Seasons Change

So yeah, it's been awhile since I last posted :P

I really just haven't felt like I had much to write about. The dogs and I have mostly been taking it easy for the past few months, especially when it comes to competing. We only did two agility trials this summer, and one rally trial a few weeks ago (where Cedar earned her first Rally Advanced leg with a first place).  

Yeah, she's pretty much the boss. 

I am super super excited for the NADAC trial next month in Boise. Not only is it the first agility trial we ever did (two year trialing anniversary ftw!), it will be SO much fun to see all my Boise friends again and compete in our favorite venue! According to my records, Cedar is about 1/4 of the way to a NATCH already.... so I'm thinking about making that our goal for next year. Kind of exciting, eh? She really loves distance, and is pretty good at it, too. I've started teaching her left/right directionals in the hopes that it will help us out with the Elite-level Chances and bonus line challenges. She sure loves it!

Ember is doing really well. She turns a year old on November 26th, can you believe it? She is coming along really nicely with her agility training, and is doing short sequences, front and rear crosses, and learning to read blind crosses. She is so enthusiastic about the game and barks at me at the start line. I just love that little beast <3 br="br" nbsp="nbsp">

She's built pretty nicely, too ;)

In addition to agility, we've been working on some rally and canine freestyle, too... as well as teaching her to follow and catch a frisbee. She is also a first-rate "demo dog" for the obedience and agility classes I've been teaching for the local dog training club up here. She has really great focus, tons of drive, and is the sweetest, cutest puppy ever. Not that I'm biased, LOL. I need to work on her socialization some still, though. She is still a bit wary of some strangers. 

Can you believe she'll be 1) old enough to start weave training next month and 2) old enough to trial in AKC in MARCH???  I just ordered her her own custom martingale lead from Rush To Tug.  She's getting so big, I can hardly stand it!  But she's still very much a kid :)

I love this puppy!

 In other news, one of my photos was chosen to be a part of the Border Collies In Action 2013 calendar! Toss, Moss's litter brother, is featured as Mr. December!  

This coming weekend, we're headed to Newport, Oregon for a weekend on the beach. It will be Ember's first time at the ocean, and I can't wait!  

I know I have been a bad blogger for most of this year.... forgive me? I will make a concerted effort to post more often... especially now that I feel like I have more to say!