NADAC agility hosted by Haute Dawgs Agility Group. Eshu was only entered in Hoopers, Jumpers and Chances. He only Q'd in Hoopers - we saw a little of the Eshu of old... But, he did have 2 nice jumpers runs, just timing on Todd's part was the reason for the missed Qs. There was no arguing and no needing to carry Eshu off the course. Start lines were a bit of an issue. Kira, by contrast, had a great weekend. She went 9/13 - and two of the NQs were me trying to run her, and one was a scratch in tunnelers. Her contacts looked great this weekend - she got every single one!
11/23-25/07
This is the annual Turkey Trot at WAG. It is a CPE trial and super fun! Both dogs were phenominal. Kira was 13/15 and Eshu was 7/12! Eshu finished his CL2-H (Hanlder - Colors and Wildcard). WAG also hosts a for fun game, called the Turkey Trot. It is a team game - designed for both strategy and luck. This year, the teams had to complete different colored courses, then pick a card and try to spell Turkey. The trick was, the letters that spelled TURKEY all had different point values that the teams couldn't see. The scorekeeper would open the point values and add the totals. Kira's team (The Top Turkeys Again) included cattle dog, Allie, and BC, Pepper. They won - for the second year in a row! This is an all Vet team, with Kira being the youngest! Eshu's team tied for 4th place! Eshu ran with our friend Gib Brown's BC, Bud, and an Irish Spaniel. Considering they were all young, novice dogs, I was super proud of them!
11/16-18/07
Fuze and I attended a herding seminar presented by Lisa Edwards at Debbie Pollard's place in Vacaville, CA. Lisa has several dogs that I really admire, including a BC named Chicken (it's pretty funny to hear her call "Chicken" when working ducks) and a couple of Hangin' Tree Aussies. Lisa is fun to watch, as she's always calm and quiet with her dogs. It seems like she doesn't get nervous at all! Debbie encouraged Fuze and I to attend...and I'm so glad we did! It was the first time I got to work in a round pen, and it was great! I was able to relax, since the stock couldn't go anywhere, I could just focus on my dog. Lisa really liked Fuze, and enjoyed working her. Lisa confirmed what I suspected, that Fuze is a very talented dog who has tremendous potential...but is somewhat pushy and will work for herself. Lisa said this is the kinda dog folks would arm wrestle for. She did encourage me to have someone more experienced train and trial her, as Fuze is so fast, timing is going to be crucial. For now, Debbie has agreed to train and trial Fuze to her HC and WTCH.
11/10-11/07
NADAC agility at WAG. Kira had an outstanding Weavers run - 5yps! Kira qualified with all placements in 6 out of 9 runs. Eshu, was again, amazing. THERE WAS NO ARGUING!!! Unreal. He held every stay and qualified in Chances and Jumpers (1st place). He had an amazing Tunnelers run (one off course) - but was one of the fastest times of the entire game (Novice, Open, and Elite) - with the extra tunnel - and even after getting stung by a bee on the way to the start line! It was such a joy to watch Todd and Eshu start to come together as a team this weekend.
10/27-28/07
LURE COURSING - and an agility fun match at WAG. This is WAG's "Halloween Fun Match" and in addition to agility practice, there are many games and costume contests! Kira won second place in the 48 pole weave challenge; Eshu won first place in best trick; and Fuze won first place in the "cone race game". Ticket even did wonderfully in the hot dog bobbing! Eshu did great in the agility practice. But, the highlight for me (and the dogs) is lure coursing. Ticket was outstanding! Click here to see pix of the event.
10/20-21/07
Fun Paws Agility Club's first CPE trial. Great weather and a lot of fun! Eshu and Kira both had some Qs and Kira did quite well. Eshu held every start line stay and got every contact. There is much improvement in this boy...do I dare say, he's starting to grow up!
This was a busy weekend, agility, Apple Hill, and straight racining! We went to the DOCNA trial at WAG. DOCNA is kind of like a cross between NADAC and USDAA style courses. Flowing, but with handling challenges. Kira went 9/10 with all first or second places. Eshu was only in gamblers and jumpers. He held every stay and got all of his contacts. Thanks to his instructor, Susan, for helping Todd plan the course stragegy, Eshu's jumpers runs were amazing, both qualifying! We also tried to tire him out by doing straight racing (similar to lure coursing) in the morning on Sunday! Eshu and Bogey both pre-qualified, and during racing, Bogey won second place in his class and Eshu was first in his. It was a great weekend!
Turn N Spit's NAFA flyball tournament will be our last of the season. Kira and Eshu both did amazingly well! Kira earned over 800 points while Eshu brought in nearly 1500, earning him his Flyball Master Champion title! Wa-hoo!!! Eshu and Kodee did have one spectacular crash on Sunday, but both dogs were ok. The video will be on the SFC site for viewing. This was a great tournament with a BBQ Saturday night and a lot of racing. Fuze and Ticket also had a great time socialing with the other teams.
Some NAFA flyball at the Strike Force tournament. We only got to play one day because I strained my shoulder/neck and Todd had to travel on Sunday. But, the dogs did well and had a great time. Eshu earned 330 points while Kira got 328. That put Eshu within striking distance of his FMCh in Lemoore next week! Eshu also earned his CGC - the test was given next to the flyball lanes, and Eshu had to stay, walk calmly, and walk through another team's very tight crating area to pass this test...he did so with ease!
9/22-23/2007
Kira and Todd got to do a little agility at the TRACS USDAA trial in Woodland. Kira got her 3rd Snooker Super Q with a first place and qualified in P3 Standard and Jumpers, both with 3rd places. Fuze, Ticket, and Eshu got to socialize and be groomed while at the trial! Kira only needs two gamble legs and two snooker legs for her APD!
This weekend found us in beautiful Hidden Valley Park in Reno for the Silver Streaks NAFA flyball tournament. Kira needed 1002 points for her ONYX. We didn't expect to get it this weekend, but our goal was to make a huge dent. Kira's team ran extremely well, and she earned 1045 points for the weekend and got her ONYX!!! Special thanks to Kasey, Owen, and Eshu for helping her make that goal. In addition, Eshu got to help out on another team after a "tornado" blew our campsite to smithereens and freaked one of the dogs. Eshu earned over 1,300 points for the weekend! What a dog!
We went to CSU Hayward and played a lot of NAFA flyball! SFC ran 3 teams and we were exhausted! Kira and Eshu were wonderful, and didn't make a mistake all weekend long! Kira didn't get as many points as we had hoped, but did get 996 and had a great time! She needs just a little more than 1,000 points for her ONYX after this tourney, and we're hoping to get it in Redding in September. Eshu ended up having to help out another team (our club policy is not to double run dogs, but the whippet broke), and he brought in 1,281 points for the weekend.
7/28-29/2007
Eshu makes his debut into the ASCA stockdog program. He earned his STDs, one started cattle leg with a 4th place (pretty good considering he's never seen or worked cows before!!), and MPS for the weekend. Thank you Debbie Pollard for doing such a great job handling Eshu!
Played NAFA flyball in Truckee, CA. Weather was HOT and the air was thin! Eshu did a great job not only on his team, but backing up another team and Kira never tired the entire weekend. Pretty good for a 7.5yo lady! Eshu earned 892 points and Kira brought home 837, inching ever closer to her ONYX.
7/7-8/2007
Eshu makes his debut on ducks (you have to know Eshu would rather eat them than herd them!) at the AKC herding trial. He qualifies both days with a 3rd and 4th place out of a large started ducks class! Thanks Debbie for your expert training and handling.
6/23-24/2007
NAFA flyball in San Jose. Not to complain, but this is my least favorite venue, the ground is terrible and there are concrete pads in the runback area, which is only 50'! But, despite this fact, the weather was nice and the dogs did well. Eshu earned his FLYBALL MASTER EXCELLENT - over 10,000 points! Wa-hoo! Eshu earned 658 points and Kira got 628.
6/16-17/2007
Had fun playing the NADAC non-jumping trial at WAG. Since I don't track NADAC legs any longer, I have no idea who q'd in what, but Kira had a good weekend. Eshu was only in tunnelers and weavers, and he held every single start-line! His tunnelers runs were great!
6/2-3/2007
Eshu and Fuze participated in a flyball seminar presented by Touch n Go Flyball team. The TnG members liked both dogs, but I was afraid they might disappear with Eshu! Katy and her teammates gave excellent suggestions, tips, and worked well to help us curb Fuze's chasing.
5/27/07
Kira and Eshu played a little U-Fli flyball this weekend. Had a great time and I loved the Marin Humane Society site. I cannot figure out the U-Fli points, and didn't get the print out, so have no idea how many points each dog earned.
5/26/07
Eshu went to the ASCA show and showed in Altered. His was the only class with competition, and considering he's never showed before...I didn't know what to expect. Well, Debbie Pollard handled him wonderfully, and Eshu self stacked like he'd been trained! He definitely had a "look at me" attitude, but, if there's anything great about Eshu, it's his movement. Judge Erica Peters-Pruitt picked Eshu as Winner's Dog for 2 points! Pretty good for a dog that had just played in the mud and was the color of clay dirt the day before! A little Palmolive is amazing!
5/12-13/2007
Eshu worked sheep at the Cardigan Welsh Corgi Nationals all-breed herding trial. Hoping to finish up his HSAs title. Debbie handled Eshu not only to his title, but ANOTHER HIGH IN TRIAL!!! WA-HOO! Watch for an ad in the Aussie Journal to come out in the Sept/Oct 2007 issue.
