INTRODUCING OUR NEW AGILITY PUPS: CAM-E-O THE BORDER COLLIE

MEET OUR NEW AGILITY PUPS

 

We have a lot of new LCDA competitors and club members who are in the training stages. Some have made their debut this fall and others are getting ready. We've all seen most of them at the field for trials or classes, but here's a chance to get to know them a little better! If you are new to the club, have a new dog, or a dog that's new to agility and would like to introduce them, send Lynne a message at her email or through the LCDA website's Forum and she'll put you in the queue!

This week, meet Linda Stimson's Cam!

 

Cam (with a backgroundphoto-bomb by brothers Jack and Merlin)

 

TTT: Let's start with the essentials: What's your pup's name, breed, and age.

LINDA: Cam-E-O Performance AKA Cam is a Border Collie and is 6 ½ months old.
 

TTT: Now a bit of the story: when, where, why, and how did this pup come to you and agility?

LINDA: I had been experiencing the infamous “puppy fever” for quite some time when my friend Kathy Price’s WeBe and Voodoo had puppies. I have always loved Voodoo and the fact they were TBC’s (Thompson Border Collies) made it all the more enticing. I was not sure my husband, Jerry, was going to be in favor of another dog and was surprised when he said “you ought to get one 'cause it takes at least three to make a pack and dogs are happier in a pack." That’s all it took…I was on the computer emailing Kathy. I wanted a male so she brought the two males to LCDA for me to check out and I immediately fell in love with Cam.

TTT: What's been the most difficult part of incorporating your newest family member into your household? The most rewarding?

LINDA: The most difficult, what I thought would be the most difficult, was introducing Cam to Jack (one of my other Border Collies).  Well, I was wrong…so wrong! Not only did Cam become buds with Merlin (the other Border Collie), he became BEST buds with Jack!  The most rewarding part is he has brought such joy to our entire family. I haven’t seen Merlin and Jack this happy since before we lost Kuto, our Pompoo.  Guess Jerry was right about the “pack” thing.

TTT: What challenges have you faced training this dog compared with others? What did he or she excel at?

LINDA: Right now it’s just the challenge of training a puppy. I have been working with him on agility training equipment at home. He is also taking a jumping class at LCDA and is signed up for the Intro to Agility class at LCDA in March. I really think he is going to be a natural! J

TTT: What has your training regimen been for this dog?

LINDA: First goal is getting Cam socialized by enrolling him in classes and taking him on outings and working on a good recall…still working on that. Then we throw in a little obedience commands ie., sit, stay, etc., and finally, introducing various agility equipment for introduction and fun…he loves it.

TTT: What, if anything, have you learned or done training-wise with this dog that's new for you?

LINDA: Starting training classes early and listening to some very knowledgeable friends/instructors. They see outside the box…seeing things you don’t.

TTT: Share your secrets: what's one silly thing you and your agility teammate do together when no one is looking?

LINDA: At bedtime Cam jumps up on the bed and we snuggle for about 5 minutes then he is off to his own bed. Snuggle time has been a ritual since he was a puppy. Before he had run the house, he would get up in my lap about 30 minutes before my bedtime and take a little “snuggle nap”. Still don’t know how he knew what time it was.

TTT: One word that best describes this pup:

LINDA: Exceptional!

 

INTRODUCING OUR NEW AGILITY PUPS: LUPIN THE TAUSSIE

MEET OUR NEW AGILITY PUPS

 
We have a lot of new LCDA competitors and club members who are in the training stages. Some have made their debut this fall and others are getting ready. We've all seen most of them at the field for trials or classes, but here's a chance to get to know them a little better!

TTT:  Let's start with the essentials: What's your pup's name, breed, and age.

LYNNE: Lupin, Taussie (Terrier-Aussie mix, aka All-American mutt), 20 mos.

Lynne and Matt's Lupin

 

TTT:  Now a bit of the story: when, where, why, and how did this pup come to you and agility?

LYNNE: Matt has a 3-pet-rule for our house. When our oldest cat, Spooky, died in May 2013, we were down one. In October, I found a picture of a 10-week old Vandy, (the  name given by the rescue Carolina Hearts Aussie Rescue (CHAR)). Matt said he looked like a little werewolf so would make a good "Remus Lupin," in keeping with our Harry Potter themed names. I contacted them, but he'd already found a home, so I kept looking but we couldn't fund another dog we both agreed on. About a week later, CHAR contacted us to say he'd been returned because the adopter had allergies. I think that was a clear sign that he was meant to be ours!

 

TTT:  What's been the most difficult part of incorporating your newest family member into your household? The most rewarding?

LYNNE: The hardest part is that I hadn't had a puppy in more than 15 years, so forgot about the time and attention that takes. The most rewarding is how he instantly fit into our household. He and Muggle started hit it off the moment Lupin came into the yard, and he and Minerva are best friends--they play all day and curl up to sleep together at night.

TTT:  What challenges have you faced training this dog compared with others? What did he or she excel at?

LYNNE: The biggest challenge is helping Lupin to overcome his fear. He's very timid with strangers and in new situations. Most of you have seen him go into full-panic-attack mode at trials if he sees a stranger. We're working on that. I think we're pretty lucky because he's never shown any aggression with his fear, but a lot of curiosity. Even when he's barking, his tail wags and he keeps going back to see the person or thing that scares him a little closer each time. So, I think we'll overcome that.

He excels at being enthusiastic about those he loves--people and other animals. He might take a while to warm up to strangers, but once he does, he's a big cuddle-bug.

 

TTT:  What has your training regimen been for this dog?

LYNNE: We've taken quite a few classes already (although you might not always be able to tell!) We started with Basic Obedience with the Charleston Dog Training Club, and at the same time did an agility Foundations class with Lori Duncan--those two classes reinforced each other and were a good start. Then we did Intermediate Obedience at LCDA, and a Tricks class and "Diagnosis: Dog" class (for dealing with distractions) with Cindy Carter at Mindful Manners. We did Intro to Agility and Obstacles II in the fall/winter, and just started the 2X2 weaves class and Advanced Obstacles at LCDA. We try to practice at home in short, 5-10 minutes/day, but I'm pretty sporadic about training outside of classes, so do better when we're enrolled in a class.

TTT:  What, if anything, have you learned or done training-wise with this dog that's new for you?

LYNNE: Everything has been different with Lupin! He learns quickly, but gets bored quickly, too. I can't do anything more than a couple times before he wanders off. He's very sniffy and curious--and I'm definitely less interesting than dirt to him. We've made a lot of progress from where we were even a month ago, so I'm quite proud of him, but we still have a long way to go!

 

TTT:  Share your secrets: what's one silly thing you and your agility teammate do together when no one is looking?

LYNNE: He likes the TV, so I'll tell him, "where's the puppy?" and he'll sit up and watch, cocking his head from side to side whenever there are dogs or horses on.

 

TTT:  One word that best describes this pup:

LYNNE: Goofy!

 

 

 

Introducing Our New Dogs: Brodie the Border Collie

We have a lot of new LCDA competitors and club members who are in the training stages. Some have made their debut this fall and others are getting ready. We've all seen most of them at the field for trials or classes, but here's a chance to get to know them a little better! If you have a new, new-to-agility, new-to-LCDA, or any other new dog you'd like to introduce, contact Lynne via the LCDA website forums.

 

This week, meet Sue Tetanich's Brodie the Border Collie.

 

TTT:  Let's start with the essentials: What's your pup's name, breed, and age.

SUE: Brodie; Border Collie; ~ 17 mos (DOB 10/1/13)

Brodie in a rare calm moment!

TTT:  Now a bit of the story: when, where, why, and how did this pup come to you and agility?

SUE: I was looking for a puppy but didn't really want a young dog. I found Brodie listed on Phoenix Rising Border Collie Rescue. Spoke to the foster mom several times and finally submitted an application. When we finally learned we were picked to adopt Brodie, we were told that there were over 50 applications. That was the most PRBCR had ever received for a single dog!

TTT:  What's been the most difficult part of incorporating your newest family member into your household? The most rewarding?

SUE: The most difficult is trying to tone down Brodie's go, go, wild, never ending exuberance. The most rewarding is Brodie's loving ways and his over-the-top happiness.

 

TTT:  What challenges have you faced training this dog compared with others? What did he or she excel at?

SUE: The challenges are to get Brodie to consistently keep his eagerness in control around other dogs. Brodie has excelled at learning things like 2-On-2-Off, table, tunnels, etc. He watches Domino a lot, and I would like to think that he has learned by that concept a little.

 

TTT:  What has your training regimen been for this dog?

SUE: Believe it or not, 2 obedience classes! Then a lot of training 2O2O, foundation work, Daisy Peele seminar for puppies, everyday good manners, walking a lot around the neighborhood on a leash, and never ending trying to rein in the eagerness.

TTT:  What, if anything, have you learned or done training-wise with this dog that's new for you?

SUE: I have watched a lot of puppy DVDs and tried to incorporate more foundation training. Also, I have tried to be more patient when doing training and have a slower time-line in my mind as to when Brodie will be trialing.

TTT:  Share your secrets: what's one silly thing you and your agility teammate do together when no one is looking?

SUE: We listen to Dave Ramset on the radio (a lot) on the drives to and from the club. My dogs are very well versed on how to save money and invest it (into agility ribbons, classes, etc.)

TTT:  One word that best describes this pup:

SUE: Happy