New CD- Acadia Aquilegia, OAJ, NA, RN, *CD*

Congratulations Amy and Quill! Amy says that she is working in Open with Quill and they are already competing at matches. Good luck!

Read more...

Cute puppy- Lilly Law

I just thought it was time for a few pictures and Jennifer Law sent me these pictures of "Lilly". She reports that Lilly is doing well and the family loves her. Jennifer also said, "I can't believe how fast she can run and how high she can jump"- Sounds like an Agility Prospect to me!

Read more...

Great dogs- Great owners and one very happy breeder

I got the following letter from a puppy buyer and it made me SO HAPPY!!!!! Of course I have said before, I have the best puppy BUYERS- but nothing makes me happier than to hear that the dogs add joy to your life. Personally, I think there is no greater friend than a dog- but that is just my opinion. Here is what Heidi Stum had to say about her Acadia Sheltie, Piper.

"She is the first dog I have EVER had that is perfect. She is my first sheltie that likes to play (forever), go for walks and doesn't bark incessantly. She loves people and gets quite upset when people won't acknowledge her. She turns two this year and I have never gotten so much joy or pleasure out of a dog as I have with her. ...................................... Thank you for allowing me to experience one of your phenomenal dogs."

No- I didn't solicite that letter

Thank you Heidi.

And then this email arrived from Karen about a Different Acadia sheltie also named "Piper".

"Every time Taylor is sick – especially these last two times, Piper watches over her as if he is her seeing eye dog. Seriously! He didn’t move from her side the entire time. He would sit ON her if we let him and he was totally aware that she was not well. He was up in the night with us (and this little guy likes his sleep!), he was her constant companion and he was the one thing that would put a smile on her face. Words don’t do the story justice but I am sure you can relate. It was so beautiful to watch. He is such a character and he cracks us up all of the time. He is just loaded with personality but he is also loaded with a real compassion. He is SO loved and he knows it! Thank you for such an amazing little guy!"

Thank you !!!!!

Read more...

Course time in Agility

In the last two posts I have bragged about how fast Rory and Valerie have run the course- but what does that mean?

When a judge designs a course, they have to consider many things. Each level (Novice, Open, Excellent) has a different requirement for the number and types of obstacles that are required. For example, a Novice Jumpers with Weaves class (often refered to as a "jumpers class"- or abreviated to JWW) must have from 14-16 obstacles which can only include jumps, tunnels and weave poles (no contact equipment). In the Excellent level of JWW, 18-20 obstacles are required- same rule applies as to type of obsticles. The route the dog will take to get to each obsticle must also be considered. Judges must submit their course maps to AKC prior to the trial so that it can be checked for appropriate angles of approach, number and appropiateness of the obsticles, and distance between the obsticles. Judges design unique courses for each trial.

Each course has what is called "the standard course time"- this is the time each dog must complete the course in or be faulted. Course time is determined by the yards of the course. So, in Novice Jumpers with Weaves Class, dogs that are in the 8 inch jump height and the 12 inch jump hight are allowed 2.5 yards per second. Dogs in the 16 inch jump height are allowed 2.75 yards per second. Prior to the start of judging, but after all of the obsticles have been set for each course, the judge measures the course to determine the yardage and figures the "Standard Course time". The yards and times are posted for the exhibitors to see.

Posted Standard Course Time vs. Acadia Sheltie time.
The course Valerie ran was 99 yards and Standard Course time was 41 seconds. Valerie ran it in 29.00 (yes the electronic times do 100ths of seconds too).
Rory's course was 94 yards and the Standard Course time was 38 seconds. Rory ran it in 21.45 seconds.

Read more...

New AXJ for 10 year old Acadia Sweet Emotion, *AXJ*, NA, NF, PT

"Valerie" is competing in agility in Calf. with Pam Fugitt-Hetrick (who also owns Valerie's sister, MACH4 Molly, HSds). These two girls will be 10 years old this Valentines day, Feb. 14.

Of the two girls, Valerie is the "wildchild". This past weekend she finally completed the AXJ title - and of course she got a first place. She ran the course in 29 seconds- a time that beat a bunch of world team contenders on the same course! Did I mention she is 10?

Read more...