Santa Barbara Flyers Dog Sports

The Aussie Smile

9/15/2014

Anybody that has ever had an Aussie in the family knows the Aussie Smile. Do dogs smile when they are happy? Aussies do!

"How do you know that the Aussie Smile means that your dog is happy," you ask?

"Because I've never seen 'the smile' when I'm headed out the door without him in the morning, but it's always there when I return home in the evening."

When they're really smiling, there lip curls up like they've just had a taste of something really sour. It's a beautiful sight. Difficult to capture on 'film', though, as the lip curl only lasts for a few seconds. I'll keep trying. :)

Here's to a zillion more Aussie Smiles! The World can always use a few more...

I'm just saying.

Timbuck

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Santa Barbara Flyers' Panda and Cici, Lighting The Way

8/3/2014

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Photo used with permission by Contact Point Photography

Panda and Cici are the Agility team that inspired Boxcar and me to make Agility a priority in our lives. It was the first day of ‘Intro to Agility’ class with the Santa Barbara Flyers and we had arrived at class about 30 minutes early and Cici and Panda were running a course in the Advanced class. The bond between dog and handler radiates from this beautiful team and watching the two of them run really drew us in. As we arrived on the first day of class, I turned to my girlfriend, Marisa, and said, “Boxcar and I are going to be like them.” Boxcar and I have been active participants in the sport of Dog Agility ever since that day.

This photo captures the essence of Panda and Cici in a way that no words possibly can. Cici tells me that the photo was taken at Contact Point Agility [www.contactpointagility.com] in February 2011 as she and Panda celebrated their first qualifying score in a USDAA Starters Standard class [www.usdaa.com]. Can you see the glow radiating from this magnificent team?

And their glow doesn’t stop there! Panda is also a pet therapy dog certified by Therapy Dogs International [www.tdi-dog.org], and Cici and Panda visit retirement homes and patients at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital weekly. The team has a regular fan club at Wood Glen Hall retirement community [www.woodglenhall.org], and I can only imagine how thrilled the Cottage Hospital patients must be to see Panda and Cici enter their rooms. I imagine that this team’s glow has actually saved lives.

I'm just saying...

Timbuck

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Santa Barbara Flyers' Agneau of the Canyon is 9 yrs. Today

6/3/2014

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Check out this film stock, Cute Factor 200. There's a digital version too!

This is Agneau of the Canyon [Agneau]. I wonder if you are pronouncing that correctly. Agneau is a 9 year old Bichon Frise´ and a Santa Barbara Flyer. I love this picture. She's like a cartoon character. You can't invent cuteness like this! [Cute Factor 200 photos were shot at the Santa Barbara Flyers Dog Agility class on Saturday, May 31, 2014]

Agneau's #1 human and Agility Handler is Susan Shaberman, Santa Barbara Flyers Board Member At Large.

The first time I met Agneau she had just parked herself in my camp chair along side the Agility field. She does that, muddy paws and all. I have the dirty paw prints on my Agility chair to prove it! This dog knows a dog-friendly human when she meets one and she'll waste no time parking herself in your lap or on your camp chair once you've vacated it -- like to run an Agility course with Boxcar! Good thing she is so darn cute!

I recently asked Santa Barbara Flyers Board Member At Large, and human acquaintance of Agneau of the Canyon, Susan Shaberman, for a short bio on Agneau. This is what Susan said:

"Agneau was born in Santa Barbara and seems to believe that life is all about the game. She lives on the edge of a canyon. She loves the chase game, and there are plenty of lizards and rabbits for her to chase, but don't expect her to catch anything. That's not her kind of game! Agility is a great game for Agneau, but she often makes up her own rules and jokes around. Not so good for winning ribbons, but always lots of fun! Agneau started agility classes when she was 8 months old. She took a break to have puppies when she was 2, and was a great mom. Typical for a Bischon, she sees herself more as a person than as a dog, and is a great companion for the main human in her life. Agneau's idea of a nice afternoon at the neighborhood dog park is not typical for most dogs. You might take your dog to the park for exercise, and to play with the other dogs. No matter how much her human runs around with the other dogs, Agneau happily sits on the bench and socializes with the people. She soon became a favorite with the human pack, got lots of pets, and was able to keep her paws clean."

BTW, I've seen Agneau's paws quite muddy. I'm just saying...

Timbuck

P.S.: I just now found out that today is Agneau's 9th birthday. Happy Birthday, sweet Agneau!

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The Aussie Smile

Santa Barbara Flyers' Panda and Cici, Lighting The Way

Santa Barbara Flyers' Agneau of the Canyon is 9 yrs. Today

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