New Tricks 2014 - Stacking

Hi! It's Cinnamon!

Do you remember that we took on the One New Trick A Month Challenge in 2012? It was a lot of fun to learn new tricks throughout the year. Last year we were so busy that we couldn't repeat the challenge, but this year we are going to learn more new tricks!

This is the first one we learned this year! (Well, it took me more than two years to learn it though (^_^;) )

Hope you enjoyed watching this new video of our new trick. Stay tuned for more new tricks!!!

Lure coursing at the Counties Dog Training Club

Hi! It's Cinnamon.

As many of you know, both Mint and I love lure coursing. It's exciting and so much fun!

Last Saturday a lure coursing event was held at the Counties Dog Training Club which Mint and I belong to for agility. It was the first ever lure coursing held at the club. We have been doing lure coursing at the Hound Racing Club since our puppyhood, but it was the first time that we participated in lure coursing at any other places.

It was the perfect weather for lure coursing, with some clouds and gentle breeze. At the beginning of the event we were all grouped into three sizes, Maxi, Midi, and Mini, and then each group was divided into smaller groups of three or four dogs. At the Hound Racing Club Mint and I always run together in the same group but this time we were placed in separate groups, because humans wanted us to lead other dogs in our groups, as most dogs had no experience in lure coursing and might not get the idea of what they were supposed to do.

The coursing started at a quarter to nine. Actually I didn't know what we were there for until I saw the first group start running in the course, but, as soon as I realised what they were doing, I got very excited and couldn't help barking! I don't understand why Mint could stay calm and quiet!

Cinnamon

Mint

On the day both Mint and I had two runs. Mint ran in the group before mine, but he was so stupid!! He lost the sight of the lure and got lost at the start!! Unlike at the Hound Racing Club where the lure is always in the dogs' sight, the lure was placed behind the dogs at the start. So, when Mum said 'Go', he turned around, trying to see the lure, and lost the sight of the lure which had already started moving forward! Silly Beagle!

Mint, why can't you position yourself facing in the right direction?

Mint finally found the lure, when the leading doggie was at the the first quarter of the course, and cut across the course to be back in the course just before the leading doggie.

"I am joining in!"

Mint cheated and joined the race halfway in the course.

Of course, I made a good fast start without losing the sight of the lure. But, well, I have to admit that I was clever enough to cut across the corners to take over the lure and waited for it to catch up with me.

Cinnamon cutting across a corner

Cinnamon waiting for the lure

In total 38 dogs participated in the coursing. Here are some photos of other doggies.

Are they Kangaroos?

Very focused!!

His mind must be running way before himself!!

Shanti  is smiling.

Quick is really quick!

Ha ha!!

Scooter is too obedient to run away from his mum.

It was so much fun!! I can't wait to go to the next coursing wherever it is, at the Hound Racing Club, at the Counties Dog Training Club, or anywhere else!

Thank you Honey. I will miss you...

I, Cinnamon, have sad news today.

My special friend Honey the Great Dane has crossed the rainbow bridge. She had been fighting against her heart problems but sadly the time came and she went peacefully, according to her human. I can't imagine how sad Honey's humans must be now.

As many of you know, Honey played an important role in my career as a doggie dancer. When I saw her dancing at a doggie event, I didn't imagine myself doing it at all. But, several months later she and her human suggested I try busking (improvised dancing). Although I got so excited that I couldn't dance well in my first ever busking, I really enjoyed it and later I started practising it.

I think I am a very lucky doggie having met her in person and made some really good memories together.

Our first playdate 

Honey and Cookie on the beach

Showing Honey my pivoting trick

Honey helped me with my obedience training.

The last meeting before Honey left for Australia. 

Honey, you will live forever in memories of many doggies and their humans let alone your humans. Thank you so much for everything you did for me. Play and run freely without pain and inspire more doggies in the world where you live now. Please don't forget about me, as I am going to meet you there again when my time comes. Also, please say hello to Cookie for me and tell him that I am doing well with my little brother Mint.

Rest in peace, Honey xxx

A Belated Happy New Year from Cinnamon and Mint !!

Hi! It's Cinnamon!!


Firstly, a Belated Happy New Year!! We wish that the year 2014 will bring everyone a lot of happiness.

Well, I am sorry we were absent from blogging for such a long time again!! I can't believe the year has turned already. Last year we were extremely busy and couldn't blog at all since my last post in July.

Do you want to know why we were so busy?

First of all Mum was constantly busy with her work so she was not very helpful for our blogging. But, what made us even busier was my debut on TV!!

Some of you may have read about it on our Facebook page or our friends Momo and Pinot blog.

In April last year our dog dancing instructor asked Mum if she was interested in auditioning for New Zealand's Got Talent (NZGT) 2013, as the TV show's production team was looking for animal contestants. At first Mum brushed off the idea, thinking neither of us would be reliable enough to perform on TV. But, after hearing nice comments about our dancing from a few experienced dancing dog handlers, Mum decided to give it a go.

Well, it seems that Mum actually wanted to audition with Mint, not me, because I was so environmentally sensitive that she couldn't always trust me to perform well, while Mint never failed to stay focused. But, because Mum was concerned about Mint's seizures, she decided to audition with me.

Do you remember that both Mint and I performed at a local school in July? In fact we did it as a rehearsal for my audition in front of the judges and audience that was to be filmed in late July, after passing an initial off-record audition in June.

My NZGT audition in front of the judges was aired in September (The TV network only has the right to air the program in New Zealand, so unfortunately you can't watch my whole performance if you are outside New Zealand, but you can see a glimpse of me performing here in an online news article). And, about the same time we were told that we had got through to the Semi-Finals!!?? Who would have thought that a Beagle could go to the semi-finals on a 'mainly-human' talent show!?

In late October, a few days before my semi-final there was a national Paws n Music (dog dancing) competition at National Dog Obedience Assembly (NDOA) 2013 in Auckland. Of course, Mint and I entered it and Mint and his new human girlfriend Amy got placed the third in the Elementary Freestyle class and Mum and I won the Starters Open class!

Amy and Mint

Mum and Cinnamon

Well, going back to NZGT, although I think I did very well in our semi-final considering the circumstances, unfortunately we didn't get enough votes to get through to the final, but we met some nice talented people at the filming! All in all it was a very special experience!! Also, let me take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported Mum and me!!!!!!! (I even know someone who voted for us six times!!)

Last year we also did quite a few public demonstration of  Paws n Music at various events, such as Auckland Beagle Club's Ribbon Parade (August) and Championship Show (October), Pet Expo in Hamilton, Pet and Animal Expo in Auckland (September), New Zealand Kennel Club's Dog and Puppy of the Year (November), Manukau Dog Training Club's Christmas Party (December), and Special Children's Christmas Party (December, Mint only). I didn't always perform well at these events, but I always enjoyed performing and meeting many people!

Finally, what pleased me most last year was that Mint and I started competing in agility again!!!

Mint

Cinnamon

When Mint started having seizures frequently in March, Mum decided to retire us from agility, but she changed her mind and decided to start doing agility with us again in December, as Mint's seizures got reasonably under control :-) I am so happy being back at agility!!! I really love the sport!!! I even won the Jumpers C class at our second competition after a loooong break!

As you can see, the year 2013 was an event-packed year for us. I wonder what is in store for us this year!!

How we have been doing in competitions recently

Hi! It's Cinnamon.

I just realised that I hadn't posted about how we have been doing in competitions this year. Sorry this post may be boring for many of you, but I wanted to post it as a record.

As you may know, we compete in Agility, Obedience, Rally Obedience, and Paws n Music. As for Paws n Music, last year there was no competition in or near Auckland, except for a video competition which Mint won (I didn't enter it), and this year there is no competition until National Dog Obedience Assembly (NDOA) in October. So, the last competition we went to is NDOA in 2011, where I got first and Mint second in Elementary Freestyle.

Early this year we had to withdraw from quite a few competitions because of Mint's frequent seizures. So, we haven't been to many competitions this year. We have been to three Agility competitions, three Obedience competitions, and one Rally Obedience competition. We haven't done any agility since mid-March after Mint had multiple seizures on the day after our last agility competition. Although we don't know what caused those seizures, we haven't done agility at all since the day just in case.

In the last Agility competition we went to, I won Novice. As I was doing really well in agility at that time, Mum wanted to continue to compete with me in Agility but decided to have a break because it was getting cold towards winter anyway.

Mint has competed in three Obedience competitions this year (I haven't competed in Obedience this year). In the first one Mint did really well in heelwork but broke his stay. In the second one, his heelwork was not as good as it usually is but he managed to get a 4th place because he didn't break his stays. And, in the third one last weekend, although his heelwork was better than the previous time, he broke his stays again.

In the only Rally Obedience competition we have been to this year, Mum made a lot of mistakes because she hadn't practised Rally-O for a long time. Because of her mistakes, I couldn't qualify in one of two rounds that I had. But, I got a 3rd place in the other round in Novice B. Mint qualified in both of two rounds he had, but he didn't get placed. Now that Mint has got three or more than Novice qualifying certificate, he is eligible for a RN (Rally Novice) title, which lazy Mum hasn't applied for.

Currently we train in Obedience and Paws n Music once a week on the same day. In Obedience Mint's biggest challenge is stays and mine is the dumbbell. (I can't sit close enough to Mum with my dumbbell in my mouth.) In Paws n Music both of us are just staring to work on our new routines.