Agility Surprise and Our First AKC Premier Standard Run

Rocco looks like a peanut next to Norman!

Last weekend we headed to an agility trial at Wills Park in Alpharetta, Ga., and look who we ran into!! It's Norman the Scooter Dog!

Rocco was just 8 months old when he first met Norman. Rocco's still a Norman mini-me! (both of their colors keep changing!)

Norman is famous for his world record scooter run and he's been on lots of tv shows. We're honored that he's our pal! We thought it was super cool that Norman was competing in one of his first agility trials. In fact, he earned his Novice Standard and Jumpers titles at the trial.

Course map from our Premier Standard run

Back to Rocco's runs, we competed in our first AKC Premier Standard class over the weekend. That's a new event offered in AKC agility that features some of the current international style of handling -- back sides of jumps, harder weave pole entries and challenging sequences that require advanced handling skills.

Norman's mom videotaped our run, so you can see how we did! We were a bit slower than usual since we're still mastering many of these advanced skills, but we still qualified with 10 seconds to spare!

And now for a special announcement...

Next week we will be celebrating THREE years of holding our FitDog Friday Blog Hop and after much thought, we've decided it's time to retire the hop. We've covered all sorts of activities you can do with your pups and hosted K9 Kamp and some special fitness challenges as part of our weekly FitDog Friday feature.  Hundreds of fellow bloggers have joined us each week and shared their fitness tips and experiences. It's been a great learning experience for all of us! Along with our co-hosts SlimDoggy and My GBGV Life, we'll miss seeing you each week (but sure hope you'll still stop by even without the hop!   We will continue to post about lots of fun activities and healthy living with pups so be sure and continue to visit!

Please join us next week for our final Hop and share with us some of your favorite FitDog Friday experiences.

The fun and games continue every Friday with FitDog Friday, the weekly Blog Hop brought to you by To Dog With Love, SlimDoggy and My GBGV Life to promote a healthy active lifestyle for pets (and their people, too!). Join in every Friday by linking up your FitDog story or visiting the blogs in the hop.



<

Rocco Rocks it For His Agility Title

Last weekend after attending BarkWorld Expo, we headed to the final day of the Newnan Kennel Club agility trial at Chicopee Woods in Gainesville, Ga.

After all the BarkWorld socializing, Rocco was ready to RUN! It all came together and at last we put together a complete run with no mistakes! We'd been waiting for this one for a while, and with this qualifying run, Rocco earned his AKC Excellent Standard agility title!

This run tells it all! Take a look!



Hope you all have a fabulous FitDog Friday and a fun weekend planned!

The fun and games continue every Friday with FitDog Friday, the weekly Blog Hop brought to you by To Dog With Love, SlimDoggy and My GBGV Life to promote a healthy active lifestyle for pets (and their people, too!). Join in every Friday by linking up your FitDog story or visiting the blogs in the hop.

Enthusiastic for Agility!

We recently competed at an AKC agility trial in the Atlanta area, and Rocco was raring to go! You can see his awesome speedy self in the video below!

We had only one small bobble, at the start of the weave poles, and that's all it took to keep us from earning a qualifying run. After looking at the video I can see how it was probably my fault! I pushed too far left and Rocco followed. What an awesome pup!

Videotaping agility runs is such an awesome training tool, since in the heat of the run, it's often hard to figure out -- or remember -- what you did!

We're heading back out for an agility trial this Sunday, after attending BarkWorld Expo. Hope to see some of you there!

The fun and games continue every Friday with FitDog Friday, the weekly Blog Hop brought to you by To Dog With Love, SlimDoggy and My GBGV Life to promote a healthy active lifestyle for pets (and their people, too!). Join in every Friday by linking up your FitDog story or visiting the blogs in the hop.

Working Out Agility Kinks

Rocco tears it up through the tire

Last weekend we took home more learnings than ribbons from our AKC agility trial. Yup, that's right, even Rocco's not a rocket all the time!

We did have one qualifying run, in FAST, which is a run where you devise your own course based on getting the most points in a set amount of time. It also includes a distance challenge where you send your dog out to complete a series of obstacles (usually two or three) without crossing a designated line (a real line tapped into the dirt).

Four Words You Never Want to Say in Dog Agility

Where.  Am.  I.  GOING???!

Yup, that's what I said during this run with Rocco on an AKC JWW (jumpers with weaves) course. We were running for our Excellent title.

But, alas, I got a bit turned around and Rocco stopped as if to say, "Mom, figure out what it is you want to do and let's get this show going!"

Take a look for yourself...

Should You Give a Puppy as a Holiday Gift?

Puppy Rocco

Tis the season for gift giving, but there is never a good time of year to give a puppy as a surprise present.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) reminds those considering giving a puppy as a gift to think twice.

“A dog is a serious commitment, and you should never surprise someone with a puppy they aren’t ready to keep for a lifetime,” said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson.  “A dog needs to suit your lifestyle, and it’s important to consider the energy level, size, coat and temperament of a puppy – as well as your own readiness – before you make a decision.”

Consider wrapping dog supplies such as a leash or bowl to symbolize the gift of a puppy to come – this will give the recipient time to do their research and prepare for the commitment.

During their critical first weeks at home, puppies require a great deal of time, love, and attention. Therefore, any prospective owner should always carefully consider their schedule and circumstances before bringing a new pet into their home.

This is especially true during the holidays when parties, travel, or out-of-town visitors might adversely affect your ability to give a new puppy all the attention he deserves. If your holidays will be hectic, wait until after the hustle and bustle.

Are the holidays ALWAYS a bad time to bring home a puppy?

Not necessarily, but you DO need to be prepared and have the right circumstances.  While for most folks the holidays are way too hectic a time to safely add a puppy to the mix, in some circumstances it might be the perfect time... but only with careful planning.

While Rocco came to live with me in December, two years ago, I had been planning for his arrival for months. And, since I already had a Havanese,  I already was certain the breed was right for me. 

Also, for me the holidays meant I had extra time to spend at home with my young puppy and I wasn't expecting a lot of holiday chaos or visitors in my home. 

The most important thing is to pick the right time for YOU. Getting off to the right start is super important for the well-being of your pup so you can enjoy your relationship for years to come.

Have you ever brought a pup home during the holidays?

Tell us about it in the comments below.

Our first AKC Agility Titles!

Photos by In Motion Photos 

Rocco zooms through the tunnel!

This past weekend we competed in our first AKC trial of the season (and only the second one in Rocco's career) and we earned our titles in both Novice Standard and Novice JWW (jumpers with weaves)!

It sure was hot out, so we had to be careful not to overheat and we both made sure to stay hydrated too.  We'll be glad when it starts to cool off -- maybe in a few more weeks.

Rocco was a little Roc star, running his heart out and grabbing his third qualifying run in each class to earn his titles.

After Novice, we move up to the Open class where things start getting a little more difficult.  We head to another AKC trial this weekend where we'll compete in the Open class for the first time.

Our title run in Novice JWW

Here's our Novice Standard run for the title!

Here we go on the way to our Novice JWW title!

Once again we had loads of fun… which of course is the most important part! Agility is really just a game of chase -- with a few obstacles thrown in! And Rocco loves to chase me… around the house, in the backyard and on the agility field!

Next Tuesday, Rocco turns two! I can't believe how fast he's growing up! Stay tuned for Rocco's Big Birthday Bash Giveaway next week! We've put together a collection of his favorite things for a HUGE giveaway valued at $500!

The fun and games continue every Friday with FitDog Friday, the weekly Blog Hop brought to you by To Dog With Love, SlimDoggy and My GBGV Life to promote a healthy active lifestyle for pets (and their people, too!). Join in every Friday by linking up your FitDog story or visiting the blogs in the Hop.

2013 Most Popular Dog Breeds: Choose the Right Pup for You!

Rocco does what Havanese do best…. zoooom!

The AKC today revealed its most recent most popular dog breed list (based on registrations). And while I eagerly searched for my breed -- the Havanese -- I also hoped the breed hadn't risen too high on the list.

Why is that?

Because much as we love being popular,  that also can sometimes lead to irresponsibility… among both dog breeders and dog owners.

Young Pups Learn the Show Dog Ropes in AKC 4 to 6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition

Rocco shows what he's made of!

This weekend we headed out to the dog show in Atlanta where Rocco had his first  experience in the conformation show ring. In the breed rings, dogs can start competing when they are six months old. But the AKC has introduced an event where puppies can get some experience starting at four months old!

Rocco stands on the table for examination by the judge, just like the big boys 

 While the pups are put through the same paces as the more experienced dogs, the intent is for 4 to 6 Month Beginner Puppy to be a fun and inviting experience for the young ones, while they get the added benefit of puppy socialization.

What do you think Kate's telling Rocco?

Rocco and his sister Kate both competed, taking the intention of this event to heart, having a friendly romp in the ring while the judge wasn't looking!

Kate shows her winning form while Rocco takes a little longer to compose himself

But when it's time to show, the pups get back to it! Here you can see why Kate won Best Puppy in her class while Rocco took an admirable Best of Opposite (meaning he was the best boy, since Kate -- a girl -- won top honors).

Then we headed over to the Havanese breed ring, where the pups are a little older and wiser.

Just about every weekend, there are dog shows like this one being held in towns across the country. They're great fun for the whole family and there's great shopping at the vendor booths too! To check out the show schedule in your town take a look at the event schedule here.

Top 10 Most Popular Dog Breeds

Havanese continue to move up the list, ranking 28th in 2012

Is bigger really better? According to 2012 registration statistics from the American Kennel Club (AKC), that seems to be the case with some of the bigger breeds making their move into the top 10.

In 2012, the Bulldog muscled its way into the top five, becoming the fifth most popular dog in the U.S., bumping the tiny Yorkshire Terrier into sixth place for the first time since 2003.  The Golden Retriever also pushed its way back to the top, overtaking the Beagle for third place, and Rottweilers continued their climb up the top 10 list by taking ninth place away from the Dachshund, both adding to the bigger breed trend.  Labrador Retriever lovers have again spoken – the playful, family friendly breed remains the number one most popular breed in the U.S. for the 22^nd consecutive year, tying with the Poodle for the longest reign in the top spot.

While not in the top 10, some small breeds like the French Bulldog and Havanese, continue to march up the list. The Frenchies have gone from 58th to 14th place over the last 10 years while Havanese have moved up from 64th to 28th.

2012 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S. 2011 Ranking 1. Labrador Retriever 1. Labrador Retriever 2. German Shepherd Dog 2. German Shepherd Dog 3. Golden Retriever 3. Beagle 4. Beagle 4. Golden Retriever 5. Bulldog 5. Yorkshire Terrier 6. Yorkshire Terrier 6. Bulldog 7. Boxer 7. Boxer 8. Poodle 8. Poodle 9. Rottweiler 9. Dachshund 10. Dachshund 10. Rottweiler

Most Notable Dog Trends in 2012 include:

• Mastiff-type breeds have risen in rank, with the Mastiff going from 34 to 26 and the Bullmastiff from 47 to 39 over the past decade, and the Cane Corso (67 to 60), Neapolitan Mastiff (116 to 112), and Dogue de Bordeaux (69 to 67) all making gains since the year they became recognized.
• "Bully" breeds have pawed their way into people's hearts over the past decade with the Bull Terrier (79 to 51), Staffordshire Bull Terrier (91 to 76), and Miniature Bull Terrier (132 to 126) all making strong gains.
• Dog owners are showing their love for Sporting Breeds over this past year as the Spinone Italiano(123 to 114), Boykin Spaniel (138 to 116), and Welsh Springer Spaniel (130 to 125) have all made their way up the list.
• Small dogs that are on the rise this year are the Havanese (31 to 28) and Affenpinscher (139 to 138), while the Chihuahua (14 to 18), Pomeranian (17 to 19), and Pug (26 to 30) seem to have fallen out of favor.

In addition, the AKC expanded its litter of recognized breeds on January 1 to include the Chinook and Portuguese Podengo Pequeno, growing AKC's family to 177 breeds.

Find more statistics, including the most popular breeds in your state here.

AKC/Eukanuba National Championship: One Huge Dog Celebration! #celebratedogs

Whether you're in Orlando area this weekend or anywhere else for that matter, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show at Orlando's Orange County Convention Center.

With over 15,500 combined entries, there will be tons to see in a variety of world-class dog sporting events.  The action's already started and continues through Sunday, December 16. 

Dogs will compete under one roof in the AKC/EukanubaNational Championship, Eukanuba World Challenge, the AKC Agility Invitational, the AKC NationalJuniors Agility Competition, the AKC NationalObedience Invitational, the AKC National Juniors Obedience Competition, the AKC Junior Showmanship Finals, and the Orlando Cluster of the Space Coast Kennel Club of Palm Bay, the Brevard Kennel Club and the Central Florida Kennel Club dog shows. 

We love Yakult!

But that's not all! New this year is the nation's largest canine celebration, Celebrate Dogs! In addition to the competitions taking place over the weekend, AKC and Eukanuba are inviting the dog-loving public to Celebrate Dogs! Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Celebrate Dogs! will feature dozens of dog-centric activities like the Eukanuba SuperDogs, AKC Meet the Breeds booths, DockDogs, Eukanuba Extreme Soccer Dogs, appearances by celebrity dogs and a canine shopping mall with holiday gifts for dog lovers! Learn more here. 

Olate Dogs rocked America's Got Talent!

Some of the celebs you might meet at Celebrate Dogs! include Yakult, the adorable poodle/chihuahua mix from Suburgatory, and Olate Dogs, the winners of 2012 America's Got Talent!

And, if you're not lucky enough to be at the event in person, highlights from the daytime Best of Breed judging and the Bred-By-Exhibitor groups will be video streamed by Bowtie, Inc. at www.dogchannel.com. The evening events will be live streamed on Ustream. A link to both streams will be available on akc.org.

You can also follow all the fun and photos on Twitter by searching for hashtag #CelebrateDogs.

Good luck to all the competitors!

How to Learn About Dog Breeds

Attending an all-breed dog show is a terrific way to see lots of breeds all under one roof. Or, spend time learning more about your favorite breed!

This past weekend we attended the shows in Atlanta, and of course, spent most of our time at the Havanese ring.

Lots of beautiful pups and a great way to see all the different colors of the Havanese.

Pups are eligible to show starting at six months old.

Then afterward, you can chat with the breed folks ringside to learn more about their breed. To find a local show in your area check out the event search at AKC.org.