Views and Wildlife

View from Rim Drive a few minutes from our house.  That's the high school, fairgrounds and Recreation Center next to the Animas River

 Below you see the bear prints I spotted on the driveway a week ago.  This morning this fellow showed up in the back at 7:50.  Earlier at 7:15, Coffee barked from the window and I saw a mother and two cubs.    I pressed a "boat horn" they had here and away they went!  The recent fires, plus the drought have the bear looking for food.  They like to eat acorns and fruit.  We have oak trees on the property!

 This buck was spotted out the front window.  There is a salt lick there and a small water "hole".

I almost forgot, I spotted a coyote this week on the driveway while walking.  It was almost the size of Coffee!  The deer and coyote are more brown in color than the ones in CA - and they are not as thin!

Hope your summer is going well.  We are still unpacking but take time to explore the area or run errands each day.  Miss you all!  Sydney

Just received an e mail from Sydney, boy is she having adventures in just getting their stuff. Here is a quote from her email- Two weeks late  and what a day that was!   Friday at 9 -  Driver calls to say he will be here at 10 a.m.  He calls back at 10 a.m. to say that his semi cannot make it through the “round abouts” in the housing development!  We meet him and drive him to a rental company to rent a small truck.  The driver and two men make multiple trips back and forth the mile to our house.  It takes 7 hours!   It was wrapped and loaded in 4 hours in Napa.  At 4:30 while unloading the last load we get one of those Colorado thundershowers.  For 15 minutes it poured like mad - the men put the beds together.   Sam and I both worked like crazy while they unloaded.  Pointing out what went downstairs etc. and Sam unloaded his books in his "Wine and Book" Room.   It was a very long day.   Just think that included clothing.

Hello from Colorado

Echo and Coffee were great travelers

 When we arrived they enjoyed looking for chipmunks and bunnies down on the patio!

We often see deer and and bunnies.  The chipmunks love siting on the patio in the morning to munch on whatever they eat.  They are SO CUTE!  Two nights ago we saw a black bear 70 ft from the front door.  I had just come back from a walk at 8:45!

Thinking about  you all.  Have a great "rest of the summer".   Sydney

Good Bye Zorro...........................

It is with much sadness that Good Bye is said to Zorro.....................

Zorro will be missed by his family Christy and Charlie along with the other dogs at home.  He will be missed by his agility friends and others who know him.  Zorro accomplished much is his short life, he and Christy earned agility titles, obedience titles, rally titles, but most of all the title of friend!!  That is a title that will be with everyone who knew him.  Zorro was treasured by Christy and for that I know Zorro is blessed.  He had an incredible life, got to do much and see much.  But again most of all and the most important was the love he shared with his family.  With heavy hearts right now over the loss, but to brighter days and the memories that you will  always have. 

Be sure to go back and review the November 8th post for a slide show of Zorro......

Rain! and April Schedule

Class is cancelled for today.

April and Summer Schedule:

 Wednesday evenings

5:45 to no later than 7:30

(length will be depend on size of class)

PLEASE

Be on the arena ready to walk the first exercise at 5:45.

Let's all help set jump bars.

See you soon!

One In A Million

Am/Ntl/Intl CH Starline's Magnum Champagne, UDX, VER, RAE, JH, NA, NAJ, OAP, AJP, CGC 

March 3,
We continue to work on rear crosses, and the dogs and handlers are progressing nicely.  We also did a LOP, which all handled well.  For the teeter exercise, Rollo did a full !!!height teeter!!!!!!  Good boy!!!  We had a visiting dog and handler in class, offering a good distraction, I was trilled that Ube did not go visit during his runs, which is a hugh success for us.   More rear cross work this week, and other course work.  Keep it up, your doing a good job handlers!!!!

Saturday, February 25
This week in class we continued our work on rear crosses.  Building on what was done in previous weeks, improving our dogs and our skills.   The building of teamwork.

Am exercise was done doing GO's to the table and over a line of jumps.  More teeter work was done with two teeters added to the exercise.  
During the week, practice your rear crosses without equipment.  We have done this in the past but here is a quick reminder.  Sit your dog in front our you.  You take a couple of steps back (directly behind the dog) and then take a couple to the right or left, lets do this one to the left, so your current position is two steps behind the dog, and two steps to the left of the dog.  Start moving to the right side of the dog, as your pass behind the dog, the dog should turn its head to the right, praise and release.  It the dogs looks the other way, stop and start again.  If you have questions, let us know.

See you next week..........................

Class on February 18th -
We started off the class with brownie walnut cookies as a tribute to both Ube's third Birthday on Feb. 12th, and the 18th was four year since I lost Derby.  Yesterday I realized it was Zuni's Birthday, so the celebration should have included her.  It was a celebration of life, here and after.

Class, on this day we continued work on the rear cross.  The exercise was harder and more difficult for several of the dogs (except Coffee), always one in the group.  We did a teeter exercise that was a circle going teeter, tunnel, jump, tunnel, teeter, tunnel, jump, to a different teeter.  Now this exercise was challenging for all handlers.  Ube and I had problems going to the second teeter wanting to take the tunnel, where everyone else had problems on the first pass, with the dogs wanting to take the second teeter instead of the tunnel.  It was really fun to watch, maybe stressful for the handler, but still fun to watch.   Oh, I don't want to forget that Rollo did a full teeter, on both the second and third height adjustments.  Keep it up, your almost there.   

Also we need to give a hey, wippee, to Christy and Chugs, for a great job at the trial on Sunday and Monday.  The Q'ed in Time to beat, 13 dogs ran the course and only 5 qualified.  Keep it up. 

This week for those at class we will continue working on the rear cross, and also another teeter exercise.  Can't wait until the weekend...............................................................

Saturday, February 11
On this day we worked on the rear cross handling move.  I lot of time was devoted to this as this can be a difficult move for some dogs and handlers.  Towards the end, the dogs started picking up the cue.  Which is staying behind the dog and deceleration. 
We also did a weave pole drill, a lead-out pivot drill, and worked the teeter more.  Before we knew it, class was over.  On the 18th, we will continue our rear cross training.  So have a good week until then............

Saturdays Class, February 4th -
For this class we covered the following:

An exercise was done incorporation all of the Front Cross positions that we have worked on over the past few weeks.  Those at class has some struggles, but end the end everyone was successful.  We did another table exercise, trying to trick the dog into going to the table but they were just to smart on this day.  Another exercise was a teeter sequence, and with Sticker we just worked on the teeter itself and advancing his position on it.  The a weave pole exercise was done and the scooby doo dogs are going a great mob with the weaves.  A small jump grid was done, and also the jump spider.  It was a very nice morning and everyone seemed to enjoy the morning. 
Sorry for the delay in getting this posted, this Saturday we start work on the rear cross,,,  see you later.........................................

Saturday January 28th
In class we reviewed the "Go" command, FC on the outside of the box or jump,  Teeter exercise, with the dogs going at the teeter with speed and drive maintaining a position on the end of the teeter until release to the tunnel ahead. 
Just for those of you who are curious I can't give you the exact starting date on the teeter, I don't have that training log out, but on January 21, 2011 we worked with the dogs and squirt cheese on the bottom of the teeter.  They've come a long way!!!! 
The FC exercise we did on both the right and left sides, did you or your dog have more problems on one side, if so not it, and remember it.  That is very important information.  Till next week, happy training......................................

Class Saturday January 21 -
This class had a focus on two handling moves, the Front Cross and the the check command.  Each of these handling moves was done at least twice in different exercises. 


The front cross that was worked on was the diagonal front cross.  This is a front cross that is preformed on a diagonal line between two obstacles, with the handler crossing as close to the next obstacle as possible. 


The check is preformed when the cog is asked to turn back, or around a jump.  The handler does not pass the plan of the obstacle when this command is being used.  It is also used when the dog is ahead of the handler. 


Next was the teeter.  Dogs that can handle the teeter did it three times coming off of a jump. 


Other pieces of equipment used was the tire, jumps and tunnels.  Weather was cold, stormy and windy. 


Have a great week, and see you Saturday...............................

Week 1 Review

This year we will post what was worked on each week in class.

This Saturday was a cool but sunny day.

We worked on:

Front Crosses

Teeter Tunnel Teeter

Jump and Tunnel Sequences

Weaves

The dogs seemed happy to get back to agility!

The Year 2011 in review……………………………………..

During the course of this year our young dogs have been introduced to quite a few agility moves and groves.  Some of which either the dogs and or handlers are not proficient at yet, but both have been introduced to the move, or piece of equipment.  I am going to list a few of the things that the dogs have been introduced to this year. 

Send to the crate; sent to the tunnel; front cross, rear cross, lead out pivot; serpentine, 270 turn, treadle, go’s, tug on table, pinwheels of all shapes and sizes; teeter training, tug on contacts, tight turns, loopy turns, tire, broad jump, triple jump, all sorts of jump grids, transitions – acceleration, deceleration; box work, focus ahead, 180 turn check, side, close, one jump exercised call offs, etc………………………………… Whew, I’m tired from just listing some of the things we did this year!!!!

Let’s not forget the WEAVE POLES!!!!  Many, many accomplishments.  Be proud of yourself and your dog, you have done a great job. We can no longer refer to this class as the beginning class they are now called the Scooby-Do class,  because we can do.  

In 2012 we will tackle CONTACTS. 

What will the year 2012 hold, only things that dreams are made of……  Many more happy days of training to you and your dog(s). 

The advanced class will continue working on and improving
both the dogs skills and the handlers.  So that both of you are comfortable with any move necessary in a trial situation.

HAPPY NEW YEAR - FROM SYDNEY AND DONNA

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS!

SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

                      photos & design by Jennifer Burns

Congratulations Chudleigh!

Another New Title for Chuds!

Congratulations to Christy and Chudleigh on their Novice FAST title.

They have also earned their Open Jumpers and Standard titles this year!

WELL DONE!

Thanksgiving!!!!

Just want to wish everyone a Great and Happy Thanksgiving!!!  This is the start to the holiday season.  Enjoy yourself, your family and of course your four legged friends.  Ube say Hi to all, and hopes each of his friends has a great day and gets lots of leftovers!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Looking for inspiration and fun? checkout the video contest on Susan Garrett's blog http://susangarrettdogagility.com/ New videos posted each day until she gets the 16 finalists posted. The Nov 14 post has a link to some free video webinars...check inside! If you are looking for a early Christmas gift for yourself you might want to check out the newest Recallers course which is about to begin! Meanwhile have a Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Happy Birthday Zorro!!

Remember you can see a larger picture on You Tube if you click on the logo.