Weekend thrills

On friday Pipi, Grets and Aapo decided to go swimming in Männiku. Grets was the only dog who went swimming by herself and brought the sticks to her owner what she throwed to the water. I tried to lead Aapo to swim as well, but he still didn't want to go by himself. Pipi's owner tried as well lead Pipi to swim and for a moment she even forgot that she had clothes on :), she was so into it that in one moment not only Pipi was in the water but she was as well :)) Too bad I didn't have the camera with me to catch the moment hehee. The conclusion of the story - what all we need and want to do for our dogs ;))

On saturday we had our day off, but in the evening we still decided to be a little practical and practice some obedience. We tried to practice it in different ways, but mainly through playing. So we played some pulling and frisbee to get the right energy and drive. But when we were playing with the frisbee and I tried to get it from Aapo - he jumped and I bowd at the same time - the result was a "beautiful" black eye for me. Luckly Aapo didn't get any injuries, only I did. But oh well things like this happen, so no worries. Just I had to give some effort to hide it the next day on the dog show, not to look so awful :)

Today we participated in Luige national dog show. I signed there because the show is basically like our home show, we just live so near the place were it was held. Also I was nicely pleased that the judge in the morning was Dina Korna from Estonia. She had the first smooth collie living in Estonia who became international champion. So I was even looking foward to be judged under her and get the characterization. It was our first show were the judge has herself owned and breeded smoothies and has a good overview of the breed.

Characterization: Very bredly, correct growth, good bone, correct bodybuild, beautiful head and expression, good moving, very good fur, good temperament, well presented.

We were the only smoothie participating so Aapo was the best of breed (BOB).

In the group competition we had complete failure in my opinion. The place where it happened was full of dogsmells (like weewes, etc), so that Aapo acted completely strange. He was really careful were he stepped and therefor he didn't move normal. I have noticed his that kind of behaviour some times before on our walks (and made a joke about it - that he is a total aesthete), but today it hit me that it is not at all good habbit and we need to train in these kind of circumstances more to get ridder of it. So I was a bit dissapointed but in the other hand I got to know Aapo's weakpoints, so we can train them to be better. Aapo was 4th of best in group. PKKK pictures of the show here.


The weekend gave me so much information and feedback of what to do with Aapo, how to go foward in many ways - and I'm pleased that the reality hit me. Sometimes when I think we have developed so much I will notice that we still have (or we can have) a big way to go ahead, to practise and train for and strive for ourself. I keep forgetting sometimes that I don't train for someone else but I do everything what I do with Aapo for ourselves wellbeing and to see how far can we go and incognizable where is our barrier. I don't want to make lines what we can or can't do. I believe that with hard work and some luck - you can achieve a lot in life. But unfortunately sometimes in the world you maybe strived with the flow and forget what are your purposes and goals. I know I want to have a cheerful and active dog who is pleased with his life. So keeping in mind our main purpose we slowly but persistently keep up training and do our doings playfully and cheerfully. I believe you are truly succesful when you and your dog are happy what ever you do together :)