Success

We have had a successful week-end at Bermagui. Tiffany had a 181 and 2nd place in the Novice trial, and I got 3 Best of Breed in the shows. I now have 30 points towards my Champion title and Tiffany has her first pass towards her Companion Dog Title. Tiffany had some bad luck in two of the trials, she was spooked by someone in the shadows on Friday night and broke the down stay when she was on a pass, then on Sunday she got distracted by a smell, stopped to sniff and that was the end of the trial.

The pic shows us with our awards. Next week there are more shows and trials, so we have some time to rest and recover.

Hannah - 24

Hannah has now got 24 points. She was Best of Breed last night and again this morning, just tomorrow's show to go for her.
The trials were a different story. While we were waiting, a big thunderstorm came in. There were bangs and flashes and lots of rain which caused them to delay the start until 7. pm to allow the thunder to go away. Lots of dogs went home, but Hannah and I did not get upset by the storm. Anyway, I went into the ring and was doing well until Keith gave me a shocking down signal and I was not sure what he wanted. I did my best and we just scraped through. In the Stays, I did the sit stay but halfway through the down stay someone was pushing a dog trolley in the shadows. It was upsetting most of the dogs. I barked at them to go away but they kept on coming. Eventually the Irish next to me jumped up and barked, which frightened me and I jumped up too. Well that was the end of that trial. Another one tonight and then one more on Sunday morning for my last chance of the week-end.

Dogs at Play

Here we are having a run at the dog area of the Bermagui caravan park. Tiffany can't speak because she has a mouth full of tennis ball. There are lots of dogs here, getting ready for the shows and trials tonight. I am in my third show and Tiffany is in the novice obedience trial. Tonight should be an exciting night.
We had a big storm when we first got here, the humans were out in it tying everything down and getting wet through. Tiffany and I stayed in the dry and gave the occasional woof of encouragement. Well, you could not send a dog out on a night like that.

Its Too Hot

We are having a rest from traveling. We have had an early run while it was still cool, but now it is getting hot. Hannah is lying on the cool bed, and I found this spot on the bed where the fan blows cool air from the air conditioner. We keep getting dragged outside in case we need the loo, but we don't stay out long. There is a strong north wind blowing even hotter air on us, so we are back inside as quick as we can.

Hannah won Best of Breed on Sunday so now she has 12 points towards her title.

Hannah's First Points

Hannah has scored her first points in the show ring. All those weeks of me showing her how it was done, calling on all my experience, the rigorous training, and it all paid off. She did forget the bit about keeping calm and aloof in the ring when she wagged her tail off at the judge, but my woofs of encouragement settled her for the triangle, and she performed like an expert. The pic shows her just coming up to the first turn, head up, tail out and stepping high, looking proud as a Toller. It looks like we will have two of us champions, as long as she listens to me!

Tailem Bend

We are off on the road again. We spent all day doing things like packing the van and loading the Nissan, then just when we thought we were going to get our dinner, they loaded us up and took off to Tailem Bend. The pic shows us overlooking the Murray River in flood. The big expanse of water is the flood plain, the river is behind the trees in the distance.
The late start on Thursday meant we were a bit closer to Warrnambool so that the Friday drive was a bit easier. We had stops on the way and got to Warrnambool about 4:30 pm, set up the camp and so we are ready for Hannah's first real show tomorrow.

January at Home

We have been staying home for a while. The humans are doing things round the house and caravan getting ready for the next trip. The pic show us on our walk in the dog park. Hannah is almost as big as me and she is not 6 months old yet!
Our new toys did not last long, the squeak came out of the rabbit, the nose is off the weasel and there is a big hole in the soccer ball. We got hold of Kathy's reading glasses, but they were not much fun, once the plastic ear piece came off there was nothing to chew. Did you know dog teeth can gouge a lump out of a prescription lens?
Anyway, KnK keep using the "B" word so I had better hide before they get the shampoo out.