I love Agility! I love running and jumping!

Hi! It's Cinnamon!

Yesterday we went to Agility training for the first time in a long while.

As you may have read in Mint's last post about Obedience and Rally-O competitions last weekend, I didn't enjoy Rally-O. The quiet competition ring made me very nervous and it was also hard not to bark in the ring.

So, yesterday Mum looked worried when she took my leash off before starting our run. It seems she thought that I might not want to work with her, just like I didn't at the Rally-O competition last weekend.

But, Agility is a different thing for me!! I love Agility. So, I enjoyed running and jumping, following her cues!

I just wish she hadn't made a mistake by saying "Walk on" instead of "Bang" at the See-Saw!! "Walk on" is a cue that Mum uses to make me go up a Dog Walk or an A Frame, while "Bang" is a cue for a See-Saw. Because she said "Walk on", I ran onto the See-Saw without slowing down, and, when I reached the end of the plank, it suddenly disappeared from underneath me, giving me a fright!!

When she made me go onto the See-Saw again, I felt somewhat scared, although I managed it fine in the end.

I love Agility!

However, it was so much fun overall!! I hope Mum doesn't make mistakes at our first Agility competition this year next weekend!!!

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!