Here we go, one buble on a jump, was able to save it, I needed to hold for a minute until I had his head. This was our first Master Jumpers Q.

slow motion Video Coolhand Luc Weaving,

check out the DROOL at the finish of the weaves

2010 National Gamble run Saturday 7th place

Here is Luc's first gamble, so proud of that boy.
In hind sight We did not too bad,
I did not walk away from nationals feeling accomplished just exhausted and that is the main feeling of the nationals for me.
Luc did get both his gamble runs and a 95 points in one standard. Jumpers and my timing is the training for this year.
Luc's times were unbeleivable, Fast, fast!
He handled the venue and all the action going on like a pro. He was a star in staying focused for a dog that was 2 in April.
I must learn my lesson from my dog and learn to stay focus on my partner no matter what is going on.
Lessons we learn from our dogs.....

I cannot believe Nationals came and have been over for almost 3 weeks! Almost 2 years of planning and its "puff" gone, finished,done.
My friend, Deb who shared the hotel with me, counted the hours of sleep we got from the Thursday to the Monday morning.... 12 hrs total and they were not restful sleeps. Toss and turn trying to remember everything. Nationals for me was exhausting. What I learned from that experience is "not to run a dog" when organizing an event of that size.
Luc ran very well, I on the other hand was not focused has I should be. I certainly know what my "homework" is for the next year.

This is our standard run on the Sunday, 95 points, we had a dropped bar, we never have dropped bars, my timing was so off,
From now on my timing will be right on, every run....
enjoy!

We are Off to Nationals!!! Go Girls Go!!

Here is a couple of pictures from regionals of some great students who qualified! Well earned, well ran!!
Way to go girls!!!

Nationals 2010 Spruce Meadows Calgary Alberta , here We Come!!!

Coolhand Luc is going to Nationals! My goal for Luc was to get to the 500 pt mark, we did it! We earned 517.05 points. We had fantastic runs and one standard with 30 faults (ouch) The rest were great. each jumpers were 5 faults, (handler errors). We got our other standard with 123.92 pts, gamble points in the first one were a bit low, 80.61, our second gamble was 102.52 points. Steeplechase on Friday was an incredible ride! Luc was 1st and qualified in both runs. I beleive he had the fastest time overall. I did not get any video of these 2 runs. I forgot to write down his stats, but I do remember that the runs were each 29 seconds and something. We had a clinic with Kathy Keats this weekend and we have our homework to work on for nationals. It was a great time , with a great instructor. Very informative.

FUNMATCH IS ON!!!

We are on for the funmatch tomorrow! bring bug spray, I am sure those hungry mosquitoes will be out after all the rain and now the heat.
Hopefully there will be some wind, to blow them away!

Stuff

off to see the chiropractor today with Luc,just his pre competition check up.
Cavall is going in again next week, he is finally using his rear legs to push off to go up stairs. Still not sure if I like what I see when jumping low jumps.
Doing jump grids with him, to give him his balance and rhythm back. hopefully to help him build up the strength in his back and rear.
Mister Luc, is testing the waters for start line behavior, which is fine, we will get it back to being solid. He gets so intense at the start line he is not aware he is lifting his rear up , ready to push off. Usually all I have to do is look at him with the "I do not think so " look and he goes, "oh so sorry I got ahead of myself"

He is such a great dog , and I better remember to stay very consistent with him.
I am so looking forward to regionals with him, it will be a blast and so many agility buddies will be there!

Regionals Prep Funmatch June 12

Come out and Play,

FIONAVAR K9 TRAINING
“DOGS ‘R’ FUN”
REGIONALS PREP FUNMATCH
In Olds
June 12, 2010
9:30 set up and check in
10:30 start
• Standard , Gamblers, Jumpers
• Outside, fenced 4 acres
• $5.00 per run, (each turn), 90 seconds max for training time
• Port-a-potty on site
• Bring your lunch, shade, & everything for your dog

Flying Kelpie, Medicine Hat Trial

A late update, the first day was cold, wet, windy, but we hung in there. Sunday was very much better.
Luc had a great weekend. I am really working on the mental approach to each run. I have not got to each one where I am in the right place, but I will get there!
Luc earned his final advance snooker, earned an advance jumpers, one more to go to be able to move to Masters, was first overall in Steeplechase on Sunday. We also earned 2 Master Standards which gave us our Master Standard Title.

One of the coaches I have been going to for a very long time, Kathy Keats, said we should be tracking our yds per second. its the only way we will know if we are improving with our handling and timing.

The Standard run on Sunday was fabulous. They had a table in it which adds 5 seconds to your time and even with that at a course that was 180 yds, he did it in 40 seconds flat, which works out to 4.5 yds per second. There was electric timer being used.

The steeplechase was a blur, Standard Course time was 47 seconds ,174 yds.
We had to do 2 A Frames and 2 sets of 6 weave poles, Luc's time was 32.56 seconds which makes his yds per second at 5.34

His advance jumpers was 132 yds , standard course time at 41 seconds, Luc's time was 21.76 for 6.06 yds per second.

Regionals is fast approaching, Luc and I will work on standard courses and learn to just run and go. the last week before regionals we are going to work on jump grids and small stations such as weave entries, distance, obstacle discrimination, and box work with jumps.

Tracking Seminar with Donna Brinkworth of Spiritdance

Last weekend I hosted a Beginners CKC tracking seminar. Once again, I learned a lot, about how important foundation training is.
The breaking down of the little pieces of each component and then putting it all together once the behaviors are strong individually.
I am excited about tracking with Cavall, as his agility career may be over. His injuries may be too chronic.
Donna was very thorough in breaking down the pieces on how to start out with your dog.
She covered how the different levels would work, the levels from TD to TDX and Urban tracking.
there was how to do your scent pad lay a track, do your journal, what to except at a TD competition. She had us drawing maps and how to look for land marks.
She always stressed keep the joy in it for you and your dog. It was a great informative seminar and look forward to doing more tracking with her.
Thanks Donna!

Kelpie Country- Vancouver Island

We got home yesterday from the island. Went to visit my daughter and grandson and I went to a trial while I was there. It was outside and rained the first day and was great the next day.
I got to meet 5 other kelpies! One was a 6 month old little girl that belonged to one of the judges, mmmm a girlfriend for Luc?? This little girl was also straight from Australia. very nice little girl.
Cavall had to be pulled from the trial after his 1st run, he has pulled some muscles in his back which is affecting his groin muscles. Kinda like having sciatica pain in both legs.
Luc did fairly well, Saturday we belonged to the 5 fault club for the first 2 Master standard runs, one 5 fault was weaves, the other, I believe, was a bar. He got his Steeplechase run and was 1st, Master gamble was very close with 58 points in the opening, In the closing I said "thru" (tunnel) too soon and he went straight to the tunnel, missed a jump. Luc can be very literal and I had walked it with saying the 2 jump commands, but had a brain fart in the heat of the moment.
Sunday was a better day, he got his first Master Standard run, with 2nd place, a kelpie came first! He was .4 of a second behind.
He got his first advance jumpers and another advance snooker.
My dogs travel so well they are a pleasure to go places with.
Cavall did his other job very well, guarding the van. I am sure he was keeping score to see how high he could get them to jump!

"Two Wolves"

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Snookered-59pts

TT trial in March last run for the weekend. Walking the snooker course for Luc. Could I do 4 sevens? Could I get this dog past jumps to the red jump? My gut was in a knot. Privatley I deceided to go for it. What could happen? A non Q run.. So I said try it, The biggest thing that happened in this run was how it made me stay focused on my dog to get the course done. I need to run each course, standard,jumpers, gamblers, steeplechase with this kind of focus. I will learn how to get to that place for every run I do with this dog.

Thoughts

I read a quote from one of our Olympians, a skier,
'to be comfortable with feeling uncomfortable'
wow! that is so true. I say many times to my clients, if you are comfortable you are only practicing, uncomfortable you are learning.

A few years ago (4yrs) I was told I may have to stop agility. I laughed at them, said I think not! This time in my life was very uncomfortable, I pushed thru it.

I still get a knot in my gut every time I am learning new things. When this happens it makes me work harder to get comfortable with the uncomfortable.This is why I love AAC so much, it makes me push the envelope. I have physical limitations and I just say I will learn a way that makes it works for me.

I was with Kathy Keats just recently. She is one of the best instructors I have been too. It was 7 yrs ago when I attended my first seminar with her. She not only teaches the technical side of it, but gets into the dog / handler relationship and what you can bring out in your dog. This quote sums Kathy up for me!

"Before you teach skills & fundamentals, make people feel good about their abilities. Make them believe they can perform." Rick Pitino

Thanks Kathy, a teacher and a friend

Eagle Totem

He then watched us walk around the path before flying to the east.
Was this my animal totem? my protector?

EAGLE
Spirit, Healing, Creation

The eagle is symbol of the zenith.
A great reminder of your own ability to soar to great heights.

Eagles are messengers from heaven and are the embodiment of the spirit of the sun.

Those with an Eagle totem need to have an involvement with creation;
a willingness to experience extremes;
a willingness to use your ability
even if it means getting "scorched" a little as you fly high;
a willingness to seek out your true emotions.

A demanding totem, but one that offers so much reward at the end of the journey.

Its four-toed feet remind you to stay grounded even went soaring high;
Its talons remind you to grasp the things of the earth;
Its sharp beak shows you when to speak, how much, and how strongly.

This totem will show you opportunities and how to ride the winds to your benefit.
Eagle people can live in the realm of the spirit
yet still remain connected and balanced within the realm of the Earth.

You must become much more than you ever dreamed possible.

Animal Totem, Eagle

About a month ago, early in the morning I came out on my deck for a walk this is what greeted me.
He was high in the tree, just above the dogs' runs, facing the east watching the sun .

Coolhand Luc

Luc and friends at last years regionals June 2009

Herding

I am not a girl that does the jewelry, make-up, fancy clothes.I have never painted my nails, the only reason I think you would do that would be to hide arena dirt under them!
It does not take much to make me happy, actually its really easy and not hard to know what it is. Anything to do with my dogs and its the best gift you could give me.So when Santa asked what I would like for Christmas this year I asked for herding lessons. He came thru with 8 lessons with a neighbor that is 15 minute drive away.
We have had 4 lessons, and the herding dog as awaken!!! Yesterday we went for our
4th lesson. Luc was on leash when we walked into the arena with 4 sheep. I was getting instructions from Randy when I noticed something weird with my leash. It was vibrating....... Luc was trembling with anticipation!
Luc knows his directionals fairly well, away to me & come by. Practiced these all summer with him going around the bush pile for his ball.
In 4 lessons he is going out and driving the sheep to me, out runs, I finally figured out the line of 12 and 6 o'clock,and yesterday we started on driving the sheep, with him and I walking towards them. I still have not got the "feel" for the line of driving , but I will get it.
There are similarities to agility to herding, lines, pressure on and off, and the dog's head and tail for directing.
Friday we are back for more sheep fun with some dear friends, Louanne and Jen.
Then our 5 lesson with Randy will be next Monday.
Its amazing to see Luc not take crap from the sheep, just using his eye and pressure to move them. 4 sheep were standing facing Luc when I asked him to walk up into the pressure of the sheep and he turned them. The sheep tried to hold ground but they gave to Luc. I thought nothing of it until Randy explained for a novice dog to be able to do that was a good thing.
Luc is such a great dog, everyday I tell him thank you for being in my life.

Not to be out done by Little Brother!!

Cavall had a wonderful master gamble, 118 pts!!! the flow was good and he was not to frantic. As the weekend went on Cavall went into a very stressed state. I pulled him on Sunday. It was doing him and me no good to be together in that situation.
As alot of my agility friends know, Cavall has health issues. Some of which I believe, was brought on by vaccinations. I have also had professionals suggest that this may have caused his auto immune diseases. He is know on complete rest from agility for one month and then we will slowly start getting him back in. He is such an incredible dog and as took me to a higher level in agility and as a trainer. He has taught me that perseverance pays off and good things do come our way! The harder you work for it, the sweeter it is! Thanks Cavall, love ya Bud!

NATURAL HAT TRICK

Advance gambles ,1, 2, 3 !!! Luc is now in master gambles.He did it with great style, 130 pts, 84 pts, 106 pts !! Did not except this to happen! He has not even been in a full trial yet. March will be his first full trial. He is also in Advance Standard, Advance Snooker, and the elusive last starters leg is still needed to move up to Advance jumpers. We are still working on finding our timing, as a team, for collection cues. I seem to want to run him as my experinced old dog who fines the lines with me. Luc is still so young, he still needs more guidence. You will see in this video how he goes wide past the wall, which was caused by me not hesitating , a collection cue, and to make sure he finds the line to the wall. His extension is so great that if I am moving it sets a wide arc for him, espeacially running on a turn. He is teaching me to be more aware of my handling. He is just so much fun!

Trial this weekend , Yahoo!

Finally preparations for regionals and nationals have begun.
My goal this year is to qualify 2 dogs for nationals. I am going to make sure I enjoy the journey getting there.I love training my dogs, just plain doing stuff with them. Hanging out with dog people is wonderful, they are so kind and grateful for having their dogs in their lives that is comes out in how they treat their fellow humans. Dogs seem to have that affect on us.

Luc has not been in a full trial yet, looking towards March, see how he handles the pressure. I will back off a little on Cavall to get Luc ready for the upcoming season.

I had them both in a Steeplechase , both qed, Cavall was faster, he is a more efficient jumper then Luc. They were only a .2 difference. Luc is an extender, Cavall is very good at tight lines.
Will be working on more jump grids with Luc to help him with his body awareness. He does love to fly!!!
Everyone this weekend, remember all collars off: RUN NAKED, RUN CLEAN RUN FOR THE SHEER JOY!!!