Ellie at Belton Horse Trials

I am pleased to be able to confirm that Ellie will be attending the Belton International Horse Trials this year, as part of a canine display team. We will be there on two dates: 24 and 26 of April.

The synchronised routine was practised for the first time last night and includes around thirty or so dogs and their handlers. The actual routine is only three and a half minutes long. However, there are then agility, heelwork-to-music, and trick displays. I heard a whisper that Ellie will also be taking part in the tricks section, but I haven't had that officially confirmed as yet.

Jan will be doing the handling on the day as, believe it or not, I'm quite the wallflower when it comes to publicity. So I shall be team photographer and videographer. That, I can do! :)

Thankfully, she's coming out of the phantom pregnancy. The only time she was a little unlike her usual self was when expected to weave between all the dogs. I'm sure that will calm down over the new few days, as her hormones return to normal.

So, if you happen to be a reader of this blog (and I know there are several who choose not to comment), happen to live in the UK, and are able to get to the Belton Horse Trials, we'd love to finally meet you!

Book Review: A Home for Rose

This is the second Jon Katz title that I have read. The first, A Dog Year, left me quite unimpressed. With that in mind, I wasn't expecting to enjoy A Home for Rose.

During the first three chapters, I felt the familiar disappointment, that I had felt in Jon's previous work, creeping up on me once more. I decided to stick with it regardless. I am so glad that I did.

Like digging for gold, there's a some hard grinding to get out of the way before you get to the real valuable material, but once there, the rewards are rich.

I loved the detail he gave throughout the book, particularly when referring to his new farm, Bedlam Farm, a place which I'm sure many of us Border Collie owners dream about in our sleep.

Jon purchases a farm so that he can give his dogs the life he always promised himself that he would give them, and let them herd sheep as they were intended to do. Little did he realise the work involved in maintaining a farm (complete with donkeys, sheep and three dogs) and surviving the harsh country winters.

The story is as much about Jon as it is about his beloved dogs. It's about Jon learning to accept help from new friends and neighbours, learning the real meaning of bonds (both canine and human), it's about him learning the harsh realities of living within a farm environment, and about making tough decisions, as he is forced to do with one of his dogs, Homer.

I really enjoyed the book (past chapter three) and was quite sad to get to the end. Defintely a book to curl up on the sofa and relax with. Just let Jon do the work of painting the pictures for you. Great book!

Have the tissues ready around chapter seven!

An Inspiring Video

Thanks go to Owner of Storm Glory and Rascally Jack for pointing me to this particular video. It shows a Border Collie going through around fifty different tricks.

I really loved the suitcase one! Enjoy...