Today I stopped by a Fun Dog Show being held in aid of Foxhound Welfare UK. There were a number of stalls and fun classes and a parade of Hounds Hunting For Happy Homes. These Foxhounds are currently being looked … Continue reading
Tonight I grabbed my camera and went for a long evening walk with Guinness. We started off at 7:30pm and slowly watched it go dark as we walked, occasionally stopping to snap the odd photograph or to sit and listen … Continue reading
A few weekends ago it was the Cheshire Game and Angling Fair at Peover. This fair has a special place in my heart as it was at this event last year, while helping with Dig It Display Team, that I … Continue reading
Guinness is 4 today. I’ve said Happy Birthday and given him a nice bone, not that he knows any different. It makes me wonder why some of us throw huge parties for our dogs or get presents and various things. … Continue reading
One thing that I’ve noticed from watching videos of my agility competitions is that I don’t run very well. I’ve also been told it by friends. I don’t run fast at all. I’ve always been fairly healthy and active and … Continue reading
This week we went back to Well-Dogs Hydrotherapy for Guinness’ second swim. He was much happier and stood to be showered then went straight into the pool without a harness. He remembered how to get in and out and was … Continue reading
This weekend I went along to the Betley Gundog and Game Fair for the Sunday. I left Guinness at home away from the guns and out of the sun and instead picked up my camera.
My friend Katie was doing a Flyball Display with her team, the Carry On’s.
They put on a fabulous display and showed the different parts to Flyball; the starter dogs, the breed dogs, how to do change-overs and then finished off with an exciting race!
Next up was a Bird of Prey Display from Rosliston Forestry Centre. Using a few volunteers from the crowd, they had a Barn Owl flying between people and then changed the crowd members and did the same with a young kestrel. The information was really good and it was very easy to listen to.
The best part was the Saker Falcon which flew out low over the crowds and round past the stalls, swooping in to try and grab the bait on the long line and then flying out again. It stopped for a break and settled into a tree right above Katie’s head. We didn’t think he was going to come out.
The big star of the day was Andy Cullen MBE, a highly regarded gundog trainer. Andy gave some fantastic advice and information about training dogs and showed off a range of different breeds and their uses.
He used quite a lot of young dogs and demonstrated the different levels of training exercises. The best moment was seeing his 18 week old Springer Spaniel! Andy talked about puppy training and how important it is to get your foundations right.
He emphasised on the importance of positive reinforcement and made a point about not needing to shout or beat your dog to make them listen, but you also don’t need to be silly smoochy either. Just be yourself and reward your dog.
Last but not least was Cheshire Canine Services with a protection dog display. This was really entertaining and had a lot of wow moments. Mike Crawford runs the company and led the display, showing us different stages of training a protection dog.
Again their display consisted of young dogs and it highlighted the use of positive reinforcement in their training, especially play rewards. They did exercises with bite sleeves, an attacker with a weapon, crowd control and chase and detain. The pièce de résistance was a mock terrorist attack and one of the dogs jumped into a caravan to detain an attacker. Amazing!
Around the fair there were a handful of stalls with the usual tweed gundog trainer clothing, dog toys and accessories. There were also a few have a go stands such as archery, clay and rifles shooting.
Over in the distance in a different ring Terrier and Lurcher judging was taking place as well as ferret racing, although I walked away after watching them swinging the ferrets around like stuffed toys. The Scurries competition was a trek away down the hill and Andy Biggar, top Dog Photographer, had his own set up for special offer sessions. I managed to catch him for 5 minutes to say hello! (Very exciting).
The displays were on twice a day and quickly led on from each other so there was no sitting around waiting. It was a shame that everything was so spread out as it felt quiet around the main arena despite there being quite a lot of people about. The show was also a little sparse on stalls. However I had a really enjoyable day and there’s plenty of worse things to be doing on a hot, sunny day! It was lovely to see some friends and get some good photography practise.
There was a good general emphasis on positive reinforcement in all of the displays and I hope some people took note of this (such as the guy I saw pinning his dog down).
A great day out!
This weekend was the UKA Show at Dig It on Saturday and their Can You Dig It? Unaffiliated Show on Sunday. It was so so hot! I was a little concerned about Guinness as he has got a thick coat … Continue reading
Here’s a great idea of what to do with your dog hair after you’ve brushed the dog. Put it out for the birds! My Mum first did this in Spring and we had a lot of garden birds coming and … Continue reading
September saw us back at Dig It Dog Training Club for our second UKA Show and Dig It Unaffiliated competition. Now with 8 months of training under our belt, I loaded my pockets with treats and headed off for another … Continue reading
So after 5 months of training, and about a month of being told we should start competing, Guinness and I went along to our first ever UK Agility competition today! My training club, Dig It Dogs, were hosting a UKA … Continue reading
Wow! This week really steps it up! Week 5 is split into three podcasts, each run is different!
Every session starts and finishes with a 5 minute warm-up and cool-down walk.
Run 1: 5 minute run. 3 minute walk. 5 minutes run. 3 minute walk. 5 minute run.
Run 2: 8 minutes run. 5 minute walk. 8 minute run.
Run 3: 20 minutes run.
Gosh! Having just completed Run 3, doing 5 minute runs in Run 1 feels so long ago! It felt like such an achievement. Each session I started off with a little bit of dread, then finished with a great feeling of elation and achievement! It sounds and feels like crazy progress but it really works. The big one is run 3, running for 20 minutes! I started off sure that I wouldn’t be able to do it, but quickly pushed that thought away and kept telling myself I could. Laura said I could do it too and I believed her!
It’s all about pacing yourself. Which is easy by now! Plus I find breathing nice and easy too! For the first few weeks I was panting away sucking in and out breath. During week 4 and 5 I’ve been able to concentrate on slow breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth. I still breath in through my mouth sometimes and get a little out of breath but that’s fine.
I couldn’t believe it when I ran for 20 minutes tonight! The most I had done was 8 minutes and suddenly I’d done 20 minutes! The feeling is awesome. And it’s doo-able! Almost easy! When Laura told me there was 2 minutes left I started pushing faster and getting less tired, almost as if I’d hit a runners high! (If there is such a thing). I actually struggled less on my 20 minutes run than on my 8 minute runs. Wow. To think only 5 weeks ago I couldn’t really run for more than 2 minutes, and some people can’t even do that when they start this. Running with my dog outside in the fresh air is so beneficial as well, and it’s great for my dog! Although he finds it far easy than me being a Border Collie.
This plan really really works! And feels sooo good. It’s one of the best things I’ve ever done so far.
I have always been a terrible runner! Always. I’m quite fit. I’m quite active and healthy. But I cannot run more than a few hundred metres without stopping, hand clutching a killer stitch, gasping for air.
I’ve tried to motivate myself, to go out and push myself on a run. I’ve managed to commit to a weekly run of 1 mile which I can do in about 11 minutes with a couple of walking breaks.
Recently I grabbed myself some books about running from my library and in one of them it mentions the NHS website for advice to start running.
Here is where I discovered Couch to 5K!
Couch to 5K
Couch to 5K is a program created by the NHS that aims to get any beginner to be able to run 5K in 9 weeks.
It consists of free podcasts which you download to your iPod or other MP3 device. There is one podcast for each week of training. You have to complete three runs for each week with at least one day break in between.
The podcasts are about 30 minutes long and you have Laura, a lovely lady, talking to you, explaining what you are going to do and giving you instructions of when to run and when to stop and walk, accompanied by some background music.
I found Laura’s voice so friendly and encouraging without being judgemental. (Yes I got all of that from a voice). Which is extremely important. I find it difficult to work with a person such as a coach or even a friend because I feel embarrassed and defeated. However Laura’s voice is brilliant, she makes you feel good about yourself and she’s not actually there to see you struggle.
However you must not cheat as it’s easy to stop running before the time as no one will ever know.
Week 1
So far I have completed 2/3 runs of Week 1. Week 1 consists of a 5 minutes brisk walk warm up. 60 seconds jogging and 90 seconds brisk walking, repeated for 20 minutes. 5 minutes brisk walk cool down.
My first time I found it tough but do-able. When I got to my 4th lot of 60 seconds running I was feeling pretty tired and sweaty but I kept pushing. The second to last run is probably the hardest point but knowing you’ve only got two more left is very motivational and it’s very easy to finish.
I run in the evening about an hour after my tea. On my second run I went out before my tea and found myself much weaker.
I didn’t ache or hurt for my rest day and don’t notice any difference so far which is expected as this is a slow period. I’m not looking forward to my first run of Week 2 as I feel like I’m not ready for the increase but I’m sure I’ll push hard and hopefully surprise myself. Looking forward to the progress.
The music of the podcasts is ok but it’s not as good as having my own choice. However it is motivational music with a tempo that I found myself matching to my stride. Ideally I’d have one earphone for my podcast and one earphone for my music!
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/get-running-with-couch-to-5k.aspx
During a long hike in the Easter break we came across a number of styles that were very difficult for Guinness to climb or jump over, due to uneven ground on the other side or the height and design of … Continue reading
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