How far we've come!

Amazingly, Roo has been doing awesome. So much has gone on these last couple of weeks.

To recap:

March 21st: 1/2 day seminar with Abby Tamber- Start line stays

He was just great. I was so impressed that he did well with new dogs and people and kept his focus.

I learned that sometimes his set isn't as obvious as I thought. When I go, "READY!" Sometimes, it's just a flick of his ears that tells me he's got it.

March 22nd: a full day of handling with Abby. I am so impressed that my little boy did it! He worked all day, never gave up and never stressed out. I couldn't have been prouder of him. Or so I thought.

March 27th: Kathy and I took Roo and Bodie to run throughs at High Goal Farm, the place where he was trailing. the whole point was to get him to work in a trial like atmosphere. By the time we ran it was just us and one other person! Oh well. He did his first run fine, and then watched Bodie. Second time through, he bailed off the dog walk. Was he copying his BBFF (best blue friend forever) Bodie? Who knows. But he would not do the dog walk. Also, he left the ring to go visit his BBFF. It was at the finish line, but still! Bodie was a good boy- snarked at him and Roo came right back!!

March 29th- THE BIG DAY!!!!!!

Roo was entered in one run in his first trial!!!!!

He was just entered in Fullhouse, a game where we get to run our own course.

you can see for yourself how he did:

Not to the uninitiated this might not seem like the best run. However, he stayed with me and did most of what of I asked of him. Not bad for a baby boy I spend most of my day calling knucklehead!

Here is a link to some great photos Barry took of him:

http://www.pbase.com/barryrosen/ad3roo

wound up he qualified and took first. OK he was the only dog in his jump height, but still pretty cool.

Roo Trains with Stacy Peardot-Goudy

Yesterday was a big day for Roodles. First we went to class at Sugar Bush Farm


http://www.sugarbushfarm.net/. Then off to Westminster, Vt. for a seminar called "Putting it all together" with one of our favorite trainers Stacey Peardot-Goudy (http://www.cspotwin.com/)


It was a big step for the baby Roo and oh so hard for scaredy dog! It did not help that I left his bag with all his toys and favorite things at Sugar Bush!

Stacey set up this sequence for us to start:

Roo actually had a nice start line. He missed a couple of jumps and zoomed off a few times, but he wasn't bad!

However, when we went up for our second try, something scared him. Who know what? He went over a gate to do his A Frame. It took a lot of work to get him back and happy (and some meatballs- thanks Julie!) but he did eventually do it. Poor Scaredy Dog! Stacey wanted us to practice a front cross and a rear cross on this sequence. He actually did the rear cross on the 8 to 9 the first time through.

Next we went on to this sequence:

He needed a lot of reinforcement, but he did it! he was much happier going away from the gates where the other dogs were. All in all, it was hard day for him, but he did a great job!

The new ball

This is the $2.59 playground ball from Target. It's 24 hours later and still alive:

Christmas 2008

GOTCHA DAY

One year ago tomorrow, Kathy Chittenden from New England Border Collie Rescue, Inc. handed me a sweet little puppy to foster. She said, "I don't think he's going anywhere!" I told her she was crazy, I didn't need another dog. Ha!
1/4/2008

1/3/2009

Snow Day

It's been snowing forever here...

Doesn't Smudge look like a mean old lady?


I love to run in the snow!

Silly Bella is laying on the ball so no one can play it with it. Momma says she's hatching it!

Aha! I got Smudge and Spenser to roll me around in the snow. Woo hoo! Snow Angels!!

Refreshing!

Momma says we are supposed to get wiped down when we come in. Bella says, she will air dry!

Where does the time go!

I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I've posted about Roo. We've been busy working on our obedience skills and agility foundation work begins in earnest this week. We will not be on equipment for a while, but will be working on impulse control, turns on the flat and start line routines. He has gotten to be quite big and I'm sure he's jumping 26 inches!