Sunday 27 August 2006

First Starters comp for Cai!

Well training has been going so well with Cai he loves his flyball and it is really helping him to become a more normal dog and not so nervous. The team i train with the Shooting Stars are just fantastic and have made me feel so welcome and have been really understanding with Cai.

As today was our club show i really wanted Cai to get a chance to run in a starters class and he did! He had only met a few of the dogs before as we borrowed some dogs from other teams so i was a bit worried he would let me down but freaking out but he was amazing He was actually one of the best dogs in out team and went so fast, and although i ran him last out of the four dogs and often sent him quite late he managed to make up the time and we managed to win a few heats.

It really was an amazing feeling watching my 'problem' dog doing what he loves best without having to worry about him too much. Flyball really is a fantastic sport with everyone who competes being so welcoming and friendly i really wish i had started sooner.

Our team finally managed to come 7th out of 8 but i was so please with him that the fact we didnt come last was amazing!

Sunday 5 February 2006

Starting Flyball

Took Cai to flyball today! what a fantastic day.... we trained at the Shooting Stars flyball club in Folkstone and what a great bunch they are. I really enjoyed my time there and cant wait to go back.... even though it took me an hour to get there!

Cai took to it like a duck to water this will definitely be the sport for him... he has already learnt to take a tennis ball off the shoot ( a very basic flyball box covered in velcro) and to return to me over the four jumps. He was very keen and jumped really well and was surprisingly calm.

I also did some socialisation with him as the other people were happy to feed him treats and allow him to sniff there dogs. He did relax a lot but i don't think he will ever except other dogs fully. Luckily he is very focused so will ignore everything around him when he has a task to do so actually competing with him shouldn't be a problem.

I took Campbell along for the ride but thought it would be a great chance to get him used to being round large groups of dogs so took him out of the car. He was a star and got lots of cuddles off everyone and was great with the other dogs..... he really enjoyed watching the teams racing at the end and was barking away happily so maybe he will be keen to learn once he gets a bit older. I didn't think he would be any good as he doesn't really play with toys but the trainers seem to think that will change when he realises how much fun it is, so we will give it a go and see how he goes.

Things are getting exciting now. Its great to see them developing into young dogs and finding out how different there personalities are... each have there own qualities and should excel and different things.