Our toilet training and a Beagle's nose tested!?

Hi! It's Cinnamon.

I hope you all had a great weekend whatever the weather was like in your place.

Firstly, I want to thank you to those who voted for Mint at Mango Minster. Although he didn't get any prize, I am sure Mint enjoyed entering the competition. I watched his entry too, and I thought it was a really good job.

On Saturday we went to our second agility trial this year. It seems that Mum was very worried because we hadn't started agility training this year yet. But, as you may know, Mum always worries too much! As long as she does her job as our handler well, we never fail to perform well!

This time we both entered two classes, Jumpers C and Starters. In both classes I went first and Mint next with several dogs between us.

In the Jumpers C I did really well, although, jumping excessively high at every hurdle, I was not as fast as usual.

I think I did well in the Starters too, but in the middle of the course I found myself deviating from the course, being called by nature. (I knew Mum was trying to make me do my business before the run. But, my stomach didn't act as I wished, and I missed the chance to do it before entering the ring for my run.) But, I suddenly realised that I was meant to run the course, so I returned to where Mum was and continued running and finished the course without any fault. At that time, I thought that I had made another clear round, but it turned out to be over-time.

As for Mint, he was running pretty well in the Jumpers C ... until he suddenly went off the course and ran out of the ring. What do you think he did then? He peed just outside the ring, and, as soon as he finished his business, he came back to the course and continued his run! Then, after running wonderfully for a while, his attention was drawn by something on the ground, and he stopped and ate the thing, before resuming his run again! Mum says that what he picked up then was a piece of food treat!! In fact, I am very proud of him, as he proved how good a Beagle's nose is!

In the Starters Mint again started running nicely, but he couldn't go through a collapsible tunnel in his first attempt, although he could in his second attempt. Also, he missed entering the weaves in his first try and in his second try he came out of the weaves too early, leaving the last two poles.

Although my first run was the only clear round from our runs on the day, both my humans looked really happy with how we had done. Mum said that at least we had proved how well we both are toilet-trained not to eliminate in the ring and how good a Beagle's nose is!!


On the way back home from the trial site, we enjoyed gorgeous views of Auckland city centre from the Northern Motorway. This is one of the shots Dad took from the car.