My Week Away at WAO by Twiggy Cadman

Well, this last few months has definitely been one of unusual occurrences.  A couple of days when there’s only been me going to a show and some days training with Very Clever Dogs.  Then it gets even stranger!  Nanna Cadman arrived one afternoon, piled stuff into the van and off we went, leaving behind everyone else, even Aunty Deb!  We picked up Sarah and Kita and carried on our journey.  Several hours later we arrived at this ferry place.  Couldn’t see any agility equipment anywhere so I was slightly sceptical when Mum got me out of the van and we went for a walk.  The mystery deepened when Mum took the van into this big floating fish thing with a whole load of other cars, lorries and vans.  Kita and I were transferred to the dog hotel part.  It was actually OK, I mean we had the room to ourselves and everything but it didn’t stop me doing my best to tell everyone I was there and also trying to work out how to get out and go for a sneaky wander round.  Turns out Mum was watching my every move on some sort of Doggycam.  Rumbled!  Honestly, can’t a dog do anything in peace?!

Anyway the next day we arrived in Holland and given that we were too early to check in at the hotel, we did a detour to Amsterdam and wandered round.  Bikes everywhere!  And pigeons!!  After Amsterdam we made our way to Ermelo and our home for the next few nights.  I’ve never stayed in a hotel before with Mum.  It was really posh and I had to be on my best behaviour.  We were in the middle of a forest so there were some great walks, although on hearing that there were wild boar roaming around Mum was a bit dubious.

After a good night’s kip on Mum’s bed we had the morning to ourselves so took the opportunity to wander around Ermelo town before visiting the venue for WAO for a training session.  The venue was amazing!  3 indoor schools and a massive outdoor arena.  Mum and Nanna were well impressed!  Training was hard work as it got a bit warm so I decided to conserve my energy and not run quite as fast as I can do.  We had a short break and then another training session, this time indoors.  Everyone knows I love it indoors so I went much faster and Mum had to work hard to keep up with me.

Next day we had a short training session and then the Opening Ceremony.  Oh and loads of pictures of the team.  I think everyone looked really smart – when they weren’t squinting because of the sun!

On Friday the competition started.  An early start (at the venue for 7am!) before competition kicked off at 8.15.  Mum had to go off and walk some courses whilst I took the opportunity to catch some more zzzzs.  Our turn soon came around in the jumping and we were off.  The course was REALLY spread out which Mum liked although it meant she would have to do some serious running.  Unfortunately I slipped in the weaves so I missed one.  Mum was ahead of me so she didn’t notice until I came out on the wrong side, so we wasted a bit of time as we had to go back and do them all again.  This was to prove very costly. Team England had some good solid runs and looked good. 

I decided to give Mum a near heart attack in the agility.  With hindsight perfecting my ‘launch off the dogwalk’ manoeuvre was possibly not a great idea at WAO and should have been reserved for a slightly less important event.  It certainly took Mum by surprise and as a result she was out of position and couldn’t save a big fat elimination.  Oops.  The top percentage of dogs (I can’t remember how many) went through to Rounds 3 and 4.  I was less than half a second outside that percentage so didn’t go through.  Gutted!  Having to redo the weaves cost us (as did me flying the dogwalk but we won’t mention that…).

Saturday for me was a day off competing.  A REALLY long day doing nothing apart from cheering on everyone else and the occasional mooch around.  Some places for some of my amazing team mates and exciting agility to watch.

On the Sunday Mum and I were eligible for the Bonus Speedstakes.  After having Saturday off I had recharged my batteries and was raring to go.  Another big course and we were flying round until Mum moved about half an hour too early and sent me over a jump instead of round the back.  Doh!  I suppose we were even though, I missed the dogwalk and she didn’t get her timing right.  1-1!  Mum was really happy with me and still gave me a big cuddle.  

All we had left was the Closing Ceremony where we cheered really loudly especially for the three silver medals that England got.  I felt really proud to be part of such an awesome team!

On Monday we made the trip home.  The floaty fish thing was really bumpy which wasn’t very nice but I didn’t get seasick.  Slight technical hitch when there were a couple of roads closed and we had to take a diversion to get home.  Mum said she was really tired.  I wouldn’t know – I slept all the way!

I really enjoyed my week away with Mum and Nanna.  It’s quite nice getting so much attention and hogging Mum’s bed.  I know Mum was really proud of me.  She said I’m a very Special Brown Rat :o)

Mum also said that we wouldn’t have been able to go if Aunty Deb hadn’t stayed at home to look after everyone else so I want to take the opportunity to say Thank You to Aunty Deb too.

Twiggy

xx

Poppy's WAO Adventure - The Final Instalment

Okay so here it is, the final gripping instalment of my experience in Spain.  Better late than never – my PA (Mum) kept saying she’d write it up for me but I guess you just can’t get the staff. 

Saturday was another early start.  Good job I could stay curled up in my crate to catch up on beauty sleep as I wasn't due to run for ages.  It was really cold and wet too.  Soggy Saturday.  Bit like being back at home in November really.  I may have questioned Mum’s sanity about all the coats and things she’d put in but actually I was really glad she had.  I had to use two waterproof coats and Mum even tucked me up in my pyjamas for a bit.  So much for sunny Spain!  The weather was so bad they had to move the outside rings inside at lunchtime.  This delayed the proceedings and it was 7.30pm before I got anywhere near a ring.  This time it was a class called gamblers.  Never heard of it but I'm sure it was designed just for me!  30 seconds of take your own line with all the different obstacles worth different points.  Once again Mum was muttering all sorts of numbers.  She really should have concentrated more in school because I've never heard counting like it!  After 30 seconds a buzzer was going to sound and then we had to do this gamble thing.  There were two options; one being harder than the other.  Mum reckoned we were going to do the harder one.

I think the rain, mud and cold had made everyone go a bit funny because everyone was very excited and there was a lot of clapping and cheering as dogs were running.  This was more like it!  All that noise actually scared the monsters away and it meant that I could do what a Brown Rat 1 does best and that’s run.  Wahey!  Mum (well Ceri actually) had made up this really fun course that covered all the ring.  We flew round getting lot of points with the crowd cheering us on all the way.  After the weaves the second time Mum slowed down and started faffing round this jump.  No idea what she was playing at!  Turned out that the dozy muppet was waiting for the buzzer to go so we could start the gamble.  It had already gone though!  Not sure whether it was me woofing or the crowd cheering but she hadn't heard it and we missed doing the gamble.  Methinks I need to get her a hearing aid.  Mum was gutted but at the same time really proud of me for running so well.  Once we got back to the hotel we found that had actually come 4^th!  If Mum had heard the buzzer …… well, who knows?

Biathlon Agility

The last day seemed to come round very quickly.  I only had one run but there were lots of other England team members and medals to be decided.  Exciting stuff!  No sign of those pesky monsters; I think all the shouting and cheering the day before had sent them packing.  Mum said she liked the agility course because it wasn't too twiddly.  She’s always harping on about how wide I turn.  That’s because I am rear wheel drive and turbo driven.  I slow down for nothing!  She compares my ‘turning circle’ to the QEII.  At least it’s classy and not a barge I suppose.  We set off at a rate of knots (in keeping with the QEII), had one hairy moment when I spotted a tunnel and run fell pelt at it causing Mum to shriek like a fishwife.  She wanted me to weave instead.  Ha!  Just keeping her on her toes.  I managed to control my excitement on the seesaw and didn't launch into space off it but the pull of the aforementioned tunnel after the dog walk was just too much AND I might have got my feet burnt for touching the contact so I decided to play safe and not touch it.  Pretty good run with 5f, even if I do say so myself!

So that was it.  Competing over for me.  Nothing to show for it but we came very close in Gamblers.  Once the monsters had gone I ran my socks off (not that I've ever worn any) and showed everyone how amazing I really am.  Several members of the Team England had some amazing results and it was an absolute privilege to be part of it.  Those that ran in the team competition took silver.  We also had a new World Champion in our midst as Shaun and Phix had won a gold medal.  Wow!

All that was left was to return home.  Whereas Kita and I had been allowed in the same cabin as Mum and Sarah on the way out, we had to go in kennels on the way back.  The indignity!  I'm an international superstar!  It actually wasn't that bad.  It was nice and warm in in there and I had my own comfy bed.  My neighbour was a bit noisy but I ignored him.  Oh and I met this cute Papillon who, to tell the truth, was a bit handsome and a real flirt!  Poor lad got in quite a spin!

Mum was very excited about seeing dolphins on the Tuesday morning.  Wish I’d seen them too.  We got home at about 8.30pm on Tuesday.  My 10 days of being an only child were over and now I have to cope with all the rabble again.  Mum’s got loads of new friends, all as mental as she is and we regularly see them round the shows here.  A few of them are competing this weekend at the European Open in Belgium.  I'm sure they’ll all be as amazing as they were in Spain.

Have to say I did enjoy this foreign agility lark – hope Mum does that selection show again.  Apparently it’s Italy next year.  Surely it’s sunny there?

Poppy's WAO Adventure - Part 2

The day of the start of the adventure came.  Mum was piling LOADS of stuff in the van.  Honestly, how many coats and beds does she think I need?  I waved goodbye to Aunty Deb and the rest of the gang, pulled tongues at Twiggy (it’s ok Mum didn't see) and off we went.  We picked up Sarah and Kita en route.  I thought Mum had a lot of stuff but you should have seen the amount that Sarah had.  Thought we were going to need a trailer at one point!  Something called straighteners and make-up I believe that was taking all the space. 

We had a long journey in the van and then when I thought we’d got to this Spain show, we hadn’t!  We were actually getting on this big kennel on water, van and all.  What a laugh!  It was really cool on the floaty kennel.  I got to stay in the same room as Mum and I had a great view of seagulls and other little floaty kennels.  We were on there for ages and it got a bit bumpy.  There were quite a few other dogs on there from our team so it was great to chat to them.  We finally arrived in Spain and still had 3 hours to go to our destination, Oviedo.  Mum insisted on driving on the wrong side of the road and there was this REALLY scary time when we got stuck in the middle of the road with cars zooming all around us blasting their horns.  That wasn't nice and Mum actually swore a lot but I can’t really blame her.

 The hotel was fab.  I could share a room with Mum.  I’m glad she took my crate though – I like my home comforts.  We went for a long walk with a load of other team mates which was great but Mum insisted on keeping me on that bloomin flexi thing.  I know she doesn't like it so why use it?  Just when I wanted to investigate whether Spanish rabbits run like ours back home.  She’s a real party-pooper.

The next day we went to El Asturcon Equestrian centre, the venue for the show.  There was a lovely walk along the river bank which I was looking forward to exploring but first of all we had a training session outside.  The sun had come out and it was lovely to run round.  Mum was really pleased with me.  After lunch we had an indoor training session.  Mum had told me I would like it – it wasn't far off the size of Olympia.  Well she wasn't wrong about that but what she failed to mention was that the monsters clearly fancied a bit of tapas and flamenco dancing and had followed us to Spain.  I just can’t run when there’s monsters about.  It’s way too scary.  Everyone else seems fine, it must be just me they’re after.  Mum got pretty upset about the monsters scaring me.  I know she doesn't like me being upset.  She said my middle name must be freaky.  I think I prefer ‘unique’.

We had another indoor training session the next day but Mum didn't do it with me.  Instead she tried to get me to play in a corner.  Don’t know who she thought she was kidding though, the monsters were still there ….. somewhere.

Back to the hotel for the afternoon and then we were back at the venue in the evening for some photos and the opening ceremony.  Everyone looked really smart in their kit, although it’s fair to say that us pooches are far more photogenic than the handlers AND we didn't take ages making sure our hair was in place.  Mind you don’t think Mum did either!

On the Friday competition started.  I always thought being on holiday meant you get to have a lie in but Mum dragged me out of bed at 5.30, so just like a show morning at home really.  Whoever said it was going to be sunny in Spain told a great fat porky pie.  Wet and muddy!  Good job I don’t mind wet and mud.  Mum looked really smart in her kit (although I did worry it was going to clash with her orange hat).  I looked pretty good too, as always!  We had this class called Snooker.  Mum seemed to have a problem counting.  She kept muttering random numbers and adding them up.  I really thought she’d lost it.  We set off and were steaming round the course.  It was fab!  None of the numbers were in order and it didn't matter for a few jumps!  I was possibly a little over excited though (hard to believe I know) and we came unstuck at the weaves.  I probably should know by now by now that if I enter them at 9,000 mph there’s no chance of bending back through weaves 2 and 3.  Oops!  Mum legged if off to the finish and I set it off in hot pursuit.  What a blast!  Apparently we didn't get 5, 6 or 7 in the closing sequence on account of my enthusiasm but hey there were no monsters!

We had a run inside on Friday afternoon – Biathlon jumping.  Mum asked this lovely lady called Tace to warm me up.  She has magic hands!  She made sure all my muscles were ready for running and I felt great.  Mum got me REALLY wound up on the start line.  Normally she’s telling me to shut up and calm down.  We went zooming off, got faulted on the weaves AGAIN and it was only ¾ way round that I remembered the monsters.  We had nearly finished but I figured it would be safer just to miss out a couple of jump and finish a bit earlier in case.  I got a lot of cuddles for being nearly very brave so it can’t have been all bad.  1 day down, 2 to go.

Stay tuned for Part 3....

Poppy's WAO Adventure - Part 1

It all started at the end of last September when Mum dragged us out of bed at some ungodly hour to go to a show I had never heard of.  She called it ‘Selection’.  We picked up another little brown dog on the way – Kita.  Brown Rats on tour J.  Anyway, the early starts aren't really a problem because I can go back to sleep.  Mum had to stop off at a service station on the way for a coffee.   She says she needs caffeine to run me.  I don’t really know what that means but I’m taking it as a compliment.

This selection show was a bit weird.  The jumps were lower than normal for me and a bit higher than normal for Twiggy.  Mum said I was wild.  I think that’s good?  We did lots of courses that day and I had loads of fun particularly on one course where Mum was the other side of the dog walk and she told me to ‘go on’ and do some jumps without her.  I can do that!  (She’s normally miles behind me anyway!).  I didn't trust the dog walk contacts though; that bit at the bottom looked as if they might hurt my feet if I touched it and I didn't want to take that risk.

Well, that was last September.  One day at the beginning of December Mum came home from work and she was mental!  Jumping up and down and everything!  She gave me a really big hug and a kiss and kept telling me I was amazing and a clever Brown Rat.  Don’t get me wrong – it’s very true and it’s not the first time she’s told me this but she kept on doing it.  Apparently she’d received an email thing telling her that we had been selected to represent England at the World Agility Open in Spain.  Pretty cool eh?  Of course I took it all in my stride and concentrated on another funny show that we had never done before – Olympia.  Now THAT’S a fantastic show!  A massive arena giving me the chance to show everyone how fast I really am.  Everyone was clapping and cheering for little old me.  Quite useful really as it drowned out Mum’s puffing and panting as she tried to keep up.

Watts Photography

Apart from having a couple of visits to the vet where they stuck a needle in me (the indignity!) this Spain malarkey seemed a bit of a doddle to be honest.  I mean, it’s only another show isn't it?  Mum was getting a bit excitable though and was counting down the weeks.  She had to do a load of fundraising – being a superstar doesn't come cheap it seems and I know she was really grateful to all our Dig It friends for their help and support at a show at Dig It HQ at the end of April.  Thanks guys J!

If the truth be known though, this superstar thing might not actually have worked.  The last indoor show we went to I swear that there were monsters making funny noises in the agility ring and if it’s someone you need to deal with monsters than it’s not me you want.  Get Bramble out of the van instead.  She’s a German Shepherd and quite frankly she’s much more the size of dog you need for monster destruction.  I am NOT going to hang around.  The thing is though, these monster started following us around.  They were at England training sessions; they were at Dig It; they even turned up at some shows.  In fact I think they were everywhere there was agility equipment.  I’m just not cut out for monsters making funny noises at me and the only thing I can think of is to do what I’m good at and that’s run.  Really fast.  Mum doesn't like it but tough!  Not the best time for these monsters to appear really, being only a month before our big adventure :(

 Part 2 coming soon….