2015 AAC Regional Championships

This year the AAC Regionals were held just outside of Sherwood Park (east of Edmonton) and hosted by K9 Korruption. The format was changed up a little bit and it was turned into a 3 day event instead of the usual 2 day event.

Everyone came to Regionals!

I'm not sure how I ultimately feel about it being 3 days. 2 runs a day is a little easier on the dogs, not sure how much of an edge that gave Spencer. Only 2 rings ran at a time and people were split into 4 groups instead of the "usual" 3. Regular dogs all ran together in 2 groups and then Specials/Vets all ran together in the other 2 groups.

The nice thing was if the Regular dogs started first at 8:30, Specials/Vets didn't even start "their" open walk through until 12:00 (they had 2 sets of open walk throughs, you could attend both if you wanted to, or you could just go to the one right before you had to run.) So you didn't have to be at the trial site at the crack of dawn. However, all your runs were in the afternoon, where it would be hotter. It also felt kind of weird not to see half the people you usual compete with since the Regular dogs were split out.

Rock is SLIPPERY as all heck!

The bad thing of course is now you're hoteling or camping for at least 3 nights (maybe 4) and you're having to book more time off work, at least 2 days, likely 3 if you want Monday off to recover. So that isn't as nice.

Anyway. It was what it was. Some people decided not to go because of the format. Lots of us still did go. It was a nice venue, to be sure. Weather was a little hit and miss. Sunday I was really glad to find some heat pack warmers in my trial gear left over from winter, it was that cold (and rainy.) I got a jacket and a shirt this year and I am super impressed with them. SO NICE.

Front of Jacket and Welcome Bag/Backpack

Back of Jacket & The Shirt - I got pink, there were choices!

All in all, this was a good year I think. Weather was on, off and couldn't make up it's mind what it was doing - we got the full gamut of Alberta weather every day, but while my dogs were running weather wasn't that bad. At least the wind held off after the absolute gong show of Thursday's Steeplechase shenanigans (jumps falling EVERYWHERE.)

View to the right of my tent/benching

View to the left of my tent/benching

Schedule was; Jumpers and Gamblers 1 on Friday, Standard 1 & 2 on Saturday and then Jumpers 2 and Gamblers 2 on Sunday.

Thrilled with how my boys ran this weekend. (I'm still calling it a weekend!!)

Baxter's Results

This year I dropped Baxter into 6" Veterans.  This was actually a pretty competitive class this year with 3 dogs going neck and neck for the finish. He was in 1st place by 0.6 of a point going into Sunday!

Baxter was awesome this weekend, but I'm worried about him. He's definitely slowed down a lot from last winter. I had the canine body worker give him a massage on Thurs evening and then we had a chiro adjustment on Saturday as well. Have some stuff to work on to help him feel better. I don't think he should be slowing down this much at only 7!

Friday he was awesome. I ran essentially the same path I did with Spencer in Gamble, and he had a bit of a moment where he went out and took a obstacle farther away in the mini before taking the one I wanted, so we only got one set of mini points. He also couldn't see the weaves, but again, no 6" Vet dogs saw them either. He had a lovely and tight Jumpers run but was a little slower (it was hot.)

Saturday he did really well in the cool, running a nice clean Standard 2 and earning a first place in that run, but popping the weaves at pole 6 for some strange reason giving us 95 points instead of the 122.60 that we might have otherwise gotten in Standard 1.

Sunday again we were good in jumpers if a little slower. He doesn't run as fast as a Papillion! Gamblers I did the same path I had just run with Spencer, 6 dogs earlier, but Baxter bobbled the mini the second time through. Instead of just leaving it and continuing with my plan, I stepped in and didn't have any handling plan in mind. He took the weaves, at the 2nd pole in and wouldn't call out of them, so the buzzer went right after he completed them for no points. He ended up with only 23 opening points, but did get the final gamble! Good boy Fluff!! If I hadn't have messed that up, we might have had 10 more mini gamble points to add on!

Baxter placed second this year in the 6" Veterans division with 510.80 points, behind another All Canadian dog named Kenny who won with 529.53 points. Without the bobbles, we could have had 548.40 points and again may have ended up in first place - some of those mine, some of those his. Overall, proud of our performance and his gambling!

Baxter's Regional/National Stats:

2013 Regionals 6" Specials 1st Place: 448.50 points 3/6 clean runs, no gambles
2013 Nationals 6" Specials 2nd Place: 439.44 points 2/6 clean runs, no gambles
2014 Regionals 6" Specials 3rd Place: 405.79 points 3/6 clean runs, no gambles
2015 Regionals 6" Veterans 2nd Place: 510.80 points 4/6 clean runs, GOT A GAMBLE!!!

Exhausted - Sunday after we finished running while waiting to watch Steeplechase

Spencer's Results

Spencer was a rockstar! Especially considering I basically had to drag him out of his nice, warm, cozy kennel for each run. I'm glad I remembered to bring his winter jacket, he wore it most of Saturday and Sunday.

Friday he was a little off on Jumpers and I threw in some extraneous handling to keep him engaged with me. It worked well and I am proud of both of us. In Gamblers I only attemped one mini (the other had a teeter in it) but he got it! None of the 6" Specials dogs got the final gamble which was a jump, then switch out to the weaves layering that jump. Baby black dog placed first in his Gamble run though!

Saturday went very well and he was really trying for me. We had 2 really good runs, but on our first Standard I wanted to speed him up around the post turn on the jump before the last obstacle (a tunnel) and I told him tunnel too soon and didn't pick him up/connect with him after the jump so he took the wrong entrance. He did great. His handler not so much!

Sunday was really good too. We had jumpers first, then gamble. He had a nice and clean Jumpers (actually faster than Baxter) and placed first! Then in Gamble 2 he placed first as well! He got 3 mini gambles and ended up with 35 points. He would have had the main as well, but again his handler bobbled and I stopped supporting the tunnel he was sending to and he stopped for a second before taking it. The buzzer went when we were a couple steps away from clearing jump 4, less than a second over time. Oh well. In my mind I'm counting that as he got it!

Spencer ended up coming in second place in the 6" Specials division with 422.27 points, behind Slammer who won again this year with 474.42 points. IF his handler hadn't have messed up his runs Spencer could potentially have ended up with 490.45 points and first place!! So I'm very happy with our effort this year. A couple of little bobbles, but nothing major and he was such a brave little black dog for me!

Spencer's Regional/National Stats:

2013 Regionals 10" Regulars 4th Place: 398.66 points 2/6 clean runs, no gambles
2013 Nationals 10" Regulars 12th Place: 419.25 points 3/6 clean runs, no gambles
2014 Regionals 6" Specials 2nd Place: 434.79 points 3/6 clean runs, no gambles
2015 Regionals 6" Specials 2nd Place: 422.27 points, 4/6 clean runs, technically no gambles, SO CLOSE


Ultimately I'm thrilled with our performance this weekend, bobbles and all. Really happy with my mental game, loved my dog's heart and our team work out there. Happy with our connection on course. Most of the bobbles were mine, and I know exactly what I did wrong.

My very good boys!

Baxter: 2nd Place 6" Vets Aggregate - 1st place Standard 2, 2nd place Gamblers 2

Spencer: 2nd Place 6" Specials Aggregate - 1st place Gamblers 1, Gamblers 2 and Jumpers 2

(Yes - they did actually place in all their runs, but 6" Specials only had 4 dogs this year and 6" Vets wasn't much better with only 6!)

Alas...

... So cute, but not meant to be.

But, before we go back to our regularly scheduled program and I finally post the Regionals review (waiting on pictures-Regionals went really well);

Not my picture!  Nor, sadly, my puppy. Though I did try!

He would have fit the name I have picked out so well too!

More waiting ...
... C'mon 6-July-2015, and please let the numbers and sexs/colors work out for me!


Oh?! Did I mention? I've been looking for a prospective performance puppy. I have a couple of possibilities in mind. This one just cropped up, but he would have been a little larger than I was hoping for. Still, gorgeous, mis-marked, "gay" tail and all!

Non dog people are not so supportive of my desire for a puppy.

Funny though, I've never heard anyone comment to a pregnant woman "What did you need another kid for?" or "Why are you having another baby?" yet, I get that with the dogs. - Yes, I know, dogs are not children. Yet, they still take up a similar amount of your time. AND if you have multiples, obviously the time that you spend with each as an individual is going to be reduced since you split it between them. That is the point I'm trying to make.

"Who will you retire?" - Well, in the 2 years it will take for the new puppy to theoretically be ready to compete I think Baxter will be done running. Maybe he is just sore this year and with our new conditioning program that will go away. But he's 17lbs running on 6 inch tall legs with both legs turning out on his front end. He isn't going to have a long career, even if I've only ever jumped him 6" and I will not continue to run him until he is crippled, ruined and in constant pain even when we're not playing agility.

Or possibly Spencer with his stress issues and the luxating patella.

Or hey, maybe both?!?!

Who knows. Talk to me in 2 years.

"You only have 2 hands" - Yep, sure do. What was the point you were trying to make with this one?!

"Will you even have time for your other dogs with a new puppy???" - Um. Yes?!? Here, lets look at it this way;

My 3 dogs get more attention, training and exercise than your one dog gets - scary, I know. Adding a puppy will absolutely take some time away from the other 3. Especially during the critical socialization and learning period for the puppy when they have to come first- but then I will continue to do what I do now, except with 4 dogs. While that puppy is a priority, I'LL be the one getting the short end of the stick, the dogs will still get their attention, walks and play time. I'LL just be getting a little less sleep!

But for now, none of this is a reality.

So. Fingers crossed that it'll become one and while I did not get the pictured puppy above that I "wanted" I will end up with the puppy I "need" =)

Fullerton Loop - May 2015

It's been a month, but hey! At the beginning of May, we did our "usual" hike out in Kananaskis just to kick off the season.

Weather wasn't really the best that day, but at least by the time we were finished the loop the snow had all melted. I had thought we might be safe for snow, since we did wait until May to head out and the hike isn't very high up, but no dice it seems!

Well hello snow, did you miss the memo? It's spring!!

Such mucky dogs! Poor Baxter had dirt dreadlocks by the time we got home, and Spencer looked like he was pin stripped up his sides where the dirt and mud dried. Usually I can brush them out once they're dry and avoid having to bath them. Not this time! Had to take Baxter in to the actual dog wash - the kitchen sink wasn't cutting it!

SO dirty!

Maybe the trail was a *little* muddy ...

Good times, even when Baxter accidentally jumped in a slushy stream and ended up in freezing water up to his shoulders. Good thing he is mostly water proof. I figured it would be better to keep him moving and his muscles warm rather than head back to the car and worry about hypothermia etc.

Penny did come as well, but princess' don't do mud or snow and still look photogenic or happy. Mostly they look like they want to bite you, and the one cute group picture I had of the dogs didn't end up turning out. So no Penny pictures. She was there hiking away with us though!