HI! Agility Agility Agility

Hi everybloggie,

Sam is right. Mom is a computer hog. She says she is working, working, but I don't believe it. Anyway, I am giving her a slight break because she and I went to an agility trial on Sunday. Boy, did we do GREAT.



We had three runs, and guess what?! We qualified in all 3 runs, AND we got first place. We were so happy. Mom gave me one of my favorite treats after each run. It was MEATBALLS. That was the best part of the whole thing.

Not only that, all our agility buddies did great, too! It was such a good day. Agility is a lot like the saying, "Sometimes you are the windshield and sometimes you are the bug." This time, we were the windshield.

One of our agility instructors was also competing and Benny, her agility dog, got his MACH. That is a big title in AKC. We probably won't get a MACh because we don't compete in AKC that much. You have to be a purebred dog (or be able to get an ILP number, which means you may be a purebred but you don't have papers). Anyway, because Zorra isn't a purebred dog, we all don't compete much in AKC. She can't run agility trials in AKC, so pooh. :( That is why we like to do other agility venues so we can ALL play.

At one point, we thought we saw some of our friends! We saw an Airdale that looked a lot like Mitch (beard way too short for Maggie). He was great! He jumped high over all those jumps. We saw another boxer who looked alot like Peanut, too. There were a bunch of corgis like the Corgie girls (including Maizie, Sam's true love, who was there a the trial too). There were 2 goldens who looked like Amber and Chloe. AND, a dalmation who looked similar to Faith. Unfortunately for Sam, there were no WFTs. Mom said that maybe next time he could go.

We didn't get any photos, but one of our friends took a photo of me with my ribbons. As soon as she sends it to us, we will post it. We were really proud of ourselves.

Earthdog Dog Primer I

Hello everydoggie,

Again, I must apologize for our absence. Our mother will NOT relinquish her computer for any amount of time, and I fear that Katherine, Zorra, and I will need to hold a bark treat sale so we may purchase our own!

At any rate, some of you were asking about my experience with Earthdog and what exactly it is. Well, here is the "official description" of this sport:

The purpose of non-competitive Earthdog tests is to offer breeders and owners of small Terriers and Dachshunds a standardized gauge to measure their dogs' natural aptitude and trained hunting and working behaviors when exposed to an underground hunting situation. The noncompetitive program begins with a basic introduction to den work and quarry and progresses through gradual steps to require the dog to demonstrate that it is willing to perform the required tasks including seeking its quarry, locating and working it underground.

- AKC

Quarry for EArthdog is a typically a rat. Here, you can see I am getting acquainted with Mr. Rat. We became fast friends, of course. I wanted to follow him everywhere.



Hello, Mr. Rat. I find you very interesting and very intriguing!!


Mr. Rat... I am not sure you should go into this tunnel-like thing. I should try to stop you.



You are just insistent on going in there, aren't you. Well, I shall follow....



Here I come, my new pal! It is a little snug, but I can crawl in right behind.




THERE you are, my good friend. That was fun chasing you through the tunnel.



I certainly had a good time, didn't you?



(note: No rats were harmed in this practice. In fact, they could care less if the dogs were barking and chasing them at all).

Enough for today. I have much more to tell you, including how I went down in the ground tunnel for my new pal!

This past weekend....

Hello everyone.

I simply must apologize for our absence. We were terribly busy here at home. Katherine had an AKC agility trial and that kept us away from blogging over the weekend. Then, unfortunately, my mother has this thing called work and she forbade us from using the computer!

Katherine did very well at her trial this weekend, which in my opinion was surprising. I am sure that I would have done much better, if I had been allowed to participate! But, alas, it was not meant to be.

Here is our friend, Alfa, who got a first place in her run. Her mom was very proud of her.



I'm sure you all remember my girlfriend Maizee..........



She is a beautiful Corgi, who adores me. Nevermind that she tries to bite me occasionally... That is just her way of expressing her love. At any rate, she ALSO got a qualifying run, although we did not get a photo of her. But, here is a video of her mother providing entertainment between runs.



And, lastly.. here are Katherine's photos. I am only posting them because my mother is making me. :(

She qualified in four of her runs this past weekend and received first place in each one. Mother made her get her photo taken with all her ribbons. I suppose that was quite remarkable, as Katherine only wants to do what SHE wants to do.

Since the agility trial was held in Indianapolis, they agility club had a racing theme. The first place dog also received a jug of milk, but you cannot really see it in the photo.



Mother is very proud of Katherine, and really there is no living with Katherine since the weekend. I cannot wait until I am in a trial again and can make her EAT her words!