1, 2, 3, 4, 5 . . . .

The training grounds are still very waterlogged so still difficult to drag contact equipment ( . .any equipment!) out onto the field, so . . I carried 5 sets of uprights to the bottom of the field, the ONLY dry patch!!
 I am a big believer in Susan Salo's gridwork (puppy jumping and foundation jumping) and that is what we set up today. I picked 2 fairly easy grids because it has been a little while since we were able to practice them :)

 Mika was first up . . For those who know anything about Susan Salo: I did a set point grid and an equal distance, equal height grid . . These are very helpful for Mika and I as we are really working hard on eradicating our jump knocking. Mika was concentrating well and worked through the grids with ease.

 Next ; for the first time I tried Cal with 5 jumps (so far only done 3 jump grids). Eased him into it slowly, started with 3 jumps and then building up. . He understood both grid concepts and worked through them very well . . Was so impressed with him!!

 My littlest ie Spy . . We did work with spreads, as this is where our weakness lies :) we have had a nice break and she enjoyed it

odds and ends. . .

Mika achieved her Canine Good Citizen (Gold) first out of my dogs . . she was easy to teach and passed the tests with the minimum of fuss :) who would have thought, when she was this size, that this is where we would be :))

photo courtesy of Ian Macfarlane






                  This is Cal receiving his Certificate for Canine Good
                    Citizen (bronze)  . . . probably the easiest dog to get
                    through, I have to admit! :)

  photo courtesy of MADDOG












 . . . . and this is the madame herself (the JRT) receiving her Canine Good Citizen (Gold) this achievement gave me the most satisfaction because Spy was honestly the most difficult to teach. When Spy did the tests she did not put a paw out of line!! :))



photo courtesy of MADDOG













                                                        

Learning to Fly . . . Ball :)

It has been almost a week since those at ManstedPaws managed to get any training done due to the LARGE amount of rain we have had, so when today dawned with blue skies, we headed out to have some fun!

Mackland Rev it Up had his first flyball lesson EVER! As shown in the picture there are 4 jumps in a lane. Cal learnt to wait while I walked out to the end of the lane, put the toy down and return to him. When I released him, he jumped all 4 jumps, driving to the toy. He enjoyed it, caught the game pretty quickly and was fast :)

Mika went back to her childhood :) We havent trained this since she was a pup. She remembered and had a great time driving over the jumps to the toy!!



(photos courtesy of Nadine Shortland)

. . And then there were 3

When Mika was 3 years old . . I got the opportunity to get a 2nd Border Collie . . but a boy this time. After listening to everybody's comments about how they don't work as well, not as lovable, they fight . .

Mackland Rev It Up aka CAL (thank you to Nadine Shortland) arrived in November 2011. Wow, I don't know how I ever lived without him!!

He is now 9months old and proved all those comments about males WRONG! He is Always ready to work, no matter what you might be doing. He is honestly my Most lovable dog. He is quick, clever, FAST  . . . he has already passed his bronze level Canine Good Citizen!!

Cal is currently not old enough to compete but has already started his agility training :))

Mackland Rev it up (Cal) and Mackland Steer the line (Finn) with myself and Nadine Shortland after the pups achieved the CGC (bronze)

Giftnell Lastofthhikings . . aka MIKA

When Spy was 2 years old, I caused WW3 in my house and put my name down for a Border Collie (from Giftnell Border Collies in Pretoria)

Thank you to Onel Orsmond for giving me my first 'black & white' :))

Mika was a revelation ! Arriving after the stubborn and often difficult nature of a terrier - she was a joy . . and her particular personality was so gentle - she soon won over all those who voted against her at home :)

Mika was, at the same time, a STEEP learning curve for me. She is clever and quick and I had to get up to speed with training and handling and like FAST!!  Especially when it came to training focus and agility skills! I have made LOTS of mistakes, learnt a LOT and would not swap her for anything!! She has taught me tons, forced me to become WAY more technical in my training.

Mika has taken a little while to mature, she is deeply sensitive and is affected by any kind of upset :) She is currently in Grade 1 agility, Grade 2 Non Contact agility and Grade 1 Dog jumping.

I recently read an editorial in Clean Run (June 2012) about a dogs JCS account - their Joy Confidence Speed account. I realised that I have been running 'safe' rounds to try go clear at all costs to get the qualification . . . . the problem with this is that Mika doesn't know me like this, I'm not like that at training . . and she reacts badly . . and then so do I. I need to concentrate on having fun with Mika and giving her confidence and then the good rounds should follow :)) an attitude adjustment!!

Mika and Spy after passing their CGC (silver)
(photo courtesy of Ian Macfarlane)

SPY

That is how I ended up getting JRT number two . . Spy :))
After my first rather bad experience , I decided to buy through a registered breeder. My dad bought her for me as a birthday present, from a Breeder in KZN.

Spy arrived on the plane from Durban in a modified plastic basket. I caught sight of her (and she of me) through the slats of the basket . . . it was luv at first sight (for me at least!). The man handling the cargo could not cut the cable ties off fast enough as this little rat of a thing was by now SCREAMING! . . and there began some of the best years of my life :)

She was SO tiny she could sit in my hand with room to spare. Spy is now 5 years old and achieved more than I ever thought possible. She was never bought for agility but although not the fastest agility dog, she is very steady and the "anchor" of a team :)

Currently in Grade 3 agility, Grade 3 Non contact agility, Spy has even managed to win 2 CC's in Grade 3 Dog jumping!!

But as I have mentioned her biggest contribution is in a team event - my littlest girl (along with 2 other "mini" dogs) has been part of the Eastern Province provincial team for at least 3 years now. Her jumping style and love of the tunnel has made my JRT a crowd favourite!

Our Greatest achievement to date is satisfying the requirements for Canine Good Citizen (gold level) . . .quite a feat for a 'terrierist' :)

In the Beginning .. .

I cant even begin to write this blog without at least giving you some of the background to it . . . .

For as long as I can remember I have wanted a dog, But for a whole host of reasons my parents never thought it practical.
So, I acquired my first dog at the ripe old age of 26!!! :)
He was an undocked, tan & white, Jack Russell Terrier named Jazz. Bought at a pet shop and to cut a long story short . . . .I had to have him put down after a month, the vets said  that they suspected he had a congenital birth defect. I came home one afternoon and he could not hear or see, almost like he had had a stroke!

Not a good start :(

Introducing. . .

Watch this space. . . Each of my 3 dogs is going to get their very own post, complete with mutt shot :)

p.s. the name Mansted comes from my grandmother .. . she owned a shop called Mansted's :)