Fun with your dog week-end

Actually, mine. Sorry if you are jealous of my 4-h clubs,but we are so cool!(sorta) This week-end was our state annual fun with your dog week-end. It's a chance for 4-hers to meet other outside of their county, and take a break after all that competition. The first night, photos were taken of everyone and their dog, I think they are gonna mail them to us. The next day, the 80-something group was split off into teams, so we could rotate for station to station.

There was a bonding station, where the command 'touch' was introduced to those who had never used it before. At the same station we played a game where different commuticating challenges were given. The first set of 2 people to do it got to answer the question first read off. We could encourage and bait our dogs but for simple things,like sit and down, we could not say the command. In this game I learned that teaching your dog to bait is more important than I thought bcuz the kid I got paired with's dog didn't know how to bait and was getting confused.

The next station was just plain fun. In a small area, there were 20 numbered cones with bandanas sticking out of them. One at a time we had to go in, find our number, and get out so the next person could go. After we got all 20, we went through again, trying to beat our first time. We did. After the cones we played red light green light with our dogs. When red light was shouted out, we had to quickly get our dogs to sit or go back to the beginning.

At the next station we played dog bowl. It was fun(mostly bcuz I knew all the correct answers.)

After lunch we did 3 more stations. Rally relay, were real rally rules were non-existent. Just get through the course as fast as you can.

at another station we played this game similar to barrel racing for horses but there were 4 chairs and at there was a specific way the dogs had to go around each one(inside or outside)
At the same station we played that egg/spoon/race game. No more explanation needed, but Kirby did try to eat the eggs already in the carton.

The last station was about exercising with your dog. It was ok, but I may have to vent about the leader later.

we also did a cabin decorating contest. Our cabin did Halloween, complete with dressing up our dogs. I found out later, we were the only cabin 2 use our dogs we won an award for 'best use of canine companions' and 'best chocolate' cuz no Halloween is complete with out candy!

after winning some prizes in sunday morning, it was time to go home. I may have more details later, but all in all, it was a good week-end!

Good news!

I have Good news from Bonnie, Jake's raiser. He has been placed with a man in Philadelphia and is now a working guide. For those who didn't know, Bonnie came home with her new puppy the same time that she dropped Jake off.(in April) His name is Milton.

Congratulations to Bonnie, Jake, and Jake's new handler!

State fair

Our state fair is a great state fair - don't miss it, don't even be late!
Ok, so I've succumed to stealing lines from old movies, but I can't wait to tell you what we did at the fair. The morning of Wednesday the 30th I got up at 5 a.m. to make sure we had everything ready. My dad got home from delivering the papers at 6:30. It took us a half an hour to load everything in our tiny car! Then after a long car ride and being dropped of at the wrong place, we made it in time to hear my numbers being called - for grooming & handling and obedience! After realizing my show outfit and crates had been left in the wrong place, my mom and a friend ran to get my clothes and crates. I got dressed for G & H and told them of the conflict. They told me to do G & H first. That's when I realized my nice shoes were left in the car...A good 30 min. walk away. I decided not to try and get them and do my best in sneakers(A mistake I will not make again.) After G & H, I got Kirby for obedience. Our judge was nice, but Kirby lagged the whole time in heeling pattern and sniffed a lot, too. In stays(stand,sit&down) he did perfect. In the recall, it took me 2 tries to get him to come and to finish. Then we rested until it was time for Drill team - basically, obedience set to music. Our team was nervous when we learned another team had chosen the same theme - pirates. There music was also nearly the same. Molly did OK I guess - once when I was recalling her backing up she didn't move and one of the other team members walked into her!

Then it was time for placing announcements. First was obedience, in which Kirby got a blue ribbon.(145 points & up) his score was 151/160. I think could've done better. The was G&H. I was still upset about not having the right shoes. They called white & red ribbons and I wasn't among them. great I thought at least I'll have a blue ribbon. but as they continued calling & there were only 3 people left. I really thought they were gonna call me next, cuz I thought there was no way...But no now then there was only 1 person left with me. They called my number. My score was 94/100. I got second place. Reserved champion.

After a (fairly) relaxing evening at a hotel and an early and crazy morning, it was time for Rally-O. He didn't do as well as I wanted, But he did alright. 82/100. He got points off for sniffing,slow response,lagging,tight leash, just to name a few. He did do good overall,though.

So that's it for the state fair. We ate at a outdoor restrant on the way home, which was fun because the dogs got to eat with us.
It's dollars to donuts that our state fair is the best state fair in our state!