AAC Nationals and 3 year Dogster anniversary

we got 6th place at the AAC Regionals and qualified for Nationals!! We competed at Nationals on August 1-2. Mom was really happy with me, I was so fast and had so much drive! I tried really hard for her and she couldn't be more proud. She says that she couldn't have a better dog :) Yay, I'm happy when mom's happy!

On another note, I've been on Dogster for exactly 3 years today! :D Wooot go Dogster!

~Mika

AAC Regionals coming up!

Our province's AAC Regional Agility Championships are coming up very quickly!! The Regionals will be held on May 29 - 31. The Regionals is the qualifyer for the AAC Nationals -- to qualify for Nationals, we'll have to get 350 points. Points are added or taken away depending on how fast I am and if I make mistakes. It'll be a blast, even if we don't qualify!

~Mika

Wall-e

I've had a "little brother" for a month now. His name is Wall-e, and he's a 6 month old Shetland Sheepdog. He sure does get a lot of training time with Nat! But Nat says that's just because he's a puppy and she needs to work on his foundation training. She still makes sure to do a bit of everyday house manners, basic obedience, tricks, etc. with me too. And I still get walked too.

Well, as long as I get fed, I'm happy! ;)

~Mika

AgNJ title, cool!!

I got my AgNJ (Agility Novice Jumper) title in CKC on October 18, 2008! It was so much FUN! YAY! My first ever CKC title. Now we're in Intermediate! We can't go to many CKC trials since there's barely any around here, so it takes a while for us to get titles in it. It's a nice break from the tough AAC though!

~Mika

What is a Title?

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title,
not just an adjunct to competitive scores.
A title is a tribute to the dog that bears it,
a way to honor the dog, an ultimate memorial.
It will remain in the record and in the memory
for about as long as anything in this world can remain.

Few humans will do as well or better in that regard.
And though the dog himself doesn’t know or care that
his achievements have been noted, a title says many things
in the world of humans, where such things count.

A title says your dog was intelligent, adaptable, and good natured.
It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed.
And a title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few;
that in a world of disposable creatures this dog with a title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return.

And when that dear short life is over, the title remains as a memorial of the finest kind,
the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received permanently.

Poem Author: Sandy Mowery

AADC title!! Go ME!

Haven't updated in a LONG while! Well, I've got big news...I GOT MY AADC TITLE!!

I amazed my mom Nat last Friday! (Well, when do I ever NOT amaze her?!) She'd entered me in two Advanced Standard runs and I got my final Q for the title in the first run (in awesome style, I must say!), so we got to do the second run just for the heck of it! (Nat really liked doing the second run because she got to try out some stuff that she wouldn't normally do for a Q, like a send to the tunnel.) As well as getting my AADC (which stands for "Advanced Agility Dog of Canada"), there was also another big milestone...it was my first time trialling with a teeter indoors!! I was fearless 'bout it too!

Nat is soooooo proud of me! I'm eligible to run in Masters Standard now!

~Mika

Stewie came over! :D

Yesterday my brother's friend's dog Stewie came over for a visit! Stewie is a 3 year old male Beagle. He had lots of fun. He kept sniffing and licking my butt...but I got to chase him around the yard a bit! Nat was doing some jumping with him, and she's pretty impressed. but I'M still BETTER, of course! :D

~Mika

Blog!

Hiya everybody, check out my mom's new blog!

www.dreamdogz.blogspot.com

I think it's really cool! She's got lots of good photos on there and talks about ME! :D

~Mika

PS: Fun match in 1 week exactly!

Field time!

We went to the Agility field today! We usually go about three times a week, and it's always tons of fun!

This is what we worked on today:

1. two 10" jumps set at a 270 degree angle, with Nat 5 ft. away from me the first time and 7 ft. away the second time. The first time I was perfect! The second time I went between the two jumps, but then I got it right!

2. tunnel to 6 weaves, 45 degree angle to weaves. Missed the weave entry at first and entered at the 3rd pole, but then I tried again and I was great!

3. running dog walk, no props. CRAZY FAST!! Missed the contact.

4. moving A-frame, no props. Really fast! Almost missed the contact.

~Mika

Flyball? Mebbe

Yesterday Nat set up four 10" jumps spaced out in a straight line, and she put a target at the end of the jumps. She sent me out over the jumps by putting me in a Stay, putting some treats on the target, then walking back and saying "Ready, Set, GO! Over, Over, Over, Over, GET IT!" as I raced over the four jumps ahead of her to get to my treats (green pepper by the way)! Nat ran over to me and praised me and stuff (she was REALLY happy!) and then we ran inside to get some more green pepper! :D

She's considering doing some Flyball with me. Her mom isn't so sure though. She says that I get too hyped up when I see other dogs running (true) and I wouldn't be able to pass them without chasing them (true) and it would just be too stressful for her (?). She said that Nat can do flyball with the next dog.

Oh, I haven't told any of you! Nat is getting a border collie! She's not sure when, because she's waiting for one certain dog to be bred, but she's not sure when (or if) that'll happen. She sure hopes so though! I'd also like a nice buddy to play with. :)

~Mika