2009 News
Dec 2009
Well Its been a while, oops been busy just doing dogs, working and earning a crust. Today I uploaded Tollers having fun Album to webshots
http://pets.webshots.com/album/575978926hLGjwL It can also be found under the webshots page.
Purdey has outgrown her puppy stage, and is a little gangly, and boy is she tiggery. She doesn't sit still. Hot as.... in Perth at the moment so training of any form is hard. Lana is now showing with her magnificaent coat and is up to 36/100 points. She has her heart and eye clearances by specialists this month, and 4 January is hip X Rays.
We finished the retrieving season with three trials in Restricted. A big learning curve for River and I. And as I had knee trouble which has kept me out of things from September till December a freind Donna stepped in for the last trial of the season, thanks DOnn. Lifes pace took a turn for the slower, stuffed knee that wouldn't straighten . And for those that know me, boy is that a frustration and a struggle. But hey, could be a lot worse. Another op in the offing, but another of life's little challenges and we cross that bridge when we come to it.
Training in obedience and retrieving continues as we can for Riv, Lana and Purdey. Storm is mellowing and slowing up in his 12th year, and well Jaffa is learning stylish tricks for doggie dancing. Keeps her very busy but naughty brain active and keeps me on my toes when my knee is good. Lets hope 2010 is more active for me and we get to do more of the things we know and love.
July 2009
Sunday 3rd July retrieving at Crossman. Beautiful crisp cold morning. We found Crossman without too many dramas. To my delight River got a 3rd place with 128 points, 2 behind 2nd and 8 behind 1st. The second run over 2 sections of water and up a bank was a bit of a challenge. but he persevered and air scented it, back he swam. Put the bird down for a shake so we lost valuable points. All in all he's getting better, a bit of foofing the once in the control area, the first run is always he least focused.......by run 3 we managed a 49, so that was a great place to finish. Not much training makes it hard being too dark at night, but if we can fix those dropped birds we'll be laughing.
June 2009
Saturday 27 June, retrieving at Northam. 5th with 113 points today. We only had brief showers so a much kinder day than we first thought. The river was flowing.
First run out and back wasn't too bad, open paddocks always look easy but aren't. Took him a while to pick it up, foofed with it which cost us points. 2 water runs followed. Riv was unlucky with no wind on the second run, the bird fell open and in water so drifted. Took a while to find it, but the swim was hard and he was taken down stream so had to work back up stream. Still got it, but true to form put it down for a shake. Third swim was longer, great pick up, came back out put the bird down shook, picked it up, great present with a sit. Ended on a good run.
May 2009
Friday 22nd, elated to announce the new arrival of Purdey. Having had a visit to Melbourne 2 weekends before to see Glenda and her delightful puppies from Louella and Ginger, I am thrilled to be able to tell you that Glenda very kindly agreed that the little dark nosed ball of fun has come to live in Perth. She is a very smart little cookie who has already found her way in and out of the dog flap, takes herself off to bed for a nap when she's tired and comes bouncing to you when you call her.
Sunday 18th, Labrador Retriever Club Novice at Brookleigh
First Run River was somewhat excitable. Walk up was a bit distracted. Didn't give a strong enough wait, so he went a little too quick. Overran the bird so took a while to work back to it. Came belting back in and stood, so I took the bird. He foofed around a bit too............hmmm
2nd Run was a really steep bank, across two stretches of water, up another steep bank and into some very long grass. Bird going right to left. Unfortunately the dog before me dropped the bird three times on the way back, which made my job all the harder. River got to the top of the bank and turned right instead of left and so he'd missed it. When he'd searched and stopped where the other birds had been put down, and couldn't get passed that, I called him in. Allowed to send him again, but just couldn't push him back far enough. Called him in again. So we missed out
3rd water run, bird right to left landing in water. He ran the bank, went straight into the water, came straight back and wait for it........sat and presented the bird. I took it slowly. I think I skipped back to the start posts absolutely elated, jackpot. Finally he'd got it. Ice cream on the way home.
Saturday 2nd, GSP Member's Comp.
"L" Plate with bumpers and Novice wit Birdies.
Lots of dried grass and and water wasn't quite flowing, but the aim of today was to keep River more under control in the control area, and steady the wait to the gun. We did achieve both of those things and his runs were good. Dropped birdies again. The first run it was a chook rather than a pigeon, it was huge. The safety and hammers were a problem so no firing didn't help River, but he worked the area and found the bird. Third water run was the best run, most controlled and he worked it nicely. 2nd in the L Plate and 3rd in the Novice Comp.
April 2009
Sunday 27th Anzac Day Trial, was destined to get very hot and humid.
First run was an oasis in the paddock. Remembering we are in horse trial country and cross country jumps everywhere the oasis was surrounded by lots of grasses bushes and a horse jump at the end of the water. Only water up to his stomach so no real swimming involved. The hide was standing behind 2 cars and we were running number 5. By the time we got to get to the control area we were both hot, I was nervous. I had seen four dogs, three experienced handlers all the dogs had gone into the water, ducked out half way down the water and run around to the bird in the paddock and come back around the water to the firing point. Most had good control. River wasn’t going to be focused from the first step and I did have to tell him to get in several times (not happy). Bird went up left to right. In he waded in took a really nice straight line through water & climbed the horse jump at the end, over he went. I lost sight of him, apparently he foofed with the bird, put it down twice then picked it up and came back the way he went over the jump, through the water and reeds. He dropped the bird at my feet and shook (sigh), went and peed, by now I was really cross, but we marched back and handed everything over. Bird was fine
Second run another mark but over the brow of a hill running left to right. Firing point at the top of a brow, big ditch in front and another horse jump, up a hill, over the brow and down the other side. The mark was going away from us so a hard one to judge the distance. Walk up was be
Third run was grassy banks and huge grass tufts and a big swim. He was not so controlled in the control area. He was really excited and woo wooed at me as we were getting down the bank to the flags………Took the gun, he was infront , waited he came back, bit scrappy to the start line. Told to sit. Bird was thrown left to right, landed in the river behind a big log. This would have been a good 85m swim. Straight in no hesitation, good line, swam to the bank, over the bank on the right hand side, back down into the water. Another big swim, another log, he climbed the log and over and got the bird. Came back the way he went so really happy with that. Dropped the bird again (sigh) and marched back to the flags like he owned the place. Wouldn’t sit, shook. Bird was fine
So although I wasn’t happy with the heeling and the dropped birds. We have been working with that all week, obviously not hard enough.
He has improved out of sight with his lines to the birds, marking is spot on, swimming he is much more confident in the steep water entries and climbing over things he would have avoided at one time I’m really pleased with.
So if I can get the heeling in the control area and dropped birds on track we will be in with a chance. The boy has talent but I need to work through this with him. For a dog that needed reassurance and was jumpy with the gun only 3 months ago he’s come a long way. Doesn’t care about the gun. 3rd by one point, but it’s still nice to be up there
Saturday 26th, at obedience. River got his 1st open pass, horrible score of172 so not happy with that, but plodded on and only 5 out of 23 dogs passed. Only great pass and that was Deb with
Sunday 19th, First Retrieving Trial of the year. 12 Dogs entered First run was a long walk up in the control area. Single mark, down a steep embankment away from us. Bird thrown from left to right You lost sight of the dog pretty much straight away, lots of grassy tussocks and thick tufty stuff to get through, across a small bit of water and onto the other bank. Riv’s walk up was beautiful, off he sped. Yup took a bit of hunting and had to use his nose to find it, but bingo brought it back. I took it before he sat or dropped it. Walked calmly back to the flags, he did pee….sigh but sat nicely. We lost 3 dogs on this run Second run was another mark. To get to the flags and control area was a job and a half lots of grass potholes tussocks and fallen trees. This bit of river was deep had fallen trees and logs and really steep banks. You couldn’t see the bird land on the left hand bank. I was sure River if he got the bird would put it down on the way back, big banks and a hard swim. But in he went swam got out and up the bank, along back in the water and over to the left bank up and into the bushes. Back down the bank, swam along the opposite bank to get back to me. By now I’d gome back up into the control area, but didn’t see a gaping hole looming. I took the bird, he disappeared down the hole. Up and over tussocks galore and we made it back to the flags. Phew 2 birds down, 1 to go. We lost another 3 dogs from that run. Last run was a straight mark through horrible thick thick tufty dry stuff about 1m high. Straight out 100m bird launched from left to right. Not one dog went straight to it. River was by now so excited he knew what was coming he was not very controlled or stayed to heel between the flags. But as didn’t want to foof or distract him at the first trial I wanted to be lenient and not distract him from marking. He went out over ran it slightly, came back, hunted used his nose, got it and ran in. dropped it at my feet (arrgh) so picked it up and marched off. Can’t have everything………something I need to fix soon. One more dog went out So we got 4th overall and I was pleased as punch. Not too bad for a 4th trial all three birds in the bucket. The top three are all much more experienced dogs and handlers. And the judge did say she set a hard course but she had been in Victoria judging last week.LOL there was some remark about Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers having ridiculous names but hey they can make all the fun they like, we were there when the other dogs were out. Mostly Goldens but a Brittney too.
Saturday 4th, Jaffa had another run in strategic pairs, thanks to a saving run by Jenna and Sandi's quick thinking we were recovered and passed our final leg of Strategic pairs excellent for the girl's title. That was more of a solo effort on Jenna's part. Jaffa was not helping, at all.
March 2009
Sunday 1st, the magic weekend continued. Miss J had qualifiers in Gamblers, for her title, Snooker and yes, another 2nd in excellent strategic pairs with Beans. Way to go girls.
Thursday 5th, Western Classic Invitation night. River got into the top 5 qualifiers in the State for Novice obedience. His round was a little scrappy but his heeling was lovely shame he lost his sits. He was one of the only 2 dogs that completed the stays, but was beaten by a friend Sonja and her flat coat Kaiser. They were born six days apart. :-) We showed too, which is always a challenge running between ovals. River got Best of Breed, Lana got Challenge bitch and another 6 points. Chilli - Aprilraine Red Hot got Runner up BOB. A Canadian judge too
Friday 6th. A toller off night for my kids, Sandi's Scooter saved the day with a beautiful Open and UD rounds, and got 2nd in both. River completed his round, just not enough points, again heeling was great, shame he stood at the end of the drop on recall, but he hung in there.
Saturday 7th. Agility and jumping, Jaffa was on her own agenda and couldn't hear me.LOL
Sunday 8th, Teams event and showing. A very stressful night doing both, my running shoes were on and off more times that I remember. But River got BOB and strutted his stuff beautifully, Lana got challenge and runner up BOB.....woo hoo. Must have been the new gold lead we bought. And yes, another Canadian judge. When I eventually made the jumping ring........last competitor, the pressure was on......gulp the rest of the team went clear.......we had one off course and a penalty of 50 points but got 4th place. Agility I decided to handle a bit closer but knew I need to run, boy did I run, and for the first time ever Jaffa beat me to the finish and a clear round. Our team came 1st........Lovely ribbons, a dish and a trophy. Nice way to finish the weekend, thanks Jaffa. I was going to put her back in the cupboard for a while but she redeemed herself.
Helen/Jenna, Me/Jaffa, Deb/Brooklyn & Ann/Diva
February 2009
Jaffa is back in action
Friday 27th night was agility games. I dusted off the cobwebs and out we went. First run was Novice Gamblers, if I changed my mind once I changed it 10 times, give me numbers to follow any day.LOL Jaffa ran beautifully, weavers were slow but she did it. Her second gamblers pass. Second run was excellent Snooker, another huge distances to cover kinda course, but even missing her colour on the third A frame she still managed enough points to pass..woo hoo. Run of the night was our strategic pairs run with Beans and Sandi. We had a ball and the girls were steady and accurate, timing went like clockwork. Not only did we get first in our height class but we got 2nd overall.
Saturday night 28th we went again. This time in Masters Agility and Jumping. Jumping flowed like a dream, we really enjoyed that run. Another pass, 2nd in her height class and 12th overall. Not bad for an out of practice toller and handler. Masters agility was a really stop start course, made it through the weavers, but the call to the A frame was just too much.LOL with jumps to go round and tunnels under the A frame, serpentines and backs galore it all got too hard. We retired for a cider and chocolate, Jaffa got her jackpot and cuddles anyway. Another very late night. Sleep in Sunday