3 Clears and Third Year

So I have one day of freedom left before I go back to University for my final third year. I suppose that means at some point I am going to have to look at that thing, ermm what do you call it, ah yes, a career. Any ideas? Because I have none, I wish I could put my finger on something I really wanted to do, like be a dentist, a vet, a nurse, just something. Unfortunately my ideal job would involve working with dogs all day (and at some point winning the lottery so I could build a huge dog training and demonstration centre).

Up again at 6am for the Hare n Hounds Autumn show, I have done no training with Rusty, for the simple reason that I just want to give him a break and his only agility will be the odd bits in the garden and competitions. It seems to be paying off, he’s speed is a little bit better and we came away with 3 clears on Saturday. The first class was a really nice flowing course as it was a heat to qualify for a final being held that day, seen as it was the first run of the day his head wasn’t really in the game. We got a clear and ended up 10^th out of 39 dogs. The next clear came in the jumping graded, we ended up with a 4^th out of 21 dogs. The next class was the agility graded, Rusty was running so well, but his idiot of a handler pushed him out over the wrong jump. Eliminated. Gutted! His best run of the day came in the agility combined 4-7. I was so happy with him; we ended up with a 6^th out of 54 dogs. Even with a clear I expected to get nothing. Overall a good day, rounded off with a very nice Chinese takeaway. Yum!

"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts."

- John Steinbeck

On a totally separate note: The Northern English Springer Spaniel Rescue presents a Spooktacular Halloween Fun Weekend at Druridge Bay Country Park in Northumberland. Open 10am-4pm come rain or shine on Saturday 29th October and Sunday 30th October 2011. All breeds, big or small welcome. See poster below for full details. Please share this event and poster. (All trade stand enquires should be emailed to nessr97@aol.com). We look forward to seeing you there!

Sun. In September. Really?

So it hasn't rained in like three days, apart from the gale force winds I have been able to get some really nice long walks done. I’m really going to miss the freedom when I go back to university (as of September 24^th). The nights are also starting to cut back in, and if there’s one thing about the winter it’s the miserable feeling that it’s going to be dark by 4pm, and by December, dark and probably snowing.

I haven’t taken photographs in such a long time, so I thought I would take the camera, and I know I’m out of practice, but I also think my five year old workhorse of a camera is starting to give up. All the same, thought I would get some of the lesser spotted sun before it disappears for good.

I have also added a new section above, ‘Classes’. I am hoping that over the course of the next few months I will be able to add training videos from the classes (with permission of course) to see the difference in both dog and handler.

Who better to start with than my boyfriend Jamie and his dog Paddy, so keep up to date by checking the ‘Classes’ page.  Also please take the time to LIKE our Facebook page, just follow the link above :)

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich."

- Louis Sabin

Sometimes you forget where you live

The Young Kennel Club (of which I am a member of) recently asked for stories about favourite walks, I thought I would give it a go, it needs a little bit of work, but creative writing was never my forte.

I think I take for granted where I actually live, Widdrington, that small pin-point on the map that you can pass through everyday without noticing actually has some beautiful walks. I don’t have to walk much by main roads, or come across great deals of people. Instead I get in my car, drive for 30secounds and I’m down what has now become affectionately known as the ‘tip road’. Not because it’s actually a tip, but because years ago it housed the Stobswood Brickworks.

The large fields are brilliant for my spaniels, and instead of people we often come across the elusive resident hare, that as good as my spaniels are just can’t quite catch. It often becomes our own little playpen when we take out all 5 dogs.  The woodland is beautiful and it proves popular with varying wildlife, if your quiet maybe you might spot the deer or if your loud than maybe the families of pheasants.  

Despite the convenience of the tip road, the best walks to be had are just a stone’s throw away. The Northumberland Coast is one of the most spectacular stretches in the country, miles of dunes, golden sand and plenty of open ocean. More often than not, depending on the time of day you can have miles of beach all to yourself and your dogs. My dogs love the water, and it’s like having your own personal giant swimming pool, especially when the tide is out as it has left large pools of water. 

I should really be down on the beach everyday it isn’t raining to take full advantage of the fact I don’t live in a city. I like being rural, there’s something calming about it, I’m not a big fan of large cities and concrete, New York was an experience but it in no way appealed to me as a place to live or work. It’s not the pace of life, there’s just something about the fields, the grass, the wildlife; I’m a good old country bumpkin. Had I not grown up with dogs I may have a different view, but I’m glad I have had the privilege to grow up surrounded by these ever trusting animals. I am also aware of how lucky I am to have some many places to walk, perhaps a little less lucky if we get another two foot of snow this year!.


I am also hoping that some of you may be able to help.


Jamie (my boyfriend as pictured above with Rusty) will be running the Great North Run on Sunday 18th September, its 13.5miles and takes place in Newcastle.


He was given the a choice of charitys and he has chosen to run for the Alzheimers society, this is due to the fact that my grandad was diagnosed with Alzheimers ten years ago, since then we have witnessed the awful disease take away everything that made him who he was. 


This is the page we have set up below for fundraising. Please would you have a look, and donate what you can. 


Please feel free to send on this email or pass on details to any other family members. 


Thankyou from us in advance! 


http://www.justgiving.com/Jamie-Earle 

  

A first on both days

Northern Agility Week

So Saturday we were back at the Northern Agility Week, the weather was much better, but Rusty still didn’t seem to have much drive. The courses were lovely, and we ended up with a 2nd, 3rd, 6th and a 1st in Jumping. So we need two agility wins to move up to Grade 7. I am now getting worried about his lack of drive, so it’s something I am going to need to work on, small sequences lots of play and lots of treats. Rusty has also been knocking poles lately, which is out of character so I am going to have him checked by the chiropractor, his next show isn’t until around the 23rd September so we have plenty of time to have some fun. It might just be me being paranoid, but he has grown up with me and taught me everything, I feel it only right that I look into everything when it comes to him.

 Dryburgh Abbey Fun Agility Show

What a brilliant show, and a real credit to those who run it. It really was great for beginners and anybody who had never competed before. I decided to give Lucy the benefit of the doubt and take her into medium jumping 1-4. It was a lovely course, although, however spectacular the venue, there were sheep roaming free around the fields. Lucy’s recall has come on a great deal, but it was still in the back of my mind that there were livestock ready to be chased if she decided to. I took her in, and her focus was great until jump number 4, she decided she would go and sniff around the fence line, so I called her back, and she toddled herself back, after that I made up my own course and finished with her focused and happy. I called it a day at that as I think it’s unfair to put her into situations like that, that I’m not comfortable with, and it’s not fair on her having the temptation right in front of her, especially since it was her first time in a ring. Overall a good day, Rusty came away with a 4th in the agility 5-7, and seemed to be a bit more up for it. I am still pleased with Lucy, she is showing so much more than I ever thought she would, it will be her 8th month with us in October, and I am looking forward to the challenge ahead of me. The atmosphere was friendly, and Thirlestane Castle in Lauder is beautiful, I very much look forward to the next one.