This brings us to May. Which was another busy month, especially for Tucker.
He showed at his second Rally show the first of May and earned his second Q with a 92.
After the show I stopped by Cascade Falls (where we had taken Teach a few years ago) for something fun for Tucker to do. As usual when taking him places, he was a great breed ambassador to everyone he met along the trail. This is such a fun trail to hike, and the end is very rewarding for the strenuous hike to get there.
Towards the end of the month Tucker attended a conformation show where we were hoping for a major, but that didn't happen. Tucker did fantastic showing though. This was his first show since the Collie Nationals and we had been working hard on getting that free-stack down. I felt very good about his showing. Tucker was the only dog entered and took Winners Dog each day and also took Best Of Winners as well. This got us 2 more points bringing our total to 11, but we still need those elusive majors to finish him up.
This was our first time staying at an AirBnB with a good friend of ours, also showing her collie. It was a great experience. And even though I was really nervous about staying with people I didn't know the hosts were very welcoming and made you feel at home. Its something I would consider again in the future. And Tucker LOVED their dog ... of course he loves everyone.
As with the Rally show I took Tucker to a park to visit some waterfalls and get some pictures.
Teach was at home taking it easy while we were running the road. He didn't seem to mind.
Last weekend we took Tucker to another conformation show. This time we were back at the site of our first show.
It was great getting to see familiar faces and being among so many nice collies.
We showed 4 times over the weekend and came home with Winners Dog one of those times. I call that successful given the competition and even getting something at a Specialty. We did pick up a point and officially minored out. Now we are on the hunt for majors. That'll be the fun part ... haha!!
Looks all professional
Here's a video of our WD run.
Mrs. Marjorie Tuff was our judge for this one and was one of the best judges we have shown under. She immediately told me to calm down, take my time, if he messes up fix it as she wanted to see him at his best. I can't say enough nice things about this lady!!
After the fun weekend we made a stop on the way home for some pictures with the LOVE sign at the Virginia Welcome Center.
And while Tucker was being a "pretty dog" Teach was hanging out with his BFF.
Its been a few weeks (well almost a month) since Tucker's last show. I'm really slow at getting reports out! He did so well and showed like a champ both days for me. His ever happy Collie personality really shines in the ring and you can't help but smile at him.
Friday we went Winner's Dog for 2 more points bringing our total up to 8. We now need to hunt those majors! Not to bad for a novice handler and a young dog!
I have a video below and also pictures. This show had a professional photographer at all the rings getting breed pictures so I was excited to have action shots! It was hard to chose which to share with you all.
Tucker's 12-18 class and Winner's Dog
Nice big smile for the judge!
Saturday we weren't so lucky and went away with Reserve to a really nice puppy! Tucker still showed like a pro, it just wasn't our day. I had hoped to get pictures from Saturday as well but didn't have a chance to stop at the booth before we packed up to leave and they haven't been posted on their site yet.
Dog showing has been a lot of fun and we've met some really nice and fun people along the way. Our new friends Sandy and Guenter were super nice to set up a crate for us on Wednesday before the show and let us hang out with them during the 2 days of showing. This was the biggest show we've attended so it really nice already having a spot before we got there. To me finding where to set up at is one of the most stressful parts! HAHA!!
This summer has felt more like spring than summer. We have had more rain in July than I think we had back in the spring. On top of that when its not raining is so hot and muggy you really don't feel like getting out there. And we haven't. We've just bummed around for the most part.
Teach and Tucker have continued agility lessons. She has us starting the weave poles (the part of agility that has always intimidated us) using the 2x2 method. We're still on 2! Teach and Tucker love to play with toys in the house but outside its a little different. So I got a Tug-It on our trainers advice and stuff it with yummy treats. Tucker will sprint after it but is reluctant to really bring it back. Teach just licks it ... haha!! Silly puppy. So its a learning process and we'll get there eventually. The weather also hasn't helped our training time since the yard is a swamp half the time.
Tucker is also learning to take, hold and bring me the dumbbell. Unlike Teach who HATES it, Tucker LOVES it. Here's two short videos, one of him taking it while sitting for the first time. We have tried this in the past and his butt always pops up after I give it to him. This time he stayed sitting ... good boy! And the other is him bring it to me. This was also the first time he let me grab it from him before dropping it. We're getting there. (And you'll see Teach waiting patiently in the background while we work).
What else have we been doing? Well we had a dog show in Huntington over July 4th weekend. We got to spend the weekend with my sister and my niece. Madalynn loved having her dogs with her and Tucker loved being there! It amazes me with how gentle he is with her. He'll take our fingers off for food but when she offers it to him he just lips it from her. Love a Collie! They will be trouble when they are a little older!
Tucker was entered in both days of the show in hopes of some more points on our quest to his AKC Championship. And we accomplished that. He got Winner's Dog (over some really nice dogs) both days to bring our total points to 6!! If you'd like to watch how he did below are the videos.
I'm very proud of my little blue dog. He has improved so much in just a short amount of time. I loved going back and watching the videos from our first shows and see how much we've improved and become more of a team. So fun!! And I'm very thankful to our breeder, Shelley from Wild Wind Collies for giving me the chance to buy this goofy boy.
So what has Teach been doing since this is his blog and all and we've talked mostly about Tucker. He's been a good big brother and had fun tagging along. I entered him on Saturday of the show for a chance at our first leg for his CD title. But the obedience ring was running ridiculously late and Teach was getting stressed from being there so long (and so was I from having to wait) so I decided to just not show him. We've been down the road of almost ruining him and making showing not fun and I have him back to where its fun so I want to keep him there. I thought it was best for both of us.
Having a slumber party with their girl, Madalynn.
For the opening of the Max movie we took the dogs to the theater to do some therapy work. They had an adoption event going on and several other things. The dogs loved greeting the customers as they came into the theater and were great breed ambassadors that day.
That's about it for what's been going. It doesn't seem so lazy when I write it all out.
Yesterday I mentioned that Tucker and I went to a Greg Strong Handling Seminar in Huntington for two days. There we learned how to present our dogs and "make that pretty picture."
Last weekend I got to test out our new skills that we learned at a show in Gray, TN.
I'm proud of say that the seminar really paid off!! Tucker and I went Winner's Dog (for 2 points), Best of Winners and Best Opposite Sex under Judge Mrs. June Penta.
Showing off our ribbons!
We were the only class dog in the 12-18 month class so got the pass the Winner's Dog where we competed against 2 other dogs. When the judge pointed to us for Winner's Dog I thought she was kidding ... HAHA!!!
Here's the 3 videos from the day. 12-18 month Class, Winner's Dog and Best of Variety where we competed against experienced dogs and pulled off the BOS and BOW. So I do believe we painted that picture and the seminar helped tremendously. We've come a long ways from our first time in the ring back in October.
I still can't believe I got points on Tucker ... LOL!!! We won't be heading back to the ring until July and there he may also try for a leg for his RN. Here's a video of trying a course for the first time (and it was an excellent course). I messed up the spiral but other than that he did great and shows a lot of potential!
This weekend the boys and I are going to our 2nd agility lesson. Tucker has LOVED training for this and does it with so much enthusiasm! The complete opposite of Teach (poor Teachie!).
That pretty much catches you up on the big news from our parts. I'll say I hope to update more regularly now that things are slowing down. I hope to hike more and get some more pictures. I have slacked on both parts!
Where does time go?? I had all good intentions of updating this more regularly and time just got away from me. That and staying really busy.
This will be a two part deal. We have had some shows (and successes) that I want to let everyone know about.
About a month ago we headed north to Morgantwon for a 3 day show. Tucker showed all 3 days and Teach was entered once to hopefully finish up his Beginner Novice title.
We'll start with Teach. I was a little concerned with how he would do since we had to get there so early and he had a lot more down time than he normally does at a show. And I had to get Tucker ready for the breed ring. Of course their show times were almost at the same time so I was a bit stressed about that.
Teach did fantastic though. He got a 194 (out of 200) and was 2nd place (only a point behind first) (just a side note that he had a score of 194 for each of his 3 legs ... talk about consistent). That also finished up his title. So he's officiallyHunybahr's A Pirate's Life For Me RE, BN. He was so happy in the ring and with only a few errors. Below is the video of it.
I met a really nice lady who also does the Fenzi Academy classes and she kept me posted on how the classes were running and when we would show. She was in the same class as me with a Weimraner.
Next up for him will be AKC Novice for his Companion Dog (CD) title. Years ago when I had Katie, my lab, in Novice I said I wouldn't be doing that again as it was very stressful. But Teach seems so happy to work that we'll continue on. Although the CD will probably be as far as we go because he HATES the dumbbell. He said he isn't a retriever! We're training for agility but he isn't very enthusiastic about it so we'll see about that!
Tucker had a great weekend as well. We didn't get any points but he a got nice Reserve Winner's Dog 2 times. The first day we even beat someone ... LOL!! We are coming along for sure!
Here's a few of his videos.
This one is Class 12-18 Months on the first day.
Winner's Dog first day.
Class 12-18 Day 2.
Winner's Dog Day 2.
Two weeks after the show Tucker and I headed to Huntington for a Greg Strong Handling Seminar called 15 Points To Go. Which was a VERY helpful seminar. He showed us a lot of different things and gave the group the confidence we needed to hit the show ring. Come back tomorrow to see how that seminar did for us and see what else Tucker is doing.
Showing off our ribbons at Cooper's Rock State Park
This week's 52 Snapshots of Life was a bit hard. If this had happened around Christmas I had lots of Hallmark bags which are purple. But I have thrown them all away. I searched and searched my house for something to take a picture of that was purple. Then I remembered Tucker's Reserve Winners Dog ribbons from our show in Columbus back in January.
Tucker was entered in his second AKC Conformation show this past weekend. We headed down early Friday for a 9:45 ring time. Unfortunately we were the only class dog, so no points were available. Because of that we just showed on Friday even though we were entered on Saturday. (saving some money on hotel stays for future shows that offer more dogs)
Let me just say ... its a good thing this boy is a cutie!
Stoping for a picture on the way home
We had to groom outside (who knew you needed to get to the show SO early to set up!) because there was no room inside for any grooming. Thankfully the weather cooperated. For our second time grooming he did fantastic (and I didn't do too bad either). We borrowed our table (still need to get a few items for showing) from a good friend.
So for the actual showing ... let me repeat ... its a good thing he's cute! He did everything but what he should do. What I told someone earlier was it felt he was having a party in the ring. But I would much rather have him happy, having a great time than miserable and totally offended. He wouldn't stand still for the judge, didn't gait properly (tried to do some zoomies). When he did settle he stood a lot better this time than last. So there's a plus. After the judge placed Best of Breed he came to us (chuckling) and said he was a really nice dog.
Here' the video for you all to see (after watching it really didn't seem as bad as I thought it was).
So we have some homework to do after this show. Each one we've learned something new we need to do. This one ... everyone is going to start going over him. He's been perfect for myself and Randy and just never thought of having EVERYONE go over him. We'll be starting this week at training. This boy needs to get use to standing still and letting others go over him. We'll get there.
I also need to improve some things, like move faster with him! I didn't realize how slow I went ... may have been part of his gaiting problem. You learn something every time. And having a video I'm able to pick apart things I need to change for future shows and what to work on, even with myself.
On a side note after we put him in his crate and went back to watch some we sat by a lady who asked if I was the one with the Smooth Boy in the previous class. She thought he was the nicest out there and had the nicest head.
This past weekend we packed Tucker up and headed to Tennessee for the East Tennessee Collie Specialty. This was going to be mine and Tucker's big debut in the breed ring. We had practiced for over a month on stacking and gaiting so we wouldn't make complete fools of ourselves out there.
We took the ears out Thursday morning and they stayed tipped all weekend!
We were lucky enough on Friday to have a Sweeps offered so Tucker was able to get in the ring twice on Friday (4 times really ... I'll explain in a minute). I wanted all the ring exposure time I could get for him. No better place to learn than in the ring.
Our breeder had hooked us up with some wonderful people to help and make us feel welcome for our first try and I couldn't be more thankful for them and our breeder!!! They really made the experience even better. It was a little daunting to think about going into something completely new for us and not have a friendly face around, but we did!!
I was soaking everything in when we got there and watch how people were grooming and getting their dogs ready. Our grooming practice from the weekend before paid off and I saw I did do it right with a few minor adjustments.
Our first class was the 6-9 month dog Sweeps. This was our very first time in the show ring!
This is the gait of a very happy boy!
I had to hold him still for the judge to look him over.
Next up was the Best in Sweeps class. Since we got first place we were going back in the ring. Here are pictures from that class.
His tail wagged the entire time!
There is that happy gait again!
We may not have got anything but it was a great first time in the ring. People said I even looked like I knew what I was doing!
It was soon time to go back in for the actual Specialty. We were entered in 6-9 month dog, again. This time Randy got video of it.
After all the regular classes were finished it was time for Winner's Dog.
It was a good end to the day. We watched the rest of the classes and soaked up all we could on how the dogs were being handled and what we needed to do to improve.
Saturday was an all-breed show and day 2 of the Collie Specialty. We didn't enter the all-breed show (didn't realize we could!) so didn't show until the afternoon. That worked out just as well because we got to watch some more Collies show and get some more tips.
I felt Tucker showed much better on the second day. We were the only dog, again, in 6-9 month dog so were able to get in the Winner's Dog class.
Here is the class video:
You'll see he was happy!
It was soon time for Winner's Dog again. I found out when I got home we were in the ring with a lot of the big time Collie handlers ... glad I didn't realize that at the time!! We went in confident and tried to show our best!
We came out of this with a very happy boy, and that is what I wanted. I want him to be happy in the ring and not hate it like I saw with some.
We have some stuff we need to work on ... not sitting! He sits so well and its so automatic that we have been struggling with the stand command. And also I need to start getting him to bait/stack straight on in front of me. That is how Collies are shown and excessive handling is also not wanted so I need him to learn to stretch out more in the back end. He will get it with time and practice some ... he is just a baby after all.
He was exhausted on our trip home and slept soundly. Next up will be a show in Winston-Salem in a month.
