Countdown

2019 sure has gone by fast, can’t believe it’s April already! Herding vacation is this weekend, which has become All About Navarre and is kind of our herding finale before moving on to other things. We will continue to herd, and both Haku and Navarre will still get to play regularly – but with Haku’s limitations and Navarre … being Navarre, I don’t have any big plans for it at the moment. We really had a lot of fun over the winter, and I love to learning new things. Obviously still have lots left to learn, but I don’t think I have the right dog to really explore it at the moment. Haku may continue to improve physically this year, and Navarre may continue to improve mentally this year – but we’re kind of in a holding pattern for now.

I did attempt to do my homework with Navarre, which was work on whistles – we went down to Heidi’s and I took out both boys and Navarre was just being Navarre, mindless flanking brings out all the bad habits he used to have, so I wasn’t super inspired to work on whistles. I just could not get that Away whistle when I had to be talking to him continuously and I was just so not feeling like a team. Oh Navarre, you drive me nuts with sheep! And Haku just kept lying down, so we couldn’t work on whistles there either. Oh well, the boys had fun and it was SUCH a beautiful day. I say it every year, but I wish it could be Spring forever.

The good news, with this little bit of herding and some running around afterwards – no limping from Haku. We are just taking it easy this week and see what happens at the clinic. Navarre is so SO ready to pick up the slack if Haku can’t handle it. Myself, I don’t have any grand expectations from the clinic. I have enjoyed working with Karen before, I always have something to learn and it will be a fun crowd of lots of people I know – which makes it fun as well. The boys are good travelers, I have no worries on that account. Bright will pissed to be left behind, but she gets to stay with mum – and she LOVES her.

So big Herding Hurrah coming up quickly! Haku then has his AKC herding trial with Carol a couple weeks after that while Bright and Navarre finally get to do an agility trial again. And then Navarre’s big obedience debut! And sprinkled throughout, fun with Dove puppies. I am very much looking forward to a very fun April, I’m just sad we are going to miss a THIRD week of hiking in a row!

Worked on a little obedience practice with Navarre this week, still haven’t focused on the stay part, which is my biggest worry that he doesn’t understand. The rest looks okay, he can sometimes revert to super forge-y on his heeling, but when his brain in engaged he can do some nice stuff. Stand for exam looks good, recall looks much better, finishes can be nice. This should all be doable.

Worked on some serpentines in agility, which Bright rocks at and Navarre tends to go wide (total shocker!). I am excited for our first trial back in a couple weeks, fingers crossed for some fun courses.