#kittens #mainecoon #PetMomma

Agility Diaries – Another Trial

After good practice runs at my agility club a couple of weeks ago, lots of practice at home, and a really good class on Wednesday night, I had high hopes for today’s trial.

At home, I’ve been doing focus games, working on “wait” and all kinds of tricks, and having him stay with me as we walk. I really thought he was doing well.

Stan needed to be re-measured today. CPE requires it if a dog was measured before turning two. We don’t know his actual birthday, so I’ve called it 10/29/24, which makes him officially two now.

I arrived about an hour before our first walk-through, set Stan up, and checked in with the judge. She was between classes, so she measured him right away. He’s still under 12″, which keeps him in the 8″ jump class.

He settled in his stroller, I caught up with friends, and walked the course. Afterward, he got some zoomies in the fenced area and we practiced “touch” and “here.” He wasn’t listening perfectly, but he was listening.

We had just two runs, Standard and Full House. The Standard course was pretty circular, so I wasn’t worried. Full House had no obvious path, so I’d drawn out several options at home the night before. But once I walked it, things didn’t line up with the paper map and none of my plans would work. It didn’t matter anyway. Stanley had plans of his own.

Our first run, Standard, started with a tunnel, and since Stan usually loves tunnels, I thought it would go well. He did the tunnel, then took off to visit. It’s hard when he knows the ring crew sitting in the ring, because he wants to say hello. It was a battle to keep him on track, and we were halfway through before he finally focused. He also got very interested in smelling the A-frame and peed a couple of drops on it, an automatic disqualification and a first for him. Ugh. I didn’t know what to do, so I asked the judge whether I should clean it up. Evidently not. That’s the ring crew’s job.

The good news is that we finished. We were over time, but he took no obstacles out of order, so no official off-courses, and he ran the whole course with no bars down. It’s something.

His second run usually goes better than the first, but today wasn’t our day. He didn’t want to listen, and even though Full House lets us basically make up our own course, he was distracted and I had to keep redirecting him. We didn’t earn enough points, or the right combo of obstacles. I honestly don’t know which, maybe both. We were over time again, but at least he didn’t pee on anything in the ring!

The worst part came at the end, when he started nipping my ankles and the judge suggested I have my trainer work with us on it. So embarrassing! Little does she know we’ve been working on exactly that, and it’s much better than it used to be.

So, no Qs and no ribbons for us today. I know this is a hobby and the point is to have fun, but I got in my head and kept beating myself up over what else I could have done.

My parents came to watch today, too, so yeah, not the best day. I’m really considering whether to do the next trial I booked in a couple of weeks, or pull out of everything, work on training, and try again in the spring. To compete or not to compete, that is the question!

Some days he’s really lucky he’s so cute!

Super Quick Agility Update

We started back to class this week and had a fantastic class focusing on working distance. We had to stay in a ribboned off section and send our dogs through a series of jumps and a tunnel. Honestly, we did better than I expected! We definitely have more work to do, but it was a great exercise!

Our next trial was planned for November 20th, but I couldn’t resist signing up for another on 11/8 when I heard our friends were all going. It’s so addicting! We are only planning two runs, Standard and Full House, so we will see how that goes. I would rather do three runs in a day because our first run is usually an excited mess as Stan gets used to the new venue and people, but we’ll see how it goes.

In the meantime, we are working on weave poles at home, sending him “Out” and “around” and of course coming back to me and waiting. We are also working on some new tricks! He is learning “Eight” where he weaves a figure 8 around my legs, and he is getting really good at jumping through my arms when I make a circle with them! He really loves the tricks! If anyone has any ideas of other tricks to teach him, I’m very open to new ideas.

Pet Gear Special Edition No-Zip Stroller Review

Agility trials have become a bit of an addiction, and I realized this at my very first one. I also realized I haul an absurd amount of stuff: folding crate, treats, towel, leashes, toys, a book, snacks, drinks. I was considering a wagon so I could stop making five trips to the car, and then I spotted someone at a trial with a small dog in a stroller.

Brilliant. No folding crate needed, because Stan can rest in the stroller. With storage underneath, it keeps all my stuff in one spot.

I’ve used mine for one trial and one practice so far, and it’s been awesome. Stanley seems to prefer it to his crate, since he sits up higher and can supervise everything. The mesh makes it very breathable, and I add a blanket for coziness (or drape one partway over the top when we’re outside and it’s chilly).

Now I sling a folding chair over my shoulder, wheel Stan and all my gear in, and that’s it: one trip. Once we’re settled, I can take Stan out for a walk. Leaving is just as easy. Fold the chair, wheel everything to the car, and give Stan a last stroll before the ride home.

Strollers in general are great, but I really love this Pet Gear one. It wasn’t cheap at about $100 on Amazon, but here’s why it’s worth it:

No zippers. The top folds over and clips shut, which is much faster than zipping all the way around, and it feels durable.
Plenty of room. Stan is 11 lbs and can stretch out or curl up, with space for blankets and a toy. The sides are high enough to feel cozy.
Cool and breathable. Lots of mesh, plus I clip on a little battery-powered fan for hot days.
Big storage underneath. It’s about the size of the pet area, with plenty of room for toys and snacks.
Adjustable tether. It snaps to Stan’s harness, so I can leave the top open while I sit next to him and he still can’t launch himself out.
Three wheels. The two close together in front keep it stable, and it steers easily in tight spots. It rolls over grass and gravel, and I can push it one-handed through doorways.
Cup holder. On the handle, where it belongs.

Cupholder is missing in this picture, but it just clips on to the handle, very convenient.

My favorite perk is having Stan safely contained while I get settled in a new building, and I can stop and chat with friends without worrying about surprise dog introductions.

It does feel solid and well made. Folding it took me a minute and a couple of fumbles, but now it’s easy, and it fits in my trunk with room to spare.

I’m excited to use it at all my upcoming trials. It makes everything easier, and Stan gets a front-row seat!

Agility Diaries – Practice Runs

Agility Diaries – Practice Runs

All summer, our agility club gets to use an outdoor property for practice. On Saturday we had our last outdoor session of the season and then packed everything up for winter. It was a really fun day!

Practice Runs

They set up a course with novice and advanced options. Each team got about 60 seconds to run either course, or just work on whatever they wanted. We did three runs.

On the first run I started at the wrong end of the tunnel on the novice course, oops! So I made up my own course on the spot. Stan was distracted anyway, so we got a few obstacles in and called it good.

The next run went better. I remembered the course this time, and Stanley stayed with me pretty well. It was all just for fun anyway!

Overall, Stanley did OK. He still gets distracted and runs off on me sometimes, but he’s getting much better about coming back, which is great to see. This winter I’ll be working on more obedience training.

My friend Lisa Hanley took some amazing pictures of Stanley in action, and they’re all through this post!

The Weave Pole Challenge

We also did a weave pole challenge: 12 weave poles, through a tunnel, and back through the poles again. Handlers had to stay outside one of two lines while working their dog, and the fastest time won. I almost didn’t enter, but it was just for fun, so why not get the extra practice? We didn’t win, but Stanley did OK.

To finish the day there was a costume contest. Stanley made an adorable bee. He didn’t win a prize from the judges, but he took first place in my heart!

What’s Next

All in all, it was a super fun day. Our next round of agility classes starts this week, and our next trial is in two weeks! I’m also thinking about Rally classes to help with Stan’s focus.

Have you done Rally with your dog? Tell me about it in the comments!

Agility Diaries: Trial #2 & Stan’s New Ride!

Not sure what I was thinking, but I have another trial on Saturday! We’re only doing three runs: Standard, Colors, and Jumpers. We did well in Colors last time, so we don’t really need the points, but it’s all good experience right now. Hope it goes OK!

I also bought Stanley a stroller. I feel a little silly about it, but I think it’s going to make things so much easier. At the last trial, I had to leave Stan in the car while I brought in his folding crate, my chair, and two bags of my stuff and his stuff. This time, I’m hoping to throw my chair over my shoulder, put our bags in the bottom of the stroller, and just wheel right into the venue!

I’ll be trying it out for the first time this weekend, so we’ll see how it goes. I hope it works out as well as I think it will. So far, Stan really seems to like hanging out in it! And so does Puck! I’ll write a review of the stroller once we use it at Trial this weekend.

One trial in the Books!

Thanks for the support and photo Tammy Morse!

We Did It: Stanley’s First Agility Trial!

Sorry for the delay on this! I just realized I never published it! Next trial in less than two weeks! I think I’m addicted!

Last weekend, Stanley and I completed five runs over two days at our very first agility trial—and we survived! More than that, we had a wonderful time, learned a lot, and even came home with a first-place ribbon, and more importantly, points on our record!

Most of the weekend went about as I expected for a first trial. There were nerves, lots of new things to take in, a few moments that did not go exactly as planned, and plenty of lessons for both of us. But we also managed to earn one qualifying run, or “Q,” which means Stanley earned points toward a future agility title. To make it even more exciting, we took first place in that run!

I am so proud of my little teammate.

A Warm Welcome

One of the biggest things that stood out to me was how fantastic everyone was. What an amazing community!

I walked in on the first morning loaded down with a folding dog crate, treats, blankets, snacks, a chair, and everything else I thought we might possibly need. I am sure I looked like a deer in the headlights as I wandered around searching for a familiar face.

Several people I had never met stopped to say hello and asked how they could help. Everyone was supportive, patient, and kind. That made such a difference, especially when I was feeling a little overwhelmed and trying to figure out how everything worked.

The trial itself was very laid-back and friendly, which made it a wonderful learning environment for a first-timer. I could tell that people genuinely wanted to see one another succeed. it was amazing hearing people I knew and didn’t know cheering for Stanley!

Stanley’s Big Weekend

I was also a little worried about having Stanley measured before the trial. The judge could not have been kinder. He did not even mind when I asked him to remove his baseball hat, since hats can sometimes set Stanley off. That small bit of understanding helped Stanley—and me—feel much more comfortable.

Stanley was excited all day and clearly had a great time. He loves agility, and that enthusiasm definitely came through in the ring. Sometimes, though, his excitement got the best of him. He did not always stay with me, and I had to work hard to call him back and keep him on course.

That is all part of the learning process. We now know we have plenty to work on, especially coming back to me at the end of a run. I definitely do not want to hold up the next team because I cannot get Stanley out of the ring!

Still, I would much rather have a happy, enthusiastic dog who needs to learn a little more focus than a dog who does not enjoy the experience. We will keep building that teamwork one practice at a time.

Lessons and Motivation

I am so glad we went, and I am relieved that the first-trial jitters are behind us. It was a great reminder that trials are not only about ribbons, Qs, or perfect runs. They are also about learning how to handle a new environment, figuring out what skills need more practice, meeting wonderful people, and most important of all – having fun with your dog.

The weekend gave me so much motivation to work harder and level up our skills. We are back in classes, working every day at home, and focusing on the things that will help us become a stronger team.

And we already have more adventures planned: I have signed us up for another trial in October and one more in November.

Team Stanley—we can do this, as long as we keep having fun!

Agility Diaries: One Week to Go!

One week from today, Stanley and I will most likely have finished at least one run of our very first agility trial. I cannot believe it is only a week away. Yikes!

I also cannot believe I signed up for a fourth run. At first, I entered three games and no Standard agility, but then I realized that a Level 1 Standard course should be a very reasonable challenge for us. In class, we are usually working on much harder courses—often Level 5—so adding the excitement, stress, and energy of competition to a Level 1 course feels like something we can attempt.

Of course, we will see if Stan agrees!

Four runs may end up being a little much, but I can always scratch one if he seems tired or overwhelmed. I could also use one of the runs as practice time: get into the ring, work together, and make it a positive experience without putting too much pressure on either of us. We will see how the schedule goes and how we are both feeling.

We had class again last night, but the weather did not cooperate, so we were indoors. It was not Stanley’s best night. He has not been indoors in a while, and I think all the new smells, close quarters, and dogs hanging around near the course were very distracting for him.

His first run was pretty awful, honestly. But after that, he started to figure it out and listened much better. That is what matters. The new start-line routine—simply putting him down and going—is still working fairly well. I would still love to eventually have a reliable start-line stay, but with competition only a week away, I think it is more important to use what is working now. We can keep refining the stay after the trial.

Today there is no class, and it is absolutely beautiful outside. I am hoping to make time this afternoon to set up a small course in the yard and do a little practice. I keep the jumps very low so we can work on focus and discipline without putting unnecessary strain on his little body.

Tomorrow should be a fun adventure. A little roadtrip, and we are going to watch some of our friends compete, which will be great experience for me—and good exposure for Stanley—without asking him to do much physical work. On Sunday, I am hoping to find time for some simple obedience practice.

Then next week, we only have class on Wednesday. Maybe I can get out to the outdoor course for a little practice Thursday evening. Some walks and obedience practice on the off days.

And then Friday… yikes!

Stanley and I are definitely not going into this trial expecting perfection. My goal is to have fun, keep him feeling confident, and hopefully finish at least one run together. Everything else will be a bonus. This first trial is about learning what competition feels like and celebrating how far my little guy has already come.

Dog Freedom?

Does anyone give much thought to their pet’s freedom of choice? I read an article a year or so ago about how walking your dog is an experience for them. Sniffing stimulates their brains, and by allowing them to make some choices on a walk, we’re giving them a small bit of freedom.

I don’t have a fenced yard, and I don’t really trust Stanley to be loose in it. I do take him off-leash in the yard when we’re training, but I keep a close eye on him. He also gets some off-leash time when we’re playing fetch outside, but I can’t just let him wander — he would eventually take off into the woods, and we have a lot of wildlife around here.

An article I saw recently talked about how little freedom most dogs have. They live in our homes. They’re fed on our schedule. Walked and let out on our schedule. Playtime on our schedule, training also on our schedule.

I’ve been trying to come up with little, safe ways to give Stan some more choices in life. Now he gets some canned food for breakfast and some dry food. The dry food is left out all day, so he can choose when he wants to eat it. When we go on walks, I try to let him have some choices. I let him stop and sniff, and I even give him some choice in what route we take.

In nice weather, he gets the choice to be outside in the sun on our back porch, or in the house with me. He has a basket of toys, so he can choose what he wants to play with.

Do you ever think about freedom for your dog? Do you have any routines where you try to give your dog choices? I’d love more ideas on ways to allow some freedom if anyone has any. Leave me some of your thoughts in the comments!

Much better alternative to the Pupsicle — and way cheaper

We started with the blue Pupsicle and while my dog Stanley loved what was inside, I couldn’t stand the toy itself. I could never get it open, even after trying the coconut-oil trick people recommend online — no luck. Eventually I gave the whole thing away, freezer tray included, and picked up this orange toy instead.

Big improvement. It’s noticeably harder but much easier to open than the Pupsicle. I haven’t tried it with frozen treats yet, but I did put a shelf stable Pupsicle type treat in it and it worked out great. I need to make some frozen treats to try.

I’ve been using bigger chunks of dried liver (the hole is a bit large for regular kibble, so stick to bigger pieces). It comes with two freeze compartments so you can make your own frozen treats too; I plan to use baby food mixed with kibble, peanut butter,

Deep Cleaning the Catlink Scooper Pro — A Confession

Confession time: I had no idea the Catlink Scooper Pro needed a real deep clean every couple of months.

I’ve had mine for years, and it’s always done a great job with the day-to-day scooping, so it honestly never occurred to me that there was more maintenance involved other than emptying the box under it. Then my son mentioned that he’d taken his own Catlink apart to clean it out, which planted a little seed in my brain — but I didn’t think much more about it until yesterday, when I noticed my box smelled pretty bad even though I had just emptied it.

That was my wake-up call. I pulled up a YouTube video on how to take apart the Scooper Pro, and it honestly came apart way more easily than I expected. No fighting with it, no special tools — just following along step by step.

Once I got it open, I could see exactly why it needed the attention. I cleaned everything thoroughly, got into all the spots I’d never touched before, and put it all back together without any trouble. I’ll admit, I feel a little guilty for owning this thing for years without ever giving it a proper deep clean — but better late than never!

If you have a Catlink, or really any automatic litter box, take this as your sign to look up a deep-clean tutorial for your model. It’s easier than it looks, and your nose (and your cat) will thank you.