Mia, CH Grayhart's Special Request, CDX, RA, JH, AX, AXJ, NSD, RD, VX2

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Greensboro, NC

We traveled to Greensboro, NC to compete in conformation. So far, we've had a great weekend of showing. Mia went winners' bitch and best of winners on Friday (which gave her 2 more points towards her championship), and then went reserve on Saturday. She also earned her canine good citizen on Saturday and impressed the evaluator with her obedience and solid temperament.

Mia and Sky at the hotel

Loving my girl:)

Sleepy

Mia on the left, Sky on the right

We even had a chance to go to a park in Burlington and let the girls stretch their legs. Here they are going after a stick in the creek.

Sky trying to retrieve the stick.

Mia on the left, Sky on the right

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Our adventure west - Part 2

After the shows in Greenville, SC, we got to spend a few days with Debbie and Joe (Sky's owners) in Maggie Valley, NC. We had a great time hiking at Max Patch and hanging out at the house.

Standing at the front of the rhododendron tunnel at Max Patch.

Sky on the left, Mia on the right (still at the rhododendron tunnel)

Mia playing with George (Debbie and Joe's cat)

What have you been doing Mia????

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Our adventure west - Part 1

We traveled west to go to the Greenville, SC shows to compete in rally advanced and conformation. Mia showed well in conformation and even won her class Friday but unfortunately, we didn't get any of the points. Mia did awesome in rally and scored 97 out of 100 all 3 days, earning 2 first places and a fourth place (and her title, of course). Two of the days, we literally ran to the rally ring from conformation which left us no time for a warm-up (and I didn't get to walk the course...thank goodness for the maps). I was SO proud of my girl. Several people commented on how well she did and how great her attention was. Novice obedience, here we come:)

Waiting to get our ribbon

Leg #1

Leg #2

Leg #3 and our title!

Mia and Sky discussing who owns the hedgehog (of course, we were there with Debbie and Sky!)

"I so tired, mama."

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Our adventure up north

Mia and I traveled to Maryland for dog shows and then went to spend some time with Mia's breeder, Linda Hartheimer. We had a great time and came home with lots of advice from everyone. Everyone loved Mia's solid temperament and complimented on how cooperative and easy she was to work.

Looking out the window of the hotel room.

Mia was expertly handled by Pat O'Brian (the owner of Mia's sire, Zeke (Ch OB's 38 Special). He showed her Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Mia worked really well for him and looked beautiful in the ring. Mia even went reserve to the major on Sunday which was nice! On Friday, Bonnie Lane handled Mia in the ring. Unfortunately, they didn't win anything but Mia showed well (thanks to Bonnie) and had a great time!

On Monday, we got to go field training with Linda and some of her dogs. Mia had a blast running in the field (and needed the opportunity to run after being cooped up in a hotel room for 4 days).

Nice ears!

Mia was very interested in the birds but wasn't sure what to do with them. Hopefully, I will be able to do some more training with her and possibly enter her in the WCA ratings test this fall.

On Thursday, we got to take the dogs for a hike at one of the nearby parks. Mia had a great time running around. I even got a chance to try and get her to swim. She is still reluctant but was less resistant each time I took her in. Hopefully, she will start swimming on her own in the near future.

In addition to all of the shows and field training, I got to work with Kathy Santo on some of Mia's obedience. I plan to enter Mia in novice obedience this winter. In the meantime, we got some ideas and strategies to help us improve. On Tuesday, we got to go to Long Island to see Bonnie and Steve again and go to handling class. Janet, the instructor, gave me some great tips on how to get Mia moving well. Hopefully, those tips will help us get a major at the upcoming shows in Greenville, SC.

We had a wonderful time on our trip and especially enjoyed meeting so many "weim" people. They have offered a ton of support and encouragement and I am truly thankful. Hopefully, I will make them all proud.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Show-N-Go

The Azalea Dog Training Club had a "Show-N-Go" recently at their facilities in Hampstead, NC. I took Mia and entered her in rally excellent, rally advanced, and novice obedience. The show-n-go provides an opportunity to practice in a competition like setting (but the cost to enter is much cheaper and we don't have to travel far). Since Mia already has her rally novice title, she is ready to compete in rally advanced. I thought it would be a good idea to try an excellent course to see how she did and what we still need to work on. These pictures are of her runs through the excellent course. She did beautifully on the advanced course as well, but my sister had to leave which is why there are no pictures. I entered Mia in novice obedience just to see what we still need to work on. She did an awesome job. So awesome that I think it's time to start competing for her CD (companion dog). We have a few minor things to tweak, including an enthusiastic recall that involved her sliding past me. Fortunately, an enthusiastic recall is better than a dog that's reluctant to come:) Other than that, we just need to work a little on figure eights and I think we're are set to go. Of course, you never know what's going to happen in the show ring...which is why you just have to take a leap of faith and give it a try...until then, you'll never know.

I've taught Mia to look at me when I say, "Ready!" That way, when the judge says, "Are you ready?" I can respond with, "Ready," and Mia looks at me.

270 Left

Moving Down, Walk Around Dog

Halt, Take 1 Step, Call Dog to Heel

Call to Front, Finish Right

Offset Figure Eight (The bowls of toys serve as distractions)

All Done! Good Job!

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Learning to Retrieve

The Tarheel Weim Club had a "Learn to Retrieve" Day in Clayton, NC. Mia did well retrieving the bumper and bird on land. She still doesn't want to swim but by the end of the day, I was able to toss the bumper a few feet in front of her in the water, and she would grab it before turning around to swim back to shore. That's more than she was willing to do last fall. Hopefully, we will be ready to enter the retreiver ratings next fall and go for our NRD (Novice Retrieving Dog).