First show of the season...

As Southern Border Collie was cancelled the week before due to waterlogged venue after all that rain, Culverstone was then my first show last week-end with Jesse. We did a training round in Novice, which Jesse did ok apart from dropping the dumbell by my feet, though I walked all over the place in heelwork... LOL I then did the Beginners stays and was over the moon when Jesse did them well and confidently! Yippeeee! After lunch we did our round. Jesse worked nicely... but he dropped yet again the dumbell by my feet... not sure why, but something to work on for sure. He still got a rosette but only because they went up to 10th place. :-) I was a bit disappointed of course, I hoped for more, but I guess it wasn't a bad start to the season. Will be working lots on the retrieve which has always been Jesse's weakest exercise although he often has clear retrieves. But his presents with the dumbell have always been a bit dodgy and shaky and I have never really done much about it... well, I have started now! I am working on getting much longer holds and much steadier ones too, where he doesn't move the bell around in his mouth! He is already improving lots on both counts. :-)

Obedience Match in Culverstone

I took Jesse and Flash to the yearly obedience match in Culverston today. Jesse worked quite well, though his heelwork on lead left a lot to be desired LOL. Never mind, he ended up with a run-off for 2nd and 3rd place and we lost it as he muddled up his recall second time round. I was pleased that he did his stays confidently though today, except for sitting up in the down stay when I stood next to him, but that was due to being on the wrong side of him as I had both Flash and Jesse doing stays next to each other. But other than that he was good and not wobbly at all on his stays. Yipee.

(Picture by Vanda Fitter, 2012)

After the match, we went to Karen's and David's where Dylan and Skye had been staying all morning. They all feel very at home there now which is good to see.

Jesse's car phobia - what an achievement! He got in on his own!!!

For the FIRST TIME EVER Jesse got into the car ON HIS OWN without me lifting him yesterday after training in Thornton Heath!  I still can't believe it after the severe issues he had with the car. He isn't perfect yet in all situations, but coming and going to training on Thursdays he is now fabby! He also doesn't show any shutting down behaviour in training anymore at all like he used to and and is happy to walk to the car!

What a bloody wonderful achievement; I can't stop smiling!

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY!

I can't believe that it is already 5 years since Jesse was born! We went to Karen and David yesterday in the afternoon and didn't come home until nearly midnight. LOL It was fabulous. The doglets all got a special yummy treat meal, which they loved!

HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY, beautiful boy! Love you so much!

Skin infection and some pictures

Last Monday, I took Jesse to see Mark to get some antibiotics as he has got a skin infection again. This is most likely due to the bred he picked up in the park... grrrrr...

Anyway, we had a beautiful walk this morning and here are some pictures:

Jesse being silly

Unfortunately the following pictures aren't very sharp, not sure why as there was certainly enough light for it to be no problem. Will need to check my camera to see whether any of the settings are wrong. But I thought they are fab pictures anyway, so here they are of Jesse having fun chasing ball.

 

Rainsuit

I got Jesse a rain suit to stop him from getting wet every single morning. It is working great and he doesn't mind wearing it at all; he runs and plays in it without problems. I will get a second one and will ask for a couple of changes on it as this one is a little deep in the body, but it is doing the job, so I am very happy about it.

A grass seed?

Jesse started limping on Saturday evening after getting up and I started getting worried about cruciate etc. However, Sunday  morning he started nibbling and licking his right hind paw. I looked at it and saw a small wound which looked like the entrance of a grass seed or other foreign body into the skin right between his toes. I took him to the vet on Sunday morning and Ian had a good look at it. He said he wasn't sure whether there was something in there and wants to watch it first before going in all guns blazing. So Jesse is now on antibiotics and he also got one shot of short acting steroids. I am also giving Jesse homeopathic Silica to help expel any possible foreign body in there.

He was hopping around on three legs all of Sunday, but today is much better. The wound also looks much cleaner, but discharge is gone and no lump has come up. So I think Ian was right and there was nothing in there, perhaps just an irritation by a grass seed stuck in the fur around there. We'll see how it goes, but so far so good.

Snoods

A few pictures, in particular of the new snoods for Jesse and Skye to keep their ears clean. 

Broken stays, but lovely report

On Sunday, Jesse (and Skye) and I went to Findon Downs returning to the obedience season. I did the stays first - and Jesse broke them both. I was so disappointed! I did however do a training round (with a ball) and Jesse worked absolutely beautifully. However, I didn't quite realise how beautifully until I saw the judge's report today - what a nice thing to say, makes me really happy and enthusiastic for the coming Sunday at Ditton:


FINDON DOWNS DOG TRAINING CLUB : Beginners Dog and Bitch


Date: 14th August, 2011
Judge: Shirley Budgen
Ring Steward: Gill Wise
Scoreboard: Sandra Wheatley

I have to mention Vera Marney’s American Cocker Spaniel ‘Weiambea Jesse James’ who was simply stunning, sadly has a stay problem, I really hope you sort it as he is just wonderful.

A new picture

Taken today when Jacqui was here