More Trials

Xsara had two trials this weekend. On Saturday we had an agility trial in Gornja Radgona. I am very happy with how we did as we had two clean runs. Her contacts have improved a lot and she seems very happy to be back to competing and training. We were 5th, running after 3 pyr sheps and a poodle. We had a lovely day there, it was a lot of fun. Even though Gornja Radgona is far away and we had to wake up very early in the morning, it's one of my favorite trials.

On Sunday we had a Rally-Obedience trial. Unfortunately I cannot brag with great results there, as Xsara was sniffing a LOT. She worked perfectly outside the ring before and after our turn, but wasn't so willing to cooperate on course. We still scored 161/170 and were placed 4th, but I know we can do a lot better than that. I hope we will do better next time.
I haven't made any new tricks videos yet, but I have some beautiful pictures to share. Big thanks to Iztok Noč who took them!

Xsara:


Tani:


I have managed to make contacts with Tani's sisters. Little black girl Rayas is in Switzerland and she has a very nice webpage. The fawn-merle girl is now known as Razz and she lives in Spain. All three sisters will be agility dogs when they grow up.
Razz:

Rayas:

Puppy Tricks (part 2)

Here is part 2 of Tani's puppy tricks, filmed during our trip to the seaside on Sunday.



You can see how nicely Xsara and Tani play together, for those who were asking how they get along. They are very good friends, only 2 toys are absolutely off limit for Tani and Xsara won't let her near them (nobody touches the green ball but Xsara and I). Tani has some very beagle-like characteristics (not distrustful of strangers at all, everybody is her best friend and gets tons of kisses if notices how wonderful she is). Xsara is even more playful than before, I think she really likes having company. So all is good :) Hope to make some new videos soon (we really need to do a new tricks video for Xsara as well)!

A Quick Update

A quick update while the girls sleep :) They have become very good friends, they play together, cuddle together, eat together, Xsara really looks after her and I think she's very happy to have somebody to play with 24/7. Tani is crazy about Xsara, she constantly gives her little kisses and is very happy when Xsara kisses her back. I expected there to be more jealousity, so I'm very happy to see them be such great sisters to one another.

As pyrenean shepherds need so much socialisation, I pretty much take Tani with me everywhere I go. I have a little doggy backpack (similar to a sherpa crate) so I just put her in and off we go. She is very brave, loves people and animals and is incredibly nosy :) She is still a little afraid of trucks and buses, but not too scared around them at all. Every time Tani and I come back home, Xsara will first check if I brought Tani back and be clearly happy to see her, only then will she greet me as well :)

I'm also happy to report that Xsara is back to training and, naturally, we take Tani with us when we train. Yesterday we tried sending her through the tunnel for the first time and then we ran around the wings of jumps with bars on the ground. With Xsara, we're working on her being more independent on the course. I think it looks quite promissing, I'm very happy with yesterday's training, really. Her weaves entries are very good and her contacts are also more and more independent. She is very happy to be running again, that's for sure!

We took the girls to the seaside a couple of times as the weather finally improved for the weekend. There is already Spring on the coast so we had such a wonderful time. Unfortunately, I think Tani will probably not be crazy about swimming, so I will have two dogs and none of them will swim with me, urgh! I'm also teaching them tricks full time. Tani already knows "cik" (go around an object and turn left), "go on" and "get in the bowl". With Xsara I was a little busy practicing a routine for a tricks show we participated in (at the opening of a new pet store), but am planning on teaching her some new tricks as well.

Now they are awake again so I'm taking them for a loooong walk! Will write again as soon as I have more time! Thank you all for your comments and welcome wishes for Tani, we really appreciate it :)

Proud To Present Désirée de Loubajac

Yes, she's here and she's one funny little girl. We all have fallen in love with her right away. Xsara is a great sister, they sleep together in my bed and she even lets Tani near her food bowl, so she really took me by surprise. They look very cute together. Xsara is very careful when they play and lets her gently know if she gets too much into her face. Tani is totally fascinated by Xsara's tail so she likes to walk behind Xsara and watch it as it goes left and right.

One word to describe Tani best would be fast. Everything she does is speedy! She is always alert, looking around and listening to every little sound. She loves to run and play and she adapts very well on new surroundings. Everyone who will stop to admire her will get a big wet kiss. But in her heart she decided right away that she only belongs to me, so she follows me everywhere. She is always eather behind my back on between my legs, like a little duckling.

We try to take her to as many places as possible as pyrenean shepherds need a lot of socialisation at a very young age. In the night she literally falls asleep (she tries to be awake for as long as she can, until she drops on the floor with a big smile on her face). So we're really really busy. But at least she sleeps all night long, she only needs occasional potty breaks and goes right back to sleep. But during the day she really doesn't sleep much, so again I don't have much time for the internet. I'll try to do better and write more regularly, I promise!