Flying Poodles

Getting ready for a trial…

Debbie and I worked yesterday with both Dancer and Elly. I gave Elly lots of rest this past week, and suddenly she is back to being a dog with her tail on fire, excited about everything. She’s still terribly thin, but she looks better and she’s moving better. That’s pretty nice. Dancer was enthusiastic and a little nervous about jumping 26″. We’ll see how she does tomorrow, but I think I’ll move her down to 22″ from now on. She just doesn’t enjoy it as much at 26″ and why should I do that to her?

Dancer will have her first try at the teeter in a trial situation tomorrow (since she was a new pup). I am planning a calm early cue, clapping my way as she goes across the teeter, and continuing on. I’m also hoping for good contacts on the dog walk and a-frame. Oh, and great fast weaves. Not hoping for much, am I?

(For Elly, I’m hoping for a Q in Starters Snooker. She has two now, and that would be her starters snooker title. Whee! That would be fun!)

I cooked hot dogs for the girls today–organic chicken hot dogs, but still hot dogs. That’ll be their trial treats. I’ve packed their rain coats. I’ve found my warm base layer. And my wool socks, and my warm hat, and my raincoat. (The forecast for tomorrow is not great.)

I gave them a bath. I’ve brushed most of Dancer and some of Elly. I’m working my way around the two of them slowly. Dancer’s face actually looks pretty good, especially considering I’ve been doing a bit at a time all week. I finished off the last tuft of hair with a pair of scissors yesterday. Both of them have pretty good looking feet right now.