HOT TIME IN THE SPRING???

Well we truly picked a rather warm day to attend our next Dog show. Our local club held a Sanctioned Match show on Fathers Day and even though SUMMER is not officially here till tomorrow morning you certainly could not tell that from the heat today. it was 97 degrees by 10:ooAM  But no matter what the Show must go on RIGHT and Dad came to the SHOW!

So into the ring we went.

First Heddy had her official CGC test and other than being a total Terrier and WANTING to KNOW what was in the BUSHES outside the ring she did great. Even managed to ignore her Dad who was part of the crowd of people that she had to walk around through. The only small issue that she had was standing and allowing the judge to brush her. I never thought about the fact that I groom her up on the table. I guess she thought the brush was a toy or something and started to grab at it. But settled when I told her to STAY. 

SO she is now   LOCH CU HEDDWYN CGC

Next was our very first attempt at confirmation.  Heddy was the ONLY Border Terrier Puppy so we had that wrapped up but it was a great learning experience. She is doing OK Still not standing solid on the table and after all the drilling with Rally and Obedience she sits often when we stop but it is a work in progress.

It was a very Pleasant surprise when she got not only best of breed but Group and Fourth Best Puppy in Show.

    

We also made another attempt at Rally and even in the Heat she did well again most of the errors were mine. So as soon as I learn to read and can calm my nerves down we may do pretty good.

If she could just learn to relax and walk on a loose leash we would really rack up some points. But we got a decent score of 83.

After which I promptly picked her up and dropped her in the kiddie pool  and like any little kid she really did not want to come out even when it was time to go home.

Team Obedience

One of my favorite parts of Specialty  in North Carolina last week was the Team Competition in Obedience.  It is my first attempt at Video and I was also trying to take some still photos at the same time . So I am not sure what happened to the sound at the end but

Enjoy the Amazing, Talented, Wonderful, Entertaining,

Border Terriers.

RALLY NOVICE - A and Terrier Races

After our total disaster in Pre-Novice I was standing around watching the Rally and got totally PSYCHED OUT. what great dogs and one of the owners told me how much time and money she had spent on training for just this class.  I decided that the Comedy team of Nancy and Heddy had done enough damage for the day. SO I went over and pulled Heddy from the Rally Novice -A Class. and Volunteered to help. As I was helping the Steward I calmed down and told the steward what I had done and why. She said no puppy should be pulled for those reasons and asked the judge permission for her to be put back in the lineup. The Judge was wonderful and agreed with the steward. Telling me to go get my puppy.
WELL that is great except that because I had pulled her I did not bother to walk the course or really to even pay attention to what the course was. SO the very first time I read any of the signs was as we entered. WHOOPIE. HERE WE GO AGAIN.
I guess I was more relaxed since I was so busy reading the signs and processing the information. BUT Heddy had a great time. When I stopped she SAT. And when asked she went DOWN. In fact SHE must be able to read because I misread one of the signs and told her to down with out a SIT but she dropped to a sit first TEN did her lovely DOWN. The Judge laughed and told me that although I gave the wrong command my dog did it right.
She was totally frozen when I had to walk around her and even did  a decent heel from the front  ( we had never done that before that morning) So I left the ring a very HAPPY owner with a HAPPY  Puppy. It doesn't get better than that does It? ....  We went over sat down and watched the rest of the class. I really learned a lot watching the Novice-B. BOY now I see what I did wrong and will do it different next time.

The judge called all of the NOVICE -A class back into the ring. She asked if anyone had gotten there first legg. I just stood there. Novice ME I had no Idea that I WAS SUPPOSED to check the score board.  The Steward again came to my rescue and told me that Heddy had a Qualifying Score and that YES we had JUST gotten our FIRST LEG.  One of the other dogs finished their RN and then they announced 4th and third place. Suddenly they announced 2nd place and I was in a TOTAL state of shock in fact I had to check my arm band because they had JUST ANNOUNCED OUR NUMBER.
WE WON 2nd PLACE in RALLY NOVICE -A I still do not believe it.

From there we went straight up to the Terrier Races. I can not imagine where she found the energy but Heddy loved it. THe first trial run they ran with muzzles but ALL of the Puppies were so busy trying toget rid of the muzzles that no one ran. So since they were puppies it was decide that they could run with out Muzzles.

There were two Puppy classes and even though she was the youngest puppy she won her heat.  When they had a race between the winners of the two heats. Well lets just say that I believe the Little Blue Boy that beat her must eat jet fuel for breakfast. WOW was he fast. He was not only a very Handsome Blue and Tan Border Terrier but VERY VERY determined. Even after his race was WON . I saw his MOM have to chase him down when he tried to race outside the course.

I do not have any photos of Heddy Racing (YET) but here is one of the other GUYS doing a great Superman impression. 

Heddy was very HOT and Tired from her LONG day so after a quick dip in the Puppy  pool to cool her off we headed on down the hill and back to the Hotel Room where neither one of us had any trouble sleeping.

PRE NOVICE OBEDIENCE ...... hahahahahahahaha

Ok so again we arrived at FENC nice and early , remember I have NEVER shown a dog before so I really do not have any Idea how this all works. We find a nice shady spot for the trusty Prius and our stuff get it all set up for the day.

So with all of our stuff under control we headed up to watch the show and maybe see how it is done. I really enjoyed watching the other Border Terriers compete There is nothing like a Border Terrier in the Obedience Ring. And I quickly learned why everyone kept telling me that you always had to bring a sense of Humor into the ring with you. As even some of the very best trained Borders just sort of occasionally did their own thing.

In all the confusion it seemed they decided to move the Pre-Novice class up so I RAN and got Heddy and we checked in then it seems as soon as we checked in the decided that NO they could not do Pre-Novice NOW it would v=come LATER after the Teams. OK so take Heddy for a walk to calm down then come back up to watch teams. What FUN.
Then again they are looking for PRE-NOVICE. and NOW oppps no not now they are going to take linch first.  At this point I am confused.
So I put Heddy away again. Only to hear them call me to the ring as soon as I get back from the car. SO I run back get Heddy and here we come. I am not sure if I even remember my time in the ring. I must have remembered to breath, cause I did not pass out. When I entered the ring I told the judge this was my first dog show experience EVER and smiled. Her response was well first take that thing off your pants. I had forgotten that I had a clip hanging form my belt loop.  So much for brownie points. And so we began. FORWARD... I truly believe that Heddy knew just how upset and nervous I was as she did not do ANYTHING I asked. She DID HEEL beautifully but I think it was out of FEAR!  I am not sure if she SAT one time when we stopped. THEN to just add icing to the cake when the judge came over for the STAND for inspection Heddy leaped up onto her and tried to kiss her WHOLE face. THE JUDGE WAS NOT AMUSED. I do not even think she smiled. ... So she said we could leave. I thought we had done so poorly that we were excused. SO I again PUT poor Heddy back in her crate.  Only to have someone come running to find me saying where is Heddy you are needed for the long Sits and Downs. OH LORD.... Grabbed out of her Crate again in run back to the Ring. we are directed not to a place at the end of the line but RIGHT in the middle.  So here we go SIT.... Heddy Sits so nice then plops down. BUT at least she stayed.  Then the LONG Down.  SO.... DOWN.... Heddy is in a lovely down doing great I am actually starting to relax... when suddenly Border Terrier tumbleweeds of Undercoat go rolling thru the ring.A little fluff gets past her but then A BIG BEAUTIFUL BALL OF FLUFF..... Well we all know where this went. Up went Heddy and Hooray look at me Mom I caught the ball.  Again Judge was not Amused.
I truly wish I had photos or a video to share but the mental photos will have to do.
This time we truly were excuses and Heddy got her nap.  just a short one....

THING TO NEVER DO ON A RAINY DAY

DO NOT GO RUNNING AFTER A SMALL BROWN DOG DOWN SLIPPERY GRASS AND DIRT BANKS AND THROUGH WOODS AND BRAMBLES!  IT IS NOT FUN!  AND YOU GET REALL SCARED!

OK I am back from a nice long run through the woods that I had NOT planed on.  BUT we are both safe and Heddy survived her escape and being caught.  I resisted all thoughts to strangle her and instead hugged and kissed her and told her what a good dog she was for letting mommy pick her up.
Now the story as to WHY we went for a run through the woods.
I took Heddy out for her usual after lunch time Potty. It is a NASTY day here in Delaware, Cold rain, guess just perfect weather for a Border Terrier. Heddy was having a grand time enjoying the smells I was miserable and really not paying total attention to her waiting for her to GO already. Suddenly she must have seen something I did not see and TOOK OFF. She hit the end of her 6 foot lead and her nylon collar did what all safety collars do it broke open and she was OFF. And so was I as soon as I recovered my senses enough to realize what had just happened. I was amazed at how fast that little Brown dog can run!  I am just very glad she was running to something and not after something. She took me through the neighbors yard down a hill and into the woods behind our office. BARKING ALL THE WAY. No problems following her.  I think the stream might have stopped her not sure any way when I got to her she was very busy DIGGIN for I do not know what but she wanted it NOW. She was so very busy that she did not even try to get away but let me grab her right up. 

Telling her what a good dog she was might have been the hardest thing I have done yet in dog training.  I know what my Dad would have done to one of his GSP’s if it had run off like that. Lets just say times they have changed. A LOT!

I was so glad she went into the woods and not into the street. Our office is right on Rt 26 and while not a busy street by city standards it is steady and I can not bear to imagine the what ifs.

Lesson learned NEVER NEVER again take her outside with out a chain collar on! 

Not even for a very QUICK POTTY Break in the RAIN!
I am just very glad to have her safely back tearing up her bed under my desk.

 Where do they get all this energy from?

I See the Future

Saturday for Heddy’s 5 moth birthday I took her, OK lets be honest here I took ME to the Salisbury MD Kennel Club Obedience Trials. Heddy got to sit in her crate in the car.

And to meet Carol , another Border Owner.  Since I have never been to a Obedience Trial I arrived early and just hung out watching things learning what was going on.  I saw Carol. Hard not to know who she was there was ONLY 1  Border Terrier entered. But thought I would not introduce myself till after he was done with his class.

View Full Album

Cheddar was so much FUN to watch. He does things HIS WAY. Reminds me of the poem When he was good he was very very good and when he was bad he was HORRID. 

But Carol is wonderful and just laughed and took what he offered.

I introduced my self after the class. And it was if we had know each other for ever. She made me feel right at home.  And explained all that was going on.

After he finished with his perfect long sit stays and downs.  We went outside and introduced him to Miss Heddwyn. Well you would have thought they were long separated best friend or maybe LOVERS. not sure. Any way they had a blast.

     

It was so very nice to see my little girl get to tumble and play with another Border Terrier.

Dog Training and Love

When I was 10 years old Dad brought home what I thought was the perfect dog She was a beautiful German Shorthaired Pointer.   I know she was his perfect hunting dog and field trial dog, but she also became my best friend. Dutchess became the first dog I ever helped to train. She was my first obedience project but also my very own circus act.  But as it always does time moves on.  I guess I spent a lot of time looking for a replacement for her.

My husband and I have had a lot of good dogs. I guess all in all over the last 40 years we have owned 13 dogs.  From our first dog together a Min. Poodle Mignon, our Boxers, a Saluki, a Black English Lab, Drizzle, a Standard Poodle Jessica, to Shadow our rescued Doberman and Ben our Rottweiler that we lost 10 years ago at age 13. Even Dante our rescued Chihuahua, that I was never able to train at all but grew to love his very badness. He was at least 12 when we got him and the few years he had with us taught me to appreciate small dogs.

My last project was Absolute Scarlett a Jack Russell Terrier we got for our daughter.  Abby the JRT has to have been the biggest challenge of my life. And when my husband suggested another Terrier well lets just say I was nervous about getting into that struggle again.

But I have never had anything like Heddwyn enter my life.  She is ALL TERRIER a wonderful tough little dog that every guy would love to have around. But also my loving LAP dog that is always ready to cuddle and play.  I do not know if all Border Terriers are like her but if they are I understand the devotion I hear from other owners.

Maybe it is because she has been with me ever since she arrived. It is wonderful that I can take her to work and our life allows her to be so much a part of our time.  But I think it is also because she is just a WONDERFUL DOG!  She is smart and pretty tolerant of all of the mistakes I am making in training her.

Dog training has changed in the 45 years that I have been involved with dogs.  When I was 10 it was ALL about corrections Dad had the perfect hunting dog and I had a very well behaved playmate but I am not sure SHE was having fun.  Even when I was training Ben I believed that the only way to control a dog was with total CONTROL and maybe even a little fear. I was the ALPHA  and that was all that mattered.  I had very well behaved dogs. Dogs I was always proud to take anywhere. BUT with Heddy I have learned about training with love and FUN. 

It may take a little longer for her to figure out what I want her to do rather than me forcing her to do what I want when I want it. But I have to believe and hope that the lessons will last longer when she figures it out on her own. 

SO FAR SO GOOD.