For all my non-agility friends and family...

I just wanted to take a minute and thank you for all your wonderful comments and support for my favorite hobby of agility. Especially when you probably don't have a clue what I am talking about!! This post started out from a request from my Uncle Bob, wanting to know a little bit about what I am always talking about.

In agility a Q, is a qualifying run. Besides the fun we have running with our dogs, it is what we are all striving for.

In USDAA, there are 5 types or games of agility. They are Standard, Jumpers, Snooker, Gamblers, and Pairs. Standard is what most people think of when they hear agility. It has all of the obstacles such as the Aframe, See-Saw, Dog walk, Table, Tire, Tunnels, Weaves, and Jumps. Jumpers is just jumps and tunnels. Snooker is apparently formulated after a billiards game, but just about any obstacle can be in it. Object is to get the most points. In Gamblers, you are again going after the most points by picking obstacles to complete, and then doing a distance sequence behind a line(the gamble). You must complete that sequence in order to Q. Last, is pairs. You are paired up with someone, and each team runs half of a course. Both teams must complete it correctly under time to Q.

In AKC, there are 3 types or games. They are Standard, Jumpers with Weaves, and FAST. Standard is the same as in USDAA. Jumpers with weaves can have jumps, tunnels, and weaves. (Weaves are 12 poles that must be taken by the dog in a slalom like fashion, always entering from the right of the pole and existing to the left.) FAST is very similar to Gamblers above.

There are typically 3 different levels of competition. In USDAA, there are Starters/P1, Advanced/P2, and Masters, P3. In AKC, there is Novice, Open, and Excellent. Each level gets progressively more difficult, and the Excellent and Masters have to be completed correctly with no errors under time.

Accumulating 3 to 10 Q's in each level(depending on the level) gets the title in that class and you can then move up to the next level.

That in short is what agility is all about, and thanks again for all of the love and congrats you all give !!!

Fun Raising Money for Chase Away K9 Cancer @ PKC Agility Trial

Besides having a great agility weekend with Foster and Lexi(Double Q, and awesome runs respectively) @ the PKC agility trial in Paducah, I also had great fun participating in the club's fundraiser for Chase Away K9 Cancer. Altogether the club raised $1200, and by raising over $1000, AKC judge Scott Stock agreed to run the course (as the dog) in a Little Bo Beep Costume!!! (Handled by Gene from PKC) The club needed a replacement challengerdog for Scott, and I agreed to participate with John from PKC as my handler. Have fun watching the video:) It was agility from a whole new perspective for me!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgJAHMiRjjE

Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog Hop!!!

Today is the last day to enter the blog hop contest over at Simon Says Stamp challenge blog!! It is a fun hop with a secret word you must go to each blog to get a letter:) Having done that all that is left to enter is your holiday art!!!

So I went with Halloween because it is coming up so soon, and created a tag using Tim Holtz stamps, & Distress Inks amongst other items. I used the Chipped Sapphire, Peeled Paint, Spiced Marmalade, Dusty Concord, Black Soot, and a little Vintage Photo as well. I was hoping that the embossed skeleton would have picked up the colors of the tag a little more than he did, but oh well. (by the way, look really hard and you can see him in the lower left hand side of the tag :) )
All in all I really liked the way it came together. Now that I am in the Halloween mood, I think I will need to go and get some candy today ;)

Long Overdue Videos

Here is the videos of Foster's runs in Murfreesboro from the AKC show earlier this month. He was amazing, qualifying 3 out of 4 runs!!! (Some 1st and 2nd places too!)We had a great time! I really love that facility in Murfreesboro in August because the A/C is amazing!!! You literally need a jacket if you are just sitting and watching.




Since then we are working on our recalls through an e-course with Susan Garrett!! It is a lot of games, and they are so much fun!!! I am doing this with all 3 dogs too! Lexi and I are still working on her confidence and my mental game:) We are having a blast and things seem to only get better!! We are stepping back into the ring in September! I can't wait!

This past Saturday my friend Sally and I worked with my agility teacher, Elaine, on one of the agility games, Snooker. It is supposedly just like the pool game, but I have never played. It is one of my favorite agility games though!!! It was really hot even @ 8:30am, but Lexi and I learned a lot and she did really great!!! I can't wait to play for real in September!!

Can you tell I am excited to get back to doing agility with Lexi in competition?? :)

Til next time....

Project for Simon Says Stamp and Show contest!!

There is a contest for Wendy Vecchi inspired art going on @ Simon Says Stamp and Show blog!! My entry is below. :) Grungepaper, filmstrip ribbon, Wendy stamps and distress inks galore!! Not too mention a cute pic of me & mike as well as the tiny pics of our pups too!!

Giveaway @ my LSS

http://eclecticamemphis.blogspot.com/2010/08/sei-giveaway.html

Check out the really cool giveaway at my favorite LSS, Eclectica!! You could win some really cool papers from the new SEI Halloween line!! Contest ends Friday!!!

Dallas Visit

Last weekend I drove to Dallas (well McKinney, TX actually) to meet my new niece, Lucy!!! She was born on 7/5. She is adorable!! I also got to visit with my parents who drive down from St. Louis, and of course my 3 yr old niece, Imma-Jane. Imma is a bundle of energy and getting so big!!! I made my brother take me on a tour of downtown McKinney since I saw the write up on McKinney as the 5th Best Place to Live! The article said that they had a "gem of a downtown" and they were right!! Very cool place!! Lots of Victorian houses, Craftsmen style houses etc. surrounding the actual square that is downtown. The square has quite a few good restaurants, and a ton of people just hanging out listening to a band etc. Fun! I was sad to leave on Monday, but so happy to get home and see Mike and the pups:)

Dad and Lucy

Mom and Lucy

Baby Burrito!

Imma sitting on Brian

Downtown McKinney