28 July 2009

Bark In The Park


The Trio has been to Scotland to do a demonstration for Second Chance Kennels. Please visit our website to see more photos and read more about the event. Click here!

12 July 2009

Erin's Day In Town

Erin is just a baby, but she is already getting international attention! She has been asked to demonstrated HTM Puppy training on some photos that will be used for illustrations in a Danish Magazine 'Hund & Træning' (Dog & Training).

Some of the photos had to show a puppy training in a public area. It was to illustrate how important it is for a dancing dog to learn to be comfortable working in lots of different environments.

Erin was the perfect model! She performed well under very difficult circumstances and she could already gather a crowd and charm an audience!

Listening to music - very appropriate for a dancing dog!

Already charming her audience!

Small pup - big feet!

Hallo...

Greeting another dog...

And then forgetting about it to continue her work! Perfect!



Stillmoor Lady In Red FS I Ex

It has been a beautiful day in Wales. Sunny with a nice breeze - just what you want for a HTM Show!

And it has been a brilliant day for Kath and her two girls.

Amber placed 1st in Intermediate Freestyle and has now won out of the class. She also gained the title FS I Ex.


Spice placed 1st in Advanced Freestyle.

Huge Congratulations to Kath! What a weekend!

11 July 2009

Spice says "Good Morning" and wins Advanced Freestyle!

Latest news from Ynys Mon Dog Training Club's HTM Show in Wales!!!


Spice won Advanced Freestyle with her routine to 'Good Morning' from Singin' In The Rain and Tipp placed 2nd with his interpretation of 'Seaside Rendezvous'.
Congratulations to Kath, Spice and Tipp!

Another Advanced HTM win for Tipp!

2/3rd of the Top Lodge Trio (Kath and Lesley + husbands and dogs) are on Anglesey this weekend to compete at Ynys Mon Dog Training Club's HTM Show.

Lesley's dogs are unfortunately injured and unable to compete, but Kath has had a very good day. Tipp won Adv. HTM for the second time in a row (!!!) and Amber placed 2nd.


Well done to Kath, Tipp and Amber and good luck in the Freestyle classes!

9 July 2009

Puppy being a puppy!

Leaping Puppy

Pushing soil off the rockery


Towel Relocation


Tasty Towel


Attacking the Bird Table

8 July 2009

Settling in the family

Allan, Kes, Karen with Erin and Fly

Erin is settling well in her new family and Kes and Fly are slowly realising that she will not go back to where she came from.
Kes finds her 'interesting' and does sometimes want to play, but Erin is not sure about Kes... She can be moody at times!
Fly has not been happy about the new addition to the family and she is still a bit offended by Erin's presence, but she has been caught looking interested and friendly, so hopefully she will soon enjoy playing with her new 'sister'.

Erin was very ill from roundworms when she moved in with Karen and the rest of the family, but after a heavy dose of wormer and a visit to the vet (which resulted in some special diet food), she has recovered and is now behaving like any other healthy puppy.

It seems that shoes, doorstops and other small objects which can be found on Erin's level has magically grown legs and can now move around in the house!



7 July 2009

Bring it Back Project


The Top Lodge Trio received an email in May regarding "Shine".

Shine is the National Youth Festival which celebrates the talent and achievements of all young people. Shine week, on 6-10th July, consists of thousands of separate events and celebrations held in and out of schools led by young people, teachers and youth organisations.

Shine is sponsoring a music video by ‘321’ called ‘Bring it Back’ which will be filmed on the launch day of the festival, 6th July. On the day hundreds of young people from all over England will come together to perform a flash dance on the Southbank, which will have a feel of the recent T-Mobile advert filmed in Liverpool St. station.

The request was for the Top Lodge handlers and their dogs to perform a few set dances : The Bogle, The Butterfly, The Robot and The Running Man. So after a few training sessions the film crew were sent from London to film their efforts.

The camera man (Luke) and Producer Luti and Kimberley were amazed at how the dogs performed and within an hour of arriving they set off back to London with everything captured on film to be added to the filming they would complete on 6th July.

Luti finished his day by working with Fly.




6 July 2009

New Training Hall Floor

The Top Lodge Training Hall carpet had been down for just over four years so Top Lodge decided to buy some carpet tiles to give the hall a fresh non slip surface. The old carpet was very heavy duty, but it had to be pulled up and rolled for disposal. 6 large carpets.

Once the carpet was lifted then it was time to bring in the new Carpet Tiles.
Just one edge needed trimming so the floor was covered in a morning's work.
Two thirds done!! And looking very very good.
Two more of the old carpets to lift .........................
And its done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Now that looks smart. Impact resistant - non slip - ready for action! Well after vacuuming and replacing the furniture! :-(

Photos from Newark

Kath with Tipp (1st in Adv. HTM) and Amber (4th)

Karen with Fly (2nd in Adv. HTM)

Kath is busy helping the judges get ready for the class.

David and Kath + some of the judges
Roger tidying up after the show
A huge THANK YOU to everyone that helped us tidy up after the show!


5 July 2009

Advanced HTM and Crufts Qualification in Newark

It has been another good day for the Top Lodge in Newark. The team performed 3 routines in Advanced HTM and placed 1st, 2nd and 4th.


Kath & Tipp won the class, Karen & Fly placed 2nd and Kath & Amber placed 4th. All 3 teams qualified for the Crufts Semi Final.

Congratulations! What a weekend!

4 July 2009

Intermediate Freestyle


Kath and Amber won Intermediate Freestyle today in Newark!

What a day for the Top Lodge Team!!!!
4 routines performed in 2 classes - 2 x 1st, 1 x 2nd and 1 x 3rd!!!! It does not get any better!

Amber performing at a demo

Advanced Freestyle and Crufts Qualification in Newark

Today has been Freestyle Day at the CFGB Show in Newark. Kes, Spice and Tipp have been competing and they did very well!


Karen & Kes won Advanced Freestyle, Kath & Spice placed 2nd and Kath & Tipp 3rd. Kes and Tipp qualified for the Crufts Semi Final. Spice had already qualified at the Westglen Show in April.


Congratualtions to Kath, Karen and their amazing Freestyle dogs!
Good luck in the HTM classes tomorrow!

All Set - Ready for a HTM Show!

Finally - after another hot and busy day - all is set and ready for the talented dogs and handlers to enter the ring and WOW us with their performances!

Safe journey to everyone, who is travelling to Newark - we are looking forward to see you!








Good Luck Everybody and Happy Dancing!

The dogs are enjoying the summer - Erin is not quite sure what to think of Kes' attention though...

She looks much more confident when Kes is on a safe distance :o)