Freestyle Fun and Friends

I am having a great time at the Canine Federation Freestyle Retreat! Besides getting to spend time with Barbara (without Ambrose and his cooties)and staying in a motel I am learning lots of new things and meeting new freestyle friends. I learned how to switch from left to right heel by going behind Barbara and coming up into heel. I know how to do it in front of her but had not done it this way before

I've also learned some distance work and done lots of practice on walking backwards. There are over 50 dogs here and many are from North Carolina. This morning we got all the NC dogs and people together for a group photo. You can't see me very well in the back row because Barbara is wearing black pants and I sort of blend in! But this is a great group and I am enjoying training with them.

Doing all these classes is a lot of work though and between exercises I rest on my mat next to Barbara's chair and watch the other dogs work. I have been very well behaved and I don't mind when another dog walks by right in front of me.

One of the great things about Canine Freestyle is that any dog can do it. It doesn't matter if you are big or little, it is just a matter of learning moves and then having a willing human partner who will choreograph your routines. While we dogs have been learning the technical moves the people are learning to be creative. I am not sure if Barbara can learn this but I try to help her by doing new things all the time. I have made many new friends at the retreat. There are lots of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels here.

I've sat next to Benny in a couple of classes and he is very sweet.

This little corgi is only 4 months old! She is as smart as can be. Look at the attention she has with her person. She is going to be a great freestyle dog.

I met this nice English Setter boy, Bentley. It is great to see another setter doing freestyle.

Teddy is my Drill Teammate and my traveling companion. He is doing very well in class.

Kiwi is tiny (I bet my ears weigh more than she does) but she does great freestyle and is very smart and cute.

I am having a great time but it is very tiring to think so much. I just crashed in the bleachers this afternoon.

Tomorrow is the last day of the retreat so I will try to get someone to take pictures of Barbara and I doing some of our new moves.