Pogo and Whizzy qualify for Crufts

The semi finals for Crufts took place on the 29th January at the KC building at Stoneleigh. As the semis got closer i was beginning to regret having to perform three routines all on one day. Life has been very busy away from dogs which is unusual for me so it had been hard to keep my brain on the job.
Pogo was first in on the day with her Great Escape heelwork routine. I chose this music as it suits her small frame and as i had found a different version i felt i could do it differently from when i have used it before. Pogo did well but i didn't feel that we were both quite on form, so i was pleased to find out that we ended up in second place.
Then it was the turn of Whizzy in the Crufts freestyle semi final. I was performing a routine she has done last year so in theory we should have known it. Well Whizzy was in turbo mode and i should have perhaps given her more work in the morning. That's the trouble when your working a new dog it takes a while to find out what is the best way to get them to perform well in the ring. Anyway it didn't go too badly and she was certainly enjoying it which is more important than anything else. She ended up third which considering she was the youngest dog in the competition and has only been competing since April 2010 i was very pleased. My main reason for working her at this level was that she would not get the opportunity to work in the main ring at Crufts for quite a while if i didn't, as i am judging Crufts again in 2012 so i thought it best to give her the experience now.
After a quick change it was time to get ready to work Pogo in the freestyle semi final. I had been concentrating a lot on this routine and have had it in my mind for a long time but wanted to wait until i felt we could do it justice. The routine seemed to go past in a flash and there were areas which were not as good as we should have been but something to work on before the final. The routine seemed to go down well with the audience and the judges as they scored us well which meant for the second year running Pogo won the Crufts semi final.
So now its a bit of a rest before getting ready for Crufts at the start of March.

Crufts semi finals on the horizon

Not long now until the Crufts semi finals on the 29th January at the Kennel Club building. I keep thinking i should be doing more training but practise seems to have gone OK and a lot of things that the dogs are doing in the routines they have been doing a while. With all the rain its not really been ideal to go out training anyway. Also due to Pogos freestyle props i think i would get very odd looks in the park if i used them so i only use them in the barn i hire for practise.

Pogos sheepdog training has unfortunately been taking a bit of back seat recently as i really felt i should concentrate on her freestyle. I have managed to do a little with the ducks but hopefully get the next month out the way with and we can get back to do some practise.

I know there are various competitors from abroad who read this blog so i thought i should make you all aware of changes in the Crufts international rules. Here is the extract which anyone who is competing at Crufts international competition needs to be made aware of. Perhaps if you know someone who is competing you can make them aware of these changes and translate them into a language they might understand better. The last thing i would want to see is someone who has made the trouble to come all the way over to the UK but gets disqualified for including one of these moves. The extract from the Crufts rules reads

"The following moves are NOT permitted during any routine. If any of the following moves are used the dog and handler will be eliminated from the competition: dog doing head stand (also known as tripod); dog being held/supported above handlers shoulders whilst handler is standing; dog performing a forward or backward roll; dog balancing on handlers upturned feet and; doing performing a handstand or walking on front legs only."

This week will see me starting to teach workshops with a one day session at Findon downs club. Also i have a display to do in London where i am told there will be a VIP turning up during my display. I have not been told who this VIP is going to be so i am intrigued to find out now who it is.