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)

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!

Graceful Retirement

Last weekend was the last trial and last run for an agility dog belonging to one of our local agility instructors/judges. (We loosely take classes with him in Trial Applications.)

I hadn't really talked to the handler about it, but overheard that some health issues were discovered last week, - not enough to have to pull, but since heart issues coupled with high drive border collies aren't such a good combination this was the dogs retirement trial. They'd still play in the backyard and just jump 6" but this was the last trial.

I think I cried more than the handler did. Thank Dog for sunglasses!

It just makes you think. I hope I get that with my guys. A definite last run. A last goal completed or something. Something that makes you say "when."

It was just such a HUGE contrast to another dog I've seen running at a different trial. That dog is broken. Eye sight is going now, but more than that, the dog was running on Metcam. It slipped badly in a tunnel, but wasn't pulled. It was visiting chiro and massage after each run. It's back end/back looked so bad. It was to the point where I couldn't watch that dog run. It would stop dead as soon as it crossed the finish line and the handler stopped moving. Not looking at the handler. Not dancing around in happy anticipation of a reward. Just. Stopped. Dead.

I'll be honest. I cried then too. How do you do that to your dog? They do this for us. How do you repay that by giving them painkillers so that they CAN/WILL run?

Then you see the run this weekend. This old dog still has it. They were retired from Regionals and Nationals after 2014. They still ran a few runs in local trials. The handler would shape turns and angles so that they'd be loose and  loopy so the dog doesn't turn too tight with an old body and hurt themselves - because while the spirit is willing, the body is wearing out and the dog has no self preservation.

They played agility because she loved it. Not always full trials. No running at Regionals this year.

With Baxter slowing down a little this is on my mind more and more. We may never compete at Nationals again since we're not going to Burnaby this year. Next year is Quebec. By the time Nationals are back in the West he'll be 9.

So. We'll play because he likes it. Maybe we'll go for 6 runs a weekend like Spencer does instead of full trials.

My Fluff 08-Aug-2015, 7.5 years

When the day comes, my dog owes me nothing. He's played this game for me. He's taught me how to be a better trainer, handler and person. He has suffered though all those mistakes I made because he is my first sport dog.

When the day comes, I'm the one who owes HIM. I will retire him before he is broken and in constant pain from injuries. I will keep him happy and active doing things that aren't agility and I will love him to pieces for being my first! I owe that to him.

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.

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" =)