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Belle & Dora's show photo!

This photo was taken at the last day of the Dayton trial. Congrats Dora Neezer on your 4th RAE leg, your CD and all your placements! Congrats Baby Belle on your 2 CD legs, your first places, your RA title!!!

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Our amazing trial weekend!

Thanks to all the supportive CATC members, I have some amazing memories this weekend and some brags! Friday night started out with my Maltese taking 4th place in Rally Advanced! Dora earned another RAE leg (4/10). Then I went to dinner with some great friends and stayed over night. 4 dogs in a hotel room (one being my little loud mouth!) and we were able to get some shut eye!

Well the next day, we went out for breakfast and lost track of time. Following Mel down the highway to the trial site (I won't say the speed we were going!) I walked in the ring about to get sick knowing I was the first dog in the ring. Luckily, the morning was a little behind and I had about 10 minutes to get it together. Thanks to everyone who helped me calm down!!! Dora came flying to me on the recall. Some you might remember Dora has been having issues with this. She is a timid dog and she gets nervous the closer the judge gets! Well, she had no problem! Dora didn't move in groups and I heard the great news that we qualified. My heart sunk! I had a few minutes to get it together before I had to take the Belle in the ring (my wild child's first time in the obedience ring). Isabelle heeled her little butt off! I was very proud of her. The recall came and Belle hesitated when I called her. I thought oh no, but then she ran as fast as she could and redeemed herself!!! Belle also made it thru the groups and we were told we qualified. I was so happy at this point nothing else mattered! It got better though. I was shocked when I heard my number called for first place!!! I congratulated Dora and the judge told me it was the maltese!!! Isabelle decided to listen to mommy. If that wasn't good enough, Dora earned second place! I was so flabbergasted I went to check the scores later. Belle won the class with a 194.5 and Dora second with a 194. I am becoming a more consistant handler obviously!

After this high, I was shocked to go into the rally ring to finish Belle's RA title and she won that class too! The really funny part was Isabelle won the class, then second and third place went to 2 Irish wolfhounds. Lets just say that white dot in the photo is Isabelle (lucky she wasn't lunch- they eat 8 cups of food per day!)

This morning, we returned for another round of obedience. I made the novice mistake of having my husband come because I wasn't sure if they would split groups. Well they didn’t so I was glad he came! I didn't want them to suddenly see or smell him so I didn't have him hide. On the heel free, Dora saw him and on the final about turn-kept walking toward to the exit. I remembered to use that second heel command. Dora came running back in time for the halt and we were saved! The maltese was up a few dogs later and she became bored on waiting for me to walk the recall and decided to try and remove her top knot. The judge pointed to me, I hesitated knowing that I would lose points but I should see if she finally looks for me. The judge pointed again and I just yelled as loud as I can. Belle looked up and ran hard. She didn't come in straight but I was happy she came at all! Then came the groups. I had my husband take Dora knowing Belle can be wild! Well Dora flipped out when she didn’t see me a few dogs behind her. My husband's first time in the ring might keep him out! He said she was in panic mode. She finally sat down. When we walked across the ring, she saw me and settled down. On the downs, he made the mistake of letting her lay right up against the ring gate. He knew better but he said he was so scared if he moved her, she might run to me! Belle ended up with a second place and Dora a third! There were 5 qualifiers and the 4 placements were all club members from CATC!

I had a lot of help with a talented photographer this weekend. Thanks to Sean Phillips (see him in the beginning photos !), there were a lot of mementos. He had to deal with some pretty bad lighting conditions but was able to still get in some good shots! If anyone needs a higher quality copy, drop me an email!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81344125@N00/sets/72157600839925627/show/

Well conclusion, Dora now has a CD and Belle will have to finish hers up in the novice B class but she added her RA too! Thanks to all the members who were there to support us and especially to all my great instructors at CATC. I had many people come up and compliment my dogs and were shocked watching my Maltese heel.

Amanda, Belle, & Dora

I have a monster!

I know it is hard to imagine something so sweet that can be so stubborn and mean but I had to yell at Isabelle to get in the house. She will sometimes follow me out, and when she really doesn't want me to go some place without her, she runs out. Well I went to swat her little behind and she turned around and growled at me! I thought maybe she was growling at the neighbor's dog and I just did it at the wrong time, so I yelled house and did it again... sure enough, another growl! I had to remind someone about our size difference! She seems to be sure she is the pack leader, well we had another of day of reminding her who really is!

It is party time!

One can quickly go from being the life of the party to the party pooper!

Happy Fourth of July

Here are some photos with the girls with their new bows! Isabelle didn't want to model at all today so Dora has no problem stealing the spot light! The girls arent very clean as they have been to the park and on long walks... bath time is over due but we need a good grooming session first!

Dora's agility practice!

Dora's last agility practice!

Okay it was really hot so we were both slow but my friend had her camera so I couldnt resist!

Belle & Dora are going to be competing against each other this month! I have them both entered in a Novice Obedience trial. Dora has one leg taking a second place and Isabelle is the rookie. I will be handling both of them so it will be interesting to see how it comes out. Dora is a mommy's girl always willing to please but when she gets stressed out she can tend to freeze up. Belle on the other hand can be a total nightmare and make it look like she has never heard the word heel before, give kisses to the judge, or pretend like why do they not have the agility equipment set up in this ring. But then Isabelle can also suprise me like she did and take a 98/100 in her first trial without a leash! Needless to say, it will be interesting to see who does what!

Amanda

Isabelle makes a new friend! While Dora has never met a toy she didn't like for at least a small amount of time. Belle doenst like much. However, when she does make a friend, it is a friend for life! Belle's newest friend is a blind tiger whom she graciously helps around the house. We might just have to take this guy to CA :)