the threesome...

Photo by Jill B. Newman

Here's a picture of my threesome from earlier in the month at the Garden State Golden Retriever Specialty.

Left to Right - Jesse, Cash, Sophie

Mountaineering

This is "Durr Mountain" - fondly named by my boyfriend Mike. It is the pile that was created after the pond was dug this spring/summer. It is leaving - one truck load at a time, but while it's here - it's fun to climb - and good exercise for the dogs!

We are the conquerors!

Back on the ground - Cash had just eaten a mouth full of dirt so I think that is why he looks 'less than happy' in this shot...
Behind us is the pond that created that mountain :)

Beautiful Autumn Afternoon

Took some fun pictures of the gang today. It was such a great afternoon to be outside with them.

First, we have Cash showing off how good he is at the tunnel now. Anyone remember the first picture of him in a tunnel? He was so tiny then - now he actually ducks his head to get in!

Then, we have the little man on the run. I hope that when he is grown he will look a little more graceful while running...those floppy ears are quite a thing to see!

And then we did a little posing... Cash and Sophie on the table - notice, he is bigger than her in height now...and what a nice head he's growing in comparison to the little peanut head of my girl!

and then all three around the table... the light is weird, it makes him look like a little prince basking in the glow with his faithful harem below... HA! Looks are deceiving, aren't they!?!
And finally, the Jesse Dog pops up for a close up and gives the momma a big smile :)

Sophie - Agility 10/26/08 - Willingboro

Today's trouble was all about ME. If I could get in her way, I did. If I get forget my cross, I did. My timing was off and I tried things that we just aren't good enough at to do in a trial. Oh well - at least she counted to 12!

Here is Open Standard - refusal on poles, wrong course after dog walk, refusal of jump 16...

And here is Open Jumpers - wrong end of tunnel, refusal on jump 15, B-E-A-U-tiful weave pole entry and completion...

BTW - does anyone else notice that I need a new shirt? Its one thing to have a favorite, but come on! If I wear this shirt to another trial this year, you have permission to smack me!

Many thanks to Darlene and Oksana for doing a great job running the camera!

Sophie's agillity runs at Willingboro

Videos of the BCKC Trial held in Willingboro, NJ.

We're still working on counting to 12 in this standard run...

and now in jumpers we can count to 12 but we forgot about the rule - DON'T blind cross the momma! OOPS!

Both courses were great fun and I always enjoy being out with the dogs on such a beautiful autumn day! Thanks to Darlene for running the video - you're the best :)

Cash and the pheasant

Today was a busy day. Besides participating in the TDI test with Jesse, the fur kids also went to a WC/WCX held by Garden State Golden Retriever Club. We went to investigate the situation - as this was my first experience with anything "hunt" related.

The Working Certificate/Working Certificate Excellent is a GRCA title designed to show the dogs natural instinct. It requires some training, so I went to today's test to see what was required. I am VERY excited about training for this - I felt just like I did on the first day I ever watched agility. It was beautiful to watch the dogs in their natural environment doing what they were designed to do!

After the land portion of the test was complete, there were pheasants 'left over'. I took one for Cash and Sophie. Sophie didn't show much interest in the bird, but Cash was quite exuberant about this new "toy"!

Cash says - What's this?

Ahhhhh - very interesting indeed!

I think I will carry this around for a bit - feathers are fun!

Sorry for the terrible pictures, but its REALLY hard to take pictures while holding the leash and tossing a dead bird for the pupp!

Looks like I have to make room for another dog hobby...and room in the freezer for some dead birds - YUCK!

Jesse passes her TDI test!

Clever K9 offered another Therapy Dogs International Test today. Jesse was entered and passed with .... well, colors. It wasn't quite flying colors due to some hesitation on the "down" and a slight investigation of the other dog during the "reaction to a friendly dog" - but she did pass and now has her TDI :)

This is what Jesse was made for - sharing hugs and heavy petting with the world!

The blonde-boy turns blonde-dude

Cash is now a skater-dude. It came natural to him as he is the little blondie boy. This very short video is just a hi-light of his new found skill. I'm considering entering him in the X-Games next summer.... his litter mates will be debuting in agility while Cash debuts in half pipe! Do they make doggie helmets and knee pads?

Jesse earns a Rally Novice Leg!

Photo by Jill B. Newman

Random! I entered Jesse in the Garden State Golden Retriever Club Specialty held today in North Branch, NJ. I wanted to support the club, so I figured, what the heck, put her in Rally Novice. I had no intentions of qualifying and haven't practiced ANYTHING with her in, um, years. Yes - I said YEARS.

Jesse was retired from all things "work" almost three years ago due to all her structural issues. She was never a fan of "working" and I saw no point in making her participate in things just because I wanted to. She has been happily warming the couch for us ever since.

But today, she came out of retirement and qualified in her first ever Rally Trial - earning her first ever green ribbon! Big, HUGE deal for my broken dog! And I think she might have even had fun...who knew?

Cash learns to catch

My first attempts to teach Cash to catch treats were on Monday night in Rising Star Puppy Class. We were playing and I thought it was time for my boy to learn a 'manly' activity like catch. He was terrible! Every treat bounced off his head.

We practiced a bit more on Tuesday and the boy was starting to look like a ball player - catching almost every treat that was tossed to him.

Today when we practiced, he was super! Cash could be a short-stop for the Yankees!

Club flags from the National

The artist in me loved looking at all the club flags hung along the fence line as you drove in to the National site for Breed, Agility and Obedience. I took some pictures to commemorate the Golden Only events that Sophie and I have attended over the years.

So we'll start the journey down memory lane with the GRCA Flag.

No need to recap that event, I'm sure you all remember how stellar our performances were!

Here is the Gunpowder River GRC of MD flag. Sophie and I went to this show in April 2008. It was our first entry in Open A Obedience and we took first place. We also took first place in Rally Advanced B. Great indoor show site - long drive south!

Potomac Valley GRC hosts great indoor agility trials in MD. Sophie and I went down for one day in June of 2008 and took first place in Novice Standard. We also went to their trial in August 2008 - which was a 'golden only' trial and took a first and a second in Novice Standard and a first in Novice Jumpers. This is where we finished our NA. Love their show site!

Yankee was the host of the first day of agility trials at the 2008 National... and for that matter, the host of the National!

We took the dreadful drive to Long Island in February of 2008 for a bumper leg in Novice Obedience. Sophie had a great performance but got weird on the stays. NQ, but really great working class!

Garden State GRC holds an annual specialty in October. Last year (2007) we entered that show in Rally Novice A. Sophie took first place and got a great score for never having practiced Rally before. We also got a really nice plaque to commemorate the experience.

At the Trenton Kennel Club show in May of 2008, NJ Pine Barrens GRC offered prizes for the highest scoring Golden Retrievers in Obedience and Rally Classes. Sophie took the prize for Highest Scoring Golden Retriever in Rally Excellent B.

Some videos of the National

This is video of our first run on Tuesday at the GRCA National. This is an Open JWW course.

Notice the big bad off course tunnel...and the handler's pathetic attempt to deal with it...

This is video of our second run - Open Standard.

Counting to 12 is a skill that Sophie will need to work on for future trials.