Schutzhund Ipoh feat. PAAP 16th Agility Trial

The ground that host the joint Schutzhund Ipoh and PAAPP 16th Agility Trial was the splendid Iskandar Polo Club. Mountains, lakes, enormous field, yummy dinner and lunch provided, what can you ask for more?

Did someone said 'lake'? Scruffy and Ginger wouldn't let go a chance for a good swim. Scruffy practically staring, whinning and screaming at the lake the entire evening, dying to get wet.

~ The aqua babe having a splash before the trial commence ~

~ The course was getting ready and we pose a nice group picture before disembark into mission ~

Across the agility field, 80% of the ground was utilize by the Schutzhund trial. It was a knee-dissolving sight for my owner. What it takes to capture a zoomie dog on that ground? We dare not imagine. She had settled for not admitting me as her dog if I ever tried running across. Who's dog? Oh, it must be stray.

~ The enormous field awaiting my 'zoomies' ~

~ Someone who apparent had zero faith in me, was facing nervous breakdown ~

On the first day of trial, Novice and Gambler were being ran. Pet-n-You gang comprised of Groovy, Kimi and Archer swept the Top 3 prizes. Just like their usual standard. As for me, I stayed at the sideline until I nearly dozed off. Wake me up when you guys are done, okay?

I only ran for Basic Jumper on the next day. Since the yummy chicken liver can't last another day, she only had biscuit at her disposal. On my 1st run, I ran a clean 'zoomie'. Excuse me, I just saw my most favourite family on this green earth, I gotta says a 'hello' and 'congratulations'. I heard she cursed 'Oh shit!' under her breath. During my 2nd run, although with Groovy out of sight, her confidence level had reduced from 50% to 10%. Phew! We manage to get over it, with a fault at the tyre and settled for 3rd. Mine you, there were only 3 dogs anyway.

The headlines of the day was ofcourse Groovy who successfully obtained his Malaysia Champion Agility (MACH).

~ Groovy attained his maiden title on his 5th barkday. Groovy M.A.CH. ~

~ Ginger had one of her best run to date in Novice. Great rear cross there and they won the Basic Jumper. ~

~ Kimi says: Not tomorrow. Not today. But EVERYDAY. ~

~ Susan in tennis outfit running 2 dogs simultaneously. What a great stamina. ~

~ The scenario whereby handler is the one 'barking' instead. Bark collar, anyone? ~

All excitement had came to an end. After collecting our precious dog food, was time to pose again.

Dogathon 2008

This year Dogathon's theme was Aerospace. Every year, I never fails to initiate a big drama at the 'vet's physical examination tent'. She told me that we should be embarassed of ourselves and ask me not to act like spoil brat, who showed nervous breakdown when approach by the vet student. Okay, change of subject. The display figures are fascinating. I took pictures with robots and extra-terrestrial species. They reminds me of Star Wars!

The day started off with the traditional 3.5 km Dogathon race at 8.30am sharp. As the registration Q was moving at the pace of snail, we were concerned that we might not make it to the starting line in time. Anyway, we did made it there and met up with Groovy. I ended the race as 1st runner up in maxi class, while Groovy was the champ for mini dog category. What a relief to us, as this year we did not train for it. She just made a strong mental note: 'Don't stop although you felt like collapsing'. She will have plenty of opportunity to collapse later. Nonetheless, I did contributed to slow us down by having pitstop to pee and poo during the run.

~ Hello, Mr. Alien. Did you by chance saw Mr. Obi-wan somewhere? ~

The Pet-n-You demonstration were a crowd attraction. Frisbee, Flyball, Tricks, Freestyle and Obedience, you name it. Groovy showcasing some of his new moves together with a refreshing new song apart from his routine 'Save d Last Dance'.

I played my favourite Master Hunt game and unfortunately got myself stuck somewhere in the middle. The outcome was I turned out to be 3rd. Ginger made up to my failure by claiming the 1st place. As for 'Alien Says', it was not much obedience orientated, thus it took a very long time to get the winners. She got me knock-out by messing up with my right and left paw. While, Scruffy won during the 1st round. Later, she team up with Ginger and won in the 2nd round.

Not to forget, the Pet-n-You 5th Agility trial was also ongoing. She walked around the entire premise with me non-stop with the only thing in mine 'A tired dog is a good dog'. Okay, I certified that I'm indeed really tired, I need a rest. I promise I will not zoom away.

Drum rolls. The moment that was highly anticipated. To witness herself whether the crazy mutt will zoom off or not. Thank God, finally I'm not a disgrace to my family. This is the first time that despite losing, she felt thrill. But now I'm the one who was dissapointed with her. What the hell with all her mayhem crosses. She disorientated my flow and nearly cause me to crash to the broad jump. Shame on her. Anyway, she told me that I shall will remain in Jumper class till the doomsday.

The eventful day came to an end. Time for a group picture with my pals, Scruffy, Ginger and Tasha. See you again next year.

P/s: Hope next year they will get sponsor that provide dog food and treats for my materialistic owner.

Blue Mood

~ Time to act innocent ~

We have came home from our disaster weekend at Penang. If she can foresee the future, we wouldn’t have went for the trip because is costly. Maybe when we were facing transportation problem earlier on, is a hint that we shouldn’t be going. But every trial, no matter what the outcome, that lots to learn from. Thanks to my helpful friends who made the trip possible for us.

Group stay exercise is always the thing we fear most. The 2 minutes stay feels like eternity. When the handlers were ordered to return to their dogs, seeing me still maintaining my position, she was on cloud nine. But just a fraction of seconds before the steward announce ‘exercise finish’, I stood from down to a sit. The thoughtful me had earned NQ.

~ My first offleash heeling in the ring ~

We have learnt not to take things for granted. When my stinky rope and chicken meat were not available at our disposal, we screwed up so badly. I barely acknowledge her presence throughout the weekend. Getting eliminated for agility is not something new to me, we have pretty much expected it coming. But not even looking at her at the starting line and burst into zoomie, really cause her to have a mental breakdown.

~ At least I did something to get this decent picture ~

To say she was just upset is an understatement. On the first night, she thought of retiring me. But after a good sleep, she thought it would be silly to give up. Not running off the ring during the offleash heeling, passing the recall and stand stay are some of the good sign. She will be seeking professional help to curb my chronic runaway and reliability issue. Meanwhile, we will be putting all agility run on hold until further notice and shift our focus to obedience.

PAAPP 11th Agility & 4th Obedience Trial

~ 3 mutt representing team from KL. Scruffy, Ginger and me ~

The day started off with the Obedience trial, and by the time I reached the venue, Intermediate class had already begun. This was Scruffy's Intermediate class debut and he nearly nail it with the score of 163, only missing out the retrieve over jump exercise. While Ginger did us proud by beating off Steven Tan's and Max Lee's Golden Retrievers to claim the Obedience Novice Champion award, while Scruffy settled for 3rd place.

~ Scruffy competiting along with the OB big guns ~

~ Ginger claiming top spot for Novice Obedience ~

I had a long day before my run began at 3.00pm. Since no warm up jumps are available, I did some heeling practise and playing rough with my stinky tug. This time the treat was Ms Janice's famous "buttered-chicken-liver"! Anything that isn't commercial works great for me. Slurp.

~ The Fanstastic Duo are set to dominate the OB ring ~

The number of participants was low and some of the registered ones didn't turn up. Groovy's lady boss messaged me some words of encouragement and it really boost up my confidence until it nearly spilled, coupled with our request to Bank's owner, asking him to pray for us that we will win in all 3 class. But the 'blur' him, didn't even realize I was up in Penang, when the rest of the world knows about it.

We started off with the jumper class. It was a totally right handler course if only you want to have a beautiful run. But we choose to go ugly and keep switching side. 1st attempt - off course. 2nd attempt - CLEAN RUN, but I did some wide turning, hence record time 23 second. 1st placing for me.

Qualifying for the Elementary class was our main aim for this trial, although I expect to miss the contact for dog walk. Table wouldn't be much of a problem, since we had been practising table everyday and night for the past 2 weeks, working on every direction and distance. But this time, it was the teeter! 1st attempt: Standing in the middle of the teeter without tilting it down. Ms Owner made me repeat the teeter several times, but I still bailed off without tilting it. 2nd attempt: Still the same. What a bummer and she was got real pissed off. We were in such high confidence that we will definately get it this time. Argg!! Ms Owner feels like throwing me down the Penang bridge and let me swim back to KL.

~ Getting some decent rest in between runs ~

Final run, the Gambler Test I. The gambler sequence was hurdle, hurdle, tyre, hurdle, table. The distance was comfortable for us, but later we notice it had a difficult entry. During the opening sequence, we choose to weave, but I weaved like an old grandma and then I refuse to enter the tunnel. I doesn't seems like my usual self, I never hesitate to enter the open tunnel. But atleast I successfully touch the table this time with Ms Owner giving only 1 cue. Daily practise had made me a table pawfect. Surpringly, 1st placing.

At 7.00pm there was Flyball Mock run. The aim of this mock run was to enable the judge and steward to try out their rules and made any adjustment if necessary. I don't even bring my flyball box along, hence I'm just doing some retrieving work here. The banner was set up in between 2 lanes to ensure the green dogs don't run into each other. Ms Owner predict I will run like an auntie and skip the jumps during the run back. But the outcome was better than expected. During my first 2 runs, Kofi came over to my lane to say 'hi' and ask if he could try out my tennis ball. I got rather paranoid and drop my own ball, but I manage to control myself from snapping innocent dog, and return to Ms Owner. Later, the authority secure the banner from all gaps. Despite all the tiredness, I'm still hitting 7 seconds. Whoopee! But Ms Owner wonder how come I'm not faster at the training ground.

~ I'm analyzing the strange white hurdles ~

By the end of the day, I did not contribute anything to earn points toward the agility title. Nonetheless, the food prizes were bigger than before. We got 7.5kg bag for 1st placing. Archer's owner got pretty anxious and ring me up demanding for results. She's really happy that I didn't let Pet-n-You down, as this time I came as a sole ranger. Ginger's trophy was really beautiful and yet again I'm so tempted to participate in the OB trial. Scruffy came in 2nd for Jumper class and 3rd in Novice obedience, thus he only manage to bag home the food prizes.

~ 1 clean run medal, 2 winner trophies, 2 big packs of food and smiling faces~

~ The mafia gang's haul. We, the proudest mutts in town ~

PetsWorld 2008 Recap

Yo! Time to show you guys some interesting photos from the last week event. All the below photos from the event are courtesy by Pet-n-You.

This is Ms Owner and I awaiting Money's arrival. We found out about the timer function in our camera. So, here is our neat group picture after almost dozen of attempts. Yeah, is easy for her to look into the camera, but I don't really get the idea of hallucinating an invisible cameraman.

~ Me and my gear, team color = black. Ms Owner, go change your shirt, please ~

Once we reach and set up my crate, with cloths covering all four direction to prevent me from barking, I'm suffocating.

~ Pacco's corner. Look messy? Yeah, this is how our bedroom looks like too. Can't help it, dirty and messy is our culture ~

The obedience trial was taking place and this was the first time we witness how the Intermediate and Open class competition. Looks interesting but tedious and it take a long time. They doesn't had a standard course time of 2metre per second.

~ Bank doing a long jump. I can't pull this stunt with no worries ~

The most difficult task in the whole game of obedience is to 'stay' and doing it out of sight of your handler, which is absolutely 'IMPOSSIBLE'!!!!

~ These dogs had super glue on their ass ~

~ The aim of the exercise is to make your dog goes Zzzzzzz....... ~

Enough of watching obedience work for me, is time to greet my friends.

~ The Chan's family, Bank de Super Drooler and Kimi Chai de Samseng ~

~ The Ho's family, Money the sophisticated JRT ~

~ Amber-Mae's Family, together with Faith an Chloe ~

~ Groovy de Land Torpedo trying to fool you with the mischievous look ~

Apart from the serious obedience trial, there was also some casual games to cater all pet dog lovers, which include Fancy Dressing, Biggest and Smallest dog, Best Trick, Longest Tail and Most Adorable Puppy.

~ Scruffy de Red Indian participating in Fancy Dressing Contest ~

~ This purplish pink poodle seems to be another species of four-legged. She even have padicure ~

~ Ms Owner threatened to turn me into a purplish pink mongrel, if I wash her 50 bucks into drain, by screwing up all my runs. I'm scared ~

~ Archer, the most consistent team ~

~ Can't recognize who this Border Collie belongs to, there are 3 collies that day and they all looks identical. Our bet is Chester ~

There was a large crowd, and all the other dogs before me have some nice run. People were clapping and cheering, yet it didn't mentally affect me. Maybe I'm already partially deaf after so much of exposure to loud noises.

~ This mutt, you doesn't need a 2nd second guess. Who will looks as skinny with out of proportion body structure and sharp brown eyes like me do. Nonetheless, my black coat looks really shinny here and I'm not on any kind of supplement, no cod liver fish oil for me ~

I'm the dog who did the most of run of the day again. This has always been our approach to agility trial. Invest as much as you can in different classes, and by the end of the day, you will have a higher probability of getting something in return. Fortunately, I'm a mutt with good stamina, or else, someone might need to call up 911 for me. Due to my hectic schedule, I might reconsider letting Ms Owner to adopt another mutt, just to keep her occupied and give me some decent rest that I deserve. BUT, make sure she is no even close to be prettier than me do.

Groovy end the show will style with his groovy dance moves. I love his 'hop on feet' moves and attempts to try it on Ms Owner skinny legs, hoping it will break and we can all rest in peace.

~ Job done and is time to head home. Sayonara ~