Fabulous Flea

After not getting a puppy from the litter that I was (sort of) on the list for, I've been in a bit of a panic about dogs and agility.

I really want a puppy to teach all sorts of new stuff to. AND I want a puppy to start bringing along to be an agility performance dog as well. Baxter is getting older, Spencer has his issues. Even if I brought a puppy home tomorrow it's 18 months to 2 years before that puppy could potentially trial and lets face it, I don't know if both my boys (possibly EITHER of my boys) will still be competing then. I want a dog who wants to play the game with me!

I often ask a friend of mine about various sport type breeders while researching. She's been in the dog game a while now. Her Mom breeds, she breeds, she also plays sports and has lived out east. Long story short, she's got a lovely little Jack Russel Terrier who would be a good agility dog and has great structure that she isn't going to have time to train and run in agility. But she knows I was looking for a puppy and wondered if I'd be interested in playing with her.

It's a little weird training a dog you don't live with. The plus side is that Flea already is an adult, and has some foundation on her plus has other sport background already too. It'll take a little longer to get to competition ready, but half the fun is the journey (and I can re-learn how I want to teach things to a puppy - BEFORE I have that puppy!!)

She's such a fun little dog to play with! So far I really do like "terrorists" though she is quite mellow compared to most. I love how she bounces, can bend like she's made of rubber and has attitude. Not much hurts her feelings, which is a nice change! She's also the "right" height. Measuring about 13.5" which will put her into the 16" Regular category in AAC.

Good girly sitting like a dork!

September P'N'E Trial

One of my very favorite authors has a line he uses in most of his books about not handing the universe a line like that. An example would be saying "Could this day get any better?" (when everything is going wrong.) But it could also be saying "Wow, I'm glad that is done" (and then it won't be.)

Apparently I handed the universe a line like that with the last blog post, and while the Veterans class sure does have more time and needs less points - when you and your dog aren't quite connecting, it's not EZmode agility.

Good boys - pretty as a picture

Spencer was a rock star this trial!

I had happy, enthusiastic, best little black dog for our first 3 runs.

Jumpers rocked, he was fast and actually driving to obstacles. Challenge was also fast and happy, until he had a bobble at the weaves with having to sniff the pole. It was a weird issue, maybe another dog pee'd on them the day before? I also messed up his Challenge run after that, not making sure I had him with me when I said "Tunnel" - sending him into the wrong end. Like I did at Regionals. Something to work on, that.

He did great in Gamble, getting 2 minis and he would have had the main if his handler didn't assume he'd take a very flat angle jump (and I didn't support so he slid by it.)

Wasn't quite so "on" for the last run, Steeplechase. More weave sniffing and 3x restarts to get that right, which isn't like him. His weaves are one of his stronger obstacles - then he deke'd around a jump when I didn't babysit it.

So. No entering him in 4 runs a day. 3 is his max.

Baxter was AMPED for the first run, which was Jumpers. He just about bit a off course in the first 3 obstacles and then because I had to handle funny to save it, I was in the wrong place for the 4th obstacle, didn't blind like I wanted to and lost him to the off course "wrong" tunnel mouth. I'm happy with my choice to pretend that nothing went wrong though and keep "playing through."

Challenge was better, little more listening, but I have to really push him over flat jumps and I didn't, so again, despite the E we played through this too!

Gamble was good. 2x the same mini as Spencer, but he got sucked into the wrong tunnel mouth and then stayed in the tunnel vortex of doom for 2 or 3 repeats of the same tunnel. We need to practice this tunnel sending, and video it. Maybe body cues are messing him up and I am turning too much too fast before he's committed. At least he sent out, and he sent for the mini, so I'm happy with that.

By the time we were in Steeplechase he'd slowed down a bit. No single striding the weaves, and still wanting to drive lines. On the front cross after the frame to get him over the right jump he really tried to drive to the wrong one. Our connection was just a little off the whole weekend.

Also good boys - the bloopers (Baxter doesn't appreciate being that close to Spencer when he's barking)