Barn Hunt Trial: Pawsable K-9 Events, Millstone Township, NJ

Posted on August 27, 2016 by Cello's Corner | Leave a comment

Our second Barn Hunt Association trial was held at Pawsable K-9 Events.

Both Limoncello and Margarita did very well this weekend! Both gals ran 2 Novice runs, and both secured one qualifying Novice score toward their Novice title. The Novice level requires the dogs to find the tube containing the rat, complete a tunnel, and have all-fours up on a hay bale (in no particular order) within two minutes. Cello and Rita will need two more qualifying scores to earn their Novice title.

Margarita

Instinct Run: Qualified! 13.53 seconds (new Personal Best!)

*For those of you wondering why we participated at the Instinct level when Rita is already titled at this level, you are allowed to still do an Instinct run to get your pup warmed up as long as the dog has not titled in Novice.

Novice Run 1: Qualified! 1:44.71 seconds

Novice Run 2: Rita completed the tunnel, and before she could attempt the hay bale climb, Jenny jumped-the-gun and called the wrong

location of the rat.

Rita’s First Qualifying Novice Score Ribbon!

Limoncello

Instinct Run: Brian called the wrong location of the rat.

*For those of you wondering why we participated at the Instinct level when Cello is already titled at this level, you are allowed to still do an Instinct run to get your pup warmed up as long as the dog has not titled in Novice.

Novice Run 1: Qualified! 1:50.82 seconds

Novice Run 2: Cello executed the tunnel and the hay bale climb, but Brian called the wrong location of the rat.

Brian and Cello in Novice Run 2:

Cello’s First Qualifying Novice Score Ribbon!

Overall, we had a fun day, and enjoyed Barn Hunt with our two little gals!

“Run Free” Virtual 5k

Posted on August 25, 2016 by Cello's Corner | 1 Comment

Rita and I ran our first 5K together through a site called Virtual Strides. Virtual Strides provides an opportunity to participate in a virtual race (which can be run or walked!) anytime — anywhere– with whoever your want — and even indoors on a treadmill! Once you register for one of the virtual races, you can complete the distance any time and anywhere, and upload your finish time to the website. Virtual Strides will mail you a finisher’s medal after you upload your results, or at the end of the race period, whichever comes first. The best part is that a portion of the race’s proceeds gets donated to charity!

Rita and I ran the “Run Free” race.

This race benefited the National Mill Dog Rescue. National Mill Dog Rescue has pledged to put an end to the puppy mill industry, and has saved more than 10,000 dogs since 2007. National Mill Dog Rescue hopes to educate the public to acquire their companion animals through reputable breeders, shelters, and rescue groups.

Once you register, you can download a running bib:

Rita did GREAT! This was the first time I ever ran without music (running with music has been a MUST for me). I wanted to be sure I could hear everything around us in order to protect Margarita in case there was a loose dog, etc. I have to say – talking to Rita through the run was way more motivational than any music!

Our finishing time was 40 minutes, 25 seconds. Not bad considering Margarita decided she’d stop 3 times for potty breaks, TWO of which needed to be bagged-up, if you know what I mean!

I submitted our results, and a few days later, the race medal arrived in the mail!

Rita’s first official medal! She now has a spot of her own, among her siblings, on the “Wall of Fame” in our bar room.

Congratulations, Rita!

Lager… Derp of the Day!

Posted on August 23, 2016 by Cello's Corner | 4 Comments

Lager was featured on dog.derp.of.the.day ‘s Instagram account!

Rita’s First Title…Barn Hunt Association Rat Instinct Title

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Cello's Corner | 4 Comments

Congratulations, Rita!

Barn Hunt Trial: Tail Waggin’ Events, Robbinsville, NJ

Posted on August 21, 2016 by Cello's Corner | 4 Comments

We attended our first official Barn Hunt trial at Tail Waggin’ Events ! If you are unsure of what Barn Hunt is, click HERE to read all about it!

Saturday:

Margarita had shown great interest in this sport up until the extreme heat wave set in. She does not do well in the heat, and we are unsure if the extreme temperature is the cause, but she seems to have lost interest in Barn Hunt. We had been practicing for a couple of weeks – both at barn facilities, and at home. Rita had been actively finding the rat and enthusiastically signaling the location, and had learned “up!” as the command to jump up on to a hay bale, and “tunnel!” as the command to go through the hay bale tunnel. She was executing all those elements over the past couple of weeks, but appeared uninterested at the trial. We will continue to bring her to practices, as well as sign her up for trials through the Fall and next Spring to see if the cooler weather helps spark her interest again. Despite her nonchalant attitude, and her Mama’s lack of skills in reading when Rita picked up the rat scent, Rita did pretty well, earning her Instinct Title!

Instinct Test: PASS! Time: 49 seconds

Rita’s Instinct qualifying ribbon

Novice Class: Timed out

Rita pretty much shut down in the heat of the day, and wasn’t very cooperative in the barn ring. She did give indication that she found the rat (which I missed completely…something I definitely have to improve upon if we continue to participate in this sport!) and would not complete the hay bale climb or tunnel.

Rita is now Instinct titled in Barn Hunt!

Sunday:

We decided to make Sunday a “Girls’ Day,” and bring Limoncello along to participate in Barn Hunt!

Margarita

Margarita showed NO interest again today!

Novice Class: Disqualified!

Margarita again would not execute the hay bale climb or the tunnel in her Sunday Novice run. She did find the rat (and Jenny was able to identify Rita’s barely-there-signal!), however, Rita then immediately peed in the barn (oops!), which according to Barn Hunt rules is a disqualification.

Limoncello

Cello had never even practiced before today, yet passed her Instinct test in just a few seconds, and did really well in her Novice run!

Instinct Test: PASS! Time: 17 seconds

Limoncello’s Instinct qualifying ribbon

Novice Class: Fail: Brian called incorrect location of rat

Limoncello completing the hay bale climb and tunnel requirements:

Limoncello hunting for the rat:

Overall, it was a very fun day learning more about Barn Hunt, and how to read Rita and Cello’s instinctive hunting behaviors!

Cabela’s: Christiana Mall, DE

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Cello's Corner | 1 Comment

While we were competing at the Cabela’s Dog Days of Summer with Delmarva DockDogs, we found out that this particular Cabela’s store is dog friendly. Margarita got to go on her own shopping spree!

Margarita inside of Cabela’s:

She was very interested in the fish at the aquarium!

Margarita shopping for the perfect toy:

She picked out a stuffed bunny:

Margarita wanted to be sure to test out the bunny before we left the store:

This Cabela’s was EXTREMELY dog friendly. The staff here welcomed all dogs, and could not have been nicer!

Cabela’s Dog Days of Summer with Delmarva DockDogs: Newark, DE

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Cello's Corner | 1 Comment

We participated in Cabela’s Dogs Days of Summer with Delmarva DockDogs at the Christiana, DE Cabela’s this past weekend… what a BLAST we had!

We were able to camp right at Cabela’s!

New team banner!

All the pups did GREAT at this event!

LIMONCELLO:

Big Air:

24’5″ 2nd Place Elite Division

Big Air Finals: 24’4″ 5th Place Pro Division

Extreme Vertical: 5’2″ 4th Place Cadet Division

Speed Retrieve: 7.747 5th Place Turbo

Iron Dog: 2825.02 4th Place Titan

HOOCH:

Big Air:

25’0″ 2nd Place Super Elite Division (***First SUPER Elite jump and first Super Elite medal!!)

25’3″ 1st Place Super Elite Division (***First Super Elite 1st Place medal)!

Big Air Finals: 25’4″ ***NEW PERSONAL BEST!!! (4th Place Pro Division)

Extreme Vertical: 6’0″ Third Place Top Gun Division

LAGER:

Big Air:

19’3″ 3rd Place Senior

20’8″ 5th Place Master

19’11” 1st Place Senior

Big Air Finals: 20’6″ 4th Place Pro Division

Extreme Vertical: 5’10” 1st Place Cadet Division

MARGARITA:

Rita enjoyed all the attention of people stopping by our team canopy to say hello. Margarita even got to go on a shopping spree in Cabela’s, as this store was dog friendly! Click HERE to see what toy Rita picked out in Cabela’s!

Liver Killers Bling: