Getting a Start on Our First Full Agility Season

Rocco flies over a jump at our last trial
this past May

We're busy preparing for the fall agility trial season, and this weekend we head to Chicopee Woods in Gainesville, Ga., for the USDAA trial.

This will be Rocco's first full agility season, so we're excited to get going! We had an awesome practice on Tuesday night and now we're in our taper.

We're trying to be really conscious not to over train so that Rocco will be fresh and ready to go on Saturday.

So that means that the rest of this week we're doing some light running, walks, some back yard play and a little bit of jump training in the backyard just because it's fun!

We're also doing some stretching for both me and Rocco to keep us both flexible and injury free. And, of course, we're resting too!

Here are a few photos from the last trial we competed in last May.

Wheeee! There's nothing like a good jump!

     

More jumps!

I think Rocco took a moment to strike a pose for the photographer. I don't remember him doing this!

We're really looking forward to having a fun time this weekend, and can't wait to see how we've progressed since the spring!

Are you thinking about getting started in agility? Here are a few posts you might find helpful:

How to get started in dog agility
5 tips to get your puppy started in agility
What does success mean to you?

Hope you all have a fit and fun Labor Day weekend!

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.

Wordless Wednesday: Cosmo and Johann go hiking!

Last weekend, we heading to an agility trial in North Georgia and met up with our pal Johann the Dog and his mom! We'll post some agility videos later -- we had two very nice runs! -- but after our runs we went on a nice hike around the agility grounds.  Here, Cosmo and Johann get all rugged and stuff climbing on the logs!

There was a nice pond nearby where Cosmo (left), Johann (right) and his sister Gracie (center) admired the view... and Johann and Gracie took a little swim!

Meanwhile, Cosmo relaxed on a cool grassy patch after a lovely day of agility, hiking and playing!

Stay tuned for the videos of our agility runs that day.

Winners of Freaky Dog People t-shirt giveaway

Hurrah freaky dog people! Today's the day we announce the winner's of our Freaky Dog People t-shirt giveaway. Three lucky winners each are receiving one fabulous t-shirt from the nice folks at FDP!

And the winners are >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
We'll be back with the announcement right after this station break.

FDP t-shirts are perfect for lots of activities, including agility like
Cosmo and I are running here!

Where's Cosmo?!

Photos by Phyllis Ensley

Here he is!!

And now, without further ado, the winners are:

• Wyatt and Stanzie at Gardening with Wyatt
• Pup Fan at I Still Want More Puppies
• Oskar at The Daily Oskar

Congrats to all you freaky dog people and thanks for playing!

Wordless Wednesday: Havanese Leaf-Romping Style!

Havanese love a good romp in the leaves... in fact their breed standard calls for it! Here, Cosmo and his Hav pal Dasher enjoy a some play time after an agility trial at Wills Park in Alpharetta, Ga., last weekend!

If you're wondering what these goofy little fluffs are all about, here's a little more about the Havanese from the AKC Havanese Breed Standard:

The Havanese is a small sturdy dog of immense charm. He is slightly longer than tall, and covered with a profuse mantle of untrimmed long, silky, wavy hair. His plumed tail is carried loosely curled over his rump. A native of Cuba, he has evolved over the centuries from the pampered lap-dog of the aristocracy into what he is today - the quintessential family pet of a people living on a small tropical island. His duties traditionally have been those of companion, watchdog, child’s playmate and herder of the family poultry flock. His presentation in the show ring should reflect his function – always in excellent condition but never so elaborately coifed as to preclude an impromptu romp in the leaves, as his character is essentially playful rather than decorative.

Anyone who's met Cosmo, can attest to his charm and playfulness -- a quality he shares with all his Hav pals!

Wordless Wednesday: Jumping Havanese agility fun!

Photos by Active Dog Photography

Facing a few agility jumps is inspiration enough for Cosmo to get his Wheeeeeeeee! on.

And now we bring you a few more jumping inspirations from some famous people of the two-legger kind.

 

“You have to find something that you love enough to be able to take risks,

jump over the hurdles and break through the brick walls

that are always going to be placed in front of you.

If you don't have that kind of feeling for what

it is you are doing, you'll stop at the first

giant hurdle.” -- George Lucas

                         “No animal should ever jump up on the dining-room furniture

unless absolutely certain that he can hold his own

in the conversation.” -- Fran Lebowitz

Wordless Wednesday: Havanese agility pals!

Cosmo's pal Dasher also competes in agility, and during a recent agility weekend the boys took a break and explored the paths and play areas at Wills Park in Alpharetta, Ga.

Dasher's the one with the tongue.

 The path leads to a playground.

The boy's didn't mind humoring their's moms ...

The made a visit to a nice dog park with a separate small dog area.

 And finished the day watching more agility ringside, picking up tips for the next trial!