Happy 2023!

I can't believe we are into a new year already! I decided to try and update this and am currently trying to type with a Pickle putting his head on my typing arm...not helpful!! We had a lovely break over Christmas and New Year. We saw Matts folks on Christmas Day and then went north to see Amy in her new house in Northumberland which was very exciting with the added bonus of seeing my Mum there as well! Unfortunately the weather wasn't so good so we didn't explore many walks but it was nice to think about all the exploring we can do next time! Although we had a super festive break it was very sad being the first one without Toad 💙 We miss him so much and he always loved Christmas and all the socialising.

I love this photo and didn't realise until it was bigger that both dogs are shaking!

Brooke Bean is going to be 12 in March and we think her eye sight is getting a bit worse in bright sun. She is still very lively and full of herself but we might get her bloods checked at the vets soon as she is drinking more than usual. She is still obsessed with sitting in things!! 💚

My little Christmas helper! He put his trick training to good use tidying away wrapping paper 😂

How is my puppy now 18 months?! ❤ I'm biased but I adore him, he is cuddly, clever, funny and so much fun to hang out with! He isn't ring ready for agility but we almost have upright weaves so we might be able to do some jumping runs at some point. His contacts training has basically stopped as the weather is so terrible and my field is a bog 😕 We are having a load of fun with trick training and doing the odd bits of agility here and there though! He had his hips x-rayed last week so fingers crossed for good results.

We are trying to step up Bru's training a bit after his winter break. Matt made it to a Beyond Grade 7 workshop this week and Bru was awesome! 💛 He just needs some more practice course running (Matt that is not Bru!) before the Team GB Pre Selection Qualifier in February.

And what can I say about my Sparkalina?! 💜 She has come back from her shoulder/rib injury all guns blazing and is so keen and ready to work. She even had the all clear from her physio today, no niggles at all (a rarity!) I ran her in Pickles training session this week and she nailed all the discrimination and had the best time. She is obviously not ready to retire just yet! 

We made it to Wrest Park on New Years Eve for a lovely dry wander round

And a couple of Pickle action pics! Plus his most recent weekly video. They are all on a playlist on my YouTube channel if anyone wants to see an Ickle Pickle! 

Branston 7 months and Sparkle turns 9!

 In the last two weeks Branston Pickle has been a busy boy! He did a Hoopers puppy workshop, agility foundation workshop and rally class 😁 It is nice to get him into some groups so that he learns to take turns and watch the others quietly on his bed...something that Sparkle never managed! 

Here is a video from his puppy Hoopers workshop ❤

And a recent video of what we have been getting up to! Agility wise so far we have done a straight tunnel, a jump bump grid, just started curvy tunnels with no speed and he has done a couple of wing wraps 

In the last week Sparkle has turned 9 years old! 💜 I can't believe it as she is still my little puppy really! She certainly doesn't act her age and many people still think she is a puppy as she is so dinky and cute! We have had the most wonderful dry weather recently so Sparkle got a birthday run round in the field. We haven't trained our dog walk exits recently so I was very pleased with these! Hopefully she will have this year doing some champs with Bru before starting to wind down agility wise a bit next year.

Here are some recent photos of the birthday girly! 

And some other photos of the gang! Bru and Brooke both passed their Level 3 Hooperstars award! Look how gorgeous the rosettes are!  

Finally a photo of all four shelties looking the same way and actually looking the correct sizes! Branston is now about 39cm so taller than Toad and a couple of cm shorter than Sparkle. I think he is pretty much finished growing now so will be a nice sized medium. 

This photo makes me smile! She is learning to tolerate him and he is learning to avoid her!

Gorgeous trio! 

December catch up and Happy New Year!

 I have been very slack at blogging yet again! A whole month has passed since I last updated and to be fair it was a bit of a whirlwind with Christmas and trying to rearrange work around the stupid weather! Covid caused a few cancellations as we have a new variant called Omicron and Matt and I had our booster vaccinations which wiped us both out for a couple of days. The doglets are all doing fine...I thought I'd do a little bit on each of them below

Toad 💙

Brodie is doing so well (touch wood!) He is enjoying two walks a day and we try and mix up a bit of time off lead in safe places for him as well as he is deaf and a bit blind as well. He has been the bestest big brother and role model for Branston 😍

Brooke 💚

Bean is enjoying lots of hoopers training, we are currently doing our Level 3 Hooperstars challenges and have done some workshops recently which she loves! She is retired from competing at agility as she will be 11 this March and we don't want to push it with her shoulder. Bean remains our best sofa snuggle buddy and the easiest dog around the house! 

Sparkle 💜

Sparkle is still a full of herself little nutcase 😂 She is loving her agility still and we have done a fair bit of hoopers recently to test her distance and keep her fitness up. Spark will be 9 at the end of this month so chances are that this will be one of her last seasons competing so we are going to make the most of every run and make an effort to do some champs now Bru is G7 as well. 

Bru 💛

Little Rupert had a great season qualifying for the Novice Cup, being selected by Team GB for the Pre Selection Qualifier and getting to Grade 7. We are looking forward to seeing how he will get on in 2022! He has a few training days booked for agility and I have been doing hoopers with him to keep up his distance work and fitness.  Like Brooke he is also on L3 of his Hooperstars awards! Apart from being the sweetest, cuddliest little boy he is so good looking...love these photos of him! 

Branston ❤

My little pickle pup turned six months old on New Years Day...it seems like only yesterday that we brought him home! He is full of character, loving and a little bit nuts, my perfect combination!! 😂 He takes everything in his stride and is into everything! I have done weekly videos of him that are all on my YouTube page if anyone is interested https://www.youtube.com/user/burdettshelties 

We have done a couple of puppy classes (one indoors and one outdoors), an online trick class and introducing a hoop, barrel and tunnel so far. He is loving learning! We have a puppy hoopers and tricks workshop this weekend coming and some agility foundation training days booked over the next few months so he can work in a group. 

Branston 9-10 weeks and Wessex show!

 Branston is settling in so well, he is a fun confident puppy and very quick to pick new things up! He is sleeping through at night from about 11 - 5.30am which isn't too bad although I'm a bit like a zombie at the moment! 😂 We normally have a little training session for his brekkie and a good play and chew before everyone else wakes up. Then sometimes we go for a walk/carry with Brodie or Brooke and sometimes he stays home so he doesn't always go with the big dogs. He has been really good about being in the van while I'm working. I schedule pee breaks every 1.5 hours and he enjoys coming out for a potter around and to meet my clients and their dogs (if appropriate) Here is his 9-10 week video! ❤

On friday I did a Jenny Kimber workshop with Spark which was fun but quite soggy! Spark was great and it was also good to bring Branston and practice some crate games. I discovered he wasn't keen on horses so that was good to work on! 

We went to Wessex show on saturday, Branston was so confident and happy to play with various people in day parking (he is too young to be allowed around the rings yet) 

Stealing his uncle Finlays toy! 

And stealing his Auntie Zeph's toy before waving it in her face!!

Spark was a good girly and won a jumping and had a good E in an agility on a fun course, the competing gingers didn't have such a good day! Her little paw in this pic makes me laugh! 💜

Farewell to 2020 ASAP!

So we came home and got this leaflet through the door highlighting the new rules for Tier 4 (which basically are the same as tier 3 but with no meeting in groups outside but lots of people seem to be ignoring that anyway sadly) We watched the Coronavirus news briefing today expecting tougher restrictions but nope and the schools are set to go back next week despite 981 people dying yesterday and over 50,000 people testing positive. There is a new variant in the UK that spreads quicker than the older version which is causing the surge in cases. Although we now have two vaccines being rolled out it is unlikely many people will be vaccinated quickly.

Someone was so tired from holiday that she dragged her bed into the middle of the room and slept for ages!

We also came home to Brooke and Brodies hoopers winnings...wow is all I can say!!! The prizes are beautiful! 

Christmas was very different this year. For the first time ever it was just me and Matt for a meal so we decided to have roast beef with trimmings, it was very tasty! We did go over to Matts folks for a walk but obviously no meeting inside. We did manage a zoom present opening session though!

Yearly sofa photo, first one without Bracken 😢

On our walk Bru found a tree his size!

And had sweet dreams of Santa Paws!

My friend got me a gorgeous painting of Bramble, my first sheltie so now I have the whole set!

Our new jumps! 

And I got this cool game from my sister!

I may have got a bit carried away doing baking!

Since Christmas we have been in the limbo where you don't really know what the day is and you just eat cheese 😂😂 It has been nice to relax and catch up with some friends too!

So from us and the furry ones we wish that your 2021 is a better year than 2020 and that some normality will resume at some point. For us I'm hoping it will be the addition of a four legged family member!!  Thanks for the couple of you that actually read this waffle!!