Monday 29 July 2013

Show Success

Yesterday I took Oscar to a vintage rally down the road from me and there was a dog show there. It's the same one he went to last year (and the only one he went to last year) but this year it was different people running the show and the weather was much nicer. I also left without him peeing on my leg this year!!!!

There were 10 or 11 classes I think and Oscar was entered into 4. 'Any variety small dog', 'Any variety working dog', 'Handled by a Lady' and 'Dog judge would like to take home'. It was only €2 per class but it would have been cool if there was a 'Best trick' class, I think Oscar would have liked that and I think he would have done really well (of course, I am biased).

It's pretty clear that Oscar isn't a show dog though, and you can really tell he hasn't been to one in a year! He was very strange with the judge when it came to handling him. It was hard enough to get Oscar to stand properly as it was but as soon as the judge touched him he cowered away straight away and tried to hide under my legs. The judge was understanding though and didn't mind waiting until Oscar settled down a little. What was odd was that Oscar was much better when it came to being handled on the table (I had to put him on that for the small dog class). I thought he would have been worse up there, but it appeared not.
Getting Oscar to stand was a challenge. I had lots of cheese cubes so they did the job, but it wasn't the nicest stand in the world as Oscar was just trying to get the food from my hand. He doesn't usually naturally stand with his tail up either (unless we are out and about in the fields) so I should have held his tail up too, but Oscar doesn't seem to like that and would sit down if you held his tail up.

There was a young black lab that turned up just before the show started and Oscar reacted to him in a way he has never reacted before. He growled at it and if I didn't redirect him then he would have made a nice barking show too. It was so weird to see him react like that to a dog but in fairness the dog was crazy, pulling like a train and barking.

Despite Oscar's lack of proper 'show standing', he did really well and grabbed 3rd place in 'Any variety working dog' and 2nd place in 'Dog judge would like to take home'. A beautiful red Husky took 1st place in the dog judge would like class and even I wanted to take it home!


He got a small bag of food with one of his prizes too so that stocks up my treat reserve nicely. After the show we were waiting for my mum to arrive to take us home so we went and sat down and got some food from the chipper van. I got a 1/4 pounder with cheese and it was divine! It had lettuce, and cheese, and mayo, and ketchup and it was just perfection in a bun! I also got a portion of chips, which were mainly for Oscar but I ate a few of them. In the end I just couldn't take Oscars eyes and he ended up getting the last bit of my heavenly burger! Little cheeky bugger!
I'm pretty sure Oscar only comes for the food!

There could be another dog show for the WSPCA at a petshop next month so we might go to that too and Oscar can get a new toy or a few chews out of it!

While Oscar might not be able to stand very well on the floor but he does it pretty well when he's up a little higher.......













........... his new trick is a backstall! It's not quite finished yet but Oscar seems to love jumping one me!

Sunday 21 July 2013

Summer fun

It really is Summer as well! Basically the whole month of July has been amazing. The sun has never been seen so much!
I've taken so many pictures over the last few weeks that I don't actually know where to start so I think I'll try something new today and just make a blog post full of pictures. Prepare for picture overload!!!!

Lets begin with some walk photos and see where it takes us....

Long lined in case I lose him in the long jungle grass!
"Say Cheese"
Hi, I just chased a bird!
Big tongue!
Don't leave without me!!!!!!
The 'new' field all cut and waiting to be baled! (HAY BALES SOON!) 
True freedom and proper recall!
Crazy recall! Yes, that is a recall! 
Oscar says 'Time for a rest' 
Off to work we go......
Little bit of on leash......just to get to another field...
Barley Field Fun!!!!! Follow the tractor tracks or get eaten by the crops!
You called? 
Is there something on my nose?
*pip, pip, pip, pip* (that's a whistle)
Super Dog to the rescue!!!!!
A 5 minute down stay to even out the excitement levels......
........ And here he comes!!!!
Look at his ears fly!!!! 



That's all the walk ones, now for some garden fun.........

A tug game? More like drag the beagle!
Grrrrrrrrrr, My toy!!!
New toy, new toy, new toy!
I'm coming, get read to pull!
Catch the toy, Grab the toy, destroy the toy
Nom, nom, nom, nom
Look at me! 
Ears for a German Shepherd?  
Finally gotten the hang of 'fetch'
INCOMING!!!!!
Put the camera away and play!!!
More fetching
I'm gona get it, I'm gona get it!
Yes, that is a bed sheet!

Its the simple things that satisfy him
Rubber Turkey!!!!
Bed sheet.....again
You'll never catch me! 

A little chewing session on a wonderfully tasty raw beef rib

"May I go outside to eat please?"














And now to finish it all off, here are just some random photos of the lunatic doing nothing,

Almost nothing, a little 'stand tall' instead.
Handsome fellow indeed!
Tasty!
Lovely collar, ehhh? 
Yum, yum, frozen raw nugget
Some sunbathing
"I'm just so tired, cannot stay away"













Having a good roll 
trying to really work the smell in
Bobbing for treats
Some bubble blowing too!















Thanks for looking!