VD (Valentines Day) Trial Review - Feb 11th

It seems like there are a few specific trials that I hit pretty regularly and others that I miss more often than not. This past weekend was one of the former!

Facebook actually shared a memory with me that 6 years ago on this weekend Baxter got his ADC and ran clean in 6/8 runs. That was my very first title I've ever put on a dog.

This weekend Baxter picked up 2 more titles, finishing his Expert Snooker Silver (25 Snookers) and his Master Challenge Dog of Canada (5 Challenge Q's) titles. There are a couple more big titles I'm aiming for with Baxter before retiring him. It's pretty bitter-sweet. I just adore running my Fluff and we are a pretty solid team.

The Challenge course this weekend was just awesome. Such nice flow and I'm very happy with how Baxter and I ran this ... even if people did talk to the judge to tweak it to make the approach to 19 "equally" nice from both ways over 18.

We ran the course in "extension," with the only jump that was wrapped being #17 where that is obviously the shorter distance. I really am appreciating the seminar we recently did where the focus was on the dog's path and which way is faster.

Extension - the way we ran it

Collection - A LOT more turns. 

It always makes my heart happy when we get compliments on a run and this one was no exception. It's high praise indeed when the judge tells you nicely run on the way out - makes me think we ran it the way it ran in her head. This one is going to be fodder for a few days of practice for the younger dogs!

Poor Spencer was feeling off this weekend. He had a really nice Snooker run and then in Challenge didn't want to take the Frame, so I pulled him for the rest of the day and didn't ask him to run in Steeplechase. He needs a couple more Standard for a big-ish title that I would really like to get with him and after that I think he might be done with trialing - especially as I get the little herdy girls up and running so to speak.

I'm very happy with how my little red-head did this weekend as well! Until we get the disconnect kinks worked out, right now I am working on back-chaining and not trying to run a full course. Nike was only in Standard and Jumpers and we only did 10 obstacles in each of them but I'm happy with how she did.

CAA November Remembrance Day Trial Review & Rant

At the beginning of the month was CAA's annual Remembrance Day Trial.

I haven't trialed a lot lately, with Lethbridge being the last big trial in September. This was such an awesome weekend, despite being part of the club putting on the trial and needing to be there from the very beginning to the very end. 2 x 12 hour days plus Friday night leads to being pretty wrung out come the end of the day on Sunday.

Baxter is not running full trials anymore and Spencer never has run full trials so it was pretty relaxed in terms of numbers of runs per day. I did enter Nike, but we're on a confidence building plan with her, so her runs don't "count."

Friends to trial and bench with make a world of difference in having a enjoyable weekend as well. This weekend was no exception. We benched with one of our training partners and having someone to video and chat with is awesome.

My boys rocked Friday night (their whole one run each) but it set me up to have a fantastic weekend. That connected feeling where your training pays off and you run as a team. It's the best feeling in the world!

All of the Masters level courses were under a judge I'd never actually trialed under before and being that she's a pretty standard fixture on various world teams, I didn't expect to love trialing under her as much as I did. Maybe it's a hold over from having the non-standard breeds, or from running my "slow" dogs. I really love it when people notice how good of a team the people in the ring are with their dogs - regardless of breed, or how fast/amazing a run was. What makes my heart happy is when a team is out having a great time and the dog is clearly understanding what the handler wants. Those pretty, fluid, connected runs.

Baxter was ON all weekend, running great except for a bobble in a Standard which was my fault, not his. He picked up 2 Jumpers, 1 Standard, 1 Snooker and ran 4/5. It felt like he wanted to do more during the day, but when we ran those last runs each day he felt a little tired/slower so I think that 2 runs a day is a good compromise for him.

With those Jumpers Q's we only need 3 more to earn his Gold Jumpers which is my big goal for him. I initially wanted to get that in 2017, but even if we hit all the Jumpers possible (locally anyway) that wouldn't be happening, so I guess it'll be in 2018 under the new "jump" heights. (And I call them "jumps" because my short, Special/Vet boys only have to jump 4" which really isn't even a jump for them.)

Spencer was on as well - he really does better with less trialing/training. He held it together for me for the weekend, minus melting in his Snooker run that might have been due to soreness. We had a bobble in his otherwise awesome Standard were he pulled off and refused the Frame right before the Snooker run, which is why I'm thinking he might have been sore. He doesn't usually pull off the Frame, just on jumps when he's feeling worried. He picked up 1 Standard, 1 Steeplechase and 1 Gamble running 3/5, but those 3 he was ON, driving to obstacles and responsive.

As much as Jumpers is Baxter's game - Standard and Gamble are Spencer's. He doesn't LOVE distance, but he understands what I want him to do and has the confidence to go out there and attempt it. It makes me so happy that my soft little margarine puddle of a dog has the confidence to try for me. His weaves and DW make those games so much easier with him than they were with Baxter.

Nike did well with our new goal of having a good time in the ring and not stressing out/disconnecting. First run was only 5 or 6 obstacles on the way to the exit to have a cookie party, and she got distracted by some smells in the back, but we got it back together and finished strong.

Our second run was a Standard, and we actually attempted everything but the table. She knows and likes the table, but the stops where she is not rewarded seem make her think she is wrong and result in her disconnecting - so right now, no stopping! I lost her worse to smells after the teeter again, but again, got her back (it was her idea to teeter again, not mine) and we finished nicely and had another cookie party.

Until I've got 100% of a dog wanting to play my game, she'll be running Specials. Right now we need confidence and happy more than anything and once those are there the skills (that we have in training) will be a *little* more apparent - because right now it looks like I have a completely untrained dog.

I'm also going to fully embrace the journey Nike and I are on here and learn the things that she's teaching me that will make me a better and stronger trainer.  It's about Nike and I. Period.

I love my dogs and I love the journey we are on together.

Titles, Trial Review and Baby Dogs ... OH MY ...

Oh baby dog. But first, the good stuff.

This weekend we drove down to Lethbridge to support a new club hosting their first agility trial. The trial was well run and organized. Lots of awesome little perks that really make an event feel like it is well run. The venue was FABULOUS. Lots of benching under huge trees for shade made the 33°C day on Saturday bearable!

Baxter and Spencer ran in Dog Days of Summer (Nike's first trial.) Both boys did fantastic, especially considering the heat, but towards the end of the second day Baxter was slow. Usually he runs my speed and I could definitely feel that he was lagging a bit - which concerned me, because he only ran 2 things on Saturday and 4 on Sunday.

This trial though, both boys were on fire. 

Spencer loved it here - it helped that it was a small trial and they didn't have insane off leash rules. Basically use common sense and they didn't care if the dog was off leash - so before and after runs we played with his frizzie in the shade. He was entered in 5 runs and I had a dog in all 5 runs, even in the heat. He was a little off on Gamble 1, but my handling was a little off too. Standard and Snooker he rocked it and Q'd in 33°C heat!

Photo Credit: Rita Barrett

Day 2 he had a fantastic Standard and we were ON - except where I completely buggered up his weaves by stopping dead. Gamble 2 I didn't think we'd have a hope but he shocked the heck out of me and nailed it. Earning his Bronze Gamble and Versatility Bronze Award Titles. Such a good baby black dog.

Baxter obviously felt much better this trial (he was sore and had a limp tail issue 2 weeks prior to Dog Days and maybe he was just still a bit sore at that trial.) At 9.5 years he doesn't run full trials anymore, max 3 a day and no Gambles anymore. He had a perfect weekend going 6/6 and even in Jumpers on Saturday in the heat he ran pretty hard at 4.4 yps!

Photo Credit: Penny Norem

His career is winding down, but he still loves playing and on Sunday morning rocked his Standard coming in 2 seconds faster than the papillon in the class with us and at 4.2 yps (which is something, considering there are 12 weaves) Love my Fluff, so full of heart!

Then my baby... so bitter sweet. Saturday morning she NAILED Gamblers -  mini gamble twice, Aframe twice and held the contact. She did have DW worries, but that's due to the DW in class that has a LOT of bounce/flex. Connected and responsive. She was fantastic.

Then Jumpers I had no dog. Wouldn't take the first jump, couldn't sit for a start line and then left the ring to go bark at and freak out at the out of control dog shrieking at the warm up jumps. So we were excused from the run. Not good - the only silver lining is that she did come back to me and had zero intent on connecting with that dog. Just wanted to control the out of control barking.

Gamblers was next up on Sunday and I went FEO with a toy. Still no dog. No first jump, flanking obstacles and running past them. After she played tug for a AFrame contact I had slightly more dog and she got the final gamble with ease, but still VERY disconnected and I'll admit, disappointing. So we've got a lot to work on before I enter her in more trials - and I'm seriously considering pulling from the one we are entered this weekend.

Impulse control work, here we come!

First Trial!

Nike & I

I'm very happy with Nike's first trial. We had fun and started and finished the courses together. I entered this trial to gather information and that was a success.

We only entered a Starters Jumpers run on the first day and a Starter Gamblers followed by Starters Jumpers on the second day.

Nerve wracking! First run she was AMPED. It was cool still in the morning and she just watched a dog run and very much wanted to chase the BC's at the warm-up jumps. Just taking the leash and collar off is hard sometimes.

Had a bit of a bobble/weirdness where she pushed behind the tunnel instead of taking it but she didn't realize she was wrong. The rest of the run was gorgeous and fast. 23 seconds. Speedy girl.

Gamblers was FEO. My goal there was to reward contacts on each new piece of equipment. She hit her contacts. Frame and Teeter were great! DW she was worried on. I need to run faster and figure out the sweet spot to support a jump but not push her off - but she did nail the main gamble and there was a good chance of carrying out past that second jump, so coming in on it and paying attention to me was fantastic.

After Gamble it was hot. We went for a swim in the canal after, but it was still HOT and little Miss does not like to work in the heat. I was also slow and tired, running on 3 hours of sleep. We didn't warm up at the jumps (they were put away) before our run. Whatever the reason we were more disconnected on her last jumpers. She wasn't precisely slow, but on a easy course that should have been fine she flanked out around 4 jumps and didn't really want to play. We started well, ended well but the middle was a bit of a miss.

I'm happy with how I dealt with it though and we just ran through and finished up. She stuck with me and didn't disappear off sniffing.

I could probably cheer lead less, but hey, I was happy!

She played the game for me and to do that in a super distracting environment for a baby who is still maturing and developing focus is awesome.

Pretty baby!

Looking back to Spencer's First Trial I find it somewhat amusing that these posts are very similar!

CAA Remembrance Day - Trial Review

CAA is one of my favorite clubs to trial with in our area. I like their venue. I really like their new ribbons and my dogs seem to do well at their trials!

Way back when, Baxter finally got his very first 2 Starters Gambles with this club ending our 6 month drought without a Gamble Q. Considering that this is when I used to trial every month, or even twice a month (thanks to TT's Wee Wed's) that's saying something!

Starters Games Dog of Canada Title

Then last year Spencer got his ATChC at this trial too!

ATChC!

I also really like that this trial is about Remembrance, both in the traditional sense of Nov 11th and in the sense that we should remember and be thankful for our old dogs who may be retired or no longer with us, as well as our veteran dogs still playing the game. Not always thinking about that new, "better" faster dog we want to get in the future.

Both boys did well. I did less well, especially on Sunday.

We didn't play in either of the 2 Snooker rounds offered on Friday night. I think people were there until after 10pm, Friday was a LATE night especially when you're back the next morning for 7:30.
It all made for a very long weekend.

2 runs of Team also made for a long weekend. It's hard to volunteer for Team since there isn't a definite split like regular & special/vets. It's also hard when you have 2 dogs in it and you need to have the dogs ready in time and still pretend attempt to volunteer.

I think Team is my least favorite game. I don't think it helps that it's an "all dogs" category much like Steeplechase. It means you run the risk of your Masters dog being partnered with a brand new Starters dog with their brand new to agility handler. Just to be clear, I'm not bashing the new people. I like them, the sport needs them and everyone started like they did at some point. I am very supportive of them at trials. I just think that the "game" of Team Relay is dumb. Dumber than Gamblers even!

We came away from this trial 0/4 for Qualifying runs in Team. Obviously just saying pick a random dog for my partner is not a recipe for success. I'll be setting this up better for my guys next time messaging other people with steady, consistent dogs. I had entered Spencer in both Team events since he needs 2 more for that title. If I pair Spencer with a veteran, especially a mini veteran time won't ever be a concern and it will be easier to finish that title off.

Spencer was awesome on Saturday. Only 3 runs, but he Q'd in 2/3 and the mistake in Team wasn't us. Standard was nice, he drove the DW really well. Happy for tunnels. Happy in the weaves. 3.5 yps. Gamblers he was a rock star and we got several compliments on his running DW. He also qualified with 70 points! No questions at all on the mini or the main.

Baxter took the wrong mouth for #3 for the mini

Sunday he was also a fantastic little dog. Little less drive than Saturday I think though? Maybe it's me. I have to push him and handle with a whole lot of energy. If he seems "off" I get stressed and I'm sure he picks up on that. He ran well in Team. Pulled it together better for a very nice Steeplechase that I was sure he should have Q'd in since he ran it at 3.55 yps WITH 2x 12 weaves. However he ended up with 0.16 over time.

Jumpers though, we fell apart. Or, I suppose I should say, I fell apart. Jumpers ran right after ribbons and 6" was the first height. Spencer was the second dog. So I left ribbons early so I could potty the dogs and warm up/jazz up Spencer. That went fine.

My ring side crate (for switching out my dogs with 4 in between them, since they are not okay with someone holding them) ended up in a crowded area and near a young dog who was barking and freaking out at everything past the pen - then to make it worse there were extra people around and someone else brought in 2 more dogs to crate just behind the ring side crate and they were freaking out barking as well.

Too many people, some of which were spectators milling around my crate, which upset me (just because it stresses Spencer out.) Reactive, barking dogs. A new ring steward who apparently couldn't hear me when I said I was there 4 times.

Spencer didn't want to do tricks in his crate. He didn't want to do anything - never a good sign. Then running the "gauntlet" into the ring was bad too. So I'm stressed and hoping that the tunnel as #3 would speed him up and get him into the game. It didn't. I also felt like my handling wasn't very good, maybe I should have blinded instead of front crossing in some places. We ended up with a refusal, but otherwise we would have been over time anyway

Then Baxter's turn to run. I'm still irritated with the ring steward, who apparently can't notice that I have 3 dogs in between my dogs and is wanting Baxter on the line "right now." Lady - I don't lead out. I don't have an elaborate start line routine. I get into the ring, ditch the leash and run from the gate, with pretty much both dogs. We aren't wasting time. Ultimately I don't care what you think, I'm not going out there early, thanks anyway. If you push me on it, especially if I have Spencer and not Baxter, you're not going to like the results. So lets just not, okay?

Anyway.

I'm still upset from Spencer's run and I'm a little stressed out and upset that Baxter is showing his age as the day wears on. My handling doesn't feel a whole lot prettier with Baxter (will have to set this up some other time and practice some alternate handling, I don't like how it handled at all.) Then I cross too flat in one spot and push Baxter onto the wrong side of the jump and that was that. We also completely missed a jump in the line of jumps driving to the finish line but I stopped caring after I buggered the run 5 obstacles earlier.

So we went out in the sunshine for a little bit until I could recenter and I just sat and cuddled the boys. I shouldn't have upset me that much, but it did. I don't know. Was just one of those days I suppose.

I want Spencer to be happy. As a bonus, when he is happy he performs well. But mainly it is about being happy and confident. When I can't make that happen so that he feels confident and secure enough in a situation, I don't deal well. Then he feeds off that and it becomes a big vicious cycle that I need to come up with a solution for.

Aside from my issues in Jumpers, Baxter did well this weekend. He Q'd in Standard 1 with 3.68 yps as well as in Standard 2 with 3.71 yps on Saturday and would have Q'd Gamblers as well if his handler had actually handled the last jump instead of assuming he would do it. He did understand the handling and would have gotten the main, but in the mini he wouldn't send out to the far tunnel mouth - we'll have to work on that. His tunnel sends (both the lateral and the straight) are getting a little funny.

I had a headache for Team on Sat, so I didn't push to have my steady dog run the more technical course. I just wanted to run both as the same course (white) Team on Sunday was our fault first, but the second dog also took off courses. Sunday's team run for white (the first side) was quite challenging. They changed the numbering for 9 and many big dogs went over that jump into the back tunnel mouth of 3. I made sure to handle it so that the line/approach was as flat as I could get it and I cued collection/wrap but Baxter still hit the tunnel mouth.

So, another drill/scenario to set up and work out!

For a new handler at their 2nd or 3rd trial, both of these are HARD!

Sunday's Standard had the teeter before the DW. Baxter was worried about the teeter and I just wasn't thinking. I cued the DW and ran, while Baxter stalled out 1/2 way up the up plank. By the time I realized he wasn't with me, he'd turned around and jumped off closer to the ground. I had to really help him get up the ramp, he was pretty spooked about it. So I guess we revisit some DW/teeter stuff at practice the next few weeks.

Baxter also picked up another Steeplechase Q on a course with 2 x12! I was very happy with his weaves for this one. He had been slowing down as the weekend progressed but I handled these ones with a little more intensity and remembered to pause at tunnel mouths to drive him to obstacles (in this case, the weaves.) 6" Specials had a SCT of 48 while 6" Vets had 58. Baxter ran it in 47.12, so he actually would have Q'd at 3.63 yps without the vets time bonus!

Speedy Chi wears her leash when we play at the field because the listening ears just don't work ...

Overall Spencer came home with 2/6 - Standard and Gamblers. Or 2/4 if you don't count Team (which I'm not going to do!)

Baxter was right around the same percentage, with 3/8 - Standard x2 and Steeplechase (or 3/6.) With the mistakes all being mine.

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)

Dog Days of Summer - Trial Review

Aug 8 & 9 was a big agility trial put on by 2 agility clubs/schools in the area. Hosted at Wet Noses, they ran 2 rings. One ran Masters all day, the other Starters/Advanced.

It was a really nice trial despite the swarms of mosquitoes and the 30°C heat both days.

Tired beasties after the trial during pack up (otherwise the 3 don't share a "kennel"

Very happy with my boys. Baxter only needed one more Standard to finish off his Expert Silver Standard to achieve his Silver Award of Merit after the Top Spot trial in Indus, so we finished those titles this weekend.

Smug Fluff

Due to the setup, they actually ran 10 Masters runs for the full weekend. 11 if you entered both Steeplechase! I thought that 11 might be a bit much to ask of Baxter, but did enter him in 9 runs - 4 on Saturday and then 5 on Sunday. What I should have done was flipped that - 5 on Sat and then 4 Sun. I could tell he was tired from the start on Sunday, which had the most runs.

I think I'll stick with my designation of Veterans being "EZMode" agility. Even being slow on Sunday AND knocking a bar in Steeplechase Baxter finished about 5 seconds under time and Q'd.

In fact, he qualified in 6/9 runs this weekend - where 2 of those NQ's were Gambles that nearly no one got. I am also sticking with my disgust with Gambles for "ruining" our Q rate. We'll keep entering them to stay in practice for Regionals, but ugh, donation runs! His only other mistake was really mine due to handling where I pushed him into a tunnel instead of up the DW on a discrimination in a Standard run.

Spencer ran really well in the heat all things considered. He ended up 3/7 runs. One of those runs was the most beautiful Standard. I wish I had video of it. We didn't Q, but I couldn't have been happier with my little dog!

Most people ran this and with DOL wrapped them around 19, either post turning or as a FC. I don't like wrapping my dogs. They do better in extension, and I actually liked the line better 19 to 20 on the path I drew on the course map above. The problem is it felt horrible awkward sending 19 as a throw back threadle. So I ran DOL 17-18-19 then sent the dogs over 19 from the take off side (at the X) and picked them up on a front cross so they stayed DOL to finish.

Both dogs read it nice, but Spencer was spot on perfect. It felt so good, despite the fact I had already messed him up and we E'd when he went back up the DW instead of into tunnel 14. Most beautiful E run ever! I actually want to set this up sometime where I can video and time it. I feel it's faster to stay in extension, and my dogs run my speed, so I think my handling was appropriate - but I wonder about other ways. It would be interesting to test!

Break!

Top Spot Agility - Indus July Trial

Last weekend we had a "first" trial in the area for a new agility club that started up. I guess technically they did have a trial this winter as well, but another club donated ribbons. So this was the first time you could get a Top Spot title ribbon!

I have this thing. I like collecting (title) ribbons for agility clubs in the area.

We've got;
2x4 Agility
Paws'N'Effect (old ribbons, need the new)
Calgary Agility Association (old ribbons, need the new)
Fionavar K9 (old and new)
Training Troop
Flashing Canines (old and new)
Hyper Hounds
Go Dogs Go (only a Q ribbon with them, not a title)
Dynamo Dog Sports (only a Q, not a title)

Baxter actually earned his Expert Jumpers Silver title at Top Spot's last trial, but since it was sponsored by Fionavar, no new ribbon.

Not only was I excited about the venue (super close to my house with a stand of mature poplar trees with a carrigana hedge for shade to bench under) but both boys could also be up for titles! (Thus, ribbons from the new club!!)

Both boys ran really well this weekend and despite the massive hail storm at the end of the day on Saturday, weather was great. I had an absolutely fantastic time at this trial. I'm super happy with how consistent my dogs are performing and how much Spencer and I have come together as a team.

Baxter is loving Veteran's. It's taken a lot of the challenge out of qualifying since sometimes he'd be over time by a couple of seconds since he's "energy efficient" especially in the heat. He Q'd 7/8, with that one NQ (actually an E) my fault for not handling like I walked on Challenge. He did however get the Gamble, and also threadled on a part in Snooker that I was testing to see if we could do. What a good Fluff!

He was loving the 2 Jumpers runs we finished up with on Sunday. That last run was ALL about collection. I think I did 8 front crosses and a reverse spin? So much fun!! Jumpers is totally Baxter's game We've got 30 Q's in Jumpers alone now.

Spencer was the best baby black dog in the world this weekend going 5/6. Back to his "usual" 3 runs each day since he doesn't seem to do well with more than that. Sat he was happy and fast on his first run in Gamble - got the points but not the main, I think my handling may have been ambiguous. Then he Q'd in both Standard courses. Not super fast, but it was a little warm by that point in time and Spencer doesn't do heat. What Spencer did do though, was chutes. Without worrying! No chute refusals, yay.

Sunday he was smoking in Steeplechase. Little off on his Challenge, but was 1 of only 3 dogs out of 20 or 25 dogs to qualify! Then last run of the day he was back and had a fantastic Jumpers run where he was actually driving to the obstacles again and was a couple of seconds faster than Baxter giving me 4.6 yps!

With the 2 Standards on Saturday with the bonus of an actual Challenge Q on Sunday my baby bug pulled off his Expert Bronze Standard title. That finished his Bronze Award of Merit with a Q to spare!

Funny Story:

In 2013 a good friend of mine left Regionals early, or at least before the completion of the awards. I stayed for ribbons and *thought* she was called as qualifying for Nationals so picked up a Q ribbon for her. Either I didn't hear right, or they were called when they shouldn't have been, but after checking results the next day turns out they didn't qualify. I felt terrible.

This weekend she and her boy earned their ATChC! I asked her if she knew if he had gotten any of the Awards of Merit as well, since I  did not know when Baxter earned his until someone else told me. So I looked at the AAC dog stats page for her and yep, he did have his 10 Standard. I really didn't look at his Games though, since I was busy thinking about Baxter needing Standards to finish his Merit titles. I assured her he had his Bronze Award of Merit as well, so she hauled home 4 big, pretty ribbons.

Then I started second guessing myself on the way home when I couldn't check the AAC site. Her boy had to finish his MGDC (Masters Gamble title) and MSDC (Masters Snooker title) to earn the ATChC, so he only had 8 of those games. OMG did he have enough of the other games (you need 25) to earn the Merit title?! Did I just do it again?!? - Nope I get home, check and breath a sigh of relief. Thank doG!

Then on Sunday, I do it again, but with my own dog this time. Again, thinking about how Baxter just needs one more Standard for his Silver Merit, I knew Spencer needed 2 standards and was entered in 3. So when he got the Standards I put his name down and picked the ribbon up. Perfect! ... except then I was remembering how I was talking about how Spencer doesn't do full trials, how I pick and choose what to enter him in based on the titles I'm aiming for. So unlike Baxter, he doesn't have a slew of extraneous Games titles/legs, and he just finished his ATChC in Nov. OH. MY. GOD. Did my own dog actually have enough games titles to finish his Bronze?! Yes. He did. Barely! 28 Games Q's before this trial - 30 with the 2 Games Q's he picked up at it. Wow. Just wow.

That's what I get for not counting.

Training Troop - March St. Paddy's Day Trial

It has been a LONG, LONG time since I've done a Training Troop Trial. Over 2 years I think!

Last weekend the boys and I did their March Trial. So happy with the dogs. Less happy with my own mental game and connection with the dogs. As always, things to work on. But then, when aren't there?!?

Trialing is exhausting ...

Baxter ran full time, 8 runs for the 2 days. I completely forgot that I intended to drop him into Veterans starting this year, so he ran Specials. I'm also questioning dropping him and then questioning my questioning of it.

I just need to send the papers in and stop thinking too much. Really it isn't making that much of a difference, it'll just improve his Q rate. If it dropped him a jump height it would be a no brainer, but since it just buys us some extra time I'm not sure of how much of a point it is?

Spencer ran 7 out of 8 runs, so in everything but Challenge. Which almost doesn't make sense. He LIKES international stuff that involve a lot of handling, but sometimes the environment shuts him down, so I don't want to drag him around the course.

Baxter was running pretty good, but 2x 12 weaves put us overtime by a couple seconds on Sunday Steeplechase. He made a few funny little mistakes on runs. Took a couple front sides of jumps blatantly blind crossing me when handling clearly indicated backside/throwback threadle. So not sure with BC's and the Fluff, some proofing to do. I might have disconnected a bit? Assuming that my dog, who has this behavior cold would do it, so naturally he does not. Coulda, woulda, shoulda. Next time!

We ended up Q'ing 3/8, which is about our usual ratio. Timed out in Snooker, Overtime in Steeplechase which would have both been Q's if we were Vets instead of Specials. He did get 2 mini's in Gamblers but the main was a teeter directly away from the handler not even parallel, so I was pretty sure that one wasn't going to happen (and it sure didn't.)

We did get 2x Standard though, which is exciting, since he just needs the Standard's for his Silver Merit now and we're getting closer! We also picked up another Jumpers. He loves his Jumpers =)

Baxter's EXJ Silver Title Ribbon from Dec

What I need though, is more "presence" on course. I tend to run quietly, but in practice I notice I talk more to the dogs. At the trail I don't think I did, and that might have been why Baxter did strange things. More energy. So I think I'm bringing a iPod next time and during walk throughs I need to tune everything out, concentrate on my dogs, their courses and what I am saying/cueing when. Memorize, visualize and then execute. Because we've TRAINED this. We KNOW this. We CAN SO DO this!

I was so super proud of my baby Black Dog! He was so BRAVE. All weekend. Moments of worry. More moments of irritating residual reactive behaviors from the issues with the prospective new dog that didn't work out. But SO MUCH brave. Enough so that I had a dog to run for all 4 runs on Sunday.

We had teeters! We had a DW breakthough!! Where he was worried it was the teeter one run and paused on the up ramp and the next he JUST DID IT. Even though we had done the teeter first. I was slowing down to support him on it and he just blew past me and nailed his contact. SUCH a brave little black dog! We had so much awesome!!

I did this trail with him waiting/hiding in his kennel at the start line until the last second before we went into the ring. We played crate game, nose touching, even got some barking at me before the run (while hiding in his crate, but still!) He needs to feel safe to be happy and with all the environmental sensitivities and crowding at the gate he just doesn't. The crate helps so much! So we'll see.

Spencer Q'd in everything that Baxter did, picking up 2 Standard and a Jumpers to finish his Expert Bronze Jumpers title.

EXJ Bronze

I lost him on a jumpers course on the easy part, where of course he did the part Baxter did wrong flawlessly. If it's not a straight away, Spencer can't drive a line at a trial because I am not handling "enough" in his mind.

Pinwheels are his worst enemy (Baxter's too now that I think about it.) Spencer worries that he is wrong and will pull off a jump somewhere, or just creep around the pinwheel at a walk. Now that I think about it, this bit us in the butt big time at Nationals in 2013 when it knocked us out of the ribbons due to some silly refusals on a pinwheel in Standard 2.

So. We're working this pattern at home and when I can at classes, but I'm also adjusting my handling for the little black dog. He needs more "me," I can do that! Not the most orthodox handling, and not necessarily what I would suggest for another team, but Spencer is special and sometimes you need special handling for that!

Top Spot Agility Fundraiser

What to say when there isn't much you want to actually put out there for the world to read?

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!

Last Outdoor Trial of the Season

This weekend was gorgeous! We hit the Flashing Canines trial down in Redcliff for the last outdoor trial of the season.

There was a local trial this weekend as well, but it was an indoor venue and the last time we trialed at that particular location Spencer sensitized to some noises (clapping and crinkling/snapping of cheap plastic water bottles) and ended up shutting down - so I wanted our next trial to be a little bit less stressful for him and he likes outside better.

Instead of hoteling it, I was able to borrow the parent's truck and trailer and camp at the trial site, which was awesome! So nice to not have to plan/pack lunch or snacks etc, if you're hungry, just wander back to the trailer and make something!

The boys both did very well, each coming home with a new title and I'm very happy with them!

Baxter and I had a couple of bobbles all centering around the dogwalk and tunnels under it. He got sucked into a tunnel vortex 3 times on a gamble he would have gotten - having some pretty fantastic issues with that discrimination! Then in team he pulled off the tunnel he looked like he was committed to (bad handler?) to try to take the dogwalk instead. And finally on Sunday morning when my brain apparently couldn't engage  and I tried to rear cross a tunnel under the dogwalk (instead of the front cross that I walked) he pulled out of it instead of continuing through. So apparently we need to practice a little bit more!

He did however, get his last Steeplechase Q for his MSCDC title that has been over 3 years in the making! So proud of my Fluff, and very happy we were able to finish this title as Specials instead of after moving to Vets where qualifying is easier due to the added time they get.

He ended up qualifying 4/8 runs. 2x Jumpers, Steeplechase and a Snooker, but none of the faults in the other runs were due to weaves or DW contacts, so that's good!

Spencer did very well this weekend as well. Not as driven as he can be, but still happy enough to play despite the heat. I also got some tugging by where we were benched - which is huge for us.

As we've focused on in Trial Applications, I'm trying to handle with more intensity and connect with him and make sure I'm cueing early so he knows where he is going next. We had a little bobble in Jumpers where I didn't support quite enough and he pulled off, as well as a jumped DW contact in Gamblers where I was too far ahead of him.

Spencer ended up finishing his Master Snooker Dog of Canada (MSDC) title leaving us with just one more title to finish for his ATChC! It would have been really cool to finish it with the club that he started trialing with, but that just wasn't meant to be it seems.

He qualified in 4/6 runs (he doesn't do full trials because of his patella issues, 3 runs a day only) Getting Q's in; Jumpers, Steeplechase, Standard and the Snooker. His times are pretty consistent with Baxter's, even though he could be much faster. We didn't have too many stressed out moments at this trial, but I made a point of having him in his kennel near the ring gate until the last minute.

All in all a fantastic weekend! And 2 new ribbons to add to my title ribbon from different clubs collection! (Baxter's is the old style/colors and Spencer's is their new style/colors)

Opps! Better late than never ... Regionals Review

Alright. Well. Missed a couple of things in the past 4(ish) months? Heck, lets call it since the beginning of the year since I've posted anything decent to remember! So, because I've thought of it now; Regionals Review!

Hosted in Lethbridge this year. We went. Camped with family instead of hoteling it. It rained. A LOT. I discovered I hate the rain. I hate running in the rain and I hate trialing in the rain. The dogs don't like it either.

The rain and the cold were pretty hard on Spencer and his knee. The chiro appointment for him wasn't much easier than running in the rain. That poor chiro vet is never going to forget him.

We did okay. I dropped Spencer into 6" Specials for this year and still kept Baxter as a 6" Special as well. I'll move Baxter to 6" Vets this Jan after his birthday I think.

Both boys qualified to go to Nationals, but since I didn't miraculously win the lottery in the interim between Regionals and Nationals that didn't end up happening. Nationals was also the week we went on Vacation down to Farragut State Park again.

Regionals/Nationals Stats

Baxter 

2013 Regionals - 6" Specials - 448.50 points & 3 clean runs (no gambles)

2013 Nationals - 6" Specials - 439.44 points & 2 clean runs (no gambles)

2014 Regionals - 6" Specials - 405.79 points & 3 clean runs (no gambles)

Spencer

2013 Regionals - 10" Regular - 398.46 points & 2 clean runs (no gambles)

2013 Nationals - 10" Regular - 419.25 points & 3 clean runs (no gambles)

2014 Regionals - 6" Specials - 434.79 points & 3 clean runs (no gambles)

Spencer ended up placing second this year, while Baxter came in third due to some silly handler errors.

Don't get me wrong. I am happy to have played with the boys. I'm just a little sad that Baxter would NOT send out to a single thing and got scores of 24 & 26 points in the gamble openings.  Those wouldn't even get us a Q at a regular trial, even if he got the final. It's a little disappointing. Practiced, did really well at the warm up trial before Regionals and then to struggle like that at Regionals. Ahh well, maybe the shit weather threw him off?

A little disappointed in myself for messing up his first standard run as well. It was down the dogwalk and then flip away into the tunnel under the dog walk, and we did it great. Until I called him and he came back out of the tunnel and stepped on the dog walk on the way over. For 20 faults. Turning what would have been a 130 point run into a 80 point one.

Baxter was doing so well, then not to sure what has happened. Some issues with a constant allergy battle this season. He's just getting a little older and a little slower since he isn't really built for the game.

Spencer was a good little dog and tried for me. Weather doesn't help his leg. Walking on 3 legs doesn't help us trial. Maybe I'll just carry him everywhere, like what someone else does with that poodle with the crappy patellas.


Baxter's Photos! (by Paws on the Run)

Spencer's Photos! (by Paws on the Run)

Let the Count Down Begin

This weekend was an outdoor trial geared to Regionals Warm Up. We had a great time, and I feel much more ready for Regionals - which is in 2 weeks! OMG.

The venue out in Millarville was very nice, weather was nearly perfect - a little hot if anything. I've got the most spectacular farmers tan/sunburn going on.

Spencer was amazing all weekend. I entered him in a full trial for the first time since he's started trialing and I wasn't sure how fast he'd fade over the weekend/8 runs. Saturday he was fast and confident and fun. Almost the closing Gamble, Rocked it on 2 Standard courses to finish off his Master Agility Dog of Canada (MADC) title. He did very well on the Jumpers as well, coming under SCT, however I didn't support a jump enough and we missed that (my fault, not his.)

On Sunday he was maybe a little worried or a little sore. He was a little off for the first 3 runs, getting progressively slower. I was going to pull him from Jumpers, the last run of the day because he just didn't seem very happy to be playing and there really isn't much point to drag him around the ring. I decided to keep him in, but if he didn't want to run, I'd take a line of jumps and a tunnel to make it easy and fun and just leave and have a party.

Took him for a walk on his flexi before and then played with him a bunch at the warm up jumps to help warm him up for Jumpers. The wind came up pretty good before our run and between that and the extra dogs milling around the gate he was not a happy dog waiting for the Judge to be ready for us. I tried to remember all the seminar advice I've been given on him and make sure I was focusing on improving my communication and connection with him.

We pulled it off and Q'd it coming in second of three, and finishing his Master Jumpers Dog of Canada (MJDC) title too! So proud of my bad little black dog this weekend. We're really starting to come together.

Good little baby dog!

Baxter was a very good dog all weekend. Going 3/4 on Saturday - and getting the Gamble (a mini and the main!) Missed the Standard popping on the 10th pole in the weaves, but I can work on weaves at home!

He faulted his weaves only once this weekend and jumped a DW contact once on the gamble on Sun (we went right back over it and he hit it that time) so I'm pretty happy with what we've been working on.

Sunday with Steeplechase (2x weaves) we were back to being a second and a little overtime. His weaves have slowed down again and I am wondering if that is due to the surface (grass has more grip) his conditioning or if something is sore.

He would have gotten the Gamble on Sunday as well (did do a mini to a blind tunnel entrance) however, I hadn't looked at the gate list before walking and didn't notice that Baxter and Spencer were back to back. Spencer was ready, but I thought I had 4 dogs to grab Baxter. Since I didn't, I just grabbed him, didn't potty him and threw him into the ring crate and then had to run Spencer. I've built the pre-run potty break into our warm up routine and I didn't even think about missing it with Baxter. Poor guy stopped on the main gamble and peed.

At Regionals since the boys only have one dog in between their runs I will have to remember to walk them during the last 10 min of break to potty them before walk thru on the day that we are first on the line.

All in all it was a great weekend with great weather to spend with my favorite little dogs. Next up is regionals!

Bronze Award of Merit & Trial Review

Oh wow, so this is 2 months late but, better late than never, right?!

Baxter earned his first post ATChC title, the Bronze Award of Merit at the Nationals warm up trial on 20-July before we left for vacation and I didn't even realize it. He also finished his ExSt Bronze at the same time. I might not have even realized it now, except someone told me at Nationals!

In my defense though, I didn't realize that Challenge Q's can count towards Standard runs once you are into post-ATChC titles. I knew he only had a few more standards to go, but I thought we still needed 3 to finish both those titles. Hyper Hounds trials are good luck apparently.

 I guess it's good that we got something out of his 1 qualifying round out of the 6 we were entered in.

They were nice courses. There are some judges out there who just make some really nice courses, there is still a challenge, don't get me wrong, but some courses are just more fun than others. These were nice courses. Baxter ran well and should really have come away with 3/6, but he was called on a dog walk contact that I thought was alright and then he was over time on a jumpers course. Either way there were some nice moments in all of them, some good distance on gambles (just not on the main gamble of course) good weaves on the standards.

This is the second time that he has been over time on Jumpers and it concerns me a little. There were no obvious bobbles or sloppy, loopy lines/handling. Maybe I could have been faster, I'm not sure? Maybe it was just that he was a little tired coupled with how crazy hot it was. Maybe I'll have to make the move into vets sooner rather than later. Hopefully it was just too hot for him.

I had also entered Spencer in the 6 runs, which I should have known better. He doesn't have very good heat tolerance and I usually only run him in 3 a day at a regular trial. Why I thought 6 was a good idea is beyond me looking back it it. I also didn't fully realize how bad he is in the heat, so at least this showed me exactly how little heat tolerance he has when working (as opposed to chasing a ball in a field) before we went to Nationals. I ended up pulling Spencer from his last 2 Jumpers runs because he was not looking happy at all. I know I can probably drag my unwilling dog around the course, but I want him to run with enthusiasm and be happy out there!

So we pulled. But I learned a few things. That's what it's all about right? The journey. Slowly we're getting there, my baby dog and I. He's getting more confident as time goes on. Kind of reminds me of this article I recently saw posted on Facebook. No we're not perfect, but we're learning as we go.

We also had fun hanging out at the BBQ after the trial. Spencer got to play, or at the very least interact appropriately off leash with 6 Shelties. Baxter was okay with it until we went in the house and he was supposed to stay outside, and Penny didn't get lost (she's tiny, it's often a concern!)

2013 AAC National Championships - Part 2 The Trial and Results

Since this year was my first Regionals, it only follows that this was my first Nationals as well!

I was supposed to share hotel and benching with our friend and trainer Kim, but that plan changed when Spryte went into heat a couple of months earlier than anticipated. So now I was on my own - but agility is about you and your dog right? So I hoped it would be okay. Besides, there would be other people up there I would know and could hang out with - just no other people I had really trained with before.

Baxter making sure we're organized with the catalog

I also a little concerned about the layout, being able to find everything and about conflicts running Spencer in Regulars and then Baxter in Specials. This was a bit of an issue at Regionals, but since I sort of knew how to deal with it from Regionals I wasn't too worried about it for Nationals.

The trial venue was awesome. Really nice grass to run and exercise/play ball on. There was also a lake to swim in less than a 10 min walk away and some lovely pathways to walk the dogs on. Swimming at the lake was a hit until I accidentally threw Spencer's bumper into the cattails on Saturday and then wouldn't let him try to get it back (I couldn't see it and I didn't want him to drown if he got stuck in the plants.)

Nationals was an absolutely amazing experience.

Ribbons, ribbons everywhere!
L - Individual round placements 1-10th     R- Aggregate placement ribbons for each class 1-10th

We made some new agility friends with local and out of town people. From people going out to grab takeout supper to eat at the trial site, to joining buddies at the banquet, to random helpful strangers (who turned out to be running in 6" specials with Baxter) helping set up the shade tent.

The energy and tension during some events was just crazy. During the last day running the final 26" regular dogs there must have been over 100 spectators surrounding that ring - and when the top 10 dogs were running it got progressively quieter, you could have heard the proverbial pin drop for the final 2 dogs (who were 1st and 2nd place for that height.) The crowd cheering on the dogs with silent tension was crazy, like we were worried about distracting from a clean run.

Steeplechase Finals were just the opposite, same energy but now that energy was given sound. The fighter jet flyover (convenient timing!) doing The Wave around the ring waiting for the event to begin, watching some truly amazing dogs with fabulous handling and training.

Baxter - 2nd Overall in 6" Specials

I am so proud with how well my boys did at Nationals! We struggled through some things, realized others and grew as a team. Both dogs really tried for me and ran well in some pretty warm conditions. Both had moments of brilliance that will only get better! I figured out some more of the mental management side of things that I have taken for granted before, and like the dogs, will only get better!

After Regionals with Baxter and having no expectations, I did have some going into Nationals I won't lie. I wanted to hit the podium with him (like in the Olympics -  you get Gold, Silver or Bronze so I wanted 1-3 place.)

We did succeed.  Baxter placed 2nd overall in 6" Specials with 439.44 points. He was a good little Fluffy, but if bad luck had not befallen a fellow competitor in one of their rounds we would have been third. Still a very good placement in my mind, especially for our first Nationals with only 2 clean runs. We had a couple of little bobbles here and there, due to some handler nerves and some stress when Baxter wouldn't work away AT ALL in Gamble 1. Then towards the end of the weekend, more moments of brilliance, his Standards were lovely, weaves were great and he almost managed to get Gamble #2 just ran out of time (and then flew off the teeter ...)

Baxter with all his ribbons.
We were trying to do it like Pokemon and collect one of each placement.
We did get a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th! but then a 7th and 8th to ruined our chance to get a flush!

He also took 2nd in the Steeplechase #2 qualifier round, earning his first legit steeplechase Q on a course with 2x 12 weaves 3 seconds under SCT!

Spencer did amazing. He missed ending up in the aggregate placement ribbons by less than 6 points, placing 12th overall in 10" Regulars with 419.25 points, which is more than he earned at Regionals!  He did however earn a couple placements in individual runs, placing 7th in both his Jumpers runs and 4th in Standard 1!

For the dog that I thought was not going to weave at all at Nationals (a story for another time) to actually run and run well was enough of a achievement in and of itself. I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I am so happy with my baby dog.

Spencer ran 3 clean rounds, and did better in Gamblers than he has before. I knew he was in 10th place going into the final Standard on Sunday and I am sure that I inadvertently screwed up his run with handler nerves too. So things to learn and work on for sure, but some great successes as well.