NEWS
WHEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE HOOKED ON AGILITY
Malcolm and his Beardie Dylan now have a 5 metre tunnel in the garden as well as the jumps and seesaw.
Warning - the second dog, the van and the caravan aren't far away!
TRAINING WITH LAUREN & MATT
The Guest Trainer Day at Stretcholt on Feb 28th was another exhausting experience for us - nonstop
energy from Lauren from 8.30 until we got away at 5.30.
We were pleased with how well it worked at Stretcholt, and what a joy to be warm and dry all day!
We took photos, hopefully we will be able to post them soon.
Lots of good feedback from everyone - especially those who were meeting Lauren and Matt for the first time
and from folk who had not been to Stretcholt before. It is such a great venue.
Lauren and Matt will be back in October for another full day.
ANOTHER FIRST!
No - not a competition result - but another milestone for us on Saturday.
In a sport where women significantly outnumber men, we really enjoyed training a group of all male handlers.
Manda and me had a great time - hope the lads did too !!
GET WELL SOON DIGBY
We hear that Digby has been poorly and had to go to the vet for an op.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery little man, and hugs to Emily and Sandra.
THE PUPS ARE GROWING UP
Wookie on the beach this weekend - aged 14 weeks
Toby is now 6 months old & best friends with Bob Bob
WORLD AGILITY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 5th IFCS World Agility Championships are being held in May at the Hand Equestrian Centre, Clevedon.
This is just up the road folks!! Visit http://www.wac2010.com/ for details.
Tickets are on sale now, but are limited. Day tickets are £10 or get a 3 day ticket for £25.
Treat Bags for Training Food Motivated Dogs
At Paws we understand that not all dogs are ball obsessed or turned on by toys and this can make
rewarding when training difficult - just ask Manda !!
So we've had some strong, washable food bags made in Paws red and black colours, with a velcro closure
and handles for throwing. Available now, £7 each - just ask Manda, Jan or Nikki.
Back to School
At Paws on the Levels we try very hard to keep up with current thinking in Dog training,
and to continue to grow in our knowledge, understanding and training techniques so that we can
pass the benefits on to the handlers and dogs that train with us.
In recent months, Manda, Nikki, Anne and Jan have attended a course on handling aggressive dogs,
Nikki has completed a COAPE (Centre of Applied Pet Ethology) workshop on the challenges of working with
wolf hybrids and other Northern Breeds such as Alaskan Malamutes, and Jan has recently been successful in completing
a year long COAPE qualification in animal behaviour, earning a distinction grade pass.
Jan has also just returned from the Agility Club Instructors' Seminar in Guildford.
This is a 4 day, fast moving and demanding seminar covering all aspects of agility instruction,
assessed in a written examination and four practical sessions with external examiners and unknown dogs and handlers.
Moss accompanied Jan as "practise dog" and had 4 nights luxury accommodation in a local B & B, to compensate
for all the stuff she was asked to do in the day!
Well, Jan passed, so Paws now has an ACAI (Agility Club Approved Instructor)
TOBY UPDATE & NEWS OF ANOTHER PotL PUPPY
Well, Toby's here and don't we know it!! Not quite 10 weeks old and causing chaos.
He is interested in everything, tries to chew anything he can reach and doesn't appear to be scared of much.
These pictures do not tell the true story!!
Don't wake him up!!
Not quite the orthodox way to enter a tunnel!
And Manda's new puppy will be born in November, fingers crossed,
looks like mum's got nine on the way.
If we've counted right, he will be here for New Year, sooo exciting!!
INDOOR VENUE AS PROMISED !!!!
Look what Manda found!!!
State of the art arena, plus supporting facilities- refreshment lounge; loos; parking; etc
Stretcholt Equestrian is at most 10 minutes from J23 of the M5.
We're Back from the Nationals!
A week of torrential rain and sunny intervals and muddy dogs, not to mention evenings in a fabulous
cottage (we don't do camping!) where we were SOOOOO grateful for a hot bath, a washing machine and tumble drier,
comfy sofas, wine from the fridge and a large secure garden for the dogs.
On Wednesday the weather was so awful that you had to laugh!!
Three of us - Anne, Manda and Jan - ran 4 dogs throughout the week and we returned with 12 rosettes and 1 trophy.
Well done Abby! a first, a second, three thirds, a fourth and move up to Senior.
Go Meggie Go! a second, a fourth, two Clear Rounds and loving every minute of it.
Moss struggled after Wet Wednesday - a fourth and a Clear Round, then the injury flared up again.
Bob Bob did everything at 100 mph! - we trained most of his runs as he is still a baby, but wait til next year!!
New Toys Available
We have some great new motivational toys available, from small sheepskin purses on bungee handles for
soft mouthed treat driven dogs, all the way up to large squeaky fur tugs for the big brave spaniels!
Lots of the tough road ball toys for the manic Collies and super strong jawed breeds like the Dobermans,
not forgetting the small softer balls with fur "ears" and long handles for our tireless terriers and of course our
puppies!
They won't stay around for long - let us know if you want one, see them at training.
