International Agility Festival

Hi there-

long time, no blog! I've finally found time to blog and have decided to write about the International Agility Festival that is running on 10-12th August at Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire. This is a FREE event for spectators and, as long as their dog is well-behaved and on a lead, their dog! Any dog can take part in the 3 day festival but, if you wanted to enter this year, it's too late. The Festival always includes graded classes for all height categories and all grades of agility dog and handler, so that everyone gets a chance to compete at 

their own level at the UK's largest agility show. With a series of cup classes for all levels - the Starters Cup, Novice Cup, British Open and Nations Cup - as well as special classes for younger handlers and YKC members, there are many opportunities for the best performing dogs and handlers to secure a place at Crufts or at Discover Dogs. The Festival has space for over 700 campers which makes staying the full weekend more like a holiday. For visitors, there are lots of things to do such as 'Have a Go' agility to try out on and a Companion Dog Show with different classes. Adding to that, there are lots of stands to shop from for you and your dog so bring spending money! Watch the video below for a taster of what the International Agility Festival is like: 

I would definitely recommend taking the family out for the day to the Festival- have a great day! 

Thanks for reading, Flo x

For the schedule, click here

For information about the 'Have a Go' ring, click here

For an accommodation guide, click here

Ashleigh & Pudsey- Britain's Got Talent

Hi there!

My photo of the pair at Crufts 2012!

Since the beginning of Britain's Got Talent 2012, I have been supporting Ashleigh and Pudsey, the doggie dancing act. I saw the pair at Crufts 2012, performing in and winning the Young Kennel Club Freestyle Heelwork To Music competition, so I was very excited when I found out that they were on Britain's Got Talent. For years now I have been a fan of the show and, being a dog lover, I've always wanted a dog and handler to win! Last year, I even thought to myself that maybe I should audition for Britain's Got Talent with my dog, Jasper! Why I thought that I have no idea; our duo is hardly breath-taking... I didn't audition in the end (phew!). Ashleigh and Pudsey were brilliant at Crufts- their moves were always very precise and flowing- so when I found out, I knew they were going to win! I'd already seen how good these two were and if other dog acts had to the final, then these two were definitely going to win! As you tell, I wanted them to win, so when they got through to the semi-finals, the finals and then the top three, well, I was very excited. In the auditions, the pair performed a routine to The Flinstones (the one they performed at Crufts). Their second performance in the semi-finals was showbiz-themed and their final performance was cleverly done to Mission Impossible.

The pair went on to WINNING Britain's Got Talent 2012, scooping up £500,000 and a place to perform to Royalty in The Royal Variety Performance 2012! Well done Ashleigh & Pudsey!

Thank you for reading, Flo x

Unfortunately, the semi-final and final shows aren't working on the blog, but click on them to watch the performances on YouTube!

The London Pet Show!

Hi there;                                                                    on 12th and 13th May 2012, the second London Pet Show will be taking place in Earls Court Two, London! In a bigger venue than last year, the London Pet Show promises to entertain all the family as the show has many fantastic displays to be watched and different animals to meet! There are going to be four unique zones that let you discover Dogs, Cats, Small Furries or Animals (a variety!). The daily programmes have now been posted and each day looks brilliant! For Saturday's and Sunday's programmes, click here  and then click on each day's programmes on the left. The Discover DOGS zone is going to have a Discover Dogs area with 50 breeds, Doggie Dancing displays with Britain's Got Talent stars, an action-packed programme of activities, lots of things to buy for you and your dog and much more! With Under 5's getting FREE entry, the London Pet Show looks set to be the perfect day out for all the family! For more information, click here and to buy tickets, click here. Thanks for reading, Flo x
Here is a video showing the highlights of last year's London Pet Show!

Hyde Bark!

Yesterday (Sunday 15th April), The Mayhew Animal Home ran Hyde Bark in, as you may have guessed, Hyde Park, London! The Mayhew Animal Home began helping animals in 1886, and have become well-known for their great work. The day, which was described as 'a truly PETacular day out for all the family', was hosted by The Lord Mayor of Westminster and ran from 10am-6pm at The Old Football Pitches. Between 10am and 12pm, there was the 'Diamond Dogs Show' with guest judges Joanna Page (Gavin & Stacey) and James Thornton (Emmerdale) as well as Anna Webb and Joanna Good (Radio One's Barking at the Moon). Throughout those two hours, many dogs were entered into the competition in 12 different categories including Prettiest Lady, Handsomest Male, Sweetest Staffie, Cutest Puppy and Best In Show! Entry into each category cost £3 with all the funds raised going to The Mayhew Animal Home. As well as that, there were many other fantastic activities being taken part in such as an agility course, Temptation Alley, Dog Portraits and book signings by celebrity vet Marc Abraham. There was also the 'Diamond JubiLEAD' sponsored walk that aimed to raise more money for the rescue home.  At 4pm, The Mayhew Dog Parade took place so people could meet the dogs looking for homes. Unfortunately for me, I couldn't go to this event but it sure sounded like a 'PETacular day out'! For photos of the day, please follow this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/normko/. Thanks for reading, Flo x

Give Your Dog A Bone!

Hi everyone.

http://www.giveyourdogabone.co.uk/

This year, Drontal launched a new Drontal Bone Shape wormer and to celebrate the release of this new product, they have started a new competition- the 2012 Give Your Dog a Bone Awards! There are four categories which you can enter your dog into: Most Entertaining Video, Most Heroic Pet, Most Loveable Mutt and Special Bond. In the first stage of the competition, a public vote will take place to decide the winner and runner ups of each category. In the second and final stage, a judging panel will choose the Top Dog from all entries. The competition ends on the 31st May 2012 so if you are interested in entering your dog, enter before then! As a dog owner myself, I have entered my dog into two categories, Most Loveable Mutt and Most Entertaining Video! Please click here to vote for my dog, Jasper, in the Most Loveable Mutt category. Below, my competition entry into the Most Entertaining Video category is shown, click here to vote! 

To learn more about Drontal's wormers and the affects of worms in dogs, follow this link: http://drontal.com/dog.html. The link to the Give A Dog a Bone Awards is this: http://www.giveyourdogabone.co.uk/.

I hope you have found this post interesting and thanks for voting! Get entering, and good luck! Flo x

Crufts 2012- Post Two!

Hi there,
  my blog post of the last day of Crufts 2012 (Sunday 11th March) is finally here! I hope you enjoy reading it...

The Dog Activities stand...

This stand was great for learning more about the activities that you could take part in with your dog. There were lots of dogs on this stand who take part in these activities themselves and you could give them a nice cuddle!

I then visited the Police Dogs stand and spoke to one of the trainers. His dog was a lovely English Springer Spaniel so I had to take a photo!

In the Main Arena, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Display Team performed some agility and as a special Crufts treat, Paul O'Grady entered the ring and instructed one of the Staffies around the course!

Agility is one of the most popular dog sports in the World so there are many great competitions held! I watched many different Agility competitions throughout the weekend and each one entertained me as much as the other!

 

This year I watched a new display about Dog Activities. A gorgeous Great Dane named Ruach performed in the ring to demonstrate Heelwork To Music alongside lots of different dogs and he was fantastic!

Not only was Heelwork To Music demonstrated but other sports were too!

The Bark & Read Foundation stall...

The Bark & Read Foundation is a new scheme to encourage young children to read by letting them read to specially trained dogs! 

The gorgeous Ruach also performed a few demos throughout the four days of Crufts and we watched one of them on the Sunday! 

After a fantastic four days, Crufts ended for the year! Highlights of each day were available to watch on More4 and the winner of the prestigious Best In Show award was Elizabeth, the Llasa Apso! The beautiful Newfoundland that I saw on Saturday 10th March won Reserve but well done to all the other dogs and handlers who took part throughout the show! I don't know about you but I can't wait until Crufts 2013, on the 7th-10th March! I hope you have found these two posts interesting and I'll write soon! Flo x

 

Crufts 2012

Hi everyone,
I'm so sorry that I haven't posted for so long! It's awful, I know, but I have been so busy with the build up to Crufts that I just haven't had time! Anyway, this post is about Crufts 2012! Crufts is the World's biggest dog show and is held every year at The NEC, Birmingham. I was lucky enough to go for TWO days this year on the Saturday and Sunday and had the most brilliant time! Crufts was held on the 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th March this year and attracted thousands of visitors from all over the world. Here are just a few of the photos I took when I went to give you an insight into how fantastic the dog show is!

International Heelwork to Music Freestyle competition...

England

Winner-France

3 gorgeous Great Danes on the Eukanuba stand demonstrating 'bow'-so cute!

The fantastic Golden Retriever Display Team performing in the Main Arena...

                                     

One of the great Young Kennel Club Freestyle Heelwork To Music competitors...

                                     

The action-packed Flyball championships; always great entertainment!

                                     

The Pastoral Group Judging...

                                    

 Best In Group Winner- the beautiful Newfoundland!

                                    

As I have so many photos I have only been able to upload a few, but more will be uploaded in the next post! All of these photos were taken at Crufts 2012 on Saturday 10th March. I hope you have enjoyed looking at them! Flo x