The American White Ibis

THE AMERICAN WHITE IBIS, A COMMON SOUTH FLORIDA BIRD

Trixsyn PLUS!

Everyone knows that Earlier this year Abbey was diagnosed with Hip Displaysia and had gone into early retirement. After speaking with 2 vets Abbey was put back into the agility competition circuit and took her trialing year of 2009 by storm with her first standard Q, first pairs Q, first Snooker Q, and her first title!! She also earned a few legs at her first NADAC trial. So, quite obviously, all of our FIRSTS were achieved this year...GREAT! Although so many wonderful things have happened, we cannot forget that Abbey does have an existing problem that will eventually affect our way of life, so I've decided to order the joint supplement Trixsyn plus use glucosamine and chondroitin supplements plus move Abbey into performance 12'' in USDAA. Yes, yes, yes...after much deliberation, debating, and nearly wanting to chew my best friend's head off for even suggesting it, I've come to my sense and have whole heartedly decided that it would be best for Abbey. Yes it means we won't receive our ADCh, yes it means that we'll be getting different titles, BUT as it was said before, agility is about our dogs NOT us. The main thing is to make sure that Abbey is happy and having a good time out there.


So at our next USDAA trial, if you see us jumping a wee bit lower we've become performance folk. Alright Abbey-girl...12'' here we come!

Nice NADAC

There I was at 5:30 in the morning packing up all the necessary paraphernalia to head to Davie, FL. Why was I heading to Davie? Well, for an agility trial of course!! USDAA? No... AKC?? I have this wonderful thing called a MUTT remember? CPE? C P what? It was a NADAC!!! Yes, the wee little pupper and I were heading up to the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds for our first ever NADAC trial. Boy can I tell you I was sooo excited...and just a little nervous too (I always get nervous...SHHH...don't tell anyone).

So after all the stuff was packed (i.e. expen, duffle bag, water for the dog, water for myself, treats etc.) we bumped on up the highway in my little sedan and headed for Davie. Abbey, surprisingly, was nice a calm sleeping the entire car ride up (totally unheard of, but I suppose she is getting used to travelling). Because it was only, relatively, a 45 minute drive, the peace didn't last for very long. We pulled up to a large stadium with one HUGE packed dirt ring, parked near the bull pens (there were no bulls today), and unloaded onto the bleachers (or rather just below the bleachers as the expen couldn't fit ON them). Abbey's spinning in circles, I'm gulping in vast amounts of our oxygen supply, meanwhile a good 30 other pups and people are making their way around. Oh! Right and mom is trying to keep both me AND Abbey calm while we're all flipped out about the new surroundings. Good point, I didn't mention that, we've never been to this trial site before, HA!

After figuring out all the rules, missing half of the judge's briefing, which I payed dearly for later, I put Abbey in her pen and happily watched my friend's Touch n Go run. Weavers came thereafter and I figured I would do a last minute entry. There's no way to better warm up my dog than on a course with no jumps...I think. Abbey proved me right by taking off at full speed ramming into me after exiting the 3rd tunnel, skipping a hoop and STILL pulling off a 1st place run....WOW...seriously what a dog. The day continued on and Abbey NQd and wound up with 2nd place in regular round 1. Little did I know that round 2 was the same course just in reverse. Seriously??!!! Okay, if you're any kinda of smart you sooo don't create a course like that with a dog like Abbey...she KNOWS. I'm serious...we used to practice things like that in class...Abbey ALWAYS knew where to go. Well...so she proves by running round 2 no problem, Qing, and getting 1st place! Rounded out Day 1 by getting 1st and Qing in Jumpers. She's really been on a roll, this little pup, wouldn't you say?

DAY 2...ooh let's cut to the chase, Abbey brought home 2 Qs and 2 first the second day. How? Well, I dunno...we went on the course, we came off, and I realized we didn't make one mistake...it's all kind of a blur, really.

Abbey is now known as The Air Up There SJ "Abbey" 1/3 SS, 1/3 SR, 1/3 SSA, 4/7 AD, 2/3 NJC, 1/3 NAC, and 1/3 TN-N Well my sweet you've got a few accomplishments under your belt. I can't wait to see what she pulls off in 2010. 2009 was truly OUR TIME TO SHINE!

Things to "WORK" on

So after that AMAZING trial in Winter Park I've seen a lot of what Abbey's capable of. Now, it's time to work on our weak points. So what are WE working on?

Me: CROSSING! I mean, really, could I be any worse at it? I plan on taking a few handling courses with Annette Alfonso so that I can perfect my, otherwise, SUCKY handling.

Abbey: CONTACTS if I've said it once I've said it a thousand times, I am the worst contact trainer on the face of the earth...which is why my dog's aren't that great, BUT never fear we are going to fix that. We're still doing running contacts on the Dogwalk and A-frame, but will switch to 2o2o on the teeter as it seems that she's more comfortable with that. Teeter training is also going to change up a bit. We're going to learn how to have FUN running across a moving plank! Gee isn't that wonderful...which means mommy has to dish out the money and buy a niiice nice aluminum teeter from Mark's Agility. Yeah! I need one that makes sound and a lot of it, one that's adjustable and one that I can put in my own backyard but fold away for easy storage. So that be it!!! Dogwalk training I will be doing at the field and in my friend's yard. Since I got the dog training job with Applause your Paws I will now have an income. Wonderful isn't it because it seems I already know where most of it is going....AGILITY and GAS to get us to AGILITY.

So those are our plans. I'm sure if I do them right this time we'll be able to enter a standard agility run in no time. I have been banned from then by a certain someone until I have gotten Abbey completely confident on the teeter and everything else.

Res-Q Part II

I know everyone's been waiting to hear about trial results from this weekend in Winter Park, riiight?

Of course you are! Well, like the best little doggie a girl like me could have Abbey Q'd in Jumpers the very first day, did an awesome job in Standard (though she was eliminated) the second day, and blew it out of the water by earning a 2nd place and Q in Snooker and a 1st place, Q, and TITLE in jumpers the last day of trial. Yes, and it made the fact that I wore my "Mutts Rule" socks and "There's no Q like Rescue" shirt that much sweeter. My little pupper moving on to Advanced. Oooh yeah!

On a seperate note...I really need to work on our contact obstacles, but I'll put that under another heading for goals to be achieved over the winter. We also have an upcoming NADAC agility trial in Davie, FL. WOO HOO!

The Air Up There SJ "Abbey" First ever TITLE!!

The Jump and Retrieve

A couple of my friends know that not very long ago I taught Abbey how to enjoy swimming in the pool. Come summer time it wasn't so difficult considering that South Florida is a total asscorcher almost EVERYDAY of the year. This summer, though, was pretty steamy. Abbey learned to enjoy cooling off by jumping into the pool and having a swim. It's also really good conditioning as well.

Today, though, she surprised me by being totally enthused to swim wanting to go into the pool countless times. I was very, very pleased with her, but what took the cake today and still has me smiling is that Abbey is now very driven to retrieve her favourite toy from in the water! Yes! I throw the toy in and she splashes into the pool from the steps to swim out and get her toy. She even went through a phase this morning where she put the toy in herself and stepped in to get it. I am really sorry that I didn't get pictures or video, but I really and truly wasn't expecting this.

I AM just so so so so happy and so proud of her. Everyday Abbey seems to surprise me everyday. She keeps becoming the dog that I've always wanted. And to think, I thought she already was ;).

YAY Abbey, YOU ROCK!

Trial and Accomplishments

On October 16th, 17th, and 18th Abbey and I have a USDAA agility trial. We'll be running 7 runs over the course of 3 days. Here's how our schedule looks:



Friday:
Standard
Gamblers



Saturday:
Gamblers
Pairs Relay
Standard



Sunday:
Standard
Jumpers



We've had plenty of accomplishments since our last trial. Abbey has gotten faster by a good 20 seconds. No longer running 20 obstacles in over a minute, but in under 50 seconds. We're definitely clicking better. She's following my direction. I have also become a better handler and understand my dog much better. On course now, I reward her for EVERYTHING good or bad, because if there was a mistake 10 times out of 10...it was definitely my fault.


Last year, this was Abbey's most successful trial. It was at Jim Brandon Equestrian Center in West Palm Beach. She recieved 2 second places, 1 3rd place, and 1 Q in jumpers. We're hoping to repeat, if not, beat that feat this time around. I am very proud of my girl and we're going to go out there and have fun no matter what happens.


I've got my 2 agility shirts too and am doing pairs with one of my really good friends. It should be a BLAST!