Hoppy Easter 2013

Happy Hoppy Easter!

Not the usual bird

We get some unusual and not so unusual birds in Arizona as this state is a haven for birds migrating both north to their breeding grounds in Canada and the arctic in spring and south to their winter homes in Central and S. America in fall.  Our ponds in our local community park attract quite a few different species of water fowl.  This year was no exception as we spotted a number of species we hadn't seen before in this locale.  And my dogs do what comes naturally to them - they pointed.

A closer look at the bird - most likely a Great Egret judging by its yellow beak.  There were 4 of them hanging around these ponds for a couple of weeks and now they are gone.

Sad goodbye

CH Varazs Sara's Full of Grace MH ROM 

2/21/2001 - 2/28/2013

Having just celebrated Sara's 12th birthday on February 21, Sara's owner sadly said goodbye to her on February 28 after discovering Sara had cancer.  Sara will be greatly missed but her spirit and beauty live in on her offspring from two litters.  Sending deepest condolences to Sara's owner in California. Rest in peace sweet Sara.

 

Jumping Queen

♫ You are the jumping queen, young and sweet, no Vizsla has-been 

Jumping queen, feel the beat from the tambourine ♫
♫ You can soar, you can wrap, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, diggin' the jumping queen  ♫

(apologies and thanks to ABBA)

Miska was just awesome and we had a great time at this weekend's Fiesta Cluster agility trials held at Westworld in Scottsdale AZ.  She obtained a total of 4 qualifying scores to complete two American Kennel Club titles: Open Standard Agility Preferred (OAP) and Open Jumpers Preferred (OJP) ALL with scores of 100, 100, 95, 95 and first place finishes!!  Back in November she had earned her first legs for each title.  These are Miska's 29th and 30th titles to date and her registered name is getting longer and longer and longer!!  That's a wonderful thing!

I moved Miska up to the Excellent level today and I was very hopeful she would Q.  She didn't but only because she missed the entry to the weave poles in both classes. A single mistake in Excellent costs us a leg so each run must be perfect.  Apart from the weaves, the rest of her two runs were clean!!  So I was thrilled with her performance in the Excellent class even though we didn't qualify.  And I was so happy I didn't get lost on the course (my biggest fear and problem).  We haven't worked the weaves a whole lot apart from just getting her to do 12 successfully.  Now I know we have to work on entries to the weaves from all different angles but I know she will be successful.

Here are a few scenes from the trials this weekend.

Diva and Miska keeping cool at the agility trials