Training Mom for Agility

I decided that Mom WILL take me to Nationals next year. When I told big brudder Isaac that he just laughed at me. He said that no one can force Mom to do anything, she has to WANT to do it.

So after I showed her I could do my weaves I was a really good girl for the whole next day. I did my contacts, didn't drop any bars, and even looked ahead rather than always looking at her when we played on the equipment. She said I could "try" a trial in July. I am SOOOO excited.

Then I begged Mom to run with me so I can practice running near her. We did that a long time ago when Mom said we were doing foundation work. I don't know what that means, but I remember running in circles and turning toward and away from Mom when there was no equipment around.

So the next time we went out for our walk, Mom RAN instead. She said it was actually fun and she was thrilled that she didn't puke when we finished the mile. I don't understand why she thought she'd get sick. I run all of the time and I never get sick. Sometimes Moms don't make sense.

Then we played Chuck-It in the front yard. She made me stay until she used my release word. We did that for a long time. I disappeared for a few minutes and Mom called me. I came right away and she started laughing. I am not sure why a wet dog is funny -- I ran to the brooke and took a dip. Any good dog in training needs to cool off, right?

It may take a while, but I think I am beginning to get Mom trained!

CPE Nationals, or bust!

After our trip to the farm and NJ, we took a long drive to Massachusetts to meet some friends for CPE Nationals. I think that stands for "Crazy People Everywhere." When we got there, we camped with some friends -- some from far away and some from nearby. It was almost like the border collie party at The Farm because there were over 30 dogs in our group of 7 campers. Lots of them were border collies.



Uncle Art, Melanie and Kayla with Tux, Chase, Teika, Missy and Dreamer were next to us. Then there was Uncle Jay and Aunt Jennie with their Aussie kids. I got to meet one of them -- Heart -- and she was very nice. Then there was Uncle Ron and Aunt Kim with Hannah, Riddick, Chloe and my friend Radar. On the other side of us was Auntie Linda with Serra, Devon, Tommy and some of their other siblings -- but I didn't get to meet them. Sometimes I am a bit too energetic and small dogs get nervous around me.

In the middle of our circle were Auntie Lee with Trek, Flipside and Dera. She is really funny. Auntie Sonja was camped in the middle, too, with my friend Fantom and her sisters, Ty and Tsunami. I remember them from playing in the river at Bo-gee and with Uncle Art when we played at Clean Run. She is the one that finally got Mom to let me be a border collie by being off leash sometimes.


The next day, lots more people arrived and we were surrounded by more of my friends! Behind us were our friends from local agility trials and to our side were our NEBCR friends. I think I like CPE Nationals! All of our friends get together in one place. How fun! There was lots of laughing and playing...and I think I even saw Mom relax once!!



I got to play with a lot of the friends around us. I met Arthur. He is Dune's brother (I love Dune!). We played with my soccer ball and we tried to run around, but there is only so much you can do when you are on a long line. I told him that the next time we are at The Farm together, I want to play with him again. He said that would be fun.


Mom said there was agility going on, but I didn't get to see it. Mom was working at the scoretable each day, so she took Isaac to be with her. I know he was competing...and everyone said he was a Rock Star! He got ribbons in all of his classes except one. I don't know what that means, but Mom seemed happy. I am proud of my big brother and how hard he tries. One day I will get to play agility like Isaac.


I asked Mom if I could play agility at CPE Nationals next year. She explained what I would have to do to qualify. She said if I work REALLY hard, I might be able to make it. So I told her I wanted to start competing right away so I could qualify! Mom said I could start competing when I learn my weaves. So I have been working very hard. Here are my weaves. What do you think?


I think I am ready, but Mom says I still have work to do. I think she really means SHE has work to do. I don't run like the Bostons. Mom is trying real hard to learn how to run with me. I know she can do it...if she works REALLY hard.


I can't wait until next year!

Being at the Farm

We just got home from being on the road --living in our arrr-veee--for almost two weeks. It was so much fun! I think we should be "on vacation" all the time!

One day Mom told all of us doggies that it was time to get in the Arrr-Vee and go to The Farm. I thought that she meant we were going to play with sheepies with Aunt Cindi, but we were in the Arrr-Vee for a long time...too long for the drive to Aunt Cindi's.

Finally we got there and I remembered where I was. It was the place where I met my Mom and Dad and my Boston brothers and sisters. It was Sugar Bush Farm! Mom said there was going to be a big party with lots of border collies, but she explained that we would not be there for the party, only before and after. That didn't make a lot of sense to me, but Mom keeps trying to convince me that she knows best, so I tried to trust her.

People started to arrive and I got to see so many friends. Some I already knew; some are new friends. Then I saw Speck, Sam and their mom, Emily. I used to live with them --they were my foster family before I got a doptid. It was so good to see them. I ran up to say hi! I think they remembered me because they treated me like family!

I visited with all sorts of new friends and we went into the big area with the pond. That was SOOOO fun. I loved jumping in the pond. I had so much fun chasing new friends. I hung around Bodhi and Jiff. Then I saw Limerick. I remembered him from the last time I was there. I saw so many friends that my Mom kept getting confused.

There were lots of border collies around the pond. Mom says there were about 20 of them...and that wasn't even the party yet!!!! Mom said these were people who were arriving early for the party the next day.

Just when I was having a great time, Mom said we had to go. I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay and play and swim. But she promised we'd be back soon. Just as we were about to leave, Mom said I had to come out of the Arr-Vee to see someone. When she put my leash on me, I came from the Arr-Vee, and there were Dune and Dan. I used to live with them, too. I was happy to see them. My new friend at Aunt Cindi's house, Roo, reminds me of Dune (Dune is sooo handsome). So I think about him every time I see Roo -- and now here they were! We visited for a bit. Mom said she wished we could stay, but we had to drive to a place called New Jersey for an agility trial the next day, so we said goodbye. But again, Mom promised we'd be back.

We drove a long time again. We were at a really pretty park with lots of grass. There was a pond, but I wasn't allowed to play in it. But that was ok; when Mom wasn't doing agility I got to walk around and play ball in the grass and meet new dog and people friends. Mom said that everyone was great! She really had fun.

Mom also told us about the town. She had been there when she was in school. It is the home of the Seeing Eye. That was the first guide dog school in the United States. Mom had been there when she was learning about how to help people who are blind learn to work with their guide dogs after they "graduated" from the Seeing Eye.

I was having a good time there, but then we got in the Arrr-Vee again and took another long drive. We stopped late at night and Mom took me out to walk around a little bit. I recognized where we were!!! We were back at The Farm!!! I was so excited, but Mom said we had to go to bed -- we could play in the morning.

Morning came and I wanted to go see if my friends were still there. I ate breakfast real fast so I could go outside. After breakfast, Mom and I played in the agility ring. I had never been in an outside agility ring except our backyard. This one was fun, too. I tried real hard to listen to Mom and remember what I was supposed to do. It was really fun.

After breakfast, Mom took my brother Isaac for a loing walk around the farm and they met some friends, too. Then it was my turn, and we went into the pen and played with Didge and Lizzie and Murphy and Molly. Then our friends Drake and Keegan and Flirt and Tristan and Bodhi and Jiff and Petie and Disney and Tela and Fenn and Bogart and Beacon came out to play, too.

My favorite thing is the pond. I love to swim. Miss Caitlin kept throwing the tennis ball and it was so fun to keep chasing. Mom says The Farm is owned by Miss Kathy and Mr. Craig. They are really nice. I want to go live at The Farm!!!

Just when I thought I found heaven, Mom said we had to pack up and drive AGAIN!