2017 Year in Review: 2018 Goals and Focus

I figure something is better than nothing, right?!

I don't think I actually set any "goals" for 2017. 2017 was pretty much just a continuation of 2016 - still not a lot of trialing due to the economy and the fact I wanted to spend the time training my young dog instead of just focusing on trailing the boys. I've also decided that trialing in the cold isn't so nice on my dogs, so we aren't going to do a lot of winter stuff - especially for Spencer with his knees.

In 2017 we competed at the following trials;

Jan- Training Troop
Apr - Calgary Agility Association
May - Rocky Mountain Agility Club
Aug - Dog Days of Summer - Nike Trial Debut
Sep - Sundog in Lethbridge
Nov - Calgary Agility Association
Plus a couple of little Sunday Sampler trials through AB Herding Dog Rescue.

We did not compete at Regionals (or subsequently at Nationals) this year. I've decided that 2016 with both boys winning their divisions was enough for Baxter at 8 years old and he's retired from Regionals/Nationals. With Regionals being a 3 day event this year and Nike not being ready, I decided not to enter Spencer - there were just better ways to spend my time and money.

2016 was the 3rd Regional win in Baxter's career. I don't want to push my old guy for Regional competitions anymore - he's done so much more than I though we would, and will just play at little trials to do a couple runs here and there and eat some hot-dogs from now on. With that in mind, he's also retired from Gamblers. He was never really a great Gamble dog to begin with now with no more Regionals, no more reason to frustrate us both!

Nike turned 18 months old in the middle of May, so she technically would have been old enough to trial in the Regionals warm up trial put on my RMAC and possibly run at Regionals. Mentally however, she was no where near ready. We did debut at the Dog Days of Summer trial in August. Had some really great stuff and FEO runs with toys. So she was entered for the Sundog trial the following month in Lethbridge. We had a FANTASTIC Gamblers run @ 16" on Saturday morning where she got a boat load of points, held her contacts and even got the final gamble (after 3 times running past the final jump.) The next run up was Jumpers and it was a complete disaster where she left the ring completely and freaked out out the dog that was barking/ out of control at the warm up jumps. We were dismissed from the ring. I still am not sure what happened - but since then we've had some disconnect issues where she is just leaving work.

Title wise, we haven't gotten many this year. Baxter got one whole title! Finishing up his Bronze Steeplechase on 31-Dec-2017. Spencer got two titles, finishing his Bronze Gamble and earning is Versatility Bronze Award on the same run with Sundog in Lethbridge.

I don't think titles are the be all - end all of trialing, but I do have some goals for the boys this year.

AAC has the jump height change this year, so now the boys only need to jump 4" instead of 6" as veteran dogs who are less than 12 inches tall - which will be nice for Baxter I hope. Not that 6" was really a big jump.

I'd like to finish up Baxter's Gold Jumpers - he only needs 3 more for the 50. As well as his Gold Award of Merit which is only 8 Standard away. Once we complete those, I may retire him from everything but Jumpers which is "his game." Jumpers was our very first Q in agility, I like the symmetry of it being our last as well - and Jumpers is easier on his front end with no contact equipment.

With Spencer I want to obtain his Silver Award of Merit which should be even more do-able than Baxter's Gold. We only need 3 more Standard. Hopefully we have a few more Regionals before he retires from those, but I'm still not sure yet if we'll be going this year - it depends on Nike.

Which brings me to the biggest surprise of 2017.With the performance stress issues with Nike and the struggle working through those, that when the opportunity came up to get a puppy from a proven performance breeder, I couldn't say no. Sizzle joined us on the 26th of November - a Shetland Sheepdog from HyperHounds out of Syrah.

She is so much fun! Such a sassy, opinionated little dog and such a fantastic little puppy - especially as compared to how difficult Nike was. Don't get me wrong she's incredibly busy and prone to naughty - but what I love is how easy she is to live with. Those shining little black eyes just melt my heart.

So this year the focus is on the girls and building (or revisiting) foundations/ building and then proofing skills. Also focusing on cross training and conditioning the older dogs and making sure to keep them active training something too!

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

2013 Year in Review

Wow, I can't believe its been a year already!

Looking back at what I said I'd like to accomplish, I don't think I did too badly. Not that it really was a challenging list to accomplish.

We did train some tricks. Baxter can sit pretty now - go go gadget core strength! Spencer has a few more naughty tricks in his repertoire, like bouncing (which means he is bouncing off people at thigh height when he gets excited at home ...) Penny is good at going to her kennel (I'mma call that a trick!) Body awareness is a work in progress - I need to work on it more so we can progress! Did manage to get Spencer going backwards up the stairs, so it's a start.

Distance skills are kind of hit and miss, but hey, I did work on them! Baxter has the confidence to go out and take obstacles now, so he's trying and that's the direction I want to go in. I'd rather him try and be wrong than not have the confidence to try. Spencer has awesome distance when we train by ourselves. In a trial situation with environmental factors and strange dogs he has a whole lot less distance, so working on confidence there. I also wanted to work on a verbal "Switch" (turn away from handler/rear cross at a distance) without having to rely on body motion - we've got it on the flat, now to bring that back on the equipment.

Speaking of equipment - fixed Spencer's chute and I think I have a good handle on his weaves (both of which broke in competition.) Now it's the frame and the teeter, which are going to be a little more challenging to fix.

I don't do cute or funny in the snow. I do death glare in the snow ...

AAC Regionals and Nationals were awesome! So happy about that, and happy that I went as well. With the Nationals in the Maritimes this year I think that is out, but I'm planning on Regionals in Lethbridge for sure.

This year points for Baxter were: 448.50 at Regionals and 439.44 at Nationals while Spencer got 398.46 at Regionals and 419.25 at Nationals.

Title wise this year Baxter not only obtained his ATChC at the very first HyperHounds trial he also got his Bronze Award of Merit (with HyperHounds as well!), won Regionals at 6" Specials and came in 2nd at Nationals in 6" Specials. He also got his first legit Steeplechase Q in 2 years of trialing! Titles and ribbons aren't everything, but they do show that you're getting somewhere in your training and how you stack up to other dogs in your class.

Spencer got his ADC, AADC and finished his AGDC at 10" Regular putting him in Masters everything. He also came in 4th at Regionals and then 12th at Nationals. As of November 2013 I dropped him from 10" Regular into 6" Specials - I think he'll be happier to trial at that height.

I did actually manage to attend an agility seminar in person in May with Terry Simons on course visualization and analysis. It was a good experience and really helpful. (getting into this was a fluke - but I'm going to count it anyway!)

Last, but very definitely not least I had a lot of fun with my dogs this year. We took most of the summer off of sports aside from Regionals and Nationals and just had fun doing stuff and taking pictures of the dogs doing stuff. Camping at Farragut for a week, plus various weekends out at the Pass. Hiking, swimming, fishing (Baxter LOVES fish) it was a fantastic summer for the dogs and I! Relationship building at its finest!

Here's to another awesome year of dogs and fun!

Family Portrait Jan 1, 2014 "Sunshine spot!"

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.