Random Ramblings

I've been a bad blogger! Actually, that's not really the case as I've been really busy over on my photography blog...just not much happening in the way of spotty dog action lately, much to their dismay.

As for training? Well, I'm glad that I decided to take it easy this summer because even if I wanted to, the weather has been less than cooperative. RAIN, RAIN, RAIN - that's the story here in Florida at the moment. Our wonderful new agility field at SOTC is soaked and the surrounding ponds are overflowing. I think Peyton and I have practiced once in the last few weeks. Again, much to his dismay as he really *loves* going to class! We have been doing some backyard table work, but that's about it.

I think we're going to head up to Ocala next Friday for a night NADAC trial. To be honest, I think my NADAC days with Peyton are numbered at the moment. Not because I don't think it's a great venue, but because I don't think we have the skills needed to be successful at this point. That might seem odd to some who might think NADAC is "easy", but I think most of the courses (which are designed for speed) are a bit too much for my speedy spotty. Or rather, they a bit too much for his not as speedy handler! However, I do think it's an awesome venue for young dogs, so we're going to use this as a training opportunity to work on start-line stays and contacts. I was hoping to take Indy to this trial, but realized today that I could only enter her in jumpers since every other class has contacts and since we haven't worked on the dogwalk in a while, I think she needs a bit of a refresher before we attempt it again in a trial.

The following weekend is our SOTC AKC trial - this will be the first SOTC trial that I actually get to run in (and not just be a volunteer), so I'm looking forward to it! Then we'll have the rest of September off and in October, the Florida trial season starts back up. Should be a very busy fall!

As for me, it's been almost 3 weeks since I've been home from my Indy trip and my suitcase is still not completely unpacked. :) Probably because I'm still working on pictures like this one...

That would be Sadie and Parker - two of my good friends from Indy. I think Parker is giving Sadie instructions for posing here. :)

And finally, to make this somewhat random post, completely random - here's my cute spotty story of the day:

I'm very fortunate that the spotties love to sleep. Really - anyone who thinks that Dalmatians are hyper, crazy dogs need to come over and visit my couch potatoes. Most mornings they wake up whenever I wake up, which is a very good thing in my book! However, on the rare occasion that Peyton is up before me, he's learned that a best way to get me out of bed is by grabbing something he shouldn't have and slowly parade in circles around my bed. He comes just close enough to show me what he has, but moves before I can grab it. Well, yesterday morning he grabbed an entry form (which now has teeth marks in it). Do you think he's trying to tell me something? Clever little spotted boy that he is. :)