Photo's

Just sharing some of these pic's we've taken over the last few weeks at home ... while it's still very chilly outside everyone loves to be in the warm lounge.

Carrie, in disguise with her Dalmatian sleeping bag!

Chilli, very privileged on the lounge!

Cash, just keeping one eye on the toy ...

Carrie, still in the warmest spot ...

Cash with his sucky pillow

It's a Chilli Scarf ... my real, live neck warmer!

Agility Nationals 2008 ... here we come!

Ticket and I are off to the Nationals in Melbourne on Monday. We've done everything possible to get ourselves warmed up and ready for the challenge of three days trialling with some of the best agility teams in Australia and New Zealand.

Let's hope the weather is kind to us and everyone heading East from Western Australia has a successful trip ... good luck everyone!

We'll update on our return in a few weeks time.

I'd like to thank all my team mates!

A little late with this update but hey, better late than never!

I'd like to thank all my team mates ... Team "Rocket Fuel" competed last weekend at the Agility Club Teams Event. Out of 19 teams we came in at 5th Place ... I gotta say myself, not a bad effort, considering all dogs on this team were mine, and run by me. Team Captain, Rocket, was not feeling the best so surrendered his runs for our reserve, however he was still there to cheer the team on. All kids did a great job: Ticket (who did an awesome Jumping round), baby Summer, Sketch and Carrie. Thanks kids!

Summer also competed in Strategic Pairs in the afternoon with partner, Pippa (another BC) & Amanda Houston. We came in 2nd Place for Summers very first "Q Card"!

TODAY is going to be a GOOD DAY!

When I got up yesterday morning I said to myself “today is going to be a good day!” … and it was! Actually it was an excellent day! I must say this more often ...

We had the Canine Fundraiser Double Header Agility & Jumping trials and aside from being a little windy, the weather was very kind to us: warm sunny day and dry grounds. I trialled Chilli in her novice classes and Ticket in the usual standard and open classes.

Chilli only needed one more Q in Novice Jumping to gain her Jumping Dog Title (JD) and she complimented us with two clear rounds just to make sure. Now sporting her new title ... Ch Vanrusselhof On Fire JD (pic’s by Tim Abidin)


Ticket also did some great work ... she Qualified in 2nd Place in Open Jumping and won Excellent Jumping. That takes her Q’s towards her JDX to 4 – she only needs one more pass in Excellent Jumping and she will be in Masters! Can you believe that? I can’t! A while back I never even thought that I’d be able to take this little girl any further than Novice!

Ticket worked beautifully for me – keeping most of her bars up and trying very hard to do the right thing! She seems to be moving better over and around the jumps, using her rear end more and maybe a little more conscious of keeping the bars up. Our weaves and contacts were a little sloppy, she was releasing her self (well actually, she wasn’t even stopping) on the contacts all day … but something’s gotta give seeing we’ve been focusing only on jumping over the last few weeks. So weaves and contacts are back on the training agenda, starting tonight.

Anyway, I am thrilled with her progress … with only two and a half weeks till the Nationals!