We’ve been busy with a new routine in the house (cycling between tethering, crating and freedom) and it’s a very peaceful existence. Cybi has done so well with learning switching off in his new routine and he’s much more well rested and so his training sessions are incredible. The dogs are becoming better at ignoring each other too, Cybi definitely finds Phoebe less exciting when she scurries around which is a big win, and he’s been a LOT quieter when visitors come over too, as well as his random barking outbursts being shorter and less frequent! We tried to get a nice stacked photo for conformation which was interesting but I’m really pleased with how he’s maturing now. We’ve been working really hard with engagement, activation and focussed heeling and went to IGP Thursday where I had some great tips from Alex about my mechanics and some amazing reps of focussed heel that made me so happy. Also did some protection which was great as usual. I’ve gone back to basics with conditioning a slip lead for street heeling so I can remove reliance on the prong for management and I feel like it’s going really well, he’s picking it up super quickly but I think that’s due to me having more experience and knowing what I’m doing this time 😂 but in general he’s been sooo much fun to train, really clear headed and switched on, very enthusiastic and it’s making me really enjoy it. Maybe it’s the sun 🌞

Crufts is coming up soon. Who's going? If you're not, do you plan on following on the telly?

You get 100k a year but you become naked for exactly one second at a random time each month - do you take it? By randomly I mean you cannot predict this in any way at all. After the second elapses you will be fully clothed again. Could be when you’re sleeping, giving a presentation at work, walking down the street, etc (Stolen from Reddit)

We put the warm up exercises in Daniel's webinar to the test today, just for fun! It was very reminiscent of our agility warm ups where we use many of the exercises in the video before going out on the course. It was nice for Skye to get involved too. This afternoon I ran with Aster around the block. It's 5 miles and I always forget to time myself but I am guessing we were a bit slower this time as I took it the hard way around to run up the massive steep hill! Tomorrow will be low key (see what I did there) on the car key indications. I forgot to mention in yesterday's post that on the walk yday we were ambushed by a small terrier-shaped crocodile who came out it's garden barking at us and went for Skye! Mine were all on-lead as we were passing thru a farm and yeh, the little shiz waited until we had passed then tried to nip Skye on the butt! They were amazing though, really held it together. We just walked on as quickly as poss, only to find a huge mean looking collie staring very stiffly at us. It gave us the laaaaaazy eye (if looks could kill) but again, they were AMAZING. Not a peep and just kept walking. I feel like they really do know when it's one of those "don't f**k with me" silent type very dominant dogs vs the waaaaaaayyyyy too happy "I wanna be up your nostrils please new best friend" types. They only let the latter know they don't like them 😂

Igor went on a hike today and look how good he did in along the seafront. 🎉