Super proud of Flash on Saturday!
We went to our first KC show of the year, and nearly didn't go because we're both so unfit and haven't trained in months.
The lack of fitness was clearly evident but aside from that he was absolutely brilliant, perfect weaves in every run, good dog walk and seesaw in both agility runs. Now we just need to get fit and get back in the game!
Here's his first run of the day, 2nd place with 2 poles down but fastest by 8 seconds! Not bad for being unfit!
Round and round the maypole!
The level of commitment here is truly expert.
Last week we started some new tricks in training club, one of which was circling a stick, likened to going around a maypole, and the boys' family went and made a maypole so we can go all in. These are honestly the things I live for.
Handlers will also be involved long term but it'll take some convincing to get the girls on camera 😅
#dogtricks #dogtraining #tricktraining #cockerspaniel #dogtrainercoleraine #dogtrainerballymoney
The pony training journey started officially today!
There's a few quirks that we'd like to work through, and 1 is that he will not stand still for you to get on, he scoots off to the side or knocks the block over and there has to be one person holding him tight while the other gets on. We don't want to need all that pressure and restraint on him, that'll only make things more stressful!
Today we spent some time practicing just setting a block down beside him and getting up onto it. At the start of the session he was crabbing away and at the end he stood still with no restraint while the girls set the block down, got up onto it and put a little bit of weight on his back.
It'll be an ongoing learning process like all training is but I find it really fun figuring it out!
Hoopers 1-1 today with Zakiyya and Millie!
They were both amazing!
From collecting a pony, to running a show, to going to a show, it was some weekend! Resulting in some sheer exhaustion 😴
No results for Flash today, neither of us were on top form but we still had some fun and his weaves were great both times!
*If you're offended by swear words watch the video without sound*
We had another fabulous UKA show in Randalstown today!
Loved seeing everyone out and so many dogs and handlers dressed in style for Halloween! I really regret not taking pictures of everyone!
Instead I offer a video of Eilidh and Luna kicking ass on course 👏
Did you know there's a calendar on the Causeway Dog Training website where you can see all the upcoming classes and shows all in one place?
Handy!
Here's a quick scroll of everything coming up before Christmas. You can see for yourself at lhttps://causewaydogtraining.com/events/
Clattered a few poles but super fast round from Flash! 3rd fastest over all heights! Living up to his name ⚡⚡⚡
4th place
I have often heard "it's all in how you raise them", but honestly, it's not!
There are many factors that influence your dog/puppy's temperament, it's not as simple as nature vs nuture.
Genetics will play a large part. You will see both breed traits that have been genetically selected for over hundreds of years, and traits passed down from the puppy's parents. It is incredibly important when you are choosing your puppy that the first thing you consider is genetics because that's the base you will be working from. Will the breed traits suit your family life? Do you love the puppy's parents? Would you be happy to live with them? If you don't like the genes, you'll be facing an uphill battle.
Environment will be the next factor that influences a puppy. The environment they are raised in, the environment they are rehomed to. What experiences do the puppies receive early on? Do they live in the home and hear washing machines and hoovers, have a clean bed, interact with kids, other dogs? Or are they in a filthy barn squished in with 200 other dogs and puppies. Which do you think will integrate better into family life? A puppy's early experiences can influence the rest of their lives.
Training is the last piece of the puzzle. If the genetics and the environment are already working in your favour then the training element will simply be putting on the finishing details. If they're not then you'll have a long slog of a training battle. If you wanted a dog to walk nicely loose lead beside the pram, but got a husky, prepare to work very, very hard on your loose lead training. If you got a German Shepherd planning to take them to cafes, and beaches and on the school run, prepare to work overtime on socialisation lasting at least beyond adolecense. Like leaving your shoes sitting open by the front door, but got a spaniel? Good luck teaching them not to lift the shoes when they are excited!
I'm not saying these things can't be done, and there are exceptions to the rules, b
Check out the awesome distance skills here from Jessica and Zola!
Fabulous run of this sequence
Absolutely phenomenal progress from Zakiyya and Millie! Zakiyya has worked so hard with Millie, her collie tendencies meant that she would flank around the jumps previously, looking like a proper herder, but now she's looking for the jumps and sending ahead to the tunnels. The sequences are getting longer and significantly more accurate. Looking forward to seeing this team out competing soon! Another great junior joining the circuit!
A short snippet of one of the cutest agility dogs in the world.
Clover has gotten so speedy since she started hoopers last year and she's a proper testament to what brilliant dogs cavaliers are. Super pets and well up for fun as well!
Waiting at the airport to fly back to NI after another day judging in England!
This is becoming a regular thing with flights booked to judge a few days at UKA Nationals in Gloucester 2 weeks away as well 🤣
Few hours extra off tomorrow morning to recover and then straight back to action with 1-1s tomorrow evening.
Video of my beginners course walking this morning, packed out!
We had a superb weekend near Castlewellan at the EO Fundraiser show! No rosettes for Flash and I, though rosettes for others in the Causeway team 🎉
For Flash and I this was acting as a training show ahead of later qualifiers this year. Our dog walk, a frame, and seesaw got a bit naughty with Flash flying off before hitting the contact zones. I let this happen being too competitive and not disciplined enough 🤦🏼♀️ I'd rather have placed with faults than been eliminated for fixing the contact in the ring.
Anyone training with me or even just a friend knows that I would never ever let them away with doing the same. Do as I say, not as I do 🤣 well it was certainly time I practiced what I preach and it did pay off just within this weekend. I corrected every dog walk until his last run today when he hit stopped himself and waited.
Sometimes you need to look at the bigger picture and put the effort in for the much bigger long term goal.
Just an aside, this was a phenomenal show. I thought every single course that I walked and ran this weekend was brilliant, so massive thank you to all 4 judges for the awesome courses, and to every one of you kind enough to let me fix his contacts all weekend ♥️ big well done to everyone competing as well. There were lots of big and little wins this weekend.
Video of Flash's best run yesterday. Thank you Northern Ireland Clinical Canine Massage for the encouragement to make those blinds 🏃♀️ the great course, and letting us sort out that cheeky dog walk
Also big thanks to our sponsors AKT Veterinary Physiotherapy BEARS PETS Wilder Pet Foods and Boil and Broth who support us so much in going for our goals and we're making sure we put the work in now so it all pays off!
#dogagilityballymoney #dogagilityni #dogagilitytrainer #springerspaniel #deafdog #deafagilitydog #dogtrainerni #dogtrainerballymoney #dogtrainercoleraine
Last night the juniors out numbered the adults!
Elle borrowed Mazikeen from me to get some course running practice in ahead of Causeway Agility Goes Agri at the Ballymoney Show on Saturday. Elle runs Polly in steeplechase runs but we didn't have Polly out at training.
I get the feeling this won't be the last time we see this pairing in action... I think Elle and Mazikeen could be aiming for Crufts in the next few years!
Stevie's first session on full dog walk!
Such a good girl who tries so hard to get it right
#dogagilityballymonry #dogagilityni #springerspaniel #dogtrainercoleraine #dogtrainerballymoney
3rd place agility, would have won if we didn't have dog walk issues 🤦🏼♀️ back to drilling the dog walk this week after some rest!
Loved this run so much. Good independence from him, I made the blind, great weaves, no poles!
Thank you sponsors for enabling us to travel to compete. It was a great experience for him getting the boat, staying in a cabin and a hotel and all the driving. Hopefully he'll need to get used to it! I'm really really happy with how well he has run this weekend
Wilder Pet Foods AKT Veterinary Physiotherapy BEARS PETS Boil and Broth
#deafinitelyflashy #deafdogsrock #deafdog #deafagilitydog #teamaktvetphysio #agilitydog #abcagility #springerspaniel #englishspringerspaniel #dogsofni #northernirelanddogs
Another one of our brilliant juniors!
Very proud of these 2, skills are really starting to come together!
Millie is taking jumps instead of herding them and Zakiyya's handling has gotten so much more fluent!
They put in so much work at home and always do their homework.
We're doing longer sequences now and can hopefully get on track for competition later this year!
A highlight of yesterday's agility 1-1 with Zakiyya and Millie. They have made sooooo much progress recently!
We have new agility classes starting on Tuesday 11th 7-8pm at Maddybenny in Portrush and on Wednesday 12th April 6-7 at Limepark, Armoy! You can book through the website or send a message if you have any questions about getting started.
