Mum has decided that before we make our decisions for what we'd like to achieve in 2014 we should look back and consider how 2013 went.
- On New Year's Day in 2013 Mum had finally decided that she was really fed up with me pulling, being a Houdini with regard to removing any form of gentle leader or headcollar and that she would just use my collar and lead and stop if I pulled so that I could learn that if I wanted to get where we were going - to the beach or the woods usually - I would need to walk nicely by her side. We did this and a walk that now takes me ten minutes walking beside my Mum took us almost an hour that day! So that is one success, I am about 95% there in not pulling when going somewhere really exciting.
- Mum helped me learn to weave using Susan Garrett's two by two method. In total we only spent about an hour training over the couple of months and look at the results: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veV-ss-8Yf4
- We continued going to Amy's for our agility training and in the summer I competed for the first time in the summer. This is a video of my first competition (my sister Erin goes first I start at 0.30) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BOPVZv6dyE
- We went to the Isle of Wight for a fun show and I won my qualifying round and the Final for Best Trick, that is me taking the washing off the line. I also won Best Trick and three other companion shows either with the washing line or jumping onto my mum's back.
- At the UKA Nationals I competed again but still didn't have a clean run and got very distracted at times although we did some lovely distance work at times.
- In August we went to the UKA Hawbridge and HADs shows just one day at each and now I was getting my act together and listening to Mum and paying attention to her body in the ring. I won the Steeplechase twice and I qualified for the Ultimate Agility Beginners' Steeplechase Finals in December. I also now had 24 points so I am no longer in Beginners and have moved up to Novice in Steeplechase. I won the jumping, but non-qualifying because I picked up 5 faults, however, I was the only one not eliminated and there was a wall and a long jump and I had not done either of these before so Mum was really pleased with me.
- At Mapledurham in September I managed to win the Jumping Qualifying! Mum was very pleased with my weaving. However, I've not managed to go clear again in Steeplechase yet.
- As well as playing agility I have learned even more new tricks and continue learning them. These I use to entertain the elderly at the Rest Home where I go to say hello to the residents. This Christmas I did one show at my Rest Home along with Ponto and another at the Dementure Group - everyone loved the shows and you can see the videos of one of these here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lgLIFT8asU
- We went to the UKA Finals in December. This was exciting. Mum and I stayed overnight in a hotel. I'd never done this before and at first I thought I needed to guard our room from other people so I barked when I heard doors opening and shutting but Mum convinced me that this wasn't necessary. The Finals were exciting, in a big Equestrian Arena, lots of dogs, lots of noise and I had my turn. Unfortunately, I missed jump No. 3 and went through the tunnel so we were eliminated and then when I was half way round the course I thought it was the end and ran straight on, although I came back as soon as Mum called, but it was so much fun. Not our best run and loads to learn, especially a start line wait, but if you want to see the run it is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhPZosB7rLU
- But most of all in 2013 we had fun playing Recallers Games, Weaves, Contacts, and going for lots and lots of long hikes in the Forest and at the beach.
