One of the local competitors from our area is on the WAO World Team for Spain 2013 and there was a 1 day agility trial to help raise money to finance the trip. Another of the competitors created this awesome video of the even, which I loved even if neither of my dogs made a appearance in it. I always find these agility videos fun, but they're even more fun when you actually know the dogs and people in it!
Anyway. The boys and I had a great time even if benching was the tightest I've ever experienced at Wet Creek (anywhere - really.)
Baxter was amped to play. So amped that contact performance deteriorated a little. Steeplechase was 2x 12 weaves, so that was a automatic write off - even without the crazy tight standard course times that had many people who usually qualify not making time. I honestly didn't even look to see how far over time we were!
Baxter and I had a decent Gamblers run, but missed a fairly hard final Gamble (only 8 dogs got it.) Standard turned into a good training round, and Steeplechase was the usual "donation" run. We redeemed ourselves in Jumpers though where he read what I wanted very well despite me not knowing quite how I wanted to handle things. Such a happy, good dog. He seems a bit faster now that he is a little leaner and hopefully that continues to improve with the nice weather.
Winter is hard for me to keep the dogs in good trialing condition, bring on the spring!! Everyone is ready for a new excercise regime!
Spencer had a great day as well. Still some baby dog confusion with the weaves initially. And he was having such a good time out there that he blew right across the table in standard without even attempting to stop (in his defense, I cue'd it late.) The highlight though, he took the chute without any hesitation at all!
Spencer would have got his second advanced Jumpers had I not used the wrong cue and pulled him off a jump 3 obstacles from the finish. He did get his 3rd advanced Gamble, putting him into Masters Gamblers. I can't believe it. My little guy in in a Masters class already, and Gamblers at that - the "hard" one.
"Dogs are not our whole life but they make our lives whole.” - Roger Caras
He tries whatever I ask him to and is just a good, steady little dog with a lot of heart.
He's a little different from the chihuahua's, since he grew up as a only dog. A little more people focused. Always in the same room as me, or waiting by the door for me to come home.
Always up to do something.
I love this fluffy little dog.
*edit - yeah, I changed the post a little from when it was originally posted. I like it better now!
I was playing with my camera that I really need to learn to use better the other day and got a couple of cute pictures of Sebastian.
Sebastian is my cat. Who is in fact larger than 2 of my dogs. I ended up getting him before I acquired Baxter from my parents. I wanted a cat that was social and friendly and didn't shed. He's a Devon Rex and I did manage to get 2 of the 3 criteria.
Either way he has pretty eyes!
Spencer also has pretty eyes, and is practicing his Jedi mind tricks in hopes I will throw the toy he has kindly deposited in my lap ...
While poor Baxter just had to play by himself since no one was throwing his toy either. He's funny, he's the only one of the 3 that will play toys by himself, maybe because he grew up without another dog around?
Penny sucking on the foot of her stuffed "salsa" toy. Done as a glamor shot because she is in love with it - or something.
Agility trials can be long (sometimes stressed out) days, espeically in the winter when you're spending anywhere from 9 to 12+ hours in a cold barn having gotten up at a unholy hour to be there and may be doing the same thing the next day (or alternatively, have done the same thing the day before.)
This post at The Other End of the Leash blog
was particularly interesting and insightful. It's not just the dogs
getting tired and worn out by the long days at a trial, their handlers
can be as well. Something that is important to keep in mind.
Trialing with a reactive/scared dog is it's very own unique experience. Spencer is still very much a reactive dog who has some issues with perceived personal space. He absolutely does not care if another dog is near by and is ignoring him completely, but it's when they stare or are interested in him that it is a problem.
It's supposed to be just fun and games!
Since there are generally a significant number of herding breeds that are motion triggered to stare at fast moving things in agility, this can be a recipe for reactivity. He is small, so he mostly only poses a danger to himself, but that doesn't lessen my obligation to other competitors and their dogs to manage MY dog, so that we all have a good time.
Agility is about the fun of playing with your dog. No one needs the stress of a unwanted encounter or your dog getting stressed out and upset by another while waiting to run to overshadow that fun. Especially in a already potentially tense atmosphere. Be kind and courteous to your fellow competitors. Give everyone some space and go have fun with your dog!
Feb 16 & 17 was the the Calgary Agility Association's trial. We love this venue! CAA's trials are held at the Fez Dome. It's bright, warm and the footing is packed not loose, deep, dusty dirt. Benching is a little tight, but people tend to sit by their crates instead of hanging out upstairs away from the dogs and I like that better. Especially since Penny came both days to keep the boys company.
This weekend definitely started out a little rough. I blame the week of 10 hour days followed up with a 12 hour Friday for it. Hitting the agility trial with only 5 hours of sleep with a headache brought on by exhaustion is not a recipe for success.
I had such a hard time getting that feeling of connection with Baxter on Saturday. Lots of little things going just slightly wrong. Sloppy front crosses coupled with a dog fully intending to blind cross on you does not lead to pretty looking runs. We did have some lovely moments too though, his weaves were beautiful. I was able to plan good gamble paths to get the points we'd need to qualify if he got the final gamble (unlike the last trial where we got the final and didn't have enough points to Q.)
Baxter ended up with 3/8 Q's which seems to be our usual ratio. We got another Master Gamble on Sunday, which made the whole weekend worth while. He did an awesome job. So much in fact that I had to ad lib some obstacles on to the end of our opening because he finished 13 obstacles and the buzzer still hadn't gone! He was visibly tired (to me anyway) for the final Jumpers run on Sunday and still managed a very quick (for him) 4 yps. Very proud of my fuzzy one.
Spencer had a great weekend as well. He wasn't in for the full weekend, just 3 runs a day. He was looking quite sore the second day of the Jan trial so he won't be running full time in a trial for a while.
First run of the day was Jumpers. He was speedy and happy except for refusing the chute. I can't say that came as a surprise. After all of our work with strange chutes at Dignified Dogs and in class I was hoping would carry over to trialing but that was okay. As "usual" he did it after a refusal.
Our second run was Gamblers. He did awesome and qualified, giving him 2/3 Advanced Gambles, which is crazy - one more and he's in Masters Gamblers while still in Starter Standard! He also qualified in Advanced Snooker. Completing the teeter with the #7 flag sticking up right beside the pivot point which was worrying some dogs in starters and advanced.
Sunday the boys and I just clicked, Baxter got all 3 of his Q's on Sunday. But the shining moment was Spencer's Standard run. He was awesome and wanted to play. I was getting the dog I get at practice (not quite as fast and as unconcerned as when we practice in the yard, but he was actually driving to the obstacles.)
The chute was our first obstacle and he was worried about it. After a refusal he did it, but slowly. By the 3rd obstacle at the DW he was on! No more worries. His table was beautiful. On the way past the DW the second time to a tunnel under it he did flick away to take the DW, so I'll have to work on proofing that. Almost to the end of the run - just a jump left and I rear crossed to send him back into number 1 - the chute again. Not only did he read the cross nice, he hit the chute like he meant it and zipped right through it. We left to have a cookie party for the awesome chute.
I wasn't paying attention to the ring crew or judge at all but apparently they were very confused. He knows the chute, he isn't afraid of it. Rewarding directly after performing the obstacle the way I would like is the only way I can see to reward him for doing that obstacle. Right now ball and food rank higher than more agility obstacles so that's what I'm using! It was really awesome to have a couple of seasoned competitors tell me that doing the chute again and leaving was a great way to end the run.
