Santa Baby

In keeping with my tradition of an “adapted for people who are canine obsessive” holiday carol, I offer the following:



Santa Baby (with apologies to the lyricist and anyone else even remotely associated with the original song.)


Santa Baby, put a MACH under the tree for me.
What a super gift that would be,
Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.


Santa Baby, wrap an OTCH up with a bow. I know
I would be all aglow,
Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.


Santa Honey, A CT would be just great, can’t wait.
Fill your sleigh. Don’t be late,
Santa Baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.


Just a joke ‘bout all of this.
Think of all the great times I would have to miss.
It’s more fun, and yes, that’s true,
Working with my dog for each and every Q.


Santa Baby, there’s not a lot I really need, no greed.
Just have fun with my dogs, indeed.
Santa Baby, so have a Merry Christmas tonight.



Christmas 2010 Kathy McCoubrey

Happy Holidays 2010

ODTC Brags

Last weekend was the last agility trial of the year. I am pleased to say that Nori finished her MX and added two more double Q's toward her MACH. Jamie and I had a bobble in each standard class but he did Q all 3 days in Exc B JWW. It was a nice finish to a successful year.




Nori with her new MX title ribbon.





Nori in Exc Standard.



Jamie in Exc. Standard.

Harry RA

Today at the Catoctin Kennel Club Rally Trial Harry, Ravenwood Quick Thinking RN CGC, earned the third leg for his RA title with a score of 96 and 4th place. I am so proud of Harry. He is as smart as he is adorable.

One of my training clients also showed today. Congratulations to Peggy and Fire (Dobe) for earning their second RA leg.



Weekend Plans

Jamie and I will be off to a Kathy Sdao seminar this weekend. I am very excited at the opportunity to attend as I've heard great things about her seminars. I'll post some information about it Monday.

Bouv Club Obedience/Rally

We had a very successful day at the Bouv Club trial in Richmond on 10/14. Nori won Beginner Novice B with a 195 1/2 and Jamie was second with a 193 1/2. (Yes, I know Jamie has a CD but Beginner Novice is an Optional Titling Class so I thought he might enjoy going back into the obedience ring just for fun....and he did.) Then Harry took first in Advanced A with a 96 to get his 2nd RA leg. I am very lucky to have such great dogs.

CVAC Brags

Nori had a great weekend at CVAC q'ing in 5 of 6 runs and earning two more QQs towards her MACH. She got a 4th in JWW on Saturday and a 3rd in STD on Sunday. Jamie had some really nice runs but my timing is slightly off with his enormous stride and we had little errors in each run.

CVAC put on a very nice trial. The weather was a little brisk at times but all in all it was a lot of fun.

Weekend Brags

I competed with Nori and Jamie at the Dauphin Dog Training Club trials in PA this weekend. Nori had a great weekend with 3 Q's out of 4 runs adding another QQ to her MACH pursuit. Jamie had a Q in JWW on Saturday and some really gorgeous runs but, unfortunately, each had a little mistake. It was his first weekend out in three months and Nori's first weekend out in 2 months so I was very happy with both dogs. It was a very nice trial. DDTC treats workers very well. It was also nice that chairs were kept out  of the area where dogs had to enter and exit the ring so it made for a much less hectic atmosphere outside the ring. I wish other clubs would consider this.

And some brags for my training clients.....Carole and Queenie (All American) got their second RN leg at Middleburg Kennel Club and Anna with Poppy (Bearded Collie) got a Select in Best of Breed competition also at Middleburg. Way to go ladies!!!!

Fall Pictures

We took a couple of fall fun pictures out by the barn today.

(L-R) Jamie, Nori, Harry

Nori thinks there should be cookies in the Jack-O'-Lantern.

Brags from Saturday

Harry moved up to Advanced for the CDTC rally trial Saturday and, not only qualified, but took 1st place. He even got some prize money for 1st place and is planning to take himself out for a pizza. I guess he'll have to take me along since he doesn't drive.  Only one of my training clients showed Saturday and did qualify so a big congratulations to Joanne and Sioux for their second Rally Novice leg.

Huge congratulations are in order for Jackie Stilwell and Katey for finishing their UD. What an accomplishment. Jamie and Mackie produced some very smart pups...my MACH Romy, Tana's CT Jordi, and now Katey UD.

Harry RN

Harry and I went to the Mt. Vernon DTC Rally Trial today and I am proud to say he got a 98 and 3rd place in Novice B to finish his RN title. Good job, Harry!

I would also like to brag for two of my training clients. Joanne with IG, Sioux, got her first leg in Rally Novice B and Carole with All American, Queenie, got her first leg in Rally Novice A. Nice going, ladies!

Kudos to the Mt. Vernon DTC for a very nice trial. They had coffee and doughnuts for exhibitors and bowls of treats for the dogs as well as placement rosettes and the very cute neck ribbon Harry is wearing to honor new titles.

Nori and the dinosaur

One of my absolutely favorite things to do with my dogs is free shaping. One of my clients gave me a battery powered dinosaur to use as a distraction in class. I thought it presented a cute shaping opportunity so I taught Nori how to "pet the dinosaur". This really needs to be captured in a video so you can see the dinosaur move and make strange sounds but I did get these two pictures to share.

Some brags

Harry (Newley x Romy) made his rally debut this weekend and I was very proud of him. He got a 97 on Saturday and a 98 and 4th place on Sunday. I had many nice compliments on how well he worked.

I'd also like to brag for my good friend Jackie Stilwell. She finished a CDX on Nicky (Newley X Romy) and got a 2nd UD leg on Katey (Jamie x Mackie) this weekend.

Run Throughs

Thursday morning I took Harry (who is preparing for his novice rally debut) and Nori to run throughs at Catoctin Kennel Club. Nori did a nice open run through and Harry did a nice rally run through. I have discovered that a dog retrieving in the ring next to him is very distracting so we worked on that a little at home. Last night I took them to run throughs in Fredericksburg and he was less distracted about the dog working in the next ring. Nori did well.

Weekend

I spent my weekend working at the PVBSC and Warrenton Kennel Club, my all breed club, agility trials. I didn't run a dog because I worried it could be too hot to compete outdoors. However, we had lovely weather and the trial ran pretty smoothly. I scribed I don't know how many classes and helped build a lot of courses. I was pretty beat by the end of the weekend.

New Title

Nori finished her XF title at the SMKC trial 8/27 with a 2nd place. That makes 3 new titles for her this year (MXJ, AX, XF). Jamie finished his OF in July.

agility pictures

Here are a few pictures from a recent agility practice session.

Harry on the dogwalk.

Jamie on the teeter.

Nori on the dogwalk.

New blog

Have had a hard time keeping up with my website http://www.ravenwooddals.com/ but I'm hoping to do a better job with updating this blog.