Category Archives: Agility

A Day At The Circus

May 8, 2014

The Catskill Pumi B-litter will be six weeks old Sunday.  They are not only healthy and good looking, they have also turned out to be very atlethic.  Mama Fruska and Papa Penge can be proud of their offsprings.

As the Catskills’ three-season weather (Winter, Summer and Fall) has been forcing us spending lots of time inside in April and May, we’ve had to come up with ideas to compensate for the lack of warm weather and keep the pups not only growing but also getting creatively engaged and mentally stimulated indoor.

Since we have given up the office cubicle and teaching podium during the last millenium to be able to sit in the symbolic animal pan and play with dogs, chickens, goats, sheep, donkeys and horses, (etc.)  it was not difficult to figure out, how we can keep seven Pumi pups to be engaged, curious and stimulated.

Check it out…

http://youtu.be/TtslqQw1hQ4   <——- Click here…

 

 

 

A Close Encounter…Test Driving the Pumi

May 5, 2014

Sandy, Ildiko and Judy watching the pups romping around outside on the horse pasture.

Sandy, Ildiko and Judy are watching the pups romping around outside on the horse pasture.

We’ve gotten visitors yesterday to check out the pups and get a closer look at “The Pumi” in his natural environment.  Sandy Mainardi and Judy Hoffman drove up to us bringing along some long awaited sunshine  that certainly turned up the good mood on the farm.

Sandy is showing some tricks to the very excited and willing Pumi participants...

Sandy is showing some tricks to the very excited and willing Pumi participants…

The adult dogs put up their best behaviors hoping to get some extra attention (the forever opportunist…) They waited patiently (Pumi patience…) until Sandy and Judy checked out the pups and when the spot light has turned on them they were ready.

We hiked up to their new playground, the agility field that we set up last week.  The five Pumis quickly get comfortable with Sandy and Judy’s relaxed, playful and exciting dog handling methods.

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Anka seemed enjoying the agility training as she did not have to worry about some “madsheep” in the roundpan.

Anka got some extra attention from Sandy, using her expert skills to find people’s soft spots (which was not easy with Sandy because she is in a pretty good shape.)IMG_4274 IMG_4302 IMG_4301 IMG_4300 IMG_4298 IMG_4294 IMG_4295 IMG_4296

After  we walked back down to the house, all four of us were happily eating our hard earned lunch (thanks to Laszlo) closely monitored by five adult and seven puppy IMG_4248Pumis from underneath the dining table.

 

 

Report from the Middle of Nowhere…

May 1, 2014

It is May!  The grass is getting greener, the sky is blue and the pups are growing.  All activity levels have been increasing as the weather is turning nicer. We still on break with herding because the lambs have not been weaned from the ewes so we’ve been waiting for the pastures to get stronger and help the lambs gradually become independent from their moms.

To bridge the gap and provide more creative activities, we’ve decided to add agility for fun and versatility.  For years, we’ve been trying to learn agility with the dogs but it is hard to find a place and instructor when you live far away from everything on the dark side of the moon.   It is a big demand in our area for organized dog activities. Because many friends, neighbors and other dog people are interested to have some fun with their dogs and the nearest agility place we know of is close to two hours away,  we’ve decided to set up an agility course in addition to the herding practice available to others to join us.  And last weekend some of the stuff arrived… When the dogs saw the new doggie play ground they just went wild…

“If you build it, they will come…”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61TixYd5bis <—-Click here…

The Breed that is Cool As a Cucumber

December 29, 2013

On the top of her career...

On the top of her career…

We’ve been back from Florida for close to two weeks and life is back to normal.  Winter, snow storms, farm chores, holidays, and Beginner’s Agility training with renewed enthusiasm after Eukanuba 2013.

Since we are back, everyone looks at Fruska with increased curiosity (at least I wish to think so…)

weaving a rug ...sorry the poles

weaving a rug …I mean the poles

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…on the high road

Today, again,  we drove through serious ice/snow storm to make it to our practice to Kingston 1 1/2 hours away.  When I was on the court with Fruska,  I think it was more quiet around and more eyes were locked on us than before the Eukanuba 2013 Invitational Agility Championship.

hoops...

hoops…

She is not called the cute curly dog anymore, she is “The Pumi….”

taking the "Tube" to Kingston

taking the “Tube” to Kingston bye bye…

 

Rufflections on Eukanuba 2013

December 21, 2013

Don’t you hate when you just cannot stop doodling those annoying Christmas jingles long after you walked out from the shopping mall? This is exactly how I feel about the color combination of “Dog Show Floor Blue” and “Eukanuba Pink.” They have saturated in my brain and drive me crazy days after the show. So I’ve decided to write about last week’s National Championship Dog Show in Florida one last time.  (My shrink always says that I have to talk about things to address them…)

I do not plan to incite a Christian sectarian religious upheaval between Protestants and Catholics here or try to lessen the cultural impact of the various great powers set foot on this continent, however, personally, I am glad that Florida was conquered by the Spaniards. They have left real flavor, temperament and style on the subtropical appendix of North America (no pun intended – please…). Let’s admit, without the historic footprint of the Spaniards in the region, Eukanuba would not be the same fun.

I think most of us look forward to it and we all want to go back to Orlando every December. It is more than just a big prestigious dog show. It is a reunion, the place for new friendships, great memories and a bit of vacation. We are like a big family there. For us Pumi fanciers, Eukanuba is especially a positive reinforcement, as each year, more and more people recognize our breed. For me, personally, It was a roller coaster week – mostly downhill. While some dogs had to win,  naturally some had to lose. In conformation, Kaffogo Agyag missed the opportunity to become America’s Sweetheart Pumi the second year. She did not even make it to the end in conformation.

The Best of Breed title went to Pattogo Parazs Buda with Nancy Ben-Dror. For my further disappointment, Abiqua Csupasz did not get through the qualifiers in dock diving.

The real life altering Pumi impact, has happened on the agility course as ZuZu and Tammy Hall has won the invitational agility championship in the “Sixteen-inch” class.

I remember when coming to the U.S. more than two decades ago, it was quite a headache to learn the United States Customary Units or the standard system after “growing up metric.” I remember how I was reciting the conversions, “a yard is three feet, a foot is twelve inches” etc. It was a painful learning experience with a very shallow learning curve to say the least…

After the Eukanuba 2013 weekend, my relationship has improved with the standard system as I’ve witnessed the inclusion of a new unit that you will also remember, especially,  when talking about agility. Now you can also recite the conversions with the new addition; “a yard is three feet, a foot is twelve inches and sixteen inches is a Pumi…!

Blogs supposed to end of with something important, witty or memorable that readers like because it has some impact that they can remember. Eventhough, I’ve been thinking the last few days to finish this blog with something smart, I could not come up with anything significant. So let me just say this.  Orlando’s hospitality industry has been a great and very generous host to us, the thousands of dog people with our pooches who flock to Eukanuba each year. All the motel, hotel and restaurant  employees, the people who work the shows whom we’ve met have been wonderful, friendly, helpful and very patients with our eccentric dog habits. To keep this relationship mutually cordial and lasting for years to come, so we can be welcomed back again like friends and family, can everyone please pick up after your  dogs around the hotels, the parking lots, parks and on the streets of Orlando and not leaving a serious shit storm behind you next time?

See you next year!

http://youtu.be/TwLVGTRcTYQ <——Zuzu and Tammy Hall

http://youtu.be/34d-O8ERfVo <——Pumi bitches on the “”Dog Show Floor Blue” floor with the “Eukanuba Pink” in the background

http://youtu.be/p0OMHhgd9lE <—– We had some fun during the trip down to Florida

What is it? A P U M I…?

December 15, 2013

Dear Tammy Hall,

I think, I talk on behalf of all Pumi people when I say that we are super proud of your victory you guys today at the Eukanuba National 2013 Invitational Agility Championship.

I promise you that tomorrow morning, regardless wether it will rain or shine, blizzards or ice storms might hit our respective home states, we all will take our Pumis to nearby dog runs or dog parks, because secretly, we all want to share a small part of your awesome triumph and want to have that ultimate feel good moment as we will let our Pumis off leash among the Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Corgies, Shetland Sheepdogs and the likes in the park.

We will proudly carry that superior cool and self confidant smile that until now we have only seen on other successful dog breed owners’ faces.

Most importantly, all of those who matters in the dog run, as of today,  will recognize and remember the Pumi breed forever, when they see one.

Thank you Tammy and Zuzu!

The Catskill Pumik would like to dedicate this short video to your victory.

http://www.catskillpumi.com/wp-content/uploads/Video-13-08-2013-22-20-46.mov<——- Click here

Kaffogo Agyag Has Started Agility…

August 14, 2013

While Felallo Fulu Fruska is busy with her 12 days old puppies, Kaffogo Agyag, has grown restless as her pal is not available for the daily play sessions.  To make Agyag preoccupied with something else and remove her from this stage of doom and gloom, Laszlo enrolled her into a Beginner’s Agility Class.  Although, they have to travel one hour and a half each way, both of them, Laszlo and Agyag come home happy after each class.

Hey agility Pumis watch the gathering storm coming behind you!

Video 13-08-2013 22 20 46  <——Click here…

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4-GSw_W9qPE#   <——Click here…