The fall has arrived. November feels like a longest month of the year! Yet today we have had quite a lot of sunshine and could spend most of the day outside. Hope November will spoil us with many days like this one.
The trial season is over for me this year. I only partly achieved what I had planned, or rather hoped for, but I learned a lot. First of all, and hardly surprising, I learned that I have to stay focused and cool. I have to trust my dog and our training and behave self confident. Then my dogs will perform on top level.
Not even once (of 5 competitions) I got a first prize with Ruda during the season because of my silly mistakes. There was always something missing, once just only few points. During last two trials I remember that one exercise I ruined by giving her a wrong command ( the one I use for Prima) which made her confused and then the next one I ruined because I did not see the ring I was supposed send the dog to. It was dark and the ring was invisible. I hesitated, asked for assistance and when I finally saw it Ruda felt my hesitation and did not start…
The others who competed that evening did not see the ring either but sent their dogs anyway. They said afterwards that the judge could not see it either…Right! She could not as she stood ever far away! Why could´t I think like them? It was Belgian Shepherd Championships and I was extra nervous about it. I did not think at all…But actually it was just another trial only in bad conditions. It was dark, wet and cold. All the other disciplines were carried out during daytime, but obedience and rally obedience was scheduled for the evening. Not fair at all!
I should be happy she managed to be focused through the whole programme despite bad conditions, late evening and nervous handler. She has been a wonderful partner and I hope we can show the world how good we are next year!
Prima got another chance to show how good she is and she made the best of it! Got 283 points of 320 and moved to the next class. I was very satisfied with the result of course but most pleased about her behaviour! She was focused, happy and precised. Just like during our training. There is hope for the future after all!
Now I am training the new exercises with her which makes me so full of joy! I can reward her as much as I wish which has always been the best part of dog training, not only for my dogs but for me as well. But I hope I learned also that I have to train endurance as often as possible!
Now about the third member of the pack, the trouble maker and sweet pie Basqa. I competed with her in start class once, just to see how it goes. Well, she got 147 points out of 200, she has performed all exercises but in low tempo and sometimes I had to give her a second command. She was clearly disturbed by the people who are usually present on the training ground during competition - the judge and the helpers. I did not train her in such conditions but I actually did not plan any starts with her this season. So she was OK anyway.
This dog is really giving me a hard time! She ruins our walks by jumping on us and making so much noise I just want to murder her instantly! BUT! She is getting so much better on the training ground! She is so sweet and cosy! BUT! When she is around children I cannot trust her! Not even with my granddaughter though she grew up with her! And she growls and barks at some people and strange dogs….BUT! I can easily break her bad behaviour by asking for her attention so she is not an idiot!
I do not really know what I should do with this one. I had decided for letting her go to another family some time ago. But I am not sure anymore…Nothing happened during the first 6 weeks I had an ad on the homepage of our Belgian Shepherd Club. Last two weeks I answered many mails and had some telephone conversation with people who were interested. I refused those who had small children. In the end there were 2 possible matches available when Christine Bouchat from kennel d’Eroudur contacted me saying she would like to have her. She would place her with a good family and another Laekenois in Belgium and eventually use her for breeding. She saw her when we were in Holland and liked her…
So what do I do now? I tried to scare Christine away telling her Basqa was not good for breeding and they would have to collect her personally but Christine is not so easy to change when she decides something. Well then. I cannot refuse her, she is a biggest breeder and very dedicated. And she is my friend. And I do believe Basqa has some qualities that should be passed to next generation. And when I asked Christel, Compis owner, she agreed as well. So now everything is settled. As soon as Christines puppies leave she and her husband will come and stay here for few days to get to know Basqa. And then take her with them…
Last night I had a terrible dream about Basqa running away from her new home and disappearing. Like another dog, Robin, that Christine placed in Germany. I could not sleep so well afterwards… And today she was a star during obedience training! I am full of mix feelings, deep inside I do not want to let her go but then she does something that shows how difficult it will be to keep her here. Both for me and the dogs…
So my mind is divided into two parts and my heart broken into two pieces. She is my baby after all!
