Whats the old boy been doing!!!

Somehow Zak has managed to slice open the front and back of his leg, at first we thought maybe Bella could bitten him but when the vet had a proper look it appears he had his foot trapped in something and has rived it free. Its pretty scarey as I only noticed as he has a tiny bit of blood on the front of his chest so did the routine check over starting with face, mouth, ears (all the normal places we get the odd cut), then I noticed what I thought was a little cut on the front of his leg took him for a closer inspection without the other two and found not only was there this deep wound on the front but he'd slit accross the back and made like a flap which has gathered up and left the blood vessels and inside of his leg on show ewwww. As Zak is such a stress head with the vets I normally sort most cuts at home but I knew this one needed stiching Im just amazed there was so little blood. We managed to get him seen straight away and they took him in, Im always worried when they go in but with Zak being 11 and a half I fret more and the last time he had an op when he was six months he struggled being crated and we think might have been a bit aggressive because of being frightended as they asked if we had a muzzle for him :( So I also make sure the vets know hes a stress head and would rather them muzzle him just encase he feels scared. As it was he was great they set him a bed up in their X-ray room and he was a really good boy, so much so the staff kept sneaking him choccie bickies after his he came round hihi
Sadly means we wont be going to HnH tomorrow really gutted but he has to come first and I know he always gets stressy when I leave and we want these stiches to stay in as long as possiblt please!!! Here he is with his lovely bandage

Update: We where at the vets last night to have the bandage removed they where very pleased with how its healing need to keep it covered for a couple more days and keep him as relaxed as possible (which has never been so easy as he just wants to sleep lol) Here is the damaged he managed to do

And not looking too impressed with his new kitten sock bandage hihi

Training session with Jen Lewis

We went to see Jen again for another training session at York, a lovely huuuuuge indoor arena where shes hoping to be able to set up regular classes from. Was a bit of a rush as went straight from work but managed to get there on time and Bella was surprisingly relaxed considering I'd dashed in and out she wasn't really sure what we were doing. There was only a group of four which was nice as we got to work on a good few things, firstly some rear cross work Ive never felt as comfortable rear crossing as front but know there are certain courses where its needed. Bella does have the drive but its me not being quite sure where I should be when. We managed the exercises ok but must practise more :D Then we did some contact work now I know I'm very inconsistent as at training Bella does fabby 2o2o but at shows I tend to be more relaxed and providing she gets the contact I let her got without the stop. As next year will her last proper year competing I don;t want to take her out if she misses so Jen suggested I train her with a running contact to drive to her toy so I'm altering training to match what I do at shows to make me more consistent. We shall give it a try and see how it works :D All in all a good session which I enjoyed lots.
Sal & Kandy where also there Kand worked soooooo well shes almost ready to be back competing I think Sal is going to try her at nuts so fingers and toes crossed.

Honeys 2nd training class

Our second training class tonight Honey was norty in Sals mini bus as was barking at Benson all the way there and the traffic was bad so we arrived a little bit late so we started off rather distracted.
First exercise tonight was stand we have already been working on it at home from the down position but where practising from a sit, as Miss Muffet was rather excised she couldn't understand why I'd want her to sit and just stood looking at me lol Even luring was a challenge so went back to practise from a down and she was much better we can work on stand from a sit at home when shes a bit more focused :D The we did some recall work which I knew she'd be ok with as she comes back off lead when I call. And finally we finished off with some loose lead work my least favorite thing and we'd only done a tiny bit of practise that morning. Marion used Honey as the demo for this exercise and she did really well which surprised me since we really have done no practise at all. So no excuses now lol We also discussed about letting them pull as walking her with the other two in a morning its not practical to practise her loose lead walking she suggested putting her on a harness when she can walk how she wants and using the collar when I want her not to pull which seems like a good plan. Very pleased with her progress just need to faze our my hand signals so shes more reliable with the verbal commands.

Agility Nuts 13th Nov

Well what a mix of runs today, we started off with TFO I think Bella was a bit confused way I was taking her out of the ring after just 5 obstacles bless her I think she thought she'd been norty hihi Next was agility I didn't push her far enough out on a corner so she nipped in and took the jump so E'd think we are going to have a bit more practise on these at training as shes done this a couple of times where before I could put in a bit of distance. We tried to finish off the course but she struggles with right hand weaves right next to the netting I made her do them but think she lost the plot a bit as started taking the wrong jumps so just retired lol The was tunnel torment a nice flowing course but just could keep her out the tunnel (no surprise there) we got further than I thought but I'm still not quite enough :D Finally we had jumping was a really complex course which I thought we had no chance on lots of traps and turns with big gaps to my amazement we managed all the hard bits but 2 jumps from the end I just took my eye off her (as lost me way) so she took the wrong jump gutted but also really pleased as she keeps on remaining me she should be there :D
The best part of the day was our start lines after being at Jen's yesterday I thought what better place to try than at a show I just said sit stay and walked away turned back waited and released worked like magic only one time did she move so I just calmly put her back without saying a word and walked away. I don't think we have ever managed a start like it amazing what a few pointers can do!!!!
The worst part of the day was her trying to eat a labs head!!!!! We'd just finished our run talking to the other dogs owner Bell was being fussy saying hi then her husband brought their dog in it either got a bit too close or looked at her treat bag well she just flew, amazingly the other dog was fine thank god and they where unbelievable understanding as I apologised over and over I'm just so gutted as I think we have come on leaps and bounds then it happens again out of the blue. I think I just need to make sure I take her away from the ring as soon as we have finished the run as its normally at these over excited times things happen.

The little honey monster came along for the day too she was very good settling in the back of the car with Bella even having a snooze hihi She came along to the ring side to watch even managing to sit quietly for a little while. She met lots of lovely dogs and people but still screamed a few times when dogs barked and it takes her by surprise I'm hoping as time goes on she will eventually stop doing it!! Her confidence has come on leaps and bounds tho which is what I'm after so to carry on with the socialisation me thinks :D

Training Session with Jen Lewis 12th Nov

Well its that time of year again when we aren't paying out for camping shows so I can squeeze in some training session for me and Bells yay :D
We went to see Jen at Sicklinghall, was a really nice group of people Sal was there with Wendy and a group from Wakefield. Being in a different venue always makes Bells a little giddy but was pleased as not too hyper but we did struggle with out start line wait as usual. Jen gave some very helpful pointers which we can work on over the coming weeks to hopefully make it clearer for Bells when she can and can't move, its difficult as shes just so keen but I'm hoping I can put a little into practise tomorrow at nuts just to get the ball rolling. We also did some nice working on handling queue to tighten up our turns. I have to say how so pleased I was that she stopped on the DW contact not quite 2o2o but butter than leaping off, the same can not however be said for the seesaw she ran over it full pelt and just leaped off into the air like she'd never don;t in her life!!!! I do think she realised what it was as was covered in sand but pretty scary but luckily she was fine and didn't batter an eye lid going back over this time stopping properly. We also did 9 weaves with me a way back she did pause a little as they where not pegged and moved a bit as she hit them at full pelt but I clapped my hands like normal which got her back into rhythm. All in all pleased with the session hoping we can go to one at York in a couple of weeks then back to Sicklinghall in Dec. Plus hopefully going on a training session with Laura Chudleigh at Sicklinghall in Feb how exciting :D

Honeys First Training Class 8th Nov

We started our puppy good citizen tonight Honey was fab took the whole evening in her stride. We are in a lovely small class of 4, a golden retriever, miniature schnauzer and Sal with Benson. As Ive been doing lots of foundation work with her already she didn't struggle with the sit, down work and we have started on watch me which shes picking up nice and quickly and I know it will come in handy in the future. Next week we start the dreaded loose lead walking so need to start practising at home as Ive kind of put it off a little bit but shes starting to get stronger and I know I will regret it if I leave it too long!!!