Wednesday, 31 October 2012
Monday, 29 October 2012
One New Trick A Month - October - Walk on two legs
Yay!! Mint here!!
This month I am doing the post for our One New Trick A Month Challenge.
The trick I learned this month may not be so difficult for some dogs. For example, I often see toy or miniature poodles doing this naturally. But, for me, it was not that easy. But, partly thanks to some muscle strengthening exercise I was doing using balance cushions, I have finally learned to do it comfortably.
This month I learned to 'Walk on two legs.' Ah, ooops! Don't expect me to walk on two front legs like handstanding. That's something I want to to learn in the future, but it is likely to take a long time unfortunately.
Well, this is my new trick - Walk on Two Legs!
This month I am doing the post for our One New Trick A Month Challenge.
The trick I learned this month may not be so difficult for some dogs. For example, I often see toy or miniature poodles doing this naturally. But, for me, it was not that easy. But, partly thanks to some muscle strengthening exercise I was doing using balance cushions, I have finally learned to do it comfortably.
This month I learned to 'Walk on two legs.' Ah, ooops! Don't expect me to walk on two front legs like handstanding. That's something I want to to learn in the future, but it is likely to take a long time unfortunately.
Well, this is my new trick - Walk on Two Legs!
Saturday, 27 October 2012
Our first big agility championship event - Day 4
On the last day of our first big agility event, Mint and I entered three classes each; Jumpers C1, Jumpers C2, and Jumpers C3. Jumpers C1 and Jumpers C2 were held in the morning and Jumpers C3 in the afternoon.
We got up a little earlier than the previous two days, as we had to pack up all our belongings before departing the motel and arrive at the agility venue early enough to get ready for our first runs in the morning.
Fortunately it was not raining and the ground was not too wet when we arrived. After we had a morning walk in the exercise area, Mum went to walk the first two courses. It seems that Mum wanted to choose only one of the two for me to run, thinking that three runs in one day would be too much for me. But, each course had something I was not good at, so she decided to do both courses with me.
The first one, Jumpers C2, had three tunnels in parallel. As Mum knew that I don't like tunnels, she was a bit worried about them.
First Mint got a clear round, and about ten dogs after him it was my turn. I made a good start, waiting patiently until Mum said 'Ok, come!' But, just before the second tunnel I was distracted by something and started sniffing the ground. I knew Mum was calling me, but I didn't want to go that way, as the next obstacle was a tunnel!! Because Mum kept calling me, I gave in and started walking toward Mum, but at the next moment I got confused and went through a tunnel in a wrong way, for which I got disqualified...
In the second one, Jumpers C1, one tunnel was placed far out in a corner. If I had been good at tunnels, Mum would have been able to send me away to let me go through the tunnel. But, I don't like tunnels, Mum had to run with me up close to the tunnel to ensure that I would enter it without going around it.
This time my running order was before Mint's. My run started very nicely until at one point Mum said "Come!" But, it was too late to follow her command, so I jumped over a hurdle that I saw in front of me. What do you think Mum said then? She said "You did the right thing!!" Yes, it was Mum who got the course wrong, and what I did was correct!! After that, I kept running without any mistakes and finally made a clear round!! Well done, me!!
Mint? Yes, he got another clear round (^^)
After these runs in two classes in the morning, we had a looooong wait. So, Mum took me to a mobile Bowen therapy clinic at the site for a short session of treatment. It was so comfortable and relaxing!!
In our finals runs, while Mint got another clear round, I got a big time fault although I didn't make any mistakes in terms of jumps and tunnels, because I just couldn't help checking some smells I found in the middle of the course. What would you expect Beagles to do when they are free in the field after all? I think that Mint is an unusual Beagle and I am just a typical one!!
After Mum collected our clear round certificates and gave cheers for our friend Bella the Beagle getting a 2nd place ribbon at the prizegiving, we left the venue and headed home.
We were flat-out when we arrived home, but it was a wonderful experience!!
We got up a little earlier than the previous two days, as we had to pack up all our belongings before departing the motel and arrive at the agility venue early enough to get ready for our first runs in the morning.
Fortunately it was not raining and the ground was not too wet when we arrived. After we had a morning walk in the exercise area, Mum went to walk the first two courses. It seems that Mum wanted to choose only one of the two for me to run, thinking that three runs in one day would be too much for me. But, each course had something I was not good at, so she decided to do both courses with me.
The first one, Jumpers C2, had three tunnels in parallel. As Mum knew that I don't like tunnels, she was a bit worried about them.
First Mint got a clear round, and about ten dogs after him it was my turn. I made a good start, waiting patiently until Mum said 'Ok, come!' But, just before the second tunnel I was distracted by something and started sniffing the ground. I knew Mum was calling me, but I didn't want to go that way, as the next obstacle was a tunnel!! Because Mum kept calling me, I gave in and started walking toward Mum, but at the next moment I got confused and went through a tunnel in a wrong way, for which I got disqualified...
In the second one, Jumpers C1, one tunnel was placed far out in a corner. If I had been good at tunnels, Mum would have been able to send me away to let me go through the tunnel. But, I don't like tunnels, Mum had to run with me up close to the tunnel to ensure that I would enter it without going around it.
This time my running order was before Mint's. My run started very nicely until at one point Mum said "Come!" But, it was too late to follow her command, so I jumped over a hurdle that I saw in front of me. What do you think Mum said then? She said "You did the right thing!!" Yes, it was Mum who got the course wrong, and what I did was correct!! After that, I kept running without any mistakes and finally made a clear round!! Well done, me!!
Mint? Yes, he got another clear round (^^)
 |
| Yay! I finally managed a clear round! |
After these runs in two classes in the morning, we had a looooong wait. So, Mum took me to a mobile Bowen therapy clinic at the site for a short session of treatment. It was so comfortable and relaxing!!
 |
| I like her massage. She must be a very good therapist. |
In our finals runs, while Mint got another clear round, I got a big time fault although I didn't make any mistakes in terms of jumps and tunnels, because I just couldn't help checking some smells I found in the middle of the course. What would you expect Beagles to do when they are free in the field after all? I think that Mint is an unusual Beagle and I am just a typical one!!
 |
| Mint flaying high. |
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| Mint making a nice and sharp turn. |
After Mum collected our clear round certificates and gave cheers for our friend Bella the Beagle getting a 2nd place ribbon at the prizegiving, we left the venue and headed home.
We were flat-out when we arrived home, but it was a wonderful experience!!
 |
| Mint tired after a big trip. |
Friday, 26 October 2012
Our first big agility championship event - Day 3
On the third day of our trip it kept raining all day. At times the wind got so strong that jumps with wings were being blown to fall over.
On the day we had only one run each; Starters 3. This time again my running order was before Mint's.
Before the judging started at 7.30am, Mum took me out of my crate and we went to the practise area. In the practise area we did a few jumps to warm up. What impressed me was that Mum gave treats extremely generously. Because Mum gave me treats one after another, I couldn't move my eyes away from her so that I wouldn't miss any bits! When I realised, I was already in the waiting area, and someone told us that it was our turn next.
I was a good girl, waiting on the start line without moving until Mum said "OK, come!". I ran very well but again missed didn't enter the weaves correctly, resulting in one fault.
On the other hand, Mint did really well making no mistakes ... and managed a clear round! Well done Mint!!
After our runs we had a chance to exercise off leash in the dog exercise area when no other dogs were using it.
Mum usually doesn't let us off leash when other dogs are around unless we know the dogs.
Later Mum went to the office building to get Mint's certificate. What do you think she found there? Mint had been placed the THIRD!!!
That is a wonderful achievement! I am super proud of Mint who got a ribbon in his first big agility event!!!
After the prizegiving (in heavy rain!!) we went back to our motel and had a short walk in the neighbourhood. I thought we would spend the rest of the day in the motel room, but Mum told us to get in the car after Mint and I had dinner. About ten minutes later we arrived at a house in a residential area. When we got off the car, we saw a couple smiling at us on a porch of the house. I recognised their faces - the people who came to see us at the agility venue the day before!!
We had a wonderful time with them in their house! They encouraged Mum to let us free in the house. They didn't even mind us jumping on their couches!! But, it was so hard not to jump up while dinner for humans was being prepared!
But, it was worth being patient. They gave us a little share of their meal after the humans finished dinner. It was so yummy!!!
Back in our motel, we had a good sleep, dreaming about the delicious meat that we had had the night. zzzzz
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| No one was using it... |
On the day we had only one run each; Starters 3. This time again my running order was before Mint's.
Before the judging started at 7.30am, Mum took me out of my crate and we went to the practise area. In the practise area we did a few jumps to warm up. What impressed me was that Mum gave treats extremely generously. Because Mum gave me treats one after another, I couldn't move my eyes away from her so that I wouldn't miss any bits! When I realised, I was already in the waiting area, and someone told us that it was our turn next.
I was a good girl, waiting on the start line without moving until Mum said "OK, come!". I ran very well but again missed didn't enter the weaves correctly, resulting in one fault.
On the other hand, Mint did really well making no mistakes ... and managed a clear round! Well done Mint!!
After our runs we had a chance to exercise off leash in the dog exercise area when no other dogs were using it.
 |
| We love running off leash! |
Mum usually doesn't let us off leash when other dogs are around unless we know the dogs.
 |
| Mum doesn't let us off when there are other dogs around... |
 |
| The majority of the dogs in the event were of course Border Collies!! |
Later Mum went to the office building to get Mint's certificate. What do you think she found there? Mint had been placed the THIRD!!!
 |
| Well done, Mint!!! |
That is a wonderful achievement! I am super proud of Mint who got a ribbon in his first big agility event!!!
After the prizegiving (in heavy rain!!) we went back to our motel and had a short walk in the neighbourhood. I thought we would spend the rest of the day in the motel room, but Mum told us to get in the car after Mint and I had dinner. About ten minutes later we arrived at a house in a residential area. When we got off the car, we saw a couple smiling at us on a porch of the house. I recognised their faces - the people who came to see us at the agility venue the day before!!
We had a wonderful time with them in their house! They encouraged Mum to let us free in the house. They didn't even mind us jumping on their couches!! But, it was so hard not to jump up while dinner for humans was being prepared!
 |
| Sitting patiently in the kitchen |
But, it was worth being patient. They gave us a little share of their meal after the humans finished dinner. It was so yummy!!!
Back in our motel, we had a good sleep, dreaming about the delicious meat that we had had the night. zzzzz
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Our first big agility championship event - Day 2
On the second day of our trip, we got up 5am in the morning and left our motel in Hamilton around 6am to head for our championship venue in Cambridge. We thought there would be lots of cars in the parking area, but there were only a few when we arrived at 6.30am. However, there were many dogs walking in the dog exercise area, many of whom had perhaps camped on the camping ground on the site.
Mint and I had two runs each; Starters 1 and Starters 2.
Our first runs were Starters 1. Mint had a slow start but gradually picked up the speed. Then, he entered the weaves, the third obstacle from the last, from the wrong side! So, Mum had to quickly bring him back to the entry to the weaves, then Mint did the weaves beautifully without missing a pole. But, because of the first failed attempt at the weaves, his run didn't go clear.
Well, as for my first run in Starters 1 ... I must admit that I ran out of the ring after two obstacles. I did it, because I wanted to go to toilet!! Mum was so nervous before the run that she forgot to let me do it. At the last moment before my run, she noticed what I wanted to do and quickly took me out of the waiting area, but it was too late! We had to go back to the start line before I did it!
After our first runs, we had a long wait. In Starters 2, our second runs on the day, my running order was before Mint's.
This time I didn't run out of the ring, as I didn't need to go to toilet this time. I think I did pretty well, but at the weaves, the second obstacle from the last, I missed the last pole!! About ten dogs after me, Mint had his run and he made the same mistake, missing the last pole!!
After our runs, a cheerful woman came to introduce herself to us. It turned out that she was one of fans of our Facebook page. It was wonderful to meet someone who knew us only in the cyberspace in person! I was so happy that I kissed her and her husband many times!
After all, we couldn't get any clear rounds on our first day at our first big agility championship event, so we left the venue early around 4.30pm, as we didn't have to stay at the venue to get any clear round certificates or prizes.
I thought we were going back to our motel directly, but we didn't. Mum stopped by a pet shop and bought a new soft crate for me! Yes, for me, not for Mint! On the day before, Mint and I slept in one crate together as you saw in the previous post (We had used to have two soft crates, but we had only one at that time, as the other one had broken). Mum bought a new one, because she knew that it had not been very comfortable for us to sleep together in one crate.
After a short rest in our motel room, we went out for a walk and found a beautiful walk way along Waikato River!!
Back in our room, we had dinner and went to bed... (Of course, in my new crate I had a much better sleep than I had the previous night!)
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| This photo was taken the day before |
Mint and I had two runs each; Starters 1 and Starters 2.
Our first runs were Starters 1. Mint had a slow start but gradually picked up the speed. Then, he entered the weaves, the third obstacle from the last, from the wrong side! So, Mum had to quickly bring him back to the entry to the weaves, then Mint did the weaves beautifully without missing a pole. But, because of the first failed attempt at the weaves, his run didn't go clear.
 |
| Mint |
Well, as for my first run in Starters 1 ... I must admit that I ran out of the ring after two obstacles. I did it, because I wanted to go to toilet!! Mum was so nervous before the run that she forgot to let me do it. At the last moment before my run, she noticed what I wanted to do and quickly took me out of the waiting area, but it was too late! We had to go back to the start line before I did it!
After our first runs, we had a long wait. In Starters 2, our second runs on the day, my running order was before Mint's.
This time I didn't run out of the ring, as I didn't need to go to toilet this time. I think I did pretty well, but at the weaves, the second obstacle from the last, I missed the last pole!! About ten dogs after me, Mint had his run and he made the same mistake, missing the last pole!!
After our runs, a cheerful woman came to introduce herself to us. It turned out that she was one of fans of our Facebook page. It was wonderful to meet someone who knew us only in the cyberspace in person! I was so happy that I kissed her and her husband many times!
After all, we couldn't get any clear rounds on our first day at our first big agility championship event, so we left the venue early around 4.30pm, as we didn't have to stay at the venue to get any clear round certificates or prizes.
I thought we were going back to our motel directly, but we didn't. Mum stopped by a pet shop and bought a new soft crate for me! Yes, for me, not for Mint! On the day before, Mint and I slept in one crate together as you saw in the previous post (We had used to have two soft crates, but we had only one at that time, as the other one had broken). Mum bought a new one, because she knew that it had not been very comfortable for us to sleep together in one crate.
After a short rest in our motel room, we went out for a walk and found a beautiful walk way along Waikato River!!
Back in our room, we had dinner and went to bed... (Of course, in my new crate I had a much better sleep than I had the previous night!)
Tuesday, 23 October 2012
Our first big agility championship event - Day 1
Hi! It's Cinnamon.
Over the weekend we were at NZ Dog Agility Championship (NZDAC), a big annual agility show where dogs and people across New Zealand get together. Last year we went to National Dog Obedience Assembly (NDOA), our first dog event, but at that time we entered only one event, Heelwork To Music. This time Mint and I entered six agility events each, three Starters and three Jumpers C's over the Labour Weekend from Saturday to Monday. (The NZDAC was held from Friday to Monday, but we didn't enter events on Friday.)
Every year this big event is held in a different place. This year it was in Cambridge, about 120 km away from our house. Because the judging started at 7:30am every day, we stayed in a motel in Hamilton, about a half-hour drive from Cambridge, over the weekend. (If we had driven to Cambridge from home every morning, we would have had to depart before 5am every day, which would have been very hard!!)
We arrived at our motel in late afternoon on Friday. After checking in, we went to the venue of the big event, Leamington Rugby Grounds in Cambridge, to check out what it was like. This is one of photos Mum took at that time.
Don't you think that it looks wonderful? The right side of the ground on the far end is where agility competitions were held. To the left was the camping area. The ground in front was the practise area. It almost looked like the whole venue was designed for the agility event!!
Back in our motel room, Mint and I had a sleep together in a crate after having dinner.
Over the weekend we were at NZ Dog Agility Championship (NZDAC), a big annual agility show where dogs and people across New Zealand get together. Last year we went to National Dog Obedience Assembly (NDOA), our first dog event, but at that time we entered only one event, Heelwork To Music. This time Mint and I entered six agility events each, three Starters and three Jumpers C's over the Labour Weekend from Saturday to Monday. (The NZDAC was held from Friday to Monday, but we didn't enter events on Friday.)
Every year this big event is held in a different place. This year it was in Cambridge, about 120 km away from our house. Because the judging started at 7:30am every day, we stayed in a motel in Hamilton, about a half-hour drive from Cambridge, over the weekend. (If we had driven to Cambridge from home every morning, we would have had to depart before 5am every day, which would have been very hard!!)
We arrived at our motel in late afternoon on Friday. After checking in, we went to the venue of the big event, Leamington Rugby Grounds in Cambridge, to check out what it was like. This is one of photos Mum took at that time.
Don't you think that it looks wonderful? The right side of the ground on the far end is where agility competitions were held. To the left was the camping area. The ground in front was the practise area. It almost looked like the whole venue was designed for the agility event!!
Back in our motel room, Mint and I had a sleep together in a crate after having dinner.
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Cinnamon got a Rally-O Novice title and Mint won an Agility Novice!
Hi! It's Cinnamon.
In September both Mint and I achieved a sort of a milestone.
On Saturday the 15th we went to a Rally-O Championship and both of us got a qualifying certificate in the Novice A class. As it was my third certificate, I also became eligible to apply for a Rally-O Novice title.
Moreover, in the competition, I got a 1st place and Mint a 2nd place!!
On Saturday the 29th we went to an Agility Championship and, to everyone's surprise, Mint won the Novice (Mini)!! It was a very impressive achievement, as he won in his second run in the Novice class.
Look at this video! Only ten months ago he was running in his first ever agility competition like this!
Unfortunately we don't have a video of Mint's winning run this time. But, hopefully in the near future we can show you how much he has improved.
In September both Mint and I achieved a sort of a milestone.
On Saturday the 15th we went to a Rally-O Championship and both of us got a qualifying certificate in the Novice A class. As it was my third certificate, I also became eligible to apply for a Rally-O Novice title.
Moreover, in the competition, I got a 1st place and Mint a 2nd place!!
On Saturday the 29th we went to an Agility Championship and, to everyone's surprise, Mint won the Novice (Mini)!! It was a very impressive achievement, as he won in his second run in the Novice class.
Look at this video! Only ten months ago he was running in his first ever agility competition like this!
Unfortunately we don't have a video of Mint's winning run this time. But, hopefully in the near future we can show you how much he has improved.
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