Phunky Phoebe

Anju Training Show

2009-01-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

I treated all four runs as competition. The see-saw let us down in the agility class, and many thanks to judge Wendy Card for her help on this obstacle. In the afternoon Phoebe ran two cracking clear jumping rounds and came 2nd.

Handlers [Large Dogs] at Just Minis

2009-01-02T06:31:00.001-08:00

I am starting the new year with a moan because it seems every time I meet someone who attended the recent Just Minis show I hear another story of the disgraceful way some grades 1-3 large dog handlers conducted themselves. The information sheet that went out with the running orders clearly stated the large dogs classes were not expected to start before 12.30. It did not state AT 12.30, yet I personally saw some of these handlers arriving at 11. I set my course up by about 12.15 then told handlers they could walk it while I had my lunch, which would mean the class would start at around 12.45 - 12.50. I thought I heard moaning because somebody didn't want to wait that long but chose to ignore it. From the moment I returned to the ring at 12.40 I was pestered and harrassed to get the class started, despite the fact that I was trying to get my ring party together, trying to allow for those handlers who hadn't turned up early and were still walking the course and hadn't even taken half an hour lunch break. This is not acceptable. The other judge's journey to the venue was delayed by flooding on the roads, yet when she arrived she too was subjected to moans. This is not acceptable. The poor show organisers were moaned at throughout the afternoon and I'm sure were left wondering why they hell they bothered to include the large dog. It was also noticed that a lot of dogs were frog marched from the rings and I thought I was going to have to step in when a handler started to treat her dog roughly for urinating in the ring. Wouldn't have happened if she'd seen to this before running. Thankfully she stopped before I reached her. This is now an extra show for large dogs to enter during the winter months, let's hope that these selfish few haven't spoiled it for the others.

Phoebe at Just Minis

2008-12-16T08:22:00.000-08:00

Even though I was judging in the afternoon Denise was kind enough to let me compete with Phoebe in the morning. The first course was David Cowderoy's agility and in true David fashion it was a handling course. Thank goodness I've been doing Leah Gardner's exercise [I found on Paula's blog a while back] for practicing my reverse turns because they were needed here. The first 7 obstacles were in a straight line and Phoebe powered down them. Shoot! I thought, she's in contact jumping mode. However she got all her contacts and went over the see-saw as though she'd never had a problem with it. There was a pull through two hurdles after the weaves and I noticed that those who ran the weaves on the left had further to move over at the next hurdle and many caused their dog to take the other hurdle instead of running between the two. I decided to weave on the right and was able to pull Pheebs round. With a time of 32 and a bit seconds she went in at 4th place which is where she stayed. Not bad at all for her third show. On to Mandy Cowderoy's jumping course and unfortunately misjudgement on my part caused Phoebe to miss her weave entry. The start was jump, jump, weaves and I noticed that the weaves were set to the left of the 2nd hurdle and not central. I over-compenated and pushed Phoebe out too far to left so she went in on the incorrect shoulder. She stormed round the rest of the course.
Well done to the handlers I instruct on a Friday night at the Canine Centre. Tina with Ellie and Lucie with Milo. Both went home with places, and thanks again Lucie for testing the Steeplechase for me.

Phoebe's First Taste Of Agility

2008-11-30T16:04:00.000-08:00

On the 16th November I entered Phoebe in 3 classes at the C-Side show. I didn't know what to expect so was just relieved to get her round the starters agility course without her partying half way round. In the starters jumping I couldn't have asked for more as she went like a dream, ran clear and straight in at 5th place. The show only placed to 5th and she was eventually knocked down two places. Open jumping was totally screwed up by me and had I been on form the poor little mite would have known where to go but I didn't reverse turn when I should have and sent her over the wrong hurdle.
Today we entered Leah's Training show. I did one agility run NFC which we were eliminated in and when I was on the start line for the second run Lisa Jordan, our judge, gave me some indication as to why. I believe her words were...'This time when you run, don't forget you've got a dog with you.' Yes, my over eagerness on one corner meant I ran on too far and litlun came with me instead on taking the hurdle. Did slightly better on the second run but this time Phoebe decided she didn't want to do the see-saw. Much better in the Jumping runs. I treated both as competition and she ran two beautiful clear rounds, although she did stop for a quick sniff halfway round on the second run.
Well done to my buddy Lucie Armstrong with Milo for getting a place and congratulations JJ Davidson for a cracking run with my boy Echo.
Phoebe's next show is Just Minis.