Let's start with the good news. Taru has been selected to the national B-team (a bit like "rekruttlandslaget") in agility. I sent my application with the idea that maybe not all "better" dogs would apply (I only attended two of the special competitions giving points according to which the selection process goes). This proved to be the case! In practice B-team means attending three special practice camps. My hope is that this will lead to some new ideas in training as well as mentally prepare me for the future (whatever that will be).

Last weekend I managed to do the double clean with Taru . We did altogether 6 runs with 3 0-results. I enjoyed most of the courses and in the end it was a great feeling to discover that the biggest mental obstacle (and the cause of competition stress) was removed.

Taru's succesful week ended with a less fortunate surprise. We were spending a combined work & holiday week in Vaasa. We stayed in a nice cottage with the dogs. On Thursday Hanna let Taru to do her normal morning businesses in bushes. Taru came back with a bleeding paw as she had stepped over a piece of glass some previous guests had thrown there ( ). Soon it came clear to us that a vet had to be found and rather quickly. Luckily we managed to find one who had time to see us. The cut was quite deep and it had to be stitched. With the narcotics, antibiotics etc. this means we have to take it easy for the next couple of weeks and Taru won't be able to compete in the regional championships.

Tosi has been training agility whenever there's been a chance. I try to put together a short video on her trainings. Meanwhile you can enjoy Hanna and Tosi performing in a agility show at Ylisfestarit (actually, this course was filmed after the show since I had hands full of informing the audience while the dogs were running the course and could not film; and in case you wonder, the band playing in the background is Sturm und Drang)! (Hanna wants to add that it's awkward to see the numerous imperfect moments but with only few trainings with a whole course one cannot expect more. We think we have a plan how to teach her further.)