Cadbury, Sparrow, Merlin, Swift and Me
How can it be the end of the year already? Seriously, feels only a moment ago we began our 2017 Beachside journey and now we have completed the last show of the year! At the start of 2017 Sparrow was in Elementary grade and Merlin was Starters grade, we have finished with both dogs in... Continue Reading →
Summer is here and for the Jackson gang that means regular trips to the beach where it is cooler by the ocean to walk. It also means plenty of swimming. I encourage swimming in my dogs for fitness and conditioning. Exercising in water, while still strenuous, does not involve weight bearing on joints or spine,... Continue Reading →
Swift is now 13 weeks old and full vaccinated, so she is pretty ready to rock and roll puppy style! After Sparrow's 1-2-1 session with Helen Anderson this month, we spent 10 minutes playing with Swift. Many people believe that a pup can't start doing agility until they are over a year old, and in... Continue Reading →
The weather was hot, hot, hot. Oh, but then it rained because this is England and we couldn't have sunshine for a whole weekend? Lol! And we were at Red Run's UKA show, the only UKA show near me these days, sadly. But while it might be the only one, it was definitely a good... Continue Reading →
I've been working on lots of fun games to play with Swift to encourage her to try new things and to develop our bond and relationship. Puppies have so much to learn that it can seem daunting sometimes, but this fun little game incorporates several later areas of training without your pup even realising it.... Continue Reading →
If you read my previous blog about the Beachside Finals you'll know that this week I have been competing at Waxham Sands, a beautiful, yet windswept venue, where you definitely know you are right next door to the North Sea! This was Merlin's first show at Graduate level, while Sparrow was still Novice. I knew... Continue Reading →
For the third year running I qualified for the Beachside Finals at Waxham Sands. This year I had Merlin and Sparrow running, both in Novice grade but different heights. Beachside is the show where the journey began for us back in 2013 when Merlin started competing. I always feel at home with the Beachside team.... Continue Reading →
Merlin has had a funny fortnight, what with his tummy troubles, and his confidence has dropped, but we are improving again, he is feeling better and getting back his agility mojo. On Saturday we went to Agility Ability at Euston park, a beautiful venue even if the ground is not ideal for running on. The... Continue Reading →
Time to introduce the newest member of Team Jackson! Little Swift arrived on 19 April 2017 and set to work settling herself into the team. First impressions went very well, with Merlin and Angel welcoming her, Cadbury taking a wide berth (as usual) and Sparrow watching from a distance. As the first week progressed, Angel... Continue Reading →
Easter weekend and time for the first big Kennel Club show of the year. I woke excited but then the nerves kicked in and by the time I was at the showground I had managed to knock my confidence by stressing about the day ahead. Not a great start and my tension fed straight down... Continue Reading →
Team Jackson 