For one day it was spring! I still have a surprisingly amount of snow in my yard compared to everyone else I know, but it was almost 60 degrees on Saturday!
Duckie and Toller went to an agility run through today! Opportunity for more trial routine practice for Vito but a surprise toy in the ring and opportunity for Zumi to work on "new" equipment and focus. It was pretty quiet and had more of a class feel than a trial feel but still beneficial as neither dogs have done classes there. Zumi's one other match was held at the same location.
Vito's first run was super super Sad Toller. Like worse then it's been in a trial in a long time type sad. I got some fake screaming at me on the start but he was just really not there. Even starting with the dogwalk as his 2nd obstacle didn't get him up. Lots of running by obstacles and just running next to me instead. Even after several toy rewards he only half way perked up. It's not that he looked nervous about anything or distracted, he just was not into the whole agility thing.
His second turn he perked up quite a bit. Still slow to turn on outside the ring but we achieved happiness before entering and was able to maintain it. I rewarded a ton and Vito didn't run by any obstacles. My dog was magically there again.
Zumi also had two runs. Did her weaves at a new place! Slipped a bit and still stayed in (damn that turf!). Dogwalks looked nice with both straight exits and a flip out to a tunnel underneath. Teeter was the most hesitant. Very happy to do but wanted to wait in a 4 on instead of going all the way to her 2o2o position. Handled very nicely for short sequences other than wanting to orbit out to nowhere on a small push to the backside of a jump. Very happy Duck! I think we're on track for the end of April trial debut in UKI!
Continuing to work on retriever training on the weekends! Finally decided to start Vito. I expect Vito to start slowly with enthusiasm but get higher and higher with the retrieves and then lose his mind with real birds.
I've always wanted to try out dock diving with the dogs. Not really as a main sport to train for but just the occasional fun event. There isn't really any place in the cities that have a dock or even just a pool to rent (surprisingly!) but there's a pretty cheap rental place less than 2hrs south. I took the tollers along with 2 other people/dogs to see how they would do today.
I've long believed that Vito would absolutely be in love with the sport (water! toys!) but be horrendous at it. I envisioned a screaming brick that would just plop right in, straight down.
But Vito surprised me! Lots and lots of screaming the entire time we were there, even when crated. But he jumped! All cute and of course almost no distance this first time. But he still shocked me at actually trying to jump out!
Video!
Kitty has been getting a lot more demanding recently. Maybe because he finally doesn't look fat after dieting forever. Who knows. So we got him a toy. A very big toy.
Well Vito's nail, or lack thereof, healed up enough to play UKI today! So grateful since UKI is amazing with being able to do toy runs!
First run was speedstakes and even though it was the first run which I really like doing a toy run to start out the day, I was greedy and wanted a chance at qualifying so I can work on getting Vito out of the senior level. The run felt slowish to me but looking at the Vito it actually looks really good! Much running from the Toller! Unfortunately he pulled into me and sucked right off the middle jump of a serpentine. Ah well, serves me right for being greedy.
But then Vito got to do 2 toy runs in a row to appease him. And the Toller rejoiced!
All hail to UKI! I really wish other organizations would follow suit! And obedience too!
There was even *gasp* a bitch in heat running and wouldn't you know the trial somehow managed to not dive into utter chaos. Other organizations take note.
Vito's last run was toyless and he even managed to be happy AND qualify! Hurrah!
The Duck is 16 months old today! Growing up!
Just our luck. The Toller was entered in a USDAA trial this weekend. I was going to do 1 run on Friday before going to work as in order to get jumpers Qs you actually have to be entered in the class! And then skipping Saturday due to the weird schedule and doing 3 runs on Sunday to try and get another jumper Q, and maybe a magical elusive super Q in snooker.
Friday I get to the show, setup all my crap and walk the course. Vito is actually really happy when I get him out for the run bright and early and he does the warm up jump maybe 4 times without issue. I take him off the side to keep up some light play with him and then suddenly I notice him holding up his back leg. Damn it. I look and his nail is just hanging off, lots of blood.
YOU DIDN'T EVEN RUN THE COURSE VITO! How did that possibly happen?!
So of course I pick him up, cross his name off the gate sheet, and then take him back to the crate. A vet happens to be next to me and nicely offers to pull off the rest of the nail as it's really not even on at all.
Vito got to spend the rest of the weekend like this. At least a missing nail is nothing serious.
The Corgi has only continued to get more and more sassy the last several months. So much barking! Lance apparently feels the need to bark now as soon as he enters the house any time we were away from home. He runs into the living room and then turns around and barks at me until I've finished stripping off my winter clothes and make my way into the room. Or he alternates running to bark at Adam and then back in my direction.
And while Lance has always started the barking whenever someone comes home, now it changes from the initial slight alarm bark into that demand barking until the person fully acknowledges him for however long the Corgi deserves to be talked and petted to.
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