We have been here almost three months now. It seems as though we have lived here years rather than months. Settling in has been so easy with all the new things we are involved with now. All to do with the dogs of course. We train with Wye Valley and Tuffley Agility clubs. Wye being literally 3 miles away but in a very tight arena. This makes for quick command and body language control as the equipment is very closely set. Tuffley is about 30 miles away but a totally different type of training. Lots of space, wide angles and room to send your dog on ahaead. So the two trainings compliment each other in a way. We have taken part in The Great Western League for Tuffley. It is totally different from running at a KC show as it is a team event and even elimanations count. So far it looks like we are in the final in April. Two more matches, one home and away to do. Hope to be selected rather than reserve for the next one. We have also joined UKA for winter competing. To date we have done one show in January, temperature was -8oC outside. The jumping comps take place outside and boy was it cold. But Betsie rose to the occasion and came second in Novice Jumping. We have done 2 Agility Addicts since we moved but the journey is so long that we have not been able to do as well as we would normally do. It has been very cold too and the day has been too long. At the last one Luca was measured officially and is large. HA HA, considering he is towering above Mum now it had to be. We met Jackie there and Del stamped his paternal authority well and trully. Its quite amazing how they know their own even though they see very little of each other. He should be having his first agility training session tomorrow but with 8" snow, I dont think so. He has been doing the KCGC scheme locally but he is so far ahead of the other dogs that we have decided to go back to agility training for Betsie on Mondays instead. Luca is very well socialised and just loves to please. Can be naughty occasionally but generally bright and learns fast. We just hope that we are up to him. His temperament is so gentle and very persuasive. We still have to keep reminding ourselves that he is just a dog. The others are totally smitten with him and Betsie still spoils him rotten. Small as she is, she is still protective of him. The only time she really got cross with him was when she had a season just before Christmas. Luca showed a bit more interest in her back end than she wanted, so gave him a towsing. Wonder if they know? Anyway season finished and back to the serious stuff like agility. She is still not getting the weaves right, can pick up the entry from absolutely any angle but not mastered the swim action yet. Of course it has been impossible to do any in the garden with all the rain and now snow. Hopefully when it dries out a bit I can get a bit more practice in. I have reverted back to my old tried and tested method so hope it will achieve the right result.
Tigi is still as fun as ever. No more fits still, but think she might just be slowing done a tadge. But saying that she was very naughty last weekend, not waiting at the start and doing very much her own thing. Think Lucy just mught have been on her shoulder.
We have had Maddi and Tia round a few times, but Betsie is quite hard on the girls. Again is this a family thing? They are growing beautifully, not fat at all. Maddi has had her first season, so they are now just waiting for Tia to come on. Both will be speyed in about three months. We should have seen Deeba yesterday but the snow was too great for them to deviate our way. Fizz is growing up nicely too although we have not seen her since moving. Millie we seem to have lost contact with. We may see them sometime in the summer, but we will be doing mainly southern shows from now on.
We have quite a number of judging appointments this year, and I have been asked to do the KCIF, Am I chuffed, you bet I am. The calander is filling up rapidly now and looks like we will have very few free weekends. But what the heck, who knows how much longer we can go on for.
Thought we'd have seen a bit more family being down here, but so far only Graham and Alice have come. We did enjoy Christmas at Ken's and have visited Bill and Elspeth. The seem to be settling in too but need to get a lot of work done on their house.
Next month we have the wedding, a weekend affair. So have booked a chalet and will take doggies too. Great walks in Devon and beaches. We can visit Mike's sister Bernie while we are there and after that its caravan and hit the road for some good agility.
Some photos of the big lad now and the snow. Who knows when we may get another winter like this so we are making the most of it
