Friday, February 21, 2014

End of February....WHAAAAAT?

How did it get to the end of February??  I've been so incredibly busy.

First off.  Rampage is back to being totally, rampagingly RAM!  Love my Rambles!  And love him not having neck problems.

One thing I've had to do is decide if I should take Icon to AKC nationals.  At this point I'm 99.99% sure I won't be taking him based on the 2 trials (or more accurately, 3 runs) he's been to this year (or more accurately, since October).

His jumping...  well it isn't good.  In AKC it's great until he gets to a spread and then it just falls apart (he may recover from the first spread, but can't seem to recover from two of them).  In USDAA it falls apart after a few weaves or tunnels, and is exacerbated by the larger spacing between obstacles.

So.

Icon is pretty much retired from competitive agility (and to be honest, this is the case since the end of 2012, when he turned 7).  I guess I'll try to qualify him for USDAA nationals at 16" but still may not run him there.  It's not so much fun for me anymore, and I can't imagine it's all that much fun for him either.

But we still have fun playing agility where I can control spacing and tunnel exits (reward before the next jump!)  He jumps happy when I control the environment :)  And he can out-hike the lot of you!

Here is Icon's PGP run from earlier this month.  It is painful to watch since the jumping degrades after the poles.  But this is SO much better than his jumping at the AKC trial in Santa Rosa (in his defense, Santa Rosa is his worst place to trial and I shouldn't have even entered him there, but that's a different story.)

SMART USDAA - Icon PGP from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.

On a brighter note... My new puppy is due in 2 days!  Yes, a new puppy for me!  I feel a bit guilty because I am really quite happy with the current household dynamics.  After loosing my perfect kitty Pook a few months ago a 3 dog, 1 cat household seems just perfect.  Do I WANT to add another dog?  Hmmm, not particularly... but will adore and cherish a new dog?  How could I not???

Stay tuned for puppy information!  (it's a BC, btw.  I know you were wondering)

And lastly...

What have I been so busy with lately?  I mean, it's not like I've been to many trials.  Well WORK is a big PIA.  I thought it would get easier this year, but unfortunately it's getting worse and more stressful.  I'm sure that's how it goes with everyone though.

Other than that... I'm working on an agility video project.  It is VERY exciting.  LOTS of creative people involved.  You (the 5 of you who read my blog) will LOVE it!  I predict (read: hope) it will become a worldwide sensation!  Look for it here and on FB before the end of March!  There will be merchandise too!

And I leave you with...

DisCo RamBo
Disco Ram from Agility Dogs on Vimeo.

9 comments:

  1. Must know more about this secret video project that has products available, yes sound very exciting and I will certainly be keeping my eye out for it.

    Sorry about Icon, such a bummer for both of you, but I am glad he enjoys hiking, it really does rule.

    Very exciting about puppy, I will keep my eyes peeled for new puppy info too! I love puppies and more than loving puppies I love following puppy blogs. I hope you plan on doing LOTS of puppy blogging! PUPPY!!!!! Good luck, I hope the perfect one for you is in the litter.

    Also glad ram is is in top form, he looks good in shades.

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    1. Thanks Tammy! I'm sure there will be lots of puppy blogging. I tend to be good at documenting the first year or two and then things tend to fizzle.

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  2. Hey! You're blogging again! Just in time for some puppy news! Glad Rammy is well, and I'm pretty jealous of icon, he gets to hike with gear that is much cooler than mine. Most sorry about his early retirement, lucy will probably retire at the end of this year as well.

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    1. If you come hiking with us sometime I'm sure Icon will let you carry his backpack. He's nice that way ;)

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  3. Whoa, the difference before and after weaves with Icon was very dramatic. It reminds me of my vision before and after I use my reading glasses. I am sorry about his retirement but I sure do understand. I was going through Steam's videos for Gina and it made me sad all over again.

    Very happy that Rammy is back to normal and hooray for puppy! And yes to lots of puppy blogging because puppies grow up too fast!

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    1. I'm pretty sure at this point his issues are related to bright/dim contrast. I'm seeing signs in everyday life now, which I never saw even a year ago. If I'm training him with a bright light behind me in his line of view, he will flinch away like he's being hit if anything comes into his field of view (for example, if we're doing 'high five'). Of course he's never been hit in his life! He is fine without a bright light behind me. And when we're out for a walk and night and walking into traffic, he will become disconcerted walking into headlights. Weird.

      Very excited about the puppy. Temp has dropped so should be born tonight!

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  4. Ohhh, yes, amazing project. You did good, very, very good!!!! You nailed it Channan, good work;) I still can't get over the quality of the video. And you did the editing? So amazing. Worth the wait.

    And what about puppy? And new photos? Any new info? Any new anything;) Hope the litter is doing well.

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    1. Thanks Tammy! VERY proud of the video! But unfortunately my blog has been neglected a bit lately because of it. We filmed last Wed and since then I haven't had much time because before I was planning and after I was editing. Will post more on it soon!

      Puppies are doing great. They're just about 4 weeks old now. I've seen them twice now and plan to see them again tomorrow. Hopefully photos then :)

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  5. Thanks Tammy! VERY proud of the video! But unfortunately my blog has been neglected a bit lately because of it. We filmed last Wed and since then I haven't had much time because before I was planning and after I was editing. Will post more on it soon!

    Puppies are doing great. They're just about 4 weeks old now. I've seen them twice now and plan to see them again tomorrow. Hopefully photos then :)

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