Cockers step out and wag at Discover Dogs

We came back from the States last Wednesday. Got the manic cockers from the kennels and arrived home only to find the heating and electricity were not working. Thus we were housebound with 2 manic cockers for 48 hours while electricians and gas engineers tried to repair it and avoid 2 cockers running round the house chasing each other, the cat and running off with tools. Finally it was fixed and we arrived at the Pachesham puppy class 15 mins late.

The manic Magic was madness unleashed. In his accurate moments he was exciting - fast and accurate. But he soon developed a lust for the black dog. I let him off the lead to practice figures of 8 and he was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly the pipe tunnel was moving up and down and from side to side. Magic was covering a bitch ... no a dog in the tunnel. That has to be my most embarrassing agility moment. ...Well not moment as it took a while to get him out. After that he would do nothing but go straight back in the tunnel to lie in wait for the next dog to hump. So out he went in the car. A 5 mile stimulating walk at Polsden, and only one dead pigeon later the household returned to normal.

Saturday was flyball. Took Nat up on her suggestion of harder balls and brought the USA dock diving balls. The chomper was sorted. Well, until he decided to invent a new game - flyrugby. This involves holding on to your ball and tackling all your team mates for their balls as they run out of the lanes and see how many you can get in your mouth. The treat bag put pay to that new game and soon Rupert was running a lot better. Magic just makes it look easy. It's just a shame the poor cockers handlers hold them back. Cross fingers we get Magic selected for the starters team for the Whizzers own tournament in January.

Flyball is always followed by the circus maximus in Richmond Park. Jordan rides his bike flanked by 2 manic cockers racing round the park. I had "forgotten" that both had Discover Dogs on Sunday and that Valerie had spent hours hand stripping Rup, grooming and bathing him for the big day. They were muddy afterflyball but soon cockers boy and bike ended up in the blackest ditch and it was home for 3 baths.

An early start for Discover Dogs on Sunday with both cockers in the Companion Dog show - Magic in waggiest tail and Rupert in Hot Stepper. After the facade in the pipe tunnel and Magic's constant desire to scent mark and hump, I decided not to let Jordan take him into waggiest tail. I need not have worried. Magic was a dream. Wagged his tail, licked the judge, stood as directed with tail facing the judge and wagged and wagged his way to first place and the finals, cheered on by friends from Surrey Weald DTC and Pachesham. No scent marking or humping all day. Next it was Rupert and Jordan in hot stepper doing Walk Like an Egyptian. By this time the Dash n Splash gang had left the watering hole to cheer them on and they stepped out into first place. Well Jordan stepped and Rupert, who is no heel work to music dog, did his obedeince routine and walked well on the loose lead. Both dogs were in the finals but the best in show deservedly went to best rescue, Indie. Both cockers were rewarded with new flyball harnasses.

During the day people came up and photographed the cockers and wanted details of what they were and the breeders. Magic in particular because of his colouring. I think they see Jordan with the dogs and think they are perfect family pets and Magic is ever so pretty and matches Autumn outfits!!! Their faces fall when I explain you can't have a working cocker if you are a) house proud b) not able to do long walks daily c) spend time training your dog and working it - these are made to work and if you don't do ABC you end up with the doggie descendants of dino raptors. By then I'd spent some time in the watering hole with the Dash n Splash crowd so I think Bryning kennels came out a bit like wineing, so hopfully there'll be fruitless searches on the internet for designer coloured cockers that your kids can cuddle.