KC Name: Shanowl Kamikaze Kip
DOB: 10/04/98 (10 years old)
Sire: Shanowl Justintime
Dam: Ruscombe Miss Chief
Competition Level: Grade 4
Kip is my first dog and my first Border Collie. He was given to me in 2004, just before Crufts, by Jackie and Roger Griffin. I started running Kip 5 years ago, as no-one ran him anymore. I don't know how it came about but they asked me if I wanted to have Kip and of course I said yes and couldn't refuse!!! He doesn't like toys but loves his food. He is always by my side where ever I go and he is always the first to greet me at the door.
Agility wise, Kip isn't a fast dog but he is always consistent. He always wants to please me in whatever he does. Kip has won me out of Elementary at his first show. He then won me out of Starters at Supa Dogs 2005. He qualified for the Junior Finals where he came 2nd. In the Junior Finals 2004 he came 3rd. We also qualified for Crufts 2004 but got E'd! Kip will never win out of Novice but I know that he will have some good places, hopefully in the top 10.
Training Diary
April - I've decided that i'm going to retire Kip from agility this year. He is now 10, which isn't that old considering, but his back legs seem to ache from time to time. I've entered him in a couple of shows in the next few months, just with 1-2 runs, but I don't think he will be able to cope with 2 runs - i'll see. He still really enjoys himself whilst training and competing so now I will be entering him in veterans or anysize.
October - Since I last updated Kip's diary he's had a few places in grade 4. I've been so pleased with him lately, he is really enjoying himself. However, at every other show he measures jumps and struggles with the height. I've now made the decision to cut down the amount of runs Kip does at shows, from 3 to about 1-2. I think he will benefit from this.
August - Unfortunately Kip has just gone lame on his rear right leg. It looks like some sort of muscular injury, but if it persists I'll take him down to the vets.
March 25th - Today was Kip's first show of the season and first full course of full height jumps after his injury. He coped really really well and seems to be back on form. His contacts are coming on really well and I'm really pleased with them :) Click here to see an old'ish video of Kip's 4-off contacts.
March - I've only just been able to train Kip again now that he has fully re-covered, however he is not 'jump-fit'. By this I mean he is not capable of jumping the full 2"2 jumps. About 10 minutes a day I've been running him over some medium height jumps and then gradually progressing to full height.
Feb - Whilst on a walk Kip pulled his back leg muscle, and went lame. The vet has put him on lead walks and seeing how it goes
November - I've re-trained Kip's contacts as they were slow and inconsistent. I re-trained them to a 4-off position. He really likes the clicker and responds well to it so I taught him to nose touch a target in a down. Then progressed to putting the target at the end of the contact. He quickly picked this up and has been running down to the target very nicely. His dogwalk down plank has sped up LOADS and his a-frame is much more consistent.
Over the last month I have started to take the target away with every other contact etc, and he stills runs down onto the floor and lays down. I'm really pleased with his contacts and can't wait until next year :)