{"id":249,"date":"2013-03-18T15:40:21","date_gmt":"2013-03-18T15:40:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.couttsweb.co.uk\/?p=249"},"modified":"2013-03-18T15:58:54","modified_gmt":"2013-03-18T15:58:54","slug":"agile-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blog.couttsweb.co.uk\/?p=249","title":{"rendered":"Agile Dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Over the winter months Mary, my wife has been attending Dog Agility training classes with Lily our dog. Springfields Equestrian Centre at Hardslacks, up in the wilds of Hatton Moss was the venue.\u00a0\u00a0 Denise of Vynor Dog Training<\/a> is a wonderful teacher – encouraging her novice handlers and their dogs with her gentile, cando<\/em> attitude.<\/p>\n

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\"Springfields<\/a>
Springfields at Hardslacks where the training classes were held<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And now we see it has all be worthwhile.\u00a0 On Saturday we attended a Fun Agility Competition at the Waulkmill Show Cenre<\/a> just outside Ellon.\u00a0 Mary had no plans to compete but she was encouraged to have a go – and how well Lily and she did.\u00a0 They both loved it!<\/p>\n

\"Mary<\/a>
Mary and Lily’s first agility competition<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lily did not manage to win her class but was awarded a Judge’s Special Rosette.\u00a0 How proud she looks!<\/p>\n

\"Lily<\/a>
Lily was awarded a special rosette by the judges<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Two other members of the class entered and distinguished themselves wonderfully well, taking home their rosettes.<\/p>\n

\"Fiona<\/a>
Fiona is very proud of Gillie her dog.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gillie is a young farm collie which Fiona brought back from Ireland. He just loves to jump and of course, to get a cuddle, proudly showing off his rosette.<\/p>\n

\"Jacqui<\/a>
Jacqui and Lexi in full “flight”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lexi the spaniel is the fastest thing on four legs.\u00a0 I wonder if she uses her ears for extra lift?\u00a0 I don’t know how Jacqui, her adoring owner manages to keep up with her.\u00a0 They had a clear round and won a first place rosette not to mention a seventh place in another class.<\/p>\n

I went along to the competition with camera in hand. Not ideal photographic conditions, since the light was very poor as the rain poured down outside.\u00a0 Then the\u00a0 dogs (and their handlers) went so fast that some of the pictures are a bit fuzzy.\u00a0 Never the less I did\u00a0 manage to get some photographs of the dogs in action.<\/p>\n

\"Both<\/a>
Both are putting everything into it<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n