Dora was drawn first in beginners, usually she likes working early but today she was rather inattentive looking around in her heelwork. Her retrieve and recall were excellent.
I only did a training round with Saffy and Ruby but they both did some nice heelwork and played well with their toys in the ring.
There was a special class for anything but a collie at this show which i netered both Ruby and Saffy in. It was based on an obedience round but the judge was looking for drive, enthusiasm and team work. We had to play with the dog up to the starting point, then put the toy away and go into heelwork in a circle, do a fast double about turn, run away from the dog and then back into heelwork. all to be fun rather than formal Saffy loved it and bounced along until we had to do an about turn near the send away which was set up with a toy at each corner. Saffy can resist anything except temptation and will steal anyone else's toys so she forgot all about heelwork and checked out all the toys chose one and then raced back to me much to the amusement of the judge and steward.
Next was a retrieve over a small hurdle. Again with extra points for enthusiasm. no formal present or finish. saffy was quite happy to jump the hurdle both ways. A lot of the dogs seemed to find this bit really difficult to understand and went round the hurdle.
When Ruby did it she preferred the hurdle to the retrieve. she hopped over the hurdle, then back and then over again, picked up the dumbell and jumped back again to me.
Then we had to do a recall with no formal present so as it usual Saffy shot towards me and crashed into my chest making me stagger backwards. i don't think she is very good for my back but she does enjoy herself. Ruby as always was much more delicate about the whole thing and trotted to me and gently leaned against me.
To my amazement Saffy scored very highly in this competition and it looked like she was going to get a place until a dog came a long at the end and pipped her at the post. She ended up seventh and as there were about 60 dogs entered in this class I was ever so pleased with her.
At lunch time I took the dogs for a walk but forgot that Dora's novice stays were at lunchtime and got back just as the finished so we didn't win any other classes. We had a very nice day though.
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