Where We've Been Recently...

Hey guys, sorry for the recent inactivity around here, we've been super busy! To make up for it, I thought I'd give you a giant update on what we've been up to since you last heard from us back in October. Just a warning, we've been up to quite a lot!

Chippenham - 07/10/2017

Ethel was awesome at Chippenham, despite the awful weather that we had to run in! We went clear in both the YKC jumping and a regular jumping; she's always been a natural at jumping classes.

Dog Vegas - 11/10/2017

What an awesome way to start the winter series of agility! I couldn't be happier that both of my clear rounds with Ethel at this show were in agility classes! One of them got us 3rd, even with (beautifully) held contacts! Kelly also went clear in two of her classes, an agility and a jumping, and held her contacts awesomely too! The improvement in both of their contacts was huge!

British Agility Championships 2017 - 21 & 22/10/2017

Ethel, Millie & Dime

Ethel ran awesomely at this big event getting several clears, including 2nd in the Agria Brillo Bounce agility round, and qualifying for both the Agria Brillo Bounce and championship finals! We came 6th in the Agria Brillo Bounce final, despite a couple of misunderstandings from Ethel, and both Ethel and Kelly went clear in the junior speed jump off final! Such a fun weekend with awesome company.

YKC Newark Weekend - 28 & 29/10/2017

Millie & I

What an amazing weekend qualifying for Crufrs 2018 a whopping three times! I won the agility dog of the year qualifier with Ethel, came 2nd in the same qualifier with my friend's Mini Labradoodle Millie, and on top of all the agility success, I qualified with Earl in the groomer of the year qualifier! I simply can't wait for him to make his Crufts debut! March can't come soon enough!

European Course Running - 05/11/2017

Millie & Ethel

It was an awesome opportunity to train with one of the YKC Junior Agility Team GB coaches and practice running some European courses. Ethel was on fire with 3/3 fast clears! We really enjoyed it and I learnt a lot, with lots of information to take away and things to practice before the Team GB tryouts in December. It was also awesome to catch up with so many of our friends!

Dog Vegas - 11/11/2017

Kelly & I

Both Ethel and Kelly ran amazingly for me at this show and are looking super cool! I couldn't be happier with Ethel's contacts! I finally feel as though they've just about completely clicked and it's an awesome feeling. Kelly's listening to me really well, we just need to tighten up those turns and she'll be well on her way to many, many wins!

Fame On Fetch

I'm absolutely honoured to have been chosen to have my cover design printed on the latest edition of the YKC Fetch magazine! I love this magazine and still can't believe my artwork is on the front cover of everyone's copy!

Well, now you've had an update, I vow to stick with you guys and give you regular, on time updates from now on! We have some awesome stuff coming up, including the YKC Junior Agility Team GB tryouts for next year's trip to the European Open Junior Agility Championships 2018 in Holland! Keep your eyes peeled for the next post, and I'll see you then!

Wilton - 01/10/2017

Wilton may have been weeks ago now, but I'm super happy with how Ethel ran there! I feel as though we've experienced a breakthrough as far as her consistency goes; most of her runs were clear and she's feeling awesome to run! Now we just have to start pushing for speed and really fighting for the top places in each and every run we do!

As the journey was quite a long one, we only did one day, the Saturday. We were asked to join an adult Crufts team a few months ago, and the qualifier was at this show on this day. We put in a lovely clear for the team and we all ended up with a pretty fast combined time, however, one of our other team members gained an unlucky 5 faults for a missed dog walk contact, meaning we missed out on qualification. However, I'm super happy that we proved ourselves to our new team!

We also went clear in another agility class and two other jumping classes. We're finally starting to see some contact consistency and it feels awesome! And, of course, she rarely lets me down in her jumping runs!

Ethel definitely proved herself as far as accuracy and consistency goes, and I couldn't be prouder of her! Onwards and upwards towards those higher places we go from here!

Crufts Official Shop Border Terrier Gifts Review

Recently, we were kindly sent some super cool Border Terrier gifts from the Crufts Official Shop! We received a Border Terrier tea towel and a Border Terrier apron, which we've found are perfect for cooking and baking your dog some treats! As you can see, Earl and Ethel highly approve of them!

Firstly, we have the Border Terrier tea towel. This has the same design as the apron and is ideal for drying dog bowls in style! Again, it's of excellent quality, thin enough not to be bulky but will withstand use without getting ruined. The material is slightly less shiny than the apron, making it more effective for cleaning and drying.

You can view the tea towel through this link: https://www.cruftsofficialshop.com/collections/tea-towels/products/border-terrier-tea-towel

Next, we have the Border Terrier apron. Printed with a beautiful image of a Border Terrier and an extremely accurate description of the breed, it's perfect for all Border Terrier lovers and admirers to wear while cooking! It is of excellent quality and easy to put on, off and tie up. The material isn't bulky but at the same time feels sturdy and will take wear without spoiling, ripping or breaking. There's a certain shininess about the material, making it very comfortable to wear.

You can view the apron through this link: https://www.cruftsofficialshop.com/collections/aprons

Huge thanks to the Crufts Official Shop for sending us these gorgeous gifts that we highly recommend to all Border Terrier lovers! Check out their official website and treat yourself or a dog loving friend or family member to something special through this link: https://www.cruftsofficialshop.com

Dog Vegas - 23 & 24/09/2017

It's been a brilliant weekend at Dog Vegas for us! Both Ethel and Kelly have done me proud, running awesomely and picking up several places! I'm especially happy with Ethel's contacts; they're getting more consistent with every show and the improvement is huge! She's managing to go clear in several agility classes now, whereas not long ago it was mainly jumping she excelled at! Obviously it's still a work in progress, but I couldn't be prouder of her for how she's come on! And as far as Kelly goes, we're connecting more and more and the results are proving that! She's a challenging dog and it takes time, but we're getting there!

Ethel sitting proudly with her weekend's winnings

Kelly and I with our weekend's winnings

The weekend began with Saturday's competition. Ethel and I came 3rd in agility, 4th in jumping and 8th in another agility. Her contacts and consistency was fantastic, as well as her usual speed, and I couldn't be prouder of her! Unfortunately our other run was ruined by there being rabbit droppings all over the ring, which the majority of the dogs in the class went off to sniff (and eat...), but she came back and finished the run very well! Kelly and I came 4th in jumping, despite a very random detour on Kelly's part, but it was still clear which is awesome for Kelly!

Today's competition went well, too. Ethel and I had a 4th in jumping and a few very close runs, and despite seeming a little tired after yesterday, she ran well for me and her contacts were super once again! Kelly and I came 3rd in agility, this run being Kelly's first clear agility round in a year, and I couldn't be happier that I helped her achieve this! Just like Ethel, we also had a few close other runs, but we're improving as a pair and her lightning speed makes the experience so thrilling every time!

Overall, it was another successful weekend for all of us, and both dogs managed to bag lots of points and have lots of fun! Now to look forward to Wilton next Sunday, where Ethel and I will be competing in a Crufts team qualifier among other runs!

North Derbyshire - 09 & 10/09/2017

Awesome weekend spent with some awesome friends at North Derbyshire! This year's show brought us success, fun, laughs and, most impressively, Crufts qualification, meaning we can look forward to competing in not one, but two events there next year! Roll on March!

The highlight of the weekend was definitely winning YKC Teams with our amazing team, the North Derbyshire Young Guns, and qualifying for the final of the event at next year's Crufts! I couldn't be happier with Ethel, who put in a fantastic clear for the team! I can't wait to compete with Ethel and our awesome teammates at the world's biggest dog show next March!

After training the previous week away with multiple sessions on the contact trainer, our hard work paid off and Ethel's contacts were fantastic at the show, getting her a very respectable 6th in a big agility class! These newfound contacts remained for the champ classes and, despite the rain, she ran really well in them!

Kelly and I also had two awesome clears in jumping over the course of the weekend, one of these being a 2nd in the junior speed jump off, qualifying us for the event's final at the British Agility Championships in October! This means I'll be running both Ethel and Kelly in the final!

Overall, it was a fantastic weekend, especially as far as qualification goes! Now to look forward to the events we've qualified in!