Paws in The Park

We are exhausted after 3 days at Paws in the Park.

We went on Friday for the Dash n Splash training day. This is a must in our calander as it's the only opportunity to train our dogs to do measured long jumps into water and compete at Dash n Splash and Dock Dogs. We're really grateful to Gwain and Kate Theobold who run these days and are responsible for training the top British water jumping dogs.

This was a great day for Magic who is just starting out. We spent the morning with Jordan handling Rupert in trianing and Gwain worked hard to get more height into his take off. In the afternoon it was Magic!!! How did he get on???!!! Check out this link
http://www.stevecollinsphoto.com/2008/09/paws-in-the-park-gets-off-to-a-flying-start/
Well, he might have lacked some technique in Steve's photos but he was a bold little jumper with a lovely high take off. Gwain was pleased with his natural style!

We caught up with our friends from the GunDog team and Alex kindly spent some time helping me sort out Magic's recall problem. He recalls beautifully except when he gives chase to a live animal. The death toll is currently 3 pheasents, 2 rabbitts and some near misses, which include a baby deer. He's currently on a 30 foot training lead to control these chase instincts. Alex showed me how to use our "dead fowl" and a slip lead to create control and we may have to take him to Alex to work with a pheasent pen soon.

Sadly we weren't camping for the weekend as our cat is on a feeding tube and we had to get home to her. We were both upset as the Hop Farm in Kent is our favourite venue - even if our last expereince was being towed away after the river flooded at Supa Dogs.

Saturday saw an early start as we had 4 courses to walk for the agility. Jordan was nervous. Although Rupert is medium at BAA and UKA he is large at Kennel Club and has to do the full height and both he and Jordan struggle over full height courses. J carefully walked the courses with this in mind, planning his lines and turns. Despite this they didn't do well with faults with knocked poles and weaves. I realise with Rupert going slower over the large height Jordan is alongside him and sending him into the weaves too late. Rupert looks to lipread and goes into the second pole. I tried to troubleshoot this over the weekend but no luck! But they did well with some fantastic rounds and lovely handling. 2 judges actually came up and congratulated Jordan on handling.

I had one of my best agility moments doing the 30 weave pole challenge with Rupert. He did all 30 weaves and we were clear and fast!!! He's gone long way from the dog at the start of the year that ran past weaves to avoid them. (Thanks to Eleanor Balchin at Pachesham!!)

Magic went manic. He was like at kid in a theme park for the first time!!!! He had a go at the 100 meter sprint after a drag. He was underage for this but as he was so up for it the ACES team decided to let him do the full 100 meters. Well, the flying cocker did it in 10.64 seconds not bad. Only points of seconds away from a place in the final.

Rupert was an old hand at Dash n Splash. On the Saturday he jumped into the finals of the mini dogs with an 18 foot jump. He was first in the mini dogs final and 3rd in the division 2. We were could not believe the first prize - a dog basket full of toys and treats donated by Horley Pet Supplies. It was worth carrying it across the showground to the car!!!!!

Sunday Rupert decided to "go weeble" instead of vertical in the Dash n Splash. If you don't know what weeble is check out this link
http://www.stevecollinsphoto.com/2008/09/rupert-goes-weeble/
Despite this change in style he jumped into the division 2 and mini dog finals with a jump of over 18 feet. He was once again first in the mini dog final - and - yes, won another generous dog basket! However by division 2 he was tired and wanted his dinner and only managed 5th place.

But on Sunday Magic was a little star!!! He jumped 12 foot and got a place in the mini dog finals where he jumped 11 foot to come 4th. Not bad for a youngster. Watch that dog next year!! Who knows he may even beat Rupert!!!

We returned home exhausted. The cockers think it's Christmas with 2 dog baskets full of toys and treats.