Contrary to what the blog looks like, we've actually been doing things the past few months. It hasn't even been so crazy that I couldn't blog.
But I'll leave that for the next post.
This weekend was the first trial for a new agility group in our area as well as a fundraiser for one of our local competitors going to the WAO.
I was totally excited to enter this trial since both dogs were in a position to get new title ribbons from a new club if the stars had aligned for us.
It was a great weekend (Sunday?) for us, and an awesome way to end the holiday week. Both boys did wonderful. I think it has really helped that we've been working some drills and skills at an arena rental on the weekend as well as our usual running the course and working the rough stuff in class.
Spencer has lots of moments of brilliance and gave me some enthusiasm after nearly shutting down several times, so progress. He did have a moment in his almost clean and lovely standard run where the dog walk was too scary, but I'm attributing that to teeter issues.
We didn't get a refusal on the jump wrapping back to the A-Frame and the K-Turn over the wing into the weaves wasn't terrible (it's better in training than in competition) AND I still had a dog left after we conquered the scary DW. I'm also proud of how I handled him missing that last jump (not caring.) We're going for confidence and enthusiasm! I do need to stop flapping my hand to "throw" him over the jumps though. Out and forward, no flapping!
He managed 4 runs, 2 standard and 2 jumpers. In his first jumpers I didn't have a lot of enthusiastic Spencer to work with, and we were a little over time. However he pulled it back together for the last jumpers run of the day and not only ran with some enthusiasm, he also qualified!
Baxter was a furry little rock star this weekend going 3/4 and placing first in his runs. He jumped a DW contact in his second standard, reminding me that if I'm going to get his contacts by managing them (since he just is not understanding when he is wrong during retraining) I'd better actually MANAGE them, not just flake out!
Baxter managed one more title in 2014, finishing his Expert Jumpers Silver (25 Master Jumpers Q's) this trial. Sadly, we didn't get a title ribbon from a new club yet, Fionavar K9 sponsored the ribbons for this trial, but it was still awesome! Love my little Fluff! Love both of my agility boys really, they're very different dogs but good little dogs!
It's amazing how together we can look when I actually practice handling drills with my dogs!
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