Summer FUN!!

Well the hot weather is finally here, and there is so much to get out and do with the dogs. We have been enjoying agility training at home, looking forward to Nationals in August as well I hope to get out to some local sanctioned trials this summer.

We recently joined the Superdog team for a demo and will be doing several more demos this summer, both for Scholars in Collars where I teach part time and for Art of Dog.

Thank you Jean for this shot!! Spit flying!!

Most importantly we enjoy time just hiking, playing and swimming!

A Few Silly Dog Tricks With Zen and Zephyr

Just playing around and having fun with the dogs:) Basic tricks!

Fun Times at Regionals!

I have been neglecting this blog as well as Zen's ....sorry!! Things have been good with Zephyr since my last entry way back in February. As usual we have been out for our daily hikes and I was able to get the agility equipment out the beginning of May so we have been doing a bit more training too.

Last weekend I took Zephyr to the Ontario Regional Agility Trial to try to qualify to Nationals again. He qualified no problem as well he qualified and ran in the Steeplechase finals!! That was a rush, so much fun. We also had several top ten placements in the regional courses including a first place jumpers run.

I took Zephyr just with the intent of having fun and enjoying something that we both love to do together. I am just so happy that he is still here with me. Last year when I found out that he had cancer I wasn't sure if he would be here this year. After surgery I didn't think he would play agility again. His recovery was so good that he has had no problem coming back to the sport.

He is now in 16" Vets, I know he could still jump higher but why ask that of him....not only did he have surgery last year but he is also 9 1/2 years old. After 3 days of competing he was getting a bit tired I could tell that his reaction time was just slightly slower (hard to tell on these fast dogs). Also on the third day he couldn't get his frame contacts, he was jumping off early. Although he wasn't moving stiff or short in the front I wonder if fatigue was setting in. He did have major surgery on his chest with much tissue removed so it would make sense.

All in all it was a wonderful weekend with my friends and my dogs!
More videos from the weekend at my YouTube channel.

Back in the Ring

This past weekend Zephyr and I started back to the trial field with our first agility trial since his surgery to remove a cancer tumour last year. Three out four runs clean!
I have dropped him down to 16" Double Drop Veterans even though the 22" probably would not be an issue just to be on the safe side as he had a fair amount of tissue removed from his chest. (He used to run 26" regular when he was younger). He is running well, SO happy, still fast and no soreness or stiffness after. We will enter a few more trials this winter and spring and then head to regionals the end of May and see how he holds up over 3 days.
I wasn't even sure if he would be able to walk normally last year let alone do agility again....amazing. I'm just happy he's alive but this is just a bonus for us both!

Happy Birthday Zephyr!

Zephyr turns 9 years old today! He is feeling good and happy! After thinking I might lose him to cancer last year, this birthday feels extra special!

Regionals Photos

I finally got around to ordering my photos from the 2010 AAC Regionals. All photos were from Len Silvester at TTL Photos, he always does a super job! The last photo of Zephyr and his spit over the A-frame is one of my all time favorites of him doing agility, it makes me laugh!!!

All That's In There

I've just had the great fortune of getting a 30 generation pedigree on my dogs and all the stats. on the inbreeding in their lines. Just out of interest as my dogs are not breeding dogs. But isn't it interesting to think of all the dogs that came before yours and how their genes affect your dogs.

Thank you to Chris over at Border Wars for this and the great conversation about borders collies and breeding.

If you have never read his blog you really should as he has MANY very thought provoking articles about border collies, breeding and the culture surrounding them. Lots of food for thought.