It's My Birthday

Today is Tommy's 6th birthday! He's such a big boy!
I'm hoping to enter a competition or two this year, but if he doesn't run well in the majority I think we will quit agility which is annoying because he runs well at training most of the time but at competitions he just does it when he feels like it 😔
I made him a bowtie over Christmas so that he can look smart and dress up for occasions out. I also now do grooming at college and have taken Tommy in to be groomed, the next times I take him in someone else will be grooming him which concerns me slightly as he gets bored easily and is very sensitive with his paws and tail being touched.

WE'RE BACK!

Today we went for our first competition for 6 months. He didn't stop at all in the ring, and ran pretty smoothly.
He was steady more than quick though.
One of the time faults was my fault because I forgot to call him the right way out of the tunnel. Otherwise we would probably have had a clear round.

My mum took lots of photos!

We also saw Summer and her dogs at the show. 

Allergy

In November Tommy had an allergic reaction to what we believe was an insect or spider bite. I thought it had been something to do with clipping him as it started to appear shortly after but I think clipping irritated the skin and made the reaction come out more violently.
Due to his reaction he had to spend 3 days at the vets and then had to have a cone on, steroid cream, 3 different tablets and hibiscrub (some pink fluid to help with the scabbing). It was awful. He constantly looked so sorry for himself.
Now after he has got better and his fur has grown back, the new fur from where he had huge scabs, is more coarse and on his ears, is brown, and his neck, white.

This was after the vets.
Now he looks like normal, with short eyebrows!

Hey

Recently I began teaching Tommy to shut doors - with his nose to ensure no scratch marks. It is useful when we have company and getting up to shut the door would be impolite, plus with the dog doing it he gets a lot of attention for being cute. He first has to knock the door away from the sofa by nudging it then pushing it shut with his nose. It's going quite well and is a useful trick to learn. He loves to learn and gain affection, it's a slight problem trying to find more tricks for him to learn.

recently

Recently has been Tommy's birthday. We went for a walk around Watermead with our friends. Just the one dog.

Clipped

Another post.

This weekend I clipped Tommy, he has quite a close trim because he normally gets mucky in agility training. 

He looks very handsome.

Recent Events

I have joined the debate society in my sixth form for enrichment. As our task last week we had to pick something we were passionate about and debate for our POV on it. I couldn't decide. It was decided for me that I should argue dangerous dogs. I was against the ban. My debate was mostly on it's the owners not the dogs that are dangerous. I had to give a little insight on how a dog thinks, very basic, Fight or Flight.
http://uk.pinterest.com/vickygleave/dangerous-dogs/

That is my entire debate. :P I found it quite fun to be standing trying to persuade these people with little understanding of dogs that "dangerous dogs" shouldn't be banned.


Also recently I went to the YKC Newark weekend and entered the Agility Crufts Qualifier. We came 5th in our age and height category. Quite good considering he's not ran well this year. We saw Earl and Ethel from http://sumskersandearlskers13.blogspot.co.uk/ . Unfortunately I couldn't stay to watch people running their dogs I needed to write some essays.


Lastly, this weekend, on saturday I am in newark again! For the DV winter indoor show. Only three classes so it shoud be quite fun.