Power Paws the Beginning....

Today was the first meeting of the new flyball club i have set up in Bexhill. 10 handlers and dogs turned up any they all did so well. We have a real mixture of dogs with only one full collie and everything thing from a cocker spaniel to a shetland pony sized labradoodle! All the dogs managed to do all 4 jumps (with netting) and bring back a ball that i rolled at them from the box. They are all showing promise so watch this space.

Campbells First Agility Show

Well after only 6 weeks training Campbell made it to his first show! We only entered the anysize at Tunbridge Wells as he hasn't been jumping full height very well and tends to duck under if he thinks he can get away with it!

Apart from my ending up flat on my arse next too jump number three he was great. We did get eliminated as he back jumped number 4 while coming to check why i was sitting down while he was doing his bit! but we got going again and he went really well and did everything thing like he was ment to. Can't fault him he was a star.

I cant wait for our next show now which will be Superdogs. Ive only entered anysize again but he is jumping full height well now so after that we will be on to the the big boy classes

Chico is Home

After a nightmare 10 HOUR drive to pick him up I am finally home with Chico. My first impressions of him are great. He is much nicer than the photos i was sent of him and is so friendly and outgoing and so far nothing seems to bother him. He traveled really well but decided he wanted to sit next to me so spent the whole journey on the passanger seat.

Cai has been fine with him, although if anything he is a bit scared of him! Campbell has just accepted him but doesn't seem to understand why we had to get another dog.

He is into everything though so ill have to watch him like a hawk till he grows up a bit. Even though he is only 10 weeks old he already loves playing with tennis balls and loves food so it looks like he will be easy to train and will hopefully make a good flyball dog.

Another Year Gone

2007 has been a bit of a nightmare. Ive not managed to keep up with flyball but have managed to carry on training Cai and Campbell at home. But my goal for 2008 is to get back to flyball as im sure Cai has missed going and i know i have. Its also looking promising that Cai might be starting his agaility training again after a bad start in 2006 as we have found a lovely group of people who understand his probelms but are willing to give him a chance. He has met some of the dogs that go before and got on really well with them so its looking promising. I doubt he will ever make it to an agility show but i dont mind that anymore and he has done me proud with his flyball.

Campbell really started to show an interest in flyball at the end of 2006 so hopefully i can continue his training although i dont think he will ever be that fast and he tires quickly but it would be fun to run him now and again. I think he will turn out to be more suited to agility as he has really enjoyed the training we have been doing this year so i cant wait to start classes with him soon too.

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!

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.