Erk at Heimtali, running A1 and Open courses

We took part in ViLe agility exam on 6th of december at Heimtali horse manege. The judge was Svetlana Zolotnikova and we ran three A1 courses and 2 Open courses. It went a bit better that TaKo competition, but we still didn't get clean run in our official courses. The last Open course (agility) was the best, because we didn't make any mistakes and had a clean run. Unfortunately this does not count in official statistics.
Special thanks to two people for our A1 videos (the one who filmed our runs and the other who sent us the videos)

Our first competition in official class, A1

We took part in our first official competition in class A1, but first we ran two beginners courses (A0). In first one we got disqualified, because of my fault, but second course was clean and our time was second fastest.
In both classes, the judge and course designer was Anne Tammiksalu. She had very strict rules already in A0 (no treats, toys, no helper in the start) and quite difficult courses in A0 and A1. For our first competition in official class, I hoped a bit easier course and many competitors were suprised about the difficulty level of A1. But we have to start somewhere and this time it went like that.
In A1 we got disqualified twice (1st and 3rd run) and in second run we got 10 points. At least we finished one course.

Erk at International Dog Show in Tartu 8.11.2014

On 8th of November we went to our first International dog show and overall to our second show.
First one was National show, near Tartu (Ülenurme). This time we wanted to get at least "good" qualification or grade and we got "very good". That's fine for us (for agility), but I hoped that we will get again "excellent" grade and maybe we are even nominated to sertificate candidate, because we were the only male junior border collie, but noooo. We are too sporty and lively to be good dog show material. (Below is picture of our evaluation paper)
This time I asked our agilitytrainer Stefi to show Erk, because I was a bit afraid, that Erk will act grazy and do some stupid stuff with me. Usually lies down in a show ring and starts to stare other dogs.
Thank you Stefi :) 

The judge was from Belgium, Dirk Spruyt.

After the show I looked why Erk was acting weird and twitching, sometimes even whimpered when someone touched his hind legs, and found that he had broken one nail. Probably from our last training.

Old stuff, but still fun to watch

This was one of the first times when we threw Erk a frisbee. We didn't exactly know how to throw and didn't know if he's gonna catch it. Result is in the video. Now we know little more about throwing frisbees and Erk has got even better at catching them.

Erk's second agility competition. A0, Tartu

Saturday 1. November 2014, Location Tartu. Judge Marjo Heino from Finland.
In the first run (course) we had one mistake at the last obstacle and for that 5th place, but overall we had the best time. In the second run (course) we had again one mistake. This time it was the first obstacle and we got 6th place because of that and overall second best time.
Taken two runs together we were 6th with 10 points (5+5).

Great day at Lohkva trainingcentre

We had wonderful training session with Keida Tirmaste at Lohkva.

Eyes poped out and breathless... just open the leash, I want to run

Erk and his sister Emma "waiting"

Erk A0 course in Viljandi

Erk's first competition! Tunnels

Viljandi, September 7th.

Erk goes orienteering!

I have taken Erk to several orienteering events with me. He already recognizes check points and knows not to bother other runners.What a good dog! :)

Foto Tarmo Haudi galeriist www.tarmohaud.ee

Helen

Juha Ruokonen's training, really excellent :)

On Sunday I went to my first-ever agility training by a Finnish coach. Erk has done the previous ones with Marko. It took place on the open air field, with artificial (football) grass. We had never done agility on that surface and it proved to be more slippery for the dog. We practiced "back cross" (tagantlõige), which was quite logical and easy, then we tried to make the dog jump diagonally over the obstacle and the goal was that the dog continued the same direction. However, as we have only done it the way that the dog makes a back turn on the obstacle, so it was relatively hard. Erk didn't care at all, that Juha had his toy and was directing him to jump correctly. Erk stubbornly made a back turn and concentrated on me.
But the final exercise was the "waltz", or whatever it was called. I think we got it correctly right from the beginning and Juha said several times, that I was doing it REALLY EXCELLENT :D

It's on this video at 1:10

Helen

Visiting Turku, Finland

We visited Marko in Turku. The trip went rather well, Erk endured the long hours of being in cage allright.
Unfortunately no photos.

Helen

Bridge over troubled water

Erk has sometimes issues with heights. But with patience and with help from best friend, no problems with crossing a high bridge.

Helen

Erk's 'nine to five'

Erk is also great at providing academic support ;)

Helen

Happy Independence Day!

Erk is 9 months and some days. Do you notice any difference with the ears? :P (No more grey baby hair!)

Helen

Erk made a new friend

On one beautiful Saturday we went hiking again. This time with Mari-Liis, Sten and Luks. Luks is a young German Pinscher, who also loves to run. So him and Erk got along just fine.
Mari-Liis (from Fotovabrik) took all the photos.

Luks and Erk being pretty

Oh, Luks found a branch

I have to get to it first!!!

Oh no, he wants it too :(

Crap, he is gaining on me!

I won!!! :D

 

"Speed... I am speed!"