Friday, October 31, 2014

Happy Halloween


NOT YOUR AVERAGE DAY AT THE RACES

Contestants checked in and jockeys weighed.
Uh, Oh!  A little smack-talking on the start line.
R E F E R E E !!!!!
  This is not a Schutzhund event !!!!!
I cannot believe this unsportsman-like behaviour!
On the start-line at last
but only one contestant has her eyes on the course...
And, they're off!
Yet another false start due to a windblown bar
and someone who can't stay in his own lane!
Yeehaw, Miska!
Stretch that neck, Bodi!
After many fits and starts,
Diva and the rear-facing elf take the win!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

TRICK or TREAT

Sunday, September 07, 2014

They're Baaaaack!

Miska-Mom and Diva are back for their annual Urban Vacation.

Diva
Sleepy...so sleepy...
Diva

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

What's Up Dock? cont'd

Many thanks to photographer Lisa DeGennaro
for these cool shots from Canal Days in Port Colborne
August 2-3





Saturday, August 09, 2014

What's Up Dock?

A few weeks ago, I was introduced to the excitement that is Dock Diving!
Here are a few clips from my first lesson.


Learning to launch upward to grab the bumper which is suspended 4' above the water. In the "Fetch It" competition, the bumper starts out 10 feet from the dock and moves away from the dock in one foot increments.





Participated in my first Dock Diving weekend.  My best jump was 9'8".  Aside from having a great time, I went home with a ton of goodies, 2 lovely rosettes and my first Dock Diving Title: UKC UNJ (Novice Division).

The first rosette is for having the highest cumulative score (Novice).
The second rosette is for my second place finish (Novice) in the finals.


Saturday, July 26, 2014

The Nose Knows

Well, the first month of my third year just sped by. The first weekend of June was spent lure coursing and the last weekend of June was spent at Nosework Trials.

I completed my Novice Interior search title (NNI) with an extra Q and qualified in one Vehicle search.  I also qualified in the four remaining scents (Anise, Clove, Myrrh, Vetiver) to complete Pre-Trial 5 (PT2, PT3, PT4, PT5).



Once again, Laurie Soutar of Oxford Dog Sports held a great weekend of trials with fabulous judges Cheryl Carlson and Linda Ringle.  Nosework officially becomes a UKC titling event next January.  Hopefully we will be able to receive some formal training before Nosework trials resume in 2015.

Our first ever experience with Nosework was in May .


Check back soon to see my latest source of excitement.

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Birthday Bliss

Up before the birds this morning for a road trip to Dunkirk, NY.  Imagine my excitement when I discovered that lure coursing was my birthday present!



After earning 2 more AKC CAA (Coursing Ability Advanced) Qs,
 I completed my AKC Rally Novice title.


Happy 3rd Birthday to my littermates!

Monday, May 26, 2014

Nose & Toes

After an 8-month wait, I got to lure course this weekend.  I had a blast and earned 4 more Qs toward my UKC CAX (Coursing Ability Excellent) title. 





We also tried the new sport of UKC Nosework for the very first time. We had no formal training and no idea of what was expected but decided to give it a try and had a great learning experience in the process.  Thanks to Oxford Dog Sports for putting on another great weekend of events.  Thanks to Judge Nicholas King for patiently explaining this new event to the complete newbies and for holding a post-trial training demonstration.  With a steep learning curve ahead of us, we now have a great framework within in which to start our training.  

My first exposure to the first-level scent of Sweet Birch was on Thursday with a few games of hide and seek at home.  On Saturday, I earned my Pre-Trial Level 1 (PT1 - Sweet Birch) title.  On Sunday, I attempted my first "Interior" search and Qualified with 2nd place (Mom incurred a Handler fault and nearly failed us!).  I attempted 2 "Vehicle" searches (must find the scent on the correct part of one of 3 vehicles within 4 minutes).  On Saturday, I identified the correct vehicle but Mom alerted on the wrong side of it.  On Sunday, again, I identified the correct vehicle but Mom didn't wait for me to zero in on the exact spot and called Alert @ one foot away from the scent location. Oh well, you know what they say:


GREAT DOG!  SHAME ABOUT THE HANDLER!


Considering the exhilarating thrill of lure coursing, so proud that I was able to participate in two vastly different activities back-to-back with success. 

Sunday, May 04, 2014

Sunday's Smile

I don't usually get to stay up late enough to watch Letterman but Jack Hanna is special. Just can't get enough of Jack and Dave and all the cute baby animals!

Serval cats
Albino Porcupine
Is that a Sula leugastor
poking me in the ear, Dave?


Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wide-Eyed Wednesday


I know, I know, not a Vizsla!
BUT this shot of the lovely Shaula was submitted to
the Tri-State Weimaraner Rescue Photo Contest in 2008 and received
2nd place in the "candid" category by Judge William Wegman
(just knowing my photo was seen by William Wegman was an amazing thrill)

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Squirrel



Someone else who is wondering when this wacky winter weather will subside!



Wednesday, March 05, 2014

Wednesday's Work

First session learning to put away my toys
Is this what the basket is for?
Or is it this?

(boisterous human alert - turn down the volume)