Kaeloch Agility Dogs

Definately Time for a Catch up

2011-11-18T18:53:00.000-08:00

Its been over a year since I last posted so well overdue for a catch up on the blog.
Its been a toughie for me - We lost our old boy Flame nearly 14 years not long after Fya which was just awful and suddenly there were no BCs in the house for the first time in over 20 years.

Then in September 2010 we got a new boy in the family. Arashi He's White Hot - Scorcha, is a Japanese Spitz who is the great=grandson of the famous little agility dog Storm - Ch Silverbay Luvina Storm ADX owned by Ross Carter. He is a delight and has brought a heap of joy to the household.

In the meantime, rehab of Kindle continued and Ashy was doing one or two classes every so often at shows but my heart really wasn't in it. Having been on the Agility Committee and seeing the not so nice side of the attitudes of some in sport I lost motivation to do this sport I had been involved with for so long.

However, I was involved in running the 2010 NDTA at Taupo which was a fantastic event luckily due to great weather. I was however pretty pleased to see the back of it so by the end of 2010, I had lost two great dogs and everything just seemed a wee bit hard.

Luckily Susan Garrett came to NZ in Nov 2010 and thanks to some great friends, I was able to attend and to some extent had my enthusiasm restored.
Kindle started jumping again at the end of the year so I was hoping that 2011 was going to be a more settled and enjoyable time..............

More Kindle Rehab

2010-06-06T22:25:00.000-07:00

Today we videoed Kin's second effort on curved trotting poles.
She is really enjoying doing something and we've been doing the trotting poles building up the number and then adding the curve.

Here is where she's up to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWFEUixmls

Goodbye My Fya Dog

2010-05-24T02:23:00.001-07:00

After a weekend of being a bit "off colour" and before we were due to take her to the vet this morning, Fya died last night. She my profile pic to see my little girl.
An autopsy was done and she basically bled out into her abdomen as if from Rat Poison which is concerning as we don't have any here and the dogs have no access to any off the property.
A sample of her liver is being sent away to the lab for analysis so we will know in a few days whether that really is what happened.
VERY scarey and we are watching the other dogs very closely obviously.

Fya was a stunning little dog who gave everything she did 100%. Her enthusiasm for anything you asked of her was just incredible.
She started Christie's obedience career and loved every second of it. She did some rally-o and loved that too.
But her first love was agility and she was my wonderful little red girlie who gave me so many fun times in my sport. Reknown for her spectacular sliding contacts she was just awesome to train and she was training agility up until Wednesday last week.
She may have been one challenge short on paper but she was a Champion in our hearts.

I can't believe she's gone - we will miss her terribly.

Training Training Training

2010-05-08T01:04:00.000-07:00

Well its definately been the theme of this week.
On Thursday, Ashy went to Rotorua club and trained with others for the first time. She coped really well and did some nice work gaining confidence throughout the evening. Her home performance continues to rocket away so really looking forward to the day when her confidence out matches it. It will be really cool.

Today Dyson and I ran a fundraising training day for NDTA. We did a foundation session of 1.5 hours followed by two groups of competing dogs at different levels doing a total of around 4 hours of handling training. What a great group they all were and there was some really good stuff happening and heaps of improvement and tidying up of exisitng skills along with some new ones being tried.

Another two weeks before Ashy's next outing which is the local Ribbon Trial so no excuse not to get some more training done. Having alocal ART might just give her the next step as it is a familiar grounds.

Ash's First Champ Jumpers Day

2010-04-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

Well Ashy came out of season in time to make it to the WAG Jumpers Day on Sat 24 April.
She was extremely well behaved. Had 4 runs 2 of which I mucked up.
Here are the links to video of the other two - both clear.
She was nowhere near the speed she runs at home and very cautious but I was still very pleased with her first effort.
Her classes had 185 dogs in them and were won at rates around 5.7m/sec where Ashy was travelling at around 4 or 4.25 m/sec so no ribbons!
She finished middle of the pack of those who went clear (approx 75 clear in each class).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMqPkpuy0-M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYe_NQ6AYhY

Finally a Training Catch-up

2010-03-18T01:13:00.000-07:00

Well we've finally got some video taken of Ashy training again.
Here are two short bits.

One is Ashy jumping a line with both midi and maxi hurdles and the other is my first video of her full weave. Still lots to learn but improving all the time and I'm just thrilled with the way she's coming along.

Aiming to start her at a Ribbon Trial late this month just to see where we're at, with a view to a full Champ show start sometime toward the end of April.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTyJQeUiuZA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDBg6StOu-g

Update on the Broken Dogs

2010-02-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

Well here we are nearly two months into the New Year already.
Kindle continues to improve slowly - would probably be further ahead if I was home more and worked less :-) as I struggle to get enough walking into her each week but thats ok and I can't do too much about that.
Ashy had her surgery on her eyelid in early January and all her stitches are now disolved so we've started her jump training and are now aiming to have her ready to compete mid-year or so.
Has been a great summer weatherwise with lots of very hot days and plenty of rain in the evenings so the place is green. The dogs have really enjoyed swimming this summer and having our own private area is fantastic.

Last Training of the Year 2009

2009-12-31T03:12:00.000-08:00

Well 2009 is done and its been a busy day!
Fencing, mowing and even got some training in.
Stu videoed Ash's training today so here are a couple of snippets of where she's up to.
The first one shows her dogwalk performance and the second link is her 3rd session on 6 poles of her 2x2 weave training.
Roll on 2010 and new challenges for us all...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbrtMjxp4kg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS7GTM6WKTc

Kindle's Swimming Rehab

2009-12-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

Well we have another use for our training seesaw. It is now Kindle's entry ramp for swimming. We need it as the entry to the river at our place is quite steep.

She adores swimming but gets really cranky when her time is up for the day. With her it would be very easy to overdo things so we are being very careful. Its going to take a long time to build her muscle back up but we've got to start somewhere!

Other than that things are coming along and at least she's growing some coat back on her shaved leg so not looking quite so scrawny any more.

The Obligatory Xmas Photo

2009-12-07T00:22:00.000-08:00

Well here tis! Don't they just look thrilled.

L to R: Ash, Fya, Zip, Flame, Kindle

The Olides Come to Visit

2009-12-05T19:14:00.000-08:00

Today Flame's litter brother and sister came to visit.

They will be 14 next Saturday so was a great chance to get some photos of them all together.

They are pretty impressive for their age and definately showing the family likeness..

They are l to r: Kelso, Aimee and Flame.

Two week check & Stitch Removal

2009-12-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

Kin went back to Steve this morning to have her stitches removed.
The wounds both look really good and he is pleased with them.
He is generally happy with the way she is moving and has given me a couple of stretches to keep the hips mobile until she's using it fully again.
The next 4 weeks will see us gradually increasing her on-lead walking and starting very short swimming sessions. Yahoo for head halters as on=lead calm walking is not Kin's strong suit.
She will get her next check up at 6 weeks post surgery.
So all good so far.......

Wound Comparison

2009-11-27T14:55:00.000-08:00

Here are a few photos of Kin's wounds both inside and outside of her stifle. They are coming along well!

Inside stifle 1 day post surgery

Inside stifle 1 week post surgery

Outside stifle 1 day post surgery

Outside stifle 1 week post surgery

1 Week Post Surgery

2009-11-25T21:40:00.000-08:00

Well its been a week and Kin's wounds are looking really good.
They seem to be healing nicely and its just a few days til her stitches come out.
She is weight bearing when she's walking slowly (which isn't very often) and keeping her quiet is getting increasingly difficult.
She is being very good and its a great chance to get some more weight on her as she's a bit light in condition at present.
The weather's not helping too much as its very windy and extremely hot which makes her being inside a bit trying but she's not happy in the runs yet so inside it has to be................

Day 1 Post Surgery

2009-11-20T14:31:00.001-08:00

Kin's home and still a bit dopey.

She was very quiet today and VERY reluctant to use the leg at all.

Steve wants her to start using it in the next few days so we will have to think of a way to get her to start putting weight on it over the next little while.

So here's the girlie one day on!

DISASTER!

2009-11-20T14:25:00.000-08:00

Well on Tuesday night Ash and Kindle were having a disagreement on the deck and fell over (all of two feet or so). Kin landed awkwardly and came up on 3 legs.
Even allowing for the "woosy" Terv factor, it didn't look good.
A quick call to Charlotte and I had Steve McGill's phone number and an appointment for Wed morning to get a diagnosis. Wed morning she was still not bearing any weight on her left hind leg and Steve diagnosed a couple of co-lateral ligament tear and a chipped tibia.
Kin was booked for surgery on Thursday and came home with us overnight.

Thursday was a long day awaiting news of the op but finally at 7.30pm Steve called to say she was out of surgery but would be staying in overnight.

I was very proud of my girlie though - such a great ambassador for the breed. She was so well behaved with Steve.
We picked her up on the Friday morning and she was finally back home to begin the next phase.

A Busy Last Few Months

2009-11-19T22:25:00.000-08:00

Well the move finally happened and we're all settled in.
Ross McBeth came and built our dog runs (currently occupied mostly by Gimli the goat kid), I have my stable and my little Quarterhorse and it really feels like home.
The week after we moved we had team trials for NDTA teams and Amanda and I both made the team for Dunedin so yahoo!
The Nationals was really good - with Kindle going Best of Breed and picking up a place in Starters and Amanda qualified for the Novice final with Zip.
Then to NDTA and some 2400km over 9 days. Great show - lots of fun and wonderfully well run.
Both of the dogs ran really well and came home with some ribbons. A shoddy ferry ride home and a few dramas with a blown tyre and we finally got home - very tired but having had a great time!

We're On The Move

2009-07-24T02:30:00.000-07:00

Well we're finally on the move!

Our house sale in now unconditional and we're off to Rotorua mid-August.

Here's a photo of our new place - can't wait!!!

Results in Agility

2009-07-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

Wow - a great weekend of fun agility here.
Kindle scored her first win in Starters and Amanda and Zip had a win in Novice!
Kin had an 'almost' run in that same Novice too.
Below are links to the runs from the weekend - indoors at DAWG (NZ Kennel Centre)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNv6V0rWLd4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTYqMmZl1QI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXWlxvJMp3Q

Ash Finally has her own Body Dome

2009-05-11T01:38:00.000-07:00

It arrived today!

Having had a session on Charlotte's one it was neat to get one of my own.

Its great for core strength and balance and a fun thing to play with on those rapidly approaching cold winter nights.

Here is Ash on her body dome for the first time

Once she has got having four feet on it sorted and has gained her balance really well it will be time to add behaviours - eg waving, begging etc which I will obviously teach on the floor first.

Ash's Training Update

2009-05-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

Hi all

Finally got round to getting Stuart to take some photos of Ash doing some of her foundation training in the paddock today.

First there are some of her learning her jump bumps. I start with a single bumb (which is a 1m long section of plastic spouting with coloured tape on it) and getting drive to her toy.

Over time we add a second and then add hurdle uprights to change the look. The side rails in the photos help keep the pup straight.

I tend to alternate between sending her to her toy at the end and doing a leadout and going to the toy and releasing her.

She is starting to really drive through the lane of bumbs now and we will simply consolidate this and once she is confident, we will start doing some bend work with the jumpbumps to teach her how to balance on the turn. Important though that she has good drive with the straight ones first!

We are also working on her targetting and have this week progressed to teaching her end position on a ramp and have her give the target behaviour. She gets on from the side of the ramp and assumes her end position, is rewarded for front feet on the ground and rear on the ramp, then I add the target and reward the nose touches.

As you can see, Ash chooses to lie down if I ask for multiple touches. This is no problem - Kindle did this as well. Again, lots of work will be done consolidating this end position.

The next progression will be to ask her to get on the ramp higher up and drive into position. This will be interspersed with tugging with her while she is in the end position - this will add more value to the position. We want the end position on the ramp to carry a high value to her so that it is always her goal from the moment she steps onto a piece of contact gear.

Kindle's end position has stayed rock solid so far and I'm thrilled with that even when she is in high drive at a show. More soon................................

Amanda & Zip

2009-04-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

Amanda and Zip had a great show at Eastern Bay of Plenty last weekend.

Below is a photo of her in 1st place lineup. They also had a 3rd and a 6th.

Not bad for her 3rd show!!

Kindle's First Agility Champ Show

2009-04-20T16:05:00.000-07:00

Well we ventured to Eastern Bay of Plenty last weekend and Kin had her first official Champ starts.
I was thrilled with her - she was so relaxed all weekend and the basics were all great.

She had a couple of 5f rounds in Starters with new gear - one refusal and she dropped one rail due to inexperience - nothing wrong with that! She did however pick up a 4th place in the other starters so that was pretty special.

Her novice rounds were pretty good too the best of which was a 9th place ribbon!

So a good start and with her getting faster with each run I couldn't have been happier :-)

Kindle's Next Step

2009-04-02T17:58:00.000-07:00

OK - so after a couple of Jumpers classes, I ventured out with Kin into an agility Ribbon Trial in order to test our contact behaviour in the ring.
I was thrilled with her - her Aframe was slower than at home or training but her behaviour was perfect.
She even recognised the weavepoles and was pretty confident all day.
Huge improvements from our first efforts in Jumpers and a great step forward.
This weekend we have another jumpers comp then our first agility champ show toward the end of the month.
The next few months will produce huge learning curves for both of us I am sure but we're on the right track now..........
Fiona

Ladder Work

2009-03-22T23:08:00.000-07:00

Today we taught Ash to walk through a ladder.

This assists with rear end awareness and teaches concentration on an obstacle and doing a behaviour prior to gaining a reward.

The first step is to walk backwards through the ladder slowly and reward any paws within the confines of the ladder. Doesn't matter at the beginning if not all the feet are in there - just reward for any attempt.

Other photos show the end of session one with ash offering the whole ladder with all four feet.

This was the product of just one session of a total of 4 reps.

Shes' such a clever girl.

See Ash stretch!!!!

No actually this was Ash trying to reach for a moth on the wall but its a cool photo.

And lastly the sad Tervs - waiting for mum to come back up from the paddock.

Are you sure its not our turn????

Ash's Foundation Training Starts

2009-03-10T00:01:00.001-07:00

Well its about time I did something with her but I've finally got started with Ash's beginner training. Along with heaps of outings to improve her socialisation, we've started her "waits", downs, and perchwork. We also regularly strengthen her tugging as well as practicing our restrained recalls and other motivation exercises.

She is such a dude and loves to do things.

Yesterday a friend was here with her 60cm balance cushion and we shaped Ash to put her feet on it. The front ones were easy as she has done perchwork but it took a little longer to get the rear feet on. I was so surprised how quickly she got it though and within a couple of minutes she had all 4 feet on the cushion and was happily working to stay on and enjoying the challenge of it.

Long long way to go but I couldn't be happier to have what we have already.

My main concentration for the next few weeks will be to get her leadout skills happening so that in a couple of months we are ready to start introducing her to jump bump work.

In the meantime we are also working hard on hand touches with other people with heaps of rewards in order to get her super confident with strangers. The improvement there is huge and I'm pleased with that too. I am looking forward to being able to show her once she is ready.

Here's hoping

Fiona

Musings on Weave Training

2009-02-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

Having now trained 6 of my own dogs to weave I have been thinking really hard about the methods I have used and my own views on the benefits and drawbacks of each. Below is a precis of the methods I've used with each dog.

Nero - 1989 - full upright set - lured with hand. A good if not lightning fast weave - left hand only.

Robbie - 1990 - full upright set - lured with hand. Robbie could only ever weave happily on the left and through experience had fairly good entries by the end of his career. It was an ok weave but not quick enough by today's standards.

Flame - 1996 - Channel with wires. Good bilateral weave with brilliant right hand entries - shallow left entries were never flash and required remedial handling.

Jafa - 1999 - Channel without wires - ok weave nothing too flash.

Fya - 2002 - 3-pole clicker trained weave. Good fast weave with excellent right hand entries. Left hand shallow entries not perfect but all around I am happy with her weave.

Kindle - 2008 - two-pole entry work followed by working through the weave-o-matic or V-weave method. Once I got to approx 4" at the top of the poles, it was evident that Kin's head position was not what I wanted. As the poles came in, her head followed the gap in the poles upward. At this time after much thought, I switched her to the channel weaves and within a couple of repitions her head position was much improved. We have been working through the method and are nearly finished.

In the meantime, my daughter's dog Zip has been working through learning the weave via the 3-pole cliker method. While I have been watching I have been struck by the difference in the understanding of these two dogs. Zip has learnt what the poles represent and how to negotiate them at any speed. Due to Amanda's diligence, Zip understands his entries brilliantly and his speed is increasing each day.
Kindle understands how to run very fast through a channel albeit an extremely narrow one. She single steps at good speed though the set with excellent reliability. However, I do not believe that she has a true understanding of what the poles are and if she approaches at a speed which means she can not automatically single step them, she is a bit lost.

In the middle of all of this, i have just watched Susan Garrett's 2 by 2 DVD. I am now convinced that this is the method I will use for Ash when I start her weave. It is that basic understanding which is missing from Kin's performance and I know it will come back and bite me at some stage.
Watch this space for updates!!!

FOR KATE

2009-01-29T00:04:00.000-08:00

It is with huge sadness that I write this post.
One of my very best friends is about to lose her battle with Cystic Fibrosis.
For nearly 20 years, her friendship has been so valuable to me in so many ways.

She has taught me so many life lessons. Some were lessons about life (and death) in general, wonderful insights which have taught me much about myself.
Then there were the lessons about dog training. Kate always had a way of working through those little roadblocks in training with the most positive of outcomes.

I feel a huge measure of sadness about losing Kate. Sad for her - for the dreams which now will not come true, sad for her partner who has shared her life for these years and not least of all, sad for myself, for the loss of a much loved friend. There is no doubt that my life will be so much the poorer without her input.

Be proud my friend
You will leave a lot of very sad people – what more in life could you be proud of?
Love Always
Fiona H

Ash's First Champ Breed Show

2009-01-23T12:07:00.000-08:00

Kapi-Mana saw Ash's first time in the breed ring at Champ level.

she had already been to a Ribbon Parade and was great so I was a little surprised when she was a little wary of the judge at Kapi-mana.

She moved very nicely and stood well was a just a little over-awed when the judge approached so we will be doine a lot of de-sensitising with her over the next few weeks.

She has always been such an outgoing wee girl so we didn't think she'd be a little nervous but it is all a learning curve for her.

I am really looking forward to getting her confidence up a bit as she is so nice and seemed to really enjoy being in the ring otherwise.

Here's a photo of Ash in the ring :-)

Training Update

2009-01-13T22:57:00.000-08:00

Well here we are in the second full week of the year and I've been a very good girl - training the dogs every single day!
Kin is doing some double-box work learning to understand why we did all the circle work in the early days. Thats coming along quite nicely. We are still working on our weaves as well. Im now working harder entries with just 2 poles along with the channel now at approx. 2" and with great drive. We've had our moments but she seems to be really driving well through now with her head low.
So now its just getting fluency and engraining the rhythm so its about habitualising the movement and gradually moving them fully upright.

Ash is entered in her first Champ breed show on Saturday so we've been working on shaping her to stand still and pay attention which has been going really well - she learns very quickly! I've also been working her trotting beside me offlead and clicking for nice steady happy trot. We took her into the paddock yesterday and she roared out of the bushes with a cone and zoomed around with it. We even threw it for her and she was bringing it back - she is so funny. She looks great at present - was a little tubby a week or so ago but is about right now so I'm looking forward to seeing what the judges think of her.
Hopefully a report on that next week - maybe with a photo!!
Fiona

Kin's First Agility Comp

2009-01-04T00:27:00.000-08:00

Well we survived our first effort in the agility arena.

The pretty cool thing was that her first outing was at the first ever official Jumpers Event run in NZ.

The pomp and ceremony was great (except that it was all a bit much for Kin who wondered what the people had done to our grounds!!!). She wasn't real happy with the atmosphere so we only had one good result and did lots of learning.

However her first run resulted in a clear round which was very unexpected and a nice start.

I am confident that her boogies were limited to that one day and strange things being at her normally quiet showgrounds - but we'll see.

Her next outing will be at DAWG at the end of Jan. I will only start her if she's calm around the rings which I expect her to be as she's been to those grounds heaps in the past as a spectator.

Thanks to Nevenka who provided the photo of Kin's first effort!!!

XMAS HOLIDAYS 2008

2008-12-27T17:28:00.000-08:00

Well just home from visiting at Adrienne and Mark's new place so thought I'd best load some photos. A great time was had by all (especially the dogs).

The views below are from the new house!!!

It is truly stunning and a wonderful place for a relaxing break!

On the deck or in the spa with a wine looking at these view was a real hardship.

The paddocks out the back were great fun for getting rid of the dogs' excess energy and the stream at the bottom was a constant source of entertainment.

We managed to get a couple of photos of the oldies together. Someone reminder me recently how important it was to get photos of the older dogs.

These guys are now both 13 years and looking great - Flame and Maya. Born 3 days apart they've spent similar lives and neither really looks their age!

Times flies - just seems like yesterday they were both naughty little puppies.

*******

Kin and Ash provided a couple of photo ops as well up on the hill!

Ash and Kin spent some time screaming around together in the long grass = you can tell its summer in Hawkes Bay!!

Ash also had

lessons in toy acquisition out

of a pool curtesy of Geiga

We also (somehow) finally managed to get all 6 Tervs there in one place at one time.

Home now - for the last few days of the year!

Have a great New Year everyone.

Merry Xmas

2008-12-21T16:19:00.000-08:00

Hi all
Well the year is about done and I'm on holiday - yahoo!
I hope everyone has a merry xmas and a great New Year.
Hopefully I will get a couple of photos of Kin's first agility show on 1 Jan and also a couple of Ash at her first Champ breed show as well.
Best Wishes
Fiona, Flame, Fya, Kindle & Ash

December Already

2008-12-07T21:28:00.000-08:00

Well here we are just a couple of weeks from Christmas and the end of the year!

Dont' know where the year has gone but suddenly we have got to that moment. Kin has been entered in her first Jumpers event on New Years day. Not sure we're quite ready but there's only one way to find out. She's training ok and the weave is coming along well too.

Ash went to Feilding with us on Sat - her first time to a show and was very well behaved. We just took her and Fya. My first full day of agility in 6 months and my calf held up so that was good. Fya ran pretty well for 3 runs then slid into a hurdle in the 4th and we withdrew and came home.

It was great to catch up with everyone after so long but it was hot and I'd about had enough by then.

Sunday we took the dogs up to the park for a run and paddle and they had a great time. We took some photos - the first lot with the whole 5 of them!Zip has joined the tribe - my daughter Amanda's dog. He is a 15 month old heading dog and is just lovely. He has fitted in really well and Ash really loves him.

I hope everyone has a great xmas and break from all the work pressures.

Roll on the challenges of 2009!

Training Kin - Episode one

2008-11-21T23:29:00.000-08:00

Well today we finally managed to take some photos - these are Kin learning the weave.

She's coming along nicely and I am very pleased with progress so far!

She is the first dog I've trained using the weave-o-matics so a learning curve for me too.

Her other agility training is going ok too - contacts are pretty good and her jump training is progressing well.

She's here!

2008-11-21T15:22:00.000-08:00

Cyska arrived Friday 21st Nov from Perth via Auckland.

A long flight and a very hungry puppy. she's settled in really well.

The others think she's cool.

There's nothing quite like having a new puppy when your house in on the market!!!

Ah well thats what keeps life interesting.

Next post will have some photos of Kin's agility training - I promise!!!

Very Slack and Great News

2008-11-12T18:14:00.000-08:00

I don't know where the year has gone but suddenly I have realised I haven't added anything here since early this year.

It has been full of breed shows culminating in Kindle gaining her title in July. We then moved on to getting her agility training seriously underway.

I tore my calf muscle in July as well so I havent' been running agility for the last half of the year giving me lots of time to working on bringing Kin up to speed.

Adrienne, Andrea and I went to the Nationals and had a great few days away with some good results.

BUT - the best news of all - my new puppy arrives on the 21st Nov!! She is from Fauvetnoir in Perth from fantastic lines and I just can't wait.

See this link for photos
http://www.fauvetnoir.id.au/Cyska.htm

Kindle's First Breed Show of the year

2008-01-19T01:34:00.000-08:00

Here are the first couple of photos of Kin in 2008. She continues to lighten up in colour. She also continues to learn heaps and is certainly not as much of a baby any more!!!

Today Kindle joined her brother Storm and her friend Jasper at the Kapi-Mana breed show at porirua.

Shame it was indoors as it was such a lovely day which made it very warm in the kennel centre.

It was the first show for all 3 of the Tervs as Puppies (ie older than baby puppy) and the first chance for us to gain the first challenges towards their breed titles. More than that it was Storms first time in the ring so all new for him and he was very well behaved.

Storm picked up the dog challenge - not bad for the first time out.

Kindle was also a good girl and got her first challenge.

Tomorrow will be another day..............

Then we shot up to Kapiti Agility arriving jus in time to run Fya in Intermediate and Senior. She ran really well in Int for just 5f for a dropped rail. She also ran nicely in Senior until I made an error (lost my footing) and in doing so, called her around a hurdle - bugger!!! She was jumping so nicely and her contacts were great so not too bad a start for her for the year.

End of the Year Already

2007-12-14T20:57:00.000-08:00

Not sure where the year went! Its certainly been a busy one.

Fya's had a great end to the year with two challenges in Senior Agility and finishing (finally) her ADX so now a lot closer to her Ag Ch which is great.

Flame has just turned 12 - he retired from Agilty in May and is still sound and happy.

Kindle is certainly keeping him active which can't be bad!!

I need to take some photos of Kin doing some of her foundation work and will post them soon.

Merry Xmas all!!!!

Fiona

Catching up with the Rellies

2007-12-14T20:50:00.000-08:00

At Napier's Champ Agility Show Kin got to catch up with her half-sister Bana and also have some rough and tumble with Geiga her litter sister.

They are all looking really good and we all had great fun!

Kin loves going away to the agilty shows, is happy and relaxed at the shows now and travels really well too.

Kin meets the sheep

2007-10-22T21:34:00.000-07:00

Here's Kin's first meeting with some woolly beasts.

Of course what you don't see are Ross and Julie's dogs holding the sheep still so Kin can have a look..................

Labour Weekend at the McBeths

2007-10-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Labour Weekend was spent at the McBeths on their farm on the western side of lake Taupo.

What a blast the dogs had - screaming through the pines, up and down hills and around the terribly flash (and floodlit) Agility arena.

The photo at right shows Flame and Fya in the Pine paddock waiting for Ross and Ice to bring the final couple of cattle up to the gate.

The weather was not the best for the weekend - very windy but it was lovely to catch up with Ross and Julie and have a break with time to relax.

Nationals Fun

2007-10-22T21:05:00.000-07:00

Well the NZKC Nationals for 2007 have come and gone with 10 Tervs entered in the breed. It was the first outing for the pups and a good experience for them all.

Breed was Friday then Kin came to Agility on the weekend.

Took a few photos at the breed show - love the one of Kin and Gyga having had too much of a big day :-)

Starting Off

2007-09-22T16:43:00.000-07:00

Well after many years with Border Collies, I have a new baby.

From Donna at La Echelon kennels in Gisborne, Kindle (La Echelon NZ Inferno) is fitting into the family very well.

Kin is a Grey Belgian Shepherd (Tervueren) now 12 weeks old

She has her first official outing at the Nationals this coming week as a Baby Puppy which will be a bit of fun with a couple of her littermates there as well.

Fya thinks Kin was brought home specifically for her to play with - Flame's not so keen on puppies now at nearly 12 but is very patient with her.

Kin has a very strong nature but very sweet as well. She learns quickly and loves to tug already. She has great hand touches and I look forward to working with her as she grows.

Yesterday we had 5 Belgians here for a visit. There was Kindle and her brother Storm (who lives in Raumati), Jasper and Luca (from Kentaza Kennels) who are a month older than Kin and Kujo who lives with Luca in Upper Hutt.