Lulu & Minnie

Very first official Rally Obedience competition, although last summer we went to an exam. This time it was held near Tallinn and the judge was Karin Lassmann.  I started to drive from my home already at 6.30 in the morning. The condition of the roads were not great. Anyway I arrived well. Minnie was participating in grade 1 (RK1) and was first in the startlist. I like to be first in obedience.  1st course. Minnie was great. Good contact with me. In the second half of the course I made a handling mistake by not making sure that she is ready to come with me after laying down - she was convinced that I should give her some treats after this nice "down" :) So we earned -3. After that at the next sign, she needed some extra convincing to sit. There came also -1. But rest of the course was good. I was not giving any treats as I know that it might create more possibility to loose points and Minnie can work the course without it...or well - we lost 4 points because of it :D. Minnie ...

 December in pictures: The end of the year is also to make summaries: Minnie started to compete in agility and in rally obedience. In agility we made in total 49 starts (with 21 clean runs).  It was done in age of 15 to 25 months old.   4 was in grade 0 (with 3 clean runs); 25 was in grade 1 (with 12 clean runs); 16 was in grade 2 (with 5 clean runs); 4 was in open grade (with 1 clean run). The most memorable was to compete in the IPAC and get a clean run in open course and the 2nd place of medium/large teams when she was just 20 months old! We also quite unplanned, participated in some rally obedience competitions (1 official and 3 unofficials; grades 1-3). That went always surprisingly well.  I plan to continue this side activity in the next year. 

Week ago we went to our last agility competition of the year.  It was held in Vastse-Kuuste and judge was Stefi Praakli. Grade 2 Videos form all courses: 1st jumping course: I thought that it was pretty good and manageable :). For the reasons unknown to  me, Minnie came out from he slalom and took the jump that was next to it. Did I hesitate? I didnt think so... Anyhow, DSQ. Then My plans after didnt work at all. I was late to blindcross that lead to me giving the wrong command (simple left turn), and her taking a left turn anyway...Before the end there was a trap of wall after tunnel. I really wanted to see how it goes...I tried to call. But although she looked at me after tunnel, she still went for the wall :). Maybe too little information to her? Maybe I hesitate, didnt turn myself away enough..? 2nd jumping course: Here we were pretty smooth until the second tunnel. where in the exit I was late, and there was miscommunication about the direction of the turn.  Becaus...

We went to try in an unofficial rally obedience competition, we participated in RK3 grade, that is of course a bit too difficult. Or that I was thinking. Last time we participated in unofficial grade 2.  Judge was Svetlana Kulda and it was held in Pärnu. 1st course . Minnie showed such a nice heeling! We had some hiccups at half of the signs where i was too late with sit command. Or too slow with my handling. Overall we got 91 points. And that was worth of 1st place! 2nd course. She was in a perfect mood again! We made a mistake at 7th sign (side change in the front, where she didnt do the spin :)) -10 points. But I dont blame her because we just started to learn the front cross without the spinn and she was so great and remembered the lessons. At the sign 10 (turn around she managed to lay down in addition to sit. Judge was very generous and gave only -5p. After that we had -6p worth of little miscommunications, mostly about sitting :). Altogethe r 79p - and still 2nd place :D H...

Third weekend of agility competition, and third competition in grade 2. This time near Tallinn, judge from Scotland, Dylan Osbourne.  It turned out that the courses were very challenging for us. Already on course walking I had trouble to find handling that I would be confident in. Video with all the courses are below.  1. jumping course. Started with a long straight line. I break my movement and Minnie made a wrap - that only lost us time. Slalom entry nice. Again somehow I did not go in from in slalom as I planned and we went together to the next jump - so I was late and i made a move with my opposite hand....I guess I was to afraid to push her outside of the jump. That made her not taking the jump (good girl), but then we were in trouble and got a DSQ . Then the "second DSQ" came as I did not call her after 12th jump (I already messed up my plan to blind after 11th). Minnie took the wrong jump. Third DSQ got when after the tunnel (I thought I push her, but then turned away...

 In november we had first snow and the dogs were super happy about it! But then the show melted and one day Lulu came back inside like this!! Actually, she is a cutie as long as she can be on the couch :) Minnie sleeping :D On 24th November Minnie had her birthday! She got 2 years old! She got cake and both doggos enjoyed some ice cream :) With her precious birthday gift:

Another weekend, another competition. Still in Vastse-Kuuste, this time the judge was Keida Raamat. I found her courses nice and tricky.  This time jumping courses first. First course was more or less okay. There was a tricky place where we fell :) The course turned, but the handler was blocked by the wall, so the dog really could not see well. But straight ahead was tunnel, that was a no go. I did not call Minnie enough in time and she went for the tunnel. DSQ. Second course, again tunnel trap. That Minnie went for - I did not turn my shoulder nor I called. So obviously she went for it. DSQ.  At least I was happy that I understood my mistakes. Thirdly, an agility course. I think it was also the easiest course for me. Everything worked okay. Except the start where I sent her to right and she took the left. But we only lost time with that. Result clean run and first place . Unfortunately no video.  Fourth course. I never even though that this DSQ was possible for us on t...