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Summary
The final proof reading of Solway Sleuth-Hounds. A big HTM Event with Rooskie at the beginning of the month then preparing for another at the beginning of February.
I read through it again and did a final proof reading. And then I decided that I would accept it. And I put in an order.
I had forgotten to justify the back cover. I swithered and then decided just to, leave it. I did not want to take the risk of anything going wrong with the rest of the back cover.
At the beginning of the month Rooskie had a big HTM Event at Ryton near Coventry. He was entered in Starters Freestyle and I was doing my Halloween routine again to Trick or Treat.
It had been three months since his last Event and I was wondering if he would have forgotten about Events. I was worried about the start. I knew that if I could only get him started thern there was a good chance of him doing all right.
I decided that I would not start him from a pose. And I would try to get him working BEFORE the routine actually started.
I had been practising a fluid start from a circle but I was in two minds which start to choose as I had another -- me sitting on the chair and sending him through it. I chose the latter. He went through the chair and kept going. I called Touch and he came back to me and then ran off again. He went to a corner of the ring and had a good long sniff. Obviously a strong scent there. I called him again and got him into Heelwork. And then I called to the judges Ready. (Up until this point the routine had not actually started so the running off should not count. But for me it was very worrying).
He seemed settled so I went back to the chair -- which was covered with black and gold pumpkin material -- sat down and sent him through it. He did the chair part of the routine beautifully. He weaved through it and then did his backwards weave through it. His verse around it was not so good but it was all right. I probably spent too long on the chair part.
Then I got up and moved round the room. I sent him through my legs and then moved away before he could return through them. Here he appeared to run off again but he did not really. And then my mind went blank completely. I forgot all his moves. I even forgot to speak to him. I just kept saying to myself, Keep moving. Keep moving.Then I heard that the music had reached the two minute mark so it was time for me to get to the end of the routine. He came with me and jumped into the pumpkin/basket -- and then jumped out again. I grabbed him and pushed him back in and I caught his fur and he gave a little squeal. We had finished the routine. Then I stood with him in my arms while I waited for the ring steward to bring the lead.
I made a very bad mistake in grabbing him and pushing him back into the basket.
What did I learn from this routine? First that my way of starting from a fluid start is working. So keep on practising it. And remember to keep up the emergency Touch recall. Also try to get him into more of a working mood beforehand. Before I had done a little work on the lead and had rewarded him. I had also -- from time to time -- stepped backwards and called Touch -- which helped later in the routine.
Secondly to make sure that I do not forget the routine in the middle. Here both the actual routine and the music can both help. But go over the routine more carefully beforehand.
But it was the fifth routine in a row which Rooskie had worked off the lead!
The actual Event. A huge entry -- over 160. The Banbury Suite was used to relieve the pressure. I got far too stressed beforehand. It is to be hoped I do not get into a state like that again.
In railway booking office. I tried a short bit on lead using food. Then taking off the lead and just using the short lead trailing. And he still tended to run off the first time.
Then I went back to the before-routine on-lead practice. And I made more of it. I used food and also more voice. De-de-de and also Good Dog and Clev--er. And also Touch. When I rewarded Touch he tended to run off again after getting reward. So try random. Sometimes rewarding Touch and sometimes getting him back and continuing to work him.
Then I took off the lead and sent him round behind me into the Heel position. And this time it worked much better. He still tended to run off but he came back when I called him. And there would be more distractions in the railway booking office.
Another time the railway booking office was busy. I knew it would be hopeless doing a normal training session. So I kept the normal lead on.
I found a quiet part and gave the Paws command and then lured him into the Heel position -- whereupon he promptly ran off. I went after him and caught the lead and took him back and started again. Eventually I discovered how to keep my fingers at his nose while luring him into the Heel position. From then on it was simply a case of keeping his attention.
Note. Keep Contact with him. Keep fingers at his nose when luring him into Heel position and keep contact with him afterwards.
Summary
Sleuth-Hounds released at last. I ordered 150 copies to be going on with. Rooskie had to withdraw from an Event because of a bad attack of gastric enteritis but was going well in training. Had a week at Southerness.
I finally accepted the file. There were still a few mistakes but I decided to leave them. For example I noticed that I had forgotten to justify the blurb on the back cover but I just left it. I ordered 150 copies from Antony Rowe and they came very quickly. Now there was plenty for me to do -- see about legal deposit etc. But I decided to take my time about it and just work through it steadily.
I was going down town and I took three sample copies with me. I thought I would go into the shops and see whether they were interested. I went into the main bookshop in the town and the manageress said she would take three. So that was all my samples gone. She also said that it was expensive for a children's book and I tried to explain that it was not really for children. She asked me if I was going to contact the local press and I said that I was. I later wrote to her enclosing an invoice and explaining that she had taken me by surprise and that I had to go down to Southerness and the press release would have to wait until I got back.
I later phoned the cover artist and told her that the manageress had taken one look at the cover and had promptly decided that it was a children's book. She was quite upset about it but I tried to explain that the book trade have a certain way of looking at covers.
The cover artist later collected twenty copies for members of her family.
Promotion
I went down to Southerness and worked on the press release. I also worked on updating the Sleuth-Hounds pages on my web site. In particular I did not want to send the press release out until I have updated the page on Ordering.
I also decided that I now wanted a fuller description for Nielsen's data. I e-mailed them and I was told what to do.
When I came back from Southerness there was a phone call on my answering service saying that they had sold the three books and they would like another three.
I sent off my press release to the two local papers but they did not publish it. Waiting for room? Or waiting for me to send the actual book?
Then I posted the legal deposit copies. One direct to the British Library and also one direct to the National Library of Scotland. And five copies to the agent for the legal deposit libraries.
I also contacted the Ewart Library and was told that they would take copies but I am still waiting for a definite order.
Then I shall have to contact Amazon about See Inside. Also the long description to Nielsens. There is a lot to be done but I shall just take things one at a time.
America
Antony Rowe have an agreement with the Bridgeport National Bindery in Massachusetts. Antony Rowe send the files over to the BNB who print out the books and send them to American addresses. So no cross Atlantic postage. But the way it works. The orders are sent to me first and I pass them on to Antony Rowe who then sends them to the BNB.
I gave Antony Rowe three American orders. I thought they would all be delivered at once but not so. I had ordered one for a friend in New York State and it was delivered quickly. But I heard nothing from my other two friends. Then my friend in Illinois said she had received two packages from the BNB.
She is a librarian and HNS editor and she is going to pass one copy on to another reviewer and give me a review on the online reviews page of the Historical Novel Society website. Her first impressions were that the book was well produced. She liked the cover and said it was colourful. Seeing the references to Robert Burns she said that was something to which Americans could relate. She also liked the logo of Rooskie doing the play bow -- which she recognised from the photograph on my web site.
Future Planning. Sequel to Sleuth-Hounds.
I am now planning the sequel. But right now it is mainly a case of just thinking. When planning Sleuth-Hounds I also drafted a sequel. That will do for part of it. But I now need more. I am going to bring in John Paul Jones and the Whitehaven raid and I have ordered from Amazon the latest biography.
Future Planning. The Rooskie Press.
I have also been making plans for the Rooskie Press. It suddenly occurred to me that Antony Rowe could scan and set up for Print on Demand old out-of-print, out-of-copyright books. And they could do this cheaply. I decided that I would try and rescue some valuable source material. This might enhance the status of the Rooskie Press.
I had a lucky break. I looked at my own pages on Amazon and saw that Marketplace had a used copy of Ghost Dog for sale. I clicked on it and saw that the workbook was missing. I contacted the seller and offered to send him a workbook. I found that he lived in Dumfries. Later he managed to get a first copy of a source book for me which I sent to to Antony Rowe. So production of the second book of the Rooskie Press is now underway.
Southerness
I managed to get a week down at the Southerness chalet. I had an alarm system fitted. Some disruption. Worked on my press release, on updating Sleuth-Hounds files on my web site and on converting reviews into Page-Mill for my web site. Rooskie working well on golf course. (See below).
Rooskie
I was all set to go down to Brentwood for the February HTM Event. But just before it Rooske took a very bad attack of gastric enteritis and I had to withdraw. But the main thing is that Rooskie made a good recovery.
When I was at Southerness I worked Rooskie on the golf course and he did very well. I did not work him for long. Just one or perhaps two routines. But as long as they were good -- that was the main thing.
I made a point of always starting the same way -- so that he would recognise the start of a routine. The Paws command when he would stand on his hind legs resting against my knees and I would pet him. Then I would gently lower him to the ground, hold his collar and turn him and gently push him back. And he would back through my legs and come round to the Heel position. Then we would be off. (He tended to go off going through my legs so I sent him round into the Heel position and it worked. I learned to keep my fingersd at his nose all the time he was going round behind me.)
I would try it on the lead first and then reward him and then I would try it off lead. Note. I would reward him only at the end of a routine.
I bridged and targetted -- de-de-de and also Clev-er and also an excited Good Dog.
Rooskie went very well paying full attention the whole time.
I suppose Lynn might say I was now doing what she had advocated from the very start. She had suggested some exercises to get him to realise that he was now starting to work. Now I seem to be getting that. In two ways. Firstly with the work on the lead and being rewarded afterwards. Secondly -- and more important -- in having a distinctive Start. The Paws command. Rooskie on his hind legs resting against my knees and then backing through my legs. Or going round to Heel.
Back in Dumfries at the dog class Rooskie continued to work well.
One evening at Southerness I was coming back from the golf course. I was just passing the road end at the Leisure Centre -- the road which goes up through the caravans. It was dusk but I saw a big dog run past some way away -- followed by a man. A man came round the corner carrying a pekingnese. We both heard squeals and yelps and then the owner of the two Yorkies came round the corner. One of his dogs was trotting behind him but he was carrying the other. It had been attacked by the big dog.
I later phoned up someone else in Southerness and asked about the dog. (I did not want to contact the owner). I was told it had been ripped open from the throat to the stomach. It had a double row of stitches. It had an operation and was to get another two. The owner was devastated and his wife's nerves were shattered.
To make matters worse the dog had attacked other dogs before so the owner knew it had an aggression problem. In that case it should have been muzzled. Even worse the owner lets his ten-year-old son take it out.
And the tweo Yorkies could not be better behaved. In the summer the owner used to play a few holes of golf. He had a large electric buggy. I used to see his buggy coming up the fairway with the Yorkies running behind.
It gave me quite a shake -- especially as I knew both the Yorkie and the owner. Also what would have happened if the big dog had gone for Rooskie? As Rooskie was on the lead I could have got bitten too.
This year at Southerness Rooskie is going to be on the lead much more often. And -- thinking of bird flu -- I shall NOT be going down on the beach. We shall just walk around Southerness and enjoy the fresh sea air and keep safe.
Summary
Largely taken up with trying to get Sleuth-Hounds launched. A quiet month for Rooskie. Weather -- a very bad snowstorm at the end of the month. Also first rescue attempt for the Rooskie Press.
I sent off the copies for legal deposit. The obligatary one for the British Museum Library. Then one optional one for the National Library of Scotland. Then another five to the Legal Deposit agency.
The Dumfries Standard.
I eventually made contact with the reporter who deals with cultural matters and she inserted an article about the Rooskie Press -- from material which I had given her. The article was called Going it Alone and it described what it is like now I have my own imprint and am now doing everything myself. At the top was the photo John Donnelly took of me with Rooskie when he was only nine months old. The one of the pair of us in the centre of Dumfries.
The Schools Circular.
I eventually made contact with the group manager who deals with the schools circular. She agreed to put something in it for me and she asked to see the book. She said she would return it but I told her she could keep it and I left a copy for her at Reception at the Education Offices. She sent me a very nice e-mail saying she thought the book would be of interest to Dumfries school children and sayinbg she appreciated me letting her keep the book and she could now look at it properly. She said the note would be going in the first copy of the circular to go out to the schools after the Easter vacation.
Teleordering
I recieved my first teleorder. From Nielsens Book Data to be sent to Gardners (the big book distributor). I was puzzled because there was no mention of commission or discounts. I managed to phone Alex (my creative writing tutor) and he said that he always gave Gardners a discount otherwise ther shop mifght not order again. I phoned up Gardners and was told that it was up to me -- the publisher -- to decide whether or not to give a discount. When pressed they said the usual discount was 30%. I was puzzled by this because before when trying to sell Ghost Dog I had always been told by the shops what the discount had to be.
I eventually e-mailed Gardners and the situation was explained to me. They leave it to the publisher to decide whether or not to give a discount but, if the publisher does give a discount then Gardners can pass it on to their customers.
I eventually gave Gardners a 35% discount and I charged them slightly less than the actual cost for postage. I also told the Society of Authors and they were surprised at Gardners attitude.
Marketing
The Ewart Library took six. And Ottakers took nine -- in batches of three. Willows Gift Shop took four -- and six Ghost Dogs. The owner knows that Ghost Dog sells but she is going to wait and see about Sleuth-Hounds.
Unfortunately I was not able to get down to the Craft Guild shop in Castle Douglas and this means that I have missed Easter but I shall get down there soon.
I also left nine at the gift shop in Gracefield Arts studios. And they sold one almost at once because I got the form to sign. This was very good because Gracefield has sold copies of Ghost Dog in the past -- but not very many.
A Problem.
Unfortunately there seemed to be a problem with the Museum. I was told that some copies had been ordered but I did not receive the order. And even if the Museum used their usual supplier then the order should still have come to me.
Centralisation
Before, with the big chains, the manager was always allowed to decide to take a few local books. Now in many cases that policy has changed and everything has to be decided by central office.
I noticed that Sleuth-Hounds is on the web site of WH Smith. It can be ordered from their web site and delivered free of charge to the local branch of Smiths. I went in to see if they would be interested in a few copies and was told that they are not allowed to order local books now. I was given the phone number of central office but I decided not to bother as Ottakers are being so very supportive.
Similarly with Tescos and Morrisons. Again it must go through central office. I saw the depuy manager of Morrisons and said theat when they were Sainbury's they coiuld have taken it but now the manager would have to get authorisation from Morrisons. Again I decided not to bother but I migh5 after all because Ottakers and Morrisons are not in competition -- unlike WH Smiths.
Comments
I sent off most of my copies to friends. I was particularly interested in the comments I got from Alex (my creative writing tutor) and Latte (my designer). Alex said trhat the photographs had come out well and Latte commented on the layout of the internal pages. I was really pleased about that as that is his department.
Since it is so easy for Antony Rowe to set a book up electronically I decided I would try to rescue a few out-of-print, out-of-copyright books. I managed to get a copy of The History of the Burgh of Dumfries by William McDowall -- first published in 1867. I decided to bring out a facsimile of it. Antony Rowe scanned it for me and set it up for me electronically for just over £300. And made a splendid job of it. It is hardcover and nearly 1,000 pages long and the print cost is about £20. But I shall just order a few and then just enough to fulfil orders.
I am hoping this will enhance the standing of the Rooskie Press.
I recieved my sample copy quite quickly. But I have given the official publication date as 1st August and that is just as well as I am too busy just now to get it launched.
A quiet month for Rooskie as I was so busy trying to get Sleuth-Hounds launched. But we did have the odd mini session in the Bank. And we still managed to attend the dog classes.
One interesting thing. I found that if I put Rooskie in a Sit Stay and walked round him and then continued and walked away he stayed better than if I just walked straight away from him.
A very heavy snow fall at the end of the month. Schools closed all over Dumfries and Galloway. But the snow did not lie and it was all away in a few days.
We had not had snow for years and I cannot remember if Rooskie had ever seen snow before. When it was actually falling he stood at the door and looked out cautiously but refused to go out. Next morning he rushed out without thinking -- and was up to his neck in snow. I cleared a bit at the back door and then he was prepared to venture over the threshold. Then he discovered a clear patch alongside the garage and he would run along it.
Then the snow started to melt and Rooskie finally ventured onto the lawn. It was too deep for him to walk but he was able to bound across it.
Summary
At hte beginning of the month I had a very bad cold and as, soon as I was able, I went down to the Southerness chalet to convalesce. I managed to do some work there. Another quiet month for Rooskie but he did do somew work on the golf course.
I had three weeks at Southerness (see below) and I managed to do a little work on marketing. I tried the shop on the big caravan site but I was told that everything now had to go through head office. But when I learned that Michael was now in charge of six shops I left him an inspection copy. He said that his other shops were not local and that one was in Invernesshire and I pointed out that part of Sleuth-Hounds deals with the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. I shall probably hear no more about my inspection copy.
But the craft shop in Southerness is completely independent. The son of the owner of the smaller caravan site married a girl from the Phillipines and he set up an Island Crafts shop in Southerness. It sells shell craft, carved wooden ornaments, carved coconuts, died frond fans, lanterns, sarongs etc. (I got some props for Rooskie's Hilo March/On a Coconut Island routines. See below).
Anyway I phoned the sister of the owner and arranged to leave some books in the craft shop. I took down six Sleuth-Hounds and four Ghost Dogs. In addition to the woman who was serving there were three little girls -- who knew Ghost Dog. The woman was very impressed with Sleuth-Hounds and settled down to have a read.
I had some good news about the Dumfries Museum. I phoned the Museum and was told that that they had ordered 10 copies, but there had been an oversight and the order had not been sent out. I arranged to deliver ten copies when I returned from Southerness.
Review
I had an e-mail from Sara at the Standard. She had given Sleuth-Hounds to a thirteen-year-old girl who had written a review. The girl loved it.
At the very beginning of the month I had a very bad cold. A coughing cold not a runny nose cold. It also affected my stomach. As soon as I was able I went down to Southerness to convalesce. Very slowly and gradually I began to feel better. But I continued to feel listless and lethargic for some time. I think it must have been some kind of virus but I did begin to recover as soon as I went down to Southerness. And continued to improve although slowly.
But at least I was better than my next door neighbour. He came down for an afternoon to see how the garden was getting on asnd he sais that he had had flu and had been in hospital. At least I had not been as bad as that.
At Southerness I managed to get some work done on the computer. (See below). Apart from that I took things easy. I tried to keep mobile and active -- but not too active. But Rooskie's walks took care of that.
Although taking things easy I still managed to get some work done. I worked on this diary. I also updated my Rooskie Training notes. Also Rooskie Routines.
I also decided to put the whole of the first three chapters of Sleuth-Hounds on my web site. And I prepared the file at Southerness as it is easier to do on the Southerness computer than the one at home in Dumfries.
Also some HNS work and updating of my own bibliography. I reviewed three extra books and I got on with the letters to the publishers about the HNS Review supplement.
Also publicity for Canine Freestyle GB at Brentwood in May.
The first part of the month was a quiet one for Rooskie as I did not have enough energy to train him properly. But we did have a few sessions on the golf course.
But there were rabbits about. And also plenty of dog-walkers as it was Easter. So I knew that I had to be careful.
So I chose places where I had a clear view of anyone coming -- so that people could not creep up on me unexpectedly. And I used two leads.
Then when I began to feel better we did some serious training on the golf course. And I also thought about the actual routines and worked on them and revised them. On golf course I tried to work out which exercises he could do in a strange place and under pressure.
Two Leads
I clipped on one lead and left it trailing. Then I clipped on the main lead and held it normally. And this worked because when I took off the main lead he ran off a couple of times -- showing that the main thing I still have to work on is his reaction to the taking-off of the main lead. But I can still have the secondary lead for security.
Distinctive Start -- Backing through my legs.
But I worked on this. I found that the best thing was to concentrate on him backing through my legs. I would give the Paws command and get him on his hind legs and unclip the main lead. When I did this I would often lose his attention. So I kept hold of the secondary lead and used my hand to get his attention again and got him to back through my legs. Then he would come naturally into the Heel position and I would start some Heelwork bridging all the time. Dee--dee--dee. (See Training Notes).
This worked quite well and I felt that I was making progress.
Off lead completely
The second trailing lead was useful but I still had to get him used to being off the lead completely. I would try a short routine using food and follow this directly with one NOT using food.
Also try doing informal Heelwork with food in hand when Rooskie running free
I also tried something else which worked quite well. When Rooskie running free on practice ground on golf course -- with lead trailing -- I would sometimes call him and when he came I would hold food in hand and do ordinary Heelwork. This was useful. I would also try it and then follow it with a short formal session -- starting with Paws command and backing through legs -- WITHOUT food.
At a pinch this informal Heelwork can also be practised on the lead.
This can be practised on fenced-in drive at home
This can also be practised on the fenced in part of the drive at home. When he is in another part of the garden call him and get him into informal Heelwork. Vary it with food in hand and no food in hand. Vary the feeding from pocket, from windowsill, from kitchen.
Also vary informal Heelwork with formal start when taking off lead. This is important.
Play Safe for the Start. Leg weaving -- Backing through legs.
AI also learned to aim for a safe start. If leg weaving then weaving with him backing through legs is safer than ordinary weaving. And the extended backwards leg weave is safer than an ordinary extended leg weave.
No. No. No. He needs a Heelwork Start
Then I learnt something important. I found out on the golf course that a figure-of-eight or an extended leg weaving start tended to confuse him and he would run off. Remember John suggested that going on the sniff might be a form of displacement activity.
Rooskie definitely needs a Heelwork Start. Begin with Backing through my legs and then into Heelwork. Then lead him up to bucket, basket whatever and go right up to it and give command and hand signal A-round. Bend down and make hand signal very clear.Then when he goes round it give command Heel and he goes round behind me and into the Heel position and does the figure-of-eight quite confidently.
Leave basket, lighthouse in middle of ring and lead him back to it from time to time. Do extended weave in similar way. Go right up to basket and give hand signal and command A-round and start him off that way and then into extended weave.
Important. For figure of eight. Go right up to basket and bend down low and try to keep fingers at his nose as he goes right round it. Do this to start him off. Can straighten up later.
Similarly heelwork and lead him back to basket and get him to do the pose standing on hind legs and with paws on basket.
Alternative Start. For Basket Routines. Can be Effective
Get him to put Paws on Basket and hold pose. Go de-de-de. Makes a very effective start. The give the Heel command and get him into figures of eight.
Backing through legs a reasonably safe start
Start with backing through legs. Then either into Heelwork Start or a backwards weave.
Always do warm up with food before Start
Never, never start cold. Always do short warm up using food before Start.
Reasonably Safe Moves
Paws on basket. Weaving -- as long as it is backwards weaving. Round to Heel. Circles.
Make sure that training sessions mirror what is going to be done in the ring. I had been practising starts on golf course but without the figure-of-eight props. The basket would have been too heavy to take to the golf but I got a child's seaside bucket which went into my backpack. Another advantage of using tyhe bucket was that I had to do it off the lead as the lead would catch on the bucket.
I tried using the figure-of-eight start which I had used in the house. And it did not work. He would take time getting into it and then he would run off.
I struggled and then I discovered that the Heelwork Start (see above) worked. Start him off doing Heelwork and then lead him up to basket/bucket and then get him to do figure-of-eights.
Can use actual basket and lighthouse at dog class.
A very useful evening's work.
Collar decoration.
In the shop on the caravan site at Southerness I managed to buy a couple of key rings with soft dice hanging from them. If clipped to Rooskie's collar they look like a decoration and can be used to keep hold of him until I have his full attention and he is backing through my legs.
Routines
I also did some planning of routines. And I later revised them in view of the Heelwork Start. (See above).
I have revised Trick or Treat. I am going to start with backing through my legs and then into Heelwork and then lead him to basket and then into figure-of-eights round me and round the basket. Then more Heelwork and back to basket for pose -- Rooskie standing on his hind legs with his front paws on the pumpkin/basket. Then move on to heelwork round the ring interspersed with spins, bows and highs. Also get Rooskie to circle me while jumping over the wand. End the routine by doing an extended weave through my legs and round the basket. Finish with Rooskie jumping into the basket.
Variation on a theme. I can also use something similar for Hilo March/On a Coconut Island. In this case basket has carved coconuts hanging from it. And he does not jump into the basket. Instead he ends with the pose standing on his hind legs with his front paws on the basket. In these routines use frond fan for him to jump over.
Revised Northern Lights of Aberdeen. I also revised my Northern Lights of Aberdeen routine completely. Briefly. First chorus I do big circle with Rooskie in Heelwork position around lighthouse. Then I lead him right up to lighthouse and get him into figure-of-eights. Verse heelwork incorporating spins etc. Second chorus. Separate leg weaves with me moving away. Second verse. More heelwork. Third and last chorus. Extended leg weaving including lighthouse. Finish with circles round me and a series of spins.
On a Coconut Island. A completely different Freestyle routine using the music.
See Rooskie Routines.
Lots of rabbits about -- both on the golf course and around the chalet. When my next door neighbour came down to see to the garden he found a rabbit had made great big holes on his lawn.
On the other side of my next door neighbour's chalet is Ted's old one which he sold last year. It is almost derelict and the new owner hass got planning permission. I was told he was thinking of a mobile home but we shall see.
But he cannot do anything just now because there are natterjack toads in the area and they are a protected species. They are due to come out of hibernation soon. He has put a little plastic fence round the chalet and set traps. If he catches any they will be released. If there are none then he will be free to go ahead and develope the site.
Scotland's first case of bird flu. A dead swan was found at Cellardyke in Fife. It was badly decomposed when it was found and it was later established that it was a Hooper swan -- and they migrate. It was thought it was from Germany or the Baltic.
The first fortnight in April was absolutely freezing. Then the temperature crept up to the low fifties. The daffodils were out. And the gorse on the golf course in all its golden glory. But there were no leaves on the trees.
Then towards the end of the month Spring came at last. Much milder with temperatures in the mid fifties. Sunny days but still some showers -- often at night. Then the occasional wet and windy day.
At last the leaves started to appear on the trees.
And golden Southerness. In the gardens of the chalets the forsythia was a mass of yellow. On the roadside going into Southerness there was the gold and silver of the daffodils and lilies and on the golf course itself the gorse bushes were out in all their golden glory.
Summary
A Rooskie month. He had a big HTM Event at Brentwood in the middle of the month and when I came back I had to get ready for the Event in Fife at the beginning of June. Continued the marketing of Solway Sleuth-Hounds. When I came back from Brentwood I found a number of requests for Sleuth-Hounds the schools. Also another tele-order.
A quieter month for Sleuth-Hounds. But I continued with the marketing. When I came back from Brentwood I found a number of requests from the schools. Despite the fact that it was made clear that it was for the 12+ age group most of the orders were from primary schools. One primary school even ordered 6 copies. Altogether the schools ordered about 20.There were only three from secondary schools.
I finally took 9 copies down to the Craft Guild shop in Castle Douglas.
I got another tele-order -- this time for four books for Gardners. This was quite exciting as tele-orders are very different from selling locally.
I also drafted letters regarding a review copy for the Scots Magazine and an inspection copy for the Tourist Board.
Rooskie had an big two-day HTM Event at the All About Dogs Show at Brentwood Essex in the middle of the month. I travelled down in two stages. The first day I took the scenic railway over the North York Moors Carlisle--Appleby--Settle--Leeds. Then we stayed the night in the Ibis Hotel Leeds where Rooskie has many friends on the staff. The next day we travelled from Leeds to Peterborough and then Peterborough direct to Shenfield as I was determined to avoid London. No problems on the outward journey but the return journey was a different matter. (See below).
The show was very pleasant. It was a fine spring day. I was entered in Starters Heelwork to Music which was not until the afternoon. I reported and handed in my music to the Music desk and then I wandered round the show. I met many people I knew. I showed another Papillon owner how I taught Rooskie to verse.
I walked round the show on both the Saturday and Sunday -- and Rooskie enjoyed the walks -- something which he does not usually get at HTM Events.
Travel box. I took Rooskie's plastic travel box strapped to my four wheeled shopping trolley. I intended to use it when I was writing the show reports. But it had an accident on the journey and the holders for the gate broke and it would not close properly. I bought a fabric one at one of the stalls but later the stitching at the mesh door started to go -- and Rooskie did not like it anyway so I exchanged it for another plastic one. And it had another accident on the way home!
But once home I was able to buy a really good one from my own vet.
To get back to Brentwood I was luckier with the lead. I bought a new style of lead -- strong, stranded, plaited nylon. Very comfortable and very comfortable indeed. As I had not seen one like it in Dumfries I bought 3. The owner of the stall said he lived in Buckie but once the show season started he went south and travelled all round the shows.
Rooskie had two goes at the scurry. This was a lane with secure metal fencing. At intervals along the lane were big straw bales. I left Rooskie at the top with someone holding him and walked to the far end and then I called him. I wish I had had my camera for the scurry. When I stood at the end ready to call him all I could see was the tops of his ears. And to see him scrambling over the straw bales!
And now for Rooskie in the ring. The Heelwork to Music was held in a large marquee. We were performing to Hilo March paired with On a Coconut Island. I was carrying a maracas and wearing a Haiwaian shirt. I also had Rooskie's gypsy basket with carved coconuts hanging from it. I had been working on a new method of getting him started. (See Training Notes). IOutside the ring I walked backwards with him walking towards me and rewarded him then when I had finished the titbits I continued into the ring.
My new method of getting him into the ring worked and he followed me into the ring all right. Then he ran off at once. I called him and he came right back to me. We started off heelwork round the ring and he stayed with me very wide and then ran off again but came back the minute I called him. Then all of a sudden he started to work. (I think it was when he jumped over the maracas). From then on he worked beautifully. His heelwork was good and he even did his figures-of-eight round me and then a circle in the free position. And Canine Freestyle allows up to 4 minutes for a routine so I had time to get into my stride. I was just starting on serpentines when the music came to an end. But I still made him do his Paws on Basket pose.
I was disappointed with his marks but remember I had no start to the routine at all. And he did take time to settle. And although good his heelwork was very basic and I missed out some of his good freestyle moves. We got 16.1. 5 for artistic impression. 6.1 for technical merit and 5.5 for overall impression.
It is the old story. Just getting started. Once he settled he would have gone on for long enough.
One experienced handler told me I did very well. She is chief instructor at a big club in the south of England. She does agility with her collies. She has one papillon who does agility and heelwork to music. Another said that Rooskie enjoyed jumping over the maracas. A third e-mailed me. She said, "Wasn't Rooskie so good in the ring, and he seemed very relaxed around the show too. Great stuff Mary you have worked magic on him."
After my round I had to write the class reports for Novice Heelwork to Music and Advanced Heelwork to Music.
Wev were also doing a routine on the Sunday, the Fun Day. I was just using the same music again but this time Rooskie had to be kept on the lead as food was allowed in the ring and handlers had been dropping it on the ground. I started off with Rooskie doing his Paws on the Basket pose. I got him to tap the maracas and then I dropped the lead -- and he was off on the sniff. I picked up the lead and led him around the ring. Then I felt that this would not really mean very much to the spectators so I got him to verse through my legs and dropped the lead and got him to do his figures-- of--eight. And I discovered that there were quite a few freestyle moves he could do while still on the lead. And he was all right with lead dropped if working close to me. So I had finally discovered how to work him during a Fun Day. And the spectators gave me a clap anyway.
I had not realised but I had also class reports to write on the Sunday too. But I did them BEFORE Rooskie's routine.
Class reports on Rooskie
When the CFGB Newsletter came out later there were two reports on Rooskie. The one on the KC round said,
Lots of nice maintained heelwork with some great moves for the vertically challenged dog! Was lovely to see this pair in the ring with such a major improvement, very impressed. (I'd have given up ages ago!) Well done.
And the Fun Day report
Rooskie was rather distracted by all the lovely food smells on the ground today, but the moves he did were clear and he had no intentions of leaving the ring.
General Impression
The Kennel Club regulations day was Crufts qualifying for the two advanced classes. I would have expected that to be the main attraction. Certainly the spectator area was packed. But I got the impression that the Fun Day was better received. The spectators seemed more excited and towards the end of the afternoon routines were received not only with enthusiastic clapping but also with loud CHEERS.
I had a rather adventurous journey home.
There was a very strange incident at Leeds.
There were not many people in the taxi queue and so I did not have time to put Rooskie in the gypsy basket. An Asian taxi driver shouted furiously "I am not taking the dog." The venom in his voice had to be heard to be believed.
So what's new? In this case quite a lot. Normally I would not have bothered,stepped back and waited for another more sensible driver. But then he looked at another Asian driver and repeated violently that he was not taking the dog. Then the two drivers started screaming at each other in another language -- probably Guterajati. They stood there hurling abuse at each other. Rooskie had found a champion. But I wish I had known what it was really all about. Anyway the first driver drove off and a man went up to the second driver who said, "I have to take this lady here." He then took me, my luggage and Rooskie. He did all he could to make up for the behaviour of the first driver. Then we got to the Ibis Hotel and Rooskie was patted by his friends on the staff.
This incident has made me decide not to basket Rooskie in the Leeds taxi rank in future but just take my chance. The first driver was so vehement that I would hate to have been in his taxi if he had suddenly discovered Rooskie. For example if Rooskie had suddenly decided to shake himself vigorously. And the vast majority of Asian taxi drivers do not object to dogs but the small majority who do, really object. I shall also see that I have the telephone number of Amber Cabs so that if I am stuck I can phone them -- and they are all right.
Tuesday. The English Experience. I had come via the Carlisle-Appleby-Settle-Leeds line. But going back there was engineering work on the line and I had planned to go back via Preston or Lancaster. (I had checked on the internet). But I made the fatal mistake of checking with the man in the information kiosk and he sent me to the Long Preston train. (I would probably have questioned this but the train was just about to leave). Anyway I got to Long Preston (which has nothing to do with Preston) to find that it was a bus from there to Carlisle -- the one thing I had meant to avoid. The rail-replacement bus arrived "I can't take the dog. I am allergic to dogs." He informed me that he would get hay fever and have an accident. I panicked. Long Preston is in the middle of nowhere. I informed him he was leaving me stranded and in any case the man in the information kiosk had sent me this way. Eventually the driver relented as far as taking me to Settle where I could get the next bus.
At Settle I calmed down. There were people at the station. More important there was a station master who assured me he would get me to Carlisle. There was even a waiting room. Two hours later the next bus arrived. The driver. "I can't take the dog. Company policy." At this the station master began to show signs of concern. But there was another bus in half an hour and he would try to get me on it. It arrived and the driver agreed to take me.
I had the bus to myself as all the other passengers had gone on the earlier one. And with good reason. That bus called only at two stations whereas this one had to visit every single station and so was much slower. But the driver was very nice indeed. He said "So the other driver would not take you" and I said "Two." He shook his head and said "Sad people." He also questioned if they had the right to refuse to take me as the bus company was under contract to the railway company. His verdict on the other drivers was that they were just being "bloody minded."
Eventually we arrived in Carlisle. The driver seemed quietly horrified and mentioned it to one of the station staff who took charge of me and my luggage and saw me safely installed on the Dumfries train. I arrived home just after 10 o'clock on Tuesday evening. The journey from Leeds to Dumfries had taken just under 10 hours. And Rooskie had behaved beautifully the whole time.
I shall take more care in the future. Anything about engineering works and I shall travel via Newcastle. A learning experience.
So I was very glad indeed to arrive home. But I still wish I knew what the row between the two taxi drivers in Leeds was about. I am used to people refusing to accept Rooskie but it is the first time that anyone has intervened on his behalf.
Thinking things over later. When the first driver relented as far as to drive me from Long Preston to Settle -- I had been panicking and telling him he was leaving me stranded and it was not my responsibility as the information man at Leeds had told me to travel this route. He was probably beginning to think that there could be trouble if he left me stranded in the middle of nowhere.
And when the second driver refused to take me the station master was beginning to look concerned. If the third driver had also refused the station master would have had to get on his phone to higher authority. The rail company may even have had to get a taxi to take me to Carlisle and pay the fare.
It was the first day of the engineering works and the replacement buses and I am quite sure that they worked something out for the future as dogs often travel on the Settle line. Hikers use it frequently and they often have dogs with them.
The class reports
First I had to write up my class reports and e-mail them to the committee. I took some time over them as last time they were also in Dog World as well as in the CFGB newsletter. And then when I had finished them I was asked to write a press release.
The last night of the Loreburn Hall dog class. We did agility and I kept Rooskie on the lead.
But the APDT class continues throughout the summer. The first class I made a dreadful mistake.The instructor is working for the Gold Good Citizen. For the controlled off lead walk she made us do a retrieve and then when the dog came back heel it round the hall. I should not have tried that with Rooskie. He did the retrieve and got himself wildly excited and then ran all round the hall. But I should have known better than to combine retrieve and HW. But he did the gold Stays -- where we go out of sight for ten seconds.
The following Thursday I made another mistake. She placed food in the middle of the hall and we had to do a recall past it and the dog should ignore it. Even while I was still holding him Rooskie was trying to get to it. He made a bee line for it and then went on the sniff -- although he kept coming back to me and then going off again.
Very pleasant for the Brentwood Show. Ideal and not too warm. Then when I returned home it got much colder again with quite a lot of rain. More like the end of March than May.
Summary
Very much a Rooskie month with three HTM Events. The first was in Fife and it was the very first HTM Event in Scotland to be held under Kennel Club regulations. And Rooskie and I were the very first in the ring. Then there were two more in England. A quiet month for Solway Sleuth-Hounds.
A very quiet month for Sleuth-Hounds. I was so busy with Rooskie that the marketing had to be put on hold for the whole month.
The 4th June, 2006 and the first HTM Event in Scotland to be held under Kennel Club regulations. And Rooskie and I were first into the ring.
I left on the Saturday and got the train to Carlisle and then another train to Edinburgh. But I discovered I did not need to change. Instead I could stay on. I was lucky. I was speaking to a girl from Glenrothes and she told me what to do. I stayed on to Markinch. There -- horror of horrors -- there was no ramp, only a fairly steep flight of steps. But the girl was met by her sister and they helped me get my luggage to the top. Then they showed me the taxi office and I wheeled my trolley to it.
I questioned the taxi driver because I was worried about getting back but he told me Kirkcaldy station was big and that there were ramps and so I decided that on the way home I would take a taxi to Kirkcaldy station. (With my four wheeled trolley there is no problem on the level but steps constitute a problem).
Glenrothes Travelodge. In a business park so plenty of room for dog walking. A no-food Travelodge but there was a petrol station opposite which sold sandwiches etc. I got a lift to the Event the next morning.
The actual Event. I was down for judging but I said I was not happy about it and other judges were found. So that was a weight off my mind. In future I think I had better stick to doing the class reports for CFGB.
I was doing my Halloween routine because the Scottish people had not seen it before – but someone told me she had seen me on video.
At first I was doubtful because the hall was very small. But everything worked out all right.
I was first into the ring. I was in Starters Freestyle and I was doing my Halloween routine to Trick or Treat.I was planning on a moving start, not a start from a pose.The Start did not go as planned because Rooskie did not reverse through my legs but I got him into a circle instead. He went and had a look at the spectators but I got him back to me and then suddenly he settled and I knew he was with me. I said Ready, Ready to the judges and DJ and nothing happened and then suddenly there was music. Rooskie stayed with me the whole time and did everything I asked him to. I forgot some of his best exercises – like versing through my legs – but we still had a good depth and variety of exercises. Spins, circles and Highs. And he did his figures-of-eights round me and in the free position in front. I also included a little Heelwork to make good use of the ring space. He did his pose standing on his hind legs with his front paws on the pumpkin basket. And at the end he did an extended leg weave between my legs and round the basket. He finished jumping into the basket.
We got a good clap from the spectators. I went and took off my cloak and pointed hat and stowed away the pumpkin cover and then made my way – with Rooskie – to the second spectator row. Rooskie’s instructor – was just in front and she said Brilliant. The only thing – she said he was looking around when circling round me but I was not to worry about it. Also a very experienced handler said he did well too.
The spectator area. When I first saw the size of the hall I was filled with trepidation. There were only two spectator rows and I was sure that dogs would not be allowed there. Then I saw that there were dogs in the second row. I found out how to get there and watched the rest of the routines with Rooskie lying at my feet.
Nearly every person in the second row had a dog with them and every single dog was very well behaved.
Lunch and filled rolls – freshly made up. I had soup and a salad roll and I got a cheese roll to take home for the evening.
There was a lovely park behind the hall but I did not find out about it later. There was some building work and scaffolding and I thought – mistakenly – that we were not meant to go into the park.
There was a meeting afterwards to discuss future plans.
I was delighted that his instructor was able to see Rooskie’s round.
Last month, at Brentwood, some photographs were taken of Rooskie in the ring in the marquee. I gave the photographer a blank CD and the photographs duly arrived. There were some of Ryton but they were very low resolution but the Brentwood ones were super.
There was a good one of Rooskie jumping over the maracas. And what made it especially interesting was that it showed the spectators behing. And they seemed very interested in Rooskie. They were leaning forwards and craning their necks -- and smiling at him. I never knew he was watched like this before.
Revisions to the Hawaian routine based on what I saw in the photograph
The photoghraph also let me see how I could revise and improve the routine. For example it let me see that I would need a hat. I went into the fancy drwess shop in Carlisle and bought a big Hawaian hat which was comfortable and felt secure. I also bought another hat to act as a prop and put on the floor.
I also decided to ditch the basket with the carved coconuts. Instead I would put two medium sized carved coconuts on the floor and -- hopefully Rooskie would weave between them.
And instead of doing his Paws -on-Basket pose (with him standing on his hind legs with his front paws on the basket) he can do a Paws-on-the-Hat Pose instead. He can stand with his front paws on the crown of the hat on the floor.
I was also in the Early Learning Centre, Carlisle and I bought a small sized hoop. I have also decided to incorporate a hula hoop into my Hawaian routine.
HTM Event held by Westglen Club under KC rules at the Three Counties Show at Malvern in June 2006.
This was held just a fortnight after Fife. So not much time to get ready. Also it was the weekend before Paws and Music at Ryton so there would not be enough time for me to go home between Events but I would have to stay down south.
I stayed at the Worcester Travelodge which was just opposite Worcester Cathedral. It was not too difficult getting to Worcester. Train to Birmingham and then train to Worcester. I went to Worcester Shrub Hill but I learned that I should have gone to Worcester Foregate.
I saw the Cathedral and later learned the way down to the river but Worcester seemed too big for me. Definitely the kind of place I shall have to learn to get used to.
The Travelodge was at the entrance to the shopping mall which led on to the pedestrianised area –– which was good for exercising Rooskie. Just before I left I discovered that the Travelodge is just round the corner from Sainsbury’s which will be useful for future reference. The first evening there was a fire alarm and we were all outside for about half an hour. When it was all over I asked one of the firemen and he said, “Just someone cooking in the kitchen.”
Next morning I got a taxi to the showground and got a shock when I found out the fare. The show itself was too busy and rather overwhelming.
The Event was in a marquee. There was a fenced off area ‘for officials and competitors only.’ There was a small exercise area (the Three Counties would not allow dogs to walk around the show). There was also a tent for dog crates where dogs could relax. This was a great help as it was dreadfully hot –– in the high 70s. Rooskie has a very heavy coat for a Papillon and he really feels the heat.
It was a very friendly show and the committee really went out of their way to make all the competitors feel welcome. They even had a supply of free coffee for us.
Starters Freestyle was not until the afternoon. I was allowed four minutes and I did Hilo March paired with On a Coconut Island. Rooskie was very obviously feeling the heat.
I had been having trouble letting the DJ know when I was ready and when to start the music. I posted a message on the message board and was told to put a notice on my CD for the DJ to tell him that I was not starting from a pose and just to lift my arm when I was ready for the music. This helped a great deal.
I had intended using two hats ––one to wear and the other to leave in the centre of the ring as a prop. The hats had not travelled well. The fringes of the bigger one were coming off and I was leaving a trail of straw everywhere.
I took Rooskie into the ring on the lead, gave the Paws command and then got him to back through my legs. He started quite easily and I raised my right arm and we were off. He stayed with me and did not run off but he was never really with me. He was also reluctant to work. When asked to tap the maracas he did so the first time but would not do it a second. Likewise when asked to jump over the maracas. He did his Paws on Hat pose but it did not work so well with the hat.
But considering the blistering heat and temperature in the high 70s I should have been glad that he stayed with me and worked the way he did.
His marks. Artistic Interpretation 6 Overall Impression 5.5 Technical Merit 4.75 making a total of 16.25 out of 30.
Later when going home a committee member phoned for a taxi for me and another committee member escorted me to the gate so that I would not get lost.
Sunday was the Fun Day and I was in the Lucky Dip so I spent much of the morning listening to my music on my personal CD and planning the routine. I had been given The Good Ship, Lollipop. It was much cooler on the Sunday and Rooskie was back to his usual perky self.
I took him into the ring and decided to work him on the lead. I let the lead trail and he was working very well and giving me his full attention so I decided to risk taking the lead off. And there was no difference. He stayed with me and gave me his full attention. Very real progress considering that there was food on the ground ––probably. The commentator asked the spectators to give me a round of applause since I had come all the way from Scotland.
Then the rest of the Fun Day. There was a did a terrific routine to Drink,Drink, Drink from The Student Prince. There was also really rousing music for the last routine. Then at the end the committee joined in and we were all invited into the ring and there was a climax where we all just did our own thing. Very effective indeed.
I was delighted to hear that next year the committee are planning to have the show in a hall in Worcester itself and in April.
This was the very next weekend after Malvern. I did not go home as there would not have been enough time. Instead I went to Coventry on the Monday and stayed in the Ibis South for the week. The food suited me quite well. I liked the breakfasts and I was able to get something light in the evening –– like mushroom soup.
It got much cooler. In fact there was quite a cold breeze. I had thought of going to see Stratford upon Avon but I decided that I had had quite enough of railway trains for a while so I just lazed about and read a lot. I took Rooskie to the big park 15 minutes walk away and exercised him there. After a time I let him run free with the lead trailing. I got quite a good feel about him.
Unfortunately the cool weather did not last until the weekend when it was very hot again. But this time it did not seem to affect Rooskie as much.
It was a very friendly Event and people were speaking to me who had not spoken to me before.
The Event was being held over two days –– Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was Novice, Intermediate and Advanced. I had a class on the Saturday as I am in Novice Dances with Dogs. I was glad of that because if Rooskie did well it would help him for the Sunday.
I did The Northern Lights of Aberdeen. Again I got him settled and raised my arm and the music started at once. Rooskie stayed with me and we finished the routine. Then I was surprised to find that I was the only one in the class and I was awarded the first rosette and a small plaque. I said , “Am I really first? Does this mean that I am in Intermediate?”
When I came out of the ring someone told me she liked my routine. And although many people said that they did my marks were not very good. But next time I shall be able to add something to it and I shall have my sash.
Marks Technical Merit 3.93 Artistic Impression 4.50 Total 8.43 out of 20
Then Sunday for Starters Freestyle. I was doing On a Coconut Island. Just by itself as PNM allow only two and a half minutes for Starters. I wore my Hawaian shirt and my other straw hat. I had re-instated the basket. This time I stuffed a fleece in it and put one medium sized coconut on top. I placed it right in front of the judges. I also stuck the maracas up in it so that I would have my hands free at the beginning.
Rooskie ran off at the very beginning but I called Touch and he came back to me at once and I got him settled and raised my arm and the music started. He stayed with me and did not run off again. At the end the ring steward told me that was the best she had seen him. And my marks were the best ever.
Technical Merit 6.93 Artistic Impression 6.43 making a Total of 13.37 out of 20
During the lunch break an experienced handler told me how much she thought he had improved. He was now doing things the first time I asked him and I was no longer shrieking at him. She also thought that Northern Lights would go well in Freestyle
Sunday afternoon the Fun Day. I did Apples, Peaches and Pumpkin Pie as it was almost exactly the right length. I used the basket with the pumpkin cover and I wore my witches hat and red cloak and carried a wand. The announcer remarked on my prop – which he later used to do his Paws on Basket pose.(The basket with the pumpkin cover). I worked him with the lead trailing. At the end the announcer said that I always managed to get good music.
So a good Event for Rooskie. And the heat did not affect him as much as some of the other dogs. Some were lying prostrate and a German shepherd had its tongue hanging out and flanks heaving.
So I shall have to watch the DVD and try to make sure that Rooskie keeps this standard up and does not slip back.
Summary
Trying to catch up after June being almost entirely devoted to Rooskie. A backlog of HNS work. Also I agreed to do an author profile and this took up time.
A difficult time for Sleuth-Hounds. Trying to get it into local shops. Also planning ahead to launch of History of Dumfries.
Ten days at Southerness. A heatwave. Temperature in the mid eighties but ninety seven degrees near London. Highest July temperatures since records began.
Took it easy in the chalet during the day and took Rooskie for a long walk on the golf course in the late evening. Practised Starts. He was going quite well. A good session in the Training Barn near the end of the month.
A difficult time for Sleuth-Hounds. Trying to get it into local shops. Sent out a number of inspection copies and then I followed this up with phone calls. The manageress of on one shop said it was an interesting book and then said she sold very few books. But she agreed to take four. Another shop manageress also said it was an interesting book but she struggled to sell anything to do with Burns. But she also agreed to take a few. Also another bookshop. A gift shop said they had put it on display and would let me know if there was any interest. But the manager of a gift shop in a museum seemed to think it was a children's book and would not take it. And the manager of a shop with a considerable local section said that people were more interested in non fiction. When I pointed out that there was a considerable reference section he said that that was unusual and that I would have done better to have cut out the fiction!!!.
Then the gift shops which took it. It is not selling. This is hardly surprising as they have got it more or less hidden.
Note. Aim for a wider readership. Investigate Amazon See Inside. Phone up Gardners because they have methods of helping publishers.
Sawney. On the credit side I began to get more ideas for the sequel. Solway Sleuth-Hounds. Sawney. Not quite ready to begin writing yet but soon will be.
History of Dumfries. I made a small correction to McDowall's History of Dumfries and sent it of to Antony Rowe. The sample came back with a page blank so I had to get that sorted out. But it was a good learning experience. It was only a minor change but it shows just how important samples are.
I managed to get a fortnight at Southerness in the middle of the month. There was a heatwave -- the highest July temperatures since records began. The temperature was actually in the mid-eighties. I eventually got out my fan but I should have done that earlier.
I read and reviewed some books for the HNS. I also read some books of the author I am to do the profile of for the HNS.
I took it easy in the chalet during the day and took Rooskie for a walk over the golf course at nine o'clock in the evening. I also did some training and practised Starts.
As I have already said we were down at Southerness for a fortnight. There was a heatwave with temperatures in the mid-eighties but I took it easy in the chalet during the day and took Rooskie out for a walk over the golf course at nine o'clock in the evening. We also did some training and practised Starts.
Training Notes
Important. Backing through my legs. I keep forgetting just how important this is.
Once he is settled in Heelwork make him back through my legs and then a little more HW and then back through my legs again. The command is Turn. The Backing through my legs helps to get him settled and to realise that he is actually doing a routine. For the Start it also helps to keep holding his collar until he is backing and then try to get fingers at his nose as start Heelwork.
When we got home from Southerness we had a good training session in the Training Barn at Glencaple.
Rooskie started well and then started running off. His instructor said to feed him very early on in the routine. Practically as soon as he had started HW. I fed from my pockets but did not have food in my hand. After a time that worked well.
For the rest of the routine Lynn made me feed him frequently -- from the pockets -- during the routine. And also to feed randomly. In other words to vary the time between feeding. This worked and he was much more attentive.
When I practised at home he maintained the good progress he had made at Glencaple. Then he started running off the first time.
Important Note. Go back to feeding him practically as soon as he has come round after backing through my legs.
Sendaway. Lynn pointed something out to me. I was practising The Northern Lights of Aberdeen. I was using a tartan sash and Rooskie was circling it. I dropped it on the floor and sent Rooskie to it. I was then going to walk around him but Lynn said that it would be better if I just stayed where I was and made that the ending. She said just how many people in HTM can do a Sendaway. I had not thought it anything special a Simone's class do it no bother for the Good Citizen. But now Lynn has told me that I can work it into different routines.
I also tried teaching Rooskie some new moves.
Sash. I got him to circle a tartan sash instead of a pole. Also to do figures-of-eights around me and around the sash and extended weaves. Also me walking backwards and Rooskie walking forwards. If I double up the sash and hold it between my hands he will go up on his hind legs and put his paws on it. I even got him to jump over it. I held it in my left hand and then stuck out my right arm and draped the sash over it -- and Rooskie jumped over it. Laterf I foyund a better and easier way was just to scrunch the sash up in my hand and hold my hand out in the usual way. Rooskie will then circle me in the usual way and jump over myn hand with the sash.
And of course the Sendaway.
Finally I walked trailing the sash and I got Rooskie to walk beside me doing a sequence of continous circles round the sash.
Other routines. A scarf can be used in a similar way for other routines. Also the Sendaway. See below.
Other moves.
I got Rooskie to jump over the tartan sash. See above. I also got him to jump over my foot. I bent one knee and stretched the other leg out in front of me with the toe pointing up in the air. I got Rooskie to circle me and jump over it but I felt very insecure. So I soon abandoned that. I also got Rooskie to do roll-overs but he will need a lot more practise.
I got broadband for the Dumfries computer but I am still on Dial-up for the Southerness computer. Broadband meant that I could Search Amazon.com quicker and could listen to all the music clips. I found a lot of good tunes for new routines. I ordered a number. Here are some of the planned routines.
It's a Small World after All. I am doing this at Stoneleigh for HTM. Played fairly fast by Myron Floren. It is two and a half minutes but I have ordered another arrangement by Myron Floren and Lawrence Whelk. If I need to make it longer then I can put them both together.
I got some lovely material with a butterfly pattern from Mrs Sherrif and I am going to make a scarf which I shall fasten round my sun hat. (Later I shall take it off and use it). I also hope to make a slip-over with the butterfly material. For props I have a small globe which I shall place on a stand just before the judges. In ther middle of the ring I place a large United Nations flag -- for the Sendaway at the Finish.
I start with ordinary HW including a lot of backing through my legs. I am going to use Freestyle only to keep his attention and keep him from getting bored. I do circles and serpentines round the globe. In the middle of the routine I take off the scarf and walk with it trailing while Rooskie does continuous circles around it. The more HW and finish with a Sendaway to the flag.
This could also go into Dressage for PNM.
It could also go into Freestyle.
Telstar and Fly me to the Moon. This is a variation. I got a good arrangement of Telstar from Amazon.com. For props I have a small star globe. For the finish I shall make a mat with a black fleece backing and some of Mrs Sherrif's lovely blck star patterned material. I shall also make a scarf out of said material and perhaps a slip-over and I might even cover a hat.
I have ordered other space CDs. I could also cover Rooskie's travelling box with lining material and have yellow windows on it and make it into a space ship.
The Sun has Got his Hat On together with Zippity Do Dah. This is another variation. Again on Amazon.com I found a really good arrangement of The Sun has got his Hat On. Again I wear my sun hat with butterfly scarf. For the finish I make a mat with a blue backgrund with a big sun sewn onto it.
Note. Rooskie has always jumped over a hat if I hold it out.
Prospector's Polka. A really good tune. For props I could use the Tunnel with black lining material over it and a notice sayin GOLD MINE. Also a box with cardboard wheels to act as a barrel. And I could wear a cowboy hat.
That's how the Yodel was Born. A really super tune. A cowboy routine but I am not sure what I am going to do with it yet.
Teddy Bears' Picnic. A new look to an old routine. I have my balaclava with the teddy bear ears sewn on. And I wear a black pullover. It is a Scottish teddy bear so it can wear a tartan scarf -- which I can later use. In the middle of the routine Rooskie does his Paws on the Basket pose.For the ending I drop the scarf on the floor near the basket. Rooskie does his sendawy to the scarf and goes down. I then pick up the basket and walk towards him and he jumps into the basket.
Another Rooskie month. A number of Events and courses all coming up and close together. A three day HTM Event at the end of the month. Rooskie came third in Starters Freestyle and qualified out of Starters and into Novice.
A few days a Southerness before preparing for the HTM Event.
Important Note.Very important. SAFETY
Always make sure that the working area is safe. Rooskie had this hooligan habit of rushing up to another dog and barking at it. On Southerness golf course there are many little paths between the gorse bushes from which dog walkers can suddenly appear. Get into the habit of always working him in an area where I can see for a good distance and get him on the lead in plenty of time. This was something I had long been aware of. But this time I realised that was another problem which was just as bad if not weven worse.
Also keep Rooskie on lead unless he is really far away from the road. Once on the golf course he had been really good. I left the practice ground and walked onto the fairway near ther sheds. I thought the path was far enough away but I was wrong. Rooskie ran off. I got to the path and there was no sign of him. I was frantic. I called him and then a woman's voice said, Is this your dog? and she appeared leading Rooskie on the lead. (I had left it trailing). She told me he had actually been into the bus shelter.
So a valuable lesson for me. Put Rooskie's safety first and do not become over confident.
A three day HTM Event at the end of August followed by another a fortnight later. A lot of travelling in a short time. A few days at Southerness and then back to get ready for travelling again.
The three day Event was held by the Ashlawn Dog Training Club and was part of the Warwick Town and Country Festival at Stoneleigh Park on the August Bank Holiday weekend.
It was held in a cattle barn with a carpeted ring. There were also benches for the dogs for the Birmingham dog show the next week. I made new friends speaking to the people who were using the benches next to me.
Rooskie and the Event. Roooskie did very well indeed at the Event in June and he had been going well in training but the minute I got to the barn at Stoneleigh at the weekend I knew things were going to be difficult. And they were but he still managed to qualify out of Starters and into Novice. I am delighted. And under Kennel Club rules, if I ever get a pup the pup will start in Novice too because once a handler is out of Starters it is for good.
You just have to take things as they come. He worked really well in June but it was a much bigger class and he was unplaced. At Stoneleigh I really had to fight to keep him with me but it was a small class and we were placed and qualified out of Starters.
The problems were all caused by smells. I was worried by Rooskie not working so well but now I know more about it I think I did well to avoid a complete disaster. We were at a large agricultural show and we were in a cattle barn with a concrete floor. There was a carpet laid on the ring area. The barn was all right last year but this year there seemed to be a lot of smells. Then I learned that the week before there had been a pigeon and poultry show -- and Rooskie obviously smelled the remnants of that show.
One very interesting thing. His first routine -- I thought we were not going to get started. Rooskie went off to part of the ring and proceed to sniff. He was oblivious to everything else. His nose was actually buried in the carpet. Then the ring steward came and said that we would have to start the music. I was about to put his lead on and do a training round when somehow I got him to me and I signalled for the music. He stayed with me all right after that but I was shaken and did not do my planned routine. That was Starters Heelwork to music on the afternoon of the Saturday.
Later, the next morning, one of the judges -- one of the most experienced people in HTM -- said he was doing his gun dog act again. And she should know as she works a flat coat retriever as well as a collie. That routine was to It's a Small World after All played in fast time by Myron Floren. She said she laughed when she saw my prop -- a very small globe.
Next day -- Sunday -- was Starters Freestyle to On a Coconut Island. On the Saturday we were not on until the afternoon but on the Sunday I was in the first class in the morning. In HTM we are allowed to practise in the ring before the event starts in the morning and again at lunchtime. (It is the only HTM Event where this is allowed). I took Rooskie into the ring and worked him with the lead trailing. I soon found out the scents were at the sides so I decided just to work him in the middle aisle of the ring. I thought I was better losing a few marks for not using all the ring rather than losing everything for him running off.
The event was late in starting because it had rained during the night and the roof had leaked and there was a man vacuuming the carpet.
Well we got started and Rooskie was not too bad -- although not as good as June. But I had to really fight to keep his attention and he had the occasional sniff. But we got a better mark than I expected and came third and qualified out of Starters.
We got 17.50. The third place qualified him under the old rules -- which were to change the following January to a points system. It was a small class.
Bank Holiday Monday. The lunchtime ring practise. Again scents at the sides of the ring. Another Freestyle routine to Teddy Bears Picnic. This time he made no attempt to run off at all but stayed with me no bother. But he practically did everything in slow motion and his marks were lower than on the Sunday.
We got 16.66.
Many people would have said he was tired. True I made the mistake of arriving early when I could have arrived later. I spent most of the time sitting beside him on his bench and I think this was a mistake as the barn was stuffy. I should have walked him around more in the fresh air. But I really think he was still thinking more about the smells.
I think I should just accept that I did well to get him to work at all despite the fact that the conditions just did not suit Rooskie. Next weekend he will be back in a leisure hall and I hope he will be back to normal. And that will be our last Starters Freestyle.
Papillons. It used to be thought that they are a small spaniel although now some would claim that they are a small spitz. But Rooskie certainly has more of a spaniel nose. And the predominant breeds in HTM are the herding breeds -- although all breeds are represented.
A very friendly Event. Lots of people spoke to me and congratulated me. There were benches for the dogs and dogs were not allowed in the seating area which made things awkward.
On the Monday there was a camera crew from Japanese TV. They had a huge scaffolding above the ring and another cameraman going round the ring with a mobile camera and someone else doing the lights. The Japanese camera crew filmed Rooskie.
Yet another Rooskie month. Another HTM Event in the middle of the month and then I had to get ready for the courses I was going to at the end of the month and in October.
This was held by Canine Freestyle GB at the Sports Connexion, Ryton on Dunsmore, September 2006
We were in the first class – Starters Freestyle. I got there early and got Rooskie settled. And then into the ring for my revised version of The Northern Lights of Aberdeen. Iwas wearing a white shirt with a Royal Stewart sash over my right shoulder. This was to keep it out of the way of Rooskie and also so that I could take it off quickly as I later used it for Rooskie to circle and do figure-of-eights around.
Rooskie excelled himself and did a terrific round to Northern Lights. I had redrafted the routine and it worked beautifully -- although there is still some work to do on it. He got 18.50 out of 30 and was placed 10th out of a class of 19.
Then in the afternoon he spoiled things. He got away from me right at the beginning and spent most of the time sniffing. I think he might have done two moves. It was supposed to be HTM to Small World.
It was partly my own fault. I did not take long enough to get him settled. Also I was doing too much. I was doing the class reporting for Intermediate and Advanced for both HTM and Freestyle. Working two classes and reporting on four was just too much for me.
Next day. The Sunday Funday. I was doing only one class and no reporting. I was not on until the afternoon. He ran off at the beginning but I got him back. I put on the half-lead and held food in my hand but did not feed. And he stayed with me and worked quite well. I was doing Small World which was supposed to be HTM but after the fiasco of the Saturday I turned it into Freestyle. One experienced competitor thought it was very good. He particularly liked Rooskie backing between my legs.
All this proved that I could now work him at a Funday -- which I could not do before because before all he wanted to do was to go and sniff for food.
People. One of the leading handlers saw both his routines on the Saturday. He said how much Rooskie has come on in the last year. He did not seem to think too much about the HTM fiasco. Another said the Northern Lights was the best she had seen him. She also said she thinks Rooskie is looking happier.
Westglen were on the door – and were their usual jocular selves. One made a point of asking to see my pass! A junior handler said that he had seen me at Malvern.
On the Saturday someone looked at my sash and asked me if I made it and I told her no I bought it in a clan shop. Someone else told me she thought I would never be able to do it.
Home again
A few days at Southerness and then I had to get ready for the Kayce Cover courses. And my preparations took longer because because the courses were on two successive weekends and so I could not come home between them but had to stay down south for the week.
Very much another Rooskie month with the Kayce Cover courses and then home and practising with Rooskie at Southerness.The first Kayce Cover course was right at the end of September but the bulk of the courses were in October.
Rooskie Press. Getting McDowall’s History of Dumfries launched. Inspection copies handed in to the Ewart Library and also to the Museum. The Library said they had probably enough copies already.
Then I heard from the Museum. They were delighted that I had now brought McDowall back into print and they were going to take a few copies to be going on with. And they would let me know if they wanted any more.
And I also heard from the Standard. They were going to mention it in an article and they would also do a review if I let them have a copy.
I e-mailed Alex and he said he was selling most of his books via his web site. I went into it and decided that I would redraft my own Sleuth-Hounds pages –– especially the ordering ones.
HNS I did some reviewing at Southerness.
At the end of September I left for the Kayce Cover courses at Wood Green Animal Shelter near Cambridge. Did the journey in two stages. Carlisle-Settle-Leeds and stayed the night in Leeds in the Ibis Hotel. Then on to Cambridge the next day.
There were two, two-day weekend courses on consecutive weekends. The first one was The Family D