Long overdue update

I love training Tom and he works like a dream doing everything really well but we just can't seem to transfer that to shows, I'm not sure what we are doing differently except that at training he does sometimes bark when other dogs are working. Normally at shows I try not to let him just bark when queueing as it's a pet hate of mine but I've been trying to encourage him to do it to see if this could be the trigger for him to work as well as he does at training.

Not sure how successful this has been as we have had some clear, but not very fast, rounds and also some faster but sniffy rounds. I've also tried to stop saying ready, ready, ready on the start line as I've now realised that when I throw his ball with the chuckit I shout ready, ready, ready and he starts running before I throw the ball so I think it may be a bit unfair to expect him to wait in the ring while saying the same thing. He does wait but his head goes down and he tries to avoid looking at me, I can't believe it's taken me so long to realise this, poor Tom no wonder he does his sniffy evasion thing when I'm giving him such mixed messages.

The last run of the day at Keston on Sunday was our best for a long time, everything seemed to come together like it does at training and I didn't have to get over excited and shouty in the weaves to keep his nose up. We didn't get placed but we weren't that far off the winner and creeping slightly on the seesaw and a couple of wide turns accounted for that but it felt great.

I'm not counting my chickens and next weekend I'm sure will be full of challenges but I'm looking forward to it anyway.

Tyler continues to be a real pleasure to have and is a real cuddle monster, he loves people and dogs but I was glad that Nancy & Andy were parked near me at the weekend as I had to ask Andy if Becky could reassure him after a load of collies charged their garden fence barking at him. Becky was so sweet with him and it made a huge difference. It was my fault as I just wasn't concentrating after a long day ring partying and just wanted to get back to caravan but should have seen what was going to happen.

I can't believe he's four months now and is starting to look like an adult rather than a puppy but his ears are a worry as they seem to move around his head and at the moment are sticking out at right angles, I'm massaging them like mad into the right position but I have a feeling I may end up with a wing nut :) He's also discovered his voice and may actually out bark the shelties we know!

He starts basic obedience training on 23rd June and although he does most of what we will be learning I'm hoping that it's another string to his bow but will be assessing the other dogs when we get there to make sure I don't undo all the good socialising we've done up to now.

Godmanchester 2011 - photos

These beautiful photos were taken by Steven Bull.

Tyler - Gotta Move to be Smooth

Tyler arrived on 20th March and it was as if he'd always lived here, he's settled in so well and although the other two took a while they now play with him all the time and toys fly in all directions.

So much has happened so I'll just post pictures :)

The first time I saw him - typical man didn't do much other than eat, sleep and poo!


The day he came home - straight on Dad's chair.


Half the size of Suzi! - they are now the same size.








These were all taken in the first week.

He's been camping three times which he loves and will be able to walk round the rings at BATS where he'll be able to watch the agility.

I'll try and be a bit better at updating my blog.

New addition.....

the patter of tiny pawsteps will be heard in the Kingswood household soon :)

Jeanette Tandy's Border Terrier Billie gave birth to 8 puppies yesterday and all being well one of the little boys will be coming home to join the clan towards the beginning of April. I'm so excited but have no other info other than that she had 6 girls and 2 boys and that everything was going well last night when Jeanette phoned me but I know that it's still very early so I'm not buying anything yet.

Once I get some photos I'll post them on here.

Quick snow post

TUESDAY


WEDNESDAY


THURSDAY

Tom & Suzi by Karl Pitwon

Louandi Show 24/10/10

I didn't get Tom's first run on video but I wish I had as it was great and he would have come 7th but they only placed to 6th and that was against all the large dogs. I think he was also the fastest small/medium in that class.

His next agility run wouldn't have been bad either if I hadn't put him in the wronng end of the tunnel as you can plainly see below. If it wasn't on film I would have been convinced that I hadn't flung my arm out. The bit after the dog walk was him going to have a look at the number for some reason which was straight in front of him.