Cash is in Exc B JWW, Exc A Std, and Open FAST classes. He needs 2 Qs in Exc A Std to move to Exc B and 2 Qs in Open FAST to move to Exc FAST. Last Saturday at the BDOC trial, I managed to mishandle him enough to NQ in FAST and Std, but he got a Q and 4th place in JWW for his first MACH points (7 points). Only 743 more to go!
On Sunday, we NQ'd in FAST on a tough gamble and in JWW, I should have gone with him to the tunnel instead of sending him over the jump. He entered the wrong end of the tunnel. But his weaves were stellar both days. In Std. he saved my bacon when I got too close to his tunnel exit and managed to just get out of his way while he came shooting out of the tunnel. He held his line like a pro and got his second Q in Exc A Std with a 2nd place finish.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Two new titles!
Cash and I attended the Bellevue Dog Obedience Club 3 day agility trial this past weekend.
On Friday we got the bonus but no Q in Nov. FAST. Cash went supersonic and out of control. Wheeeeee! One handling bobble led to an off course in Exc. JWW but 12 clean weaves, and in Exc. Std. Cash decided two tunnels were just not enough so he added another. Otherwise it was a clean and fast run with great weaves. My thought was that with any luck we got all our screw ups out of our system and the next two days would be clean and fast.
Saturday was a complete turn around from Friday. Cash won and titled in the Novice FAST class with a score of 51 in 15.81 seconds of 35 seconds allowed. He also won the Exc A JWW class for his AXJ title and moved to Exc B for Sunday to hopefully start racking up MACH points. For a finale he won the Exc A Std class for his first Q. Woooooo Hoooooo!!!
On Sunday Cash got his first Open FAST Q & 2nd place in the class. In Exc B JWW I crowded him in the weaves & he popped at 10. He thought about going wild, but I was able to get him back & finish the run cleanly. I should have pulled him from Exc A Std. Hot day and he's never done a 3 day trial before. He bailed the teeter & we left the ring. He has all week to think about it before next weekend's trial.
On Friday we got the bonus but no Q in Nov. FAST. Cash went supersonic and out of control. Wheeeeee! One handling bobble led to an off course in Exc. JWW but 12 clean weaves, and in Exc. Std. Cash decided two tunnels were just not enough so he added another. Otherwise it was a clean and fast run with great weaves. My thought was that with any luck we got all our screw ups out of our system and the next two days would be clean and fast.
Saturday was a complete turn around from Friday. Cash won and titled in the Novice FAST class with a score of 51 in 15.81 seconds of 35 seconds allowed. He also won the Exc A JWW class for his AXJ title and moved to Exc B for Sunday to hopefully start racking up MACH points. For a finale he won the Exc A Std class for his first Q. Woooooo Hoooooo!!!
On Sunday Cash got his first Open FAST Q & 2nd place in the class. In Exc B JWW I crowded him in the weaves & he popped at 10. He thought about going wild, but I was able to get him back & finish the run cleanly. I should have pulled him from Exc A Std. Hot day and he's never done a 3 day trial before. He bailed the teeter & we left the ring. He has all week to think about it before next weekend's trial.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
GLOC AKC agility trial October 9 and 10, 2010
Our first foray into the Excellent A Standard class was interesting. No Qs but Cash ran fast and is working WITH me more at each trial. We did Q on Saturday and win the 12" Exc A JWW class for Cash's 2nd Q.
Sunday was not our day. One bobble in Jumpers cost us a Q and the alphabet soup that was on our scorecard from the Std class was all totally my fault. Poor little guy deserves a better handler but he's stuck with me.
Sunday was not our day. One bobble in Jumpers cost us a Q and the alphabet soup that was on our scorecard from the Std class was all totally my fault. Poor little guy deserves a better handler but he's stuck with me.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
BDOC AKC trial Sept 18 and 19, 2010
On Saturday as Cash and I were waiting to enter the ring for Novice FAST the speaker crackled and scared him out of his wits. No qualifying score due to over time and blowing the bonus. He was still spooky during Excellent JWW and blew the weave entry so another NQ. Cash saved the day in Open Standard with a nice run 17 seconds under SCT, and a first place.
Today was better. He didn't react so sharply to the speaker and won the Novice FAST class for his second Q toward his title. We had a nice run going in Exc A JWW when he uncharacteristically popped out at the third pole, did an immediate about face and PEED on the weave pole! I was shocked. He has never eliminated in the ring. My only guess is that a critter left its scent on the weave poles when they were left outside over night and he decided he must cover that scent. Big fat NQ for that class.
However he did win the Open Std class 15 seconds under SCT for his Open title. On to Exc A Standard!
Today was better. He didn't react so sharply to the speaker and won the Novice FAST class for his second Q toward his title. We had a nice run going in Exc A JWW when he uncharacteristically popped out at the third pole, did an immediate about face and PEED on the weave pole! I was shocked. He has never eliminated in the ring. My only guess is that a critter left its scent on the weave poles when they were left outside over night and he decided he must cover that scent. Big fat NQ for that class.
However he did win the Open Std class 15 seconds under SCT for his Open title. On to Exc A Standard!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Sunday results
Cash did win the Open Standard class from Saturday. Today he got 2nd in Exc A JWW. He was 4/10ths of a second out of first and this was his first Excellent leg.
Didn't do so well today in Novice FAST with a refusal at the weaves that burned too much time and we were 1 point short of qualifying. We also had a refusal on the teeter in Open Standard. Go figure. He will do 12 weaves in Open Std, but fails to complete the teeter but had a refusal of 6 weaves in Novice FAST.
Next AKC trial is in September.....
Didn't do so well today in Novice FAST with a refusal at the weaves that burned too much time and we were 1 point short of qualifying. We also had a refusal on the teeter in Open Standard. Go figure. He will do 12 weaves in Open Std, but fails to complete the teeter but had a refusal of 6 weaves in Novice FAST.
Next AKC trial is in September.....
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Two for Three at NKC!
After a train wreck of an Excellent JWW run (bad handler shot Cash into an off course tunnel and then he got the glint in his eye that said a YAHOO run was coming), we got back on track in Novice FAST with a first place and a Q for our first leg toward his Novice title.
We also Q'd in a nice run in Open Standard. I had to get home to get to work at my part time job and didn't stay to see how we placed so we'll find out tomorrow.
We also Q'd in a nice run in Open Standard. I had to get home to get to work at my part time job and didn't stay to see how we placed so we'll find out tomorrow.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Almost there....
Since I started Cash in NADAC agility one of my goals was for him to attain the Novice Versatility Award. That award is for Novice titles in all six NADAC classes: Jumpers, Regular, Tunnelers, Touch N Go, Chances and Weavers. He has five of the six titles and as of yesterday is one Novice Weavers Q away from it.
I entered Jumpers and Weavers yesterday to see if we could get the Q in the one Weavers class offered this weekend. He got the purple Q rosette, along with a third place rosette for placing in the class. I entered the Jumpers class to burn off some steam before Weavers and it worked.
Our next trial will be the Nebraska Kennel Club trial in July in Omaha. There we will use the FAST class to burn off some of his energy before the JWW and Standard classes (the ones that "count") Got to get those entries sent.
I entered Jumpers and Weavers yesterday to see if we could get the Q in the one Weavers class offered this weekend. He got the purple Q rosette, along with a third place rosette for placing in the class. I entered the Jumpers class to burn off some steam before Weavers and it worked.
Our next trial will be the Nebraska Kennel Club trial in July in Omaha. There we will use the FAST class to burn off some of his energy before the JWW and Standard classes (the ones that "count") Got to get those entries sent.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
No Qs but GREAT weaves!
No Qs today in either Exc. JWW (bad handler raised arm before turning shoulders. Cash took the jump in his line. He was right. I was wrong)
Also no Q in Open Std. I should have FC the teeter to give him a better line coming off a jump. Teeter was at right angle to the left of the jump. As a result he hit the teeter at an angle and his speed took him off of it.
HOWEVER, his weaves were GORGEOUS!! And the rest of the course was clean!
Linda Gower wrote our mistakes yesterday were "Errors of Exuberance" So true. And I'll take those ANY day.
Also no Q in Open Std. I should have FC the teeter to give him a better line coming off a jump. Teeter was at right angle to the left of the jump. As a result he hit the teeter at an angle and his speed took him off of it.
HOWEVER, his weaves were GORGEOUS!! And the rest of the course was clean!
Linda Gower wrote our mistakes yesterday were "Errors of Exuberance" So true. And I'll take those ANY day.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Don't Steal Someone's Joy
Connie Cleveland is a well known Obedience Trainer, but this could apply to
other venues beyond Obedience Dog Competitions. ..in any venue in life...
DON'T YOU DARE STEAL MY JOY
by Connie Cleveland
On the occasion of my tenth anniversary, my husband asked me how I wanted
to celebrate. I asked that we take a very dear friend, my adopted grandmother
and one of the greatest of all the great southern ladies, out to dinner
with us.
At dinner, my husband, Brian, presented me with a diamond ring. It was
gorgeous and I was speechless, but even as I thanked him, I worried about
the expense and extravagance of such a gift. As if he knew that the next
line belonged to my grandmother, my husband excused himself from the table.
He was barely out of sight when she reached across the table and grabbed me
by the shoulder, "I know what you're thinking, I know you think he couldn't
afford it and it's too extravagant. I don't care if he had to put a second
mortgage on the house to buy it, don't you steal his joy! It's beautiful.
Accept it as the token of his love that it is and say nothing about how he
shouldn't have bought it for you." Then she repeated, "Don't you dare steal
his joy!"
That was the end of the conversation. She sat back in her seat, smiled at
my returning husband, and we had a lovely dinner. I took her advice and put my
reservations out of my mind. The ring has never come off my finger, but
most importantly, I learned a wonderfully important lesson, never to steal
another man's joy.
Are you a joy stealer?
"You know if my dog hadn't gone down on the sit, I would have won the
class", said, unfeelingly, to the winner.
"I sure didn't think your dog worked that high a score."
"I can't believe you placed, I thought Jane Oneup and her dog would beat
you."
"I thought I had that class won! My dog had a great performance, " said to
the winner.
"Isn't that judge an idiot? I can't believe the dogs he put up!" said to
the winner.
"Boy, aren't you glad Mrs Winallthetime wasn't here today or you might not
have won."
"You passed that Master test because the water blind was so easy."
"That was the stupidest set of water marks I've ever seen. No trial should
end that easily," said to the winner.
Do you discourage or encourage fellow competitors? Do you tell them their
goals are too lofty and their dreams too big? Are you trying to be helpful
or trying to keep them from accomplishing something that you never had the
ability or perseverance to do yourself? It is equally as harmful to steal
joy by destroying the dream.
"No Basset Hounds get UD's," said to the owner of the Bassett in Utility
class.
"I've never seen a Rottweiler that could do fronts and finishes", said to
the owner of the Rottweiler practicing fronts and finishes.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a UD and a Master Hunter? Do
you know how few people have ever done it?" said to the first time dog owner
setting out to do both.
When FC AFC OTCH Law Abiding Ezra had both his field championships and 65
OTCH points including all the necessary first places, someone had the guts
to come up to me, his owner, trainer and handler and say, "No dog will ever
be a field champion and an obedience champion." My jaw drops when I think
about it. Isn't it unfortunate that I remember this attempt at stealing my
joy much more than I remember all the cards and letters and congratulations
I received when those last 35 points were earned?
If you are willing to destroy someone's dream, perhaps you don't realize
that it is the JOY of pursuing the dream that keeps the dreamer motivated,
not just reaching the accomplishment.
My husband and I travel and compete together. I remember an event, early in
our relationship when I watched his Doberman fail articles. "Darn it, " I
said, as he came out of the ring," she didn't even try to find the right
one!" "Oh", he replied, "but, weren't her heeling and signals wonderful?"
Unknowingly, I had almost stolen his joy. He was celebrating the
improvement on the exercise that had been giving him trouble, and I was focused on the
failure. Since that experience, Brian and I have learned that the best
response to a questionable performance, "What did you think?" That way, if
the handler is excited about some aspect of the performance, you can share
that excitement. If the handler is disappointed in another aspect, you can
share the disappointment. You are safely removed from being a joy stealer.
I hope you have a lot of dreams and goals for your dogs in (the coming
year). Undoubtedly there will be moments of disappointment as you venture
through the landmines of injury, failures and other setbacks. Remember that
the joy of the journey is worth the difficulties along the way and don't
let anyone steal that joy. Guard it well and at the end of the road you can own
it and revel in it with all the other memories of the trip.
Me here. I shared Connie Cleveland's thoughts to make a point of how easy it is for people to unwittingly "steal someone's joy"
In my previous post I wrote about how Cash's feet had slipped off the table, the judge stopped her count and then resumed when he put his feet back on. There was no fault signaled. Maybe there should have been. But when I was relating the incident to a friend helping at the trial secretary's desk, the trial secretary overhearing our conversation said, "That clearly should have been a table fault." She continued to interject into my conversation with my friend how it should have been faulted.
My daughter was there, having brought me a rose and a card for Mother's Day. I had also sent her Connie's missive. Katie and I recalled it at the same time, and as we were walking away agreed the trial secretary's comments were a perfect example of stealing someone's joy. My joy. The joy of finally finishing a title. Albeit a novice one, but a title nonetheless.
Joy...... Don't. Steal. It.
other venues beyond Obedience Dog Competitions. ..in any venue in life...
DON'T YOU DARE STEAL MY JOY
by Connie Cleveland
On the occasion of my tenth anniversary, my husband asked me how I wanted
to celebrate. I asked that we take a very dear friend, my adopted grandmother
and one of the greatest of all the great southern ladies, out to dinner
with us.
At dinner, my husband, Brian, presented me with a diamond ring. It was
gorgeous and I was speechless, but even as I thanked him, I worried about
the expense and extravagance of such a gift. As if he knew that the next
line belonged to my grandmother, my husband excused himself from the table.
He was barely out of sight when she reached across the table and grabbed me
by the shoulder, "I know what you're thinking, I know you think he couldn't
afford it and it's too extravagant. I don't care if he had to put a second
mortgage on the house to buy it, don't you steal his joy! It's beautiful.
Accept it as the token of his love that it is and say nothing about how he
shouldn't have bought it for you." Then she repeated, "Don't you dare steal
his joy!"
That was the end of the conversation. She sat back in her seat, smiled at
my returning husband, and we had a lovely dinner. I took her advice and put my
reservations out of my mind. The ring has never come off my finger, but
most importantly, I learned a wonderfully important lesson, never to steal
another man's joy.
Are you a joy stealer?
"You know if my dog hadn't gone down on the sit, I would have won the
class", said, unfeelingly, to the winner.
"I sure didn't think your dog worked that high a score."
"I can't believe you placed, I thought Jane Oneup and her dog would beat
you."
"I thought I had that class won! My dog had a great performance, " said to
the winner.
"Isn't that judge an idiot? I can't believe the dogs he put up!" said to
the winner.
"Boy, aren't you glad Mrs Winallthetime wasn't here today or you might not
have won."
"You passed that Master test because the water blind was so easy."
"That was the stupidest set of water marks I've ever seen. No trial should
end that easily," said to the winner.
Do you discourage or encourage fellow competitors? Do you tell them their
goals are too lofty and their dreams too big? Are you trying to be helpful
or trying to keep them from accomplishing something that you never had the
ability or perseverance to do yourself? It is equally as harmful to steal
joy by destroying the dream.
"No Basset Hounds get UD's," said to the owner of the Bassett in Utility
class.
"I've never seen a Rottweiler that could do fronts and finishes", said to
the owner of the Rottweiler practicing fronts and finishes.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a UD and a Master Hunter? Do
you know how few people have ever done it?" said to the first time dog owner
setting out to do both.
When FC AFC OTCH Law Abiding Ezra had both his field championships and 65
OTCH points including all the necessary first places, someone had the guts
to come up to me, his owner, trainer and handler and say, "No dog will ever
be a field champion and an obedience champion." My jaw drops when I think
about it. Isn't it unfortunate that I remember this attempt at stealing my
joy much more than I remember all the cards and letters and congratulations
I received when those last 35 points were earned?
If you are willing to destroy someone's dream, perhaps you don't realize
that it is the JOY of pursuing the dream that keeps the dreamer motivated,
not just reaching the accomplishment.
My husband and I travel and compete together. I remember an event, early in
our relationship when I watched his Doberman fail articles. "Darn it, " I
said, as he came out of the ring," she didn't even try to find the right
one!" "Oh", he replied, "but, weren't her heeling and signals wonderful?"
Unknowingly, I had almost stolen his joy. He was celebrating the
improvement on the exercise that had been giving him trouble, and I was focused on the
failure. Since that experience, Brian and I have learned that the best
response to a questionable performance, "What did you think?" That way, if
the handler is excited about some aspect of the performance, you can share
that excitement. If the handler is disappointed in another aspect, you can
share the disappointment. You are safely removed from being a joy stealer.
I hope you have a lot of dreams and goals for your dogs in (the coming
year). Undoubtedly there will be moments of disappointment as you venture
through the landmines of injury, failures and other setbacks. Remember that
the joy of the journey is worth the difficulties along the way and don't
let anyone steal that joy. Guard it well and at the end of the road you can own
it and revel in it with all the other memories of the trip.
Me here. I shared Connie Cleveland's thoughts to make a point of how easy it is for people to unwittingly "steal someone's joy"
In my previous post I wrote about how Cash's feet had slipped off the table, the judge stopped her count and then resumed when he put his feet back on. There was no fault signaled. Maybe there should have been. But when I was relating the incident to a friend helping at the trial secretary's desk, the trial secretary overhearing our conversation said, "That clearly should have been a table fault." She continued to interject into my conversation with my friend how it should have been faulted.
My daughter was there, having brought me a rose and a card for Mother's Day. I had also sent her Connie's missive. Katie and I recalled it at the same time, and as we were walking away agreed the trial secretary's comments were a perfect example of stealing someone's joy. My joy. The joy of finally finishing a title. Albeit a novice one, but a title nonetheless.
Joy...... Don't. Steal. It.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
More alphabet soup
Cash has more alphabet soup behind his name as he finished his Novice Standard title today. We are on a roll with two new titles in two weeks!
The weave poles bit us in the collective butt again in Open Jumpers. Got to work those more!
In Novice Standard it was a sit on the table, and he sat but very close to the edge. The judge was counting, "Five, four, three..." She stopped when Cash's front feet slipped off the table into a perfect two on/two off position. I whispered to him to get his feet back on the table. He pushed off the ground and replaced his front feet on the table all the while never moving his butt on the table. The count resumed, "Two, one, and go." The judge didn't ding us for a table fault (but probably should have). We did get a 5 point refusal for Cash blowing past the teeter and having to come back to do it.
We finished third in the class, but the only ribbons that count to me are the green qualifying ones and the new title rosettes.
I moved Cash up to Open Std at the GoDogs trial next weekend. Time to see how well we do with more experienced dogs and handlers....
The weave poles bit us in the collective butt again in Open Jumpers. Got to work those more!
In Novice Standard it was a sit on the table, and he sat but very close to the edge. The judge was counting, "Five, four, three..." She stopped when Cash's front feet slipped off the table into a perfect two on/two off position. I whispered to him to get his feet back on the table. He pushed off the ground and replaced his front feet on the table all the while never moving his butt on the table. The count resumed, "Two, one, and go." The judge didn't ding us for a table fault (but probably should have). We did get a 5 point refusal for Cash blowing past the teeter and having to come back to do it.
We finished third in the class, but the only ribbons that count to me are the green qualifying ones and the new title rosettes.
I moved Cash up to Open Std at the GoDogs trial next weekend. Time to see how well we do with more experienced dogs and handlers....
Another step closer
Yesterday at the Bellevue Dog Obedience Club AKC agility trial we took another step closer to some agility titles.
Cash needs one Q in Open Jumpers and two in Novice Standard for his titles at those levels.
Open Jumpers was going well at a very quick pace on a tricky course until he popped the weaves and NQ'd. We finished the course but it definitely told me we needed some more consistent weave practice.
Novice Standard was a nice flowing course and with only 6 weave poles and one retry as I gave him a bad entry angle, we finished with a first place and a Q.
I know it will jinx me even thinking this way, but it sure would be a nice Mother's Day present to finish two titles in one day today......
Cash needs one Q in Open Jumpers and two in Novice Standard for his titles at those levels.
Open Jumpers was going well at a very quick pace on a tricky course until he popped the weaves and NQ'd. We finished the course but it definitely told me we needed some more consistent weave practice.
Novice Standard was a nice flowing course and with only 6 weave poles and one retry as I gave him a bad entry angle, we finished with a first place and a Q.
I know it will jinx me even thinking this way, but it sure would be a nice Mother's Day present to finish two titles in one day today......
Cash redeems himself
Last Saturday after a MISERABLE performance in Rally Advanced at the Seward County Kennel Club show I was threatening to sell Cash on EBay. His attention was great outside the ring but once the leash was off he lost his mind. "Where am I? What are those signs? Who are you?" I ended up removing him from the ring. ARRRGGGGGHHHH! So frustrating!
I seriously considered not returning on Sunday to face more humiliation, but my competitive side got me out of bed to and to the ring on time. Plus I HATE to leave things unfinished.
I am pleased to announce Cash completed his Rally Advanced title on Sunday in grand style!
WITH A PERFECT SCORE OF 100!!!!!!!!!
There was another 100 in the class coming from a lovely Sheltie with a very experienced handler, so I knew it was down to time. Agility has taught me to run with a clock in my head and I knew we were pretty fast.
WE TOOK FIRST PLACE!!! with a time of 1:09. The Sheltie ran the course in 1:31.
Along with the first place blue ribbon, green qualifying ribbon, and rainbow new title ribbon, we hauled home a basket full of $25 worth of all natural dog treats which Cash is sharing with Keegan and Betty.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Sunday results
Back to Lincoln today for another round of jility with Cash. He Q'd again in Open JWW and won the class. Okay, so he was the only 12" jumper, but whatever. So we are 2/3 of the way there for his Open title.
I had high hopes for the Novice Std. class but it was not to be. Who knew he liked the table so much that he decided to do it again. Oops, wrong course and totally my fault, but really no agility dog worth his salt craves to do a table. I must have made that a REALLY valuable obstacle. So, no Q, but he did have a really good time!
Off to Racine, Wisconsin early Thursday morning for the TDAA Petit Prix!
I had high hopes for the Novice Std. class but it was not to be. Who knew he liked the table so much that he decided to do it again. Oops, wrong course and totally my fault, but really no agility dog worth his salt craves to do a table. I must have made that a REALLY valuable obstacle. So, no Q, but he did have a really good time!
Off to Racine, Wisconsin early Thursday morning for the TDAA Petit Prix!
GLOC agility trial
We entered Open JWW and Novice Standard as a tune up for TDAA Petit Prix next weekend. Can't believe it is already time for our trip to Racine.
Cash wasn't himself yesterday. He seemed just lethargic even at home before we drove to Lincoln and seemed sort of stressed. Totally unlike him. Add to that an entry door to the arena not far from our set up was being allowed to slam behind people as they came in. He's not usually noise sensitive but it was affecting him.
He perked up a bit as we entered the ring but after a couple of jumps was starting to slow down. In desperation I even clapped my hands and cheer leaded him a bit, something I abhor and never do, but it worked and once he saw the tunnel, really sped up, cleared the triple and zipped through 12 weaves. Result was a Q and first place in Open JWW.
He seemed to be feeling better so on to Novice Standard. The first few obstacles were a jump, DW to a tunnel, teeter and into the weaves. As he was halfway through the weaves the teeter slammed down behind him, sounding just like the annoying slamming door and he popped the weaves. It took twice to get him through and I knew once he started barking at me, the run was a bust, so I just used it as a training moment, and made sure he held his contact on the A frame and finished cleanly.
Today is another opportunity!
Cash wasn't himself yesterday. He seemed just lethargic even at home before we drove to Lincoln and seemed sort of stressed. Totally unlike him. Add to that an entry door to the arena not far from our set up was being allowed to slam behind people as they came in. He's not usually noise sensitive but it was affecting him.
He perked up a bit as we entered the ring but after a couple of jumps was starting to slow down. In desperation I even clapped my hands and cheer leaded him a bit, something I abhor and never do, but it worked and once he saw the tunnel, really sped up, cleared the triple and zipped through 12 weaves. Result was a Q and first place in Open JWW.
He seemed to be feeling better so on to Novice Standard. The first few obstacles were a jump, DW to a tunnel, teeter and into the weaves. As he was halfway through the weaves the teeter slammed down behind him, sounding just like the annoying slamming door and he popped the weaves. It took twice to get him through and I knew once he started barking at me, the run was a bust, so I just used it as a training moment, and made sure he held his contact on the A frame and finished cleanly.
Today is another opportunity!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Going to TDAA Nationals!!!
Today is Cash's 4th birthday. We have agility class tonight and Cash is taking treats for his classmates. Sorry humans, I didn't bake!
Cash and I were in Lincoln, NE this past weekend. We've never competed in a trial where a dog jumping 12" is considered a "big dog". We had a blast and Cash completed his Teacup Beginner Agility Dog title or TBAD. He also received two Qs toward his Games title.
As a result of competing this weekend we are eligible to compete in the 2009 TDAA Petit Prix (their national tournament) being held in Racine, Wisconsin October 9-11. Our trialing partner, Darla and her Pom, Nina also received their TBAD and Games titles and will be going too. Our friend Mary and her Papillon, Riley will be the third member of our team for the Team Event.
We are all so looking forward to a great trip and trial. Now to work with Cash on some of those "issues" that could bite us in the butt.
Cash and I were in Lincoln, NE this past weekend. We've never competed in a trial where a dog jumping 12" is considered a "big dog". We had a blast and Cash completed his Teacup Beginner Agility Dog title or TBAD. He also received two Qs toward his Games title.
As a result of competing this weekend we are eligible to compete in the 2009 TDAA Petit Prix (their national tournament) being held in Racine, Wisconsin October 9-11. Our trialing partner, Darla and her Pom, Nina also received their TBAD and Games titles and will be going too. Our friend Mary and her Papillon, Riley will be the third member of our team for the Team Event.
We are all so looking forward to a great trip and trial. Now to work with Cash on some of those "issues" that could bite us in the butt.
Monday, June 1, 2009
New Titles
Cash and I competed in the Nebraska Humane Society's NADAC trial this past weekend. He Q'd and won the class in Regular on Saturday for his Novice title.
On Sunday, he Q'd and won the class in Chances for that Novice title.
He needs two more Weavers Q's for his Novice Versatility title. No more local NADAC trials until fall, so we'll try for that title then.
Here's his Chances run. The Do Not Cross line was right at the third jump, extending left to right, including the tunnel on the left side. It really wasn't a bad gamble considering the day before not one dog in ANY level qualified. Perhaps the judge had an epiphany overnight. Oh, and please ignore my handling errors. I know my front cross was incredibly late, but considering the osteoporosis in my left hip has been acting up, I think I move pretty well in a flat out "sprint".
On Sunday, he Q'd and won the class in Chances for that Novice title.
He needs two more Weavers Q's for his Novice Versatility title. No more local NADAC trials until fall, so we'll try for that title then.
Here's his Chances run. The Do Not Cross line was right at the third jump, extending left to right, including the tunnel on the left side. It really wasn't a bad gamble considering the day before not one dog in ANY level qualified. Perhaps the judge had an epiphany overnight. Oh, and please ignore my handling errors. I know my front cross was incredibly late, but considering the osteoporosis in my left hip has been acting up, I think I move pretty well in a flat out "sprint".
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Wichita Dog Training Club trial - April 3 & 4
Cash had a pretty good weekend going 3 for 4 in Standard and JWW.
On Friday, he had already DQ'd in Standard when he couldn't make it through a damp, heavy chute, but I kept going to try to end on a good note. We got to the teeter and he was going so fast (and I was so shocked as we had had teeter issues), I forgot to say "Touch" to let him know he had to stop. He shot right off the end of the teeter about 6 feet in the air. He landed okay, but the crowd in the stands (this is a HUGE show) gave an audible GASP! We finished the course successfully with awesome weaves and a rock solid contact on the dogwalk and A frame. I was concerned that we would have problems with the teeter the next day, but tried to put it out of my mind.
Following Standard, he had a solid performance and placed second in JWW for a Q and his second leg. I'm very pleased with his start line stay, attention and weave poles.
On Saturday, he Q'd in Standard and won the class. With the chute following right after the dogwalk, I decided to do a running contact on the DW to give him enough speed to make it through the chute. This plan worked well.
Following a down on the table was a tunnel, weaves, two jumps and a hard right to the teeter. The poor guy is probably now deaf in his right ear as I screamed "Touch" to let him know he had to stop at the end. He was really flying and hit the brakes so hard I could hear his toenails skidding to the end of the teeter where he rode it down to perform a beautiful 4 on. He has a habit on contacts of flipping his ear out of the way so he can see my face as if to say, "What did you think of that!?!" After the teeter I front crossed him to a jump followed by a hard left to the A frame. He was flying again and was airborne over the top of the frame. He raced to a 2o2o at the bottom but was going so fast as he planted his front feet his rear came up until he was momentarily in a handstand (pawstand?) before dropping his rear end to the frame. The judge laughed out loud as did the crowd. And he once again gave me that look of "So what did you think of THAT?" He is quite the showman. This was his first Standard Q.
He also Q'd and won the class in JWW, so that is his Novice JWW title! Woo Hoo!!
On Friday, he had already DQ'd in Standard when he couldn't make it through a damp, heavy chute, but I kept going to try to end on a good note. We got to the teeter and he was going so fast (and I was so shocked as we had had teeter issues), I forgot to say "Touch" to let him know he had to stop. He shot right off the end of the teeter about 6 feet in the air. He landed okay, but the crowd in the stands (this is a HUGE show) gave an audible GASP! We finished the course successfully with awesome weaves and a rock solid contact on the dogwalk and A frame. I was concerned that we would have problems with the teeter the next day, but tried to put it out of my mind.
Following Standard, he had a solid performance and placed second in JWW for a Q and his second leg. I'm very pleased with his start line stay, attention and weave poles.
On Saturday, he Q'd in Standard and won the class. With the chute following right after the dogwalk, I decided to do a running contact on the DW to give him enough speed to make it through the chute. This plan worked well.
Following a down on the table was a tunnel, weaves, two jumps and a hard right to the teeter. The poor guy is probably now deaf in his right ear as I screamed "Touch" to let him know he had to stop at the end. He was really flying and hit the brakes so hard I could hear his toenails skidding to the end of the teeter where he rode it down to perform a beautiful 4 on. He has a habit on contacts of flipping his ear out of the way so he can see my face as if to say, "What did you think of that!?!" After the teeter I front crossed him to a jump followed by a hard left to the A frame. He was flying again and was airborne over the top of the frame. He raced to a 2o2o at the bottom but was going so fast as he planted his front feet his rear came up until he was momentarily in a handstand (pawstand?) before dropping his rear end to the frame. The judge laughed out loud as did the crowd. And he once again gave me that look of "So what did you think of THAT?" He is quite the showman. This was his first Standard Q.
He also Q'd and won the class in JWW, so that is his Novice JWW title! Woo Hoo!!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
NADAC trial today
A number of people decided not to compete today so we were home by about 12:30. Today the arena seemed actually warmer than yesterday. Either the snow we got overnight helped insulate the roof or my blood is getting thicker and I don't notice the cold as much.
Today we again went 3 for 6 in the Q department with a Q and 2nd place in Regular, another Chances Q and another Tunnelers Q and 2nd place. There is an extremely fast Papillion running in Novice that once again kicked our butt today. Oh well, Q’s are much better to me than placements!
We did have some outstanding things like Cash's start line stay in Tunnelers. After we were told to Go and I did a 30-35' lead out just to be told "Oh wait, there's a loose dog on course." The Corgi ahead of us got away from his handler after they finished and proceeded to take 4 or 5 more tunnels. I kept laser-like eye contact with Cash and he didn't move a toenail. Good Boy!
His start line stay in Tunnelers with a loose dog on the course made my WHOLE weekend. We worked so hard to make his SLS rewarding to him and it paid off in spades. He probably would have had his fuzzy butt glued to the ground if the Corgi charged at him through the tunnel he was in front of. I was SO proud of him! Two of our instructors were there that knew how hard we had worked, saw his rock solid SLS, and were just elated for us.
He also Q'd in Chances with another evil side-by-side tunnel requiring him to take the far one (of course) and he nailed it.
The NQ’s were again my fault. My timing sucks and I need to get Cash information faster, but sometimes I just can’t spit out the words. It's a work in progress. His biggest handicap is his handler. Seems like the more we do agility the more there is for me to learn! But it's fun and I enjoy the sport and the camaraderie with other handlers.
Here are some videos. The first one is his Tunnelers run (apparently featuring my big butt at the start). The second one is the Chances run and the third is our Regular run. Enjoy and feel free to comment. Not on my big butt! On my handling.
Today we again went 3 for 6 in the Q department with a Q and 2nd place in Regular, another Chances Q and another Tunnelers Q and 2nd place. There is an extremely fast Papillion running in Novice that once again kicked our butt today. Oh well, Q’s are much better to me than placements!
We did have some outstanding things like Cash's start line stay in Tunnelers. After we were told to Go and I did a 30-35' lead out just to be told "Oh wait, there's a loose dog on course." The Corgi ahead of us got away from his handler after they finished and proceeded to take 4 or 5 more tunnels. I kept laser-like eye contact with Cash and he didn't move a toenail. Good Boy!
His start line stay in Tunnelers with a loose dog on the course made my WHOLE weekend. We worked so hard to make his SLS rewarding to him and it paid off in spades. He probably would have had his fuzzy butt glued to the ground if the Corgi charged at him through the tunnel he was in front of. I was SO proud of him! Two of our instructors were there that knew how hard we had worked, saw his rock solid SLS, and were just elated for us.
He also Q'd in Chances with another evil side-by-side tunnel requiring him to take the far one (of course) and he nailed it.
The NQ’s were again my fault. My timing sucks and I need to get Cash information faster, but sometimes I just can’t spit out the words. It's a work in progress. His biggest handicap is his handler. Seems like the more we do agility the more there is for me to learn! But it's fun and I enjoy the sport and the camaraderie with other handlers.
Here are some videos. The first one is his Tunnelers run (apparently featuring my big butt at the start). The second one is the Chances run and the third is our Regular run. Enjoy and feel free to comment. Not on my big butt! On my handling.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
NADAC trial this weekend
Once again I lost my mind and entered all 12 classes available at the Companion Dog Club's two day trial with the very personable Matt McCarter as our judge.
January in Nebraska can be EXTREMELY COLD! The high temperature today was 15 degrees. Our trial is being held at a nearby horse stable with a huge indoor (unheated, but insulated) arena. The attached crating area has three propane heaters running, so it is chilly but livable.
The 6 or 8 barn cats have discovered that agility dogs get treats after they run and one little grey one in particular decided my crate area was a great place to hang out. We would return from a run and little grey guy would be sitting in my chair. Cash jumped into the chair and gave him a hip check to move him over and they shared some leftover filet mignon.
We went 3 for 6 today totally due to handler error. Cash read my body language perfectly, unfortunately it was directing him to the wrong obstacle in a discrimination. One little bobble toward the end of otherwise beautiful runs ended them in NQs.
We got our first Chances Q on a course with two tunnels side-by-side and of course the correct one was the far one. We got it with me teetered just inside the line, directing "Out. Tunnel." Bless his little heart, he zoomed into the right one! One of the BC handlers in Open had a fabulous run going when she directed "Out. Tunnel." and he took the tunnel 20 feet into the next ring. Well, she did say, "Out. Tunnel." and that was the furthest tunnel out.
We Q'ed in Jumpers and are now one Q from his Novice Outstanding Jumpers title. Crossed fingers for tomorrow.
We also Q'ed in Tunnelers and gained Cash's Novice Tunnelers title.
Six more runs tomorrow in frigid weather with 3-4" of snow predicted tonight. Oh joy!
January in Nebraska can be EXTREMELY COLD! The high temperature today was 15 degrees. Our trial is being held at a nearby horse stable with a huge indoor (unheated, but insulated) arena. The attached crating area has three propane heaters running, so it is chilly but livable.
The 6 or 8 barn cats have discovered that agility dogs get treats after they run and one little grey one in particular decided my crate area was a great place to hang out. We would return from a run and little grey guy would be sitting in my chair. Cash jumped into the chair and gave him a hip check to move him over and they shared some leftover filet mignon.
We went 3 for 6 today totally due to handler error. Cash read my body language perfectly, unfortunately it was directing him to the wrong obstacle in a discrimination. One little bobble toward the end of otherwise beautiful runs ended them in NQs.
We got our first Chances Q on a course with two tunnels side-by-side and of course the correct one was the far one. We got it with me teetered just inside the line, directing "Out. Tunnel." Bless his little heart, he zoomed into the right one! One of the BC handlers in Open had a fabulous run going when she directed "Out. Tunnel." and he took the tunnel 20 feet into the next ring. Well, she did say, "Out. Tunnel." and that was the furthest tunnel out.
We Q'ed in Jumpers and are now one Q from his Novice Outstanding Jumpers title. Crossed fingers for tomorrow.
We also Q'ed in Tunnelers and gained Cash's Novice Tunnelers title.
Six more runs tomorrow in frigid weather with 3-4" of snow predicted tonight. Oh joy!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
It's my birthday!
Yeah, mine. Not Cash's.
Actually it is the 16th anniversary of my 40th birthday....
Last night Denny and I went to his office Christmas party at a local restaurant that also has an arcade. I did pretty well and won this:
A poodle! Imagine that!
Denny, Katie and I are going out to eat tonight so a pretty low key celebration.
My biggest excitement of the day is that I mailed Betty's registration to the AKC today. Hopefully I will have it back within a couple of weeks and can start planning our 2009 show 
season. I'm thinking of bringing her out at the Greater Wichita Poodle Specialty in early April. She is in need of a shave in the picture but you get the idea of how pretty she is.
I'm a total unknown in the breed ring, having been away from it for 40 years. Although I did have the #4 Cocker Spaniel in the country owner handled back in the 70's.
This ought to be a hoot, an older woman with a stunning, typey bitch that has never been seen in the area. What fun!!!!
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