O.k. mum, if I have to

After 9 weeks, I threw myself in the deep end and competed at Northern Agility Week. 6am, the good old early morning start, and I think rusty knew where he was going, unfortunately I live in the Northumberland area so most shows are usually upwards of an hour away. We had an easy drive this morning apart from the weather which was dreadful. It rained the whole way there, and was still raining when we found the venue, it was then I realised I had trainers and wellies, great; I was going to have to be an acrobat to stay on my feet. 

My first class was medium agility combined 1-7, usually a fast flowing course designed for the average dog and handler.  The judge was Bob Lewis, the course itself was a nice course, maybe more so if the ground hadn’t been all mud and no grass. Rusty started off well, and quick, but I almost slipped at the third fence, knocking my confidence to run fast. He missed the weave entry, so consequently after putting him back through I was in the wrong position for a ‘out’ command and he jumped it the wrong way. To be fair I wasn’t all that bothered as he hit all his contacts. The weather got out and the ground started to dry quick, meaning I could wear my wellies. The next class was medium jumping graded 5-7, a lovely course, a little bit of a tricky start, I wound rusty up to try and get him moving a bit quicker. I fear now, that after turning seven yesterday he is starting to do it to please me rather then doing it for himself as well, I am now so careful with him not to sicken or flatten him with it. He did a lovely clear round, my timing was slow, I’m so out of practice, I could hear myself in my head saying ‘why did you do that’, I was doing things that I teach people in my class not to do!. Typical!. We ended up with a good 32 seconds and a 1^st, so I was more than happy with him. 

The next couple of classes were not so good, I think it was down to the fact that he was tired, I was tired, and we had a bit of a concentration lapse during the medium agility graded 5-7 (of course it would be the one course and class I needed to win to get me out of the hole that is grade 6). I didn’t trust him and pushed him too wide to the tunnel, and he gained a refusal, the rest was absolutely lovely, kicking me while I was down, even though we came 2^nd.  Another unlucky run came when he clipped the top of the wall in medium jumping combined 1-7, where we ended up 6^th. Overall though, I was so happy with the fact we haven’t done it in such a long time and he listened and he did well, I still don’t miss the early mornings though, and the long waiting, but nothing beats seeing the smile on your dogs face when they do it right, (even when you have to pretend), and the smile on yours when you find out you’ve placed. I have uploaded all of today’s runs onto YouTube, more for my benefit really; I wish I had videoed from when we first started. 

Watching back now, the only disappointment I have, is in myself, I let him down time after time, but then I can see how in-tune we are, and its then you realise, you could run whatever course you want, regardless, at that moment in time, (forget the judge, people, dogs, weather) you and your dog are as one. 

As sentimental as it sounds. Nothing else will get that bond. 

Ravenriver Rock. A.K.A Rusty

Rusty is my sporting Cocker Spaniel, the name Raven River agility comes from his kennel club name Ravenriver Rock, I thought it only fitting to name it after him, as he is the reason I am involved in a sport I love. 

Rusty originally belonged to my late grandma; however he always seemed to have a soft spot for me. I think that was due to the fact that I used to do all the obedience and trick training with him when he was a puppy. Rusty is like an extension of me, like another arm, he seems to know what I’m thinking what I’m about to do.

We got him as a puppy at 13 weeks old, and he was small enough to fit through the baby gate that was placed on the kitchen door. I fell in love with him as he was an amazing dog even at 13 weeks. I was 13 at the time, and had never really looked into any sort of doggy activities.

The first time I ever saw our potential as a team was at a local country show, I entered him into the sporting dog category against about 40 other dogs, I had no idea what I was doing, but some way or another we won! After that I was hooked and began naively entering him into local shows, and also the larger affiliated shows, I always did very well in the handling classes (where I am judged) but could never seem to do well in the breed classes.

It was then that I was introduced to the marvel that is the breed standard. Unfortunately my dog is a sporting Cocker Spaniel; he’s white and lemon, with a powerhouse for a body. Not a show dog.

By then I had also discovered the pinnacle that is Crufts, and for me, that was my ultimate goal. So I joined the Young Kennel Club in March 2005 and have never looked back. Though my parents began to realise, as did I, that I was somewhat wasting my time with dog showing, but  I was stubborn enough to continue for a little while longer until eventually it happened, in the November of 2005, I qualified for the YKC Handling competition at Crufts. Even to qualify was an amazing experience, but then to attend the biggest dog show in the world for the first time, well, I was hooked. Needless to say my inexperience and nerves got the better of me and we didn’t place, but Rusty did everything I asked of him, and put on a stellar performance.

After that the dog showing dwindled out, but I continued to enter him into the local country shows, doing well in any sporting categories, as he is a brilliant example of a working dog.

Whilst all this was going on, I had also signed him up to Pet London Models, I thought this was a good idea at the time as I found very quickly that his obedience training meant he was amazingly well behaved in front of a camera and when placed in various situations he never faltered. In-fact in some instances I am sure he sees the camera and actually poses.

But not expecting anything to come of it, I was surprised that 6 months after signing he got his first job in Leeds, for Morrison’s pet food packaging. Rusty was brilliant, he’s like plasticine, you can just mould him and leave him, he’s every photographers dream. From this stemmed his side career of modelling. To date he has done various jobs, the latest one being the Elddis Caravan brochure. Rusty also signed to Boho Models, the first dog in the North East to do so, and from that we got a full page 3 spread in the Chronicle Sunday Sun.

Another amazing turning point came when we auditioned for Europe’s Top Dog, to be broadcast on Sky’s Animal Planet. I thought nothing would come of it as there were thousands of dogs, but in 2007 Sky sent a crew to my house to film introductions. Then we were invited down to take part in the show. It was a wonderful experience where we placed 2^nd in our heat, but he did really well and won two of the five games during the show.

Then in 2009, I entered the Shaun McAlpine Award, and I won the over 12 age group, and again went to Crufts to receive my award, it’s an achievement I am very proud of.

Rusty has also taken part in a one to one session with a local gundog training club, being 6 years old at the time I was skeptical as to whether he would do well. Long behold he proved me wrong again, and did everything that was asked, bringing out his brilliant breeding. Rusty also worked well to the whistle, despite never being taught with one, picked up every dummy, and quartered the ground lovely.

By then I had also began agility training at North Northumberland dog club with Jim Wright, and 4 years later here I am. My first year of shows were somewhat inconsistent due to his speed, but now in the last year and a half we have gone from grade 1 to 6, and perhaps achieved the best thing to date.

After sending away my points for the year to the Young Kennel Club, Rusty was within the top 20 medium dogs in the country and we were invited to take part in the Medium Agility Final. To say I was nervous is an understatement, everything we had worked for came down to this, I was 2^nd last to go, and we had been given enough time to walk the course twice, I had it straight in my head and just wanted to get in and run. When it came to my run, I knew Rusty was going to be quick, and that he was itching to go off the start line. Once I said go, my nerves lessened and Rusty took off quickly, I got more and more excited as he cleared each jump, hit each touch point, and sped though the 12 weaves, 3 jumps from the end I heard the commentator say ‘their in the lead’, and perhaps it was that, or the crowd screaming us on, but a lapse in concentration meant my dog, instead of bearing left over the last jump, went on to go through the tunnel. Consequently getting eliminated. To say I was gutted, was a BIG understatement, I beat myself up for weeks afterward, if only I had just moved a little quicker at the last, or pointed the last jump out. Then to make matters worse, I found that had he jumped that last jump and gone clear, we would have won. (You can see the clip on the ‘videos’ page of this website).

I still think about that run, but then I remember how well he had done to get there, achieving his Agility Warrant Bronze in the process.

Rusty is now 7, but I seem to be in denial about him getting older as I cannot think what it would be like if he was not here, he continues to be the best dog anyone could ask for. A great companion, leader, and astounding all round dog. To date he has done so many amazing things, he has brought me the confidence I have today with dogs, and never stops giving. Rusty also visits the local Care Home as a Pets As Therapy Dog, and he brings so much joy with his personality and nature.

A bit of a blog

Taken from my website, anything that I write now will be updated directly onto here.

Back to the basics- 25^th August

So agility stared again on the 23^rd August and we have a lot of new starters, it’s so nice to see so much interest in the sport and so refreshing when I hear people say ‘actually I just want to do it for fun’. That’s what I’m here for!. I read so many things nowadays with people complaining about various things in agility, and I would never dare put my opinion forward as my age would diminish any credibility, it worries me that if any new starters began to research and look into the sport that they would be put off. I have found that whilst people would not like to believe it, at times it is very lonely sport, unless you are part of a club where other members attend or you happen to know someone who knows someone.

Having competed since I was 14, I think once the initial ice is broken (as such) it becomes easier as the years pass, but I am thankful that I now know club members and have made friends. Don’t get me wrong I don’t have the answer on how to make shows more newbie friendly, but all I’m saying is when you walk past someone who looks worried and on their own than ask them if they need help, if you get a mouthful of abuse or a dirty look, than so what, at least you tried. I speak from personal experience of being at a show with just my dad, no clue what I was doing, not knowing anyone, waiting in the queue for a junior class, as they all flew round like pros with dog after dog, after dog, and feeling extremely intimidated stood with my little treat bag and just my ONE little newbie dog.

Who would think that I would be where I am today, (still chugging along with my one little dog in grade 6).

Any newbie’s reading this, don’t be put off, it’s a very rewarding sport for you and your dog. (Even in torrential rain or freezing weather).

But for every hour I spend teaching other people I feel that I am neglecting my two spaniels as I have done very little with either of them. I don’t worry about Rusty who’s a grade 6 as he tends to thrive after a good break, but Lucy is not getting as much one on one training as I would like. I am stuck between a rock and a hard place, I cannot train her during teaching sessions, but then I cannot teach her at home because more often than not the jumps are left at the centre and I cannot transport the contact equipment. I am also conscious of the fact that my third year at university begins at the end of September and I would like to have her confidently doing courses by then. University brings with it a whole host of new issues, no more so than timetable, at present I have no idea where I stand with being able to teach classes after September, which is a worry, not to mention the workload and the constant drone of the dreaded ‘what are you going to do when you leave’ voice. I don’t know yet! That’s 90% of the problem. Anyone fancy lending me enough money to build a massive agility complex? No? then I suppose I will have to reconsider my life plan. All I can say is one way or another it will involve dogs.          

A drop in temperature – 21^st August

Well, America was amazing, one of the best holidays I have ever been on and so unbelievably hot (all of the time). If only it was less than 10 hours on a plane then its rating as a holiday destination for me would treble.

Most people come home with pressies and maybe jetlag, not me, instead I came home with flu. Needless to say that this put my training on hold with my own two dogs, who having been in kennels for three weeks were less than impressed that their mum was asleep on the sofa most of the time.

After a couple of days I ventured out into what felt like the Artic (I was used to 106 everyday) and took the dogs for a walk down our local route. To cut a long story short I ended up walking 5 dogs but coming back with 6. I must also explain here that where we walk runs parallel to an opencast and also a large railway track, so to see a dog loose is unusual. It was a dog that I have never seen in Widdrington let alone down the tip road (our nickname for the route). A young dog, less than two was the epitome of a crossbred, smaller than a Spaniel, the head of a German Shepherd, body of a Corgi, and beautiful pristine white feet. So the fact there was not one speck of mud anyway nor under its nails we established it could not have come across any fields. We drove round for around 4 hours, no one was looking for it, no one had ever seen it before, and no one was asking for it at local stores. After various attempts I couldn’t pin down anything that would suggest this dog was actually lost. Unfortunately I am not a big fan of current rescue systems as this is not the first dog I have found, and my experiences are not great. When it was collected no microchip was found, and he is currently residing in kennels. (Although I intend to follow it up, as it was a lovely little dog, and had I been in different circumstances then I would have adopted him myself).

Let’s hope whoever felt the need to dump him has a few sleepless nights, or if indeed he was lost, then let’s hope they learn their lesson and avoid this by buying a collar and getting him chipped.

So I will be unavailable for nearly four weeks whilst I am away, a week in New York followed by just over two weeks in Florida, to say I am excited is an understatement, of course my dogs will be a big miss! I am hoping to see if I can go to a couple of competitions/dog related things and see how they do it across the pond.

 NESSR Fun Weekend 16th- 17th July 2011

Having planned for weeks leading up to this event, contacting trade stands, displays, creating posters for the agility and also plugging it online, the weekend finally came about. Not only did I take the job of the have-a-go agility I also had my boyfriend and brother running the trade stand, Profleece bedding, which did better than I thought considering it was never really unpacked properly over the two days. Of course, beautiful weather Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, could only mean one thing? Right? Wrong! It didn’t just rain, it poured all day Saturday from 8am till about 7pm. I couldn’t believe it, so much hard work put in by so many people, despite this there were some brave souls who came out and supported NESSR. Everybody kept a smile as at the end of the day it’s for the dogs, I ended up with around 30 people who had a go at the agility before I called it off at 3pm. So I am grateful to those that ventured out. Sunday was a little better with intermittent bits of sunshine, there was more people, and there were around 41 people that had a go at the agility. The police dog display proved quite the crowd puller (Video available on Facebook and YouTube). Along with all the other trade stand and displays that were brilliant.

Let’s just hope for nicer weather for future events.

 Last training sessions July 14th and July 19th 2011  So it was the last Thursday and Tuesday class for a while, and everyone seems to be having fun. When I first set up the classes I never envisaged how well they would go. Unfortunately due to the fact I am a full time university student I am limited to how much time I can put in, which has also meant my own two dogs training has dwindled. It is so rewarding to see the dogs at week one, and see them improve week by week, doing things that their owners never thought they would, that’s why I do it, and that’s why I enjoy it. I hope everyone has a good summer and I look forward to classes returning in late August. Felton Village Fair - July 9th 2011So having shown my Cocker Spaniel for around 3 years when I was about 13 years old I have a good idea about what goes on at village and country shows when it comes to the companion dog show. Though I never thought I would be asked to actually judge one, so after being asked by the lovely Grace, I agreed to judge the Felton companion dog show, it was only as the weeks began to fly by that I became slightly nervous and doubt the fact I knew anything. I have always joked that during the Crufts group judging I can pick out the top 4, (sometimes in the right order) and usually win a bet with my family. So I did what anyone would do, I Googled it, did a little bit of research, and before I knew it the Saturday came around. Good old British weather, one minute blistering sunshine, the next the biggest thunderstorm and heaviest rain you've ever seen. So looking out the window, I came to a dilemma, what do I put on, do I go over the top smart and end up looking rather silly, or do I dress for the weather?. I decided my best option was a smart jacket, twinned with my posh Hunter willies.When I arrived it was just as I had remembered, everyone made me feel very comfortable and once I got into the swing of it I was fine. It is quite easy to tell who does it on a regular basis, whose dogs were experienced and whose dogs were pets. It can be something as simple as the lead they’ve chosen, or the way they stand their dog when they come in (or if they stand them at all). I thought I did a pretty good job, and judged with good merit (there seemed to be no complaints), the Best in Show I chose was actually a winner at Crufts. (So I must have done something right). I did enjoy the occasion, but I know what it feels like to be stood on the other end of the judge, I also appreciate the hard decisions judges have to make when there are several very good dogs. So unfortunately I don’t think anybody will see me later in life as a judge at anything other than a companion show.