Bordertrix News

2012-02-26T15:22:00.002-08:00

Wow what a weekend we've had and I'm too tired to fill this in properly so will update it tomorrow.

2012-02-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

Well the final Winter League went really well today, some ups and downs and a few surprises.

Buddy and I entered the pairs class with Hayley and Skye. Skye was eliminated as Hayley forget where she was going - it happens to the best of us :-). So knowing the pressure was off we started our run, were clear to the very last jump, when I sent him over the wrong jump to finish lol.

Buddy was sooooooooo close to getting a clear in the Jumping class but the Club decided to use a wall in the class and he didn’t know what it was and refused to jump it. Three times I tried to get him over but he was having none of it. Apart from that it was a text book round and I was really chuffed with him.

Hayley ran with Skye and knocked one pole down so had 5 faults and no placing :-(.

Issy and Sasha had a good round, apart from knocking down the first jump, they started confidently, Sasha hopped over the wall like she did it everyday. Unfortunately then Sasha took a wrong jump and they were eliminated, but the potential is definitely there.

Woop woop Marilyn and Alfie went for it in the small agility round. What a good sport he was, starting confidently I think the white weaves put him off and he found it hard to gain his focus again. He visited the judge a couple of times who was very kind and said he was having a great time. He ended his round well and on a high. Well done Marilyn for having the nerve to give it a go, you should be so proud of yourself.

Next Hayley went in the small agility ring with Jenna. Such a shame that they were eliminated for Jenna going up the A-frame instead of over a jump, apart from that it was great.

Me and Buddy went into do the agility and were eliminated as Buddy lost control of his faculties, mainly his hearing. Skye missed her dog walk contact - arrrrhhhh!

Sasha agility ??

Hayley then went into the jumping class with Jenna and came 2nd woop woop!! What a result, so chuffed :-)).

Issy decided she didn’t want to do the team jumping so Debbie stepped in to run Sasha. Our 4th team member was a GSD called Sally with Handler Anne, both first-timers.

Buddy and I went clear, Sally and Anne were tired and she was eliminated, Sasha and Debbie were eliminated for going over a jump the wrong way - but well done Deb - and Hayley and Skye - I can't remember!

Sixx’s Owner visited again with her boyfriend who has kindly offered to build us a wall so I can train Buddy on it.

We all really enjoyed the day which is what’s most important, well done everyone.

2012-02-17T14:05:00.002-08:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SKYE 6 years old today. She's pictured here with her new toy - a green wubba rabbit. Buddy's well put out that he's not allowed to play with it hahaha

2012-02-16T12:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we spent the day with Tessie, Bordertrix Wild Waves, and her family who live in a little village near Northampton.

Photo is Sunnie with daughter Tessie August 2009

Tessie was very excited about Buddy visiting and they played chase in the garden for ages (and flirted a bit) while we had lunch on the patio. Skye was more interested in next door's cat who kept making an appearance through the fence (silly moggy).

The sun was shining and so we set off into the countryside, two adults, 4 kids and 3 dogs.

Talk about end up in the middle of nowhere. We followed a track for a few miles and eventually ended up in a little Village some miles to the south and not to the east as we'd planned. We had to ask a Thatcher (yes, it was a posh village lol) where we were. He told us there was a pub just a mile down the road. With added vigour, we marched on only to find it was shut until 6.00pm (this was 4.53pm precisely). We did consider going to my Hubby's place of work in nearby Olney and begging a lift but I felt he might be less than enthusiastic as we were all plastered in mud. So, Tessie's Owner phoned her neighbour who came and picked us up in his very clean 4 x 4!

At some point during our walk it appears that we agreed that Tessie should have a litter of puppies and at her next season so she will be coming back to us for a couple of months. As soon as the details are confirmed I will announce it on my website but first we have to get Tessie health tested, so watch this space!

She reminds me of Sunnie with big smile on her face and half closed, adoring eyes when you fuss her.

Hayley is busy training Buddy for his Crufts debut on March 10th and getting him to concentrate on her instead of everything else that's going on. We're hoping his effortless movement will get him his place - well if he can also grow his coat back in time lol.

His sister Sky, who was exported to Slovenia, is having her first litter at some point during the summer. She is being mated to a blue merle, so the puppies should be interesting. See their website at http://deelynneng.webs.com/. The propective 'Daddy' is the merle on the front page - beautiful!

2012-02-11T10:09:00.000-08:00

Call me mad but,as the weather isn't going to be any worse, agility and puppy classes will be on tomorrow :-).

We'll work on some more foundation exercises and keep the jumps right down and bodies moving.

If the Puppy owners would like to bring a mat for their little one to sit on, that might be a good idea.

Please be careful where you park as we don't want anyone getting stuck lol.

2012-02-09T03:34:00.000-08:00

AGILITY VIDEO - BLAST FROM THE PAST!

This morning I felt very fed up with myself as I've caught Hayley's stomach bug and have no energy.
So I decided to watch a video that we'd come across when installing our new TV unit, entitled 'Agility' in big blue permanent marker on a recordable video tape (whatever happended to them eh?)
So not really knowing what to expect I sat back on the sofa and waited for the snow storm to pass as the video recorder tried to make some sense of what it was supposed to do after so long in retirement.
Well what a tonic! I haven't laughed and cried so much for ages. What appeared was recordings from an agility show at Peterborough Showground of me and Tips and all our Club members at the time. What a blast from the past!
Buddy was trying to join in, Skye thought I was upset cos I had tears rolling down my face and kept trying to comfort me and all the time I kept thinking "Oh my God, such bad handling!" No wonder poor Tips and I didnt' get a clear round for 3 years. To top if off was at the end, My Hubby, Jon, offered to enter a show with Tips just after I'd had Sally-Anne, (so we're talking nearly 13 years ago). It didn't go well especially as he was drawn first to go in the first run lol!

So after that day he never once criticised me and my handling skills. He realised that Tips was not easy to run as she'd welcome any distraction on offer. I will attempt to record some of them and put them on here so you can all have a laugh.

I don't really know why I'm doing this but here are two that I videoed from the TV via my mobile. Not very technical I know but until my technician gets home it'll have to do. Enjoy!

Tipsy is no longer with us, she died in 2009 aged 14 and a half. Its good that she can still reduce me to tears at her memory. Read all about her at http://www.bordertrix.co.uk/tipsypg.html

Bye for now.

2012-02-06T09:50:00.000-08:00

Well yesterday was great fun out in the snow. Hayley took some fab photos from up the field and I'll upload them when i get a minute. No training this week unfortunately but i can't think of a better reason not to than having a good 4 inches of snow. We had great fun building snow men and Buddy had a go at pulling the sledge, but he wasn't too keen really.

Photo is of Monty (Skye's brother) trying to eat snowballs which were being thrown. Skye is trying to catch Monty and Buddy is trying to catch Skye...........ummmm!

Love this photo of Buddy and Skye but not sure what's going on with Skye's eyes lol. What a beautiful pair of doggies I have :-)

Alfie, Buddy's number one fan, came to join in the fun too and had a good run around in the field either chasing or being chased by Buddy.

2012-02-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

I've updated a page on my website called http://www.bordertrix.co.uk/woodyspg.html Its a new photo of Woody from Skye's 2nd litter.
He has been a bit naughty and ran off from his Owner but came back in his own time - around 2 hours later!!

New photos of Paddy and Sixx too.

Still awaiting news on Poppy although I know she has stopped being sick now which is good. Get well soon Poppy :-)

Poppy is all better now but her Owner is exhausted. God bless dogs eh?

2012-02-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

Today I'm going to talk about Skye as I've realised I haven't said much about her so far. Her posh name is Bordertrix Non But The Brave and she's blue and white.
She always surprises me in whatever she does; be it agility, showing or being a mum.
In agility she never seems to be moving very fast but she flows around courses and is consistant so I guess she's going faster than it appears. She should be a higher grade in agility by now but Hayley entered the Junior Classes with her so she didn't get points or places towards progression for a while.
In showing she could probably have been a show champion by now if we'd campaigned her properly, she has had champ show firsts, best puppy and helped Hayley win countless junior handling classes and Open Show classes.
As for being a mum, how shocked was I when she produced 7 puppies in January 2010? Seven puppies in that little body, all delivered without any fuss and cleaned until they shone. She really enjoyed being a Mum to those Magnificent 7 (including Buddy).
She then went on to deliver another six babies 17 months later, to the day! Where was she hiding that lot? We only expected about 3 or 4 according to her scan!

Who'd have thought it eh?

She truly is the most special dog to me, I know I say that about all my dogs but Skye is the self appointed comforter in our family. Especially now she is without Sunnie for the first time in her life, that's a big responsbility. She gives the best cuddles ever and we love her all the way to the moon and back a zillion, trillion times :-))

I have just found out that Skye's sister, Poppy, is really ill, with bloody sickness and diarrhoea. She's been to the Vets and been given some pills so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she will be ok.

2012-01-30T06:40:00.000-08:00

Today I'm having a Sad Sunnie Day so thought I'd cheer myself up by watching old videos. I came across this one of Sunnie taken in May 2010 doing an Allsorts Class with Hayley. Even after 5 years competing on and off with Hayley she still has to check that I'm watching lol.
I miss her so much and its hard because she was so well behaved, sometimes I forget for a while that she's no longer with us.

This is a photo of Sunnie in her show coat, she was just 2 years old and we'd just been to an Open Show. She had the most beautiful coat, even though she wasn't classically marked and, gladly, she has passed this onto most of her puppies.

Sunnie was rarely the fastest at agility or the most favoured in the show ring but she gave me so much more than a few ribbons and bits of coloured card. I'm so glad now that she helped make my dreams come true, against the odds, and I am surrounded by her legacy.

2012-01-29T13:29:00.000-08:00

Well Buddy had his birthday, he got spoilt and expected it again on Saturday so sulked for a while lol. We went up the field to do some training and for a class with an excitable Staffy, called Daisy. She's a lovely dog but needs her boisterousness channelling into something positive, so her owner thought she might like agility.
She had great fun chasing her raggy over the obstacles, completely fearless, she ran over the dog walk on her own while I was chatting to her owner. She also took advantage and covered me in kisses while I eased the seasaw down for her, she is soooooo cheeky!
I have given her owner some homework to try and encourage Daisy to focus on her more. We'll see how much she improves over the week.
After they left I had a little training session with Skye and Buddy. We noticed at the Winter League last week, that Buddy had knocked some poles down - which is very unusual, so I put them on the highest level while we did a few direction commands. He didn't knock any down so I think, again, it was that he was just in looney mode.
I ran Skye over a small course, she got all her contacts first time and did everything I asked of her, including a really nasty weave entry. I also pushed her more by being ahead of her as she came over a jump and entered the weaves while I continued to run ahead. She did it first time and every time - what a star she is!!
Buddy is not quite ready for that yet and as I'm still building his confidence in the weaves I made sure I was behind or with him. He enters beautifully but will not stay in if I run by. We will be working hard on this over the next few weeks.

Here is a video taken in March 2011 of Buddy training, handled by Hayley. I love the way you can see him coming through the weaves. It all goes a little wrong afterwards but we always have great fun training with him.

Training went well today again. We are working on building the dogs' confidence to go ahead and all the dogs are enjoying it, handlers too I'm pleased to report. We also did some ringcraft training with a border collie, called Poppy, who's mother has just been made a show champion. Buddy wooed her and we let them have a play together after some fun agility training too. She's going to be a real beauty when she matures - Buddy thinks so now lol.
Puppy class is going well, we had a new recruit in Cally the cocker spaniel. She's so pretty but very mischievous so fitted in well with Pepper (a yorkie x jrt) and Ruby (border terrier).
Well Skye and Bud are exhausted after their long day, its peaceful in camp Gilbert tonight lol.

2012-01-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was so busy I didn't have time to put anything on here so quick catch up.

Skye seems herself again, thank goodness, but then we did go to see her most favourite person in the world, Grandad. She is back to normal now and Hayley, having to only work 3 days a week on her work experience, has decided she is going to take Skye jogging to get her super fit.
Buddy was crying his little heart out when they left but I think it is good for him to have some time on his own as he never has really since he was born. I took him out, just the two of us, and guess what? We ran into Hayley and Skye! I know Raunds isn't that big but come on!!
Anyway, Hayley decided to come along with us and we all had fun, chatting and chasing in the field.

Buddy did an awesome recall when he spotted a man through the hedge and thought he might go and investigate his intentions. He came back instantly, I was very impressed (although I think the markie I was waving might have had something to do with his keeness to come back lol)!

I have been researching some strategies to try and get Buddy to listen to me during agility shows, instead of getting so overexcited he's deaf to my instructions. I guess I'm a victim of my own success as from the start I've trained him to go ahead of me and enforced commands at a distance. Well now I realise that's all well and good but he has to learn to keep his head. Its not that he isn't focused on me, just that he's like a coiled spring with an adrenaline rush.
You would think with him being my fourth dog that I'd have learnt to get it right by now. Trouble is, all dogs have their own persona and respond differently. Just when you think you've conquered one issue, another crops its head. I think I might have found something to try and will have a go tomorrow at the field.

Tomorrow Buddy is going to be 2 years old but I'm hoping no one will tell him so he have a surprise party lol!

2012-01-24T12:19:00.000-08:00

Skye still seems very down today. I took Buddy and Skye to the 'Concrete Strip" for a run this morning before work, as I had to drop Hayley off at Rushden for her work experience. The weather was awful, pouring with rain, so it was ideal to stay in the car and drive with Skye and Buddy trotting around having a good sniff, while I stayed dry and warm.
Buddy raced the car back to the beginning and has now realised when he has won the race and stands there waiting looking very pleased with himself! Skye had made it to the tailgate by the time I'd opened it, bless her, she really does not seem herself.

Sunnie at JDA Agility June 2011

I plan to take her up the field tomorrow and practice some agility and see if she cheers up. I do wonder if something has sparked a memory of Sunnie (her Mum, who died just before Christmas) and she's missing her again. Its hard to know for sure. At least if she is happy to train and is her usual happy, bouncy self I will know its unlikely there's anything physically wrong with her.

2012-01-23T10:05:00.000-08:00

After all the excitement of yesterday today seems a little tame. Skye and Buddy are a bit quiet, I think Skye is a bit down, she stole some treats out of the training shed and I think they might have upset her tummy. Buddy is merrily shredding their "Honk" (thus named due to the funny noise it makes when squeezed) the stuffing is coming out everywhere, don't you just love dogs?

2012-01-22T15:19:00.000-08:00

I'm still getting the hang of this blogging thing so bear with me lol.

This will be a positive show report on the 3rd Winter League. It was great to see Chloe with Poppy and Charlotte with Monty having a go at the jumping and agility. You should be proud of yourselves for not giving up. We’ve all been there and I can sympathise, its never easy when you feel like everyone is watching and judging you. Keep up the good work Girls, we’ve got some new strategies coming that should help keep your dogs’ focus.

Another well done to Issy with Sasha on nearly gaining a clear round, you’re almost there so keep trying.

Marilyn and Alfie were very tempted to have a go but just as they were going to enter the jump height was changed. Come on Guys, next time eh? Hayley and Skye ended the day with a 3rd place in the agility woop woop! Well done you Two, a text book run if ever I saw one.

And then there was Buddy and Me! Our best run was the jumping class where he only got 5 faults after running straight past the weaves. I’m confident he’ll have his day but we’ll put this one down to experience I think!

Anyway a fab day was had by all, we all achieved something and learnt a few valuable lessons. Keep it up folks!

A big bonus just for me and Hayley was seeing our little Emmy again from Skye’s last litter (now named Sixx) and her owner, Becky. She’s adorable and looks so like Sunnie I nearly welled up. Its good to see her legacy living on :-) I’m not sure Buddy and Skye realised she was a relative but were very happy to say hello (especially Buddy lol)!
Photo here is Sixx aged 7 weeks and on the right is Granny, Sunnie, her mirrored, maxi me. It was hard to let little Sixx go, she was such a delightful puppy and always reminded me of Sunnie.

A bit more news to offer - our next Open Day is being planned for Sunday 29th April, which is a week after the Easter Holiday finishes. It is also Bordertrix Ultimate Dog School's 2nd Birthday so we will be celebrating that too.

As before you will get an opportunity to use the equipment at your leisure, take part in lessons and have a go at flyball. Everyone is welcome.

Welcome

2012-01-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

So, here goes, my Blog is born and what to put? Click here to read about us, our dogs, our dog training school and our plans >>>>

Quick introduction, our dogs are pictured below;

My first dog - Tipsy

My second dog - Sunnie

We run a dog training school, here in Raunds and I stood outside in the wind and intermittent rain today, got wet, cold and frozen. However, I have to say I was very pleased with how training went, everyone turned up despite the weather and I'd planned their lessons, as Hayley wasn't available to help, so there would be minimal slipping in the mud and maximum effect on their training. Keeping everyone moving when its cold is so important if you want to keep the dogs stimulated.

Well done to Data and Lola on completing and passing our Puppy Class, you all did so well today, even Border Terrier Ruby, only on her 2nd week and already so much improved. Keep up the good work Guys!

Now to tomorrow. We are attending a friendly agility match (from now on referred to as "The Winter League"). Hayley is running our Skye and I will be running her son, Buddy. Issy and Sasha will also be running and Chloe with Poppy is having her first go ever - woop woop! Come on Guys let's go for it for Team Bordertrix!
Hopefully we will be seeing a couple of Skye's pups from her last litter, Sixx and Polo, and Buddy's brother, Sam. I love to see them again and watch their progress.

My 3rd dog - Skye

I'll let you know how we get on :-))