Hoodoo Howlers Agility trial

Because Mom hurt her knee really bad she hasn't been able to do any agility with in a LONG time. It's been almost a year! About a month ago she got permission to start running again so she took me out to play and did some training on the equipment. She is always working on convincing me that Agility is fun (I'm still a bit nervous about it at times because of stuff that happened a long time ago). She says I have gotten SO much better - now my tail never stops wagging when I run!

She entered me in an agility trial on Halloween weekend. I was a bit nervous at first, because it has been so long, but Mommy said it was alright and I trusted her. I ran my best ever at the trial and only NQ'd one run (out of 8 total!) and it was all Mommy's fault for sending me over the wrong jump! I got 1st place on all the runs I Q'd on. I have never run so fast over the contacts as I did that weekend. Mommy was so proud!

I finished my Novice Chances title and my Outstanding Novice Jumpers title. Mommy said that I did even better than Dazzle that weekend!

She also said that now we will do some more trials. Our goal is to earn the NADAC Novice Triple Superior award. It's a big award - like the Novice version of a Championship - and I have to earn a lot of points but Mommy said I can do it! I don't know too much about all that stuff though, I just like playing the game!

Wags,
Peanut

ZAP agility trial - November 23-24

Mommy took me along with Dazzle to the November ZAP trial. I was so excited to get to go with Dazzy! Mommy has been doing a lot of training with me so now I like agility a lot and run fast! Well...I run fast as long as Mommy does too anyway.

So, on Friday I had 4 runs. 2 of them were Jumpers, and 2 were Regular. The first Jumpers I did I Q'd and got a 1st place - that also finished my NJC title! And guess what? That was my FIRST agility title! Yipee!! My next run was another Jumpers. I Q'd and got a 1st place in that one too! Mommy was so proud! And I was having a blast.

Next I had a Regular round. This would be my first time doing the big equipment at a trial...but Mommy was very calm, so I was too. I did everything just like we did in practice and I got a Q and a 1st in Regular! Not only that, but I also Q'd and got 1st in the second round! Mommy was now proud and amazed at how well I was doing. I got lots of cookies for that.

Then I got to go back again on Saturday. This day I had 2 more Regulars and 2 Chances. The first Regular that day went just fine - and guess what? That was my third ever regular run, and my NAC title! Wowser! How cool is that?! Then I had the other Regular, which, big surprise (hehehe) I got another Q and a 1st in.

Lastly I had Chances. That is where you have to do distance. The first one I did GREAT on! Mommy sent me out like 10 feet to some jumps and I just did it! That was very exciting. So, another Q. But then on the second one I had some trouble. Mommy had to layer a jump and send me about 15 feet out to a tunnel (my least favorite obstacle). I tried again and again but I just couldn't do it, so I took the jump instead. But Mommy didn't care, she knew that I tried hard and just wasn't ready for that yet. We could work on it.

So no Q on that one but on my other 7 runs I did! I was so excited. Mommy says now I get to go to more trials with Dazzle! YAY!

Woofs and Wags,
Peanut NAC, NJC, CGC

ZAP Agility Trial - June 2nd 2007

So I got to go to another ZAP trial. But this time, I was faster! I had 2 jumpers runs again. This time I Q'd and got a first place in BOTH!! Those were my first ever agility Qs. Everyone was so proud of how fast I ran and how confident I was.

Mommy says we have a lot more training to do - but that I might be able to go to the next ZAP trial in November! I can't wait!

Woofs,
Peanut

ZAP agility trial!

Well, I did it! I competed in the ZAP November trial.
This is my second trial (on my first I either scratched or got a nice big E on all my runs).

I had two jumpers runs, one on Saturday, one on Sunday. My first run I was a bit scared and worried about all the noise. I got off to a slow start but I did run the course (clean I might add). I slowed down when I got to the tunnel but after that, I was H-A-P-P-Y! That is a very big thing for me. No Q because I was over time but I got a first place anyway!

On my next run (Sunday) I was not so scared. I was a bit slow at first but I picked up the pace and by the end of that run my fur was really flying! (you can see the video on my page). I ran the course clean, but I missed time by .17 seconds! .17! Arg! I was so close to getting a Q! Maybe next time. I still got a 1st place though!

I had a lot of fun and so I will probably do the next ZAP trial in June. Mom was very proud of how well I did. Even though I didn't run as fast as Dazzle I still put my best paw forward and tried really hard! Mommy gave me lots of doggie treats that night, now I can't wait to do it again!

woof woof!
Peanut

Going to an Agility Trial....

Yay!! Mommy registered me for the ZAP november trial (same one that my sister Dazzle is going to). I have one jumpers run each day - I can't wait!!

I am still having a major meltdown about the teeter totter but I love to do just jumps! I run really fast in class and Mommy hopes that I will do good at the trial. I did OK at my first trial - I liked jumpers the most. So we will see how I do this time!

I can't wait!

Wags and wiggles,
Peanut

Newcastle Agility Demo

Mommy took me (and that crazy Border Collie they call me sister) to Newcastle Days to do an "Agility Demo". That means that we do an Agility course for all the public people and tell them all about it. This is really the first time that I had F-U-N doing it!! This is my first Demo after a lot of at-home training so all my old Agility buddies were happy to see me again - and see that I have gotten better at Agility! My instructor was really happy to see that I wasn't so scared of it all any more and that I run FAST over the stuff!

We demo-ed for 2 days (the second day I was much more tired but still ran fast). And because I had so much fun Mommy is going to take me back to an official class (Dazzle's class) and see how I do. I still don't like to do Agility at the training center but you never know right?

At an Agility trial in November (Dazzle's FIRST trial!) I might do one or two Jumpers runs just for fun - if Mommy thinks that I will do OK. If I DO the trial - I will have tons to report.

Tail wags,
Peanut

My Birthday!

YAY!
Feb. 1st is my B-Day, and today is that day! Mommy is going to do special stuff with me today - and the Border Collie won't get to do it! I also get a nice yummy breakfast, it tastes so good!
I am now 5 years old. It seems so old now but if you think of some of the other doggies here, wow, I am just a pup! You rock guys!
So today is my happy day, Mommy (because she is a camera freak) is going to take lost of pictures of me, maybe even a photoshoot!

I feel so happy, and Dogster is part of that feeling. So to all the doggies that's Birthday is today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Tail wagging, tongue licking,
Peanut

Crate Training Breakthrough!

Today Mom had to put me in the crate for awhile while she was busy. I usually HATE to be away from her for any length of time but today Mommy was very proud of me by the time she took me out.

She put me in the crate and (because I was tired, not because I got over my fears of being left) I just curled up and went to sleep. Later I woke-up and I was still in the crate! I was going to whine, but I could still smell Mommy nearby so I stayed quiet. I waited for what seemed like forever, but, I kept my mouth shut.

After a little longer, Mommy let me out of the crate and I kissed her all over! I was sooOOOoo Happy to see her! She said that she was proud of me for being quiet and I was proud to! She gave me some treats and then played with me for a bit.

I was proud of myself to make Mom so happy. I still don't like that crate thing at ALL but maybe it’s not so bad. After all, Dazzle likes it, Popcorn likes it, and they never get hurt while they are in it. I might try to stay quiet next time I am in the crate and I might get more treats! Yum!

Woofs and Yips,
Peanut

I went and saw "Shakespeare in the Park"

I knew that we were going somewhere with our people because Mommy was packing dog treats, leashes, toys, a brush and a towel in our doggie bag. They were also packing food, yup, FOOD!

I love to ride in the car and all Mommy has to say is "get in" and I'm there! This time, all three of us doggies got to go with our people! We drove for a long time and I got to smell all kinds of stuff out the window. Then we got to a park, I knew it was a park because I had been here before, this place = fun! Mommy walked us up a big hill (tough work for little doggies with short legs) and out onto a big grassy place.

After they set up the blanket and I got some ground sniffing done, Mommy took me and my sister Dazzle to go play for awhile. We ran and ran and chased some balls. Lots of other people came to the big grass place with blankets and chairs too. They must all really like the big grass!

When we got tired, Mommy took us both back to the blankets and said "now just rest for a bit". Everything was dandy and people came to pet us but then....BANG! BANG! CLANG!.....BANG! BANG! CLANG! Yikes! I hid under a chair but Mommy said not to be scared, it was just a drum. I still thought that it was pretty scary. We watched a lot of drumming, screaming and clanging. I decided that it wasn't so bad but it still hurt me ears. How could they possibly be enjoying this?

I started to get sleepy but I tried to stay awake and watch what they were calling a "Play" (if it is a "Play" why wasn't I playing?). Then it was finally over, thank goodness! Mom said that we were lucky doggies to get to see a "Shakespeare Play" right up close. I didn't feel all that lucky. Mommy let us play some more before we all got back into the car and to go home. I still don't know what was so fun about all the banging. hum. Well, if nothing else, I got to go for a nice car ride! That makes anything (even the vet!) almost bearable! Hehe. :)

I'm a Booth Dog!

At my local training center they liked me SO MUCH that they wanted me to work some of the advertising booths that they do (and I get to do free classes for it!). I have seen so many dogs durning my booth work! I get to be all dressed up and sometimes I even do Demos!

All kinds of people (and lots of kids! Yay!) come and pet me all day! what more could a dog want than to hear "Oh, what a sweet doggie - what? she does tricks and obedience too? WOW!" It just makes my day!

My baby sister is doing some of the calmer booth stuff these days but I am still the Yoda of boothing! I have done so many, from dog festivals to art shows! It makes me so happy to see all those doggies and KIDS out in the sun! And of course, its always nice when they come over to give me a pat!