2015 Year in Review

Hmm. It seems that I missed doing this for 2014, that year when I didn't actually write anything until March.

2015 wasn't a bad year (as much as Dec 2014 ended with a trial run for a new dog not going well and me deciding that the dog just didn't fit and this wasn't a challenge I was willing to undertake.)

I started teaching agility classes, first @ 2 Paws Up in Jan, and then after @ High Tails in Sept/Aug.

Made for a heck of a busy schedule with a FT job, teaching 2 days out of the week, TA on some Tuesdays and the rental practice group on the weekend. Resulted in a little bit of agility burn out as the year progressed.

March 2015 Blog Header

Aug 2015 Blog Header

Sept 2015 Blog Header

Agility Trialing

Baxter moved to 6" Veterans from 6" Specials in 2015, after his 7th birthday. Spencer is still running 6" Specials. So this year the boys didn't compete against each other at AAC Regionals.

We didn't trial very much at the beginning of the year with the bottom falling out of oil prices and concern over my job while companies are laying people off in droves. Agility trials this year were:

March - Training Troop
May - P'N'E Regionals Warm up
June - AAC Regionals
July - Top Spot @ Indus
August - Dog Days of Summer @ Wet Noses
Sept - 1 day of P'N'E (indoors)
November - CAA
December - Top Spot Christmas Fundraiser

2015 Agility Titles

Baxter finished 4 titles, attaining his Silver Award of Merit, Expert Standard Silver, Expert Jumpers Silver, and his Expert Gamblers Bronze. He's also starting to actually get Steeplechase Q's now that he is in Vets, although we did finish his MSCDC title before moving to Vets!

Last agility trial of the year was Baxter's first perfect trial, going 7/7 getting 2x Steeplechase, 2x Standard, 2x Jumpers and a Gamblers Q. Good Fluff!

Spencer finished 3 titles, attaining his Bronze Award of Merit, Expert Standard Bronze and his Expert Jumpers Bronze as well. He doesn't rack up Q's the way Baxter does being pretty hit and miss. He doesn't trial well when it is really cold out because of his knee issues. He also doesn't like to trial inside, he does better outdoors.

2015 Regionals

Synopsis is both boys placed 2nd in their divisions. Very happy with my little dogs this Regionals, a little less happy with myself. But I think this has helped me grow and be a stronger person and handler. I feel like I handled the stress a little better than last year and really pushed to do our best.

2015 Regionals Review


2015 Review

2015 was all about kind of settling back and taking stock of what I have and being happy and grateful for what I have.

We climbed mountains.

We explored new horizons.

We played in the dirt.

We ended up flying high.

2016 is going to be about changes, challenges and taking it up a notch! Bring it on!

Other random goals for 2016

• Polish my mechanics, I do okay - take that up to the next level 
• Work through online courses instead of saving them for review "later" and never really getting to anything later!
• Journal and record keep (fits nicely with mechanics and skills)
• Fitness - mine and the dogs'
• Rally Obedience - this is do able this year. DO IT
• Heeling & Stand!
• NoseWork - keep working on training this

2012 Year in Review

Ahh yes, New Years. Looking back at the last year and making plans and resolutions for the next.

It was a good year, dog wise.

Spencer was diagnosed with a luxating patella, but only a grade 1, so no where near as sever as it could have been. Otherwise health issues haven't been an issue as everyone is still pretty young (under 5.) I'm exceedingly thankful for this.

Lots of trialing this year and lots of progress with Baxter. So many firsts! It's very exciting with your first dog in your first sport!

We got 5 titles this year, moved from Starters up to Masters in everything and have gotten Qualifying runs in all his Masters classes (Snooker, Gamblers, Jumpers and Standard.)

We were inches from getting his MADC on Dec 28 at Training Troop's final Whee Wed (on a Friday) of the year, but missed it. Not over his weaves, or his dog walk contact, but on silly handling on my part. I think we might have gotten his first Steeplechase Q as well, but the SCT numbers look a little funny so we may not have.

We traveled for our first agility trial and stayed in a hotel over the weekend.

Sometimes you've gotta work for it.

Baxter also got his PEN as a Tibetan Spaniel so we can play in CKC agility now too. Now to hopefully get Spencer one so I can play with both boys. Opens up the door to more sports as well, like CKC Rally and Scent Hurdle.

Spencer had a amazing year as well, as I didn't really start his agility training until this spring. He's got many baby dog moments yet, but lots of potential and he tries very hard. He got his first Steeplechase Q on the 28th of Dec, and started/finished his Starters Games Dog title in 3 weekend trials only running partial days.

Spencer is doing very well learning to play Flyball as well, and it's been a lot of fun practicing with the Go All Out Dog Sports crew. I love that they aren't exclusively a Flyball club, it makes for a much better fit for the dogs and I, I think.

Life is a balancing act.

Goals for 2013? In no particular order:

Keep training random tricks and body awareness skills. Not only is it good for them, it's fun and it helps build the relationship that I have with each dog.

Distance skills for agility!

AAC Regional and National Championships are around Edmonton area this year. I'd like to try to go if we're ready. I think we are! Hopefully life cooperates and I can swing it with Baxter at least if not with both boys.

Baxter's ATChC.




Actually attend a seminar/workshop/camp this year. In person, instead of the distance/internet ones I've done so far.

Have fun with my dogs and love the time I spend with them, they're not going to be around forever. Cherish the moments with them. I'd like a better handle on Spencer's reactivity and snarky-ness but at the end of the day I love my naughty dogs. They make me laugh, rotten behavior and all.

Run a dog in a new sport, or 2. Like Flyball and Rally-O. Don't just think about it. Prep for it and do it!

Continue to grow as a dog trainer and a handler.

Sometimes to win, you've gotta pull with all you've got.

The best things in life are worth the effort.