 perfect weave entries and fast weaves and we were just in the final stages of the jumps when I just didn't feel good at all. I couldn't help myself and had to go :( We got eliminated...how awful :(( Mom said that she was proud of how I ran before that though and was glad it wasn't in a class that was important.

Weaving machine in Steeplechase 2

Sunday didn't fare much better for us. We started our day with Gamble 2. Mom didn't bring the ball out (she said she learnt her lesson on that one) and we ran an amazing opening. Unfortunately I didn't get the final gamble which kept us out of the placings. Our next round was Jumpers 2. The heat was getting to me and I decided to go under the tire jump (mom was NOT impressed) and then I had another refusal having 10 fault round.

Jumping the Hoop Jump in Gamble 2

Overall we ended up in 14th place overall. Mom said that she was still happy with my performance and that I was a good terrier. We spent 3 days heading home through the USA (making the best stop at Clean Run where we got a bunch of toys!!)

a VERY tired Wire Fox Terrier!!

ATChC Abbey!

ATChC Abbey

Yes...look at that Ribbon! Isn't it huge? I had to get mom to hold me up with it as it was too big for me to have on my collar. I am now officially the first Wire Fox Terrier to ever achieve the Agility Association of Canada's ATChC (Agility Trial Champion of Canada) Title!

This past weekend we headed for a 4hr drive east (and remember I stand up and pant the whole way in the car) to Ottawa to compete in the OVBCC/All Dogs Agility trial. It was an incredibly hot weekend and I really didn't like the heat, plus I was tired from the drive. I decided that I would give my mom just 1 Q over the weekend and that was the Masters Team to earn my Masters Team Dog of Canada Title and that gave me ATChC! We would like to thank Tiffany and Piper for being our awesome team partners to help us achieve this goal. Mom seems very proud and I got the coolest toy ever as a gift :)

Nationals here I come!

Woofhoo!! We are headed to Sussex, New Brunswick this coming August for the AAC National Agility Championships! Awesome logo, don't you think? (though I do think a wire fox would have been a better dog choice ;))

So this past weekend I competed in the Ontario Regional Championships and did awesome earning 445 points and qualifying for Nationals for my 3rd year in a row.

Friday - Steeplechase Qualifier
On Friday there was the Masters Steeplechase round that was the qualifier for the Sasha's Blend steeplechase finals. I was a bit off and missed the weave entry and had to come back to do it. Then just before the end of the run, I thought for sure that I saw a big piece of food so I ran over to grab it and guess what...it was just a stupid dandilion!! Mom didn't seem impressed that I left her but what is a terrier to do?! In the end I still did well and ended up getting my 9th Masters Steeplechase Q! Only 1 more to go for that title now too! We also earned 6th place which was a really pretty pink ribbon...I like pink. Unfortunately I missed out on the steeplechase finals :( Maybe at Nationals?!

Saturday - Regionals Day 1
Gamble - 6th place finish. We started our day in the gamble ring and mom was very pleased with me. I was able to get the mini-gamble once and racked up quite a bit of points. I didn't get the main gamble which was very hard as you had to go away from the tunnel and go to the teeter. I misunderstood and went back in the tunnel. If only she would show me those course sheets BEFORE the run!!! ;)
Jumpers - 13th place finish. Our next round was jumpers. There was a nasty tunnel call off after the tire jump to the tunnel that a lot of people went off course on. Mom was very worried about an off course, so she called me off by mistake prior to jumping the tire so we got a refusal fault. If she didn't do that, we would have done well as I was flying!
Standard - 6th place finish. Our last round of the day was standard. I was very hot and tired from our long day so I had slowed down. Mom kept telling me to move faster but at least I got all my contacts and the weaves! Some humans are never happy ;)

Sunday - Regionals Day 2
Jumpers - 5th place finish. Our first round today was jumpers. Mom didn't make any mistakes today and I was running at a good pace. I went clean and got a good time bonus too!
Standard - 6th place finish. Woops, I made a boo-boo on this one. I sometimes can't help myself and just don't want to touch that yellow on the contacts. So I jumped off the dog walk before the yellow so that I could get to the jump/tunnel combo quicker. I heard after that because of that, we got 5 faults and lost our time bonus...sorry mom!
Gamble - 7th place finish. This gamble was pretty hard but my mom was "thrilled" that I got the mini gamble which was tunnel out to an A-frame (I got the contact..woofhoo). We ended with some really great points but didn't get the main gamble.

So with my great individual finishes (mom says its a very competitive division these days) I came in (drumroll......) 7th place overall in my division!

I will try and post some pictures from Nationals soon.

And then there was 1....

So with the help of our friends Breezie and Colleen on Sunday, we were able to get our second Masters Team Q!! woofhoo! I did almost go off course from a major hard trap at the tunnel but I used my listening ears and heard mom call me back to the weaves. Breezie is a superstar and did her side with such ease! Thanks Colleen and Breezie!

Countdown Stats:
1 Masters Team Q = 1 left for ATChC
2 left for MSCDC

This coming weekend is the Ontario Regional Championships. They are being held in Ilderton, ON from Friday to Sunday. If we qualify at Regionals we will make the trip to Sussex, New Brunswick for the Nationals in August. I feel that I am ready to take on Ontario so lets hope that the courses are good, the weather is good, and like I always say, that I get out of the right terrier side of the bed ;)



For more info, check out the Ontario Regionals website at http://www.dogsportemporium.com/ontregionals2008/

a WFT record!!

You are looking at the 1st Wire Fox Terrier to earn the Masters Gamble Dog of Canada (MGDC) Title! Yes...I did it!! Today was a good day :)

I got to sleep in a bit this morning which is always good for getting out on the right side of the terrier bed ;) We headed just north of our house (did I ever mention I hate to drive?) to Spot On's AAC Agility trial. The weather wasn't really that great when we got there but I was really happy to be outside and able to roll in the grass before my run. But don't worry, once I was finished rolling around, I got serious and was ready to run!



The first course of the day was the Masters Gamble. My mom picked out a nice course for me that I was able to run real fast and was perfect timing for when the buzzer went. The main gamble was a jump (easy) to the tunnel along the line (easy) out to a tire jump (ok, not easy). I didn't really understand what mom was saying so I ran over to her. She then said "go out hoop" and sure enough...I understood! Out I went over 20' away from my mom, jumped to tire jump (we call it hoop) and then she called me back to jump the first jump again and the tunnel again. YAY, I did it! I got my 3rd Gamble Q to get my Masters title.

I didn't stop there for Q's either. My next course was the Masters Snooker, which is my favorite course. Mom teases me saying I am the Snooker Queen but she doesn't seem to mind when I get those Q's. Here is me and my mom running the course (thanks Andrea for taking the pics of me today!)


Our final course of the day was Steeplechase. I was smoking and my mom didn't make me mad (which is always a good thing...I bite you know!) She said she was very proud of me because I got 2 great A-frame contacts and nailed the weaves. Sounds pretty good, don't you think?

Well tomorrow I am headed back there to see if my friends Breeze & Colleen can help us to get a Masters Team Q. I will let you know how that goes :)

Countdown Stats:
1 Masters Gamble Q = 2 left for ATChC
1 Steeplechase Q = 2 left for MSCDC