tagged!!!

This is Coolhand Luc at 11 weeks (june 08). I never had an intention of buying a Kelpie, they did not do anything for me. Yup then Louanne invites me to a kelpie herding clinic, So off I go, been watching herding for over 5 years, thinking someday I will try this. I just cannot seem to give up my agility yet. Back to Louanne's, who is a super hostess, red wine and all, tells me there is a litter of kelpies going to be there. I think, Oh thats nice. She has one picked out for me, a little red female named Pistol. Oh great I can see me running around the agility field calling "here Pis Pis"as we have a tendency to shorten names.
Anyways I see the litter and gravitated to this little black and tan boy. Loved the look in his eye, the way he handled himself with people and his littermates. so the rest is history. He is now 8 1/2 months old and have no regrets. I am glad I have such a happy, willing trainable dog. I often wonder are all kelpies like this?

slide show added

check it out!

sheepherding and judges application

Well we let little Luc see sheep last week, he could not believe his eyes! We left a long line on him just in case he wanted some mutton to snack on. Louanne had me follow the sheep and to send Luc to check them out. He would for a minute then come back to me and walk beside me checking up at me ,"can I really?"
We finally took the line off him and presto! ( I guess he thinks if he has a leash on he is to stay with me.. good dog!) Yipppee, round and round we go! He got one separated from the group and into a corner. He was holding it there just for a moment and the sheep tried to intimidate him by putting its head down and stamping her feet. It didn't work and I called him back to me. Did not want him getting into that when he is so young.
Luc went back to the group and was doing his thing and he did something Louanne called a flank and she said he figured it out and we ended it on that good note. He was exhausted after. Did not get any pictures but did get some video.
We will try it again in about a month. Gotta learn what I need to do out there.

On another note we had to move my equipment out of the arena I rent for a couple of weeks . I have some equipment home , thank goodness as the weather has been great!
also the timing for a break from teaching was right on as I am applying to become an AAC Judge for the starters/advance level. Had to design 4 courses and do a pre TEST! My head hurts and I have not done a test in a Thousand Years! I stress over tests! I emailed it off last night, hopefully I Pass it to continue for the 3 day exam in March.

NADAC Trial Oct. 25 & 26

Hot Diggity Dogs NADAC trial was a blast as usual.

Cavall did really well and as long as I am on my game he rocks!
I believe Cavall had the 2nd fastest time, 19.3 seconds, in Elite jumpers on Sunday. A border collie was faster by less then a second and Cavall jumps 20" and the border jumps 16" and Cavall weighs almost 60 lbs and the border is around 35-40 lbs, He covered 6.5 yds per second. Not bad for a big dog!
He also had some outstanding regular runs ,covering 5.6 yds per second.
His tunnelers run was done in 17.2 seconds, covering 7.5 yds per second.

I did take Cavall in for blood tests on his thyroid and he was below normal again. We increased his meds and I have my dog back!

Possibly going to try my new Kelpie puppy on sheep next week! Can hardly wait. Will probably see a different dog out there then when we are training for agility. He is 7 months old next week.

Training Troop AAC agility trial Oct.18 & 19

It was a fun weekend had by all. Two clients , Leona & Jinx ( heeler) and Katrina & Indy (Manchester Terrier ) had a fabulous weekend. They are great teams and wonderful trainers. Congratulations on their qualifying rounds!
Myself and Cavall, at the Masters level, started out our first 2 runs really rough. Cavall was not grounded and was acting very "spacey". The rest of the weekend went well with qualifying rounds in 2 standard, jumpers, team (thanks Sarah and Kaleb !), & Steeplechase.
Cavall was started on thyroid meds late spring and we are trying to find the correct dose. I took him back into the clinic for blood tests to see where his levels are at. Hopefully an adjustment can be made to his dosage and it will help with his mental concentration.
I am hoping that is the reason he was so "high" on Saturday.
take care

unwanted guest!

Ever had an unwanted guest? They just do not get the message?
Ours is back for the 2nd time in about 10 days. Went outside this morning to feed the dogs and cats. The cats were refusing to go into their shed to eat.
The shed has a doorway for the cats, where their food and shelter is.
I opened the door and the wonderful light smell of skunk once again greets me along with the 5 piles of sh_t!
Yes its a skunk! Cat food bucket is tipped over and he figures he is invited to stay for the winter with free food.
I leave the door open hoping he will leave and go off to the pool to do my lengths.
When I get back I start hauling things out of the shed, brave or stupid, ready to run like hell, (like I can outrun a wild scared animal!) I get one side of the shed emptied and start on the other side and there he is! Behind my dog crates , backed into a corner has far as he can go. I proceed to bang on the walls , throw things at the crates and basically make it very noisy. Oh did I mention I am still ready to run like hell if he decides to move.
I decide to leave him for a while and come back and check. He is gone!
I have the cat food up very high, do skunks climb?
I may have to get help to get rid of the skunk if he comes back again.
I do not need my 5 dogs and 2 cats catching fleas from him!
Hoping the unwanted guest stays away!
**** Remember to vote today!!
take care

Oct. 6 2008

Well we have been very busy trialing and going to workshops for the last 3 weeks. Cavall has been doing very well and is very close to achieving his Silver Award in AAC.
We have been to 2 workshops with 2 very different instructors back to back weekends. My brain is fried!
I have learned alot from both. The one is Kathy Keats and I have been going to her for coaching for over 5 years. Kim Collins is the other instructor and we are finishing our 2nd year with her.
Kathy does not do agility herself anymore, has went to the darkside, Herding!
She brings alot of skills and dog behavior knowledge with her.
Thanks to her, Luc, ( new puppy) is now walking on a nice loose leash! (most of the time)

Speaking of Luc, I have decided to try herding with him, so Louanne I will be calling you soon!

On another wonderful, exciting note we had our 4th grandchild, a boy, Ardan Francis, born on Sept.25!!

some pictures added, Can you guess who we are sitting with?
Cavall and I ( left side) 1st place, in our jump height catergory, at Regional Championships June 2008
the one is of Luc taken today, 6 months old.


take care

hello

Sept. 8,2008

My goal is to try to keep this updated with the news and results of my dogs but also my clients dogs as they compete in the trials.

I love to teach people that are looking forward to progressing in the sport of agility and love to train their own dogs.