Way too much fun!!

What a great weekend!!! I had so much fun that I didn't want the weekend to end. We arrived in Waterloo early Friday evening and after wrestling Falkor into the elevator ("I don't care what you say or do I am NOT going in that scary glass box!!!") we settled into our room for a bit before Jennifer and Janelle got into town. After Jennifer and Janelle arrived we went up to their room and let the dogs play while we chatted and caught up. We ended up chatting until around 1:00am and I decided that I should try to get some sleep since we had to get up really early the next morning. Falkor and Famke totally crashed about a minute after we got back to our room and we all slept like the dead until morning.

We got to the show site just in time for it to start torrential raining outside (groan). We all got soaked trying to potty the dogs and get into the building. Rally Advanced was set to start around 8:45 and the course the judge set up was really nice. It was great for big dogs and had a really nice flow. Jennifer went in with Falkor's Auntie Ladybug, did beautifully and ended up with a 92 and a third place. Janelle went next with Falkor's brother Cooper and also did a really nice job. Falkor and I went last and I am SO proud of him. He gave me beautiful attention and we had a great run. We ended up with a 94 and a second place!!!! First place was a 96. The judge commented that Falkor was a really nice working Dane. I am really proud that we did so well our very first time off leash at a trial!

The dogs were in heaven playing with each other. Falkor's breeder Jennifer is fostering a Great Dane puppy name Takoda and he and Famke became fast friends. They played really hard and did a great job tiring each other out.

I am SO sad because I didn't get any video or photos of the trial. :( I dropped my Flip camera on the way to our ring and when I handed it to Jennifer to video our run it wouldn't turn on. I was able to get it working later that day when I took the batteries out and put them back in. And I had taken the battery out of my camera to charge it on Thursday and I forgot to put it back on before I left on Friday. Grrr! We did however get some pics taken by the show photographer and Jennifer took some with her mega fancy camera. So hopefully we'll have some good pics to share soon!

It was a blast hanging out with Jennifer and Janelle and we were able to enjoy lots of laughs, good food and good times with dog people. What could be better?!!

Rally Trial this Weekend!!!

I am SO very excited about this weekend!! Falkor, Famke and I are traveling to Waterloo tonight to meet Jennifer (one of Falkor's breeders) with Falkor's Aunt Ladybug and his brother Poet, and Janelle with Cooper (another of Falkor's brothers) for a dog show. We are all showing in Rally and Jennifer will also be showing Poet in conformation.

I am really looking forward to visiting with Jennifer and Janelle and I know the dogs are going to have a ball! We were trying to figure out the hotel room situation and briefly considered sharing one room but we thought 3 humans, 4 adult Great Danes, one baby Great Dane and a young Field Spaniel in one room might be a *bit* much. ;) I don't think the humans would have gotten much sleep at night.

Falkor and I are entered in Rally Advanced A on Saturday and Sunday at the trial. We have been working really hard on the Rally exercises off leash and I think we are ready. Notice I said think. ;) I am thinking positive thoughts. I am sure it will be very interesting at the very least.

I plan to bring my camera and Flip so there will be many photos and video to share after the weekend is over.

Rally Advanced....here we come!!!

We were tagged!

We were tagged by the handsome Great Dane Jackson and his Mom Kathie for a photo game. Here are the rules:

Here are the rules:
1. Open your first photo folder
2. Scroll down to the tenth photo
3. Post the photo and tell the story behind it
4. Tag 5 more people

The photos is from the Doggy Swim last fall at one of our local swimming pools. Some of the local pools open one day for dogs to swim before they drain the pools for cleaning. Falkor has SO much fun! He loves the water and it was a blast watching him run around like a nut.

What Falkor has been up to...

Falkor would like to introduce all of his friends to his new little sister, Famke. Famke has her own blog as well and you can check it out here if you want The Fab Famke. To say that Falkor loves his new sister would be a gross understatement. He just lurrrrrves her! Famke was a bit overwhelmed by his enthusiasm at first but now they play nonstop. Falkor is just thrilled to have another dog in the house again and he is incredible with her. He will sometimes accidentally step on her toes but he plays VERY gently with her. Famke loves to boss him around and Falkor LOVES that. He loves the bossy girls. :)

When they wrestle is it a total riot. Famke will lay on Falkor and just chomp all over him. They are quite the sight to behold.

The session of Advanced Obedience that we just finished was incredible!!!! Our instructor was amazing and I feel like we got so much out of the class. I was able to work with Falkor off leash a lot which was very helpful for us both. We have worked really hard on his zoomie recall issue and he is doing so much better. Being able to work off leash has given me so much more confidence in our teamwork. I am really sad that this session of classes is over and I wish that the same instructor would teach the next session but I don't think someone else is going to be teaching.

Knocking hard on wood...Falkor's knee seems to be doing very well. We continue with all of our rehab and physical therapy work and since the weather finally broke we've been able to start biking which is awesome! At his last rehab vet appt the vet said the knee feels very stable to and there is virtually no swelling. Yippee!

We are entered in a Rally Advanced (eeks LOL) trial at the end of April which I am super excited about because some of Falkor's family will be there! I think we will have a great time together.

I am looking forward to getting back into tracking with Falkor as well. So much to do so little time. :)