RIP Yasser : 5 January 1995 - 20 July 2010

What can I say about this wonderful dog who was with us for so long and shaped my life in so many ways ? A total impulse buy not long after we got married , this funny looking farm dog with huge ears that he never quite grew into and of dubious parentage - supposedly a BC/ACD cross with a bit of kelpie somewhere in there for good measure. The last one left in his litter, we found out some time later that he was due to be 'disposed of' the day after we decided to take him, so maybe it was meant to be.



Although I grew up with kelpies as a child, I had never really been involved in training them in any way and don't ever remember having one as a young puppy. (I suspect Mum and Dad did some work with 'my dogs' first before they got put into my hands !) So into our unprepared lives came this goofy, tricolour pup who chewed everything he could get hold of - including every pair of knickers that ever got hung out on the line and my new bike seat, pulled on the lead like a maniac, barked like crazy every time he was left alone in the yard and totally shaped us to be his slaves in every way.



And for the first few years we knew no better and went happily along on one big 'Yasser-ride' in our inner city terrace home where he played happily with the other neighbourhood dogs on a tiny strip of grass near the railway station every morning, walked the city streets with me of an evening and learnt to swim in the Merri Creek on the weekends (eek!), progressing to the Yarra River once he got the hang of it.



When Yasser was 4 we discovered the Obedience Club quite by accident one Sunday when visiting a local nursery. L was impressed with all the 'good dogs' that were surprisingly obedient to their handlers and not a lead puller in sight. On the other hand, I was captivated by the dogs up the back corner doing agility and decided that I might even like to give it a try one day. (And so the seed of an addiction was planted.....)

L. and Yasser did pretty well at obedience, but there was never any joy in his work. At the time we put it down to him being 4 before he started, but looking back now I believe the training methods had a lot to do with it - my only regret with this dog is the number of 'corrections' he received in the name of dog training and if I could take every one back then I would.

Yasser had to be at Novice trialling standard before he was allowed to join the agility class. This took around 2 years (yes, there were a lot of bad habits to break first - courtesy of us!) and by then I was totally hooked watching the other dogs week after week and couldn't wait. Finally after our first agility class, another class member just happened to mention an agility only club where you didn't need to be at any particular standard to join and the rest is history. I couldn't believe that I had waited almost 2 years when I could have been doing agility all that time.

Yasser took to agility with a lot more gusto than obedience but having a foundation of 'working on the left only and not moving out of heel position' was a challenge at times. Although never a speed demon, he worked carefully and consistently and managed to do quite well at Novice level. Those who knew him used to joke at how revved up he would get outside the ring, barking and spinning around and giving every appearance of a totally driven dog. But the moment he got into the ring the 'driven' turned into something more akin to 'driving Miss Daisy' and he would amble around at my side, happpily taking any obstacle that I asked him to but never really moving out of half pace. This really did make him the perfect beginner's dog - fast enough to make time easily in Novice but not so fast that I couldn't get into position easily enough with my clumsy handling. Even though he was 7 before our first trial, he moved through Novice easily, with 2nd and 3rd placings along the way and had a couple of one fault runs in Open (the old Excellent class) before disaster struck and he injured his shoulder after getting a fly off on a seesaw.

Although his shoulder healed it was never really the same and he would sometimes develop a limp after jumping at 570mm height. Then we discovered ADAC agility (the Australian 'forerunner' to what is now NADAC) where he could run as a Veteran dog with a reduced jump height and so we retired from ANKC and made the change. This was a big hit with Yass, his speed and level of enthusiasm increased and he competed quite successfully in this venue until his retirement at 11 years of age. The only thing he never liked was a set of winged jumps (thankfully these disappeared after our first few trials) that were shaped and painted like elephants. He used to run up to them and circle them and bark and never once jumped the crossbar in the middle. The teddy bears and the soldiers were fine with him but obviously the elephants were just too damned freaky.

Despite his elephant aversion, Yasser amassed quite a collection of ribbons and medallions that I was always so proud of. Although they bring back lovely memories of our time in the agility ring together and the start of an ongoing journey, I would happily hand every one back if I could just step up to the startline with him one more time and see the look in his eyes as he couldn't wait to go.

Yasser enjoyed our move to the country where his new dog run was bigger than the entire backyard he had grown up in - even if he did have to share with some additions along the way.

He was a wonderful teacher for all the puppies that came to share his life - and there were 4 of them. Patient and gentle for most of the time, but also quick to put them in their place when their lack of manners warranted it. Both the kelpies especially loved him and right to the end would tell Bosnich exactly what they thought if they believed he had hurt the old man in any way.

Even when he was deaf, arthritic and his body was beginning to fail him, Yasser still loved to watch the kelpies training agility and would bark encouragement from the verandah. Although he got to spend less than a year with Ivy, once again he was a patient teacher and I loved seeing my young and old tricolours together - regretfully I never got a photo of them together.

So farewell my lovely boy and true friend. May you run free at the Rainbow Bridge, chasing tennis balls, sticks and frisbees, chewing bows off knickers and of course happily flying over those lower jumps. I'm sure Wolfie has found you by now and you are revisiting old times together.

Yasser was a beautiful dog and truly one of a kind. He was much loved, loved in return and is very much missed. Please give your dog a good rub behind the ears on his behalf.

Casterton Revisited

Is it a trick of the light or can you really see the ghosts of Jack Gleeson and Kelpie by the banks of the Glenelg River ? Is that the sound of distant hoofbeats echoing in the wind as they make their hurried escape ?

Probably not, as I just made that up. True, the photo really was taken by the banks of the Glenelg River, but it's just Atilla and L with a bit of help from good old Photoshop.

But I'm sure that if the aforementioned ghosts ever did decide to pay a visit back to Casterton, it would have to be during the Kelpie Muster. After attending every year from 2003 I missed last year when I decided to go agility trialling over the long weekend instead, so this year it was time for a return trip, even if it does mean that it will be July before I get back to trialling thanks to all the trial cancellations this year and restricted trials over June that we're not eligible for. (Apparently putting kilts on kelpies for Scottish breeds trial just doesn't cut it.)

Anyway, back to Casterton we went for a weekend of kelpie fun with no agility equipment in sight.

There's a ton of information about the muster on the net, and I did a detailed write up on this blog in 2008 http://agilitykelpies.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2008-09-23T09%3A40%3A00%2B10%3A00&max-results=7 so this year it's going to be mainly photos I think.

Henty Street Casterton with the Albion Hotel in the distance. It wasn't this deserted for the most of the day, but this was during the High Jump competition so no prizes for guessing where every man and his dog were.Big kelpie banner shielded the Rotary ? Lions ? (not sure which) Club while they barbecued. Atilla earned himself a sausage for sitting up and looking pretty while I snapped away so he was pretty impressed with the whole thing.

Site of the legendary hill climb competition. The dogs run from just in front of the truck to the top of the hill. You can just make out the white gates part of the way up - a 5 second deduction of your time if your dog goes through them on the way up.

Apart from kelpies, the next most common sight is probably cows - these ones watch the hill climb from the paddock next door, until Cruz pulled the lead out of L's hands and moved them off the fence that is.L watches the hill climb while Cruz watches me - or more likely the cows behind me after his bit of unplanned active service.

The trains don't come to Casterton any more. We did the kelpie trail walk and finished up at the old railway yards, a pretty spot but a bit sad really. Looks as if some effort has gone into preserving the old station at least.

And finally a trip down memory lane. First of all L and Atilla as a young pup back in 2003.


And in the same spot, 2010. The drizabone is a bit worse for wear, the kelpie is older and wiser, or should that be more 'street smarts' and sneakier ??

Happy Birthday Cruz

Lately I am obsessed with cupcakes. I'm not really interested in the cooking part and even the eating part I can 'take it or leave it' but I am mad for decorating them. There are whole blogs out there dedicated to the cupcake and some of the artistry leaves me with my jaw on the ground. If you haven't already, google 'cupcakes' and then allow yourself the next 2 or 3 hours to be totally gobsmacked by some of the work.

Unfortunately I don't have time to contemplate getting into cupcake decorating when I can't even find the time to train the dogs some evenings now that it's getting dark so early. But at least Cruz's birthday gave me an excuse to have a go. Pretty pathetic effort compared to some of the other stuff out there, but hey, you've got to start somewhere and it was a lot of fun playing around with designs.



Peanut butter and zucchini cupcakes (or should that be pupcakes?) with cream cheese frosting and a 'bones and flowers' theme. They disappeared even faster than the time it took to photograph them. (Photography hint for me - shooting them up so close shows up all the imperfections, don't do it again !) I am planning a very 'girlie' theme for Ivy's first birthday next month and can't wait to have another go. So move over Nigella and Jamie ....... not ! But at least the dogs are happy with the idea.

Under Construction

I have been dreaming about extending my agility area for some time now and this part of the yard was first on the agenda. So one final look - and goodbye stunted apple tree that never gives fruit.

You can never have enough areas to train agility in - well that's my excuse anyway. This is going to become an area for contact equipment so I can get it out of my other area and have more space for setting up jumping drills - the current space I have is around 13 metres by 30 metres, plenty long enough but a bit short in the width department when it is cluttered up with A Frame and dogwalk.

We hired the digger and enlisted the help of a friend to operate it. The kelpies were a bit indignant at being locked up for the day but they barked encouragement from the dog run anyway.

OH pretending that he was actually useful even if he didn't operate the digger. Who needs a digger when you've got a big stick with a sharp digging thingy on the end.

Cruz is delighted with the progress so far as he thinks he has a dirt racetrack. Every time I look out the window he is self exercising by running from one end to the other repeatedly. Atilla likes the big pile of dirt and has already used it for secret activities involving bone hiding.

Next stage will be laying sleepers on the side we cut away plus putting in the fence posts. I am planning on 4 really high posts in the corners in the hope of one day having lights - but that's just on the wish list at the moment. (Along with the swimming pool for the dogs, another dog run, a hydrobath, an outdoor shower, a big vegetable garden, my own sheep, some geese, a wood fired pizza oven, an industrial sewing machine, a new bathroom and the sensitive man from the perfect cheese commercial.)

What's a Bit of Leg Humping between Friends ?

Oh the shame of it all ! I have just discovered that I am identifiable to other agility participants who don't train with me and don't know me all that well as 'the one with the kelpie that humps her leg sometimes.'

And as this remark was made at this month's Nationals (or so I am told by the person who actually made it - just checking with me that he did indeed have the right person) then that may very well become my agility claim to fame nationwide.

To be fair, Atilla does indeed hump my leg on occasion. At 3 years of age, I had a kelpie that was crazy about food but not interested in tugging with me in the slightest so I worked long and hard to try and do something about this - we're talking 18 months of chicken-neck-in-sock-stinking-in-the-sun-at-trials-gradually-progressing-to-sock-alone-and-then-to-furry-tug-with- annoying-squeak- kind of working and it paid off. Now I have a kelpie who enjoys tugging with me for the most part, but his toy enthusiasm came with the side effect of leg humping when I decide the game has finished and he decides he wants to keep going.

As this only ever happens when I bring out the tug toy and I only bring it out at agility trials or training, then I guess leg humping has become an agility related behaviour. In fact I use it as a 'yardstick' for what kind of run we are going to have. If I have put the toy away and I am waiting in line and he is hanging off my leg then we usually have a pretty good run. If I put the toy away and he is waiting nicely beside me then we usually have an 'off the normal pace' kind of run , so you can see why I don't really have a problem with the leg humping bit. I also have the added advantage of being able to take the leg in question into the ring with me - bonus ! So take that agility rules that ban toys from the ring and stupid state that doesn't have 'not for competition' runs. Thankfullly I haven't had to drag him in still hanging off my leg, not yet anyway.

So in a nutshell, the leg humping doesn't really bother me - or at least it didn't until I found out it is rapidly becoming something that other people talk about. Why are they even noticing what my dog does when they should be too busy focusing on their own dogs you may ask? And if leg humping has become the pre-cursor to having a good run then what's so bad about it anyway - apart from the socially unacceptable aspect of course. And I do make a token effort to pry him off each time - even though inside I might be thinking 'leg humping = faster run coming up - yay!'

So I guess my choices are :

1. not accept the leg humping any more and take the risk of losing the tug drive with it. (yeah, OK, guess I'm being slightly paranoid on this one but as someone who worships at the temple of 'don't fix what aint broken' quite a bit, don't know if I want to take the chance)

2. try to camouflage the leg humping outside the ring by throwing a coat or blanket over him and pretending I'm just doing some kind of weird warm up dance.

3. stuff what everyone else thinks and let him continue doing it.

Hmm... lock in number 3 Eddie.

The Innocent Leg Humper in Question looking beyond reproach on a recent day out at Anglesea.

Where Did My Kelpie Go and Who Is This Faster Version?

I don't know what's going on with Atilla, but ever since his runs at the Twilight Pairs trial, it's like a switch has flicked in his brain and he's back running like he did in the distant past before he had his accident. At home, at training and the best bit ..... at trials as well, and I'm loving it.

I'm experimenting with 'minimalist trialling' at the moment where I have only been entering a handful of runs in the morning and then taking him off for a long walk or a run in the afternoon to really try and build up our relationship- mostly just some one on one time without Cruz and Ivy in tow. So far I am enjoying this new arrangement and if Atilla's performance is anything to go by, then so is he.

At his last 3 trials with this strategy in place (2 runs, 2 runs, 3 runs - normally I would have close to that many on one day) he has finished his Open Jumping title (finally - for some strange reason this one eluded us, maybe has to do with not bothering to enter it all that much) with a nice 3rd place, 1st place in Excellent Gamblers, a 5th place in Masters Jumping - on a course with a whole ton of passes, and a 2nd place in Masters agility - again on a course with a number of passes. Generally we tend to finish just out of the places in Masters so I was delighted with this one.

Cruz has only had one run since Warrnambool - I am still undecided about what the best course of action is for him. He did manage to get the final pass needed for his Novice agility title which I never thought would happen after the lead up to going into the ring.

It was an incredibly windy day and Novice agility was scheduled for the ring closest to the road, which is quite a busy road. He was freaked from the traffic noise plus everything flapping around on the outside of the ring in the wind so I let the steward know where I was and then took him up the side of the ring where it was a bit calmer to try and focus him.

As the dog before me entered the ring, I started to walk over to the ring entrance and someone's tent blew down as we passed it and the flap hit him on the back. Poor thing was absolutely terrified. He literally lay down on the ground and wouldn't move. So here I am doing the Lynda Orton- Hill 'suck it up buttercup' thing and practically dragging him over to the ring entrance, just as I finally managed to get him to sit and focus on me, the handler of the dog before me decides that the first few obstacles are enough for her dog today and she will quit, so they are asking me to bring Cruz into the ring. Disaster !

I nearly turned tail and didn't bother - it was also a pretty tough course for Novice with a Masters level weave entry to boot - but decided to see what he did and if he totally shut down then we would leave the ring. To my surprise he moved off the start line when I released him, nailed the weave entry at obstacle number 3 and ran clear. Even though he was running nowhere near his normal speed, I was so proud of him. I know I complain about his lack of focus a lot, but this time I actually thought he was really brave considering how totally freaked he was before he went in. And he still gave me enough speed to finish in 2nd place, a couple of seconds behind a fast working collie and more than 8 seconds faster than the 3rd placed dog.

So his agility career will continue, even if we only enter one run per day for a bit, as he seems to be able to cope with this. We are now going to focus on Excellent Agility for a bit before he makes his Masters Jumping debut. If I thought he didn't like running agility then I would retire him, but when the conditions are 'just right' for him, he is loving it and turning in some terrific runs so we will soldier on for now and continue to work on handling his stressors at training and in some different environments.

If I stop obsessing over speed and just relax and let him run at his own pace then I am starting to enjoy running him too, even if he is 'my little challenge' at times.

We Heart Twilight Trials

Did I mention that the heart in the title is a very big heart indeed?

Last weekend we had the State Trial for Strategic Pairs - a new event held as a triple twilight trial. I confess that I'm not the most enthusiastic participant in pairs. Generally I prefer to focus on my other runs and don't usually bother fitting it in. Plus I prefer Gamblers out of the 3 games on offer and if I decide to have a games run on top of my others then that's the one I normally choose.

I haven't run pairs since 2008 Nationals and haven't had a qualifying leg in just on 2 years - as you can see entering is pretty infrequent, plus my regular partner doesn't run Kennel Club trials any more, preferring the lower jump heights of NADAC instead. But when they scheduled a twilight trial soley devoted to pairs we decided to reunite and have some runs for a bit of fun.

Well we had tons of fun, plus someone must have stuck a rocket up the kelpie's butt when I wasn't looking. I don't remember him being this fast in a very long time so of course I was delighted. We Q'd on 2 out of 3 runs, won the ring on the 2nd run and had an even faster run on the 3rd, only to find the judge had DQ'd us for something he seems to have seen that we didn't - but we won't go there.

So now that we only need one more pass for SPDX we may be making a pairs comeback after all.

Plus it was really nice running in the evening, cool, not so crowded around the rings and lots of space up the back for the kelpies to have a run around off lead together between runs.

Here's Atilla with his partner Jack. This photo is around 4 years old now - it was actually taken the day before Atilla had his accident and broke his leg, a day I'll never forget - but it's the only photo I can find with them both together.

Did Warrnambool earlier in the month but my runs weren't all that memorable. The weather was disgusting - wet, hot and extremely humid. Plus the grass had just been mowed and not raked up and the rings were stinky to high heaven with wet grass aroma.

Cruz got the last pass he needed for JDX with a first place - he really wasn't all that into it given the conditions and although it was a nice clean run it wasn't at his usual pace. We were first in the ring and I remember thinking that the time we put down would certainly be beaten. The strange thing was that every dog in the ring seemed to be affected by the conditions and on a go slow, so at 11 seconds under SCT we were actually the fastest- on a course that would usually see close to 20 seconds under as the norm from some of the fastest dogs.

So my baby is now in Masters Jumping with his big brother - he is so not ready and won't be making an appearance for some time while we 'embrace our holes' in preparation.

Atilla didn't run anywhere near his usual pace - we ran a very technical Masters Jumping course that had threadles, wrap arounds, serps - you name it-we managed to go around clear but were .2 second over time. Every other run had just one little thing each time, although I was really disappointed with his speed on most runs. I think I have the only working dog that goes on strike if the temperature rises over 25 degrees - bring on Winter trialling. Or better yet, more twilight trials.

Did I mention how much kelpies heart twilight trials? Bring 'em on !