Halloween USDAA

day 2... only Kenzo and me :) we could sleep a little longer this time, but it was still far from nice temperatures!
first up - Standard... the teeter worked out better this time, therefore some passed obstacles, and a take off from the last part of the dogwalk, way before the contact. I think, it was again because it's been facing the exit and he just collected speed on there instead slowing down as he was told ;) lets say it was the warm up for the long break until run 2 & 3 :)
I helped in the ring a lot and today's workers raffle brought us a fleeced cushion - already approved! (see below)
Snooker was run no. 2 & except the very last obstacle (teeter - take off again) a perfect run for a Q! we had long ways in between the red jumps, but he said focused on me and didn't knock any bars off. even without the 7 points for the teeter we won!
Jumpers turned out even better. so smooth, not too fast, neither too slow, just amazing for our last Q to get into the next level!!! kinda title 'performance jumpers 1 dog' :) :) :) so cool! it took us only 4 runs at 2 weekends! love it :) and so glad, Kenzo has even more fun than me, I'd say.
here the test of the raffle prize: the little princess taking advantage of Kenzo's exhaustion. but you know, nothing bothers a good whippet sleep :) not even ear-cleaning attempts Geisha giving us a 'high 16' for this amazing weekend! that's our new wall of honor :)

USDAA Saturday

MadCo held another trial in Crozet this Halloween-weekend, our 2nd USDAA trial. it was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO freezing this morning (started for me at 5, as we live so convenient close to drive only 25 minutes). the runs kept us warm for a little while at least.
first Jumpers: he ran around like crazy, well no zoomies, but passing a lot of jumps and I had to get him back on track. was REALLY surprised that we still Qd (in 2nd place). what a difference between AKC and USDAA: in AKC he would have been allowed passing only 3 times. however - big smile on my side!
next came Snooker: last time I just watched this game + it looked good, so we gave it a shot - GREAT IDEA! wonderful run = Q with 1st place. look at his smile!
we enjoyed the long brake between me helping in the ring and our last run (even last dog this day) with lunch and buying a new camera.
then it was Standard: first, walk the course & doggy pay attention
good jump, then he didn't wanted to wait till the teeter was completely down and jumped off. there were some nice parts too: good weaves and an unquestioned down on the table, but the dogwalk in direction to the last jump was another missed contact... looks like he regained some energy during the break, safety first when holding a nap :) although I let him catch the lure like Geisha flying start and she's already ready for the kill exhausting day :) not only for Kenzo & me... Martin took lots of pictures as you can tell & Geisha not only got to play around: she had to share her love (even wanted to climb up on Lisa, see her little leg...) almost perfect posing, no more posing... more puppy-kisses some obedience in between
and meeting Duff the BC-pup there we could really see, that little Geisha looks like a BC with a short haircut, somehow... hrm ;) that's Kenzo & Duff, not Geisha! tired eyes let you know it's time to go home and hold a deep sleep

Meadow Highland Games and Celtic Festival

how exciting!!! on sunny Saturday we went to Highland Games in Doswell. lots of dogs + nice people, can you see the difference between a Whippet + a Greyhound?! look Quentin, another Bobtail :) some action on the Games Field, can you see, what he's throwing? & here another perfect caber toss by Gregor, who came all the way from Glasgow! dance and music, something for the boys, something else for the kids, food for all and lots of heritage all over the place. what a day :)

cuddletime

the wardrobe for little Geisha

before the reunion, I only had made Geisha a little preliminary fleece-blanket-coat. she looks like a little horse in it, but it keeps her warm when the temperatures drop (esp. in the morning). then we won this beautiful raincoat which we unfortunately had to use already (a day after we received it…) even Kenzo tried it on + looks like a Greyhound in it :) definitely too small – LOL
finally my decotogs order arrived + besides trying to chew it off (the sleeves are a bit too long) she looks like a very cute puppy in it:
the pullover in a Norge-pattern too tired to get up there... with a little help, she's always able to find a good spot to sleep
and in the snuggly she finally achieves the perfect “Holstein”-look dead cow how to get it off now?

Agility Weekend

another (hot) sunny weekend has passed… we went to the SVKC-AKC-agility competition Saturday & Sunday.
first a Jumpers course. well… let’s say Kenzo had a blast. although very calm all day (till then) it mustn’t have been enough going on to tire him out to focus on me. in the Standard run, he showed his potential! very easy to handle, we had a clean run + got our first Q in AKC-agility & Standard (with a 1st place).
Geisha had fun too! especially meeting the Aussi-pup :)
the next day, I let Kenzo chase a toy on the whip before the Jumpers run and he was able to watch me walking the course. looks like something worked! He had another clean run for a Q (I almost knocked a jump over though – LOL). But in Standard his focus was gone again. maybe already back at home… still, we had some good parts in that run (contact on the A-frame, but a miss on the dogwalk). and most surprisingly: we haven’t been the only Sighthound!

oh my...

someone lost 2 K9s while playing! the day before we already noticed blood on Kenzo's throat and saw that Geisha's K9 got company. So it's been just a question of time... now one of the top 2 is almost gone too: looks ugly + smells the same!