So here is Coles standard run. Keep in mind that we started training one month before this event.

Silly me forgot to train the broad jump!!!! And take a look at those weaves!!!! Not too shabby!!!!

What else can I say about my Cole….. He is the best dog!!!! I had several compliments about Cole but the very best one was ” Your dog has the best movement of any dog at this show”

I am very proud of my little Cory. He placed 3rd in his class.

Thanks to my friend Char for showing June Bug for me so I could concentrate on showing Cole. June Bug may not have the Old English Sheepdog coats that some of the Collies out there have but she makes up for it with attitude….. and you can actually see her body:)

Soleil and Diana in the Bred By class.

So here is Tirzah in BOV at the CCA.

So leg 1 of 4 on the road to Coles MVC qualifying is DONE!!!!

I was so excited and nervous that I could not sleep last night…… hence when 5:00 a.m. rolled around this morning I could NOT roll out of bed….. I know I know you people in agility know this is nothing new with us!!

So I grabbed Cole and we raced 90 miles an hour to Perris for the 9:00 a.m. HT handlers meeting.

We made it with plenty of time.

So Cole passed his HT test and now has his HT title!!!!

It so was NOT pretty!!!!! I think since I was so stressed and Cole could feel it he was doing a little avoidance.

He had a great stay and his first get around was fabulous….. Then it got messy. He went off to pee and sniff….on EVERYTHING!!!!! UGH!!!

When I would get him to work he actually looked good and was working!!!

Kudos to people that do herding…. What a tough sport!!!!

Looking forward to agility on Tues and Wed.

Here are the photos I got from today. Sue took photos of Cole during his HT test. When we came out I asked Sue if she got any shots of Cole NOT peeing!!!! I am sure Sue will send those to me as soon as she can:)

Cole and I getting our qualifying ribbons.

Here we are with judge Judy Vanderford.

4 of the 4 passing entries for HT at the CCA Herding Trials Day 1.

….. Is my Coley Bear!!!

So I have known for 3 years that the Collie Club of America National was going to be held here in CA in 2010. I decided to enter Cole in the Most Versatile Collie Competition at this National. I planned on entering Cole in Herding, Agility, Rally and Conformation.

Now keep in mind I have had THREE YEARS to work towards this goal……

And in perfect Julie fashion I wait until a month before the big event to START training…. really more like cramming!!!

Cole has a ton of heart!!

We didn't even have weaves at ALL. I keep telling myself I only need to get thru 6 weaves… just six weaves. I have a set of channel weaves here at the house but with only a month to get it it I opted for the ever so lovely weave/louring dance!!!! Daneen is half mortified and half laughing her ass off. I keep threatening to wear a "I go to Daneen's weave class" T-shirt for our agility runs.

We have herding on Sun. and Mon. agility on Tues. and Wed. and rally somewhere in there and conformation on Sat.

I am so looking forward to having fun with my dog I can hardly stand my little self!!!!I am ever so grateful that Cole chose me to be his mommy!!!! I can not even put into words what it feels like when I look into his eyes as we are training doing rally exercises and agility and the look he is giving me is "God I LOVE you!" & "What do you want me to do next?" He gets so happy and so very proud of himself.

It almost brings tears to my eyes because Cole is not driven in the way our Border Collie is, who works because he lives to work, Cole does all this stuff for me….. because he wants to please me. Of course treats are second on his priority list 🙂

So the big week starts next weekend…. No matter what Cole does at the National I will be so very proud of my boy!!!! He's the little dog with a huge heart and only one month of training!!!!

Cole got first place in his starters jumpers class!

Today I said goodbye to the NAUGHTIEST goat ever. Sarah was no doubt my goat. The rules NEVER applied to her and she LOVED to eat!!!

When I was a little kid I had a dream to be in FFA or Four H so I could raise farm animals and show them at the LA County fair. My parents never let me. I did not realize that the beloved pet you raised was sold at auction at the end of the fair. My parents were VERY smart…. I could never have been able to handle that.

So in my thirties I bought a show goat. I trained her and entered her in the L.A. County Fair. It was a dream come true! I have video somewhere of me bathing Sarah in my grooming van getting ready for the big day!A handful of friends went to watch us.

Just picture this…..

A whole arena filled with little kids showing their goats and thirty something year old me proudly showing off my lovely Sarah. We placed somewhere in the lineup and my friends exploded with cheers. What a GREAT day that was. And the very best part was that I got to take Sarah home with me. She really was a lucky little goat.

Thanks Sarah. I am sure your heaven is filled with lots of yummy snacks… until we meet again.