Oh Yeah, You Blend

Lots of challenges and good times with Mary Mullen, one of our perennial favorites! Zhora ran fast and sassy, Nina ran like Nina (fast and sassy and selectively deaf), Alice had some awesome runs with some real mojo starting to happen, I am fixing her weaves if she doesn’t really acknowledge they’re an obstacle. I don’t care about qualifying with her right now, just trying to get some communication at trial speeds.

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Nina Saturday Jumpers (Q, 24 points, second place, 4.895 YPS):

Zhora Saturday FAST (Q):

Alice Saturday FAST (NQ):

Zhora Saturday Standard (Q, 29 points, second place, 3.8 YPS):

Nina Saturday Standard (NQ):

Alice Saturday Standard (NQ):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Zhora Sunday Jumpers (QQ #115, 20 points, second place, 4.8 YPS):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (Q, 26 points, first place, 5.004 YPS):

Alice Sunday Time 2 Beat (such a fun run!):

Zhora Sunday Standard (QQ #115, 27 points, second place, 3.689 YPS):

Nina Sunday Standard (NQ):

Judge Ross Johnson has only been a judge for a year or so but we loved his courses! Extension, extension, extension! Zhora had a perfect weekend, Nina went 3/4 and Alice had two of her best runs to date!

Nina Saturday Jumpers (Q, first place, 4.83 YPS, 24 points):

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (QQQ # 113, first place, 4.7 YPS, 18 points):

Alice Saturday FAST (Q):

Zhora Saturday FAST (QQQ):

Nina Saturday Standard (NQ, so much sass):

Zhora Saturday Standard (QQQ #113, first place, 3.65 YPS, 27 points):

Alice Saturday Open Standard (NQ):

Alice Saturday Open Jumpers (Q, 4 YPS, best run yet!):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (PACH QQ #10, first place, 4.46 YPS, 20 points):

Zhora Sunday Jumpers (QQ #114, first place, 4.26 YPS, 14 points):

Alice Sunday Time 2 Beat (NQ but GREAT RUN, running like an agility dog!):

Nina Sunday Standard (PACH QQ #10, first place, 3.67 YPS, 32 points):

Zhora Sunday Standard (QQ #114, first place, 3.37 YPS, 23 points):

Just one day this weekend, since I went to Toronto the Sunday to visit family. Judge Frank Gilmer is a new favorite! Lovely courses, really nice judge! Alice finished her Novice Standard Preferred title and is all the way in Open now (no more 6 weave poles!)! Double double Q too!

Nina Saturday Jumpers (PACH QQ #9, first place, 5.177 YPS, 25 points):

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (QQ # 112, fourth place, 4.858 YPS, 18 points):

Alice Saturday Time 2 Beat (NQ):

Nina Saturday Standard (PACH QQ # 9, first place, 4.167 YPS, 38 points):

Zhora Saturday Standard (QQ #112, third place, 4.191 YPS, 33 points):

Alice Saturday Standard (NAP TITLE!):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Judge Sue Barnett was new to us. We did quite well on courses with some pretty low Q rates.

Nina Saturday Jumpers (PACH QQ #8, third place, 4.96 YPS, 23 points):

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Alice Saturday Master FAST (NQ):

Zhora Saturday FAST (NQ):

Nina Saturday Standard (PACH QQ #8, second place, 4.024 YPS, 37 points):

Zhora Saturday Standard (Q, second place, 3.686 YPS, 27 points):

Alice Saturday Open Jumpers (Q, 3.8 YPS):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (NQ):

Zhora Sunday Jumpers (QQ #111, third place, 4.416 YPS, 15 points):

Alice Sunday Time 2 Beat (NQ):

Nina Sunday Standard (NQ):

Zhora Sunday Standard (QQ #111, first place, 3.861 YPS, 28 points):

Oops, they did it again! Jan Robles and Lobo (Alkemi Beowulf del Roble LS) have just earned yet ANOTHER breed first! Lobo just earned his Water Dog title through the Newfoundland Club of America! I don’t even know what that entails, but Jan says she’ll explain it. Jan and Lobo are an incredible team, it seems like there is nothing they can’t do when they put their minds to it. Lobo was also the first Swedish Vallhund to earn the Senior Barn Hunt and Master Barn Hunt titles, the first SV to earn a drafting title, and he is currently the only Swedish Vallhund Club of America Versatlility Champion who has earned all his required points from performance and companion events only. He also has his Silver Crazy 8’s title in Barn Hunt, his UD in obedience, his PT in herding, his BCAT in lure coursing, his advanced trick dog title and his AX AXJ in agility. His official name (with AKC titles only!) is Alkemi Beowulf Del Roble Ls UD PT FDC AX AXJ BCAT RATCH CGC TKA. Lobo is Nina’s son (with Tempest, AKA Mystarz Baileys Blazer) and Zhora’s litter brother. Jan also owns Zhora’s daughter Cora (formerly Popcorn), who is racking up titles of her own already! Jan was getting a female puppy from the litter Lobo was born in (the Tempestninas), until I heard her greet him when she was doing the puppy temperament assessments…she said “hello puppy!…oh….HELLO puppy!” and I knew right then something magical was happening. Jan is an incredible dog trainer and she and Lobo were just meant to be. It’s an amazing feeling as a breeder to know your puppy is truly living his best life, not only does Lobo (and Cora) have a wonderful, loving home, they also get to DO ALL THE THINGS. Thank you Jan! 

Jan says “

This email may be longer than you wish to receive, but my heart is so full right now with gratitude for those who have helped us on this journey.

As background you remember that Classy, my last Malinois, was my once in a life time dog and I never expected to have another.  Lobo clearly dashed that belief the instant we met.

Aside from how special he is and and what an incredible bond we have, I give huge thanks to my Berner connection.  After I got Glory, her breeder moved to NC from Colorado.  Shortly after our move to NC in the fall of 2016 one of woman who bought one of Glory’s puppies contacted Eden Jonas (Glory’s breeder) and told her I had moved.  Eden then contacted me and invited me to join a group of primarily Berner folks, but also a Newfie person, for some draft practice.  This was the beginning to me pursuing Lobo’s ANDD as well as DD titles as well as building friendship in our new home.

Sidebar here:  As we were preparing for his DD last year, Eden had serious doubts about whether Lobo could do the  1/2 mile freight haul pulling 60#.  He was a super star.

The token Newfie was Ariel and her owner Debbie Dennison.  Aside from some draft practice, we were just casual acquaintances.  Then earlier this year I took Cora to a building to get her used to an obedience ring prior to her CD and Debbie was also there working her Newfie.  As we were chatting afterwards a woman came up to Debbie and asked her about water tests.  I expressed an interest and Debbie said Lobo could do it.  Once the lakes warmed up, we started training in May.  The rest, as they say, is history.

A ‘coin’ is flipped to determine if a life jacket or boat cushion will be the dropped article to be retrieved.  Almost universally people hope for the life jacket.  It can be as small as possible as long as it is Coast Guard Approved.  Boat cushions are considerably larger.  For the Newfie test the coin toss was life jacket.  Debbie was standing next to me and said, “You were hoping for boat cushion, weren’t you?”  Yes I was.  Lobo is very impressive bringing that in.  What I didn’t realize is that there would be a separation coin toss for our test.  The coin toss came up boat cushion and I was thrilled.  Debbie and I rejoiced.  The judges thought I was crazy.  But as you watch this video, you will hear that the spectators got progressively more enthusiastic as Lobo’s test continued by the time he retrieved the boat cushion.”

Lobo is one of only two dogs who passed.

Favorite judge and friend Sherry Jefferson designed some awesome, fast and fun courses for us. Nina QQ’d on Saturday, Zhora QQQ’d on Saturday (her first trial back in a long time due to breeding and she was VERY slow since she thinks she is pregnant), and Alice got an Excellent FAST Q, did 12 weaves in Time 2 Beat and finished her Novice Jumpers Preferred title! A great weekend all around!

Nina Saturday Jumpers (QQ #5, first place, 23 points, 4.6 YPS):

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (QQQ#107, third place, 12 points, 3.989 YPS):

Alice Saturday FAST (leg #2!):

Zhora Saturday FAST (QQQ):

Nina Saturday Standard (QQ #5, first place, 33 points, 3.7 YPS, didn’t get recorded)

Zhora Saturday Standard (QQQ #107, second place, 18 points, 3.1 YPS):

Alice Saturday Standard (NQ):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (Q, second place, 23 points, 4.57 YPS):

Zhora Sunday Jumpers (Q, first place, 13 points, 4.05 YPS):

Alice Time 2 Beat (NQ, 12 weaves and ran out to celebrate):

Nina Sunday Standard (NQ, she didn’t believe me about the white tunnel because I was too close to it and had no room to show movement):

Zhora Sunday Standard (NQ):

Alice Sunday Standard (holy crap LOL…NQ):

Alice Sunday Jumpers (Q, NJP title, weaves on first try, lovely run!):

Lavonda Herring designed some technical, tricky, tough courses with low Q rates. My dogs LOVED them! NINA HAD A PERFECT WEEKEND! Zhora went 4/5, and Alice had an Excellent FAST Q and some really awesome runs, including a JWW NQ that felt gorgeous.

I am so honored to have these dogs.

Zhora Saturday JWW (Q, second place, 4.8 YPS, 17 points):

Nina Saturday JWW (P QQ#2, first place, 4.9 YPS 23 points):

Zhora Saturday Exc FAST (Q):

Alice Saturday FAST (Q):

Zhora Saturday Standard (NQ):

Nina Saturday Standard (P QQ#2, first place, 3.7 YPS, 33 points):

Alice Saturday Standard (NQ):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ, but what a GORGEOUS run after the weaves):

Zhora Sunday JWW (QQ #106, first place and only 8″ R dog to Q, 4.49 YPS, 15 points, she hates this kind of opening and it shows):

Nina Sunday JWW (P QQ #3, first place, 4.77 YPS, 22 points):

Alice Sunday Time 2 Beat (NQ but some nice stuff):

Zhora Sunday Standard (QQ #106, first place and only 8″ R dog to Q again, 3.7 YPS, 27 points):

Nina Sunday Standard (P QQ #3, first place, 3.8 YPS, 34 points and a PERFECT WEEKEND):

Judge Ginger Robertson gave us some tricky but fun courses. Alice earned her second NAP leg and did TWO SETS OF WEAVES and we felt some mojo happening! I am thrilled with her. Zhora uncharacteristically knocked a bar in JWW yesterday but won Standard, and then double Q’d today, AND SO DID NINA! Nina earned her first PACH QQ today and looked and felt awesome. The trial was tiny this weekend and today I only had 3 dogs between my girls but it worked out just fine.

And then we came home and Tish killed a rabbit. So…circle of life or summat.

Nina Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Nina Saturday Standard (would have been a Q if I’d slowed up to pull her over ther 180):

Zhora Saturday Standard (Q, first place 29 points, 3.86 YPS):

Alice Saturday Standard (NAP leg #2!):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ but nice run):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (PACH QQ #1, first place, 23 points, 4.7 YPS):

Zhora Sunday Jumpers (QQ#105, second place, 16 points, 4.44 YPS):

Nina Sunday Standard (PACH QQ #1, first place, 34 points, 3.845 YPS):

Zhora Sunday Standard (QQ#105, first place, 29 points, 3.896 YPS):

Zhora had a perfect weekend, Nina earned two Standard Q’s, and Alice ran really well. All in all a good weekend under Pamela (Candy) Nettles!

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (QQ #103, third place, 17 points, 4.732 YPS):

Nina Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Zhora Saturday FAST (QQQ):

Alice Saturday FAST (debut in Excellent P FAST, NQ but LOVE the enthusiasm!):

Zhora Saturday Standard (QQ #103, third place, 29 points, 3.8 YPS):

Nina Saturday Standard (Q, third place, 35 points, 3.9 YPS):

Alice Saturday Standard (NQ, a long delay meant she lost her mind, that’s something to work on!):

Alice Saturday Jumpers (NQ but the first half is lovely):

Zhora Sunday Jumpers (QQ #104, fourth place, 16 points, 4.444 YPS):

Nina Sunday Jumpers (NQ):

Zhora Sunday Standard (QQ #104, third place, 29 points, 3.879 YPS):

Nina Sunday Standard (Q, first place, 35 points, 3.949 YPS):

Alice’s first time in a two ring trial environment and she did great! Some zoomies, some slow runs, but overall really happy with where she’s at. Plus she earned her Open FAST Preferred title today!

Nina was Nina, every run is a blessing. Some almost Q’s.

Zhora was awesome, 5 for 6 with a triple Q today (QQ #102). Especially considering we had a huge ring conflict at the end of the day today and I basically ran Alice in Novice Standard and the other two girls in Mast Jumpers in a space of like 10 minutes. Two ring trials are so stressful when you have dogs in different levels.

Zhora Saturday Master FAST (Q, second place):

Alice Saturday Open FAST:

Alice Saturday Novice Jumpers (OMG I AM SO THRILLED WITH THIS RUN! I wish the start had been videoed, but holy moly I could really feel some mojo happening here!):

Zhora Saturday Standard (Q, first place, 3.72 YPS, 27 points):

Nina Saturday Standard (NQ):

Zhora Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Nina Saturday Jumpers (NQ):

Alice Saturday Standard (NQ):

Zhora Sunday FAST (QQQ, third place):

Alice Sunday Open P FAST (Q and OFP title, zoomies but came back and worked and how about that distance?):

Alice Sunday Jumpers (NQ but weaves on first try! Focused = slow with this baby dog):

Zhora Sunday Standard (QQQ, third place, 3.723 YPS, 28 points):

Nina Sunday Standard (NQ):

Alice Sunday Standard (NQ but some good stuff):

Zhora Sunday JWW (QQQ, second place, just a few minutes after Alice’s Std run, 4.283 YPS, 15 points):

Nina Sunday JWW (NQ, handler error after the blind cross disconnect):