Activity Update!

We have been busy the last couple of weeks.

Pip was successful in getting her Rally Advanced title 3 for 3. As I had begun to work on heeling with her quite diligently, the heeling for the last trial was much better then the first 2. We even survived a very excited dog barking in the next ring that totally blew Pippi's mind. Just as we approached the first station, your basic Sit, Down, Sit - the dog started barking and Pip lost her focus. I had quite a time getting her focused and on task, we reapproached the station and we got threw it. Pip even started barking herself, I think she thought it was play time or something. In the end, we had a score in the 90's - that first station was our only blip. Getting her back on task after that is such a big achievement and by far the best thing we did that day! Now onto the Excellent level. Many of the shows now are outside and we are not ready as a team to have that experience. I'll wait for inside trials and start heeling work and attention work outside now.

We've also done quite a bit of USDAA Agility. Pip was able to get her P1 level titles in JWW, STD, Gambler and Snookers - over the course of about 4 or 5 trials. We have moved up to the P2 level and ran for the first time at that level this past weekend. The courses really become quite a bit more challenging. We managed to do 7 runs in 2 days - needless to say both of us were tired by the end of the weekend.

Our hiking needs some additional work - while she is very aware of where I am, when that nose gets to the ground she is like a blood hound or something. I still get nervous when hiking her because of this and I just need to trust my dog! That will be my goal for tomorrows hike.

I've been a slacker in the picture taking department. Need to get on the stick with that. Thats all for now - not to exciting.