Marley earned her CD at the GSKC Obedience Trial in Southaven, MS. She did a good job. I was so proud of her! 10 seconds after she earned her title, I retired her from competitive obedience.
We are off to the Dog Gone Fun agility trial in Hattiesburg, MS this weekend. I entered Marley 3 days/4 runs a day. Looking forward to having a good time and enjoying time with Marley.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 11, 2011
ANOTHER GO AT OBEDIENCE
Marley is entered in GSKC Obedience trial this coming weekend. I entered her in Saturday's trial only. Going to try one more time to get her Companion Dog (CD) title. I know she can do it but she still tends to get spooked and that has cost us twice. Hoping for the best!!
She is also entered in 3 days of USDAA agility in Hattiesburg, MS the next weekend. She is in half Master's and half Advanced. Going to have me hopping from one ring to another!
I am leaving Molly and Missy with our trainer to be boarded. It's too hot to drag them that far. They will get to stay in A/C and be pampered. I'm sure I will cry when I leave them but I know they will be in good hands.
I have finally started a project that I have wanted to do for so long. I've started writing a book about life with my 3 girls. I love to write and I love my girls, so I thought why not. I'll give it a go.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
THE DOG I WAS MEANT TO HAVE
We had a great weekend at the K9 Sports TN USDAA Agility Trial. Marley ran well all weekend. She earned her first P2/Advanced Gamblers Q. She also earned her P2/Advanced Jumpers Title with 2 Q's. A first and a third. On the day she earned 1st, she was the only P2/Advanced dog to Q!!
We were super close to earning a Q in our very first attempt in the P3/Masters ring during Snooker. Marley took the wrong end of the tunnel on our very last obstacle. I'm sure my body sent her that way, but I couldn't have been prouder of her.
I had a great time. My parents came and my mom got to see Marley run agility for the first time. I had a fun time meeting new agility people and visiting with folks I had met before. My cousins even came up to visit.
I talked with a woman who also has a 'spirited' dog like Marley. Turns out her dog and Marley are just a month apart in age. She also hasn't had an easy time training her dog. She has also had the naysayers. She said she couldn't count how many times people have told her to give up on her dog. But she believes in her dog. She told me she wanted another agility dog b/c her other dog was getting older. That the dog she ended up with isn't the dog she would have picked out to be her agility dog. But she was the dog she was meant to have. That struck a chord with me.
Yes. Marley has been a challenge for me. Training her has been difficult. But a good friend always reminds me, if it were easy, everyone would do it. I have had to go through so much to find the best training environment for her. And I have found it. I am with the training group I am meant to be with. Getting to this point with her has made everything that I have had to go through worth it. We are with people who believe in me and in Marley.
Marley is a joy to me! She lives each day to the fullest and is always so happy. I have learned so much from her. Marley is the dog I was meant to have!
We were super close to earning a Q in our very first attempt in the P3/Masters ring during Snooker. Marley took the wrong end of the tunnel on our very last obstacle. I'm sure my body sent her that way, but I couldn't have been prouder of her.
I had a great time. My parents came and my mom got to see Marley run agility for the first time. I had a fun time meeting new agility people and visiting with folks I had met before. My cousins even came up to visit.
I talked with a woman who also has a 'spirited' dog like Marley. Turns out her dog and Marley are just a month apart in age. She also hasn't had an easy time training her dog. She has also had the naysayers. She said she couldn't count how many times people have told her to give up on her dog. But she believes in her dog. She told me she wanted another agility dog b/c her other dog was getting older. That the dog she ended up with isn't the dog she would have picked out to be her agility dog. But she was the dog she was meant to have. That struck a chord with me.
Yes. Marley has been a challenge for me. Training her has been difficult. But a good friend always reminds me, if it were easy, everyone would do it. I have had to go through so much to find the best training environment for her. And I have found it. I am with the training group I am meant to be with. Getting to this point with her has made everything that I have had to go through worth it. We are with people who believe in me and in Marley.
Marley is a joy to me! She lives each day to the fullest and is always so happy. I have learned so much from her. Marley is the dog I was meant to have!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
FRANKLIN, TN
Marley is entered in the USDAA Trial in Franklin, TN this coming weekend. It will be her very first time in the Masters Ring. I really love this venue! Crating on concrete plus AC!!
Our goal is to Flow and Go! Keep running and keep Marley happy! Hoping for positive results but I am going to enjoy the weekend and Marley regardless of the results!!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
MCKC Agility Trial
Marley had a great weekend at Tulsa. She earned her Rally Advanced Title. 3 times in the ring with 3 legs! She did the same with her Rally Novice Title. so proud of her!! She also earned another leg towards her Companion Dog Title in Novice Obedience. She maintained her sit stay even when a dog fight broke out in the ring.
She had success in the agility ring also. She got the Gamble both days in Open but had some errors. Mainly her A frame contact. She doesn't seem to remember to hit the yellow. I am probably late in my command of "Easy". Will have to work on that when class resumes this coming week. Marley ran so well all weekend. Paid attention and did her job. Marley got an Open JWW Q with a 1st. I felt like I won b/c Marley and I worked together so well all weekend!!
I no longer look at success as the Q's only. Previously I felt that if you didn't Q then you didn't win, but over the course of the year with my training group I have come to realize that it's the journey that is really important. My training group is phenomenal and I have learned so much from each and every one of them. I am enjoying my journey with Marley. She is my 'work in progress'.
I have decided once Marley finishes her Open AKC titles, we are done with AKC agility. We will continue to concentrate on USDAA agility. I like the versatility of the events and enjoy it way more than AKC. Someone from a different training group couldn't believe it when I told her we were going to quit AKC agility. She seemed shocked that I have absolutely no desire to pursue a 'MACH'. It just does not interest me in the least.
What does interest me is my journey with Marley! She has taught me so much and I love her to pieces!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
BACK IN TRAINING
I started Marley back in agility 2 weeks ago. We are doing short sequences with her and always end on a happy, positive note. She is doing so well. We are all so pleased with her behavior and progression.
I am feeling tons better. I have started getting regular sleep and feel like a human again. It just shows you that our dogs feed off of us. When I was really down is when Marley started pushing me and acting out. I felt so bad that I didn't care and let her get away with it. That's when our agility troubles started.
But we are back together as a team and working well on the agility course. We are entered in the Tulsa AKC trial next weekend. I have always said I won't travel for AKC agility b/c to me it's a waste of time and money. I can run my dog 5 times in USDAA for the same cost of 2 AKC runs. Anyway, we are going b/c we can do Obedience and Rally. I am wanting to finish Marley's CD title. I entered agility b/c we were going to be there anyway. We have decided that I am to review the course maps and decide then if I want to run Marley in that event or not. Our goal for the weekend is the CD!
Marley continues in her Ruff Love training program. She is a better dog for it! There are still people that feel they need to voice their opinions about the program. But they've never had a dog like Marley. I continue to receive encouragement from my training group about Marley and I need to learn to let the haters comments roll off my back and move on. But sometimes I let their comments get to me and it gets me down. People need to keep their comments to their self. I don't make comments out loud about their dogs...Lord know I could though!!
I am feeling tons better. I have started getting regular sleep and feel like a human again. It just shows you that our dogs feed off of us. When I was really down is when Marley started pushing me and acting out. I felt so bad that I didn't care and let her get away with it. That's when our agility troubles started.
But we are back together as a team and working well on the agility course. We are entered in the Tulsa AKC trial next weekend. I have always said I won't travel for AKC agility b/c to me it's a waste of time and money. I can run my dog 5 times in USDAA for the same cost of 2 AKC runs. Anyway, we are going b/c we can do Obedience and Rally. I am wanting to finish Marley's CD title. I entered agility b/c we were going to be there anyway. We have decided that I am to review the course maps and decide then if I want to run Marley in that event or not. Our goal for the weekend is the CD!
Marley continues in her Ruff Love training program. She is a better dog for it! There are still people that feel they need to voice their opinions about the program. But they've never had a dog like Marley. I continue to receive encouragement from my training group about Marley and I need to learn to let the haters comments roll off my back and move on. But sometimes I let their comments get to me and it gets me down. People need to keep their comments to their self. I don't make comments out loud about their dogs...Lord know I could though!!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
GOOD GIRL
Marley has been a real good girl lately. She knows Molly has been ill and has been real good about leaving her alone. We have been working on Marley's 'Ruff Love' program. We are back to working on her manners, practicing her obedience and a little bit of weave training, and she's back on the treadmill. She has to have permission to go thru doors and to eat. She's a smart girl and complies. Once the weather clears up, we will start our controlled walks back.
Marley's program requires alot from me. But she is a much better dog for it. There are still naysayers about Marley and the fact that she's in a strict training program, but that is something I will have to deal with and get over.
I have said it several times and I will say it again. I am with the most fabulous training group ever. They have been a saving grace for me and Marley and I am so grateful. I have never been with a group that sincerely cares about each other. They have been wonderful and understanding with recent events in my life. They have been calling, emailing, & texting to check on me. I have made great friends there!
Marley's program requires alot from me. But she is a much better dog for it. There are still naysayers about Marley and the fact that she's in a strict training program, but that is something I will have to deal with and get over.
I have said it several times and I will say it again. I am with the most fabulous training group ever. They have been a saving grace for me and Marley and I am so grateful. I have never been with a group that sincerely cares about each other. They have been wonderful and understanding with recent events in my life. They have been calling, emailing, & texting to check on me. I have made great friends there!
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