In 14 days time Liryk, Edge and I will be in QLD for the Nationals!!! To say I'm excited is the UNDERSTATEMENT of the century!! 2 years earlier and I was cancelling flights and completely devastated that Liryk had to be pulled out of the last Nationals....
Sooooo it'll be both Liryk and Edge's FIRST time competing at this level! :-D I'm nervous.... excited.... and above all completely and utterly chuffed I get to play with my kids against other super cool dogs!!
Interestingly with this rather large event rapidly approaching.... hurdles appear to be setting some challenges for us ;-)
Over the last 4mths Liryk has gone through flying off her seesaw... which meant some retraining...missing her d/w contact... because of all the turns we've been seeing of late...again some retraining required ;-) and most recently she's decided that launching herself off the aframe would be good to try :-P Nothing like cutting it fine!!
Edge... well my focus coming into the Nationals with him has been timing, handling and bars. I'd even packed away my dogwalk....actually he's probably not been on my d/w since the end of last year... BIG mistake! Again with so many turns (even in Excellent) his d/w has deteriorated. Once a very solid straight exit performance has now turned into him launching and missing the contact zone completely. Just last weekend he missed 2 for 2 dogwalk contacts with straight exits .... YIKES! So 2 weeks out from Nationals and I'm wondering if there is enough time to fix it??? Oh well.... only one way to find out right :-P
Either way I'm sure our Nationals adventure is going to be memorable... I'm hoping the good kind of memorable :-P Rather than the naughty blown contacts kind of memorable ;-)
Good Luck to everyone travelling!! See you soon :-D
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Turning Your Challenges Into Your Strengths
I'm pretty blessed with Liryk and Edge being sooooo drivey :-D But there's a part of me that wonders if they'd still be that way.... if I didn't have Epic first...
You see Epic is quite the opposite. She shuts down easy, she's hard to motivate, she doesn't play well with others, unless you're in her 'inner' group ;-) Basically Epic is CHALLENGING.
Some find these types of dogs to much hard work... and they're right... it IS hard work.... but if you delve outside your comfort zone, use the many resources available to us on the internet, you end up with a dog that is so much more confident :-D One that WANTS to play with you :-D AND you end up with a wealth of ideas for your next dog ;-)
Epic is nearly 8 1/2years old. And she has so many more achievements than the others. I don't mean she has titles or wins in agility. I'm talking about MUCH bigger achievements in the world of... her life. Not many people know, but there was a time that Epic would attack the other (now passed) dogs in our house. She would go through 'episodes' of hiding under the dining room table. She HATED tugging and there's NO way I'd ever let her off around other dogs!
Today she's LOVES tugging! She LOVES Liryk and Edge, there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't play with 1 or both of them :-D She's so much better with other dogs, I'm still careful, but her group of buddies is growing :-D And the thing that makes me the most happy is that I can see her smiling all the time! I could have chosen the path of her being in the too hard basket.... but I'm so glad I didn't! And I think Liryk and Edge show how much I've learnt, from one little scared dog that I wouldn't give up on :-)
You see Epic is quite the opposite. She shuts down easy, she's hard to motivate, she doesn't play well with others, unless you're in her 'inner' group ;-) Basically Epic is CHALLENGING.
Some find these types of dogs to much hard work... and they're right... it IS hard work.... but if you delve outside your comfort zone, use the many resources available to us on the internet, you end up with a dog that is so much more confident :-D One that WANTS to play with you :-D AND you end up with a wealth of ideas for your next dog ;-)
Epic is nearly 8 1/2years old. And she has so many more achievements than the others. I don't mean she has titles or wins in agility. I'm talking about MUCH bigger achievements in the world of... her life. Not many people know, but there was a time that Epic would attack the other (now passed) dogs in our house. She would go through 'episodes' of hiding under the dining room table. She HATED tugging and there's NO way I'd ever let her off around other dogs!
Today she's LOVES tugging! She LOVES Liryk and Edge, there isn't a day that goes by that she doesn't play with 1 or both of them :-D She's so much better with other dogs, I'm still careful, but her group of buddies is growing :-D And the thing that makes me the most happy is that I can see her smiling all the time! I could have chosen the path of her being in the too hard basket.... but I'm so glad I didn't! And I think Liryk and Edge show how much I've learnt, from one little scared dog that I wouldn't give up on :-)
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Life
It really is, so very precious.
It's amazing how one little puppy, blessing us with 12 days of joy, could be taken away, even though you've fallen head over heels in love with him. I mean what is with that?
I thought it would be easier having the "dad" but from the moment that little merle boy came into this world there was a very strong emotional attachment. I can't imagine how Simone is feeling right now, spending almost every waking moment with him. Or poor Spryte who has lost her little baby..... The loss is profound and there is no doubt that we are all heartbroken :-(
Hug your kids, each and every one of them is so very special.
It's amazing how one little puppy, blessing us with 12 days of joy, could be taken away, even though you've fallen head over heels in love with him. I mean what is with that?
I thought it would be easier having the "dad" but from the moment that little merle boy came into this world there was a very strong emotional attachment. I can't imagine how Simone is feeling right now, spending almost every waking moment with him. Or poor Spryte who has lost her little baby..... The loss is profound and there is no doubt that we are all heartbroken :-(
Hug your kids, each and every one of them is so very special.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Dancer
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It seems just yesterday we were running and playing together :-)
Love you forever squeally pig xx
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKfJFg528nk
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Jan 2014
Is it just me... or as you get older, do the years seem to start speeding up??? because seriously wasn't it JUST Jan 2013??? Really makes you want to not waste a second really :-D
Sooooo...... 2014 ....... ooooh I wonder what the year will bring!! It's exciting to think there is a whole year in front of us again. I wonder what adventures we will go on, what new people we will meet along the way. Last year was pretty darn awesome! But when each new year begins, it's almost like a WHOLE new story is about to be written. And it makes me want to sit on the edge of my chair in anticipation of what's about to happen :-D
I think my main goal for this year is to actually make it to the Nationals.... WITH a dog ;-) Our Nationals are only held every two years and that makes them kind of special. 2012 was the year Liryk was injured 3weeks before the Sydney Nationals, and I made the decision to scratch her.... so this will be her very first one and I have to say I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!! :-D It will also be Edge's first Nationals.... and I expect HE will be soooooooooooooooo excited too ;-) LOL
My guys are currently on break this month, none of the rigors of agility, just lots of running, swimming, and tricks. And they seem VERY happy with the holiday routine ;-)
Sooooo...... 2014 ....... ooooh I wonder what the year will bring!! It's exciting to think there is a whole year in front of us again. I wonder what adventures we will go on, what new people we will meet along the way. Last year was pretty darn awesome! But when each new year begins, it's almost like a WHOLE new story is about to be written. And it makes me want to sit on the edge of my chair in anticipation of what's about to happen :-D
I think my main goal for this year is to actually make it to the Nationals.... WITH a dog ;-) Our Nationals are only held every two years and that makes them kind of special. 2012 was the year Liryk was injured 3weeks before the Sydney Nationals, and I made the decision to scratch her.... so this will be her very first one and I have to say I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOO EXCITED!!!!! :-D It will also be Edge's first Nationals.... and I expect HE will be soooooooooooooooo excited too ;-) LOL
My guys are currently on break this month, none of the rigors of agility, just lots of running, swimming, and tricks. And they seem VERY happy with the holiday routine ;-)
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Close your eyes and take a leap ;-)
At the beginning of the year I mentioned how exciting this year "felt" How if I just took a leap of faith something mind blowing could happen, and it did :-D
I've just come back from the US where I had a working spot for 4 days with Lisa Frick and Tereza Kravlova. And it was everything I could have dreamed of and more. Both ladies while soooooo young, possess an immense knowledge of agility. And are the type of instructors that leave you inspired and wanting more.
They encouraged you to step outside of what feels familiar and comfortable, to run life on the edge, to push the limits ;-) Yes there were casualties.... a broken wrist, a broken ankle, and a damaged knee, all separate people and thankfully none of those things happened to me :-)
It was such an experience to be coached on new moves, understanding the reasoning behind why to use certain moves and where, and timing.... because I was late late late, especially on front crosses :-P
Most people at the seminar were wonderful. So encouraging to everyone, you could just feel that they wanted others to succeed, especially when some doubted their own abilities, and to see the looks on their faces when they made it..... was priceless :-D
I know seminars can be hard, you get caught up in the heat of the moment and two weeks from now you slot back into the same old routine of how you did things. And this is something I really want to try not to do. I spent most of my hours standing by each instructor watching, learning and taking notes, hoping that I would begin to "see" (even if it's only a small portion) of what they see..... fingers crossed ;-)
I do know, that I've experienced an opportunity of a lifetime. To meet two handlers and their dogs that are amongst the best in the world. And to have the opportunity to learn from them for just a fraction of time still makes my head spin. To have people so generous to allow me to run their dogs, because without them there is no way I'd ever be able to do this. And yes I'm still pinching myself that it actually happened ;-)
Incase you haven't already seen it on facebook here is my little video :-)
I've just come back from the US where I had a working spot for 4 days with Lisa Frick and Tereza Kravlova. And it was everything I could have dreamed of and more. Both ladies while soooooo young, possess an immense knowledge of agility. And are the type of instructors that leave you inspired and wanting more.
They encouraged you to step outside of what feels familiar and comfortable, to run life on the edge, to push the limits ;-) Yes there were casualties.... a broken wrist, a broken ankle, and a damaged knee, all separate people and thankfully none of those things happened to me :-)
It was such an experience to be coached on new moves, understanding the reasoning behind why to use certain moves and where, and timing.... because I was late late late, especially on front crosses :-P
Most people at the seminar were wonderful. So encouraging to everyone, you could just feel that they wanted others to succeed, especially when some doubted their own abilities, and to see the looks on their faces when they made it..... was priceless :-D
I know seminars can be hard, you get caught up in the heat of the moment and two weeks from now you slot back into the same old routine of how you did things. And this is something I really want to try not to do. I spent most of my hours standing by each instructor watching, learning and taking notes, hoping that I would begin to "see" (even if it's only a small portion) of what they see..... fingers crossed ;-)
I do know, that I've experienced an opportunity of a lifetime. To meet two handlers and their dogs that are amongst the best in the world. And to have the opportunity to learn from them for just a fraction of time still makes my head spin. To have people so generous to allow me to run their dogs, because without them there is no way I'd ever be able to do this. And yes I'm still pinching myself that it actually happened ;-)
Incase you haven't already seen it on facebook here is my little video :-)
Monday, July 29, 2013
What???? A weekend of no agility??
Sometimes its nice to just NOT do agility :-D To get away with family and let the dogs be dogs and have fun zooming around ;-)
We've just come back from Bridgetown, my brother and sister in law own the lolly shop down there....mmmmm chocolate :-D.... oops got a little sidetracked :-P And with it being my mums birthday we all met up for a weekend away. Good food, bush walks and best of all we completely missed the storm that everyone else got in Perth. SUPER relaxing time had by all!!
We've just come back from Bridgetown, my brother and sister in law own the lolly shop down there....mmmmm chocolate :-D.... oops got a little sidetracked :-P And with it being my mums birthday we all met up for a weekend away. Good food, bush walks and best of all we completely missed the storm that everyone else got in Perth. SUPER relaxing time had by all!!
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