An English Shepherd

Good Day

2012-01-22T21:57:00.004Z

We were at Maidstone in Kent today for our 1st Flyball tournament of the year. Bit of an early start at 6am this morning but we all had a pretty successful time.

Auntie Breezes team Lightning Sprites did well and got a fastest time of 22.30 seconds in Division 6. Dare raced with Lightning Storm in Division 5 and he got a second place which is all the more impressive as they only had 4 dogs in that team so he had to race all the legs.

I raced in Division 4 and my team Lightning Flash got a 4th place, I did quite a few 4.4second legs and never ran under 4.9seconds all day. This is a video of me and my team racing. I am the last dog.

Unfortunately Chips team , Grease Lightning, also ran in the same Division as mine and they beat us. They also won all their races to come 1st in the Division.

Fortunately there isn't a video of us racing each other but this is one them racing some other teams. Chips the 'small blur' last dog at the end of his team.

They do say 'Chip eats Collies for Breakfast' and you can see why!

Waiting...

2012-01-21T21:55:00.006Z

We have our first flyball tournament of 2012 tomorrow, so no walks today.

Its very boring hanging around the house all day with nothing to do.

Is it time to go yet...

Wordless Shedding Wednesday

2012-01-18T08:33:00.002Z

Sunny Weekend

2012-01-16T19:12:00.004Z

We had a lovely sunny Saturday & Sunday in London this week. A bit chilly but the Sun really shone when we were all out and about.

I am sure I have said this before but have you ever noticed that when you are having your picture taken some stupid person is standing to one side of you making silly signs or faces?

With me its generally Chip...

On a slightly different subject we have our very first flyball tournament of the year next weekend so we had a final training session this weekend. This is a slow motion video of Chip being a bit more serious with his box turns at training on Sunday.

Terrier Obedience

2012-01-13T18:40:00.001Z

Chip joined one of the training classes at my Obedience Club this week the first one after the Christmas break.

He already has his Bronze Kennel Club Good Citizen Award, which he got a couple of years ago but has not been to any obedience training since then so he has a bit of work to do before he can do his Silver.

Is 'Terrier Obedience' an oxymoron ?

Wordless Slow Motion Wednesday

2012-01-11T07:25:00.001Z

A smelly tail

2012-01-07T18:31:00.006Z

The boss bought this in Asda this week. It was reduced in price from the other similar animal tuggie toys because I assume its a skunk.

It has already had the stuffing taken out of it which I think spoils some of the fun but not its attraction to us dogs...

But it also has two squeakers which makes it practically irresistible to a certain small Terrier.

OK I think its time I had a play with it now.

Wordless Wide Woof Wednesday

2012-01-04T21:55:00.003Z

First time

2012-01-02T17:38:00.007Z

A new year and a brand new experience. We all went down the beach today and I saw the sea for the very first time. Yes it does sound a bit silly living on an island and waiting so long to see the sea but it was worth the wait.

It was very windy today but the sun came out and it all looked very picturesque. The sea water was a bit chilly as I discovered, well tried to avoid discovering...

It didn't seem to bother Chip but he is a terrier so that probably explains why.

Dare got a bit of a blow dry in all the wind.

And of course Auntie Breeze never got a paw wet.

We went to a beach at a place called Hayling Island which is Hampshire and not to far away to drive. This YouTube video gives you an idea of just how windy it was.

The eleventh hour

2011-12-31T00:07:00.013Z

It’s coming to the end of December and its about this time of year you usually read in the press and on TV about how the year has gone. So how has my and the rest of my packs 2011 gone?

Firstly in obedience training I have gained my Kennel Club Good Citizen Silver and Gold awards this year, not bad.

And secondly in Flyball I have also had a very successful year gaining my British Flyball Association Flyball Dog Advanced title and the Silver Milestone Award. I have also run my personal fastest ever time of 4.20 seconds this season. Apart from winning loads of races in open competition I also ended the year in the UK's Number 1 rated Multibreed flyball team, Lightning Cocktail.

The rest of my pack have also done really well in flyball but perhaps most notably our little Chip.

Now I finished 2011 the No 1 rated English Shepherd in the UK but Chip also finished the year as the Number No 1 rated Patterdale Terrier in the UK and was also part of the same UK Number 1 rated Multibreed flyball team as me.

Chip also ran a personal fastest time of 4.5 seconds this year which is very speedy for a 7" height dog. So I suppose it is right and proper that he is enjoying a nice rest in the off season at the moment.

And Chip does enjoy a nice warm in front of our fire.

What does 2012 hold? We will have to see and hopefully you will also continue to check out how we all fare on my blog.

But can me and the rest of my pack, both Human and Canine, take this opportunity to hope you have also had a great 2011 and wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year to come.

Wordless Wenceslas Wednesday

2011-12-28T02:06:00.005Z

It's Christmas morn

2011-12-25T10:27:00.007Z

Well its always an early start on Christmas morning, straight out my crate in the conservatory, after my night shift guarding the house as normal.

Then its off for a quick zoom around the park after the tennis ball, it was very very empty today which was great.

Then after checking out those presents under the tree.

The traditional Christmas photo call (bit of a pain really)

And then some rest before hopefully tucking into some Christmas day food, hang on is that the starter...

And of course a very Merry Christmas to everyone who reads this blog from all of us!

Tuesday Tinsel and TV

2011-12-20T00:01:00.006Z

The decorations are now fully up around our house in preparation for Christmas this weekend and I think I have spotted a creature theme about them this year.

Butterfly's in the Christmas Tree

Dogs on the mantelpiece.

An even a bigger furry one under the Christmas Tree...

And on the Television at the moment there are loads of Christmas films and themed programs and of course Christmas adverts. Probably the best one this year in the UK is this great one from John Lewis.

Party humiliation

2011-12-17T13:08:00.008Z

It started so well this week at my Obedience Club's Christmas party. Some nice games, a recall.

OK I didn't realise the aim was to drop down on the £1 coin, that treat was much more appealing than the 'down' command.

Some more snacks were on offer.

More snacks , I'm here ...

And then it happened, the dreaded fancy dress costumes came out. Me and Auntie Breeze were then dressed as Christmas Stars.

Is this anyway to treat a finely tuned athlete ?

Wordless Winter Watching Wednesday

2011-12-14T00:01:00.004Z

Attention seeking

2011-12-10T17:54:00.007Z

I think I have posted before about the different ways that our pack all try get then tennis ball thrown. This seems to depend on the fact that we are three different breeds.

This is how we all did it today when out in the park.

Auntie Breeze being a Border Collie goes for the run out and then 'claps'. Basically she runs out drops down and then waits for it to be thrown.

Dare also is a Border Collie but he has a very strong Collie eye. So he keeps staring at the boss until the ball is thrown and he then thinks he gets it because he has been staring so hard...

Being an English Shepherd and obviously expect the tennis ball to be thrown for me so first I look at the boss expectantly standing close to it.

And if that doesn't work I make it more obvious to them what I am after.

Of course Chip being a Patterdale Terrier always makes it very obvious what he wants...

Gold Good Citizen

2011-12-08T00:01:00.005Z

Well I finally managed to take and pass my Kennel Club Gold Good Citizen award at my obedience training Club. I had already passed my Bronze and Silver ones so this is the last award.

After Christmas apparently I will start the more advanced obedience training which Auntie Breeze already does. This is the sort that dogs who compete in obedience competitions do. Should be interesting!

Decorations

2011-12-06T20:57:00.004Z

This years Christmas decorations are going up around the house soon and apparently there might be a clue to this happening here in the living room.

But to be honest as much as I look I have no idea where that clue might be.

December flyball training

2011-12-04T21:33:00.007Z

As usual we were at Flyball training today but as its December the chilly weather really makes you zoom along to keep warm. No problem with me keeping warm then.

And after training is finished we four can of course always huddle up in the car to keep warm.

But we don't always enjoy the waiting around as much as the flyball training.

Our flyball training venue is at the Dogs Trust in West London and their slogan is ' A dog is for life, not just for Christmas ' quite allot of puppy's are given as as presents at Christmas each year and then abandoned when the novelty wears off.

This is a Dogs Trust video about buying puppy's online.

Its Getting Chilly

2011-12-02T19:50:00.004Z

The weathers definitely getting colder but I suppose as its now December and only three weeks till Christmas it would be getting a bit chilly.

So its the right time to start getting close to the living room fire (but obviously I can't get as close as Chip)

On the subject of Christmas below is a video of a lovely song that is being released by the Choir of Military Wives on behalf of two charities which hopefully will be number 1 in the UK charts at Christmas.

Wordless Wicker Wednesday

2011-11-30T00:31:00.004Z

Richmond Park videos

2011-11-27T00:02:00.005Z

You may have already seen the YouTube video that has gone 'viral' on the Internet. Its basically of an unfortunate situation that an owner found himself in with his dog in Richmond Park recently.

Richmond Park is actually not that far from from where we live. However as there are loads of other Parks around here I haven't been to it yet. Which is probably just as well watching that video.

But Auntie Breeze has and this is a YouTube video of her in Richmond Park way back in 2007 and as you can see is has a bit of a different tempo to the other one. ..

I didn't know they did videos that long ago !

Fly a Kite

2011-11-25T00:15:00.006Z

Autumn is well and truly in full swing here at the moment in West London. When we haven't got fog its been raining and getting much colder. The trees are also starting to shed their leaves as well.

So its a nice time to get a run out for in the Park and enjoy the bracing autumnal weather.

The Autumn wind has also started to bring out the kites in the park and I don't mean the feathered variety.

OK can you stop taking the photos and get on with throwing that tennis ball please?

Golden Abbie

2011-11-23T01:55:00.005Z

This is my Sister Abbie who you may have seen before on this blog. You can also see in this picture her recently awarded Gold Kennel Club Good Citizen certificate.

What a very clever (and pretty) girl she is !

Foggy Park

2011-11-20T14:28:00.007Z

Auntie Breeze had a bit of an upset stomach yesterday so unfortunately we couldn't go to Flyball training today just in case it was catching and the other dogs picked up something from her.

So all we had to make do with a long run in the Park instead.

Its quite foggy again today, hopefully you can see it a bit better in this photo.

We had quite a good zoom about and were weren't interrupted by other dogs which was very nice.

I enjoy Flyball training more on a Sunday morning that a run in the Park but Dare didn't seem to mind.

Uncomfortable

2011-11-18T19:52:00.001Z

Being an active sort of English Shepherd I find it very difficult to get comfortable

I try to find different and more comfortable positions

But I still somehow struggle to find the best spot

Especially when the Border Collie pinches the pillow

Wordless well again Wednesday

2011-11-16T00:43:00.002Z

Remembrance Sunday

2011-11-13T14:04:00.003Z

The Solider

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.

And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Rupert Brooke
1896 - 1915 (aged 27)

Obedience tonight

2011-11-09T23:13:00.003Z

We were at our weekly obedience class tonight. Well me and Auntie Breeze were as Dare is still recovering. He went to the vets today and its all healing nicely so he should be OK by the weekend hopefully. Thanks for the good wishes and we will check out those better cones.

I think I am getting good at down stays, that's Chewy a terrier in front of me.

And good at sit stays as well.

But obviously I am not in the same league as Auntie Breeze and the rest of her class.

That's a lot of Dog concentration.

Cone of shame...

2011-11-06T16:36:00.003Z

Unfortunately Dares had to have a little operation. He was running about in the park and somehow tore his dew claw. Apparently it was so bad he had to put 'under' at the vets whilst they sorted it all out.

However I think Dare is actually more unhappy about wearing the cone whilst it all heals, rather than having the operation.

In case you wondered that is me at the 'bottom' looking for my toy which you can see (but I couldn't) poking out from under his chair...

Funny how Dare never got any injuries doing Flyball all year and then this happens just running around the park!

3 today

2011-11-03T08:23:00.000Z

Its my Birthday today and I am 3 years old.

It doesn't seem very long since I had my last Birthday, time really flies. Of course I am looking forward to opening all my birthday presents today.

However most of all I am really looking forward to all that lovely Birthday Party food.

OK when are you getting it down of the shelf for me to eat?

Horribly good Flyball tournament

2011-10-31T20:44:00.008Z

We went to our last flyball tournament of the year yesterday and of course because it was indoors we didn't really get any good action photos.

But as its Halloween today this picture of me and Chip taken yesterday waiting to race is actually quite appropriate.

Very scary !

But I don't think Chip looks as bad as me in the next one, more cute perhaps ...

However we did had a quite successful time yesterday. Chips team got 1st place in their division the same one me and Dare raced in, we got third place, not bad. Auntie Breezes team got a fourth place in another division, so we all did quite well.

And to make the day complete I was also presented with my British Flyball Association Silver Milestone award. So not a bad day out.

Howlingly good

2011-10-29T15:07:00.005+01:00

Its probably our Clubs last Flyball tournament of the season tomorrow. We are off to Maidstone in Kent for a nice days indoor Flyball racing.

I think we should do quite well. I am racing in the same team with Dare so it should be fun but I must remember to take it seriously.

And even better I am racing in the same Division as another of our Clubs teams with Chip in it. So we should all have a howlingly good time...

Wordless washday Wednesday

2011-10-26T00:03:00.002+01:00

Autumn Sunshine

2011-10-22T17:00:00.005+01:00

The leaves have started to fall off the trees in London so I think Autumn has finally started to arrive. But we are due for another sunny weekend this week apparently. So we have all been out in our back garden making the most of it.

Its does tend to make you squint when the sun is so bright.

But the warmth of the sun does feel lovely.

Wordless Blue again Wednesday

2011-10-19T00:04:00.001+01:00

Foggy Flyball

2011-10-16T16:27:00.007+01:00

This photo is not just the boss's poor photography it was really foggy when we set off to go to flyball training this morning.

Almost thick enough to be like a 'pea souper' that you see in those old films about London. But unfortunately Sherlock Holmes was not in the field in a horse drawn hackney cab waiting for us when we arrived.

We had a nice nice training session and all the fog had gone by lunch time anyway as the sun burnt it all away.

This is Auntie Breeze practicing her flyball box turns. The idea of the foam is to make you jump up horizontally and the wings to stop you running out wide. This make the turns faster and less stressful on your legs. Auntie Breeze does great box turns when she practices.

And we also did loads of zooming up and down over the jumps afterwards as well.

The Auntie Breeze look

2011-10-14T22:31:00.003+01:00

When Auntie Breeze wants you to play with a tennis ball she doesn't just bark like other dogs might do she tends to give a bit hint by staring at the ball.

Obviously being a Border Collie this come very naturally as BC's are apparently bred to do this to sheep. Not something us English Shepherd's do however.

But if this doesn't work she then starts to use the Auntie Breeze look.

She can keep this up for ages.

And even does it from different parts of the garden as the boss moves about...

It tends to work in the end !

Wordless who's on Dares Chair Wednesday

2011-10-12T00:03:00.004+01:00

Shield Show

2011-10-08T17:11:00.006+01:00

We went a dog show today. We don't normally go to these showing type of shows. But it was run by Auntie Breezes breeder in aid of a local Border Collie rescue so we went along to have a look.

The weather has got much cooler this week so it was quite nice to stroll about looking at the different breeds of dogs.

Dare enjoyed looking at all the Border Collies in this ring but there were no Blue Merle Border Collies like him.

We all had a go at 'showing'.

Me and Chip got a 5th place in the miss-matched brace. I do find it quite embarrassing doing this sort of beauty pageant showing type of thing.

But not as embarrassed as Chip was when he saw the colour of the Rosettes we got.

Wordless look out Wednesday

2011-10-05T00:00:00.006+01:00

Glorious weather

2011-10-02T07:38:00.012+01:00

We were at our last outdoor flyball tournament of the season yesterday at Great Barford in Bedfordshire.

The day has some surprises for us. Firstly the lovely picturesque location on the banks of the Great Ouse river.

And secondly the glorious sunny weather which at the moment is in the 80f and is breaking records in England as the hottest on record for this time of year.

So the choice of having this flyball tournament which was run by the High Flyers Club on the cooler banks of this river was quite inspired.

The racing format was also different for this tournament and followed the one used in European Championships.

Normally we race in a league system but this was something called a double elimination. Basically its a serious of races in the morning to get a fastest time so your team can be seeded and then its a knockout competition in the afternoon in which you can lose only once to race in a play off. Its not as complicated as its sounds!

And even better I got to race again. Do you like the nifty colour of my leg protector bandages?

Auntie Breeze and Dare raced in Division 5 and only lost one race all day and eventually won their Division.

Obviously my teams racing was much more exciting. I was racing in Division three in the same team with Chip, Lightning Shock. We had another of our Clubs teams Lightning Bolt in our Division. So we had planned some very competitive encounters with them.

As you can see both me and Chip had been practicing our runs back to our tuggies.

Chip being a real show off is also developing his 'hanging on' to the tuggie technique and I think is probably practicing to enter the next Olympics in the Gymnastic event.

But back to the racing.

The other Clubs team got the fastest time in the morning in our Division and we got the second fastest time. So it was going to be very close. Both teams won all their races until we met for the first time when we were narrowly beaten by them. But we won our knockout race against another team to then go into the finals and to race against once again our rival Club mates.

Very exciting.

In the 'first' final race we took it to two legs each (the winner being the first to win three races) to beat our team mates in the fifth race. But as the competition was a double elimination, after a short break for another divisions final, we then had to race them yet again as they had beaten us in our earlier encounter.

Once again it came down to the final race with both teams again winning two legs each. With the light fading Chip being last dog in our team went into the very last run of the competition neck and neck with the other teams last dog to beat him back and for us to win the Division!

What a great way to finish the outdoor flyball season!

Silver Good Citizen

2011-09-30T00:04:00.005+01:00

Unfortunately the boss forgot to post about an important event that happened a couple of weeks ago.

I passed my Silver, Kennel Cub Good Citizen Award at the first attempt. I go every week to a training club where I took the test.

This is me in the garden with my certificate today looking suitably annoyed with this forgetfulness.

Wordless whacked-out Wednesday

2011-09-28T00:13:00.002+01:00

Yet more Sunny Flyball...

2011-09-25T21:30:00.007+01:00

Another day and yet more flyball (that I missed of course...)

Dare and Auntie Breeze raced in the same team and it was all hands on deck, so no pictures of them. So its a bit of a full on Chip post today. He raced really well and hows about this for a picture of him doing a box turn!

His team raced in the same division as one of our other clubs teams beating them when they raced and coming 2nd overall.

And if you wondered what a Chip's eye view was like of him crossing over with another dog in a a race, this is it.

Next weekend is the last outdoor tournament we have this year, hope the weather is as nice as it was this weekend.

Kennel Club Flyball

2011-09-24T22:10:00.007+01:00

I would have taken part today in Kennel Club Flyball qualifiers today but unfortunately could not as I am still very 'unusually attractive' at the moment.

Basically the Kennel Clubs version is different to the BFA (British Flyball Association) version we normally race.

Apart from the fact its run by the Kennel Club the jumps are over fixed 12" jumps and instead of the lights and electronic timing its all done by human eye... The big attraction is that if you win you get to run at Crufts.

As the qualifier was run after a BFA tournament today the light was starting to fade which has made the race pictures of my teammates that the boss took look very interesting.

This is Chablis

Teddy

Tezzy

Taz

And Tayler

And this is all of them getting ready to race.

Unfortunately my team narrowly missed out on qualifying this year. Hopefully I can have a go next year.

Salute to the Forties

2011-09-21T00:01:00.008+01:00

On Saturday Mum went to Chatham dockyard in Kent for a show which had nostalgic look at the 1940's. There was loads of stuff there from that period which of course was the time of WW2.

This was a Hawker Hurricane which took part in the Battle of Britain.

A great looking anti aircraft gun with people dressed up in wartime uniforms.

In fact lots of people were dressed up in uniforms from the time. The Police today are not that differently dressed in London and in England the Police still generally do not carry guns.

There were also some American Army vehicles on show from that time as well.

And this very splendid looking red fire engine.

And of course there had to be a dog there somewhere.

But I don't think he is old enough to have been there in the 1940's as well...

Paws in the Park, Flyball

2011-09-18T22:08:00.008+01:00

Everyone, apart from me, went to another flyball tournament today. It was held in Kent at a big dog show called Paws in the Park.

There was lots of other things going on for dogs to do and lots of stuff to buy for dogs.

Some of it a bit expensive. This was a special settee just for dogs that you could buy that costs £149.00 !

But back to the Flyball . Auntie Breeze and Dare both raced in the same team and came 1st place in their Division.

Chip's team raced in Division 3 today and his team also came 1st not losing a race all day which is very impressive.

Not only does Chip look like he enjoyed himself but his box turns were very, very good again today.

He is now lying down recovering on our 'normal' settee at home.

Attractive again

2011-09-16T21:33:00.004+01:00

Unfortunately I am 'unusually attractive' again at the moment.

So I am stuck here in the garden for a couple of weeks which will be a real pain as I will miss out on some upcoming flyball racing.

But the good news is I will be able to spend loads extra time keeping those pesky birds away!

Water Orton Wonderdogs

2011-09-12T12:25:00.006+01:00

We all had a great time yesterday at the flyball tournament unfortunately no 1st places for our teams but we all ran well. Unusually me and Chip ran in the same open team, Lightning Flash and as normal Auntie Breeze and Dare Ran in the same team, Lightning Tornadoes.

We were racing in the Midlands in Warwicksire at a BFA tournament run by the Water Orton Wonderdogs (what a great Club name!)

We have been working some more on my drive back to the tuggie which is really helping with the speed of my run backs.

I ran 1st dog in my team for a change, getting loads of runs and I don't think I ran slower than 4.6 seconds all day and did loads of 4.3 second runs. Also got quite a few close changeovers.

Both our teams got 5th places so it wasn't that bad and my team were racing in Division 2 so it was quite fast opposition.

Of course as usual little Chip ran very well all day .

Rest day

2011-09-10T10:24:00.002+01:00

We have having another day out to chill as we are off to another flyball tournament tomorrow.

I wonder if we will win...

Wall less Wednesday

2011-09-07T12:56:00.005+01:00

We have building work going on today at our ranch (well I like to think its my ranch but its really our back garden)

There is new fencing going up on one side of the patio. So you can walk straight into next doors garden at the moment.

But unfortunately the boss was one step ahead of us on this. So we are all being confined to the lawn area when outside at the moment.

Some people have no sense of adventure!

Gotcha

2011-09-03T22:50:00.007+01:00

No flyball tournaments this weekend although we do have some training tomorrow. So we went to my favourite Park instead today..

Am I ready...

And I'm off...

Gotcha!

OK can you throw it again?

Is it a Bird, is it a Plane?

2011-08-31T07:55:00.003+01:00

No its Super Chip...

Great Bank Holiday Weekend

2011-08-29T22:43:00.007+01:00

Just back from the Shooting Stars flyball competition. We all raced in the open competition on Sunday.

Auntie Breeze and Dare both raced in the same team and got a fourth place. I think that Dare has been really working on his box turns.

I also raced on Sunday in a new open team with some new team mates. We raced against Chips team (and beat them.) We got a second place in the Division and Chips team also got a fourth place. So I had bragging rights (for a day!)

This is a YouTube video of me racing, I am the third dog racing in the second race clip. I think we are going to be a very fast team!

Then today both me and Chip raced in a Multibreed flyball team.

In Multibreed flyball you have to have four different breeds of dog racing at the same time, in open you can race any sort of dogs together.

So with me being a English Shepherd and Chip being a Patterdale Terrier it meant we could race with a Border Collie and a crossbreed teammate. We were racing in Division One... So no pressure on us !

This is another YouTube video of me and my teammates racing. I am the second dog racing and Chip the last one.

We actually won Division 1, winning all our races with a best time today of 17.73 seconds !

As you can see I do enjoy pulling my tuggy when I finish racing a leg...

Rest day

2011-08-27T14:47:00.007+01:00

We have some more flyball this weekend but not today. So we have a bit of a rest day to recharge our batteries.

I am keeping an eye out for any spare food that available.

Chips taking the opportunity to check out the local cats from the vantage point of the front room windowsill. (I think its a bit catlike of him...)

Auntie Breeze is probably upstairs on the bed and Dare is keeping out of the way under the front room table.

Can you please stop disturbing me with that camera ...

Wordless Chip Wednesday

2011-08-24T00:01:00.002+01:00

British Flyball Championships 2011

2011-08-22T10:44:00.015+01:00

Wet had a great time at this years British Flyball Championships. It was a bit of a trek all the way up in the Midlands at a place called Arbury Hall near Nuneaton in Warwickshire but it was a very picturesque venue.

And guess who this English Shepherd is?

Its my Dad Adam he races for a team in the North of England so we tend to only see him at the British Championships. He is quite hansom apparently.

Auntie Breeze and Dare both raced in the same team on Friday and they got a 3rd place in their division which was a good start to the weekend.

I raced with my team on Saturday and we got a 4th place in our Division which was exciting (and hard work).

One of my jobs apart from the running is to encourage my team mates just before the racing starts.

Chips team then raced on Sunday and of course he showed off with his spectacular box turns.

And his super speed for such a little lad on the way back from the flyball box .

His team also got a third place but they were racing in division 8 so the result is very impressive.

This is a video of Chip and his team mates racing yesterday (he is the little dog running last)

Willows Tail

2011-08-17T11:12:00.011+01:00

This is Willow who is a very small Terrier who normally lives near us with my Mums Mum.

She has just spent the whole week between the two Fairview flyball Tournaments camping at the venue.

She had never been camping before and had never been to a flyball tournament. Willow also had a go in a flyball starters competition when she was there.

Looks like she had a great time.

Flyball Fairview week 2

2011-08-14T21:44:00.010+01:00

We were all back at Fairview again this weekend for a 2nd tournament at the same venue as last weekend. Its the last weekend before the British Championships so we were all fine tuning our box turns and crossovers.

This is me racing down to the box.

Four feet on the box, ball already in mouth and turning.

Just of the box accelerating away.

Up to full speed again.

And this is a dogs eye view of my running up to cross over with a teammate.

We had another successful weekends racing Chips team came second in their division, Auntie Breeze's team came fourth in hers and me and Dare got a first place in ours with a new fastest team time of 18.99 seconds. I was very qick again this week with a 4.28 second run and a few 4.30's runs as well.

Just to prove I am not the only one of my pack with a good turn this Auntie Breeze today in mid box turn.

And a video of Chip and team mates yesterday, he is the last dog in the video clips.

Wordless play with me Wednesday

2011-08-10T08:13:00.002+01:00

New Fastest Time

2011-08-07T22:23:00.005+01:00

We were at flyball racing again today. This time at Fairview Farm in Stockbridge which is about an hour away by car. Its down the M3 Motorway in Hampshire.

As you may have noticed I wear a liitle bit of equipment when racing. As well as the team harness I also wear some leg protectors which help to look after my stopper pads and dew claws. They also help support my joints when turning on the flyball box.

Speaking of flyball boxes we had a new one for racing today, all the way from Belgium. The Club brought it back from the European Championships last week.

Chip seemed to quickly get the hang of it, this is him doing one of his spectacular turns on the new box
.

And going super quick over the jumps.

We all had a very successful time today. Auntie Breeze's team got a first place in her division and Chips team got a fourth place in his.

Me and Dare raced in the same team today and we also got a first place which was all the more impressive as we were seeded bottom of our division.

I also got a new personal best race time of 4.20 seconds which most flyball people will tell you is a very quick time. I also did quite a lot of 4.30 second times today in races as well.

This a Video of me on our new flyball box today which must have helped improve my times.

We are back at the same venue again next week, hopefully the weather will stay fine again for that weekend.

Wordless Blue merle Wednesday

2011-08-03T00:00:00.003+01:00

Cool Chip

2011-08-01T00:02:00.006+01:00

When the weather gets hot Chip likes to have a splash about in his (own) special red paddling pool.

Chip does seem to concentrate very hard when playing in it.

So much so that he doesn't always notice what the the rest of us are getting up to around him.

Which is a bit of a surprise as I didn't know Terriers could concentrate !

Sleepy Saturday

2011-07-30T16:01:00.004+01:00

No flyball this weekend. But some nice hot weather has arrived so there is plenty of time laze around in the garden in the cool shade before a nice evening walk.

Not much happening at the moment

So why do I feel tired?

Wordless whoops Wednesday

2011-07-27T00:01:00.005+01:00

Terrier Flyball...

2011-07-25T21:19:00.010+01:00

Just had another good flyball weekend. We were just down the road in Berkshire and the sun came out finally which was very nice.

Fortunately flyball is not just about certain (very quick) dog breeds. Smaller breeds also make great flyball dogs and they lower the height of the jumps which benefits all their teammates.

For the first time on Saturday we ran all the Clubs terriers in the same team. Four Terrier brothers who are 9"/10"height dogs and Chip who is the smallest you can be at 7". But as you will see from this video not the slowest... (Chip is 2nd from last in the race).

And this a picture of the Terrier team, Lightning Ratpack. They got second place in their division which is very impressive.

Me and Dare also got second places in our own divisions and Auntie Breeze got a fourth place.

But flyball tournaments are not just about the racing you also get a chance to chill out and enjoy the scenery, which is very nice in this part of England. The boss thought this view looked a bit like France.

And we even had Red Kites flying overhead which untill recently were almost extinct in the UK but are now making a recovery in England.

Kicking in the long grass

2011-07-22T00:00:00.005+01:00

With loads of weekend flyball tournaments at the moment its nice just to have a good run out in the park.

Dashing though the long grass is great.

But you can go really fast where its shorter.

Wordless Wet Wednesday

2011-07-20T01:04:00.002+01:00

Wet Flyball Racing

2011-07-17T20:46:00.007+01:00

Another flyball tournament this weekend this one was in Kent at Capstone Country Park. To say the weather was changeable is a little bit of an understatement!

In the sunshine some more action pictures. This is me at full tilt

and determinedly approaching a jump

On Saturday the others raced. Auntie Breezes team got a 4th place in their Division. Chip and Dare ran in the same team for a change and got a great 1st place in their Division.

My team Lightning Flash ran today and we got a new fastest ever time going sub 19 seconds for the first time with a 18.98 second run in one of our races. We also got a 2nd place in our Division.

In this you tube video of me warming up and racing you can see how changeable the weather was...

And if you missed it in the video this is a picture of how in rained today on and off.

Do you think the drinks can ever ran out in that rain...

Chill out

2011-07-14T18:10:00.007+01:00

We have had a fairly quite week this week after last weekends flyball tournament, just our normal obedience training last night. But we are off again next weekend to another tournament.

So in the meantime I have to keep myself busy in other ways.

Like chewing on one of my toys which avoids being told off for chewing on something less appropriate .

Because how would I like it if Chip chewed on something of mine...

Just Dogs Live

2011-07-11T22:29:00.018+01:00

We got back from the weekends camping late yesterday evening. We had two days flyballing in Cambridgeshire at the Just Dogs live Show. We got the big tent out for the first time since last year.

The weather was very nice most of the time and we had a great competition. This is me with my team mates from Lightning Flash on race day.

Obviously had some more action pictures taken of me in full flow.

Apparently it is quite hard to get shots of you in mid flight going over the jumps but we got two from Saturday.

As you know I do get quite excited when waiting to race

And I can get a bit tricky to hold on to.

But I always calm down just before I zoom off fortunately (well about 1 second before...)

We all raced over the weekend, Auntie Breeze and her team got a third place in their division.

But Dares team did the best of all our pack gaining a 1st place in their division which was very impressive.

Chips team got a second place in their division despite the weather getting quite hot on Sunday. He was certainly flying.

The boss also got a nice video of Chip racing with a better camera than we normally use which shows just how fast Chips team were going.

But perhaps best of all I got to meet a reader of this blog who races with Tyne Tailwaggers Flyball Team. She sees my Dad Adam race regularly with his Club and is a Fan of English Shepherds which is obviously very nice of her.

Hopefully we will see her again at the British Championships later in the year.

Weekend training

2011-07-04T23:59:00.009+01:00

We just had flyball training this Sunday, no tournaments. But the weather held up again with lots of sunshine so we got some nice action shots.

This is Chip in full flight between jumps, he does lift his legs up nicely.

Auntie Breeze 'blowing in the wind,' she looks like she is enjoying herself.

Dare racing down to the jumps with his team mates watching on.

And on the way back having a sneaky peak over at the other lane.

And of course me waiting to have a go

Going over the jumps

And finally a bit of a creative picture of me with a blurred background to show the speed better.

We are off to another flyball tournament next weekend and we are camping so hopefully the weather will stay fine till then as well.

Grass time

2011-07-02T14:29:00.007+01:00

They have been playing Tennis this week at Wimbledon which is not very far from where we live. As is traditional during Wimbledon week we have had both rain and sun.

So the lawn in our back garden is very ready for a good mow now.

But one hazard of trying to be clever with taking photos is you get spotted by inquisitive onlookers.

Who want to know what you are up to.

Well until they get bored that is!

Flaming June

2011-07-01T00:00:00.010+01:00

The summer flowers in our back garden have really started to come out.

Hopefully its a good sign

of lots more sunny weather on the way

As you can see Auntie Breeze seems to enjoy the flowers

Not sure what she sees in them myself.

I prefer to watch out for those pesky birds.

Wordless wondering Wednesday

2011-06-29T00:05:00.000+01:00

The full set

2011-06-26T21:43:00.009+01:00

Just back from today's flyball racing.

I was really, really hot today. In the high 80 f which is a quick change from the rainy cold weather we have been having recently.

So it was a good chance to catch some rays.

And check out the unusual footwear.

Mind you the ground was quite hard so you did need to have a more comfortable sit down occasionally.

But back to the flyball racing, Breezes team got a 4th place in her division, my team got a 3rd in ours and Chips got a 2nd place in theirs. And to complete the full set Dares team got a first place in his division.

This is me in full on race mode today.

And this is Dare in full flight

Obviously Dare was quite pleased with himself.

The Emerald Isle

2011-06-23T21:49:00.009+01:00

They have just got back from a visit to Northern Ireland. Flying by plane from Heathrow to Belfast International airport.

They visited loads of places including the Giants Causeway.

Which was either built by a giant called Finn McCool or formed by volcanic eruptions 50 to 60 million years ago.

The giant version sounds much more plausible to me.

The weather was a bit rainy on and off but the views were spectacular.

They even parked near the top of a mountain to look out over a great looking bay.

They came across a ruined castle perched on the sea cliffs

and picturesque hidden away cottages .

But unfortunately they didn't take us dogs along

even though I dressed up especially.

Fathers Day

2011-06-19T15:43:00.003+01:00

Hope you are all having a very happy Fathers Day.

I can almost stand that tall.

I didn't know he had been in films...

My treat

2011-06-17T00:47:00.008+01:00

Obedience training again this week.

I am practicing my sit stays

While being distracted to try and make me move.

Now that exercise is finished and I didn't break my stay, where is my treat?

Is it in that pocket?

(In case you wondered I am wearing a Gencon lead)

Wordless Border Collie Wednesday

2011-06-15T00:01:00.001+01:00

New best time!

2011-06-12T20:00:00.010+01:00

Just back from the weekends flyball racing and we had a very successful time. Auntie Breezes team got a 4th place in their Division and we got a 3rd place in ours. Chips team did really well winning Division 2, they were seeded bottom of the division so its probably the best result they have ever had.

These are some pictures of me getting ready to run off the flyball box before the race.

Ready,

Ready,

Ready,

Go !!!!

But even better than the results was my running times. I ran a new fastest ever time going sub 4.3 seconds for the first time with a run yesterday of just 4.28 seconds.

This is me and my team racing yesterday and you can see how fast I was going. (You see me running from the back in the first part of the video and I am the last dog racing in the second bit)

Unfortunately it rained loads overnight and again today (you would not think it was going to do so from the nice weather we had yesterday!) so Dare's team didn't get many races before the racing was called off but his claw seems fine.

Dare Stare

2011-06-10T18:15:00.008+01:00

We are off to another Flyball tournament this weekend. We are going to a place near Reading in Berkshire which is just a shortish drive down the Motorway. So we should not be to jetlaged when we arrive to race.

Dare seems fighting fit again and has been zooming about in the Park after balls just to prove his fitness.

He has also been wearing some bandage on his legs when running about just to make sure he does not re pull what is left of his dew claw.

As you have probably read in one of the previous posts Dare is a fully fledged Border Collie and he does stare a lot but I am not sure if he prefers to stare at the boss.

Me...

or a ball...

What do you think ? (My money is on the ball!)

Wordless Chip Wednesday

2011-06-08T00:02:00.006+01:00

There can be only one

2011-06-04T15:47:00.009+01:00

You will be pleased to hear that Dare seems to be on the mend (paws crossed) this is him and Chip today in a rare coneless moment in the garden.

As I was getting no attention and the boss had the camera out I decided that me and Auntie Breeze would have a game of Tug.

She is actually quite strong and determined for a petite Border Collie.

Of course they was only going to be one winner...

Cone head Dare

2011-06-01T18:43:00.006+01:00

Dare has injured his dew claw so had to go down the vets. They removed the nail and have put him on a course of antibiotics and anti inflammatories.

Unfortunately Dare is now wearing the dreaded cone.

Dare had been licking the area and its become inflamed and swollen so the cone is to give it all a chance to heal without him aggravating it further.

Obviously hes not happy about this as its a bit restricting. The vet said if it doesn't get better by next week he will have to go in and have an anaesthetic and have the rest removed so hopefully this will do the trick.

The boss had the same expression as Dare when they presented the bill...

Lovely smell

2011-05-30T20:23:00.004+01:00

One of the best things about a quite Bank Holiday Monday

Is hanging around in the kitchen with the lovely aroma of a freshly roasted chicken in the air

OK when do I get mine ...

Obedient Auntie Breeze

2011-05-27T22:57:00.006+01:00

We were all at our regular evening obedience class again this week. Well me, Dare and Auntie Breeze were as I think Chip is a bit of a lost cause as far as obedience training goes.

We all go to this hall in Taplow in Berkshire.

The Club we go to is the Cippenham (Slough) Dog Training Club and it has been going since 1954, which is a lot of lessons.

But star of obedience training from our little pack is Auntie Breeze who has her Gold Kennel Club Good Citizen Award.

She does great stays no matter what the distraction is around her.

She keeps really still, a bit like one of those Guardsman you see outside Buckingham place looking after the Queen .

Only the fur is all over her not just on her head...

More Farnham Flyball

2011-05-24T21:23:00.010+01:00

This is a You Tube video taken from me racing at the weekends tournament. You can also see what lovely weather we had on Saturday at the venue.

And these are some more pictures of photogenic Dare racing on Sunday. If you don't know he is a Blue Merle Border Collie. Unfortunately he is completely deaf in one ear so he does not know the direction sounds are coming from.

He has quite a determined look when he races.

And quite a nice turn off the flyball box.

Dare also has a very strong 'collie eye' and he likes to stare particularly at movement so he has a bit of a battle when running down the lane to stop himself from looking across at the other dog who is racing against him.

So sometimes he just has to have to have a peak as he crosses the finish line ...

Farnham Park Flyball

2011-05-22T23:27:00.012+01:00

We had some more Flyball racing this weekend. This time it was our own Clubs tournament. Held only about 35 minutes away which was nice as was the lovely weather.

I raced on Saturday with my team Lightning Flash and surprise, surprise we got yet another first place with a fastest time of 19.78 seconds in Division 7.

We had some very close racing and these are some great action pictures of me in full on racing mode.

I also got my Flyball Dog Advanced title Certificate presented to me as well after all the racing.

Auntie Breeze also raced on Saturday and her team got a second place in Division 11. Dares team ran on Sunday and they got a second place in Division 9 and Chips team also got a second place in Division 2. So we all had a successful time.

Dare looks like he went quite quick over the jumps on Sunday.

And enjoyed himself a lot as well.

Practice

2011-05-17T18:24:00.011+01:00

No flyball tournament this weekend so on Sunday we had training as normal.

We are working on speeding up my run backs from the box at the moment. So I did loads of run backs to a tuggie.

What you do is wait...

Then zoom over the jumps...

And catch up, grab ...

and have a good play with the tuggie.

The idea is that some flyball dogs are mainly motivated by getting the ball and then slow down running back from the box. So introducing a tuggie to run back to improves your motivation and speed.(apparently)

We also did some work on my swimmers turns. As well as turning you also have to catch the tennis ball that is sprung out of the box when you hit and trigger it.

This is YouTube video taken at a recent Flyball tournament of us turning. There are clips of me and the rest of my team in real time and then again in slow motion. Its fairly easy to spot Black and Tan me and little Chip.

Aren't we good at it !

After all that exercise I think I need a bit of a rest !

My clever Sister

2011-05-13T18:50:00.003+01:00

This is my sister Abbie and she has just been awarded her Silver Good Citizen award from the Kennel Club.

She is obviously the clever one in the family as I am still working on my Silver award! We met each other last year at a flyball competition and I think we look very alike.

I know her boss reads this blog so congratulations to you and my sister Abbie on this impressive award.

Wordless waiting Wednesday

2011-05-11T00:07:00.002+01:00

Robin Hood Flyball Racing

2011-05-08T21:17:00.011+01:00

We all have just got back from a very busy weekends flyball racing.

This time we were in Brentwood in Essex at the Ramsdens flyball Clubs Tournament. It was held as part of the Robin Hood Game and Country Show so we had a bit of a crowd to watch us race and loads of stalls to visit and spend money.

I raced on Saturday with my Team Lightning Flash and Auntie Breeze and Dare also raced with their teams Lightning Tornadoes and Lightning Sparks. This is me in full flight racing.

My team had a very successful day winning all our races and also the Division. This is link to a video of me and my team. (I am the last dog)

On Sunday Chips flyball team Grease Lightning also raced and they were in Division 2. It had got loads windier overnight but this didn't seem to slow him and his teammates down.

His team also won all their races so they won there division as well. This is a blowier video of them all racing. (Chip is the very small last dog)

But what I have forgot to mention is that on Saturday Auntie Breezes team also won their Division and so did Dare and his team. So we all got first places which is quite an achievement!

This is all of us back in our garden showing off our first place Rosettes.

I think getting us all to stay still for this picture was nearly as hard as the weekends racing...

A Comfy spot

2011-05-06T00:01:00.006+01:00

I always enjoy having a nice tasty bone just to myself.

But to properly enjoy it you also have to find a nice comfortable place to chew on it as well.

Wordless wistful Wednesday

2011-05-04T00:01:00.001+01:00

Chilling out

2011-05-01T16:15:00.005+01:00

After last weeks two flyball tournaments and the excitement of the Royal Wedding on Friday we only had flyball training this morning.

So we have had a bit of time to recharge our batteries this afternoon, which is very nice.

Of course Chip does resting with his usual style.

Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T15:51:00.005+01:00

It probably has not escaped your notice that we had a small event here in London today. The future King of England Prince William has got married to Catherine Middleton who now become the new Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Congratulations to them both.

Obviously being an English, English Shepherd I had to celebrate in some way. So in honor of the occasion I now sport a new brand new item of attire.

In case you can't see it easily its a new ID tag with the cross of St George on the front which is the flag of England.

This is a close up picture of it. It has contact details on the back as well in case I go astray.

Hope you had a lovely Royal Wedding day were ever you are.

Multibreed Flyball Tournament

2011-04-25T21:17:00.007+01:00

We have had a very eventful Easter Bank holiday Weekend. We were down competing at the Jets Easter Flyball Tournament which is held near Stockbridge in Hampshire. You will be pleased to hear that I had my happy face on all weekend!

On Saturday I raced with my normal team Lightning Flash and we won Division 7. This is a YouTube video of our team racing I am the last dog in the team.

I went sub 4.4 seconds for the first ever time with a 4.38 leg on Saturday. This is me getting ready to race.

Then today we went back to Stockbridge to race in a Multibreed Flyball tournament. In Multibreed flyball all the dogs in the team at any one time have to be different breeds. My Team was called Lightning Cocktail and we raced in Division 1.

As I am an English Shepherd and Chip is a Patterdale Terrier we were in the same team and we got to race in all the legs because the other dogs in the team were two Border Collies and two Crossbreeds. This is a Youtube Video from today.

We beat all the other teams to win the Division and also win the Tournament which was a bit of a nice surprise. This is me with the rest of the Lightning Cocktail team.

And I also ran even quicker today doing a 4.31 leg despite only racing on Saturday and it being very hot this weekend.

But I had a nice splash about in a paddling pool which helped to keep me cool but looking a bit wet!

Wordless warn away Wednesday

2011-04-20T18:27:00.005+01:00