some video from the demos ...

Sisters weaving ...  in the last show of the weekend Sophie and Sally were the weave demo dogs - it was very cute as they happily worked alongside each other ... I was amazed to find them on youtube!

Brody's last run was rock solid as was all his work ... in 6 shows over three days doing four "runs" or more in each show Brody and I made two mistakes ... he didn't realize the aframe was on course once and he blew one weave entry ... both mistakes were mine - I didn't ask him to do anything  - so he didn't! Brody did these runs right out of his crate, on the start line and go ... right back into his crate so I could run Sally in the right place and do the run order... he was amazing ..(the last run on this clip - at 2:09 or so- is Sophie .. Sally's super sista!)

Thea ran a little on the first day but managing 3 dogs and filling in for some holes proved to be a bit much. She enjoyed it though which was really nice to see. I had been a little concerned that the atmosphere would shut her down.


Skill sets were something we demonstrated too ... crate games, tricks, building hind end awareness and focus and one jump work. This clip shows what a work horse Miss Sally is - she starts and ends the clip.

Doing demos with Brody has always been fun - he is so steady and such a little shag muffin it's a pleasure to play with him anywhere. Sally has done a grand total of one demo prior to this- she was excellent but there were maybe 50 people then. Of the 6 shows the bleachers were absolutely packed for 2 of them and more than half full for each show. That has to be a couple of hundred folks. She was a superstar this weekend. She had issues with the footing but she was full of drive, focus and was just a joy to work with. Thursday morning we did the local TV clip. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were two shows each day. Today was a lovely off leash walk at the beach .. she ran and ran and ran ... now she's catching some zzzz's finally!

The intro lap - I have never run as fast in my life I'm sure: go sally!

Many thanks to whoever filmed the dogs ... too much fun to find them :)

agility demos ...

Happy Easter Weekend to you and yours :)
For the 16th year I find myself spending Easter Weekend hanging out a huge pet trade show ... I have worn many hats over the years but consistently have delivered a message of humane education and adoption. My dogs have been excellent ambassadors for positive training and while the show exhausts me I always have a blast. This year I have gotten to work in agility demonstrations. 4 shows down, 2 to go and while it's been crazy it's been a ton of fun! The dogs are running well - although the footing is slick for Sally and the spacing of obstacles is a bit tight for the long striding girl. Brody is the best dog ever... he runs and runs and runs... he isn't speedy but he hasn't missed an obstacle, contact or weave all weekend. Thea came Friday and was a riot  -- she bombed over, under and around jumps .. and just had a great time. I wasn't sure she'd run at all with the crowd  - and the crowds were deep but they really didn't phase her at all! Good girl.
I was quite shocked yesterday - twice people commented to me about the show and picked Brody as the favourite dog. That steady fellow is attracting his groupies it seems. Didn't get a chance to poll people today but Sally had her fans too - people came down from the bleachers just to see her!
It's already been a LONG weekend. I was at the show from 6:45 to 5:15 Thursday - didn't realize til I got in the car to stagger home I hadn't had anything to eat or drink all day. ( There was a local tv spot filmed in the am - and I was present to promote both the agility bit and the adoption area - went super well!) Tomorrow is going to be a long day!