sclmarm

Woooo howdy! We got our pictures taken today with Julie P. I'm surprised Julie doesn't have more takers, because she takes great pics! Meg, Tyler, Maddy and their dogs had their pictures taken. That was crazy trying to get dogs looking and babies smiling! Zach and I had Jackness going on with Rosie jumping up on the bench then off. She was soon caught, but the NUB, for goodness gracious! He broke his stay, bounced back onto the bench then to the back where he caused part of the background to come down. I then held onto him and he barked his fool head off the rest of the time. Ahhhh... pictures with dogs! Thanks to Julie for her patience!

Zach and Nub made it home last night. Debbie and Karen drove from Scottsdale to Redding, CA Sunday night and then on Monday the rest of the way home. Zach was home around 6pm. He only missed five days of school, which I think is pretty remarkable for the amount of time he was gone.

They had a great time and Zach would go again in a heart beat! I'm so proud of our death row dog, Nub, and am just amazed at how far those two have come. Nub has jumping issues and to go all week with one bar when Zach was pushing on him in the semis is remarkable in itself.

Results are-
Team Standard- a frame contact, otherwise clean
Team Gamblers- got the easy gamble and placed in the middle of the pack
Team Snooker- Handler error only 7 points
Team Jumpers- 10th place out of the 40 some dogs in the 12" division
Steeplechase- 12th place Quarter finals, made the semi finals.

Nub also got to try course a lure, which he didn't like to much. Zach thinks he would have been better if they hadn't put the bag on and let him chase the tail. Nub LOVED dock dogs!! No problem in the practice pools and flinged his little self off the big dock for a 6' jump:) Nub had a great time barking his head off with his fellow Noisy Boy friend, Sly, while waiting his turn at both activities!

I hear nationals is coming back in 2012... Maybe it will be time for the Beep, Boss and Zipper to give Nationals a whirl:)

Just wanted to say congratulations to all the LJ'ers and NW folks you represented in a major way at Nationals. It was very exciting to cheer for people that we knew!

Debbie, Zach and Karen and busting it to get over the mountains before a storm. They may be home as early as tomorrow! Wow! They're shooting for Redding, California tonight. Praying for safe travel to all of you on your way home!

Well, the Nub decided aframe contacts are highly overrated and true to Nub form, popped the first one, but hit the second and knocked one bar. Even if he would have gone clean he wouldn't have made the finals. That's ok, as I think it a pretty darn good showing for their first nationals. In team standard he popped his aframe again, but other than that was clean. Not to bad Nub. Only one bar over five runs is pretty darn good for the Nub! Zach has also been on time for his runs and walks! Yahoo!

Tomorrow is team Gamblers, course a lure and some dock dogs. Zach went to watch dock dogs and as soon as he heard the splash Zach couldn't watch anymore:) The Nub wants to swim and he's not afraid to tell everyone!

Yahoo for the boys!

Wee Nub was 10th in team jumpers and was the top JRT. Yahoo! There were 40 some 12" dogs too! They were 12th in Steeplechase quarter finals and the top JRT there too. Not to bad for the nubby legged Nub! Also saw that Alphie had a great day too! Go NW shorties!

Zach and Nub had a much better day today. Zach messed up on his favorite game and serpentined some jumps that weren't, so didn't get a huge score there. Aced the Team Jumpers course, which is so weird that he can see to get an Advanced Jumpers leg to save his life! In Steeplechase the cut off was 38 seconds and Nub ran it in 36!!!!!!! WWWWWOOOOOOOO!!! So, off to the semi finals for them tomorrow! Yahoo! I'm so proud of them! Not one bar today. Zach was saying there were only two jump things in the broad jump today and yesterday there were three, so that's part of the reason he took out the broad jump yesterday.

Nub and his new leash by Four Paws for Fun and his dino Cuz I bought him before he left. Thank God he broke the squeaker out of it right away!

I can't find where you can access video on the USDAA website.  Can someone help me out?

Zach and Nub got to obstacle 10 on the European Standard and Nub hit the broad jump and held up his paw, so Zach pulled him.  Rough start, but Nub walked it off and seems just fine right after.  He did hold his contacts.  So, praying and hoping for a better day tomorrow.  Come on Nub!

Zach is all checked in and ready to rumble:)  I forgot to send his yellow card with him, but thank goodness he didn't need it!  Whew!  He gets his wallet back today. 

They made it safe and sound.  Zach says it's 90 degree and is freaking hot!  Ha!  Hopefully it will moderate a bit.  They're signed up for International Standard tomorrow.  Go Zach and Wee Nub!

Zach and his wee Cousin Nub are off to nationals this morning.  I hope and pray that they have a great time and are good:)  Zach is excited and Nub was wondering which vehicle he should get in.  As Zach is pulling away in his Jeep, he gives a honk and has Nub waving good bye.  What a couple of goofs!  So, I take only four dogs for a walk and come back and find out Zach can't remember how to get to Debbie's!  Good grief!  We've only been going for over nine years:)  Got him straighten away.  So, go wee Nub and Zach!

We had more people here then we've had a long time and everyone... all EIGHT dogs... did just fine.  Meg brought her dogs over so they wouldn't be home alone for hours.  They all got a nice, long walk in the park, which helped a lot.  We were able to hand out candy and nobody escaped:)  None of the dogs ate any people food even.  Pretty darn good.

Boss did her first real BC stalk today.  Oh so very cute!  She was wanting to chase Beep and did a perfect BC crouch.  The oddness that is a BC mix.  It really puts a twist on the traditional BC.  Zach has been working on running through standards, tunnels and some ends of contacts.  She is able to work off leash and plays in class like a pro.  She does not like to be away from the action:)  She is such a fun dog!

 
Zach and Nub are looking good and I think are ready for nationals.  Zach's been doing running starts, which Nub seems to like.  Most of his bars are staying up and his jumping is looking pretty good.  After Nationals, Nub is moving down to Performance.  He's coming up on seven years old and he's been/is hard on his little sausage body.  Watch out you performance dogs, here come the Nub:)

To help get you ready for Halloween...


Three Woofs and a Woo describes the Border Collie/Jack cross as the spawn of Satan.  I think this picture might prove that the Satan part may come from the Jack part of the cross:)

Happy fourth birthday to the Big Bad Beep:)  What a ride it's been already!  Can't wait for many more years to come. Thank you God for such an interesting, fun, athletic, noisy individual!
From this...

To this...

Thanks Nikki for rescuing my weirdo, special boy:)

Good grief time seems to be flying by!  The NW Cup was already over two weeks ago! 

Beep and I had a good time, although my handling needs some work.  We did manage an Advanced Jumpers leg, so all we need is one standard to move up to Masters.  We also had a five fault Grand Prix run that was pretty good and we got an Advanced Snooker leg.  All the video I have is one and a half runs, Grand Prix and half of Steeplechase.  At least it's the good half of the run:) 

It was Maddy's first trial and she did well even sleeping ring side with all the bells, whistles and dogs barking.  She was a good girl.  I can't wait until she can run her own dog, but that will come soon enough. 

Boss only came out a couple of times since I was in charge of scoring.  When she was out she was a good girl.  I took all the dogs down to the park and let them run around today.  Boss went without her long line and was a very good girl!  We practiced recalls, putting the leash on and walking a little ways, then letting her off again.  Zach played around a little bit in our beginning class last night.  She was able to work off leash and was running through the jump standards and through a tunnel.  She even did a little sequence with a front cross.  Very good little Bossy:)

The Nub was run by a friend at the Cup and they did fairly well.  He stayed with her and tried.  Zach ran him last night and they were as smooth as silk and only two bars, one because Zach called him over the bar.  I think Nub was glad Zach was back:)  I'm so excited that they are going to Nationals.  I hope they have a good time.  I think after nationals, Zach will move Nub to 8" performance.  He's been hard on his body and they want to run together for a long time.  So, watch out you eight inchers for the Nub:)

Meg had some nice runs with her dogs.  Zipper is really turning it up and looking good!  Yahoo!

Here's video of Beep.

I took all five down to the park by myself.  They were very good.  I remember to bring the camera and use it!  Novel idea I know:)  My point and shoot was having some problems with the light and shadows.  Here are a few.
Bossy killed poor wee Nub.

Boss carries her tail like a Jack.



Boss and her bud Max:)

Best family photo from four feet away with puppy that doesn't know stay.

Oh the Boss:)  She has a certain young man wrapped around her little dew claw!  He informed me that she slept wrapped around his head, on his pillow with her chin on his cheek.  Zach is going away for the weekend and I'll have to be sleeping with his little bed hog monsters.  ARG! 

Since Zach will be gone, one of our former students will be running the Nub.  It's a bummer Zach can't be there, but hopefully Nub will behave himself.  I'll have our five dogs by myself, which shouldn't be too bad.  They're pretty good together.  Meagan will be there to run Nub if he won't run for Erin. 

Boss now drags her long line while at the park and her recall is really good until it's time to load up, then she doesn't want to come.  Little stinker!  Long line is helping with that problem.  She'll go sniffing with the Jack's, but really likes running after Beep and Max.  The boys have already decided she is the Boss.  I think if Nessa had still been here, it would have been hard.  Boss plays a lot with Max, some with Beep and Nub.  When we come home from school she wants some lap time.  She is an engaging little girl who is just a bundle of fun!

Had to go to Costco, so I loaded up all the doggies for a quick practice session with Meagan before shopping.  Zach was working so I ran his dogs around a bit too. 

Max got to toodle around and was awesome.  He's such a great old man.  I think he'll be a sub during league this year and not run on a regular team. 

I worked Beep on turning over a double and fast contacts.  He was faster going south on the dogwalk than north.  Nothing to go to after the north end of the dogwalk.  He did well and was really trying. 

Nub it was only jumping exercises and a couple of contacts.  I think I've found an exercise that really helps him understand where to take off.  We'll see if it sticks.

Meagan and I worked on restrained recalls with the Boss, down on the table, tippy board and bang the end of the teeter.  Restrained recalls were good.  She was driving to both of us.  Down on the table was good.  She hopped up and did a couple of downs.  No fear what so ever on the tippy board.  Got right on it and walked across it and even sat on it and let us move it.  For a young dog she is pretty coordinated.  She banged the end of the teeter on the right no problem.  I switched to the other side and she accidentely ran into it, then was a little timid, but not bad.  She'll actually asks to sit and cuddle in your lap when she finally decides to slow down:)  She has lost both of her bottom canines now. 

Everyone played around outside a bit after practicing.  Boss drug her leash and came when called.  She is not afraid to run with the big dogs.

I got everything I needed at Costco including a lot of Yummie Chummies.  Our dogs love those things!

The Boss has been here for a week and has fit right in.  She is a live wire and just so much fun!! We took her to youth group where she got to meet a bunch more people.  She was excellent.  Potty training is coming right along.  Zach almost has a down, a good sit, nose touch to a hand and her recall is coming along.  Zach bought a long line and we let her drag it at the lower park today.  Zach threw two balls for her, one she brought 3/4th of the way back and the other she ran after, but didn't bring back.  She did really well and is really fast!  It is weird to see a little Jack body herding and stalking like a BC, but the next instant will sproing up like a Jack.  She also went to our agility class last night and met dewitt4dogs 's Flash.  They got to play for a little while and were good puppies.  She showed focus when there is a treat present, but if a fast dog is running she wants to watch.  She also played tug.  All around a very nice and fun puppy!

Boss is the boss.   She is a lot of dog, but a lot of fun.  She is busy, busy, busy!  So far only one pee accident in the house.  We were able to let her loose a little last night at Sherry's and Zach worked some restrained recalls and she ran right to him with enthusiasm.  She is a fun dog and what I imagined a Border Jack would be like.  Beep was carrying around a big stick in the back yard and Boss wanted in on it.  She figured out that wasn't going to work, so here she comes behind Beep with a little twig in her mouth.  Too cute!

Here are some pictures we took on Sunday.  I'm going to try and get some more soon. 

This the first time we've ever gone up for this trial and I'm glad we did.  Sometimes things are set in motion that you're not even aware of until they are done.  That darn Meagan was cruising the BC rescue website and found a Border Jack puppy up in Canada.  Talked to Zach and he decided he wanted to try for her on Monday night.  We sent in our application and got an email back right away.  WOW!  Very cool at how fast the communication went.  I guess there was a discussion about us on the BC rescue list and we were approved without a home visit.  At this point I figured if it was to be, it would all come together that we would pick her up sometime during the trial.  We picked her up Friday night at around 11:00pm.  Zach was smitten right away and had her out a zillion times during the weekend:)  Her rescue name was Pipsqueak, nicknamed Pip, but Zach had really liked the name Boss.  So, now he has his own little Boss.  She has him wrapped around her little dew claw:)  It is VERY cute!  She is very friendly and fearless.  Was in the trial both being carried and walking and no problems.  Likes to meet other dogs, is food motivated and  likes to play with toys, especially her toy snake that came with her from rescue.  She is the energizer bunny and does not stop when out and wants to eat everything!  If Zach has a treat she'll sit and stare at him for a minute with random reinforcement.  He working on down as she has a pretty good sit already.  Her recall is getting better as rescue told us not to let her go because she is hard to catch.  If she is put in a crate she talk for a little bit, but then settles down, same with an xpen, but she's ready for action at any time!  Beep likes to play with her and is pretty gentle.  Nub doesn't know what to think of her.  She gave Max a bunch of kisses all over his face:)  She came to our class tonight and hung out watching, earning treats and playing with toys.  I think she' s going to be an excellent match for Zach.

Since we were out late getting Boss and then got lost(got to bed at 2am on Friday night) and I had a cold, contributed to Beep and I's lack of teamwork. That's my excuse and I'm stickin to it:)   Advanced Standard was spin filled , but would have been a q, but he knocked the last bar.  Steeplechase he knocked a bar and I didn't get my front cross in on time going through the weaves the second time, off course.  The last bit after the weaves that I thought was going to be a mess, actually went really well.  Go figure:)  Advanced Gamblers was a bust too.  Sheesh!  Then we ran Advanced Snooker and it all came together into a very nice run for our only Q of the weekend.  Advanced Standard on Sunday was going really well and we're almost to the finish when he just comes off the side of the teeter because he doesn't want to wait for it to tip.  ARG!  Advanced Pairs, I thought I had him past the off course tunnel entrance and he went back at a 90 degree angle to get the wrong tunnel entrance.  Advanced Jumpers, I steered for once and he knocked bars.  So, pretty much a bust for us, but oh well. 

Zach and Nub had a smokin Steeplechase first run and won, then he pulled him off a jump in the finals which gave the win to Alphie.  He got a Q in Advanced pairs, which now puts him in Masters Pairs.  Still needs an Advanced Jumpers leg as he knocked the second bar as well as the breath out of himself.  They also got a Master Snooker leg.  Not a bad weekend for the Nub and Zach.

barjor took some pictures of Boss this weekend and I did too.  I'll try and post mine tomorrow.