Link - we competed in link this weekend. We're in the middle of winter here. Just been through a really cold and wet spell. Snow down to 300m, great if you want to ski!

Ruby, our normally stresses Irish Setter, had a great run. She went clear, got the fastest time at our club, and looked happy through the whole course. I've been doing a lot play with her, even clicked a reasonable game of tug out of her at home. But I do wonder if maturaty has more to do with her stressing less.

I gave a Kiltie, our Beardie, a quick blat at the end as well, we got D'd, but that's to be expected. There was an A-Frame and a dog walk in the course, I'm still training contacts so I don't expect her to get contacts at all. The A-Frame had a tunnel go under it, all too much for Kiltie - she loves tunnels!

Contact training - Kilties done well over the last week. She's touching the target with her nose with 2 feet on the stairs and 2 off, and is choosing to go up the first step so she can have 2 feet on and 2 feet off. I added the training plank 4 days ago, it was interesting at first, she was diliberately avoiding the plank, she would run beside the plank and target. So I gently held the collar to help her in position a couple of times. We're now at a stage were she's targeting on the plank in a 2 on 2 off position. I'll start fading the target this week, then start raising the height of the plank.

She did manage to to invent the "1 bottom on" technique for a little while there. She'd straddle the plank and plant her bottom on it while touching the target with her nose. I guess my laughing encouraged her to try it a few more times.

We've got Jon Watts, from England, doing a seminar next week. I've booked in, and have booked a private lesson with him. I'm looking forward to it.

Cheers Darryl