Ying and Yang.

We set off on Friday, very excited as it was not only our first show of the season, but our first trip in Rex the van towing the caravan. 50 miles into the journey and something flashed past the van, not sure what it was but it smashed the front window of our caravan. We pulled into the next layby and assessed the damage. It was blown to smithereens (Weird word to spell??) so we taped up what we could with duck tape and continued on a bit subdued. Not a good start to the weekend. However it could only get better and boy did it get better!!

Olli had 3 clears from 5 runs on Saturday, picking up a 4th in Steeplechase with Fern. He had some lovely runs, and although still a bit inconsistent with weaves & contacts his speed and turns over jumps have much improved. Lily then had 3 clears. 6th in steeplechase, 4th in Agility and won the Gamblers!! A trophy on her first day back and I was over the moon. Sunday Olli managed another 2 clears and Lily had 4. 6th with Fern in Steeplechase, 2nd in Jumping on a tricky course which she ran beautifully, and 1st in Snooker, 1st in Agility!!! 2 more trophies and I haven't stopped smiling since. What made it all the more impressive was that I found out from the judge that in the Agility, the course time was 40 seconds, Lilys winning time was 31.20 secs and the second place dog had time faults in 42 seconds!! No other dog had a clear!!!

It couldn't have been a better start to the season and it was so nice to catch up with friends again, old & new, and meet people that actually read my blog too!

I think Lily Fudge Cake is starting to make her mark, and as she moved to Champ status this weekend, she deserves to be a dog in the limelight!!!

No time but nearly show time!

I have been so busy recently, work in all directions, training a lot of extra classes, and just haven't had time to Blog but here goes a quick catch up.

Lily & Olli are both going well. Olli still having odd Spaniel moments and Lily having the odd blonde moment, not helped by her blonde handler, but both looking good for the start of the season. We have also entered some team events this year so Fern will be running Olli. She has run him in class and at a rounds night over the last few weeks and he runs really well for her, so looking forward to how they get on. Fern has also been training Dave at home and he is like a rocket! Very keen, and learning things so quickly we are determined to get his focus 100% so we can try him at a few competitions. If he will stop being a dog chaser, he will win a lot as he is a natural.

Cove is growing into a beautiful dog. Very sweet natured, only having a few little hang ups which we can work through. He hates being washed with a passion, and even unhappy with grooming but Fern will get there. Otherwise he is a happy bright young lad, who learns everything quickly and with enthusiasm, and have an idea he is going to be a star next year.

Rex the van is a godsend, and I don't know how I ever managed before. The dogs love it, we love it and we are looking forward to our first weekend away this Friday. Even the 2 old codgers will be coming everywhere this year so we have our entire family on the road!

Introducing Rex!

After a really down period, wishing that we had done things differently when we were first together with our finances, Rog & I had a very generous offer of a small loan so we could buy the van we wanted for our dogs!! So excited we phoned K9 Cages to say we could go ahead after all and was amazed when they said it was nearly ready for us anyway, as they knew how much we wanted it and had told other people it was sold, so we needn't have panicked. There are some really nice people around.

Saturday morning at 3.30am!!! yes 3.30am, we set off to meet the van at Basingstoke station. He had kindly offered to meet us halfway (as they are based in Kent) and he would catch the train back to open up for work, hence the ridiculous time!! I was so nervous that we may have done the wrong thing, buying a van without testing it or seeing it first, but my face lit up as we drove into the car park and saw it. It is immaculate and perfect in every way!! I drove the 100 miles home, Fern in passenger seat, with a huge smile on my face. It drives like a new car. Finally my 6 hounds can travel in style & safety.

As its also been such amazing weather, we have been walking the dogs a lot with camera on hand and managed a few lovely shots of them enjoying themselves. Lily finally getting fit again, Cove is growing fast, now the same size as Lily, and Dave has been proving what an amazing agility dog he could be. All we have to work on is his social skills and we will have a champ I'm sure!

Not long now until our first show and with Rex to travel in I am even more excited than ever!!