Last weekend (Oct.1-3) we went to another agility trial. I worked a couple of classes on Friday as ring crew, but Saturday and Sunday we were entered in two classes each day. Novice Jumpers (no contacts!) and Novice Standard are our levels.
On Friday, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my classmates from Tails-U-Win agility class complete their Bronze MACH (major agility championship). Doreen and Mekai were excellent and it was thrilling to realize they had achieved such a high honor. I was so glad to witness. Here they are with the judge:
The number (25) is the number of times they've qualified - had qualifying runs at the "Master/Excellent" level. Mekai is an 11 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and a wonderful ambassador for the breed.
On Saturday, I set up our crate and chair by another one of my classmates, Ronnie and her two dalmations, Daphne and her mother, Dalia. Daphne was not competing, just there to absorb the atmosphere and hang out.
It was really nice to have someone to hang with, at least some of the time. One of Tripp's classes was in the late morning, and his other one was the last class of the day. So, we had a Loonng time to hang around.
Going to trials is very good for Tripp. He's a bit of a shy boy and having all these other people and their dogs around has been making him a more social boy. He'll never be one to cuddle up to a stranger, but if he can relax with strangers, that's a win for him. He's really getting there.
His first run was hilarious. We were so bad they didn't even score us. I think we actually managed about three obstacles. He had "the zoomies", where he just ran around at high speed, tail wagging and tongue lolling. It happens to a lot of dogs, sometimes even dogs who are competing a much higher level. At least he came to me at the exit. Good boy!
That was our first Novice Jumpers class. We had about FIVE hours to wait for our next class, so we hung out, wandered about and cheered on the people I've met. I also recorded Ronnie and Dalia in their classes. They were done much earlier than Tripp and I, and left before we had our second run.
We didn't get back into the ring until around 6 p.m. I was tired but Tripp was all up and ready to go. He still had the zoomies, but not nearly as bad. With contact areas to hit, he was willing to listen to me more and we actually got a score: 5 "R"s and 2 "W"s - R = refusal (he ran around the jump, circling madly! then jumped) and W = wrong course. At least it was a score, which I took as a great improvement.
We were very late then getting home. I have been dealing with an issue in my right foot, and although I had a doctor's note, I couldn't get a refund for the trial. So I'm in a fair bit of discomfort which not even Aleve is masking when we went to bed. I only got about four hours of sleep Friday night, and the same again on Saturday.
Sunday we needed to be there earlier, but it would not be as late a day. Again, Ronnie and Dalia competed and Daphne was hanging out. Tripp was more social and quite eager to be there and wander around visiting.
Our first run was Novice Jumpers again. I was amazed and thrilled with Tripp's maturity. We actually got a score, two R's and two W's. What a massive improvement! Again we had a long wait for our second run, and this time I actually brought knitting to work on while we waited. Again we cheered others and wandered about, and around 5 p.m. we were ready for our run.
OMG. He was SOOOOO good. If I wasn't so damn slow, he would've Q'd. (Qualified, we need 3 runs to move up) His score card showed 1 R and 1 W!!!! Sadly, we were over time by 10 seconds. And frankly, I was in real, ugly pain. I couldn't run the second half of the course, I could barely walk it. I was so thrilled with Tripp and so angry at my foot.
Agility is a team sport and both halves of the team have to be "on" to get that precious little green ribbon. Poor Tripp has to deal with a slow handler. I am hopeful that when this foot heals I can get into better shape and be faster.
Anyway, here's Tripp in the Photo Op:
Ronnie and "the girls" set up there, too before heading home. They were just too tired to pose nicely!
I'll post a couple of Dalia's runs later.
