tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-345288022024-03-05T08:19:21.077+00:00OBay SheltiesKeep in touch with the OBay Shelties around the world!OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.comBlogger580125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-48339534729210163782015-01-07T12:39:00.000+00:002015-01-07T12:39:21.759+00:00Thank You to Toni Mapes, Toven Shelties.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CuSR1a1jY28" width="640"></iframe><br />OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-6722988774175014182014-07-22T11:16:00.003+01:002014-07-22T11:16:45.755+01:00Zen is 11, Yay is 2 and Dania Cup 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My lovely Zen turned 11 in May. Zen is retired from agility not due to injury or illness but just because she is so awesome she deserved an early retirement. She spends her days hanging out in the garden, occasionally running around a small agility course and teaching puppies how to tug.
Here she is with her three children Giz-mo, Zaz and Itz. I loved that the chicken photo-bombed the photo!
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My gorgeous sable fluffiness Yay turned 2 in May. I am just enjoying her so much. She started competing seriously in March and even with limited competing and a month break for being in season she quickly moved up the levels into Grade 5.
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Yay has only been to about 10 shows before we left to compete in Denmark at Dania Cup 2014. Dania cup is such a fabulous competition that I have blogged about previously. A wonderful atmosphere, great courses and fantastic handlers. I love it! I was happy to be running Zaz and Yay this year (you can only do 6 runs per day so you need to limit the number of dogs you can compete with). Yay would be starting in Class 2 which equates to her Grade 5 here in the UK. Zaz would be competing in Class 3 which will give us a great warm up for the World Champs in September.
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Zaz ran well and we won a few classes and placed top 3 in many others. It was such a great experience for us being able to run European courses day after day. I just love my Zaz-star! But it was Yay who really surprised me! She needed 6 clears (minimum 3 in agility) within the top 20% of the placements to move up to Class 3 and she did it! She had some great runs and won many classes. I feel as if we are starting to be a better team together. She is different to Zaz and Zen as she can easily get over excited but she is still such fun! Yay did well in not only her graded classes but also did well in her "open" classes which qualified her for the Dania Cup 2014 final!!! The final was a great course and Yay handled it well but our inexperience as a team caught us out at obstacle 15. I was so proud of her and know that this won't be our last experience running a major final! She has so much more to give.
Here is just a sampling of Yay's runs at Dania Cup.<br />
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The greatest part of this show are the trophies! There are none! Instead you get to pick of great useful items or vouchers towards items from the vendors on site. Here is our winnings for the week!
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So that is my update for now. Thank God everyone here is well: people, dogs and chickens. Life is Good and may it long continue!
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OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-51001733956842606842014-07-22T10:07:00.000+01:002014-07-22T10:07:27.792+01:00Time flies! Crufts 2014, Team GB, Gorgeous Shelties and more...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Where does time go? I had promised myself never to apologise for not updating my blog; it is not a job, I don't get paid for it nor do I make money from it. I always loved keeping track of people all over the world through their blogs; following their training and later enjoying their competition runs. Yet I seem to have lost my enthusiasm for updating the blog and it became more of a chore rather than something I enjoyed doing.<br />
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I am not sure how to change that feeling but I will start just by doing a little catch up.<br />
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After Zaz had her singleton puppy "Z" her first competition back was Crufts 2014. I really love Crufts, it is my favorite competition of the year. This year Zaz qualified for two events: British Open and Agility Championships. Little 2 year old Giz-mo was competing at his first Crufts in the Novice Cup. In addition there were three other OBay Shelties competing at Crufts this year. OBay Tiz Wild "Zev", OBay Itz A Secret "Zavvi" and OBay Tiz Zensational "Zeki". All three did well and helped keep the OBay flag flying! This was the first year that Dennis and I splashed out to book a room at the hotel on site at the NEC. Wow! That made my Crufts even more fun and relaxing. We have booked a room already for next year!<br />
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Giz-mo was a little star. I was so pleased with how he handled Crufts; he was so confident and full of his happy joyful Giz-ness! He is so much fun. A small error on my part in the jumping put him out of contention for the overall win but he won the agility section and went on become the Crufts 2014 Novice Cup Runner up winner.<br />
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Zaz was just a dream to run. She won every class she was entered in and following in her mom Zen's paw prints she became the Crufts 2014 British Open winner. To top off a fantastic Crufts 2014 Zaz went on to win her 3rd Crufts Championship in a row. Three times Crufts Champion!!<br />
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Here is her British Open agility. Yes I am lazy and don't put any effort in.....must...try....harder....<br /><br/>
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Here is our Championship Final. Running in the ring right before Best In Show is just the best adrenaline high! This course did not suit us as it was so fast and straight forward. I had to work on my mental game not to give up before we got out there. Our laziness helped us win again! :-) Sorry I don't have a video of Zaz's run on it's own. Our run starts at 10 minutes into the video.<br /><br/>
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After the excitement of Crufts we were right back to training to get ready for our Team GB tryouts. This year they tried a different way of choosing the team. A "squad" was chosen in January based on points accumulated during the year before. This squad then met a few times leading up to the tryouts in April to work on training courses and sequences. The choice of the final team would depend on your work during the "squad" period before the tryouts plus your results over the tryout weekend. Theoretically this would put less emphasis on a one or two day competition.<br />
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Even with less emphasis on the tryout weekend the tension and stress to do well on the day is so high! Zaz did well but the wait to hear if we made the team seemed forever! Happily we received that call inviting us on the team and I am looking forward to the FCI 2014 World Champs in Luxembourg in September!<br />
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I am so grateful to have had two dogs that not only are amazing competition partners but also wonderful producers. This photo is Grandma Zen, mother Zaz and son Z at 6 months old.<br />
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To be continued.....OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-60201741605353063812013-12-17T07:44:00.001+00:002013-12-17T07:44:55.231+00:00Yay's first agility competition and Puppies 2013My previous litter (the Boyz litter) was in 2011. So now my long planned Zaz litter is born and ta-da....ONE puppy......Geez...I guess the only positive note is that I won't be called a puppy farm. More about Mr. "Storm" in another post. He is gorgeous, happy and healthy and how can I be disappointed in this.<br />
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I have been neglectful about documenting Yay's progress. She is still such a fun "puppy" to train but not really a puppy anymore! She is now 18 months and I entered her in her first competition. I am certainly not rushing Yay but this is more from sheer laziness rather than any planned schedule. I would normally have had her ready long before now but hopefully we will make up lost time during lots of winter training.<br />
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Yay and Giz-mo are such a pair. My little Yin-Yang of sheltie cuteness.<br />
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I only entered Yay in a jumping class at Rugby as her running contacts are not finished. Dog walk is just up to full height and she hasn't started her A-frame yet. Funnily enough I worry more about the Aframe than the dog walk; I am stressing about how to start the Aframe as I have had mixed results with the buy-one-get-one free method. <br />
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The video was edited because we stood on the start line for over a minute. I loved the chance to see her deal with the delay and hold her start line as self-control can be difficult for Yay. It is a busy indoor show and it was great chance for me to see how Yay dealt with distractions. I would guess that most agility rings do not have judges dressed like snowmen, Christmas puddings, tigers and, my own favourite, St. Lucia. So one run and it was all over too quickly! I knew I enjoyed it because I just wanted to do more! We were eliminated and it was totally my fault. I went into slight panic mode wondering if she could do certain moves (could she do an acute rear cross? Could she send around a 180 degree jump sequence?). Silly really as I just should have done them as it didn't matter if we won or not but I am only human!<br />
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So here she is in all her gorgeous Yay-ness!<br />
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OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-72367367056117702252013-12-11T11:50:00.002+00:002013-12-11T11:50:39.877+00:00Chicken-topia 2013<br />
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This post is for another blogger who is thinking of changing her chicken enclosure. Just for those who worry; my dogs are all doing great! I haven't given up the shelties for the chickens just yet. <br />
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Our chickens have just become part of our family. They are just as naughty as my dogs and regularly escape and mix among the shelties. I have done many a running dog-walk session with Yay with chickens pecking around under the dog-walk. <br />
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The design of chicken-topia has fluidly changed as we add more chickens and learn more about how to keep them (and us) happy. I am sure there will be more changes as we go on but we are happy with the set up now. It is easy to collect the eggs and to keep clean. The chickens have a very safe enclosure for at night and for when we go away for a day or a night. What I like about this space is that it is fully covered so it does not get so muddy and wet. If we go away the chickens are safe for a day or two as they have access to food, water and can get in and out of their coop. When we are home they have a larger enclosed area to scratch around, find bugs and make dust baths. Lately the naughty hens are escaping into the main garden. I don't mind this but, of course, this is when they are most vulnerable to predators. <br />
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This is the entire chicken "paddock" with the secure enclosure in the back. <br />
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This is the chicken enclosure. It is approx. 5m x 3m and houses their plastic coop and plastic nesting boxes.
It has both sun and shade and we also planted two shrubs in the corners.<br />
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During the day when we are home they have access to this large paddock. We also leave the greenhouse open in the winter so they rummage around in there when it is really wet out.<br />
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The interior of their safe run. Everything is plastic as I worry about mites. I wanted to buy one of the fancy plastic coops but they were so expensive! Instead we converted this garden box and it has worked really well. The chickens sleep in the converted garden shed and they lay their eggs in the 3 plastic nesting boxes outside. I need to add another nesting box as they sometimes queue up to get in and start loudly complaining if one chicken takes too long! They are so funny.<br />
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The enclosed run is made with very heavy duty (expensive!) wire. The original chicken wire was not as strong but was dug into the ground, so we left it and added the stronger wire fencing in front of it. The new wire fencing is bent out at the bottom like an apron for about 6 inches. This prevents the fox from digging under it. The fence is very high but to be extra secure we added a roof. Theoretically the enclosed run is 100% fox proof but it is still a worry.</div>
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When we did the extension on our house we had a trench dug to bring water and electric out to the chicken paddock. This makes taking care of the chickens so much easier and gives us lights when checking on the chickens at night.</div>
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So we do our best for our girls and they reward us with gorgeous eggs and lots of laughs. I still cannot believe how much fun they are even with all the work involved. </div>
OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-76958474622029584652013-10-16T17:18:00.003+01:002013-10-16T17:18:56.575+01:00Kennel Club International Agility Festival 2013I have so much to blog about but have been trying to stay off the computer. Instead of trying to cover everything (European Open, Fionia Cup) I thought I would start with the KC Festival.<br />
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The Kennel Club International Agility Festival is the marathon of agility! Almost 20 rings, 2000 plus dogs and 3 days of agility. I have a love/hate relationship with the Festival but I decided to go back this year since it was at a new venue and I had a chance to compete at the Novice Cup with Giz-mo. <br />
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The venue this year was much nicer but the walk to the rings was still crazy. Especially for those who had to day park the walk was so far; I would hesitate to go again if I am not camping. I think the only reason I would go again would be to compete with a novice/young dog for the Novice cup. I guess next year will depend on how ready Yay is looking! (yes hard to believe but Yay will be competing next year!)<br />
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I enjoyed the show because we had a decent hotel near the venue and had the chance to spend sometime with nice people. We even celebrated Dennis' 50th Birthday!<br />
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I had my goals set and focused on the important runs. I wanted to use the graded runs to get Giz-mo his 3 wins necessary to move up to Grade 6 and qualify both Giz and Zaz for Crufts 2014. I expected to miss a lot of my runs just due to the fact that the walk to the rings is crazy and I wanted to be focused for the finals (Novice, British Open and Nations Cup).<br />
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Well to make a long story short: all goals were met! Here is the obligatory photo of Giz and Zaz with their Festival wins.<br />
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Here are Giz and his litter brother, Fuze, looking darn cute with their medals and rosettes. <br />
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Giz-mo had a great KCI. He got his 3 wins necessary to move up to Grade 6, qualified for the Novice Semi final and then won the semi-final and qualified us for Crufts 2014! Giz is going to Crufts! By the way, is he not just the cutest sheltie boy in the world? <br />
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His win was made extra special when I saw the Kennel Club trophy and the engraved plate. This is the memorial trophy that we do not get to keep; it is kept at the Kennel Club offices. The novice cup is becoming a family tradition! In 2005 Giz-mo's mother Zen competed in and won the very first Kennel Club Novice Cup. I was away at a family wedding so she ran for a friend and still won. That's my special girlie Zen; she could run for anyone and still gave it her all. Later, in 2010 the Novice cup was won by Zen's brother Bailey (OBay Truly Daniel's Dream). Now in 2013 it was won by her son Giz-mo. I am going to take a moment and be a proud breeder over that!<br />
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Giz-mo's novice Cup run. I am really starting to enjoy running this little guy; he is getting stronger and stronger at each competition. It is hard to believe that he has only been competing since April.<br />
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Finally my little Zaz-star won the British Open! She is also following in her momma's pawprints as Zen has won the British Open twice at Crufts. <br />
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Zaz's British Open semi Final run. I was a bit surprised to win this final and even more surprised to find out that Zaz's times were faster than all heights!<br />
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I really enjoyed running Zaz at the KCI; as always, she gave it her all and I felt as if we were one for every run. I cannot feel anything but gratitude for this girl. <br />
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So I cannot promise another post but hopefully I will remember what we did in July and be able to get it into a post sometime soon! <br />
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PS isn't this a fun app? It took my blog and made it into a word star! </div>
OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-50061649175459742602013-07-03T21:19:00.003+01:002013-07-03T21:20:58.745+01:00An International SummerThe next two months have a distinct international flavour to them. <br />
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We leave at 3 am on Friday morning for our trip to Denmark. We are off to the week long Fionia Agility Cup in Denmark. I am looking forward to the challenges of the European courses in helping me prepare for the European Open at the end of July. I will be running Zaz and Giz-mo and bringing Yay along for the trip. It is always a great week of agility with so much to learn. The trip had a little hiccup when we found out a few days ago that our overnight ferry (England to Denmark) was cancelled. It seems they had an accident when docking and the ferry hit the docks at the end of a trip. A hole in the side of the ship caused the ship to start taking on water! I am very very grateful we were not on that crossing! The ship is still out of service (not that I would have been keen to get on it!) and now we have to do the trip via the Eurotunnel and drive 9 hours from France through Belgium,Netherlands and Germany to Denmark. A long drive rather than a relaxing overnight cruise but at least we can still get there in time.<br />
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Giz is coming on nicely; what a cool dog he is. He will be running in Class 2 in Denmark and I think he will be up for the challenge. When I originally entered the competition back in January he was not even competing yet and did not weave or do full contacts! So sadly I only entered him in the lower classes and did not enter him in the "open" classes which are the classes needed to get into the finals at the end of the week. Silly on my part! I should have had more faith in my little guy! Even so he has 2 runs per day so hopefully we will make them count! Here is Giz at Lansdown running his last Grade 4 agility class as he moves up to Grade 5 at his next shows.<br />
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After our week in Denmark we head back to England just in time to turn around and go back to Belgium for the European Agilty Open! Zaz and I will be well and truly European. <br />
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I am really looking forward to the European Open. As the World Agility Championships will be in South Africa this year I had no intention of trying out for the World Team. The European Open was the competition I wanted to focus on . Happily Zaz made the team and we are one of 4 British small dogs competing. And to make things even more exciting the 2013 European Open will be indoors! It is taking place at the same venue we competed at for the WAO 2012. How nice to feel relaxed and not to have to worry about the rain, mud or extreme heat! It is also feels comfortable knowing what to expect at the venue; this takes away much of worry and stress of travel. The only thing I am not looking forward to is having to travel there on a coach. I would feel much better driving in a car where my dog can relax and I don't have to stress about packing! Unfortunately I don't have a choice in this matter so we will just have to get on with it. Dennis is not thrilled to be joining me on the coach as he knows all the horror stories of past Team GB coach trips. The last time we both went on a coach together was about 10 years ago on a trip to Austria. We both swore we would NEVER do a coach trip again....uh-oh.<br />
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Anyway the EO should be an amazing competition this year. Zaz and I are ready!<br />
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Zaz won her 8th Championship ticket this month at Thames Agility show. Not a bad record for a dog that I do not compete with that often!<br />
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After the EO we return to England to compete at the KC International Agility Festival. I didn't go to the Festival last year as I did not enjoy it two years ago. The ground was too rough and the day parking was too far away. This combined with the death of a well loved competitor during the show and a horrible dog on person attack just gave me a bad feeling about the venue. This year the show is a new location and I am going to give it another try. I now have Giz to compete with in the Novice cup and a reservation in a nearby posh hotel so I am actually looking forward to it! I have heard that there will actually be American competitors coming this year along with competitors from more European countries. It should should be very exciting! <br />
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After all that European Agility it will be time for a non-doggy adventure! Dennis and I will be off to Italy for a holiday. I am really looking forward to that and working hard on my diet so that I can splurge on amazing Italian food and gelato! <br />
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So an exciting and busy July and August. We will be finishing up our International summer with a long awaited visit by some friends from New York! <br />
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Old memories!<br />
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Now fingers crossed that Zaz holds off coming in season until late September and then maybe we can add in another European trip for her.....<br />
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The only problem with all this travel is that I will miss my chickens! <br />
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<br />OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-61221477335588989112013-05-22T18:08:00.002+01:002013-05-22T18:08:54.597+01:00Giz-mo the dudeGiz-mo has not gotten much attention on the blog but, rest assured, he is still here! My little dude is just the cutest boy in the world; not that I am biased or anything. <br />
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Giz started his agility career in April and won his first class at his first show. I think he will take a little while to mature but that is OK with me. I do find the girls easier to train and compete with but Giz is so darn cute that anything he does is fine with me! He now has about 5 weekends of competition under his belt and I am enjoying him so much. <br />
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Here is Giz in his first ever competition run. <br />
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And here he was two weeks later at his second show. Already we are both looking more sure of each other!<br />
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My goal for Giz this year is to move up to Grade 5 before the KC International Festival, get into the Novice final and qualify for Crufts. <br />
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Two weeks ago I brought Giz and Zaz over to Jersey (Channel Islands) to compete. I was excited to have 3 days of competitions with Giz to start feeling more like a team with him. Unfortunately I was disappointed to find out that they would only have wood/sand contacts at their show. Giz has really only been trained on rubber contacts so I decided to only compete in the jumping classes rather than confuse him.<br />
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Luckily the team and pairs competitions were jumping only. I think Giz will be a great team dog as I can actually control him on the start! Giz ran clean in both his team runs and in his pairs. His pairing with his brother Fuze came 2nd only to Zaz and her partner Smudge! Unfortunately no video of the pairs just a photo of four gorgeous shelties: Fuze, Smudge, Zaz and Giz-mo.<br />
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Giz-mo and I ran for the "Rest of the World" team as there were not enough small/medium English dogs to make up a second England team. Giz and I were paired with two French competitors. Both girls were worried and kept telling me not to expect anything. I just smiled as they didn't realize how inexperienced Giz really was and how relaxed I am about teams. Giz surprised me and was a little star who ran fast and clear in both the semi and the final. We were lucky that even with many faults in the semi-final our team scraped through to make it to the final on the last day. Then in the final our team ran 3 clears to WIN the final! Giz has now won his first Jersey Festival Teddy Bear! <br />
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The "Rest of The World" small/medium team Final run.<br />
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Happy team!<br />
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OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-44412236385202251912013-05-17T18:39:00.005+01:002013-05-17T18:39:53.506+01:00YAY! One year old!Yay turns 1 year old tomorrow. She is a delight to own and I can honestly say it was worth all the stress bringing her over.
These photos were taken last week in Jersey (Channel Islands NOT New Jersey!)
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While walking on this beautiful beach I had to get some photos of Yay. It wasn't planned....but when I looked at the image on the screen I just smiled....<br />
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Here is Yay on the beach in 2013.<br />
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And here is Joy on the Beach circa 1995. Just wow....<br />
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Just in case you thought Yay's 2 x 2 weave video was special; here is her first attempts at running contacts. I don't think I should video when training alone. LOL<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vXbvelLMLp4?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-73221690910048330992013-05-14T12:40:00.000+01:002013-05-14T12:43:08.872+01:00Farewell to Monty<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><u>Toven The Full Monty</u></strong></div>
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How can I explain who Monty was? He was a dog that belonged to many.<br />
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He belonged to Toni Mapes who bred him and loved him and gave him the greatest name: Toven The Full Monty. Right from a pup Monty loved to lie on his back and show the world he was a man. <br />
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Monty belonged to me. I saw him as a pup and fell in love with him. When Toni offered him to me to show almost 2 years later I took him home and trained him in agility. He liked doing agility with me but he never loved it. He was a lover of people and the girls and he preferred to flirt and play. Monty almost did not come with me to England; when we realized we were moving I felt that I had to give him back to Toni. I drove to her house to return him and was just about to walk out the door when we both started crying. I didn't want him to go back and she didn't want me to leave without him! I gave Toni a hug and put Monty back in the car and happily planned for him to come with us to England.<br />
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He was always smiling.</div>
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Looking at this photo makes me realize how much Giz-mo reminds me of his grandfather Monty.</div>
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Monty belonged to Johanna who kept him for me when we moved to England; she showed him in breed and won two championship certificates and in agility where he went onto to achieve a Danish agility and jumping championship. <br />
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Monty belonged to all the owners of the girls who bred to him. After Monty produced his first litter here in England it was obvious that he could produce lovely working shelties. He would never be used again in England as the English breeders would not appreciate him. So he went to Denmark to Johanna. Monty spent many years happily siring puppies for some special girls. Monty was not over used; Johanna was very careful to try and only breed him to bitches owned by people who were carefully checked. This paid off as Monty's offspring were regularly running and winning at top International agility events. I don't even know all the statistics but just at the European open and FCI World Champs he has produced at least one Gold Medal winner, one silver medal winner and two bronze medal winners in his children and one Bronze individual winner in his grandchildren. He has many agility champion children and grandchildren in multiple countries. <br />
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This photo was taken in Denmark as we wanted a photo of True and Monty with their gorgeous and talented son Unique (EO Gold medal winner OBay Truly Unique). I have just realized that I have no photo of Monty and daughter Zen together and that has made me cry again....<br />
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And finally Monty belonged to Marianne. Marianne borrowed Monty to run in agility and the two of them went on to do amazing things. Marianne brought the best out of Monty; she figured out how to make agility fun for him. More importantly she loved and cherished him during his last years and for that I am so grateful. <br />
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Monty at the Nordic Championship winning Gold along with his son Unique.</div>
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I hoped to see Monty again when I came to Denmark in July. I had plans to try and get him together with his many children and grandchildren for a special portrait. I also wish I could have been with Monty at the end; I felt as if I owed that to him. I am grateful to Marianne for calling me and letting me know how the end was for Monty and that he was buried in a special place. I couldn't stop crying when she told me he was buried next to his special friends and that he was buried with his bed and special agility lead and wrapped in a purple blanket.<br />
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Thank you Monty for all you did for me. Without you I wouldn't have had Zen, Zaz, Itzy and Giz-mo. Without you I wouldn't have had the opportunity to compete at those amazing International competitions with your daughter Zen and your Grand-daughter Zaz. You were just a little black dog with an amazing heart and we all loved you and will miss you.<br />
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OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-11143649330340505822013-05-01T07:47:00.001+01:002013-05-01T07:47:47.729+01:00How do you summarize 10 years of Zen? Zen turned 10 yesterday. I wanted to do some incredible video montage or put photos to music or do a big party or just do something to explain how amazing this little dog has been for the past 10 years.....Instead we just spent the day out in the sunshine, doing a little agility and randomly hugging Zen for no reason. Priceless.<br />
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Zen at 10 years old</div>
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Zen at 8 years old</div>
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Zen at 2 years old</div>
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Zen at 6 months old</div>
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Zen at 5 weeks old</div>
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10 years ago an TRULY amazing litter was born. Not many people know or understand the determination it took to produce this litter. Many people in many countries shared in all the planning, frustration, tears and then finally smiles, hopes and dreams.... It paid off and produced 6 amazing pups. Happy 10th Birthday to Zen, Unique, Chi, Bailey and Timmy. And special thoughts for Lucky, gone but never forgotten. </div>
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OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-41588508729873046302013-04-11T13:10:00.000+01:002013-04-11T13:10:47.568+01:00Yay 2 x 2 weave experimentI have been doing agility for nearly 17 years and I finally got around to trying to teach weaves using the 2 x 2 method. You can't say I rush into things! <br />
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It was fun trying this method with Yay. I decided to give it a try it because the weather had been so awful and I didn't want to take her into the wet training paddock to do a lot of running. I decided that I could just set up some stick in the ground poles right outside my backdoor and step out for few minutes each day. The first few days were very frustrating; when I went from 2 poles to 4 poles I thought she would never get the idea and I was frankly about to give up. So we took a 2 day break and when I brought her back the next time it just seemed to click and the progression from 2 sets of 2 poles to 6 straight up went really quickly. <br />
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After about a week of training with the stick in the ground poles, I was lucky to have been able to borrow a set of three 2 x 2 poles. This helped progress her even more smoothly as those poles were easier to slightly tweak if necessary. When it came time to adding more than 6 poles I had to go back to adding my stick in the ground poles but she seems to cope fine. <br />
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This video was taken when she was at 8 poles. Not so easy videoing and trying to get your 10 month old pup to weave. HA! So the video quality isn't professional and my rewarding could be better but you get the idea. <br />
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I have been amazed at how quickly she learned to weave straight up poles and she has some wicked entries learned already. I am not sure I love her foot work through the poles or her little jump at the last pole but that could be the result of my rewarding incorrectly. We started her with a thrown toy while the poles were open but went to thrown food as we progressed. <br />
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Yay can now do 12 poles straight up and I will honestly say the amount of time spent on the weaves has been 1/3 of the time I would normally need to teach poles. She has not done many repetitions and I know she will need more work on things like cross behinds and my running past as most of the repetitions have been done with my standing still. I will go back and review the 2 x 2 DVD and see where I might have skipped steps and start adding a jump before the weaves as my next step. <br />
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I am so happy that Yay loves the game of agility already; she is great fun. I think we are both ready to begin the next stage of training: Running Contacts! Fondly known as "self-imposed manic depression" and I can't wait to start!OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-54220385487390914902013-04-08T07:57:00.000+01:002013-04-08T07:57:11.456+01:00Bartering for Agility training? <u>Bartering for Agility training?</u><br />
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I had a little hiatus from running agility last year but am excited to get back to competition this year. I have been thinking about the new trends here in the UK and the USA. More "European" handling seems to be all the rage. I love new things but it takes me time to let it all sink in. I am basically happy with how my dogs run and our successes but there is always room for improvement without losing what I already know.<br />
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Anyway.....one of the things I keep in mind about agility is that it is NOT rocket science. It is a little bit of fun that we have with our dogs. I try not to take it too seriously while at the same time remain competitive. Does that make sense? I love to talk agility, talk training and get together with people who love to do the same. I love to delve into why things happen and why some training/handling works for one dog and not another. This is the same reason why I love reading the blogs of trainers from other countries. Especially the trainers who break things down and speak of their highs and lows rather than just write a blog to "sell" something. I have learned so much over the years for free by doing this! Yes free agility information! <br />
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I was thinking of about all that yesterday on the ride home from Giz-mo's first agility show. Having two young dogs now gets me back into training mode and I love that. So I was thinking about all the trainers in Europe and the US that I would love to train with but cannot afford.....<br />
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So I would offer this proposal to any trainers who would like to come to England to either run agility or just to sightsee in our beautiful country. I have a lovely home in the beautiful English countryside with spare bedrooms that is dog friendly. We are only a 1 hour train ride to London. I have an outdoor agility paddock for training right outside my door. If you ever want to come over for some fun in England I would be glad to help you out with organizing your agility trip and give you a room for free in return for a 1/2 day of training a small group. I cannot offer big US or European training fees but could possibly organize another small training day to help your expenses. I am not looking for the "top" trainers that want/need to charge $$$$ but just looking for those who love agility and enjoy sharing their knowledge. Maybe you regularly read my blog and have even watched my videos and learned something yourself. Or maybe you have watched my videos and thought "oh I could help her!" Of course, if someone who charges $$$$ wants to come I would love to have you! LOL<br />
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The Kennel Club International Festival is in August and is still open for entering. Crufts is in March and we have agility shows all summer. <br />
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So this is just an idea. Contact me if it sounds interesting to you! <a href="mailto:obayshelties@hotmail.com">obayshelties@hotmail.com</a><br />
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OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-56931142965224973962013-04-04T20:41:00.000+01:002013-04-04T20:41:11.011+01:00Meet YAY!With a little help from alot of friends a little ball of sable fluff joined us last September.<br />
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Meet <strong>YAY! </strong> Officially known as" <u>Damask Jump for Joy at Obay</u>". <br />
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It was a long journey on the search for this puppy. I had a few breedings of my own that failed to produce or just produced boys. Then I had the possibilities of a puppy from other breeders that just didn't happen: either through not getting pregnant or just producing larger pups. It seemed like I was never going to find my little girl! I had my heart set on a sable girl but honestly would have taken any colour by that point!<br />
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Then I heard of a breeding to a dog that I have admired for nearly 8 years after meeting him as a young dog at a Clean Run camp in 2005. I loved this boy so much that I had plans to breed Hex to him. I had visualized that breeding as crossing two of the most perfect shelties. Sadly that never happened but I kept in touch with his owner (an old friend) just in case he was used at stud with a nice bitch. <br />
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So I contacted the breeder in Kansas and happily found myself on the list for a puppy. I was happy that the breeder had similar ideas on breeding and she knew I was looking for a smaller girl. The pups were born and I was feeling optimistic as there were two girls. Then tragedy struck and one of the girl pups died at only a few days old. So sad for everyone and I just assumed I was not getting a pup again...
Then my luck finally turned when the breeder offered me the one remaining girl. I was so excited and began to plan the difficult process of importing a puppy into England. It is hard to believe but this would be my first puppy bought from another breeder in over 20 years! I had gotten used to breeding my own pups and knowing my own lines. It took a leap of faith for me to let go of the worry that not only was I not raising the litter but also I would not be getting the puppy until it was nearly 4 months old due to import restrictions into the UK.<br />
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How could I not love this puppy?<br />
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I flew from England to New York to Kansas to pick up Yay when she was 8 weeks old. She then flew back with me to New York where I spent a week with her. I hoped that this week would help to bond us together and allow me to start some puppy training.<br />
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Yay never left my side for that week. I was amazed at how fast she learned tricks and so pleased with her tugging and play. She was the perfect puppy! I cried when I left her a week later....</div>
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Luckily my lovely sister agreed to keep Yay for the 6 weeks it would take to get her rabies injection and then wait the required time to do the paperwork necessary to import her into the UK. Not only did she take care of her but she also continued her training and socializing. I had a list of things for her to do with Yay and would speak to her every week asking if Yay was still playing and tugging. How annoying I must have been! </div>
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Yay had other helpers in New York. Friends and family who helped train her, let her out during the day when my sister was working, leash walk her and even friends who helped train those sheltie ears! How luck am I to have such friends and family? It takes a village to raise a puppy!</div>
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It seemed like forever until I returned back to New York to pick up 15 week old Yay to bring her home to England. Of course things wouldn't be as simple as just flying into England; that would be too easy! The only way you can fly into England is to have the puppy in cargo and I wasn't prepared to do that with my puppy. I wanted little Yay at my side the entire trip.</div>
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So this required a flight from New York to Brussels followed by a car ride through Belgium and France to get to the Eurotunnel. Dennis drove from England to Brussels to meet us and on the same day turned around and drove us all back home. Another epic trip! What a fantastic husband I have!<br />
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Dennis was going to take a photo of me and Yay after we passed through the Eurotunnel Pets Passport office. This never happened because after this amazing long journey and the worry of all the paperwork I burst into tears as soon as we walked out of the Pets Passport office! The relief of knowing that Yay was finally mine was overwhelming.<br />
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I don't know what the universe has planned for Yay and I. I just know that I absolutely adore her and look forward to our journey together. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a puppy so much. She fits into our family perfectly and I see her and Giz-mo as my Yin-Yang. (or sometimes just as double-trouble!)<br />
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Yay is so meant to be mine. When I first found out about her it was because I loved her sire. Then I found out the most incredible thing....Yay's mom was related to Zen and Hex through their mom True. Yay's great great grandmother was also Zen's grandmother! Now Yay was able to bring me back to the fantastic genes of our gorgeous True.<br />
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And finally her name: Damask Jump for Joy at OBay is because she reminds me so much of my very special dog of a lifetime: Joy.<br />
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Yay!<br />
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Yay is now almost 11 months old. Agility training has begun and we are loving it! <br />
<br />OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-14982015565666870132013-03-21T10:25:00.000+00:002013-03-21T10:25:42.876+00:00Toven The Full Monty: 14 tomorrow!Some dogs can change your life in ways you cannot imagine.<br />
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Happy 14th Birthday to Monty! <br />
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Monty's first litter will be 10 next month and he now has children, grand-children and great grandchildren in many countries. Who knew that this little black boy would make such an impact on so many.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMQhTtMtnuZWyVNvIPpfrUZebYf8mWKojnQKlEGa3Tbrb2Lkg0QUEc_bJMiDytM-CbmllnZ4ITepAf3RXUzvfGN-1Bmcm21xRZR54lYZPYs-bfOZaxZaTq0DkGdaAe-ygu6RjKA/s1600/xmas+dogs+vert01.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMQhTtMtnuZWyVNvIPpfrUZebYf8mWKojnQKlEGa3Tbrb2Lkg0QUEc_bJMiDytM-CbmllnZ4ITepAf3RXUzvfGN-1Bmcm21xRZR54lYZPYs-bfOZaxZaTq0DkGdaAe-ygu6RjKA/s320/xmas+dogs+vert01.JPG" /></a><br />
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I am so grateful to the many people who have participated in Monty's life. Toni who bred him, gave him to me when he was a year old and let him make the trip to England. Johanna who allowed him to shine as a show dog, agility dog and a producer of fantastic puppies. And finally Marianne who helped Monty shine as a veteran agility dog and provides him love and attention in his retirement years. Monty is one sheltie loved by many!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tsTRlgm4wmD44iFSi6YJqWjq4GUvbhSAFbuNYnVxFyGSDddbcXpwvq40caLXkPsr8ari4_3md9ub8IlN72xyFjxu-qudxidawdlZNts_fKeuvDeXCXNz72JTp6O_bADxnYzQDw/s1600/Monty+agility+collage.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tsTRlgm4wmD44iFSi6YJqWjq4GUvbhSAFbuNYnVxFyGSDddbcXpwvq40caLXkPsr8ari4_3md9ub8IlN72xyFjxu-qudxidawdlZNts_fKeuvDeXCXNz72JTp6O_bADxnYzQDw/s320/Monty+agility+collage.jpg" /></a>OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-1530698795985486022013-03-18T20:33:00.001+00:002013-03-18T20:33:18.649+00:00Crufts 2013: Agility Championships<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKfcZiDO76eJerO0NQ7zpgeZFamLVc1IhEAU2DUWfiY1uYaJx4K_WqvpXt64DINjQNlW-YuChYzXdG-usUKjcusAsJzVIpt3N_DMXBu_ZGl6f9y056v-12JCh87eg0Qn_7MwkpQ/s1600/Crufts+2013+Bern+zen+and+zaz+at+Benches.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKfcZiDO76eJerO0NQ7zpgeZFamLVc1IhEAU2DUWfiY1uYaJx4K_WqvpXt64DINjQNlW-YuChYzXdG-usUKjcusAsJzVIpt3N_DMXBu_ZGl6f9y056v-12JCh87eg0Qn_7MwkpQ/s320/Crufts+2013+Bern+zen+and+zaz+at+Benches.png" /></a>
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We were up early and at Crufts almost before anyone else. Luckily Dennis came again to take care of the driving and we had Sonia joining us as a special good luck charm. Today Zaz was with us and I was thrilled to have mother and daughter at Crufts! This was the first time I have had two dogs competing together in Crufts Championship and for it to be mother Zen and daughter Zaz was very special.
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Our first run (jumping) was very early; there was hardly anyone in the stands as they were still making their way into the venue. In Championship agility there are two qualifying rounds: one jumping and one agility. In order to get into the final you need to be in the top 50% based on placings in the two qualifying rounds. Any elimination in the qualifiers prevents you from going into the final.
So often tactics take place in running championship. You need to decide if you just need two steady clears or if you have to go all out for a high placing in order to get through to the final. Of course, no matter what, you don't want to get eliminated in the qualifiers. This year it seemed that you couldn't play in safe; dogs with good double clears still didn't make it through. Often this is determined by the difficulty of a course. The more difficult the course the more eliminations and therefore a greater chance of getting through even with steadier clears. Sometimes courses are hard to read; they may seem difficult on walking yet they run quite easily. We had 16 dogs in medium champ and 14 dogs in small champ. Qualifying for the champ at Crufts can be very difficult as there are only 20 or so champ shows throughout country all year. So every Championship ticket awarded is very special.<br />
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So I was feeling slightly emotional running Zen but still needed to concentrate on Zaz. I think this helped keep me focused. I had two songs in my head: <a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rihanna/diamonds.html" target="_blank">Diamonds</a> by Rihanna and <a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/olivianewtonjohn/magic.html" target="_blank">Magic</a> by Olivia Newton-John. Two very different songs from different eras! I know it is a little sappy but I do find that certain songs motivate me and help me focus. Sometimes I go for upbeat songs to charge me up and get me excited. Other times, like this Crufts, the songs have more sentimental feelings reminding me to relax and enjoy my dog. I am always careful in big events to not have the "just enjoy" yourself mentality. I DO enjoy myself but I want more than that: I want to win and I want to have that amazing run that shows off my dog and my training.<br />
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For Zaz "<u>Magic</u>":<br />
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Through every turn I'll be near you<br />
I'll come anytime you call
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I'll catch you when you fall
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I'll be guiding you<br />
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You have to believe we are magic<br />
Nothin' can stand in our way<br />
You have to believe we are magic<br />
Don't let your aim ever stray<br />
And if all your hopes survive<br />
Your destiny will arrive<br />
I'll bring all your dreams alive<br />
For you <br />
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For Zen: "<u>Diamonds</u>":<br />
I knew that we’d become one right away
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Oh, right away
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At first sight I felt the energy of sun rays<br />
I saw the life inside your eyes<br />
So shine bright, tonight you and I<br />
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky<br />
Eye to eye, so alive<br />
We’re beautiful like diamonds in the sky
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Zen was up first in Champ Jumping and then I had 7 dogs before Zaz ran. This put me into a slight panic wondering if I would be able to catch my breath and get my legs back between dogs. We have to run in strict order in Champ and they will not delay. Luckily someone said to me just the right words while I was talking about how worried I was. They didn't just say "Oh you will be fine" but instead they gave me something positive to focus on. They said (paraphrasing) "it is good that you won't have time in between to let the adrenalin fade away. You will be warmed up and ready to run again." I do not even remember who said it but it was just the right thing to say to me at the time. Isn't it amazing how a positive comment can really make you feel so much better? <br />
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Next up was Zaz. Now many people know that Zaz's registered name is often announced incorrectly. She has been called Itz Got Pizza so often that I just expect it now! This year at Crufts all the announcers got her name perfect but the TV screen read something else.........<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSAXE1kQ4Q1OTHKgi0k-DLc-YdkbsjlTRlpSzEVbaggBSoInqGU7dvpuKbQqkR7WK2KkBLwym3zwWN2kmW2JWDTGmuZjJJ45aoQJKORBLgXP6D9KzQQRmuzgicTjhS909L3ocgw/s1600/Its+GOD+Pizzaz.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSAXE1kQ4Q1OTHKgi0k-DLc-YdkbsjlTRlpSzEVbaggBSoInqGU7dvpuKbQqkR7WK2KkBLwym3zwWN2kmW2JWDTGmuZjJJ45aoQJKORBLgXP6D9KzQQRmuzgicTjhS909L3ocgw/s320/Its+GOD+Pizzaz.JPG" /></a><br />
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Knowing how much I adore this dog; god is not a big leap! It was certainly God that brought her to me when I needed her most.<br />
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Here is Zaz's jumping round.
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We didn't have long to wait until the Champ agility round. I had longer between dogs for this run but I don't remember who ran first. The course was subtle again; no real traps but the angle of the jump after the see saw was of concern and caught a few dogs out.<br />
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Zaz's agility round.<br />
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Zen's agility round. Zen got creative before the see-saw but she had her reasons.<br />
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After the two qualifying rounds we waited with anticipation to hear who made it into the finals. I knew Zaz would be in the finals as she had won both rounds but I didn't know if Zen had done enough to get through. It turns out that Zen actually ended up 3rd overall by getting 6th in jumping and 4th in agility! She was in the finals and that is where I wanted her to run her last run. Zen would finish her agility career running in the Championship Finals in the main ring at Crufts! The only sad part of the day was that Zen's son Zev did not make it into the finals due to having faults in his agility round. Zev will certainly be back here another year!<br />
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I love running in the finals at Crufts. The crowds are great yet not overwhelming and loud. The ring crew is supportive and efficient and you have time to breathe and enjoy the moment. <br />
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I loved running Zaz at Crufts again and winning the Champ two years is a row is amazing! Last year we won by a whisker and this year it was close again with under 1/2 second to play with. Gosh we have some fab small dogs in UK agility! I have to use the video direct from Crufts as the commentary is such fun. Every time I hear Peter Purvis say that our run is not quick enough my heart skips and I wonder if we actually won! Thank goodness we did! It was a fun course.<br />
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And Zen's Champ final run.<br />
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I guess it would have been nice to say Zen finished with a clear round but actually that was never my goal. This was not about a fairy tale ending but about celebrating my amazing dog. Zen was allowed to miss contacts and obstacles and generally just enjoy herself!
I love this photo. Our new <a href="http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/galaxy-camera/galaxy-camera/EK-GC100ZWABTU" target="_blank">Samsung</a> Camera has this feature where you can take a photo while videoing and Dennis got this shot just as Zen came over the finish. I love my Zen!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDBPZZzqDHEBJEfx7DMYagoW98rb5b5v1-sqAII9kRqy3NaHJF2cD3lZxLQ_rlHOetlh11sxtYMDaiB0Uno53mMKp8B6g0fYnD6zElsVxSkBlmJ2itsfzmhH2WMjl0yatQDGHFw/s1600/20130310_161514_1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDBPZZzqDHEBJEfx7DMYagoW98rb5b5v1-sqAII9kRqy3NaHJF2cD3lZxLQ_rlHOetlh11sxtYMDaiB0Uno53mMKp8B6g0fYnD6zElsVxSkBlmJ2itsfzmhH2WMjl0yatQDGHFw/s320/20130310_161514_1.JPG" /></a><br />
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Beautiful mother and daughter.<br />
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The 2013 Crufts Champions: Large, Medium and Small.<br />
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So that was Crufts 2013. I am not promising to blog regularly but with Giz-mo just about ready to compete and my new sable ball of fluff beginning her training I may start blogging again. Puppies are planned for the end of 2013 so that always gets me blogging! 2013 looks to be a great year! xxxooo OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-7484403739662842912013-03-17T16:34:00.004+00:002013-03-17T16:34:52.310+00:00Crufts 2013: Zen-star in Crufts SinglesZen also ran in Crufts Singles on Friday. Those runs were a bonus as I hadn't really expected to be running in singles. Again I think the weather played havoc with many 2012 shows and Zen qualified for the singles class without many points. Or maybe Zen just wanted to enjoy Crufts with lots of runs!<br />
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I knew Zen had 3 of her pups entered at Crufts this year. Zaz and Zev were in the Champs and Zavvi was in medium team. 3 pups competing at Crufts alongside their mom is pretty amazing. So I had these cupcakes made up to celebrate!<br />
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Then on Saturday while watching livestream on Youtube I found out that Zen had another pup competing in small team! I wish I had known; I felt sad that Zoe's owner did not let me know. Luckily I got to watch on livestream and Zoe looked fab and put in two fantastic clear rounds to help her team come 2nd in the final! So that made FOUR Zen pups competing at Crufts 2013!<br />
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I was so pleased that the Medium Team event was held on the Friday as Zavvi was running in team for her first time at Crufts and I could be there to watch in person. Of course I forgot to get a photo of Zen and Zavvi together (and did the same on Sunday forgetting to get a family photo of Zen and her son Zev in Champ) but here is a photo of Zavvi with her teammates. Zavvi ran a lovely fast clear for her team but unfortunately they didn't make it to the finals. Team is a tough class at Crufts; you only get
ONE run unless your team makes the final cut. That is a lot of time, money and effort for one run!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg4h5SOXtD1vYoB_58PByMCbdzHs87HptWISa4HJbs4Am1MmcMVXTLyFWycqiUUMkeHp04SVpY_Es0MfVdTKLpjbVXFGFYZMczOyW0FjcRcKB09_-hmjrle6H16vU45bcVQEskg/s1600/Crufts+2013++Zavvi+medium+team.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHg4h5SOXtD1vYoB_58PByMCbdzHs87HptWISa4HJbs4Am1MmcMVXTLyFWycqiUUMkeHp04SVpY_Es0MfVdTKLpjbVXFGFYZMczOyW0FjcRcKB09_-hmjrle6H16vU45bcVQEskg/s320/Crufts+2013++Zavvi+medium+team.jpg" /></a>
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One of the best parts of my day on Friday was the greeting I got from Zavvi. Not that I am biased but she is such a lovely dog. Some of my pups act like they have forgotten who I am or don't really care about greeting me even if I see them on a regular basis. Others, like Zavvi, go crazy when they see me or hear my voice. Zavvi made me feel special that day. <br />
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Crufts Singles consists of two rounds (jumping and agility) on the day. The top 4 in medium then go through to the finals in the evening. Zen ran great but a pole down in the jumping put her out of contention for the final. I was disappointed but it meant we could head home early! Zen and I were both very tired by the end of Friday!<br />
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Here is her Crufts Singles Jumping.<br />
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And her Crufts Singles Agility.<br />
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After a long drive home we stopped at a fabulous pub for dinner (oh my goodness...they had sweet potato fries!)and we were back home by 9pm. On Saturday I got up early to watch the livestream and spend the rest of the day trying to recuperate. I don't think Zen got out of bed all day! We had to be up early again on Sunday to finish out Crufts 2013 with the best class of all: CHAMPIONSHIP!!
OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-5848354220130094372013-03-15T10:36:00.002+00:002013-03-15T10:36:22.682+00:00Crufts 2013 Day 1: Zen-Star in Medium ABCFriday morning we were up at 3:30 am and on the road by 4 for the 2.5 hour drive up to the Birmingham NEC. Friday is all about Zen: Crufts 2013 is to be Zen's final agility show as I couldn't think of a better way for her to retire. One day I should sit down and write down all that Zen has accomplished in her agility career; I just have never been one to focus on those details. This weekend was to be all about enjoying every run with her.<br />
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Zen will be 10 next month. She is running well and has no injuries but I feel responsible to try and keep her that way. She loves agility with a passion but she also loves walking, chasing a tennis ball and chasing the other shelties. I could continue running her for another 2 years but why? She has given me so much and I know I would be inconsolable the first time I saw her feel stiff after an agility run. I know how I feel after a long weekend of agility and Zen is now older than me.....I don't judge anyone who continues to run their older dogs; this is strictly a personal decision for Zen and I. <br />
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The shelties and I did very little agility during 2012. My heart was not into competing and I was focused on the building work at our house and the addition of a little sable fluffball. (more about that another time!) The only agility goal I was focused on was trying qualify Zen for the new competition called Medium ABC. This new class gave me a fitting way to retire Zen on a high; she deserved to end her career at the top.<br />
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Qualifying for the Medium ABC at Crufts was not easy! First we needed to go to the shows that held the qualifying classes and try to guess how many points would be needed to get us through to the semi-final in November. We went through a bit of a roller coaster while trying to get the points. We only had one qualifying show in June and had entered 3 more qualifier shows for the rest of the year. I hoped that 4 qualifiers would give me enough points. Then the "summer of 2012" came and it was a VERY wet summer. I had to wrestle with my conscience and pull Zen out of some shows because I worried about her getting hurt. Some shows were even cancelled. Due to this I was convinced that we would never make the points to get to the semi. We had our 2nd qualifying show in September and I was doubtful we would get through to the semifinal with points from only two shows. <br />
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I was amazed when I read that we had squeaked through on points to get to the semi-final at Discover Dogs 2012. Only two of each breed qualify to get into the semi and there were 5 shelties with points in the top 20. Zen qualified as the 2nd highest placing sheltie only one point ahead of her daughter and tied with another sheltie. We only got in due to the rule that to break a tie they take the results of the first competition and Zen had one more point at that show! How close was that? In my opinion the "two of each breed" rule is definitely not necessary and a little sad and I hope the Kennel club looks into this. The ABC (Anything But a (border)Collie) class has it's place in UK agility but limiting it further is not something that promotes better ABC dogs. Let the top ABC dogs shine; the final would have had a huge variety of breeds even without the extra restrictions.<br />
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The next hurdle was the semi-final in November at Discover Dogs. 20 dogs in the semi and the top 10 go through to Crufts. Zen placed 3rd overall to qualify for Crufts 2013: our 2012 goal accomplished!<br />
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So here we are competing against the best 10 medium ABC dogs in the country at Crufts. Half of the dogs competing were already agility champions or ticket winners so it was set to be a great competition. I was so excited to have Zen by my side again at Crufts. Two runs: jumping and agility and the combined scores produce the winners. Zen was amazing: coming 2nd in jumping and 4th in agility to come 2nd overall. <strong>Runner Up Medium ABC Crufts Champion</strong>! Coming 2nd behind one of the fastest dogs in the country is not bad at all! <br />
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Here is her jumping run videoed with our new Samsung camera! <br />
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Here is her agility run.<br />
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The first ever Crufts Medium ABC! <br />
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My only disappointment of the day is that 2nd place did not get a trophy... Instead only a rosette. For a sponsored class that required so many shows to be entered plus a semi final I think that was a little disappointing for all the Medium ABC dogs that placed 1st through 3rd. Now I have to try to make something special out of our ribbon so I am up in the attic trying to find all of Zen's old Crufts rosettes from 2006 through 2013. Did I mention I tend to not keep my rosettes....uh oh.
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So Zen had a busy Crufts 2013. Medium ABC was my only goal for Zen but our Zen had other ideas and also qualified for Crufts Singles AND Championship! More later. OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-81090584360667516702013-03-12T09:32:00.002+00:002013-03-12T09:42:38.368+00:00Welcome Back Team OBay: Crufts preview 2013Well well well; it has been a year! A busy year and a happy year. I will take my time to catch up; no reason to rush in one post! Let's start at the best, biggest and most prestigious dog show in the world: <b>CRUFTS 2013</b>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4gNyxiz9XdRYDpGt8c5MrEYTX7I44mPf9-T2O38O4C68_UaIAEYqAGVZ5rZBePd_aulZCW9kt6QTZaxIceaH07vQiDL11sVXeZLmnKVQI4fvE2liO0hDvpzEMefUpq78SyFZVg/s1600/Crufts+2013+main+ring.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB4gNyxiz9XdRYDpGt8c5MrEYTX7I44mPf9-T2O38O4C68_UaIAEYqAGVZ5rZBePd_aulZCW9kt6QTZaxIceaH07vQiDL11sVXeZLmnKVQI4fvE2liO0hDvpzEMefUpq78SyFZVg/s320/Crufts+2013+main+ring.jpg" /></a>
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I really tried to stretch out my fun at Crufts this year. We were competing on Friday with Zen in Medium ABC and Cruft Singles and on Sunday with Zen and Zaz in Agility Championships. Dennis came with me this year so we drove up and down each day. An early 4 am start for a 3 hour drive but it meant that the dogs and I could come home on Saturday and chill. Here is Zen and I on the first day at our bench. Our motto for Crufts 2013: <b>Keep Calm and Believe!</b> All our good luck cards and our special Crufts pink and white sheltie plaque came along for good luck!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBipHmnjms8vgAxJzTGwJ42e14tPfFN5EJIaMZrppycpiR8VQHh_vVOXmTwfI4D8_UtyAkA6IZzwqvjnWV71jNb482Vd5MDMlXLlWDUejgxS5Q3FYQGHhwX1sdTu65tXOOCJDJTw/s1600/B&Zen_Crufts2013_bench.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBipHmnjms8vgAxJzTGwJ42e14tPfFN5EJIaMZrppycpiR8VQHh_vVOXmTwfI4D8_UtyAkA6IZzwqvjnWV71jNb482Vd5MDMlXLlWDUejgxS5Q3FYQGHhwX1sdTu65tXOOCJDJTw/s320/B&Zen_Crufts2013_bench.jpg" /></a>
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It was fun having Dennis with me again; I don't think he has been at Crufts for many years. He enjoyed himself running around, visiting stalls and taking photos and videos with his new toy. A <a href="http://www.samsung.com/uk/#latest-home">Samsung</a> <strong>Galaxy </strong>camera. This camera was great at Crufts where we could video the dog's runs and immediately upload to Facebook for friends to see! It took really nice photos as well and we could email them to family to share the day as it happened. As you can guess Dennis had more fun than usual at a dog show!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhgAX7q3tB73ZX3hRY-DRGra_y_-3Im4Mvh3a55HENVmm1z4A84Ca522thnseskI58mvgG4tQKmsY8zj6Z04Q1sZmMlJsnRbcD6kpLYbjwg6A8L8TSi1vn8sm0lCU0NshDVZESw/s1600/samsung+booth.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrhgAX7q3tB73ZX3hRY-DRGra_y_-3Im4Mvh3a55HENVmm1z4A84Ca522thnseskI58mvgG4tQKmsY8zj6Z04Q1sZmMlJsnRbcD6kpLYbjwg6A8L8TSi1vn8sm0lCU0NshDVZESw/s320/samsung+booth.JPG" /></a><br />
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We had fun playing around the Samsung booth. Giz-mo came along and not only attracted attention with his cuteness but helped me send to send email love postcards to Dennis. Cuteness overload! It is appropriate that Giz-mo's registered name is OBay Boyz Toyz!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07oFoLYjlqIbHRmtYPghdSP4kx4lVLx6hbafNEZmrVFXGEhJtUS0cS5UqyxyrkiTbOMKxCU9mOlKyJw67jvjOFmVioB3urs49df-Ghts5DSXpONc2GqUyE3HXizgE48afEEs1bw/s1600/samsung+postcards+1.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07oFoLYjlqIbHRmtYPghdSP4kx4lVLx6hbafNEZmrVFXGEhJtUS0cS5UqyxyrkiTbOMKxCU9mOlKyJw67jvjOFmVioB3urs49df-Ghts5DSXpONc2GqUyE3HXizgE48afEEs1bw/s320/samsung+postcards+1.JPG" /></a>
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Samsung is a Crufts partner and what a great match for the dog world! Not only have I been using their camera and TV to record and watch our Crufts experiences but I have found out that Samsung is working hard with dog charities.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzVPtNXFT8CGz11N_JQIYr2-7Y9MYMVhxM8dhWtXyi3tTzkaHh0zXDMab1vrGcNVPy0oKWw2v4PoB_1K_lmoWB408gf5m4UNbMd7Y-xfEjc5616ZDaTa2YacTuc55UCCd0xIUvQ/s1600/Samsung+charities.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzVPtNXFT8CGz11N_JQIYr2-7Y9MYMVhxM8dhWtXyi3tTzkaHh0zXDMab1vrGcNVPy0oKWw2v4PoB_1K_lmoWB408gf5m4UNbMd7Y-xfEjc5616ZDaTa2YacTuc55UCCd0xIUvQ/s320/Samsung+charities.JPG" /></a>
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And more locally they have created a Facebook app where you can adopt a virtual rescue dog. You can choose your own virtual dog and interact with it to make sure it has everything it needs to be happy and healthy – from taking it for a walk to buying it a new ball. For every virtual dog ‘adopted,’ Samsung will make a contribution towards a vital health check for a Blue Cross rescue dog. To ‘adopt’ a virtual dog, all you have to do it ‘like’ the app, and give your virtual dog a name. How easy and fun is that? Check out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Crufts#!/Crufts/app_445949332145717">Help-A-Dog-A-Thon</a>
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So between all our agility runs and Dennis playing around with his new toy there was not much time for much else. But somehow there is always time for shopping of course!
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The best dog food company! Burns! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_AobtdYU1gEs8xq_TMVMqQSRgmtVFab_nSaDchVXRN4OuDWoSDO8CzfW3L2Mytco0p2uLlHQnpu7NQerXnRso7rVAxjDkdSPtPUcA__8Iu6RhOUr1fKRNcc9H7ob0g6Y6C0Khg/s1600/Burns_Gizmo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_AobtdYU1gEs8xq_TMVMqQSRgmtVFab_nSaDchVXRN4OuDWoSDO8CzfW3L2Mytco0p2uLlHQnpu7NQerXnRso7rVAxjDkdSPtPUcA__8Iu6RhOUr1fKRNcc9H7ob0g6Y6C0Khg/s320/Burns_Gizmo.jpg" /></a>
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And seeing cool if slightly strange modes of transportation!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PrGg_-8MY10JlDguSVd2xqReOAmZVIYE34ZkY5IYcRTV_S2tbA3Jawapx0pdP2gSVvacG9VmN6t1ATwV9JBJt2yzogOnkd-wDcL-Gnuhd8QPc2QegF9sNOBd8E7ZB2B4BBjdkg/s1600/funny+transportation.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_PrGg_-8MY10JlDguSVd2xqReOAmZVIYE34ZkY5IYcRTV_S2tbA3Jawapx0pdP2gSVvacG9VmN6t1ATwV9JBJt2yzogOnkd-wDcL-Gnuhd8QPc2QegF9sNOBd8E7ZB2B4BBjdkg/s320/funny+transportation.JPG" /></a>
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A preview of our Crufts weekend results! More to come with video!
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2kvI7Neece81He_oLclvs2In8WOFdtD7lrS6ggrliBt4NV2I7woeRCKZTOMYC2HcaA4sM4PuV-OImFN_Ni1axClxguV5XPzqhLK1oqzs4slU-TP1JymJ78_vAKm6gou1JUjnXQ/s1600/Crufts+2013+Zen+2nd+place+med+abc+podium.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2kvI7Neece81He_oLclvs2In8WOFdtD7lrS6ggrliBt4NV2I7woeRCKZTOMYC2HcaA4sM4PuV-OImFN_Ni1axClxguV5XPzqhLK1oqzs4slU-TP1JymJ78_vAKm6gou1JUjnXQ/s320/Crufts+2013+Zen+2nd+place+med+abc+podium.JPG" /></a>OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-24447157284854642792012-04-02T15:48:00.006+01:002012-04-02T18:09:10.917+01:00Crufts 2012: Zaz's 1st Crufts and other updates<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEPqKNzFedmFveVbur3JWwQdJLEtJDf7vPZB_UCQwAZN-RjLiU5xIOIN0yFiQ0kJbpv4c0PAs6wbp2JulfcCmTOt2QqmFffXR6CvS8_I8lJBNXyf6vvQ-r0iWUE3kX9vIlgm4Ag/s1600/Crufts+2012+Zaz+and+trophies+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJEPqKNzFedmFveVbur3JWwQdJLEtJDf7vPZB_UCQwAZN-RjLiU5xIOIN0yFiQ0kJbpv4c0PAs6wbp2JulfcCmTOt2QqmFffXR6CvS8_I8lJBNXyf6vvQ-r0iWUE3kX9vIlgm4Ag/s400/Crufts+2012+Zaz+and+trophies+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726813328619293618" /></a><br />I believe in Zaz; she is an amazing girl. We have both put the training in and I felt positive and calm. I also know that luck plays a small part for everyone whenever we step into the competition ring. This Crufts, for whatever reason, God smiled down and the the stars aligned for us. That is a tremendous feeling and one I wish for everyone to feel at some point in this game of agility that we play with our dogs.<br /><br />We went into Crufts competing in three events: The Small Agility Challenge, Crufts Singles and Championship. We had both the Small Challenge and Singles on Friday. So four runs on the day. It doesn't seem like much but with the atmosphere and the energy it is a long tiring day. Saturday would be day off and the Championship (3 runs if you made it to the final) was on Sunday. I stayed at a local B&B which was only a 1/2 mile away from the NEC; you could even walk to the NEC from there! This was great for Zaz; less time in the car and more time to chill out. On Saturday I was able to keep her at the B&B and take her for a nice long walk. I think this really helped her for Sunday. <br /><br />We received so many nice good luck cards and gifts; it really makes you feel special! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8yJZTWFlF_nMOn1Ez6ZQS4bSSLOYRBCUU8kUGU6taBfcsfuaCQ38fWNMMBog5ZZ9thzS6qNAiMW8wBjx16HfgAa1q1BlWl6EXeM-taI6RR1KXYzg7JCar8uACbHoj7ZP0j60mQ/s1600/Crufts+2012+memories+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8yJZTWFlF_nMOn1Ez6ZQS4bSSLOYRBCUU8kUGU6taBfcsfuaCQ38fWNMMBog5ZZ9thzS6qNAiMW8wBjx16HfgAa1q1BlWl6EXeM-taI6RR1KXYzg7JCar8uACbHoj7ZP0j60mQ/s400/Crufts+2012+memories+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726739769228155298" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdnrZ9Den0fEYbuGP7jNSkw1pNe5eH1FGrM08AE0pQFsrT_C7_FEBrizIr3hHhJzWWtT2XGhZed8Ydg6vsRvOBZ2Apkmtyxkh8hd2maNZOYFBis-EkmDEPQTcHlvO6uRBp16Q4w/s1600/Crufts+2012+Zaz+and+zeki+bench.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMdnrZ9Den0fEYbuGP7jNSkw1pNe5eH1FGrM08AE0pQFsrT_C7_FEBrizIr3hHhJzWWtT2XGhZed8Ydg6vsRvOBZ2Apkmtyxkh8hd2maNZOYFBis-EkmDEPQTcHlvO6uRBp16Q4w/s400/Crufts+2012+Zaz+and+zeki+bench.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726814713838067234" /></a><br /><br />Each day I displayed them all at our benching spot. On sunday we benched next to Zeki so it required a photo. We had three other OBay shelties at Crufts this year. Zeki was in Medium Championship at her first Crufts and came 3rd in the Champ final! Todd was in the medium team event and put in 2 lovely clears. Oz was competing in the international freestyle and did a great routine with a handler he never met before that week! You can see Ozzie in his routine at around 35:00 minutes into the video.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ecq_71rymGc?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />The Crufts main arena was shown live on You tube which was fantastic as Dennis could watch from home and work! And I could go back (after some time to be brave enough to watch!) and see how we did.<br /><br />This is the final of the small Agility Challenge. We ran around 21:00 min into the video. If you watch the end it is so funny as the commentator kept saying that we did not win. Luckily we did! <br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Al_mUUQTSc0?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Here is the final round of the Crufts Singles all heights. We ran around 5 min. into the video clip.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/x6fRA861Y1c?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />So at the end of Friday we had run 4 clears and won both events. <br /><br />Sunday we first had the jumping and agility qualifiers to try get us into the final on Sunday night before Best in Show. You need to run both qualifiers with no eliminations and be in the top 20% of your height class in order to get into the finals. Here is a video of the winners of the agility qualifier runs in each height. Poor Zaz I told her left after the wall when I should have said right. Bless her she corrected herself after I screamed her name a few times and she still won the class.<br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IksRKvDWciI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Zaz won the agility round and placed 4th in the jumping round. This gave her the most points for the final where the dogs ran in reverse order. So we would be running last in our height category. What a great place to be running in; we would know exactly what we needed to do in order to win! I watched a few dogs run just to see how the course flowed and then I concentrated on Zaz. I did see Greg and Scout run so fast and thought to myself well that is it; shit or bust! I love that feeling; knowing we couldn't just coast through but had to pull out whatever we could and still stay focused. "Bring it on" was all I could think of as a motto to get me through the run. Zaz did just that, she ran like a dream and put on the speed that she had been holding back on all weekend. What a little star.<br /><br />Here is her final run to win the Championship. If you see my face at the end looking puzzled it was because I didn't know if we had done it because I can't always hear the announcer and I am so busy playing with Zaz that I don't look at the scoreboard. I kept asking people "Had we done it?" and still didn't know/believe for sure until we were called in at the end for prize giving.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/IkuxeH_euPg?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Zaz has given me so much this year. An Agility Champion in her first full year of competition, an individual medal at the World Championships and now winning three events at her first Crufts.....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE1n4XsL-MP0_kw9nIcjjadJ8gEfvk8gnu5uUQhnNveWWtdroBmMzQhdD_ZwhSQEDPWkDdP8nLz5Pxy0d-yTkAmzjlm6tCckJOAsBxttdC_4I0jxbcmcvcmjkDQL28xrWGdfGOw/s1600/Crufts+2012+Burns++photo+Zaz+trophies+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWE1n4XsL-MP0_kw9nIcjjadJ8gEfvk8gnu5uUQhnNveWWtdroBmMzQhdD_ZwhSQEDPWkDdP8nLz5Pxy0d-yTkAmzjlm6tCckJOAsBxttdC_4I0jxbcmcvcmjkDQL28xrWGdfGOw/s400/Crufts+2012+Burns++photo+Zaz+trophies+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726726686334322914" /></a><br /><br />When Joy arrived into my hands 20 years ago in 1992 I knew she was special and I thought she was my dog in a million. Then she gave me Pax and I never thought I would have another dog that would be my soul mate. Then Zen was born into my hands I never though I could have a sheltie as great as her with so much heart for the game....then I was blessed with Hex and never imagined there could be another sheltie that would make my heart sing as she did....now I have Zaz and just feel amazed to have her. I just want my dogs to freeze in time and stay as they all are right now. All perfect, all healthy and happy. <br /><br />So what about this coming year? I am hoping God has a better idea in mind as all my puppy plans are not going very well! I think I am 0 for 10 at this point with no girl puppies for me either in my own breedings or from other special litters I have been interested in. So it looks like a quiet year in that respect. I won't say I am not extremely disappointed; it is hard to keep up a breeding program with only one girl. Agility will take a smaller part this year. I need a break from the constant shows and want to sit back and enjoy our house and our life. I will not be chasing qualifiers or travelling all over the world. <br /><br />I miss running Zen and hope to have her back running this year to do some Medium ABC classes (Anything But (border)Collie). Itzy is enjoying agility and I love her enthusiasm; she will get more training this year. I will run Zaz this year just focusing on keeping us as a team rather than chasing qualifiers. I will not run her at Olympia this year and am already qualified for Crufts 2013. She will not be trying out for the EO and I am unsure about the World Champs. I am looking forward to the WAO (World Agility Open) in Belgium. Giz-mo is finally getting trained and he will be the challenge that I think boys can be! Small but mighty will be his motto; I look forward to our journey together.<br /><br />If you read this far I will let you know that this blog will stop for a few months. Not only do I need a break from agility; I need a break from the internet. I will still enjoy catching up on my favorite blogs and hopefully you won't all forget about me! Talk soon.....OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-55368911515249869752012-03-25T19:34:00.015+01:002012-03-25T20:05:18.557+01:00Chicken-topia March 2012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtdL3sDjS80uRy_HCEL0MaGhlRs2i5NrQvh80Q5kDDkpBTWNnfkUih86ihAIFN1GYc1z1VVitkUhL8xC3J5Ly1QQTOynCLJfzmqquA2k0lFtUCDqQwz5EMz-s4oiXcDoeqbaN4g/s1600/free+range.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtdL3sDjS80uRy_HCEL0MaGhlRs2i5NrQvh80Q5kDDkpBTWNnfkUih86ihAIFN1GYc1z1VVitkUhL8xC3J5Ly1QQTOynCLJfzmqquA2k0lFtUCDqQwz5EMz-s4oiXcDoeqbaN4g/s400/free+range.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723910502402455186" /></a><br />I know you are all expecting a Crufts update! I realize that I am over-sensitive but it takes me awhile to work through all my thoughts and feelings about big events. There is that excitement before-hand, the focus on the day(s), the sense of accomplishment, followed by a let-down and slight worry if we did well enough! Topped off by my mental struggle lately if I want to continue with agility, cut back or just take a break. For me it is not as simple as putting up some videos; I have to let it mull around my head a little. I am working up to it and have actually watched a few videos; so watch this space.<br /><br />So instead you are all going to get a Chicken update! I LOVE my chickens; they make me smile even when I have to get up at 6 am to let them out. I am enjoying learning about them and constantly trying to see if we can improve their living conditions. Now that I have lived with chickens I am even more horrified to see videos and photos of caged birds no matter how "enriched" the cages are. I am not a vegetarian but I like to think that we can be humane even to the animals we eventually eat. I probably could be a vegetarian again (I was for many years) but do find it hard personally to stay healthy without meat. And I do love a good steak!<br /><br />The house extension is going fantastic! We have had 3 weeks of perfect weather since the building started; so no delays at all. This is a view from where the new bi-fold doors will be. You can see to the right of the wooden pergola is the fenced-in vegetable patch, the green house and the chicken pen.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91O2bDLIgoxv22ip6nEH_jdaTdN2MhpoyrGLmNCUi8CGhyphenhyphenBBsgzUrm2pK7OC4fe74XsNMHpAmvqaHMsQeWu3XaBIIgGu2275CA4zeta_7hZ-k0Bg9Q6TEJ2OHmXraCDucH3xW5A/s1600/Chickens+1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91O2bDLIgoxv22ip6nEH_jdaTdN2MhpoyrGLmNCUi8CGhyphenhyphenBBsgzUrm2pK7OC4fe74XsNMHpAmvqaHMsQeWu3XaBIIgGu2275CA4zeta_7hZ-k0Bg9Q6TEJ2OHmXraCDucH3xW5A/s400/Chickens+1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723906647706495186" /></a><br />When we walk down to the veg/chicken garden they all come running up to greet us. They always think we will have extra goodies for them. They follow us around clucking like crazy and telling stories. Giz-mo likes to come down with me for our evening feeding of corn. Plus I couldn't put an entire post up on the OBay sheltie blog without a photo of a sheltie...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLcdHd3JxH6MzfWsePKi4fM4B_sRrFKyifcgczWoW4-mM-0Yky6UXHl29qUQ2AcpMwAX_4XdT74_Vg1IVpLfs5NNcxgh9_D8r999cCwnMAp58hO3ncZSxtFSYtgcVwiZqG8SlLQ/s1600/chickens+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFLcdHd3JxH6MzfWsePKi4fM4B_sRrFKyifcgczWoW4-mM-0Yky6UXHl29qUQ2AcpMwAX_4XdT74_Vg1IVpLfs5NNcxgh9_D8r999cCwnMAp58hO3ncZSxtFSYtgcVwiZqG8SlLQ/s400/chickens+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723907595225412370" /></a><br />I love to see all the colours. Right now we have 8 chickens. They are all hybrids bred for laying. We reached a new record of 5 eggs a day this week which is pretty good as 5 of the birds are very new and young.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-OAO5jlai-fc0W_BuZ0wYMk6eZnkW_Y_WPHZ2lzsGIZdg89Y-MD9LTfG0CskyAmhn2ISav3S1YRmKyspJjNVyIDDDTSE_OJJqEaTPdGw5pNGkJL-j7E1KrME4Ql79REKUcqjPw/s1600/Chickens+3+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-OAO5jlai-fc0W_BuZ0wYMk6eZnkW_Y_WPHZ2lzsGIZdg89Y-MD9LTfG0CskyAmhn2ISav3S1YRmKyspJjNVyIDDDTSE_OJJqEaTPdGw5pNGkJL-j7E1KrME4Ql79REKUcqjPw/s400/Chickens+3+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723907604703533026" /></a><br />The chickens get to free range in the vegetable patch and greenhouse during the day for now.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRCWG4XRztlbECTibM6SfLDJYAjSkSh9FlnFnljiThc4NJGMVVZbwZHCtL9SPs3q41r2QL4KahRyfy4-T12XdWt5fbOZ8gSd0phthyphenhyphenLAfNI5xITHPJXj8uMpJojUP_7R5pX9s-A/s1600/free+range+2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRCWG4XRztlbECTibM6SfLDJYAjSkSh9FlnFnljiThc4NJGMVVZbwZHCtL9SPs3q41r2QL4KahRyfy4-T12XdWt5fbOZ8gSd0phthyphenhyphenLAfNI5xITHPJXj8uMpJojUP_7R5pX9s-A/s400/free+range+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723910264727745778" /></a><br />Once we start planting the veggies they will be more restricted but will get some free range in the main garden when I am out to supervise. They have a nice large dedicated pen that houses their coop, a little dog kennel for daytime protection, branches and lots of dirt to dig around in. We are eventually going to put a roof on this pen and then it will be 100% (as much as it can be) secure from predators. It has a very expensive wire mesh around it that is both dug into the ground AND bent outwards to form an apron. These are both deterrents for the foxes. The mesh is about 8 feet high right now and will also go over the top. Then the roofing will go over that to provide both sun and rain protection.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius1t1asndg0-uzE0os5TYH6cVcep7iOs0Xgy4hc8Xz4F3wdp3NSCTsnCGi42Uwx7NDKU5u7J46rfybl3Vr6DM0tkr7m1HWltMawdqTG7BTHtYv7XFszN9Jw9WSZeiDnCZyhBowA/s1600/Chickens+in+pen+at+night.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius1t1asndg0-uzE0os5TYH6cVcep7iOs0Xgy4hc8Xz4F3wdp3NSCTsnCGi42Uwx7NDKU5u7J46rfybl3Vr6DM0tkr7m1HWltMawdqTG7BTHtYv7XFszN9Jw9WSZeiDnCZyhBowA/s400/Chickens+in+pen+at+night.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723909793531773858" /></a><br />We have been trying different options for the chicken coop. I hear all kinds of horror stories about mites and other beasties so I wanted to try one of the plastic coops. Unfortunately they are ridiculously expensive so we thought we would try and make our own! This is a little plastic garden shed that we have adapted. We have gone through many revisions so this is the current rev. Lots of ventilation, wooden perches and 2 cat litter trays for nesting boxes. The only issue with this current revision is that the chickens like to roost in the nesting boxes at night and that makes a mess. Chickens are VERY messy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt08R-CkhVczyJk158JGcELZ7lgoeEUC8wCZC5Xc-ZotlC1oDURNWmr3ep0d7zR7dXMvnD5VCoYETDgxYMIFK3fAHnW4mrZV52jIAUOcdurLkSZeX9xEIkcWn8zYmaFMg4uZz3Wg/s1600/inside+chicken+coop.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt08R-CkhVczyJk158JGcELZ7lgoeEUC8wCZC5Xc-ZotlC1oDURNWmr3ep0d7zR7dXMvnD5VCoYETDgxYMIFK3fAHnW4mrZV52jIAUOcdurLkSZeX9xEIkcWn8zYmaFMg4uZz3Wg/s400/inside+chicken+coop.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723910754658977090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLt4_bqyTtdIrj13Ujv28aay1hXBQmphGHlEADRt7ohPaTEaCus3GRRy5NF5S4uGsMwMJSTjF9EhTbzmF8UJz392_4A9ryE59qL5D7RN5KWKK3h0Tw5Sx2XAMkPvCJnKIr8vyrw/s1600/side+of+chicken+coop.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLt4_bqyTtdIrj13Ujv28aay1hXBQmphGHlEADRt7ohPaTEaCus3GRRy5NF5S4uGsMwMJSTjF9EhTbzmF8UJz392_4A9ryE59qL5D7RN5KWKK3h0Tw5Sx2XAMkPvCJnKIr8vyrw/s400/side+of+chicken+coop.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723911074926297858" /></a><br /><br />Crufts update maybe in a few days! Now off to close the chickens in for the night and to scold them for sleeping in the nesting boxes.OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-53125343663349581482012-02-20T19:42:00.005+00:002012-02-20T20:26:37.049+00:00February is not a great month...I have been in a funk lately but didn't know why. Only today I realized that it has now been 5 years since I lost Joy (16 February 2007) and 2 years since I lost Pax and Jordan (17 Feb 2010). Maybe February is not a great month for me...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoPDBNpN3XpiRsK_tQFqkD3wxcJbtdrc-qXEQyv6SxSz-LKBqhNotj8tyGhaYQ2dUjaJrHlt3ceSPw7MICm8qx29kZchiUQoP8eaRDOIYNb89aIfyxOG53NNAZzaQLmIKI-YNkA/s1600/Gang+in+bluebells.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhoPDBNpN3XpiRsK_tQFqkD3wxcJbtdrc-qXEQyv6SxSz-LKBqhNotj8tyGhaYQ2dUjaJrHlt3ceSPw7MICm8qx29kZchiUQoP8eaRDOIYNb89aIfyxOG53NNAZzaQLmIKI-YNkA/s400/Gang+in+bluebells.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711313084814635442" /></a><br />And now a friend just lost her beautiful border collie Jessie yesterday on 19 February. Gone too soon... Another special dog that will be greatly missed....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_JBwmEYeei0pdNSbXz38fjnNzOlunpaKn6X3ucl30hwgrAeQZ7moBCiE0FuIHR1h5RiXiH2jsEAj6DgpLhjneNuPIAF-m74fbxNDEbPZfhjF1Wz70mBFgbi1HMvJmmBmBS2-sg/s1600/Jessie+and+Lil+Mouse.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX_JBwmEYeei0pdNSbXz38fjnNzOlunpaKn6X3ucl30hwgrAeQZ7moBCiE0FuIHR1h5RiXiH2jsEAj6DgpLhjneNuPIAF-m74fbxNDEbPZfhjF1Wz70mBFgbi1HMvJmmBmBS2-sg/s400/Jessie+and+Lil+Mouse.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711313103804412882" /></a><br />And it seems only yesterday that Spooky was competing with Johanna for the first time in the UK in 2002. Now he is gone too soon as well...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmggr10GD4m9g8AHIqCgHNRhiIPQL93vlU362jBwSxirDv72pqH1MOXqFcjJUqm09VjWUr0SSJlvLamU1-IzwrPOOHj53d0Nl5vtUkV9c0BzOSNnjnMMnWc5lMQeMR0VU4-ij8A/s1600/Dogs+window.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmggr10GD4m9g8AHIqCgHNRhiIPQL93vlU362jBwSxirDv72pqH1MOXqFcjJUqm09VjWUr0SSJlvLamU1-IzwrPOOHj53d0Nl5vtUkV9c0BzOSNnjnMMnWc5lMQeMR0VU4-ij8A/s400/Dogs+window.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711313089796540962" /></a><br />We have these little souls for such a short time and I am so glad to be around people who cherish their dogs as much as I do. Enjoy them while they are here and give your dogs a special hug today.OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-33962972388457815672012-01-23T17:28:00.009+00:002012-01-23T19:33:52.221+00:00January 2012<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8krRxpRup8Mldc9K0e_rqZCuZ_dM1Fgam7dlF9L5Bok5JY599JfU_o4ReAraIjfKAI-KJGJrwYrFoLyPYS7Zcnc2lbH0ZUICtIZ0tT7VriS1rYM-CPxysBWYPYxWjqxf4bvLhg/s1600/NYD2012+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht8krRxpRup8Mldc9K0e_rqZCuZ_dM1Fgam7dlF9L5Bok5JY599JfU_o4ReAraIjfKAI-KJGJrwYrFoLyPYS7Zcnc2lbH0ZUICtIZ0tT7VriS1rYM-CPxysBWYPYxWjqxf4bvLhg/s400/NYD2012+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700889682546694354" /></a><br />December and January has flown by. I really wanted to do more blog posts but time got away from me. I also need to do more videoing of Giz-mo but I have forgotten how to edit video! My new little video camera is great for short clips of runs but I don't really know how to simply edit longer clips of training. <br /><br />Here is an example. If you decide to watch ALL 5 minutes of it you may be bored silly. In addition you will see alot of my crocs and, while I love my crocs, that wasn't quite the point. Finally you will see a great video of Giz jumping into thin air. LOL I was trying out my new Gorilla-pod tripod for my video camera. I haven't quite figured out where to stand to get the entire session in the frame! It is hard to train and stay in one place as I have found out. I now have an increased appreciation for those who put out good little video clips while training their pups. And I am in awe of those who put out video after video of running contact training PLUS slow motion! My head explodes just thinking about doing that....<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hTTWlElz9K4?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This video is slightly better as it was shorter and I was forced to stay in one position by the official upside down elephant-trick bowl.<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lrKEtXUfe8E?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Really both videos are pretty pitiful.....help!<br /><br />Agility and training has taken a back seat this past month. We have spent time getting the chickens sorted and "Chicken-topia" is progressing. More chickens are planned as soon as we get a secure top/cover on their run and put up the new improved BIGGER chicken coop. I am so egg-cited about getting different breeds of chickens! So far these two girls (Wilma and Betty) are giving us one egg per day. I am not sure if it is one chicken laying everyday or they are taking turns.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnqlvmjFfTrF4Xsm6OpDXbSik5O1kFawbMPl3Qq0IL01QzpeqLQ8Oucy1Z2dWS5ExJWqvugA7uGSzQ9xEh1LaPGjqfjGC6i0i3YrAE9TN1GBOtXBZWIsSKxY5q-mWrNoaXKe7HA/s1600/chickentopia.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnqlvmjFfTrF4Xsm6OpDXbSik5O1kFawbMPl3Qq0IL01QzpeqLQ8Oucy1Z2dWS5ExJWqvugA7uGSzQ9xEh1LaPGjqfjGC6i0i3YrAE9TN1GBOtXBZWIsSKxY5q-mWrNoaXKe7HA/s400/chickentopia.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700886664170983698" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZd13rMSPW3HliccYJP4RHXRT-ITIubaNXv1AcS1u8y99_WspGEhsh3xNnK9Xk8f-h79m7XORr6OIw3eefrCnl16dmyWJGez-hqDtvufZ8aYzHo5J7SrwFqt-Z7Ihkw6BrbMqoQ/s1600/chickens+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZd13rMSPW3HliccYJP4RHXRT-ITIubaNXv1AcS1u8y99_WspGEhsh3xNnK9Xk8f-h79m7XORr6OIw3eefrCnl16dmyWJGez-hqDtvufZ8aYzHo5J7SrwFqt-Z7Ihkw6BrbMqoQ/s400/chickens+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700886660871550130" /></a><br />Giz hasn't really done any true "agility" training. I did this little video of him 3 weeks ago and that is about the extent of his training. His cone/champagne bottle training as a puppy seems to have carried over to his wing wraps and I am pleased that he is working for a toy. He doesn't always feel the need to bring the toy back to me but he will happily tug once I catch him up. LOL<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YeNhi0vvJus?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I wanted a smaller sheltie from this litter but Giz-mo has taken my request a little too far. He is all of 11" at 5 months old. I am hoping he will grow a little bigger; if he hit 13" I would be thrilled! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjljwtZZUEUKkb7Af3H9vyyk31AX4fG7yefdZ8Up18NnFxHXrQqlHR-MiXTWXz-E0M_mWVev2R86i9PkFkwMUfaSs8kXtAfxu6YJhqyYyS70KsOJMIewMwrLiRbFGJlcjMclC0w/s1600/Giz-mo+2011+christmas+tree.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 317px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjljwtZZUEUKkb7Af3H9vyyk31AX4fG7yefdZ8Up18NnFxHXrQqlHR-MiXTWXz-E0M_mWVev2R86i9PkFkwMUfaSs8kXtAfxu6YJhqyYyS70KsOJMIewMwrLiRbFGJlcjMclC0w/s400/Giz-mo+2011+christmas+tree.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700910614563200146" /></a><br />Zaz wonders if he is leaving yet?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfZ6DkD39sf8AdiczMbqCRt5G-UkYsGkNAvucOYJ7mgGXXy-89_AzxsLZIjkhOwy_tj_ldVth9XM5LjdXfQ_ISdDnUBBr_a-Asw_mYfLmO_L-HD6NOsOtMwWZz-_QdcbZpNRXyQ/s1600/Giz-mo+and+zaz+christmas+day+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfZ6DkD39sf8AdiczMbqCRt5G-UkYsGkNAvucOYJ7mgGXXy-89_AzxsLZIjkhOwy_tj_ldVth9XM5LjdXfQ_ISdDnUBBr_a-Asw_mYfLmO_L-HD6NOsOtMwWZz-_QdcbZpNRXyQ/s400/Giz-mo+and+zaz+christmas+day+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700910604829253522" /></a><br />Dennis and I have taken TWO non-doggy holidays this month. First we were off to Portugal to visit a friend. That was such great fun and I hope she comes to visit us in England also now! It is amazing how dogs can bring people together as I first met Connie when I fell in love with her sable sheltie Teller and wanted to use him to breed to Joy. That combination produced my darling Pax; the sheltie who was my sheltie soul-mate.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJ2XUbpsP_8bzRiF8IgimihN1XAQQ08baW1752YdvBMIsLsAHhJD-qLSBJxeknfWgkYo1f-KDLt8jaq_CSCvZLCZ8IA1Qwhm0Panq6O_rZUILwL_TgU1u9gptQLlZjy0IVKcB1w/s1600/Portugal+2012+Bern+Connie+and+Alberto+at+beach++small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJ2XUbpsP_8bzRiF8IgimihN1XAQQ08baW1752YdvBMIsLsAHhJD-qLSBJxeknfWgkYo1f-KDLt8jaq_CSCvZLCZ8IA1Qwhm0Panq6O_rZUILwL_TgU1u9gptQLlZjy0IVKcB1w/s400/Portugal+2012+Bern+Connie+and+Alberto+at+beach++small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700909352246357650" /></a><br />Then after being home for a few days we jetted off to Iceland hoping to see the Northern Lights. We had a great time but the Northern Lights were elusive and now we have to try again next year! We are thinking maybe Finland or Norway next year to try again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK3Z5fnjqNgV0z4QiJZ7UCMchgthzHfj83kKqmbBQODrqb9HqkU3xPJ2QPMKaj_tN-_-Nces0kb-HUHRw3woviDUJvslzjVqHu4e3dwtd0684_v5xr4uugC3C8b1l7-Tt4WRZaw/s1600/Iceland+2012+bern+and+den+skellforce+waterfall+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 286px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicK3Z5fnjqNgV0z4QiJZ7UCMchgthzHfj83kKqmbBQODrqb9HqkU3xPJ2QPMKaj_tN-_-Nces0kb-HUHRw3woviDUJvslzjVqHu4e3dwtd0684_v5xr4uugC3C8b1l7-Tt4WRZaw/s400/Iceland+2012+bern+and+den+skellforce+waterfall+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700909929223732402" /></a><br />My gorgeous Zen is now over 8 1/2 years old and I had to make the decision to spay her. She was obviously not going to have anymore pups and I wanted to spay her while she was still young and healthy. There was still a part of me that felt sad at doing the spay as it felt like the end of a journey for Zen and I. What an amazing girl she has been to have given me four litters of puppies. Thanks Zen-star and I look forward with joy to the next stage of our life together.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoH2JbprGCfDOKMqXPzSSs8rH1328e-TqNBlm79_-KCGZLv31VEFNJltj6QjEADMIRvkvT5qgYq7lfvgCJ2rPfIH9wQiEZErpeCQf1tJXDXq-XoEpR8I5XwlC4jGv5jqLlIIJ-Q/s1600/Zen+standing+and+smiling+8+years+old+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoH2JbprGCfDOKMqXPzSSs8rH1328e-TqNBlm79_-KCGZLv31VEFNJltj6QjEADMIRvkvT5qgYq7lfvgCJ2rPfIH9wQiEZErpeCQf1tJXDXq-XoEpR8I5XwlC4jGv5jqLlIIJ-Q/s400/Zen+standing+and+smiling+8+years+old+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700891441436086418" /></a><br />OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-136291720949761502011-12-21T10:21:00.012+00:002011-12-21T13:16:25.444+00:00Update and Christmas 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXU10zJTWT2xZ3vlEPAZ-sEWequgkbM3u8lqM24jG4Rl9CfpxNKgCcofwGG3dxY_uEkM3uRPRgML9Uxo4N8b4kwLu6LoyH5dR29PUw1eNJ4e9LgJBotoSKA6WjTlbCjqB0BvU0A/s1600/Zaz+weave+at+Olympia+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXU10zJTWT2xZ3vlEPAZ-sEWequgkbM3u8lqM24jG4Rl9CfpxNKgCcofwGG3dxY_uEkM3uRPRgML9Uxo4N8b4kwLu6LoyH5dR29PUw1eNJ4e9LgJBotoSKA6WjTlbCjqB0BvU0A/s400/Zaz+weave+at+Olympia+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526414226784050" /></a><br /><br />So Olympia 2011 has come and gone. Zaz and I were paired with Helen and Piaf in the morning pairs event. That was fun and we won the pairs! Zaz copes well with the large crowds and noise; maybe too well as she is slightly out of her mind with excitement!! Very similar to momma Zen at the same event! <br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rnHIV27e59A?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Our evening final did not quite go to plan. As the winners of the semi-final in August, Zaz and I ran last. Our run was over at the first jump when Zaz knocked the first bar. At that point I would have liked to have left the ring but at Olympia we have to keep going. The run went from bad to worse and let's say it was not our best run ever! Never mind; I took the best dog home anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWZF-1CHpAsOhPGqyVO7MQypupOAuIPqkwCLN9_tEULwZeBUqoSYLZE5wA6Zv2HagxsgdW0-JOKytMTuLrs2I3wSq6DZRKQklDcR9boeGc6DzTgTpIdhUN4M22wqg0SD0qpR34Q/s1600/Olympia+line+up+2011+small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWZF-1CHpAsOhPGqyVO7MQypupOAuIPqkwCLN9_tEULwZeBUqoSYLZE5wA6Zv2HagxsgdW0-JOKytMTuLrs2I3wSq6DZRKQklDcR9boeGc6DzTgTpIdhUN4M22wqg0SD0qpR34Q/s400/Olympia+line+up+2011+small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688569411043684770" /></a><br /><br />I do slightly lose the will to live having to wait around for 6 hours between events. There is only so much shopping I can do in the Olympia village and I hate leaving Zaz alone in her crate. Maybe I am just getting jaded; Olympia does not excite me anymore. Or maybe I am just bah-humbug. <br /><br />There is only one thing that can bring some Christmas spirit to me and that is Christmas Giz-mo! Damn he is cute! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_nBXKFOaeRPG-d75AjdOKQGdc5OXsOsSf3ULgwnmcij1VO3CxrFdzWq1O4KIgATYGkg4SXu8O-uLGqIxcFN5rXMfTNOpk1vc02iTG0jroM8WztvUcXmm6uiwa2s6Jo1zQ67K4Q/s1600/IMG_8552_fix.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_nBXKFOaeRPG-d75AjdOKQGdc5OXsOsSf3ULgwnmcij1VO3CxrFdzWq1O4KIgATYGkg4SXu8O-uLGqIxcFN5rXMfTNOpk1vc02iTG0jroM8WztvUcXmm6uiwa2s6Jo1zQ67K4Q/s400/IMG_8552_fix.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526403436681906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-RcB_qFmZY9yotpebsWwvSiic4Y6fCAHL4W36jMnuaUlLONrGKnTgLwgcyGo7lr2LgkrCMaWX65F49Dc_2qVhwqsp5gL7w9iMDz0PLIiJJ2ER1A55hE1kMlkNX9NkGAjeHHEA/s1600/IMG_8546_fix.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDR-RcB_qFmZY9yotpebsWwvSiic4Y6fCAHL4W36jMnuaUlLONrGKnTgLwgcyGo7lr2LgkrCMaWX65F49Dc_2qVhwqsp5gL7w9iMDz0PLIiJJ2ER1A55hE1kMlkNX9NkGAjeHHEA/s400/IMG_8546_fix.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526391790281762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUabeCAdRY0TjNWyIMzws7raGj76o0YwXFjy_jW8LpkMou_O-eixNbFDBQWSWu4AxpUhzXgfsq7FULCLxmKYegmYpmP8S-KNG6a77fEEvb1puWTJQ2-YmLnX72m0P8klvc_Opjg/s1600/IMG_8545_fix.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUabeCAdRY0TjNWyIMzws7raGj76o0YwXFjy_jW8LpkMou_O-eixNbFDBQWSWu4AxpUhzXgfsq7FULCLxmKYegmYpmP8S-KNG6a77fEEvb1puWTJQ2-YmLnX72m0P8klvc_Opjg/s400/IMG_8545_fix.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688526385922067666" /></a><br />So what is in store for OBay Shelties for the New year? I seem to continually find beautiful potential litters of puppies only to have missed pregnancies, litters of boys and oversized girls. Maybe 2012 will be my turn for a girl? I am not even choosy anymore; I will take any colour as long as she is small, pretty, smart and feisty with perfect ears. You know, basically Giz-mo without the boy bits. <br /><br />In the meantime I have finally gotten my chickens! It is a new experience and I am enjoying learning about something new. So far we have gotten ONE egg from the girls and so it is one expensive egg! But the pleasure I get from looking out and seeing them pecking around is priceless. Right now we only have two but when our pen is complete I hope to get a few more. I am thinking 5 would be nice number. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp3W4c2V77gGujeUsKpCnv-9kQABCKa2vereguWriS3ZbdoBjkpw-bEjMjvBrJ4dNhPa5gjtXpN-hS7AZ3AjWChRuUCVezAEgV2o2prYP5XuVutZ0-8fLQMU3SDEA02QOErPKbQ/s1600/the+first+chicken+egg+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 316px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKp3W4c2V77gGujeUsKpCnv-9kQABCKa2vereguWriS3ZbdoBjkpw-bEjMjvBrJ4dNhPa5gjtXpN-hS7AZ3AjWChRuUCVezAEgV2o2prYP5XuVutZ0-8fLQMU3SDEA02QOErPKbQ/s400/the+first+chicken+egg+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688564487836907730" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2CeO68KseZ1ti5UsxlO8PeoZyoFVbvSU37h9RsVk65QJOnVIicdKMe6O3Ek-ar_8PEf2F282RhEX3js1wC9WZpv3Oe_nBQDycnMLN4wBD6l1V23DJ8EsubKD5Fk3B5l7TQFpJw/s1600/free+range+chickens+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik2CeO68KseZ1ti5UsxlO8PeoZyoFVbvSU37h9RsVk65QJOnVIicdKMe6O3Ek-ar_8PEf2F282RhEX3js1wC9WZpv3Oe_nBQDycnMLN4wBD6l1V23DJ8EsubKD5Fk3B5l7TQFpJw/s400/free+range+chickens+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688564480804588322" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XgPanM68byAGu9eXf2j4YFT99mmAB8M6grUqx2O_PvoXOh8ZTNxKBEPRQciLOQn2eU1meD_JwkrMP7-PVhtqQi9B9iypkGe6ixWDzBH1szlPutQTy3MLxmrfqKhLgcbeRByTCQ/s1600/chickens+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XgPanM68byAGu9eXf2j4YFT99mmAB8M6grUqx2O_PvoXOh8ZTNxKBEPRQciLOQn2eU1meD_JwkrMP7-PVhtqQi9B9iypkGe6ixWDzBH1szlPutQTy3MLxmrfqKhLgcbeRByTCQ/s400/chickens+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688533224743592050" /></a><br /><br />This photo makes me laugh. Dennis bought me this tee-shirt when he went back to NY because I love marshmallow peeps! It is also appropriate considering my new love of chickens! This photo was taken on my birthday just chillin in front of the fire with my pups.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRNsVzRKebFVsYbKakSGiNTbGS3pF-ds4DaOMFnqeHdBXEN2ZQ9FFt515D5AqsnzshOd3IBJ8HHXtdiSGhO69aOkYairb9c-nrieRCxDKFTWhxD1cicB7W9Xlqb_SeGln9Th1WQ/s1600/chillin+with+the+pups+on+my+birthday+2011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 286px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRNsVzRKebFVsYbKakSGiNTbGS3pF-ds4DaOMFnqeHdBXEN2ZQ9FFt515D5AqsnzshOd3IBJ8HHXtdiSGhO69aOkYairb9c-nrieRCxDKFTWhxD1cicB7W9Xlqb_SeGln9Th1WQ/s400/chillin+with+the+pups+on+my+birthday+2011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5688564475657132418" /></a><br /><br />Happy Holidays to all!OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34528802.post-67392641242734010662011-12-01T16:36:00.005+00:002011-12-01T17:15:58.460+00:00Giz-mo The Dude<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr39LpeRINiubebxyWUzGSjnWdpNXmxKHMc_80qcrBh_QnoakvNSOqaPC5Dp1miSSpc7gaIBWglcs3GwjE5_3uZVuWqGsTSYFPjApj50Mhjh7JPCn6RzC8i0LfJqQZ8u63Gf8d4A/s1600/Dude+Giz-mo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr39LpeRINiubebxyWUzGSjnWdpNXmxKHMc_80qcrBh_QnoakvNSOqaPC5Dp1miSSpc7gaIBWglcs3GwjE5_3uZVuWqGsTSYFPjApj50Mhjh7JPCn6RzC8i0LfJqQZ8u63Gf8d4A/s400/Dude+Giz-mo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681201635865910626" /></a><br /><br />So Giz-mo is still here with us at nearly 15 weeks old. He may be 10 years old before I decide if he is truly staying with us. I know some people do not understand why I would "not" keep Giz-mo but I really do think carefully about each and every dog I keep. I do not want to get into the situation where I have too many dogs; I have seen it done too many times. <br /><br />If Giz-mo was a girl he would definitely be staying. He is adorable, smart and funny. So for now he is staying and I am treating him the same as all my other pups. The question will be whether I can handle keeping an intact dog along with intact bitches. Time will tell. <br /><br />For now he gets along great with all three girls; they love him one minute and just tolerate him the next. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA0w30qOjaBXNNAWleTPOUxz5JxU1U8UhjLMT1jcUJzyVYLOO5GUeJAdaLsIeM-S1ALJC4oSiUxFsqrsaqgNN5TW6DeXiccwXrv8TAkVBovub5WIiphOHQ8Qbxct4YNIjClqXyw/s1600/Giz-mo+9+weeks+and+Itz+by+fire.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUA0w30qOjaBXNNAWleTPOUxz5JxU1U8UhjLMT1jcUJzyVYLOO5GUeJAdaLsIeM-S1ALJC4oSiUxFsqrsaqgNN5TW6DeXiccwXrv8TAkVBovub5WIiphOHQ8Qbxct4YNIjClqXyw/s400/Giz-mo+9+weeks+and+Itz+by+fire.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681201643371562178" /></a><br /><br />Giz-mo has been learning his little party tricks as well as just being socialized. I try to take him everywhere with me. A few week ago he took a ride with me on the train into London. I carried him in a little bag onto the train and he took it all in his stride. I am glad he was in the bag as the trains were so crowded and I would have been worried about any dog just on a lead.<br /><br />The day before I did some training to get him used to the little bag. He is such a neat dog to clicker train; he can be so serious about his jobs!<br /><br /><iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/muui3ygTGos?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I hope to get some videos of his training to date up. For some reason I am having difficulty being motivated to video him; I think have been fed up with how people are charging money to watch You-tube videos of them training their own dogs! Sigh... OBay Sheltieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06350593537135339353noreply@blogger.com3