FOR KATE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!