Mia on point

We traveled to Charleston, SC this weekend to take part in the Greater Charleston Weimaraner Club's Pointing Dog Day. This event is designed to help novice owners get their dogs started on birds. Mia and I stayed with Linda Garrett who owns and handles "Strider," a Master Hunter who also got to demonstrate what master hunters do in the field. We got a lot of tips and advice from everyone and had a wonderful day. After the demonstration of master hunter, senior hunter, and junior hunter, the club went over all of the rules for the different tests. They also gave us some ways to get dogs started on birds. To see which dogs were interested in birds, they were each "teased" with a freshly killed quail wing on a fishing line. Mia was sort of interested in the wing, at least enough to point it.

Mia pointing the quail wing.

After being exposed to the quail wing, the dogs were then introduced to a live pigeon. These pictures are of Mia intensely watching the other dogs with the pigeon. In the past, Mia has always tried to grab the bird so when it was her turn, I was pretty shocked when she went straight in and pointed the pigeon...so shocked I didn't get a picture of it:(

After the dogs were exposed to the birds on the fishing line, it was time to see what they would do in the field. I was thrilled to see Mia really hunting for birds and not just running around. Unfortunately, as soon as she found the quail, she went in and grabbed it. I called her to me and removed the quail from her mouth. The quail flew so I sent Mia off to see if she could find it again and point it, but she was too quick and caught it again without me even seeing her do it. This time, she was much more reluctant to give up the bird but I managed to get it out of her mouth.

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After a lunch break, we took the dogs out again. We were ready this time and prevented Mia from catching the bird, but she still didn't point. Mia is super smart (and quick) and just figured she didn't need to point, she would save us the ammo and catch the bird herself. Because these dogs were novice dogs, the quail were dizzied first and planted under cover so they wouldn't fly as fast. In Mia's case, we need the quail to fly quickly so she learns that she can't catch them and when she runs up on them, they fly away. Then, she would figure out that if she slows down and points them, they don't fly off and someone will flush the bird (which she then gets to chase).

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We had one last opportunity to get Mia to point. Everyone had had their turns and the club had a few quail left so Mia got to go again. This time, the quail was planted in a place where Mia couldn't grab it and where the quail could fly quickly. She caught sent, went in to grab it, and corrected herself on the sticks that were sticking up around the quail. She jumped back and the bird flew. It landed about 75 feet away so I took Mia over to see if she could find it again. She did and she went right in and pointed! Yay!!!

Overall it was a wonderful day and we left with some ideas for how I can get Mia to slow down and point (instead of grab). Here she is, exhausted after the long day and ready to go to bed (as was her owner).

In a few weeks, the Tarheel Weim club will have their hunt day and I'm looking forward to taking Mia and seeing if we can continue to improve. If she does well, I will enter her in the shooting ratings the next day and maybe get her novice shooting dog. And if she isn't ready, no big deal, we will keep working on it. One of the biggest lessons I learned this weekend was that you never know when the light bulb will go on for these dogs. It's important not to give up just because they don't get it right the first time. You just have to keep at it and maintain a positive attitude. And if it doesn't happen, that's fine - there are lots of other things we are going to do...and that's what makes this all so much fun - it's all part of the journey you take together.

Where have we been?

Mia loves her doughnut bed!

Not much has been going on in the month of September, and there are several reasons for that. After a truly wonderful summer break, I had to return to work. Mia also came into season and hasn't been able to go to any of her training classes. I also had to take a short break from showing and competing. As much as I love traveling and doing all kinds of neat things with Mia, the costs do begin to add up so it's important to slow things down every now and then, both for Mia and me.

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So what is going on? Well...I started beginner agility class without Mia. She will start when she comes out of season. In the meantime, I have been working with some of the other dogs in the class to improve my handling skills. I've also been working Mia at home. I have the home version of jumps and weave poles so we can practice in between classes. Our next conformation show will be the one here in October. I'm not sure yet if any other weims will enter but I'm really looking forward to my family getting to come and watch us. Since we travel for almost all of our shows, they don't usually get to see us so it will be nice to have them there and to see what we do. I am also planning to attend some "Learn to Hunt" days with the Charleston Weimaraner Club and our own Tarheel Weimaraner Club. It's challenging to find qualified people to help you train in the field but I haven't given up on training Mia to hunt. She has the interest and instinct, we just have to teach her what to do with it. I'm also planning to enter her in novice obedience sometime this fall/winter and compete for her CD (companion dog). For right now, we're enjoying the not so hot temperatures (it doesn't quite feel like fall around here yet) and football weekends with the family.

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When we went to Atlanta this summer to visit with my grandmother, Mia thoroughly enjoyed trying out all of the comfy places to sleep.

Bed number 1

The couch is nice too!

Bed number 2

Bed number 3

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This is from our trip to Debbie's this past summer in the mountains of North Carolina. The girls were exhausted after our hike and enjoyed a peaceful nap on the porch while we ate a nice lunch.

Taken on the way home from out hike. Poor babies! Mia on the left, Sky on the right.

Best of Winners!

August 20, 2010

Winners Bitch and Best of Winners (2 points)

Greensboro, NC

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

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????

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."

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.