Training update!

A training update!

Logan is currently enrolled in Agility, Competition CD & CDX classes as well as training to be certified for tracking.

Agility is *fantastic* we both look forward to Wednesday nights and our dirty, dirty fun (Ok, that's not how it sounded. The agility flooring is DIRT... we come home covered in dirt.... see? Not how it sounded. :) He's doing fabulous at "owning" the equipment. We enjoy it so much we bought a set of weaves and are trying to figure out how to make jumps :) We anticipate many years of fun to be had in agility!

Obedience is going really well! We are in a Competition CD class getting us prepared for actual competition followed by an hour of CDX behaviors. It's a lot of fun and the instructor has said often how impressed she is that Logan "Lives to work." What a great compliment.

Tracking is going INCREDIBLY well. We are up to 75 min. of aging the lines ... and included another run in with geese. Amazingly other than making a premature turn he didn't seem at all distracted by the geese scent. He also crossed gravel and a two lane road before finishing his track in about 10 min. So, next we are up to 90 min. Should he keep this up we will be ready for our TD once he hits 120 min.

I tried an all VST (Variable Surface Tracking) going out our driveway down the street, across the sidwalk and ending in a neighbors front yard. He seemed a bit baffled at first and forgot how to track ... but once he put his nose down and remembered (applied "find it" from tracking in grass to working on cement/asphalt) what to do he followed the turns exactly and finished in a mere 30 seconds.

I'm *very* proud of my boy-dog :)

A Valentines Day run!

A Valentines Day run with Olivia... Logan's Valentine. Though, he made sure to tell Nikki that she's always special to him :)

2/2/2009 - A run at the Sound

It was actually over 50*f's today... for the first time in what feels like years! So, we went to the Sound to celebrate. The dogs had a great time... and at the very end when they were closing the park, Logan bolted (he was off leash, BAD MOM!) and the ranger saw him... I was yelled at over a loud speaker! Talk about slightly mortifying.

Anyway! Here are some pictures of our day :) (I should have asked the ranger to pose for one!! :o)

The Great Goose Fiasco of Oh-Nine

It was the best of tracks... it was the worst of tracks....

After introducing new terrains (loose leaf, short grass, pavement, dirt, etc) the next step to training in tracking is to age the courses..

So. I set up 1 line and kept it fairly simple and then started a second a distance away. Since the track will be aged I'm using hot dogs more frequently to help him stay on the line.

I age the first one 40 min. By the time we get to the second it's been aged a good 45 min.

It was 45*f when we arrived at the park. Nice and sunny... and I wore fluffy socks with rubber boots, since it's swampy in places. During the time I run the dogs and lay the track the temperature starts plummeting (a period of about 90 min). It's now nearly freezing and I'm unable to feel my fingers or toes.

We start off strong... off we go. I notice a huge flock of geese (think 50+) are all over the last 150 yards of my track including the last turn and over a gravel path! Logan, not to be deterred, keeps tracking, the geese start running ahead of the giant gray bird dog... trying to escape certain death.

Logan has amazing work ethic and completely (ok, more or less) ignores them and is diligently trying to find the track. ... nose to the ground, weaving around, running around me in circles, casting-out... every trick he knows he's attempting trying to pick up the scent.

I'm realizing I cannot remember where the turn is, but figure he'll find the hot dogs at some point and I'll know where the turn was... no. No hot dogs. ANYWHERE. Geese are still running, fleeing for their lives, flying around us... honking, flapping their wings. Logan, running... me losing all feeling in both feet. My balance is now uncertain as the terrain is uneven and i have a 75lbs dog at the end of a 25ft lead pulling me around.

5 min. later, STILL NO HOT DOGS... and I'm fairly certain the article at the end is missing. as I could SWEAR I put it right over there (just about 20 feet off the gravel path) ... Logan is still working hard for me. I have now lost all feeling in my fingers... and I'm starting to worry about the entire lower half of my body.

Finally I wise up, as the dog nearly pulls me over, again, I drop the lead. "FIND IT LOGAN!"

Dog puts his nose in the air.... starts air scenting. Goes straight to the article that is across another path and nearly to the lake (a good 50 yards from where I placed it), looking pleased he comes running back with it. Delivering it to me... i attempt to release the few remaining hot dogs that have survived the Geese and give him some treats I'm carrying.

Not, exactly "tracking" but, we got my glove back AND about an hour after coming home and soaking my feet I regained all feeling. Somewhere, I hope at least a few of those horrible beasties had at least a bad case of stomach cramps. Paying for their ill begotten hot dogs.

Next, time I will loose the hound and forget the track.

Lots of New Champions

2 weeks ago we were at the Puyallup show where we saw one dog finish, in BBE classes, new Champion Regens Ready or Not, "Vinnie", congratulations to Judi Voris and Regen Weimaraners!

We ended up skipping the Portland specialty due to my work schedule, but if i had been there we'd have watched several of our friends finish!

On Friday, congratulations to:
New Champion Rosewin Anson's Cervelo, "Cervelo" going WD/BOW and littermate
New Champion Rosewin's Classic Schwinn of Anson, "Schwinn" WB!
Congrutulations to Donna and Jan of Rosewin and Anson weimaraners, Donna, Cervelo's mom and Pam, Schwinn's mom!

Saturday, congratulations to:

New Champion Eden's Sebastian Ricki Ricci "Sebastian" going WD AND BOS!
New Champion Diamond MK's The Mother Road going WB/BOW!

Congratulations to Stephanie of Eden weimaraners and proud owner Ryan.
And Congratulations to Marla Kertzman, Diamond MK weimaraners!

Wow! 5 finishing in just 3 shows!! Congratulations to all!!

Logan's got siblings!

Waltz Weimaraners has had a lovely (if super-sized, some of these puppies were just barely shy of 20oz!) litter of puppies. 5 boys and 2 girls delivered Jan 17/18th 2009.

Proud parents are Winston, BISS Am/Can Ch Anson's On The Rocks CD (http://weims-winston.blogspot.com/) and mama is Logan's mama, Can Ch Waltz Grayce v Silversmith (http://loganweim.homestead.com/index.html) Mom and babies are doing well!

Logan's excited to have half-siblings and is celebrating by chewing a bone.

Ch Waltz To The Top v Anson

Goes BEST OF BREED!!

Out as a Special this past weekend Logan went BOB on Friday under Judge Robert Salsbury at the Tacoma Kennel Club.! Our first BOB as a Special... it seemed this was in spite of the fact his coat is definitely not in show condition. Very blotchy as he is shedding out into his adult coat.

Saturday and Sunday he went BOS (Best of Opposite Sex) to two different Bitches... and always seeming to be in contention for the top spot. Under Judges Kathryn Cowsert and James Covey.

He did a great job getting back into the swing of being a show dog and looked great out there with Tony Carter.

Thank you and congratulations to his handlers Tony Carter & Carmen Ruby!!