Agility Show'n'Go

I was so excited when I found out there was a agility show and go before our first real event. The only places Riley has ever done agility, was in our backyard and our club, so this was going to be a good test for him. He behaved very nice in the new place, he stood with me while I signed up and sat quietly in his create while I walked the course and waited for our turn.

Our first run, looked promising, but then he got to sniffing around the tunnel. Once I got him through, we had another good sequence, until the weaves. At first, I just don't think he saw them, and then he started focusing on the table. My much more experienced friends on the side lines helped me out as said to go the other direction, and waa-la! he did them! But, because we spent so much time at the weaves, we ran out of time on the course and had to end early.

My friends, and husband, were very positive, helped me keep my chin up, and gave me some pointers for the second run, which was the same course.

Our second run was much better. No sniffing, but he still wasn't going all the way down on the contacts and had trouble in the weaves, BUT he didn't focus on the table! And we got to finish the course! So, overall it was a very good evening and gave me an idea of what we need to work on.

Here is the Standard course they set up, the novice course were the dark circles. After walking the course and talking with my friends, at 4 and 5, I decided that going to the close end of the tunnel was going to be too hard for a green dog like Riley, so I decided to go to the far side, and besides the sniffing it worked out really well.

Here are our runs. The first part is pretty bad, but we had some good sequences. I also think my nerves had a lot to do with it, but overall I am happy with Riley's performance! Now we got the real thing at the end of the month!!

Riley's Weave Poles

As promised, here is a short video of Riley's weave poles. They aren't 100%, but I think most the times he misses, it is because of me. I am still super nervous for the upcoming show, but I will take anything he gives me short of running zoomies around the ring!

Drum roll please!

DOOO DOO DO DOOOO! (that is suppose to be trumpets or something)! It's official! I entered Riley in his first agility event! His debut will be October 27th and 28th. I will be a nervous wreck for the next month. I will get all that I can out of my next few classes and there will also be a show-n-go this Friday, that I plan on attending.

I feel like Riley and I have finally made it. It has taken us a long time, but we are here. The weaves were our hardest obstacle, but we finally conquered them! (I will post a video soon of his weaves). Now, I can say that we will be trialing. I would get upset sometimes when friends would ask, "why aren't you trialing?", but in reality it was good for me. Having friends that have those expectations kept me going on mine, and I am so glad they do.

At this show there will be a lot of people from my club will be at and one of my best friends (Red's mom) will be there as well. I will be submerged into the agility world and will have a lot of friends there to guide me.

So, from now and on I will have more to post about! Good news for y'all!

Beach Vacation

Every year, us and a group of friends rent a beach house for a long weekend. It is a vacation for us and as well as for Riley and Grace, they enjoy the beach and the company. It is a time for me to be basically brain dead for a while, and the way work had been going, I NEEDED the vacation. For the doggies, we made it a vacation as well, they got treats, ate at outdoor restaurants, and were allowed on the furniture.

Riley likes the beach enough. He mostly enjoys the sand, the walks and the people, not so much the water. Well, he doesn't not like the water, I think it is the waves he doesn't like, and I don't blame him. But, he will tolerate it if I ask him to come in the water for a bit. After his quick dip in the ocean he will run as fast as he can to shore and roll in the sand, as if to get all the dreaded ocean off him! I'd say he is a sand dog, not an ocean dog. In the pictures below, Riley shows what he thinks of the ocean!

Last year was Grace's first year to go to the beach. It was an extremely stimulating and over exciting trip, and she was kinda a crazy dog the whole time. This year was much better, she was excited but much better behaved. She really enjoyed playing in the ocean, plus she got to sport her new poke-a-dot lifejacke!

It was a wonderful vacation and I know Riley and Grace enjoyed themselves as well. Below are some more pictures taken by my friend.

Major ZOOMIE Alert!

Finally got the ball!

Last visit to the beach, before the drive home.

Our group