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A diary with a difference, the world as seen through the eyes of our dogs. Sponsored by SueCheck™ Coco 296/06/2008 Just a short note as I am pretty tired after all my racing today. It all started on Friday night when Tess and I were having the usual scrap in the garden over MY ball when Dad called us both in and made us settle down so I did not get tired or hurt. Dad then got changed and we went out in the car. What I did not realize is that he just wanted to find out where we were racing on Saturday. When we got home Mum and Dad put us inside and disappeared out to the pub for something to eat (charming we eat at home every night and Friday night comes and out they go out. I tried phoning Jollyes in Selby for a take away but they were shut). I knew something was different when Dad’s alarm went of at 6am. This is unheard of on a weekend. The car was packed in record time and we were put in our box. We pulled up at a field and saw the ring and I soon realised I was to go flyballing, I did however get a little confused as I was running for a team called Dolphins. How do dolphins get over the jumps? But hey there might be a little bit of fish as treats. I did not realise Uncle John, Uncle Peter, Auntie Emma and my friend Amber would be watching. We started well winning the first race and then dopey Dad decided to set me off as another dog ran past with a ball in its mouth - doesn't he realise that evrey ball on the field belongs to me? I had no option but to chase it, oh dear Dad came chasing after me it was like doing the congo, when Dad finally caught me I thought I would not give him the ball as it took me ages to get it. Eventually he got it though and he sent me on my way towards the box. When I returned Dad told me where I had gone wrong and that we had lost the race so I told him to listen to Uncle John and get me closer to the line. Thankfully Dad took note of me and we won every race after that. Our team had to race against Amber and we won but that was down to having 3 collies in our team (damn they are fast). Amber was really good and came back to her Dad every time. Dad told me we had won and I was going to get a rosette but he came back from the presentation with a keyring with my picture on it and the other side said 1st. It was a really nice picture of me. I gave it to Dad as I don't carry keys and I can't even reach the door lock. Amber got one as well but she is a bit taller so she may be able to reach. Uncle John took a couple of pictures of me whilst I was running so I thought I had better pose for him seen as he had told Dad what to do and steered him in the right direction earlier with where I needed to set off from. Thanks to the Dolphins team, Uncle John, Auntie Emma, Uncle Peter, Amber, Tessa, Mum and also Dad for a really enjoyable day. Going to bed now - shift over Tess you take up all the room it's like being married.Coco 26/06/2008 A few weeks ago Mum and Dad told me and my sister Tessa that we were going to have a look at doing flyball, I was not sure what this was and asked my big sis what's it all about. Tess just shrugged her shoulders and said she thought she had seen it at the game fair but was not sure. Monday night came and we were put in the car, Dad was really excited so I thought to myself this might be OK. Dad left us in the car for a while and there was me thinking flyball was for us so why had Dad left us in the car. Tess explained to me that he was probably being introduced to people, I said to Tess that this was not fair as we would need to get to know them as well. The time came when we were allowed out and we met lots of new friends and lots of Aunties and Uncles. There were that many I could not remember their names. Auntie Carol explained that we were to start one jump at a time and before long I soon seemed to get the knack of this. Whilst I was doing this I could see Dad out of my eye corner wrestling with Tess as she was so excited that she wanted a go. By the end of the night we had both managed to get the ball and return to Mum and Dad. Dad told me he was taking me to flyball so that I could use up some of my excess energy and hopefully quieten me down. How wrong were you Dad? J At first I met lots of big dogs and then there was Finnigan and Billibob, not sure what their Dad is feeding them but they are huge, then I met Millie and Daisy who were more my size and when we are in the cars we have barking competitions. Last night Dad came home from work and was really excited and told me Uncle John had managed to get me a place in a starter team. I am a little worried as my friends won't be there but Dad said Uncle John was coming up so that put my mind at rest. I guess I will keep Mum and Dad awake on Friday night as I know I won't be able to sleep.Millie & Daisy 08/06/2008 Dad’s been at home all week, yay! It’s great when Dad’s on holiday ‘cos he sometimes does different walks from Mum so we get to see different things. We were on our usual walk on Monday morning and saw someone new. It was Paddy, he’s Auntie Vicki’s new pup. He’s a Jack Russell from up at the farm and he’s not very big, a bit like a cloutie dumpling on legs. It was his first time out and he was a bit nervous but by the end of the week he was getting really confident. So when we were walking back down the road into the village on Friday he met Freddie the spaniel for the first time. He went “Woof woof, grrr” but wagged his tail and backed off all at the same time, typical terrier! On Wednesday Mum and Dad took us to a pub and we had a drink! It was a dog friendly pub called The Blacksmith’s Arms at Naburn. When we went in a nice man came along and gave us a chewy each and our very own bowl of water with a paw print on it. Mum and Dad ordered lunch and Mum asked for a BLT but when it came it wasn’t a little one like you get in the supermarket, it was a BLT of heroic proportions with salad and proper chips. Mum couldn’t manage it all so Dad had to finish it off, we just sat and watched the people coming in and out it was great. After that we went into York, York’s brilliant, the streets are paved with food. Well not everywhere but people drop chips and bits of Cornish pasties and sandwiches from fast food outlets and we tried to snaffle them up. We’re not sure what fast food is but Dad wont be involved, Dad doesn’t do fast J. On Friday we had a day out to Doncaster. Dad wanted to go to the fish and meat market to get some nice stuff to make for tea. Doncaster is like York there’s food on the pavement, there seemed to be more people Dad said it was because it was Friday and we were in York midweek. Anyway lots of nice people made a fuss of us so we liked it. Dad’s back at work on Monday, boo. Amber 26/05/2008 Hi all, just keeping you updated with my latest flyballing
adventures. We had a early start for Eggborough on both Saturday and
Sunday which always seems the case with flyball. On Saturday I had a
little bit of a run around with the division team which was fun but not as much
fun as usual due the absence of a certain Mr Finningan. Apparently
according to what BillyBob told me, Finnigan had been racing around when he
accidently ran into BillyBob whilst he was yawning and caught himself on
BillyBob’s teeth. BillyBob
assured me his teeth are fine. Get
Well soon Finnigan. Sunday arrived bringing along with it the main event
STARTERS! I dont think Dad gets
as nervous in starters (he seems to spend a lot less time in the bathroom).
We all arrived bright and early. First on the agenda seemed to
be a noisy affair which we won but it was close for a while.
Then the team was ready, including a new boy who goes by the name of
Barney he was really looking forward to his first outing as a Hot Dog.
The dream team consisted of Daisy, Me, Ziggy and Barney with Holly and
BillyBob as backup. We all tried
really hard and I think we all did great.
Auntie Carole was so pleased with me that one time at the box she gave me
two balls... coooool. Somebody else must have noticed how hard we raced
because we each won a rossete for 3rd place, Im not sure what a rossete is but I
hope it tastes of duck. Next on the flyball tour we are going to Clumber Park and I can't wait. Barney 26/05/2008 Mum's been telling me for ages that I should write this and I have finally learnt how to work the computer keys. So here is my first Dog Blog. My Mum knows me very well and a few weeks ago she took me Flyballing. (I really do love tennis balls!) Well, on Saturday 25th May in the evening, Mum started packing our cages into the car. (My girlfriend Pacha was staying with us, as her Mum and Dad were on holiday.) Early on Sunday morning, after a quick toilet run at the Racecourse, we set off to Eggborough Power Station. Mum had food and drink for us all, so we knew it was something special and were getting excited. When we arrived there were loads of dogs, people, cars and caravans and it was very noisy, but we soon found our friends and got settled in. Mum told me I would be in a team with Daisy, Amber and Ziggy, which I was pleased about, because I knew them from the club. During the day we had to spend quite a lot of time in our cages, which we are not used to, but Mum took us out for several short walks. Daisy, Amber, Ziggy and I ran five races and we won two of them, so we were very pleased. After the last race, Mum started packing the car, when Auntie Carole said she thought we had come third and we might have to stay for the presentation. Uncle Stan soon confirmed that we had won third place, so everyone was very happy. Mum took us home for our tea and then she went back to collect a special rosette with THIRD on it. She told me I had done really well so I was very proud. Mum and I felt a bit sorry for Pacha, as she had been in her cage a lot more than me, so we all went out for a nice walk. Daisy 26/05/2008 I’ve had a whole weekend of flyball, yay, brilliant, I’ve even got my first rosette! On Saturady it was Millie’s turn in division, she really enjoyed it and had some tight racing. The team didn’t get any rosettes but never mind it was good fun. Yesterday it was my turn with Amber, Barney and Ziggy. We won a couple of heats in the morning but lost both races. I get so excited when I get back to Mum I just drop down and attack the ball, Mum has to try to get me out of the way. If not Uncle Pete has to run round me. Mum and Dad are going to get me an S&R harness like Millie so Mum can scoot me out of the way in time. In the afternoon we won our first two races but were convincingly beaten by Uncle Charlie’s Crazy people. (Uncle Stan thought they were only running three dogs J). At the end Mum got my rosette and she’s now put it on our trophy board alongside Millie’s. Great!!Ziggy 26/05/2008 We all had to get up really
early yesterday, I didn't know why, but Mum and Dad said it would be worth it.
We had a short car ride and when we stopped I could hear lots of dogs barking,
and then I saw my friend Daisy and my new friends Amber and Barney. We
were going to do flyball, but this time we were in a competition.
Good job Auntie Carole and Uncle Stan came round the other night to show me how
to get the ball out of the box. I
always thought you just stood in front of it and barked and that made the ball
fly out at me, but now I know I have to stamp my paw on the box and that makes
the ball fly out with a big clink, bit scary at first but now I want to dash
back to have another go every time I hear a click. Anyway after a lot of sitting
about Dad put my harness on and it was time to go for the first race.
We were all really excited as we waited to go into the ring, soon it was
our turn and we went in, we were running against another team, pity there was a
net between them and us otherwise I could have popped across to say hello.
I stopped a few times to look at them but I got lots of encouragement
from Auntie Carole and Uncle John, so I soon got the idea that stopping for a
chat wasn't the idea and concentrated on getting the ball and dashing back to
Dad with it, after all he did have the sausages and each time I went back to him
he gave me a piece which was yummy. We all really enjoyed ourselves and we won two of our six races which everyone was really pleased about and then Uncle Stan told us we had come third and won a rosette. My first rosette, Mum and Dad were very happy and even Tara gave me a lick. I'm really tired but its been a great day, I think I'm going to like being a flyball dog. Tara 24/05/2008 Mum and Dad got up very early
so I knew we were off to a flyball competition. It wasn't long before we met up with everyone in the team.
I love flyballing it took me a long time to get into the swing of it.
It’s exactly four years today since I got the hang of it at a
competition here at Eggborough. I've had so much fun during those four
years and won so many rosettes Mum and Dad have run out of spaces to put them.
Good job I suppose that it's time for me to retire from competitions.
I get a bit stiff now after running and have to admit that the old eye
sight isn't quite as good as it was but hopefully I can still do a bit at
practice. Got to show these new
whipper snappers how its done. Our
new team is so fast it makes me quite dizzy, can't compete with that.
I was always the steady away type, get there, get back and don't put a
paw wrong. Half way through the morning
Mum got me out of the car and I was presented with a beautiful new red lead from
all my old mates. Iit has my name
on it and Veteran, so I have now joined my friend Holly in the very
exclusive Veteran team. It was a lovely surprise and I promise to look
after it. I'm looking forward to
barking like mad to encourage the new team - wonder if they'll get as many
rosettes as I did, hope so. Daisy 12/05/2008 I'm a big girl now I've run flyball in Division. Wow! Mum and Dad got us up really early yesterday 'cos we were doing flyball at Middlesbrough. Dad took us down to the fields and there was a low lying mist that Ashley Jackson could have painted. Luckily he wasn't there so Dad didn't get distracted and we had a nice short walk. Once we got back Mum and Dad packed the car and Millie and I were off tucked up safe in our Lintran box. We were in Middlesbrough in no time and then it was starters, great. Holly was in charge of us and gave some good tips, she calls us pesky youngsters but she doesn't mean it really. Then in the afternoon Millie said 'OK Titch it's your turn, show 'em you're a height dog'. So I took Millie's place running last with Mum. It was brilliant I ran really well and I loved it. We got some good times and I got 45 points. Yey, roll on Eggborough. Amber 21/03/2008 Hello Amber here. Just thought I’d let you know how I got on at my first ever fly ball competition. I knew something special was happening when my Granny and Grandad arrived from Cyprus (where they live) on Wednesday, but I didn’t know what until my Granny told me they had come to watch me compete in a Flyball Competition at Carlton Towers on Good Friday. On the night before the competition I couldn’t get to sleep. It's a very exciting business this flyballing. I had just nodded off and was dreaming about running over the jumps and triggering the ball from the box just like Auntie Carole had taught me, when Mum & Dad woke me up. I could have done with a few more minutes but then I heard the 3 magic words every dysfunctional dog loves to hear, “let's go flyballing”. So I rounded up the Oldies and what seemed like the entire contents of the house and garage and crammed it all in the car and off we went. On the way there I was a bit nervous and by some of the smells in the car I wasn’t the only one!!! Daddy!!! We arrived at Carlton Towers and met up with the gang. My team members were Daisy, Reef and Ziggy they seemed a bit nervous too but once we got together we all felt a bit better. When we went down to the Arena it was like a massive dog party. Dogs of all shapes and sizes seemed to be there there was even a pony. I think he had got lost or as I heard Uncle John tell Mum it was a Burmese Mountain Dog. Strange name for a pony but each to their own. The moment had arrived and we entered the arena and we were racing, I tried to think back to practice and focus on what I had to do, I raced all the way down, triggered the box, got my ball and raced all the way back to my Dad. I’d done it, it was great I really loved it and I think our team did great. Everyone was really pleased with us all. I slept really well on Friday night and dreamt of flyball I cant wait to go again. Daisy 21/03/2008 Coo Dad had us up and out walking before half past six this morning. I didn't mind though because today was the day I was going to my first flyball tournament and I was really excited. Millie says tournaments are the best ever and even better than practising. We were the first division on so we didn't have long to wait before it was my go. Uncle Stan put me as lead dog. It was brilliant, but I wriggled so much I shook my harness off so the judge had to wait for my pit crew (Dad) to help Mum get me fitted out for racing. After that I was off whizz. It was great I loved it. I only put a paw wrong once when I had run back and hadn't seen Mum so I whizzed off down the wrong lane. Dad apologised to Uncle Charlie but he said it was OK because we're still learning. When I got home and all the adrenalin wore off I just zonked out and dreamt all about it, wow! Millie & Daisy 06/02/2008 Woof woof! Some bad men want to steal our village, we don’t like bad men.
When we say they are going to steal it we don’t mean they want to demolish it, they want to build a great big town between us and Eggborough.
There would be no countryside for us to walk in, no fields, no trees, no flowers, no animals, just concrete.
We say boooo to bad men. It isn’t as if there are any jobs for the people if they built this
town. They would all get on the M62 and drive to Leeds. Dad does that journey every day and he says it’s like a car park.
Mum and Dad say we haven’t to worry because there are a lot of nice people in the village and they will kick up a fuss to stop the bad men.
Yay to nice people, boooo to bad men. Here’s a link www.notowillowgreen.freediscussions.net/index.htm and here’s the link to our village website www.kellington.net. Please take a look and join in. Remember it’s boooo to bad men. Millie & Daisy 13/01/2008 Dad’s been on holiday all week, yay! It’s been great Dad does different walks to Mum so we see different things. On Saturday we saw a man out pigeon shooting using decoys. Dad didn’t want us to disturb him so we went down the path over the field rather than all the way round. Halfway across I got the scent of a hare and went scooting off but I never saw it, Millie just tootles along with Dad and thinks I’m daft. On Friday we went to York for a walk but it was cold and damp so we didn’t stop more than an hour before we came home. Then yesterday we saw two men ferreting on Church Lane. The men said we could join in but Dad said Mum would throttle him if we did so we just continued walking. This morning we were walking up to the Church when we saw Uncle Phil with Finnegan and Billy-Bob coming in at the other end, we had a great time running round in the middle of the field. It isn’t fair their legs are a lot longer than ours so we can never catch them. Dad’s back to work tomorrow, boo! Billy-Bob 04/12/2007 Dad’s been poorly and Mum rightly grounded him. That meant we couldn’t go to flyball and watch my bestest mate Finnegan run really fast and catch that ball thingy. I keep having a go at that but it’s not as fun as running really fast round and round and jumping up at people. Mum said the team had done really well with some impressive times; Finnegan was happy about them winning but was a bit disappointed as well. Dad was even more disappointed so that was two of them. I tried to cheer them up by nipping Finnegan’s ears and jumping on Dads delicate things, they both seemed to enjoy it as they squealed a lot and shouted. The best thing was Monday afternoon Dad had come back from the doctors and let me and Finnegan out the back I found a great toy to play with it ran fast but was not as quick as me! Dad shouted ever so loud and called it a rat, it was a tough little cookie and scratched and bit me making me let go of it but Finnegan grabbed it by the right end and gave it a right good shaking, he then let go of it and then we took it in turns to catch it, Daddy was running round chasing us, what a great game! Then Tabitha (she’s not very bright) came running out thinking we were playing with the dog next door ran over to us and stood on the rat killing it, I wouldn’t care but she never even noticed it! Dad said it was not like a rabbit and could have really hurt me; he washed my face as I had blood on it and then took me to the vet who called me Billy the rat catcher. Dad mumbled all the way there and back saying I was costing him a fortune (but I am worth it). Daisy 25/11/2007 We went
to the vet’s on Thursday for our blood tests, this is so we can go to France
next year for our holiday. We
didn’t go abroad this year ‘cos I was too young, but next year we’re going
to Normandy. Millie says France is
great except you’ve to watch where you’re going.
She was so busy sniffing sniffs in Amboise she walked into an ice cream
sign and bashed her head. Daisy 07/11/2007 Oh ‘eck I’m in trouble again! I wouldn’t mind but it wasn’t even my fault. Mum decided to bake some Bakewell Tarts for flyball this coming Sunday. She did the pastry in the morning then left it in the fridge to rest while she had lunch. Then after lunch she rolled out the pastry, put it in the tins and baked the bases. While the bases were cooling she made the filling, put the jam on the bottom, then she filled the bases and baked the tarts. All OK so far, but then Mum did something silly. She put the tarts on the kitchen table to cool and left us in charge while she went to Morrisons. They
did smell really good so I thought I should get on the table to have a better
sniff. Then I thought maybe if I had a little lick I could see what they
taste like, then I had a little nibble and a little nibble more, before I knew
it I’d eaten half of the first one! I’m not greedy so I left the rest
for Millie and ate half of the other one. When I told Millie that Mum had
left us some delicious cake she went bananas. Mum hadn’t made them for
us, she’d made them for our flyball Aunties and Uncles! Eek, how was I
to know? When Mum came home she said I was a naughty girl so I hid behind
the sofa. Mum didn’t give me much tea at night, just as well, I was full
anyway. J
Daisy 31/10/2007 Crikey, ‘eck bananas what a fabulous few days! On Sunday Mum said I could do flyball training again and I’ve not forgotten what to do. Dad lined me up and let me go, I said “Woof, woof, coming Auntie Carole”, I whizzed down the lane, got the ball off the chute and whizzed back, it’s great doing flyball again. Uncle Stan is hoping The Bellestars will be putting on a starters competition in December so we can enter a team. I’ll be in it with Ziggy and Harry, brill! On Monday Mum took us apple picking at a friend’s orchard and we had a great time playing with all the other dogs. Then all of a sudden a hare sprang up and I shot after it and I chased it out of the paddock and into a field. I’d nearly catch up then it would do a quick turn and I’d have to look round and find it. Then I lost sight of it so I ran back to Mum with a silly grin on my face, I wasn’t out of breath or anything.
Ziggy 21/10/2007 I knew something special was happening yesterday cause Mum and Dad were very excited and gave me a parcel wrapped in paper, then they told me it was my birthday, I'm one year old, what fun. I ripped the paper off my present, Tara wanted to help but I told her to back off it's my birthday, but I did relent when I saw it was a toy we could play with together so I'm letting her share my present. Then we were both brushed, I hate being brushed but Dad told me to stop growling or I wouldn't go out. Then Dad said we were going to church for the Blessing of the Animals Service and I had to behave myself. As we walked to church Tara explained it all to me, she'd been quite a few times and she said I'd like it. When we got to the church there were lots of other pets, dogs, cats,. hamsters in cages and a parrot and children clutching their teddy bears. We all had out photo taken outside church and the man said we would be in the local paper - good oh, Mum and Dad seemed to like that. There was lots of singing and people chatting and then a lady in a long black dress and a white collar came to see me and Mum told her it was my birthday and she said “Shall we all sing happy birthday Ziggy?” and everyone yelled “Yes” and they did. I was ever so chuffed, so chuffed in fact that when she came back with a basin of water I tried to jump up and drink it - Dad was not best pleased. He told me it was holy water and that each pet was going to be blessed with it and if I drank it there wouldn't be enough to go round. After the service we came home and then it was time for flyball. Mum and and Auntie Sue had arranged a party for me and my friend Daisy, she was a year old a couple of weeks ago. All our chums were there and their Mums and Dads so we had a jolly old time, though I must say we were both a bit disappointed that we weren't given any of the lovely chocolate cake and wine that everyone was tucking into. Still we got lots of lovely presents and we gave all our chums a goody bag of treats for coming along to our party. We also managed to do a bit of flyball as well. I do love running over the jumps but I don't really like the big black box which goes bang and spits out a ball each time I get near it. I think I'll give it a wide berth, seems a bit dangerous to me! What an exciting day I've had, wonder if they'll do it all again for us next year? Daisy 07/10/2007 It’s been a quiet week. It’s 'cos of my operation.
Mum has been giving me a little walk round the block, then Millie gets a
proper walk round the fields flushing out pheasants and stuff. Millie says
it’s not the same without me to dance and play with. In an evening
I’ll bite Millie’s bum and she will start wrestling me then Mum and Dad go
frantic. Dad has put up our old cage in the kitchen and I get banged in
the slammer. It’s like being Coolhand Luke, but at least I don’t have
to eat all those eggs. J
On Saturday Dad spent the day tidying up the back garden.
He was
hungry at lunchtime and he went to the village chippy. Yay! I just
love fish and chips and so does Millie. We wait nice and polite while Mum and
Dad tuck in 'cos they always save some for us. Best of all we had them al
fresco which, as Auntie Lily Allen tells us, rhymes with Tesco! I’m having my stitches removed on Monday so things will start to improve after that. I’m going to flyball practice this afternoon in our posh new Lintran box so I can see my friends, and then I’m going to KC Silver classes with Uncle John Verity on Tuesday. It’s not long now to our exam, eek! I don’t know who’s most nervous, me, Millie, Mum or Dad Daisy 28/09/2007 I’m driving Mum and Dad potty! I went for that operation yesterday, you know the one we girls have so we don’t have puppies. Anybody would think I had had major surgery the way they are acting. I can’t play with Millie or go for walks or go up stairs or anything. Mum says I have to have peace and quiet today, so we’ve all sat in the conservatory and Mum and Dad have read books, and I’ve chewed a Nylabone so it’s been OK. Yesterday Mum was so worried, after she had dropped me at the vet’s she went to Lincoln with Dad and Millie for some retail therapy. They got us a posh box to travel to flyball in. It’s a Lintran, not any old rubbish, always the best for us. When they got there the people tried out a box for size in the back of the estate, then Millie jumped in and gave it the paws up. When they got back home Dad did out the box with some comfy vetbed, and Millie tried it again and she says it’s very comfy. I get to try it out on Monday when I go to the vet’s for my check up, I think I’ll like it. Millie and Daisy 08/09/2007 Millie and Daisy: We’ve been on holiday, hurray! Daisy: We saw Dad going up into the loft last week and bring down the cases, I didn’t know what they were for but Millie said they’re what Mum and Dad put their clothes in before they go away, so we knew we were in for something exciting. Millie: Daisy isn’t old enough for a pet passport so I knew we were going somewhere in the UK. On Thursday Mum packed the cases and Dad put the roofbox on the car and loaded it up with holiday gear, we knew it was going to be really good.
Millie: On Monday Mum and Dad took us into Bakewell for provisions, when you walk into Bakewell you go over a bridge and there are lots of huge trout, Lettie would have liked one of those! We had a look around the market and shops then at the end Mum went into the Co-op and Dad sat outside with us to wait. Guess what? Around the corner came, Megan and Foster and Holly, and they had Uncle Stan and Auntie Carole with them. Everybody made a fuss it was great.
Millie: We came back home on Friday. We had had a great holiday but it was nice to come back and feel the green green grass of home. Millie and Daisy: Dad knows a song about that! Daisy 28/08/2007 It’s been busy bank holiday weekend! We’ve started doing Saturday practices, but this Saturday we practised for our demonstration at the Cawood Craft Festival on Monday. Uncle Stan had decided I was to show folk how we trained people to get us dogs doing flyball. It’s dead easy really if you have the right calibre of person, I’m lucky ‘cos Dad and Auntie Carole are clever and they just know. Holly started it all and the rest of us have benefited from her initial training. I think that’s how it goes, it can’t be the other way round can it? On
Sunday we went to Drax to do flyball. Dad says I can do it next time at
Doncaster. We’ve got a team
already, there’s Harry, Ziggy and me and my friend Anka who also did KC Bronze with
Uncle John Verity. Uncle Stan is
going to call us ‘The Hillam Imps’. It’s some sort of joke that Mum and
Dad think is funny. Anyway our team
came second and Millie said she had some really good racing and she beat some of
the long legged dogs, hurrah! Yesterday
we did our demonstration at Cawood and it was great. Everybody pitched in in the morning and put up the arena and
lanes and signs and things, we looked very professional.
Uncle Stan was MC and he had a podium and PA system and stuff that was
all PAT tested, thanks Pat. We did two shows and the people who came to see us cheered
and applauded, some men came in the afternoon and filmed us so we will be on the
‘Official’ festival DVD. Ziggy 20/08/2007 I've had a smashing but ever such a busy few days. On Thursday Mum and Dad said we were going over to our caravan at Reighton Sands, yippee I love it there, lots of people to make a fuss of me as I sit on the balcony and lots of walks on the beach. When we arrived Mum said that the tide was right for a walk so off we went, when we got to the steep slope down to the beach she said it was too much for her to walk down what with her knee still not being right after her operation, so we would go on the little train. Tara had been on it before so she told me to jump up the steps and into the carriage, what fun, it took us right onto the beach. Tara and I charged after the balls Mum and Dad were throwing for us and we jumped into rock pools and I chased some seagulls into the sea but they flew away before I couldn't catch them. We were very wet and sandy when we got onto the little train back up the hill, but we didn't care we had enjoyed ourselves. Next day Tara was a bit stiff so Mum and Dad said “No beach walk today, we are going for a ride in the car”. When the car stopped I looked out and there was Uncle Stan and Auntie Carole and my half brother Foster and Megan and Holly. We went for a walk or should I say a charge about and I ran into the fenced off area and then into someone’s caravan awning. Mum told me to behave and Tara snapped “I was still a hooligan and couldn't I see that it was a flyball arena”. Oh lovely a flyball week-end, I'm not allowed to take part yet, but I love to bark my encouragement at all my friends as they race for the ball. On Saturday there was a knock at the caravan door and when Mum opened it there were Uncle John and Auntie Sue and my great friend Daisy and her sister Millie. “Oh great” I thought someone to play with for a few hours, but then I was told they were staying with us for a couple of nights, I couldn't believe it my friend staying overnight! Mum's knee was playing her up so we left her behind whilst we all went onto the beach. We ran and ran and ran, and had such a super time. By the time we got back we were very hungry and we were all given our food in our own dishes but at the same time, I did have a look to see if Millie and Daisy had anything better than I did, but I got growled at so I decided just to wup mine down and see if they left any, but of course they didn't. I did enjoy playing with my friends during the evening, even though we did keep getting told off for being a bit of a nuisance and eventually they went off to bed and I was left with Mum and Dad. I was still so excited that I wanted to play and kept jumping on the bed and licking them and barking, I even took them some of my toys but they were rather grumpy and in the end got very cross with me, even Tara snapped at me so I thought it best to go to sleep. Next day we were up ever so early, Dad took me and Tara for a walk when we got back Mille and Daisy were up so we all had some food and then it was into the car and off to Scarborough for flyball. We had only just arrived when Phil and Eileen drove up with their three dogs, so it was time to say hello to them and make a fuss. Then it was time for the racing to begin, I was left behind in the car which I thought was a bit of a cheek as I could have helped to cheer them on, but when they got back everyone was very excited that it had gone so well, I don't think they exactly won any races from what they said but they had got lots of points and my friend Finnegan had been brilliant again. Mind you he's got such long legs it must only take him a few strides to get from one end of the arena to the other, not like little Millie who has to race for all she's worth. Phil and Eileen had to go back home, but everyone else came back to our caravan for the evening. My friends and I just played with our toys and tried to keep out of trouble which we managed without much effort and then it was time for Uncle Stan and Auntie Carole to go back to Scarborough and we all went to bed. I was so tired I just said "good night" and was fast asleep before I knew it! I was sorry to wave bye bye to my friends today but they were going off to Whitby for the day. When they'd gone it was ever so quiet without them, but Tara and I were soon racing round on the balcony barking at anyone who went past and then it was time for one last walk by the sea and into the car for the journey home. I've had a brilliant week-end, I do hope we can do it all again soon. Daisy 10/08/2007 It’s been another busy week! I was at York race course on Sunday with Millie at a flyball tournament.
I’m too young to do it yet but I had a great time chasing round with Millie and the rest of the gang.
Millie came back from the morning’s racing feeling very pleased with herself, she had won two races for the team even though she was up against a Collie.
Mum and Dad were very proud. There were three races in the afternoon and the team only lost against The Crazies.
After all the results were added up we came first, hurrah! Daisy 14/07/2007 Cor what a week I’ve had! First of all on Tuesday I've been doing night school classes with Mum. Uncle John Verity has been coaching me to take a K C Good Citizen Bronze and tonight was my exam night. Mum was a bit nervous but Uncle John said we would be OK. Mum knew I could do it really she just couldn't help it. The exam started with us all doing a group test, walking round nicely, not jumping up or barking the general sort of stuff, then once we had done that we did the individual stuff. The hardest bit was a one minute stay off lead. Mum couldn't see the clock but she could hear it, tick tock, tick tock, it seemed like ages but then Caroline, the examiner, said OK and I passed the hardest bit for Mum. Then we did a recall, dead easy, Mum had to answer some questions which she passed with flying colours and that was it I'd passed. I've got a KC Bronze the same as Millie hurrah!
Finally, on Friday Dad had a day off so we all went to Filey, hurray! Well when I say all, my big sister Lettie didn’t come ‘cos she’s a grumpy old cat.
We had a great time on the beach running and jumping, then after that we had fish and chips up on The Brigg.
It was a bit bracing but I didn’t mind after all we’re not allowed in the café.
Before we went home Mum said she would like a crab for tea so we got some with our tea as well.
I’ve never had crab before, it’s nice, yum! Millie 17/06/2007 I went to my first agility competition today with Foster and Megan. There was a lot of my friends from flyball at the competition as well so it wasn't like I didn't know anybody. Dad had taken Daisy to stay with Grandma and Grandad so he missed my first outing. Guess what I was nearly all the way round when Mum wrong pawed me and I did a back jump. The judge lady made a sign and I got eliminated. Dad was on hand to watch me doing my second go so when I saw him at the ring side I ran up to say hello and got eliminated again! For my third and final go I did 'Introductory Power & Speed', (Dad hid behind the bushes). I did the first bit really well and got all my contacts right, then halfway round the second half Mum got lost, and I looked for Dad, and I ended up going under a jump instead of over so I got the dreaded hand signal again. Megan and Uncle Stan did very well and Megan nearly got a clear on the 'Helter Skelter' but they got eliminated at the weave. Foster did the best of us with clear rounds and even a judge's special rosette for his 'Introductory Agility'. He got put of by the lady judge's skirt moving in the breeze, but Auntie Carole sorted him out and once he got going he was fine. Still never mind Mum and Dad were very proud of me 'cos it was my first time out and Dad says all those E's stand for excellent! Millie and Daisy 09/06/2007 Dad spent most of last Saturday morning sealing the decking with teak
oil. He was OK over the weekend but when he got to work on Monday his back hurt a lot.
After two days of hobbling about he decided on Wednesday morning to go to the doctor for an examination.
She prodded his back which made him jump a bit, then do some stretching
exercises. She then said Dad had pulled a muscle in his back. She sent
him home with some tablets and a ‘puter printout. The printout said the best remedy was to do ‘light exercise’ Mum translated this to ‘light housework’, arf! {{“Dadski will now attempt a two kilo clean and jerk”}} He did get some compensation because yesterday lunchtime Mum was out with Godmummy Jude so he went to the village chippy and we had fish and chips sitting in the garden.
We were very good and didn’t beg or bother Dad so he rewarded us with own little portion at the end.
Yum! Finnegan 12/05/2007 I was so confused, were we camping or going fly-balling? I like both but where are we all going to sleep and what are those black cage things dad’s strapped to the back of the camper thing?
Dad are we there yet and can I throw Billy-Bob out the window? Thought not, “Big girl” says it would be a laugh! Tara 01/05/2007 Dad had an operation a few weeks ago so Mum has been having to walk Ziggy and me, which has been a bit of a strain on her 'cause Ziggy can be a total hooligan when he's on a lead particularly when he sees people and
dogs. Poor Mum has nearly been pulled off her feet. I've tried telling him to behave but he's at that difficult age, good job I'm perfect. Foster 29/04/2007 Hi Daisy & Millie What made them think it was me. Daisy 28/04/2007
Daisy 25/04/2007 It was Mille’s birthday on Monday. She’s three now but she doesn’t look it.
I think it’s me who keeps her young you know. We’re always playing, it doesn’t matter where, in the house, in the garden even when we’re out for a walk.
Wrestling, chasing each other, chasing birds, it’s great. Daisy & Millie 20/04/2007 Dad's had a day off today. Brilliant! That means Dad took us for our morning walk, we went down by the plantation and we heard a woodpecker doing that laughing sort of call. We saw a pair of them the other week but that's bye the bye. 'cause Dad hasn't seen a swallow yet and we saw one the other day with Mum. Hah! While we were out we met Nipper and Auntie Vickie, we had a little play and Auntie Vickie gave us some treats. After that Dad did some gardening and we got to help, at lunchtime Mum went to the village chippy and we all had fish and chips sitting in the garden. It was nearly as good as at the seaside. Dad should put a link to the village chippy so more people would know about it. When we had our afternoon walk we met Sam and Rueger so we got tons of fuss from their Mums, you can't get too much fuss. Then in the evening Auntie Lynda and Uncle Bryan came round and had a meal so we got casserole gravy with our dinner, what a brilliant end to the day. Daisy 14/04/2007
Harry 06/04/2007 Ok, so I knew something weird was going on today, Mum was up SO early…and
before I knew it I was shoved into a kennel with my flyball harness on….so I put two and two together and realised it must be that tournament thing
Mum has been banging on about all week… Ahhh ha…. Carlton
Towers… I could see this was gonna be a fun kind of place… Dogs EVERYWHERE!!
I knew I had to do my best and run like we had practiced. I was first in line so had to go on the
lights… Mum was holding on to me for dear life until that last amber light went then I was OFF!!!
I think I did OK, the team seemed really pleased….we kept finishing Special guest appearance by Stan 06/04/2007 Finnegan's a flyball dog Finnegan 06/04/2007
Flyball on a Friday, starter team, early start . . . my cage in the camper van?
Dad and me on tour, hey, a bit of bonding away from that so-called cute “Billy-Bob” thing.
Life’s good, get some Proclaimers on the radio “We’re on our way de,de,de,de,da”. Daisy & Millie 23/03/2007
Daisy 17/03/2007 It was really windy at training today and Uncle Stan and everybody couldn’t get the safety netting up so we just did starters and puppies with the small netting.
When it came to my turn Uncle Stan put in the puppy jumps and I had a go with Mum, I was
doing really well when Uncle Phil forgot and put the ball in the box by accident.
You’ll never guess, I triggered the box! The ball flew through the air and I caught it and ran back to Mum.
Brilliant! I’ll have to wait for a few months before I can start doing it again, but it was great Mum and Dad are
very proud. Daisy 13/02/2007 I've been going to puppy training on Monday nights at myPetStop in Leeds.
I've been going with my pal Ziggy and we've been doing basic stuff like walking to heel and sits and waits.
This Monday was end of term so we had a sports day and it was great.
03/02/2007 Ziggy I had no idea when Mum and Dad told Tara and me we were going out that I was off to flyball
practice. It was only a short drive down to Cawood and when Mum opened the car I saw Auntie Sue and Uncle John with my friend Daisy and her sister
Millie. Then Auntie Emma and my new chum George arrived and all the other people and their dogs who belong to our club.
We had to stay in the car until everything was set up and then I was allowed out to say hello to everyone, then another car arrived and it was Auntie Claire with my Mum Breeze.
I barked and barked and jumped up and down but I don't think she recognised me, anyway eventually she came up to me and I made a big fuss of her before I was put back into the car. 28/01/2007 Daisy I went to the seaside yesterday! It was great. Millie had told me how exciting it was but I had no idea until I got there just how huge it is. Dad has put some pictures in The Gallery so you can see. It was the first time for George and Ziggy as well, we had a great time playing on the beach. Millie went off to play with the grown ups but I didn't mind as George and Ziggy and I are all little. Mind you Millie is little too, she just thinks she's a big dog. Afterwards I had a good sleep in the car on the way home, so I was as bright as a button in the evening. This afternoon Millie and I met Sam who is a Malamoute, he's huge but very friendly. Sam's mum worries if we play too much he might squash me. 23/01/2007 Ziggy
20/01/2007 Daisy I got my first certificate on Wednesday! Mum says it’s my SITS Key Stage 1 but it’s actually my graduation certificate from the puppy party at the vets. I’m going to do my Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze next with Uncle John Verity, it's a STAY level J. I expect my mate Ziggy and maybe George will be doing these as well. Auntie Carole will be starting flyball training in the Summer using Uncle Stan’s puppy jumps, I'm looking forward to that. We all went to York last Sunday and Mum put my little coat on just so I wouldn’t catch a cold, I had lots of people looking at me and saying “Cute”! Dad bought a pasty and Millie and I had some because Mum said I should have something warm in my tummy. It was really nice with tons of meat and vegetables. I suppose I’m like Millie, we get really excited when we are about to be fed. In an evening Millie dances about ‘til Dad puts her dish down, I then dash off to the other side of the kitchen where Mum feeds me. Once we’ve finished we swap dishes just to make sure we haven’t missed any! 09/01/2007 Daisy I’m having a brilliant week this week ‘cause Dad’s on holiday.
Yesterday morning I went into Selby with Mum, Dad and big sister
Millie. We had a walk around the market, what a lot of legs! While we were there I met Auntie Chris and Uncle Ken they didn’t have my mates Tara and Ziggy with them but they gave me a good fuss it was great. Mum had gone into a shop to get a picture framed, it’s an original by Pollyanna Pickering that Mum was given when she was a student in Sheffield.
I think I must be a student now because I went for training in the evening to MyPetStop in Leeds, my mate Ziggy goes as well and we had a super time. Jenny, the tutor, was saying us puppies only do three things; that’s sleep (I’m good at that), interact (ask sister) and chew (sorry about your shoes Dad).
We also eat so food is a good training aid. Jenny guided us through sit, stand and lie down just using a treat, Mum didn’t use any commands until she was sure I would do the action when she said the command. I can do sit and stand but Mum has to work on my downs. 30/12/2006 Ziggy
19/12/2006 Tara
15/12/2006 Ziggy
15/12/2006 Millie My little sister Daisy is growing up fast, she only weighed 1 kilo when she went to the vet's the day after we got her. Dad weighed her on Tuesday and she now weighs 1.4 kilos, so Mum has upped her food intake. She’s also started doing poos in the garden but she’s doing them in the house as well so Mum and Dad have to keep their eyes skinned for little packets. Mum’s been using the collapsible flyball table in the den for wrapping Christmas presents, Daisy has chewed through one of the elastic ropes that holds the top together so Dad’ll have to get another. Auntie Ellie has sent Daisy and me a Christmas present each so we’ll have great fun tearing the paper off on Christmas Day. Godmummy Jude came round to see Daisy and me today, after we’d both had a fuss, Mum put Daisy in her puppy cage and the rest of us went for a walk. When we came back Daisy and I had a play while Mum and Godmummy Jude had a cup of tea, and guess what – more Christmas presents! While I’m talking about Christmas please remember grapes and raisins can be fatal to us dogs so please don’t give us any Christmas cake. 08/12/2006 Millie
06/12/2006 Daisy I went to my first puppy party today, it was great fun. I wasn't allowed to join in as this was my first time there, but I got to sit on the floor and watch other small pups play. I'm not going back until the New Year but by that time I will have been on walkies with my sister and have met lots more new mates. Auntie Robbie came round the other day and did a video of Millie and me playing, she's put it on TheInterWeb here it is YouTube 03/12/2006 Foster At last the big day had arrived. The day that I had been looking forward to since I was a pup. Today I was joining the big dogs in my first proper flyball tournament. I woke Mum and Dad very early and we packed the car with everything except the kitchen sink. We may actually have had that, you know what those humans are like. The weather was absolutely appalling. The rain was torrential. It didn’t bother me but Mum and Dad were muttering things like why are we bothering, we would be better off staying in bed. I am glad to say common sense prevailed and we soon set off. After a short while we arrived at the venue. It was a lovely place with lots of mud, a smell of horses and a lovely smell of horse poo. It seemed ages before Mum got me out of the car. They had to set up what they called base camp and have a cup of coffee. Then they disappeared to some sort of party. Ring Party I think it was. What a cheek they left me stuck in the kennel on my big day whilst they go enjoying themselves at a party. Humans , who needs them!!! Eventually Mum got Megan and me ready, I was so excited. Megan was also very excited and somehow we managed to get our leads in a tangle. I must admit I was very impressed with the arena it was nothing like Megan and Holly had told me to expect. The surface was not like a normal indoor tournament apparently, it was not all hard, shiny and slippery. It was nice and soft with a lovely dusty surface that sticks wonderfully to your fur. And believe it or not we were going to run on grass!!! Yes that’s right grass – indoors – very clever these Doncaster humans. Into the arena we went. What a lot of noise.
This is it. Let me go Mum, I want to go, Mum let me go. Tara’s running,
she’s got the ball. Let me go Mum, let me go. Thank you Mum. I’m off,
don’t mess it up, Mum is depending on me. Wow what a crossover that was
with Tara. It was so close I thought we were going to crash. Good,
Chris has put the ball in the box, it’s triggered, it’s in my mouth, I‘ve
turned, Mum's down there, I’m coming back, oh no Dad looks to have let Megan
go too soon. Get out of my way Megan, I’m coming back. Wow that
was close! Mum was very surprised I did it with no mistakes.
She’s very pleased with me. We won the race by a mile the fourth
dog on the other team had only just got to the box. What’s this? The
judge is talking to the line judge, she’s given the race to the opposite
team. Dad apparently set the jumps to the wrong height. How I am I
going to get any points with incompetence like that. Next race Mum sent me too early and she got a light,
(not me! I was only doing what I was told). It was very close though we
only just lost even though I had to run again. Third race, and this I have to admit may just,
perhaps, possibly have been very, very, very slightly my fault, I
was so excited that I did not catch the ball cleanly out of the box. I just
managed to hold it in the corner of my mouth. I struggled valiantly with
it until the third jump, when I could hold it no more the ball dropped out of my
mouth. So I turned round and picked it up and then I saw my old mate
Yoohoo in the other lane. So I just went across to play. The judge
blew the whistle and said I had interfered. I didn’t. I never
touched Yoohoo. The rest of the day went fine just one slight mishap with a
jump. It shattered as I passed over it. I never touched it –
honest! It must have been the sonic boom that did it. What a superb
day. I’ve never had so much fun and I have 42 flyball points. Where are we going next? Watch out team mates.
I have arrived! 03/12/2006 Daisy I went on my first outing today, Mum took me to see Millie and Dad do flyball. It's all very exciting, lots of dogs making a terrific din and people everywhere. I must say the people were very nice, they all made fuss of me and I thought Auntie Rachel who had been eating a chicken sandwich had very tasty fingers. In the end it all got too much for me and I fell to sleep while Auntie Debbie was fussing me. Back home Millie was very tired and grumpy so we didn't play much but we did have a very big day. I think I'm going to like flyball, everybody else does. 01/12/2006 Millie
28/11/2006 Millie
21/11/2006 Millie After breakfast I went for a walk with Mum, we did the three fields to the east of the village, as we were coming up to the plantation I put up five roe deer, Mum was treated to the sight of five white bottoms disappearing away with me in hot pursuit! I couldn't catch them up so I didn't get to play with them, such a shame. Later on I met my mate Molly and we had a nice game of chase, Molly is a Staffy and looks fierce but really she's very nice and we always have a fun time. In the evening I went with Mum and Dad to see Uncle John Verity and my mates Foster and Megan from flyball. We joined lots of other friends for our "Kennel Club Good Citizens Bronze Award" exam. Mum thought the hardest bit was the one minute controlled stay, when the examiner said to Mum 'Recall your dog' Dad and Uncle John both punched the air. Honestly I don't know what the fuss was about, of course I was going to do it. Later on when we had dinner Mum gave me tuna in spring water mixed with my usual food as a treat. Dad had bought a load of it because Morrisons are doing a BOGOF what ever one of those is. |