Crazy Saturday

Had a super duper day today. The minions had told me that due to an event there was no agility training at the club. So I was a bit upset. But then both the minions got up really early this morning... I was wondering what was going on! They packed up a lot of things in the car and a lot of treats, that sounded quite good. Wondered if there was a trial on, but dad didn't get all his usual gears.

We went on a car ride for a long time, so boring. I'm not talking about the driving cause well that was scary... Anyway, after ages we arrived to a cool place, so many smells and space. Aaaaand plenty of pups and an agility course!!! Woohoo!!

Was a lot of hard work, lots of training, but was great and we learnt plenty. I had some troubles of concentration because of all the smells and the rabbit poos. Mum even used some as treats for me when she ran out of regular treats when we were away from the stash... I didn't mind was well yummy!
I tried to be a good pup, nearly got there with a few exceptions... And I did not too bad on the course too, just need to get my strides in check. Like, a lot...

When we finished the training, we went and have fun in the dam. Dad did some water retrieve training. I loved it! Then the other pups came in and 3 other GSPs. Two were real little pups, it was so good. We played chase and the pups tried to catch me, bwahaha. They kept waiting for me at the edge of the dam to try and steal the dummy I was retrieving, they don't go swimming yet you see. Was so fun, and mum looked all happy I was getting on with the little pups for some reason... mmm dunno why?...

not bad scenery over there

Even after all the agility work, the minions still added some work on my contacts. Cause apparently, flying off contacts is not done gnagnagna... I don't care, it's fun!!

bit of additional contact work

Strange creatures

There are some weird things roaming around in the house. Mum succeeded to capture one of the strange creatures that appeared around the swimming pool last weekend. Very strange and scary... We're not sure if it's safe and we can go and meet it, we might leave some food to see if it gets a bit more domesticated or if it's really wild... 

New PJs

One of the mum of an agility buddy at the club, that is Maggie and my buddy Jester, recently had to say goodbye to her older dog, Toby. I only met Toby once and he seemed to be a lovely pup. Jester is quite a bit smaller than him and his mum had some things that were not fitting him. She brought a few items at the club to see if some of those would be good for us. I'm quite big you see... as I said before I'm NOT FAT!! but anyway humph...

Being a GSP I have shorthair, well it's all in the name really... And I do have quite  thin fur even for a GSP! That means I sometimes (alright, often...) get a bit chilled, outside when the temperature drops down and even inside at night. I like to have my little blanky to keep me warm and the minions have always had to tuck me in to bed. The only problem with that is that when I wriggled during the night, the blanket was coming off and I was getting cold! 

In the things that my buddy's mum had was some nice PJs! The minions thought that it could be worth a try. They brought it back with us and I have not looked back ever since. I love it!! It's keeping me nice and toasty. Whereas dad was always finding me in a little ball with cold ears in the morning, trying to keep warm, I am now sprawled out and comfy :)

These PJs are the best and definitely will be put to good use. So thank you very much Maggie xxxx

Friday to Monday agility fun!

Wow, had a fab time for the last few days. Since Friday, the minions and I have had 3 sessions of agility amongst other things! Cool isn't it?!!

It started on Friday. Dad and I went for a bit of Gundog madness. Our class had 6 GSPs and Jester the Brittany. I think I might have been the youngest of the class but I'm pretty sure I was the biggest... Ahem I'm not fat, I'm just a big pup! Was good though, we learnt plenty of things and dad was proud of me :) well to be honest daddy is quite often proud of me, but let's be real... Why wouldn't he? Bwahaha...

Then, on Saturday it was the club training. Quite a few of my Gundog buddies came back too. We did great during the training/exercise part of the session. I was listening well to dad and did some tricky moves. But then the full course time came. Dad told me to wait at the start a few metres away from the first jump, which I did... Then he told me to go... Why run when you can jump... So I started from about 3m away, still cleared it, just... From that point on, mum seemed to know that it was going to be an "interesting" run. I dunno if I was tired or just wanted to have a bit of fun, but all dad and mine nicely rehearsed moves went out the window. I modelled my beautiful and unique bunny hop technique, and... did anybody say contacts? Well, it was fun, I think, if not entirely how dad pictured it in his head. I didn't run away though, so I don't see what's the problem really :P

the Gundog club

bit of a relax and stretch before a run

On Monday evening, mum and I left for training. We do RallyO usually, but tonight mum was preparing weirdly. We did a lot of running around and retrieving, then another run around the grounds of the Showground. There were possums and wallabies everywhere again. I did lose it at a few points but mum was happy that I came back quickly and still remembered what a sit was while in full crazy "want the wallaby" mode. I really need to work on my possum catching skills. I can smell them good enough up those trees, but geez, I have to perfect my tree climbing abilities. I just go up a few centimetres and gravity gets the better of me, despite me holding on tightly with my paws...
Anyway, after all that, instead of going to RallyO, mum went at the other end! Yay agility!! Did plenty of calming training and trying to get me to wait patiently while she was helping to setup the course and walking it. I stayed a bit but then I needed my cuddles, so proceeded to remind her I was there. Think my whining did the trick cause she came back :)

She did look like she walked the course about a billion times. It was a fab course, lots of tight turns and tricky bits. The first two runs we did, well... I showed my speed... I was pumped!! Let's say that there was no way mum was going to be in front of me in a lot of those turns... I was impressed that she succeeded to keep up with me in the back straight but didn't last very long, bwahaha!
However, on our last run we had an amazing shot at glory! I was a bit tired you see, so instead of lightning speed, I just used the rocket speed. If mum hadn't mucked up the middle by forgetting where obstacle 14 was... we would have been excellent. She was still over the moon to have got me around a pretty good resemblance of the actual course setting. So yay us!

I really love doing agility with both my minions, hope mum will continue doing some with me on Monday evenings. We might do a bit of a mix, but as long as I do a bit of agility I'm happy :)

Walking the trails

This afternoon, we had planed to try some new trails in the national park. You see where we are, the national parks are not allowed to dogs, there are only a few tracks where pups can go on lead. Luckily for me there is one not too far from us, but this morning the minions were all happy because they found another nice one on the council site. So we all packed up, piled in the car and directed ourselves to the start of the track... Unfortunately, when we arrived we found the big sign with an interdiction or dogs... went the other end of the track, same thing!!! Well done Ku-ring-gai council... One thing on the website another on the actual trail... The minions didn't want to tempt it as didn't know which indication was the right one and don't think the ranger will care that that stoopid website says otherwise... sniff *sobs* back in the car :(

But then the minions stopped a bit later and we found one of the trails that mum and I had been on before. Dad hadn't though. I love the trails, so many smells and things to look at. And today there was so many wallabies, I wasn't sure where to look! The bonus was also a beautiful weather and lovely warming sun. overall a great walk to save the day. 

wallaby that way

I even perfected my smile for the camera. Just enough teeth... Such a supermodel...

my best smile for the camera