What a difference a few days make.

It's a beautiful day, the sun is shining and it's warm.

Yesterday I got to see Elton's puppies in the flesh for the first time (now 3 months old) - and I was much encouraged; I'd been disappointed in them with the photos I'd seen, but they're so much better in the flesh! Elton got to meet them and he thought they were great (eternal puppy <3) - well, til they decided to start pulling his fringing..etc :-P

Also yesterday, my book arrived - and I didn't have to pay anything extra :-D I pre-ordered it and it was shipped nearly 3 weeks ago (first class) so I thought customs had discovered a problem. But all is well! I'm only part way through, but so far it's excellent.

I've been doing all Elton's dumbbell training on the bed, and he is making steady progress :-D We seem to have got past the block.

Annnd I had a fantastic 2x2 session with Ria this morning, and another just now. After a difficult few days, I think she's got the entry :-D

Life is good, long may it continue :-)

I've been telling myself this a lot over the last few days! Ria and I hit a block with the 2x2s, and the saga of Elton and the dumbbell continues. Failure is a necessarily part of learning, and things do not have to be perfect all the time! As the title of this post says - in order to succeed, you must first be willing to fail.

We have had better nights than agility last night, but to be honest I think she was too tired - I have never seen her as she was today! Last night she lay down and slept a lot of the way up which is very unusual, then slept the way home (not so unusual) but then wouldn't get up this morning either - she sleeps next to my bed and usually I turn over, say "morning" to her and she pops up at lightning speed and is keen to get going! This morning when I did that she just looked up at me and didn't bother to move from lying down! I was actually worried, cos I've never seen her like this - the battery doesn't usually die like that :-P but she seems fine...eating normally, and we've done two 2x2 sessions today. Just really tired - she's had a couple of runs round the garden, but other than that she's just slept! I can only put it down to a busy weekend, walk on Tuesday, really, really good run yesterday (better than she was meant to have, her idea not mine!), agility and maybe the 2x2 sessions are using more energy than I thought? Someone said to be maybe it's season related, my reply cannot be printed haha. With Crufts just 14 days away (arrrrgh!), now would really not be a good time.

Well that was an interesting weekend...somewhat against my better judgement I decided to enter a show on Saturday. Got there just after 8am, Paps were 2nd in the ring, and I knew Ria quite possibly wouldn't be in until 3 or 4pm.

I showed a friends bitch to 2nd in Graduate, Elton was unceremoniously chucked, and by this point it was only mid morning so decided to just cut my losses and go home, as then the dogs would get a nice walk as we could stop at the canal on the way. A shame as I was looking forward to showing Ria (haven't shown her at all since she came out of puppy), but I've known her be in the ring at gone 5pm and as we had excitement planned for Sunday (more on that in a minute) I just couldn't hang around for all that time, especially as there were 9 dogs in her class - almost all older, and as we know she is an immature 12 months anyway. Only we got to the motorway turn off and it started absolutely pouring with rain, so we didn't get our walk :-( and upon stopping at the supermarket just before home the car park was totally full - so didn't get shopping either! It really was one of those days where I wished I hadn't bothered getting up.

Then Sunday dawned :-) A beautiful morning, and an agility match to go to! I took all 3 dogs as I figured being a nice day that wouldn't be too hot or too cold, they were just as well crated in the car as at home and I didn't know what opportunities would present.

In the end unfortunately there wasn't time (the arena was booked for 3 hours and they had to be out at that point), despite the fact that it had been intended Ria would do something and I was hoping Solei may get the opportunity to run a steeplechase course. But never mind - I spent most of the morning scribing (yes, they let me loose o_O and I didn't mess it up yay lol) and had a fantastic time. Elton got to come and socialize for a short time at the beginning, and Ria at the end. Then we came home via a lovely canal side walk where Elton & Ria got to run about and burn off some energy (in Ria's case..) and Solei also enjoyed it, despite being confined to on lead!

Can't wait for the next one now - hope there is one before too long!

I have also just started Elton & Ria's weave training. I'm using the 2x2 method, so far so good (I think..). Nearly ready for the second set of poles. I don't feel confident in this yet, so fingers crossed I'm not messing it up!

Elton is awesome :-) We went to the Joint Papillon Clubs Championship Show on Sunday, and he got 3rd in Limit, 1st in Open Phalene, Best Phalene Dog and then BEST PHALENE IN SHOW :-D So proud of him, the judge was very complimentary and I don't think he's ever looked better, so I have everything crossed this will be his year! Last year was a bit of a write off one way or another, with his behaviour, judges not falling right and a couple of other factors. That was his first show for a month, and first championship show this year - so I hope he's started as he means to go on :-) That would be great!

I also took Ria (obviously not showing), and she didn't cause chaos - always a plus.

Well the weekend saw most of the country covered in snow - however, in our small corner we have yet to see even a flake! So Ria still hasn't seen her first snow.

I didn't feel agility last week was as productive as the previous couple of weeks, though the main trainer wasn't there which may not have helped. My delightful dog also decided to throw up halfway through because she'd been eating poop on our pre-agility walk :-P Love her.

As far as classes, that's all we've done. No agility for Solei, obedience or ringcraft. And a couple of weeks off from shows too! Though I did actually end up going down to one on the 28th to help with grooming. Took Elton & Ria and had a nice walk by the Great Western Canal on the way down :-)

Instead we've been taking the time for lots of nice walks, and I've found the cul-de-sac across the road works nicely as a training area. Ria has to stay on a long line for safety, but it works. Elton is more predictable and I can happily work him loose! I want to take my weaves out there and work on that, as we actually have the space to work round the "clock".

The increased exposure to other dogs has helped Ria, and she is definitely improving. Yesterday I took her and Elton to the park, and we met a six-month-old Cocker Spaniel. For the first time she was actually sort of playing with a strange dog :-) Of course it doesn't help that almost all the dogs we meet usually are either large or terriers, so usually too scary for her!

Training for Ria has largely been concentrated on her heelwork position, which I'm really not happy with and am at a bit of a loss at the moment as to how to get it where I want it - or indeed where I want it, which really does not help! Four weeks til Crufts, arrrrgh. Though I discovered this morning she has the most awesome send away to a mat over an amazing distance :-P (knew she had a lovely one, but not over that distance!)

For Elton, it's been concentrated on getting comfortable picking up and giving me his new dumbbell - home made, very light. Gonna be useless outside if it's windy (too light to throw), but that won't be any issue til the end of May at the earliest. We have a way to go, but fingers crossed. My aim is to have him performing some semblance of a retrieve by the end of March!

Tonight is match night at ringcraft, but as I have two permanently muddy dogs that I can't be bothered to clean up :-P I shall be going without dogs! I just hope the whites come up white after bathing - Elton has a show on Sunday!