DAM SHREVEPORT

KK and I went to Shreveport USDAA the weekend of April 18-20. We were asked to join a DAM (Dog Agility Masters) Team by a friend who has a well seasoned dog. I think I'm the only person in Central Arkansas competing in USDAA agility in the Championship division. So I knew KK and I might have trouble finding a DAM team for her ADCH requirements. I was very flattered to be asked and I of course had to think it over and with some encouragement from my friends, I decided to do it.

We ran with a Siberian Husky, Kamikazee and a Miniature Schnauzer, Dyson. I believe we were the only team without a Border Collie on it.

We started Friday with Gamblers and I was so nervous and KK fed off it. She was wild and doing her own thing. She even missed a weave pole, and we all know weaving is her favorite obstacle. But we held on and got points for the team. In individual Master Gamblers I sent her over an extra obstacle in the gamble but she got the gamble but was a NQ. Advanced Snooker. Advanced Snooker. It is going to be the death of me along with Advanced Standard. KK blew the teeter twice in the opening. Totally not like her. She is a very cautious teeter performer, so I was beyond stunned when I heard 'zero' yelled out. She finished but not with enough points. In Team Snooker we held our own and got through all four reds (2 of those were 7's) and made it to #5 in the close before time ran out. Our team was above the line at the end of day 1.

Day 2 started with Team Jumpers. KK got a refusal or 2 but no 'E' so I was pleased. In individual Master Jumpers she got a Q/3 even after I stepped on her foot and she screamed like a banshee. She also got a Q in Steeplechase and a Q/3 in Grand Prix. We ended with Team Standard and I think we got another refusal but got through it. At the end of day 2, our team was above the line and in 2nd place!

Sunday, Day 3 we started with Team Relay.  KK ran first and dropped a bar but everyone else got a fault too. We managed to hold it together as a team and we got Q/2nd!! That gave KK 3 Tournament Q's in 1 weekend!.

It was a good experience for us but I don't think I want to run DAM anytime soon again. :)

THE BABY!!

Miss Kalea-Kate is thriving. She is such a happy, sweet little dog. She wakes up every morning in a happy mood, ready to give out kisses. She is still very much a puppy and loves to spend time playing with big sis, Marley.

She has had a pretty big winter agility season. Lots of new titles and lots of runs to be proud of. We are getting more in sync as a team, but have a lot more work to do.

We are taking a break from agility for about 2 months. I'm just worn out from all of the traveling and I think KK needs a break. I've been pushing her pretty hard this winter and she deserves time to just be KK. I sometimes forget that she's only 2. We will continue to work on our skills but no trialing for awhile. KK needs to be KK.

HOLDING STEADY

Marley is in a steady holding pattern. She is retired from agility and for a short time after her retirement she was on daily pain meds. She has since been taken off of them and seems to be doing well.

We have finally found a food (Wellness Holistic Select) that seems to agree with her and she likes it and is doing well on it. Of course it is a food that only one store in Little Rock carries and of course its expensive. She is still having times where she doesn't want to eat and I have been giving her unpasteurized goats milk and she likes it and will eat her food.

We have noticed even though she's not competing in agility anymore, she always seems to get a bad stomach when we travel. Vomiting and diarrhea. Guess its just the stress of the travel. She is regularly wearing her Thundershirt at agility trials whether or not its bad weather. I think it comforts her and makes her feel more secure.

This past weekend she met several of my friends at an agility trial and did well with them. Marley has about 5 people she trusts but I think she may be up to 6 after this weekend. :)

Very pleased her overall health right now.

PRINCESS DIVA

Miss Missy is my 14 y/o Princess Diva. She chose me to be her mom. I was fostering her for CARE and she decided my home was her home and I became a foster failure.

Missy is the sweetest dog ever. She is a gentle, sweet soul. She asks for nothing but love. She is known to come give me kisses after she eats her dinner.

I have always said she's part cat. She loves to lay in window sills and watch nature and loves to sleep on the back of furniture. She loves to swing in the swing with me in the evening.

 

 

This year she has really started hunting mice this year. I think her mouse count is up to close to 20. She also got a squirrel last week! She loves to bring her mice to the front door and lay them all out for me to see.

 



Princess Diva, Missy!

MISS INDEPENDENT

Molly is my independent girl. She loves to be outside, preferably by herself. If I let all the girls out together, she will hang back and then go the opposite direction. I often catch her just siting in the front yard watching her kingdom.

Even now as a 12 y/o, she can still spend hours outside. She doesn't explore near as much as she used to but she wants to be outside. How she managed to be a city dog for 7 years, I don't know.

She has been by my side for 11 1/2 years and I have loved every second of it. Every Sunday we go to Petco. Somehow she knows when its Sunday. She gets so excited bouncing and barking just waiting for me to snap on her leash. She just loves walking around Petco. Some days we just walk and walk. She's a totally different dog when it's just the two of us. She just loves going with me. She likes going to Lowes too. But sometimes doesn't understand why it doesn't have the great smells like Petco.