We survived :-) Barely, in places lol

Thursday was Elton show day, and Ria obedience day. Elton went really well, and I was over the moon to get a 3rd with him in a really strong Limit Dog class :-)

I was really worried about how Ria would cope with the environment in the obedience - I nearly didn't take her in - but she seemed ok, so figured we'd give it a go (bar the recall it was all on lead)

Recall was lovely, she only lost either ¼ or ½ a mark (couldn't read the writing, she lost either 4½ on the heelwork & ¼ on the recall, or 4¼ on the heelwork and ½ on the recall!), heelwork could've been better - she just wasn't concentrating for most of the first bit, pulled herself together quite nicely for the second but it was a bit late by then.

Stays were awful - we had numbered markers in the ring and we had to stand by our number. I always put her on the end because she isn't the most confident of dogs, and not only was she right in the middle of everything, but also next to a large long coated German Shepherd. Sit was fine, though she got in a bit of a state when I released her (don't think she can cope with the "buzz" that goes up when 20 people release their dogs at the same time!) and it took me a bit to settle her again for the down. Down was fine, until we were told to return to our dogs and the others got back to their dogs just before I did, as I was blocked in - she couldn't cope with that for some reason (I think it was something to do with the dog on her other side, who I'd set her up a bit closer to to get as far as possible from the GSD!), and broke. Only unfortunately when Ria breaks she runs round the ring barking which is really embarrassing :-X

But no point dwelling on it, we're working on Control Unleashed and building up confidence, and I won't push her. She's young, plenty of time. I obviously had no idea she would do that, or I wouldn't have put her in!

There are a couple of nice photos floating about, here are two courtesy of ShortDog Photography -

http://shortdogphotography.co.uk/clients/index.php/Crufts1/DSC_8004 Setting up for the recall I think

http://shortdogphotography.co.uk/clients/index.php/Crufts1/DSC_8013 Heelwork

Stayed at a hotel on Thursday night, Ria & Elton's first time in a hotel (Solei was at home) and only second time ever away from home (following on from staying with my great aunt & uncle last September). Ria was wonderful, Elton decided to cry half the night, eventually leading to me standing outside the hotel in my pyjamas at 2am for half an hour whilst he couldn't find the right spot :-P Still, we got there in the end.


Friday was just Ria showing, but there still weren't enough hours in the day! There never are at Crufts. Ria has shown better. She sat down when the judge got near her backend, and then paced half the way round! My fault I think, I got a bit carried away :-P She got a 3rd in Special Junior Bitch.

In the ring at Crufts :-) Don't think she's looking too bad, just very raw still (and yes, she is standing on 2 legs...)

Had a fantastic time, shattered now! Back to reality, til next year :-) all 3 of my dogs are already qualified, not sure who I'll take yet (Solei's qualified for life but I haven't taken him for the last 2 years)

Ria missed agility last week as Crufts involved getting up at 2am on Thursday morning, and seeing as it's usually around 10pm on Wednesday before we get home from agility...yeah, that wasn't going to work. So really looking forward to it this week, hopefully she'll behave herself as I'm suffering from the effects of Crufts, she's bouncing off the walls as usual and wondering why she's not getting normal walks and training!