Star of the DDAC Christmas Party?

Really, I can't imagine what the humans were thinking. 

Who plans these Christmas parties anyway?

So last Tuesday, Gail drove us the two miles to Drumforskie Farm (base of the Deeside Dog Agility Club) and I was expecting to be let out of the car right away, as usual, and led into the big barn for my weekly agility rampage training session. 

But it was not to be. 

I was made to wait in the boot for ages and ages. 

Things finally looked up when I was released, and even better when inside the barn I spotted a spread of delicious foodables, laid out on the table right by the starting line of the 'jumping and tunnels' course.

But you will understand that I was also mighty confused by the set up. Why would any dog sit patiently at the start of the course when an aroma of delicious sausage rolls and Gevulde Speculaas (a Dutch speciality baked by Harrison's owner Teegan) was filling his nostrils?

Well finally, after some firm 'encouragement' by trainer Shaun, I reconciled myself to running over the jumps and through the tunnels rather than making a beeline for the treat table.

I think you'll agree if you watch the short video below that I put on an absolutely splendid performance. British viewers might recognise my homage to the late great Eric Morecambe's playing of the Grieg Piano Concerto. "All the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order"...

And no-one has ever doubted that I am an agile dog.

Oh if only one could say the same for my owner Gail...

Thanks go to Alison for the fine camera work.

Gail says I must also thank the rest of our friends at Deeside Dog Agility Club for tolerating my 'exuberance', both at the party last week and at the training sessions over the previous months...

Designated Dog Day

 Gail says that Tuesday is now 'Designated Dog Day'.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking? That surely every day in the Gail and Nobby household should be Designated Dog Day?

Well it seems it's just Tuesdays.

First off, of course, I get my morning walk in Duthie Park. But you know all about that.

Then something new. Our neighbour Jim is not very well, and Angus, Jim's handsome black labrador, needs more exercise. So Gail has offered to take Angus out for a good leg stretch on Tuesday afternoons.

I have high hopes that eventually I might be allowed to join Gail and Angus on these outings, but based on this week's evidence, it is perhaps better that Gail gets used to walking a lively plus 40 kg dog by herself to start with.

From my perch on the sofa in our bay window, I was able to observe Angus exiting our neighbour's front gate and heading down the street at pace, thus unbalancing Gail so she toppled over and let go of the lead. Angus, being a Good Boy, calmly waited for her to pick herself up and they proceeded on their walk, Gail this time remembering to hold on tight and engage her core muscles in an effort to stay upright while Angus dragged her off in the direction of the riverside path.

The photo of Angus, below, was taken later, by which time Gail claims she had somewhat regained control of the situation. Apparently, she attributes her earlier fall to momentarily forgetting she was not walking a 9 kg dog who does not generally pull on his lead these days. (That would be me.)

The third and final component of Designated Dog Day is my weekly training session at Deeside Dog Agility Club. This week it was raining so we were indoors in the barn. To be honest, this is not so much fun as being out in the open - less scope for haring across the field and eliciting cries of "LOOSE DOG!" 

Gail says, with the onset of dark evenings and colder weather, we will likely now be inside for agility until the spring so I'd better get used to it!