Luca & Lola

 Another weekend away for a race. This time we headed up to Christchurch for the Canterbury Sled Dog Club's "Winter Solstice" race weekend. Luckily, Friday was a public holiday. We headed to Dunedin on Thursday night and cruised the rest of the way to Christchurch on Friday. Luca and Lola ran in Justin's 6-dog team both days - the team picked up 2nd place on Saturday and 3rd place on Sunday! Again no photos/footage from on the trail, but here they are cooling down after their race and then hanging out at the camp ground (they also got a good grooming session while there!).

 We headed to Arrowtown to stay with friends on Friday evening - Luca and Lola were a hit with them! On Saturday morning we drove through to Naseby. Lola and Luca ran with Justin's 6 dog team again for the evening's racing. No photos/footage as was pretty much run in the dark. Justin headed home after the racing on Saturday evening. So, on Sunday morning, I hooked Luca and Lola up to run in the two-dog scooter class. We had a ball. They ran really well and behaved perfectly when a couple of other teams passed us. We passed one of them back at one point and then ran alongside them for a while. Very happy with their first run on their own in a race situation. They came away placing 7th of 16 teams!!!

 Longest run yet for Luca & Lola around the 'rollercoaster' loop from home. Tired after that effort, but they worked well.

The poor lawn has turned to mud in places with the wet weather - Lola is not at all perturbed and seems to enjoy churning things up even more! Luca is slightly more civilised 😂

 Luca and Lola hit their first race weekend. they certainly turned some heads! Not a lot of photos/footage unfortunately.  Lined up waiting to move to the start line in their first race on Saturday evening. Giving me the hurry up to get loaded and away to the race early on Sunday morning!  

 Luca and Lola running with Justin's retriever and three of the collies in preparation for their first race weekend. Great night for a run. 

 With all the mud, wet and dirt we come across on the trails (and at home!), I spoke to the groomers about trimming Luca back much shorter for this groom (which will last him through most of the race season). He looks so different! Think he's a bit embarrassed about his new look 😂

Andrea Sexton Artist invited us out for a visit to her studio and gallery.  A special trip - Luca and Lola had fun with Zinger Burger (Andrea's Golden Retriever). Unfortunately, the weather was not particularly amenable so they didn't get a lot of time out with him. Love that view of the dogs running across that lawn with the stunning view to the beach/ocean behind them.

 Just a wee loop around the block from home each. Gave them a go on their own.  Lola was on an off - ran some parts really nicely and dawdled in others.  Luca slower, but more consistent.

 We joined a few other teams for a fabulous weekend of training based on our club trails. Luca and Lola learned a lot and were fantastic all weekend. A friend's son rode the scooter whilst I handled the dogs for most of the weekend. I got on the scooter on Sunday when we did some faster rolling work without handlers. The advantage of my handling them was that it also seems to have crossed over to when I'm walking them on leads - they are so much more respectful now! Not a whole lot of photos/videos from on the trails as it was pretty full on but I love the video of them passing the big team attached to the quad bike! Justin got some lovely photos of them waiting before a run.

 Took Luca along to walk parkrun. He was so good. Met lots of people and charmed them all 😊💖

 Got brave and tried the two of them on their own without Luna or Raine along as leader. They did great - not speedy, but consistent. They are learning fast and seem to be enjoying it 😍 29 March - around the block from home. 30 March - out on the trails:

  A couple of fun training runs hitching up Luca and Lola at the back with either Luna or Raine upfront. Certainly notice the power difference with them on the line!

 Lola came along to an agility seminar and had a play in the puppy/pre-competition class. It was hilarious as the others in her group were all little terrier puppies! She was fabulous with them 😍

Some fun runs with Justin and his crew. Luca got to have a run with Kingsley, whilst Lola ran with Raine.

Luca and Lola had their first short runs in harness hooked up to the scooter. They each ran with one of the more experienced dogs. Both did well for first time out. Lola out with Raine Luca out with Luna Once home, the dogs all got a frozen sardine snack.  Lola enjoyed hers 😋 Luca wasn't so sure 😂