Hi,
I am Spud.  I was a good friend of Zip, the Wonder Dog for the six years that I lived with him.  My friend passed away on Halloween at the age of 15 years and 11 months.  I miss him a lot, as do the rest of the dogs in our house.  I decided to take over his blog and to keep posting my opinions about agility and dog training, if I find things I would like to share.  I have a woman's point of view, and I may not be as funny as he was, but I will certainly try.

I keep forgetting I have this blog. I used to post all the time. I wonder if I have any readers left or if they have left me. I hear that Roo, my old friend, might be having puppies. I hope that's true.

There have been lots of changes in my life and in my. We have two new dogs. We have bud, I think she's a border collie, and Elvis who really is a border collie. Spud is now ayear and a half.  Elvis is 9 months old.  They are both crazy! Elvis broke is me in January and now he gets to go on the treadmill everyday to get it fixed. He may never walk normally again which makes my mom very sad. She really wanted to do agility with him, but now it seems like that might have to be shelved. Spud hates other dogs, so agility might be out for her too. both of them like to work sheep though, so that makes it all good.

I hope I still have some readers to check in here from time to time. I miss hearing from my good friends Kinka and Roo. They are both big girls now.

I think my mom might be taking over this blog to talk about her dog training stuff. It depends on how many readers I still have. Let me hear from you. I hope you all are doing great! I love you all!

Zip the Wonder Dog: Internationalization

Zip the Wonder Dog: Internationalization

Internationalization

I have decided to add my two cents about the subject of Internationalization in Agility. This seems to be a topic that is very controversial, especially among people who compete in AKC agility.

Ever since I started learning the sport, I have been training those elememts considered "international," serpentines, threadles, back side jumps, slice jumps, etc. These things are not new, we have seen them in various forms in other venues for years. If they are on a course in competition or not shouldn't upset people all that much. As we are training  so much differently now than we were in the '90s, it is a given that the challenges should become more difficult, and the courses should be more than a bunch of obstacles in a figure eight.

What I am concerned with is the ever increasing need for speed and the expectation that all dogs should be able to make World Team times. More and more dogs are going to chiropractors for "adjustments," massages, or pain meds than ever before. There is much concern about the safety of the equipment. Is it really the equipment or is it the faster speeds, tighter turns, cutting corners, and careless handling that are causing these injuries?  I believe it is the human factor, and the need to win that is contributing to this.

Most of the competitors in the US are not going to compete anywhere else than near their home, maybe traveling to a show occasionally. These are the people that are the bread and butter of the sport. Most just want to have fun with their dogs and friends on the weekend. Let's keep agility user friendly for everyone.

Well, it's been a long time since I've posted anything, and I probably have no readers anyway, but I thought I would post anyway. Lots of things have happened since my last entry.

Life is very short. We have friends in our lives. We love them. They are part of us. Then we lose them. Life goes on without them. We think of them, remember them, and love them still, even though they are no longer with us.

We lost Moe last September. She was my good friend. I played with her. She was a lot of fun. The house isn't the same without her.

In December we got a new family member. Her name is Spud. She is another Border Collie, but is a smooth coated one. The jury is still out, the the house is noisier again!

I hope you all are well, and I hope I still have some fans out there.

Cashiering

Ok, so I forgot to mention that my mom was transferred to the Lansing store last fall. She is the dog trainer again, and also cashiers for a few hours each day. The fun thing is that when she brings me to work with her, I get to be at the register with her. This is great fun because all the customers that come to her, give me cookies. They like to see me do my tricks. When I do, they give me cookies, lots of cookies! I don't have to work very hard and the cookies just keep coming. I couldn't ask for a better deal than that.

Long Time

Good Grief. It's been a very long time since I've posted. Probably because there's nothing really new in my life. Mom is working hard. Dad is working hard. Beth is working hard. There has been little time to lay around and enjoy the easy life.

I got my AX title in April with a placement and everything. I got a couple of First Place ribbons in March. No agility trials recently. Mom works weekends and has no money for entries. I don't think I care much anyway. I have taken up tracking when Dad had days off. I like tracking. I get to use my nose and find hot dogs along the way. It's all good. I hope some of my friends will stumble across my blogspot and comment, so I know you are still my buddies