Productive Weekend

This weekend I spent some time finishing off a portrait, and working on Milo. The portrait has gone to the client for proofing, and I will post an image of it once I hear back. As far as Milo goes, he's really beginning to take shape. Poor guy, it's been a while since I put brush to canvas, but finally this weekend I was able to give him some attention and a bit of personality, so he's really coming along now. It felt good to fiddle with the acrylics again and I'm hoping to have him fully completed in the next few weeks. You can see his progress below:

Fiddling with the basic shadows and highlights

Adding some depth, personality and more shadows and highlights

Brandy and I also took in a CPE agility trial at Acton Agility. It's been a while since we've been on course, but the little dog surprised me and managed to get 4 out of 4 qualifying runs (a little elephant never forgets), and landed herself the Level 4 Standard Title (CL4-R). Lucky for me, she's still got it and probably always will have it. Smart little spoiled bugger.

What a life!

Brandy - The B-Hive, ADC, SGDC, AADC, RN MCL, RPT, CL2, CL3 CL4-R, HIT Agility JRTRO Trial 2009, JRTCC SGD

Good CPE Sunday

Have you heard of CPE (Canine Performance Events)? It's another organization that holds agility trials throughout the US and parts of Canada, and I've got to say, I love it!

I highly recommend it for those first getting into the sport. I find the atmosphere more laid back than AAC, the courses are usually more forgiving for those getting started and there are lots of different games to play.

Brandy and I attended the Acton Agility CPE trial this Sunday, coming away with two new titles in Level Three. The little dog was fast, happy, and though not always spot on, she was listening well, and ran great over all.

Check out the CPE website for more details, or visit the Acton Agility website to see when the next trial date is.

Oh Brandy!

After some pondering yesterday, I've come to the conclusion (although grudgingly) that it was 98% my fault that we totally pooched the trial on Sunday. Reviewing in my mind, all of our outdoor trials, it seems it's only the AAC ones that give me an issue. CPE and JRTCC, no problem. CPE and JRTCC, no stress. AAC, though I like to deny it, there is some stress that surfaces. The little dog picks up on moods a bit too easily and I think she realizes that my confidence is down on these AAC runs, and she takes over ... and advantage (brat!). 

My handling definitely did not help the situation either. I felt like I was flailing around like a fish out of water during every run.  I'm sure I was throwing off some interesting instruction to the little dog while I ran around like chicken with my head cut off, my arms feeling like rubber bands, and my mouth not working fast enough to get commands out. It's really a shame that people were watching the performance that I gave. Though I suppose the entertainment value was high for the spectators. 

I still think that the weather played some roll in Brandy's insanity that day. And she was insane, you could see it in her eyes. The teeter fly-off proved that. 

Conclusion, bring a bottle of wine and a massage therapist to every AAC trial. That'll reduce stress!

The Third...

...and final. This is a peak at the third drawing in my "Dogs of Moron" series. A little female having a siesta in some shade on the crocodile farm that we visited.

The drawings are coming along...though not one is finished yet - not to worry, I'm still working on them, they are my "lunch-time" projects. Something to keep me occupied while I sit in my four-wheeled, automatic, air-conditioned lunch room, passing the time, and hoping the afternoon will go faster than the morning did. I don't like to wish time away, it's sad somehow, but I do like to wish work time away, it seems appropriate enough.

And this little bugger wowed me on Saturday with her performance at her first AAC agility trial back since her knee surgery in December.

She ran fast, accurately and hung on to my every word. 2 out of 4 qualifying runs is more than ample for me, especially since she is running on a "home-made" knee.

My vet did a fantastic job, and I really couldn't be happier with how things have turned out so far.

So now, after another massage for the little dog - yes you heard right, this little JRT is spoiled I will definitely admit that (and her massage therapist is wonderful - even if Brandy isn't happy being rubbed), we are looking forward to the upcoming JRTRO trial in June and another AAC/CPE agility trial following that.

She's a busy little dog, what can I say?

Am I Crazy? Of Course I Am!

1st 2 photos courtesy of Gabrielle Deans

Well, the thought has been travelling through my mind, and I can not squash it. It's nagging all day, everyday at the tip of my subconsciousness, driving me nuts!

Shall we try the AAC Agility Ontario Regionals once more this year? Let's see, our past two Regional showings have been less than stellar performances, in fact, they've been down right embarrassing. Of course, the little dog is much higher caliber than what she presents at these two day tournaments. She gets lazy, and I know, I'm making excuses for her, but the concept of "run for 2 minutes, then lay around for three hours waiting for your next run" just doesn't sit well with her...or me. Hell, if I played soccer tournaments like that, I wouldn't be in the mood for the next game either. Hmm, does the word "lazy" and Jack Russell belong together? For me it seems a bit of an oxymoron, but she does loves her sunbeams in the afternoon.

The drive is turning me off a tad, being that it is a 5 hour drive for a two day weekend in Ottawa. I'm not a long distance driver - I just don't have the stamina. I've actually never driven that far, thus not being properly trained in long distance driving, I'm leery of the outcome. It's a real shame that Brandy couldn't take the wheel so that I could get a break. I suppose that's illegal, plus there is no way she could reach the pedals.

Also, the option of dropping her to specials has been looming on the horizon as well. She was jumping 10"regulars in AAC, and 8" regulars in CPE. Since her knee operation (which has healed nicely I might add) I've been considering dropping her AAC height to 6" specials. I believe it would be easier on her joint, and the fact that the A-frame is lower in the specials division is another bonus. So I am seriously considering this option and have pretty much made up my mind that this would be the best avenue to take for her sake.

Perhaps she'll be more comfortable at 6" and maybe, just maybe, she'll give me a better performance this year. Well, I can only hope. She is Jack Russell after all, and her mind is her own. She is not a fawning do-what-you-ask-any-time-you-ask type of dog, so I am always kept on my toes during our performances. But, that's the joy of running a Jack...and I wouldn't trade it for all the border collies in the world.