After a long break for the holidays, we started another agility course today. Heidi and Rush were supposed to join us, ahem, but somebody needs to check their email more often. LOL

It took Miss Lou a little while to settle down…at the beginning of the class she was SO excited to be there that she had no idea what I wanted her to do. Those of you who have met Lizzie I know are saying, really? Excited, exuberant, bouncy…Lizzie?? But indeed she was. After she settled down we had a good hour of practice doing all the things we learned in the last set of classes. And surprisingly, knock on wood, she has no problem with the teeter so far. I’ve been very impressed with her boldness, because traditionally she’s not a brave dog. Not a true chicken, no, but not brave or opinionated either.

My biggest complaint at the moment is that the assistant instructor that has been working with us (the “small dogs” in the class) seems to only think of one way to train. When I suggest something different for my dog, she seems offended that I’m questioning what she tells us to do. Sigh. No, I don’t want to train two-on-two-off, I prefer running contacts. I’ll take the random chance that she might occasionally miss a contact, but I think it will be one in a thousand LOL. No, I don’t like to train my dog to run all the way to the end of the teeter and stop. Especially not a softer dog that doesn’t have high drive, because she may not get back on it if she gets bounced off. I really like the main instructor, but we don’t usually have her with our group. Oh well, at least I know what I’d like to do, as opposed to someone brand new, and am not afraid to speak up. Even if it does annoy or offend her.

Heidi tagged me to post the 6th photo from the 6th photo folder on my computer. So here it is…JackJack at around 6 months old, before he had any hair LOL.

I’m not sure there’s anyone left to tag, but if you’d like to play along I’d love to see!

Lizzie “graduated” from her beginner agility class last night, which I find especially impressive considering that we went to a grand total of TWO of the six classes. Yes, two. The test last night was our third class, and she had never seen the teeter, the tire, or the chute completely closed, but she did them all THE FIRST TIME. AND she did the channel weave poles, which before I’ve had to convince her that they are not the stupidest thing ever (well, really, they ARE) in order to get her to do them. She always gives me the look like, “Really? You want me to run down the middle of these poles? Why??” But last night? No problem! She did them several times, and on both the left and right sides, piece of cake. LOL

The class absences were not intentional…she was in season for 2 of the weeks. Then Dave had a business trip one week, so I would have had to find a babysitter for the kids. And then *I* had a business trip the next week and got stuck in the Charlotte airport for a few extra hours, so I missed it then too. Hopefully in the next cycle we’ll actually be able to make the classes! Although apparently she doesn’t need all that stinkin’ practice. (not! I think we wouldn’t get so lucky in the next cycle where she has to actually learn how to do real weaves and a full-height teeter)

In other news…I have quit my job. You may or may not know that Dave and I work together for the same very small company, based in Denver. The company is doing ok, but as most small companies go, it is high stress and lots of hours. It has been way too hard on the family to have us BOTH so involved with work. So, the nanny is gone (sob!), and I will be staying at home with the kids (and puppies!) for a while. Another added benefit is that if for some reason the financial health of the company takes a turn for the worse, I’ll be in a position to go get another local job if need be in order to give us some more financial stability, without being tied to clients at this company. I have been feeling very relieved the past few days, because although I really love working with Dave and the rest of the company, it has just been too much for us to bear. I’m looking forward to getting some things done around the house and spending more time with Jack & Charlie!

One more thing…I so want one of these.
http://www.stupid.com/fun/DDMG.html

Happy December!

From Lizzie’s first Best of Breed win as a special.

No, I don’t plan to special her much. I like Lizzard a lot, but she’s not flashy and her topline will never be her strong point…two qualities that would hurt her a lot under all-rounders. But when I feel like getting out of the house and going to a dog show, then I will be proud to take my plain little black girl into the ring for fun. )

And we’re training in agility! I honestly wasn’t sure how my “couch tater” would take to agility, but so far she seems to be having a lot of fun. She’s SUCH a good listener and while I seriously doubt she’ll ever be blazingly fast without a personality transplant, I’m hoping for steady and reliable. She’s also smart! Just not driven except by wanting to please me. On a good note, however, I am fairly confident that she’ll be able to measure under 11″ and therefore be able to run in the 8″ class. Yay! Funny considering that I thought she would be oversized at one point, but she really has matured to be of average size…32-33 pounds and right on the nose at 11″ tall.

So, Peru has offered the Obamas a 4-month old Peruvian Hairless Dog for the “First Pet”. Here’s a picture of little “Ears”, who would be named Machu Picchu if accepted:

BIG CONGRATS to Heidi for her first bred-by champion, Ch Regent Midnight Rush! Hopefully someday I will join those ranks.

Lizzard was BOB again today, and thankfully we were the first group to be judged so Heidi could stay and cheer/take photos! Here are a few from the ring.

No post yesterday, as Lizzie was BOS and Heidi posted all of her good news. )

Today, Lizzie was BOB again (although she’s the only special now). Nothing in group…she wouldn’t give ears to the judge on the down & back, so I’m sure that didn’t help. It was very crowded ringside and someone was dragging crates or chairs, I’m not sure which, right by the gate where the judge was. In true Lizzie fashion she wasn’t spooked by it or anything, but she was keeping an eye…errr, an ear, on the situation. LOL

Charlie went with me today, so that was fun. It’s so nice that now she’s getting old enough to take to shows and it’s not a burden/stressful situation for me. I think she had fun, although the highlight for her was probably the lollipop I let her have so she’d sit still while I was in the group ring.

I love local shows. I can drive home and sit at home waiting until the time for groups, instead of having to sit around the dog show site. ) Dave likes local shows because I can (and will) take Charlie with me.

Good news from this morning is that Lizzie won Best of Breed over 2 multiple group placing specials. I thought the judge was going to kill us, she took that long to decide. We go back for groups in a couple of hours…keep your fingers crossed! It’s not a large show, so you never know.

Heidi will probably post too but she was WD/BOW with Rusharoo. He needs to win every day this weekend (4 days) to finish, because we only have a single point each day and he needs 4 singles! LOL So everyone pull for Rush.

eta: Well, no such luck. I hate it when the judge doesn’t even make a cut, either…she just pulled out her 4 picks and that was it. The vallhund got a group 2 though! I have no idea who it was, but nice dog.