Brody's competitions in the holidays

This holidays Brody had a couple of different competitions. In the first weekend we entered in an elementary class at an obedience champ show, and Brody (for once in obedience!) did really well. His heelwork, which is usually the issue, was fantastic... only half a point off! But unfortunately he broke his sit stay. We would have won if he had stuck the stays!! But a third place ribbon was pretty good.

This Saturday we entered the Paws n music show, that was run in conjunction with the Ardmore Bennefit show.

It was a great competition, once I got over the nerves it was kind of fun! And it was great to see all the dogs we have been training with do their routines.

Brody did ok, I was a little bit disapointed because he had itchy ears (allergies!) and kept shaking his head, and this made him miss a few moves. Also my timing was a little of. But it was pretty good for our first performance!

We were placed first in Elementary heel work to music, but as we were the only competitior (the others were classed in freestyle) it dosent really count! But overall we had the second highest points, and considering that he kept shaking his head I was pretty happy with that.

So we will keep working on the routine for the upcoming local show, and Nationals in October.

Our new place

Here are some pics of our new place! Brody, Max and I have been in for over a month now, but finally (after school holidays) I have actually got everything unpacked!

Its in Torbay, at the North end of the North Shore (Auckland). Its a cute little one bedroom place, and has a nice (but

at the moment soggy!) backyard.

Its right on the edge of the long bay reserve, so we

have a lovely view of fields

and trees and cows and stuff out the back, and its about a 10 minute walk to the Long bay beach

, which is a 24 hour off lead doggy beach.

More photos are in the slideshow or on my Flickr site.

Catch up on what's happened in 2009...

This is a bit of what's been happening this year for me:

• I'm back at Glenfield College teaching in a permanent full time position. Teaching Senior Biology, junior science, and some junior maths (aahh!!)

• Still coaching the school girls basketball teams (they are doing well this year!), and also assisting in the coaching of the North Harbour U17 Rep team. We went to nationals and came third.

• Matt and I broke up. Very sad, but we are both happier now.

• Still doing HEAPS of doggy stuff with Brody and at club - still plugging away at obedience, doing better at agility (we have just been upgraded to the 8pm competitive class at club! And I'm instructing a new tricks class at club, and we are about to enter our first Heel work to music competition! See the video on the right for a look at us practising the routine.

• Brody, Max and I have recently moved into a cute little 1 bedroom flat in Torbay - pics coming as soon as its looking neat and tidy and how I want it to look!