18 March

Well its already mid March and I feel I havent done anything this year yet. Think its safe to say Phoebe has been trained 3 times and luckily due to the weather being better ive done a bit more with Plodders. Im sat on the my computer as I write this, trying to work out what shows ive entered, what shows I should go to and where the hell they all are. Its safe to say I have pretty much put a career on hold to run the dogs, which at some point, some point soon, I need to change that around. But hey, you only live once and after all I am still only 21. I have it in my head, that I am either going to win the euromillions or I am going to meet a rich man, so working wouldnt be an issue. Think I need a slap!

So Crufts... Went up on Thursday and groomed for Lucy. Lucy did a lovely clear in the team, unfortunately her team didnt make it through to the afternoon finals. Lucy Oneil and her team won though :D. Sunday, I groomed for Lee and Bold in the Champ. They did two nice rounds getting them to the final. Lucy and I would of put our life savings on them winning it, however Bold jumped through Lee at the 2nd jump and got E'd :( boo! So... Lucy and I are going to put our money on them winning it next year.

Training this week, I have worked on weave entries... prob my worst thing to train, I hate it. Its just boring compared to everything else to train. Then on Tuesday evening, Sammie and I worked on tunnel under A-frame, as I had hoped for, Rodney was fantastic.... he knows the score!

This weekend, Lucy and I are hopefully going training with Lee. Then on Sunday is Chippenham show (prob about 20 mins from my house, so lie in :D) no runs for poor Rodney though.

xoxo

Off to Crufts

Ok so ive just got back from work, have an hour to sort myself and the dogs out, before I head off to Lucys house for the evening. We are leaving to go to Crufts tomorrow morning at 5.30 am erghhhh. Well if we tell ourselves 5.30, atleast we should be gone by like 6am lol. O yeah... I am grooming for Lucy and Pie as they are part of the Thames Crufts team which has qualified. I should of entered mine in YKC senior agility, so Rodney could have some practice on carpet, however I am useless and forgot... o well!

I will of course video Lucy's run(s) and take some pictures tomorrow. I am actually really really looking forward to tomorrow, mainly cos it means a day off work woop, but I will also watch some good agility... well I hope so.

Ive had a few comments regarding my last posting, I stand by Lee being the best trainer and I said, anyone who has trained with him will agree. Hopefully he will be organising some training days this year, so keep your eyes open and get yourself booked on. I actually had no idea how many people read my blog, well now I know, I better keep it updated :)

xoxo

Rodney = Grade 7

Quite a lot has happened in the last few weeks. Took the dogs to my clubs show on the 20th of Feb, somehow Phoebe managed 2/3 clears, which was very strange, seeing how it was a limited show, she won them both :) Rodney also had 2/3 clears and won 1 and came 2nd in the other. I also ran Dylon and had 2/3 clears, he had 2x 3rds. So wasnt a bad days training.

Lucy and I went down and trained with Lee last Saturday, as usual we got lots out of it... and lotssss to work on :( which of course is always brilliant, however Lee really likes to show up my handling faults to make me work on certain things, so I always look and feel rubbish when training with him. But again... if this didnt happen I wouldnt improve, so I will not complain. No point doing agility if you are not happy to learn or get better. Someone asked me the other day who I thought was the best trainer in the country... there is no question... Lee Windeatt is. 1) He doesnt MAKE you do his way, he only suggests it and shows you how and why it is better. When showing me things, he has not once been wrong. He does not say its my way or not at all... I have heard a few agility people saying this now, it is a ridiculous attitude which I hate. 2) Hes lovely to his dogs and everyone elses, when teaching he takes everyones training techniques and dogs ability into account. 3) He is very supportive and helps anyone at shows etc. To be honest with you I could go on for ages. I am pretty certain 99% of people that have trained with him, would agree.

Anyway on to more important things like Mid-downs today. Well, as my title of this blog says... Rodney is now grade 7 :D He won Tash's (Natasha Wise) grade 6 agility by just over 2 seconds, video is below...



In the 5-7 agility, I didnt call him enough and he did an extra A-frame, so I did a quick route to leave the ring. Then in the jumping, I was an idiot (as I was told a lot today) and ran off wayyyy too early and got E'd. A few things from the courses today which I need to work on. Phoebe also ran very well (2 weeks till her first champ ahhhhh lol)

Well its Crufts this week.. I am going up on Thursday as Lucys groom, then on Sunday as Lees. I am really looking forward to it... mainly cos I am hoping to get Rodney a bling collar :D Not sure how mum is going to feel about this lol.

So basically a few random weeks off, hopefully will be able to fit a bit of UKA into one of two of my weekends. Then as of easter, the agility season really kicks off. I couldnt be more excited :D

xoxo