Jump that Ring Fence!

(Phoned in by Rudy)

Hi guys!

I was at a dog show today, 'way out west of home about an hour, and I had a fun time. Mom brought me out there early and it was raining on the way out, but not when we got to the showgrounds. We parked in a big field and she wanted to practice some more obedience, but there were so many smells in that field (GROUNDHOG!!!) it was hard for me to concentrate.

Finally I got the idea but only after the sun came out and dried out the grass and the good smells. We were going to do Rally Obedience! Oh, OK... it's not as much fun as agility or Earthdog, but here we go. Mom figured it out so she gave me a huge pep talk and acted like this was going to be some fun! Yea! I was pepped up!

Well I got so excited, we did the first few stations just fine and then we got to the left-hand corner of the ring. Mom was crowding me and trying to get me to do a 270 degree left turn , and her left arm went out like she wanted me to go away, and so over the ring fence I went! That was fun! This was an off-leash test so I was free to go anywhere. Mom was kind of shocked and called my name -- oops, isn't that what you wanted??? So I popped back over and she got me to try that turn again. Oh geez, I hoped we weren't eliminated for that. We did the rest of the test just fine and when we finished, the judge told her we were OK since I came right back and started working right away. That made Mom feel better.
Some bad doggie that came after us thought what I did was cool, so HE jumped the ring fence but HE didn't come back. He ran around and around and around! Ohhh they didn't get to try that again... they had to leave.


I ended up scoring 90 out of 100 and getting third place. That was great! I got a lot of treats for that. My 'fan club' was really pleased! (yes I have groupies.. heh heh) I had to go with my breeder after that and do conformation showing and guess what -- I got Best of Breed and followed that up with a Group 3! (3rd best in the Terrier group). They all love me now!

(I'm spending the weekend with the breeder and her show buddies so I'm dictating this to Mom tonight. I'll be glad to get home, they don't treat me like royalty over there...)

Love,
Rudy


(Mom speaking: Rudy's mom Clancy and Auntie Em couldn't be less impressed tonight)

My Competition

You know, as much time as Mom spends with us and ME in particular, you'd think we (meaning I) would be tops on her list. Ohhh no, my friends, there's someone else lurking in the background we don't know much about! I have the proof right here --- it's a big stinking animal called a HORSE.



I saw some pics on her camera and there's the culprit! Sometimes she goes out on a weekend and spends hours away and comes back smelly and hairy sometimes, hairs that look like they come from this big thing! Old Nathan used to tell me she had another "H" animal hidden away which had white hairs and she'd go out after work and spend time with that creature, even more than she does now. I'm telling you, you have to watch your people 'cause sometimes they don't tell you everything they do!


Look at this -- it doesn't care that I'm jealous! I don't speak horse -- what is it saying here???

Mom didn't go out and spend time with the HORSE this weekend... she was sick today so she spent a lot of time in bed this morning sleeping. Uncle Dennis is sick too but he got up earlier, so Mom and I just slept late. He was too sick to go to the party they were going to attend so Mom went by herself and came back feeling worse. Huh -- at least she didn't go see that evil animal that takes time away from me!

Josie's been sick too, she coughs a lot. She feels OK and I don't understand why Emmy can't go to the Earthdog test tomorrow because of her coughing ... I know why I can't go, I have to stay beautiful for the dog shows next weekend. By then Josie ought to be over her coughing and I can go. People have weird reasons for doing things! Don't even try to understand, guys.....

Here's Josie trying to kiss up to me --- Women!!! Human or dog, I don't understand them.

Oh, and hey you -- don't let me keep you awake or anything! (did I mention it's also a female horse????) I'm surrounded by women! sheesh ---

Love,

Rudy

My Award

Hi everyone!

Mom said if I was quick she'd let me use the PC tonight and post something. I got something in the mail from the breed club which we didn't expect -- an award!
Someone did a lot of research online (hmmm.. Mom says she did it) and came up with a big list of all the Bedlingtons that competed in Obedience and Rally Obedience nationwide in 2006, and guess what! I was awarded Top Rally Obedience Dog for Novice A in 2006! It's the beginner level but I scored the best overall. How about that?

We've been working on more Rally Obedience this summer in class and Mom signed us up for another class starting next week. We're entered in Advanced A at an obedience trials later on this month which is the next level up from Novice. It's off-leash this time (Novice is on-leash) so it's a little scarier for Mom! I did well in our last class of the last session and we got a score of 92, placing 3rd in the class behind a couple of good dogs. Mom didn't even know the teacher was going to judge us!

I had a little adventure this past weekend. On Saturday Mom took me with her out front to get the newspaper and she went in the house. She really doesn't remember taking me back inside with her! I didn't care -- I was sniffing out those sneaky chipmunks and skinks that live in the bushes by the house. Before I knew it my nose led me to the neighbors' yard. They were having a yard sale and I had fun visiting with everyone! The little girls got a leash that they have for their big Labrador and put it on me and brought me back home. Mom laughed when she came to the door, asking if they had a doggie for sale! She didn't seem mad but I bet if she realized I was gone she'd be flying outside looking for me... she just spent some time scratching her head like it would help her remember how I got out of the back yard -- IF I were in the back yard in the first place! She's losing it....

Meanwhile I'm going to pose with my new 'award'. What -- no cookies?


Love

Rudy