So much to do.......

I am so pleased that Lesley Huggins could take some photos of the pups, we have had so little time over the last week it would have been a real shame to miss them!

If you do want any agility/contact/action/weave pics Lesley uses the field at weekends quite often to capture dogs - let us or her know and I am sure she would be more than happy to take pics for you. The canvases she has printed are excellent.

Above are Boost and Spider - both pups are now happily in homes. This week I have been reading Appleby on Habituation and Socialisation. Habituation is described as 'the process whereby an animal becomes accustomed to non-threatening environmental stimuli.'

Although counter condiditioning is an option correct learning is always preferable. Another interesting piece of information for me is that experiments show puppies who have experienced pre stress in early life have a good capacity to cope with it later in life whereas those who do not, cannot cope.

On another note we have had the busiest week and it just seems to get busier, Ultimate Handling only has 24hours until sign up closes so make sure all of you DD people get signed up - what an excellent opportunity to learn from one of the best. See www.ultimateagility.com, sign up closes 6pm tomorrow evening. Lessons will cost £8.30 each. Dont miss out!

Lastly thankyou for your lovely emails re the LLAAI - I had a ball teaching it and cant wait to teach next years level 1s and level 2s!

Lauren xx

'It's what you learn after you know it all that counts.'

I love learning but this week I have learnt a lesson I needed to learn much sooner - oh my gosh how much effort goes into planning a big course even when all the paper work is done there is so much to sort from lunch menus and ensuring that lovely Sue knows dietary requirements for a lot of people to projectors, large screens, day care for dogs, people management, filing, information, resources, sales items, helpers and most importantly great information. It has been a long process but it is all now coming together. If you are interested in the LLAAI Instructor course level one or level two you can access these via Devon Dogs www.devondogs.co.uk courses and bookings. There are 8 spaces available to people looking for level one and spaces available for level two on completion of level one. We aim to run two to three courses a year depending on time and venue availability. £50 deposit secures and we will hold a waiting list once full. We will cover topics from group dynamics, managing safe environments, awesome contact and weave training, fantastic groundwork and more.

In addition to this the pups are full on, please come and visit Devongem litter 4 if you have time they are fat fluff balls and very cheery souls, Fiji is a dream to work but a monkey 24/7 as she is into everything her confidence is lovely, the other dogs are patient and life goes on - I am also now over 6 months pregnant and I can't believe it is over 6 months now, very scary!

Ultimate Agility is also taking off - if you have not already had time to register please visit www.ultimateagility.com. The free article is excellent.

We also have an action packed winter training programme, please see Fern, Kim, Mandy, Sue, Matt, Vivienne or I if you have not yet had one or email carole@devondogs.co.uk.

I really think that life is for living, and life is what happens when you are busy making other plans. I feel very lucky to have a very supportive team around me  - thankyou all :) 

Lauren and Devon Dogs

Are you an Ultimate Handler? Do you know what to train over Winter?

I love the way agility is moving with the times. I sometimes struggle to find consistent innovative dog trainers to work with in Devon and I am so pleased that there are opportunities like this :)

Have you seen this link?

www.ultimatehandling.com/sp/6965-ultimate-agility

We have had a huge uptake of new people wanting better training on handling and innovative ideas so we have really worked hard to try and offer them something. This is great for us and keeps us all on our toes.

We are starting to prepare our winter training programme based around Greg&Lauras online course above, I really do think you will love it if you get a chance to join, birthday, Christmas, and presents galore - I know what I am asking for for my birthday. The nights are now getting colder and darker and the flood lights are now back on, we are going to miss the Summer.

Free and her pups - she is such a good mum :):)

It has been ages since I have blogged and the pups are almost 5 weeks old - they are full of fun and lots of work but will be flying the nest soon but not too far though, they are going to the loveliest homes,

Devongem Freakin Great - Sian
Devongem Free Spirit - Sally
Devongem Born Free - Helene
Devongem Free For All - Mandy

I am so excited as I will be seeing lots of all of them as they all train with us regularly. I feel very lucky :)

Hope you are all well, if you havent had your winter training plan/programme from myself, Kim, Matt, Sue or Fern please ask us asap as these are now available.

See you soon, Mark and Karen Laker today and Kamal tomorrow woohoo!

Lauren xx

What an amazing year we have had....

 After Susan Garrett contacted us at the beginning of the year I thought our years training could not be topped however I am over the moon that we will also be able to offer a camp next year with Greg and Laura Derrett. We are so lucky to be spending good quality training time with some of the best. Our club has gone from strength to strength with so many dogs moving up the grades.

I am particularly proud of Alexis and PC who are already holding their own in G6, Teresa and Indi who has also had trophy places, and Gary and Tagg in G3. In addition to this I have to say it is a complete pleasure to train Jon Woodger who has moved into G5 as well as so many others. Lizzie Rafter is now G3, Fern is G4 and both of these were G1 at the beginning of the year. Lizzie has also just won her first final! Awesome.

We are involved with some great inspirational people, David Munnings was in your Thursday class only last week, how lucky are we? Some great learning going on here and make sure you take us up on as much of it as you possibly can - we love the way you are all developing.

If you are planning on coming to Summer camp with Greg and Laura let us know as soon as possible as we really have very limited spaces now and I am trying to create the best learning community.

Lauren x

It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives. Tony Robbins

It is funny - I only realised yesterday that I haven't written about the Olympia experience and my own dogs in a little while, so I thought on a quiet Sunday afternoon I could do both.

It is really funny but over the last few weeks I have felt really good, not at all what people told me to expect to feel like with the whole 'pregnancy experience,' I really feel very energetic, not at all bloated, not tired and not too hungry or craving anything in particular (although I am always hungry and craving chocolate, even Matt won't fall for the chocolate needs.)

So it was a big decision whether to try out for Olympia or not, after I decided to go, it would be a good experience etc etc I then thought fate might choose for me - destiny is a funny thing and something I do believe in. Well I am not quite sure what is going on up there but somehow with only one novice semi day I seemed to sail through without even running and not only that but also into the Large Olympia with Reef who not only had one, but two clears on the day. My dogs really were flawless, and I had to go home beaming. I was overjoyed as Matt also qualified Bailey.

In addition to this I am really happy with Fiji and her progress - she is a credit to the line and I am having so much fun with her. I hope to be able to manage my excitement as at only 8months old she looks and acts so grown up and will work all day so I am having to be very self controlled with her training.

Lastly I love the way you can see the relationship - Fiji, Brooke and Reef are so similar yet different! Love them - beautiful dogs. Well done Sandra Adams!

"All people want is someone to listen"

I have had a great week this week, some wonderful new customers and exceptional current customers. What I find being a full time teacher is, as I said above, "All people want is someone to listen.' Hugh Elliott. People are really excited about learning and sometimes all they need is someone to allow them to talk and share their agility thoughts.

I have had my good friend Dave Munnings and lovely Dan Shaw to stay this week, they had lots of their dogs plus fosters. I really, really admire the foster work and it was great walking all 12 dogs in the woods, very funny! Dave asked to watch a few classes and as a teacher this is sometimes intimidating initially as I know Dave and I do things differently however it is also useful to both Dave and I. For me I like to have feedback so after he watched I asked him what he thought. His answer really made me think about the way Devon Dogs was set up and what I wanted to achieve. As a teacher I always wanted to empower the learners and his feedback very much linked to that. He said our cstomers have a wealth of information invested in them and they all know how to work harmoniously around each other. This is something I most definately intended I sometimes wonder now for our newer customers how we ever got to this stage. I was happy to hear that though - exactly the learning community I enjoy.

I have watched some great lessons from Mandy, Kim and Vivienne this week and although I am nearly 20 weeks pregnant I cant imagine handing any of my lessons over however it is great having such great people to work with to ensure we meet all of our customers expectiations.

This morning I am planning for our 2011 instructors course, looking at the handouts and welcome pack and ensuring everything ties in together neatly. If you are interested in this the 2011 course is full and operating a waiting list but the 2012 course has some availability at present. Check it out on http://www.devondogs.co.uk/courses_booking.html. We would love to see you there.

Also make sure you have checked out www.ultimateagility.com - there is a great free article on the site entitled, 'The Handler VS The Competitor In All Of Us.' This is a really good learning opportunity, who are you? I certainly know which boat I am sitting in.

“Stand straight, walk proud, have a little faith”

I am soooo proud! Although we have been so busy, there are never enough hours in the day, we do not stop yet a little time to reflect is good!
Some great results lately Bailey is in every champ final and Popi has been in the last two, awesome! Tiki qualified for the novice olympia, Bailey and Reef for the G6/7 Olympia and Matt and I are over the moon! It is great to qualify with one dog let alone three between us. It will be an interesting Olympia for me however I am really hoping to stay as fit as possible and it gives me something to aim for instead of mooching and getting too big - although I have to say all of my customers winning and bringing cakes is NOT helping!

I am also massively proud of loads of my customers and Matt - it gives me great joy knowing how well you are all coming on. So here goes....I will inevitably miss someone....

Teresa and Indi - Getting to the semis, having an awesome clear in the warm up, unfortunately 5f run in the event. Also looking great in G6 and getting loads of great places already!

Kay and Ry in the ring WOW!

Kay and Blue 2x2nds

Fran and Inga making it to semis!

Alexis and PC looking awesome in G6 and getting a 2nd and 3rd in your first few weeks!

Kelly and Maisie - STEEPLECHASE queen :) Her speed and confidence is growing!

Kim and Buzz, qualifying for beg schase final and winning G3 jumping at Gillingham Champ Show! 

Di and Lilly - first show - 4 out of 4 places  - what can I say?

Jill and Poppy - winning Beg Agility

Sam and Bo GRADE 6!

Tom GRADE 3 :)

Gail and Rio weaving in the KC ring :)

Mandy and Herb 3rd YAY

Vivienne Wells - UNSTOPPABLE winning everywhere!

Helene - 4 x 1sts in one day - wow!

Lizzie Rafter qualifying and winning into G3 STUNNING!

Sue Rafter and Lyra, Tina and Sue and Molly qualifying for tug-e-nuff WOW!

Sue and Coast 2nd and 3rd

Helen and Maisie winning cakes - YAY

Sian and Spice winning a Schase and Ash 4th in G1&2 Jumping KC

Amanda and Abi G4 WOOOOP

I will have forgotten loads..................I am not meaning to, there are soooooo many!

And a special well done to the Devongem pups too...

Matt winning two G5s easily at Gillingham, winning at KCI - you and Riot look fabulous xx

Fern and Cove G4 now and qualifying for every final under the sun lol :)

Linda and Brooke for winning a G5 at her first G5 show!

Dave and Boss for winning at KCI

Teresa and Zing - some fab places and speed!

Mist G5

Devo one win from G7

Tiki Olympia, G5 and at KCI too!

Chilli - qualifying for semis and being a very very talented girlie!

Bandit easily winning into 7

Well done beautiful pups I am so proud :):)