New Starts!

Well I haven't blogged for a long time, partly because I haven't done much agility to speak of since August, partly because I have not been able to get my videos onto my computer and my 'camera'phone refuses to have anything more to do with images, partly because of feeling a massive failure. I am hoping to be able to post some begged/borrowed/stolen puppy pictures soon! Deece (now aka Monster Munch) has done a good deal of growing! He is gorgeous and I love him.
Olympia has been and gone, and from what I saw on the tele it looked very exciting (I was disappointed not to see more - for example Zazzy's brother was cut!!! How could they?!!) I was gutted for Karen as Todd went lame for exactly the wrong few days. Most likely due to knocking his foot on one of those wretched metal tunnel holders, surely enough dogs have been injured by them to get them banned by now?

It's that time of year to have an honest look at yourself (ouch, harsh), and gather some resolve (over a nice glass of port... or two... and possibly a glass of that Glayva liquer I got for Christmas too... but put those chocolates DOWN!!! Oh no, too late...) There are a couple of major things that really have to be addressed. Now that the festivities are over (I LOVE Christmas!) I need to find a way to reject chocolates, and embrace a healthier diet. (Here I am on day 4 though and I can't say I've done very well so far, I'm telling myself I'll just gently ease into it ....)
Poor Zazzy should be spayed this month, but I'm already getting upset at the prospect of it. I can't bear the thought of anything horrible happening to her, let alone being responsible for inflicting it on her. Also, here it comes, A-frames. After a week at Dogs in Need, where Z qualified for the grade 3 final, I was pleased with her running A-frame
RESULTS FOR GENESIS LARGE GRADE 3 FINAL

JUDGE: PAUL MOORE ENTRY: 30 COURSE TIME: 45.00secs

1 2232 HANNAH BANKS ZAZZ MA GIRL B/C C 35.34secs
2 1418 DAVE MUNNINGS SHEREBRIDGE JUSTA LIL MISS B/C C 35.49secs
3 494 DAWN SMITH MEG OF DALEBROOK WSD C 37.54secs
4 2083 MICHAEL CRISP ACE D'LA VISTA WSD C 38.15secs
5 2270 SUE DENNISON SUNWOOD HOT SHOT (AWB)
I was pleased with her running A-frame (wish I had that on video!), but after this her foot placement started getting higher. The next show, she won her agility on the first day, and on the second day had the Alpha Agility final.
Results:
1 Sian Powell with Midsummer Llangwn Blodyn C 32.11 secs

2 Sue Stock with Lucy Longsocks C 33.30 secs

3 Kate Wheeler with Would He Be Clear C 35.11 secs

4 Martin Reid with Marts Magical Moss C 35.40 secs

5 Susan Carroll with Brillo of Cocksford C 35.99 secs

6 Jacky Motts with Hexagon Sense C 38.80secs

7 Hannah Banks with Zazz Ma Girl 5 30.99 secs

Her A-frame was marked. If my job is to train her to hit low enough so that the judge never has a decision to make, then I have failed. It is certainly true that some judges will mark running contacts more harshly than slower ones! I then stopped competing and just trained for two months. I went to one indoor show, where I had no doubt, she missed her A-frame. I was very disappointed. We trained as much as we could. However, I do not have my own equipment, and really only got to concentrate on A-frames about once every third week. Zazzy was invited to run at Discover Dogs which I thought would be a great experience, OMG how wrong could I be?! There Zazzy completely shut down. She didn't want to step on the carpet, she didn't want to play, but 'the show must go on' and unfortunately that meant two of the most painfully awful rounds of agility I can remember. I tried to make it a good experience for her, but the next day I can remember thinking, I don't want to ever do that again! However, after training with Toni Dawkins and Amanda Pigg, I had re-newed energy and enthusiasm, and new ideas and confidence about how to train and reward her, and determination to continue with a running A-frame. Well training has gone well for a couple of months, and yesterday I took her to a simulated indoor show, where you can take in toys and food and reward your dog. She LEAPT off the A-frame. LEAPT. I'm still horrified, she could hurt herself. SO this is it, officially, the end of my running contact experiment!