FAB Dorset

Wow I have been busy lately hence the lack of blog posts! We have had very high temperatures recently which has been hard for the poor dogs. Paddling pool, cool coats and very careful training times have meant that everyone can still have fun! My tan lines are disgraceful though!!

We went to FAB Dorset show last weekend and had fun doing the IFCS qualifiers with all three shelties (yes you did read that right-Brooke as well!) and Sparkle could play doing NFC in the ring. It was thundery and hot so pretty weird weather but at least it didn't rain when the dogs were running. Brax was a little superstar jumping toy height and she won the agility and jumping! The courses were really fast, flowing and clever and caught all the minis out in the agility as we were all eliminated!

Here is Brackens agility run-I love her little hope onto the dog walk!



Brodie wasn't quite right after the agility so didn't do the jumping but Matt had both his girls in. Brooke was jumping as a mini which is UKA midi height (pole height higher than KC small) and she didn't struggle at all. She had one pole in the jumping as Matt was a bit late cuing her after the weaves. She came third in this!



Sparkly had so much fun doing the R+R course! It was her first time in the ring on medium height (her full height) and she left all the poles up and was really focused. I was really pleased with her wait as well! Clever collie pup :)

Road trip to Scotland :)

We decided to go to East Lothian show as it is only a few miles down the road from my Dad and we hadn't been since Brooke was a baby. We know a lot of people who compete up there so it was lovely to catch up with them and spend some time with my Dad and Lesley. And of course it would not be complete without a play on the beach!

Despite the very warm weather, the two younger dogs really enjoyed playing ball in my Dads garden-they both found a tennis ball so were very pleased!

The sunsets were amazing as well-it didn't rain once while we were there. I always forget how light it is later up there-this was taken at 10.15pm.

We went to the show on Saturday only and met up with Yvonne who has Ellie and Khandi. Ellie is Brodies little half sister-they do look alike! :) Ellie did really well getting a G6 win and 2nd place.

Our doglets really enjoyed doing agility, I still can't believe how well they all did! Brooke did three classes and won G5-7 agility, G5-7 jumping and was 3rd in G1-6 agility (one pole but fastest time). It was her last G5 show so she went out with a bang! This was the run with the pole down but it was really good!

The two older dogs were only entered in champ. Brax got E'd in the agility but did a stonking run in the jumping to finish 3rd!



Brodie had 5f on the dog walk in the agility (cheeky!) and was 7th in the champ jumping so got through to the final. Only 9 dogs out of 40 made it through and I knew with the course being tricky that I need to work every bit! He was an absolute dude and went clear (bit hairy at times!) and finished with the Reserve Champ ticket!!! Love my little boy! What was so lovely was that tri sheltie boys won the small Champ ticket and small Reserve too. What a handsome and talented bunch! After Brodie having a hamstring injury I wasn't sure how he would run at his first show back but he was great-he really is my dog in a million!! :-)

Here is the video of the champ final and yes I did almost fall over at the jump before the A frame-my bad knee was playing up!

Here is the obligatory sofa picture!! All three shelties this week-good to see Mr Toad and Brax back up there again!

Miss Sparkle hasn't had much of a look in so here is a pic of her doing 12 upright weaves which we have just sussed out!

Shows galore - Dog Vegas, MK and Kelluki

Matthew and I had a week off for an agility holiday and did three days at Dog Vegas sandwiched between Watford and Milton Keynes Shows. It was lovely just to do loads of agility and spend time together and with the doglets and good friends. I was a bit upset that Brodie only did one day at Dog Vegas as he has aggravated his hamstring again :( I think he is ok after a couple of weeks off but I'm so protective of him! Luckily I had Dolly spaniel to run which was great as it stopped me moping around and got me studying C1-4 courses that judges are setting. She was a superstar and although it sounds funny, its more relaxing in some ways running a dog that isn't yours as you don't put as much emotional effort into dissecting what went wrong. Shrug shoulders and work on it more lol!!

Here is the choccy one with her first place :)

Another pic of Dolly as her sitting still is a rarity!

I actually got a rare group picture today that wasn't posed, I was sitting on the sofa watching tennis and  they had arranged themselves very neatly! 

And one of my gorgeous boy pretending to be camera shy and having grass stuck on his nose-attractive!

Brooke bean has had an amazing couple of weeks and really worked lovely with Matthew. I'm so proud of them both! She is doing so well on her new food and seems to have endless energy in a good way! Thanks to Jenni for suggesting Millies :) My fav rosette is the pink and green one as it matches her lead and harness!

My little Sparkler had her first foray into the ring at Kelluki UKA. I couldn't recommend a show more highly! Perfect for baby dogs as the rings are netted (only 4) you can do NFC and there is a practice ring that you can use food in to reward waits and contacts. It was great for Sparkle (17 months now) as I was confident meaning she didn't have Mum being a stress head! She did two Beginners steeplechases nfc with a toy and some contacts in the practice ring. I was so pleased with her as she was focused and keen-couldn't have asked for more! Ok she face-planted over the first jump bless her and had a couple of poles but think that was lack of confidence in her striding. I think we need to do some gridwork! 

Afterwards she was a very tired little collie...