I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I think I apologized more this weekend than I have at any agility competition. The good news is that we got a Q in Starters Jumpers and the bad news is that we ran 12 other times with no Q. This was our first time in a team event, so I was pretty nervous. We had one Masters' level dog, Dasher, and another Starter dog, Strider. All of us are red, so hence the name of our team. We had t-shirts made, which we wore during the Team Relay.
Thursday, I drove up in the evening to check into the hotel. Google map said that it would take 1.5 hours to drive up there and I didn't want to do that in the morning. Only took 1 hour to get up there. Hope I am not throwing my money away.... Hotel is very nice: La Quinta Belton. Couldn't get to sleep. Set the alarm for 6:15.
Friday, we had 5 runs. My goal at this trial is to poop Shane out. First run of the day was Starters Jumpers. Knocked two bars. Next was Starters Snooker. Went back into a tunnel. Whistled off at 4 points. Next was Starters Gamblers. We already have this title, so I did it just to practice contacts. Didn't help. Next was Starters Pairs. Our partner completely froze. We did OK. Finally, Starters Standard. We got the teeter and the A-frame, but missed the dog walk contact. Shane also did not want to go down on the table. The masters ring was adjacent and he was just staring over there. I probably should have tried to turn his head, but he's a stubborn little thing. Even with the delay on the table, his time was 35.39 seconds. Not too bad. No Q's for the day, but we got three 2nd places and one 1st place. Guess what? Shane is not pooped out yet.
Saturday, our alarm did not go off. Rushed over to the show. No time to warm up. I'm screwed. First run of the day is Starters Standard. Shane is a wild dog. Jumped off everything. Would not go down on the table at all. We actually went over time. Not sleeping in tomorrow for sure. Now the team stuff starts. I can't believe I agreed to do this. All Master's level dogs and my green puppy. Team Snooker. We are the first 16 inch dog. Great. All these experts standing behind me waiting to go on. Whatever. I agreed to do this. Should be in College Station at the NADAC show training in the ring. Here we go.... Took a red bar by mistake. 14 points. Oh well. We head for the finish line. Shane decides he is not done. Can't catch him. Back onto the course and heads for the teeter. Gets his contact and just sits there until I go get him. Crowd is laughing. Great. Thank you very much. Happy to be the entertainment. Starters Gamblers. Again, doing just to tire him out. Knocked the second bar in the gamble. Steeplechase. What was I thinking. Eliminated after jump #2. Didn't do too badly though. Considering. Now Shane should be tuckered out and maybe we'll do fine in Starters Jumpers. Not a chance. Knocked a bar and 2.62 seconds over time. What? Wish I remembered what happened. Again, no Q's for the day, but we got two 2nd places and one 1st place.
Starters Gamblers
Sunday, got up early to burn off steam. Had to walk Team Gamblers and Starters Standard at the same time. Starters Standard was a complete mess. Shane was fence running while the dogs were doing Team Gamblers in the next ring. Obstacles were just too close. Shane headed for the opening to the next ring and I just panicked. Luckily, Diana was standing right there like an angel and booted him back into the ring. I got him the hell out of there. She saved my life. If I didn't have that team stuff to do, I would have packed up my bags and headed home. I was never so scared in all my life. I shook off the fear in time for Team Gamblers, which surprisingly did not include a distance challenge. We didn't do too badly. Next was Team Standard and of course we were eliminated. Frank and Woody came up to visit and cheered me up. It's so nice to have a dog I can walk around the show without any incidents. Very emotional day for me. Last run of the day was Starters Jumpers. Had to wait a very long time. 10 faults, but got 1st place. Glad this day is over. Going home tomorrow.
Starters Jumpers
Monday, Team Jumpers. Do not remember what happened. Team is in last place. Did Starters Gamblers to practice contacts. Shane ran in front of me to do a jump and bashed into a wing, which came down on top of him. He shook it off and kept going. Nothing phases this dog. Knocked a bar in the gamble, but we got 1st place anyway. On to the Team Relay. We actually did our part correctly, but Shane again did not want to stop and ran back out on the course. I had to pull him off the dog walk. Mortified, but glad this nightmare is over. Next is Starters Jumpers. Finally, a clean run. It was exhilarating. 4.7 yps. He was flying and all our crosses were magical. 1st and Q. Wrapping up with Starters Pairs. Should have rear-crossed the Aframe to turn Shane. He went the wrong way and bashed into a 22" jump. Great. Chasing him and he keeps going in the ring. Had to pick up off the dog walk again. We are done.
Headed home for a New Year's eve party and decided not to go back Tuesday. We need to do a lot of work before we enter another show. I am going to a Reactive Dog class next week. I had some aha moments Tuesday. As I was chasing Shane around the house to put his leash on, I realized that this is what I was doing all weekend. He knows he is getting treats and having a great time on our walks, so not sure what this is all about. He also does it when I want him to come in the house. So, until I fix this problem and get him to walk around without going nuts, we won't entering any shows.
Friday, we had 5 runs. My goal at this trial is to poop Shane out. First run of the day was Starters Jumpers. Knocked two bars. Next was Starters Snooker. Went back into a tunnel. Whistled off at 4 points. Next was Starters Gamblers. We already have this title, so I did it just to practice contacts. Didn't help. Next was Starters Pairs. Our partner completely froze. We did OK. Finally, Starters Standard. We got the teeter and the A-frame, but missed the dog walk contact. Shane also did not want to go down on the table. The masters ring was adjacent and he was just staring over there. I probably should have tried to turn his head, but he's a stubborn little thing. Even with the delay on the table, his time was 35.39 seconds. Not too bad. No Q's for the day, but we got three 2nd places and one 1st place. Guess what? Shane is not pooped out yet.
Saturday, our alarm did not go off. Rushed over to the show. No time to warm up. I'm screwed. First run of the day is Starters Standard. Shane is a wild dog. Jumped off everything. Would not go down on the table at all. We actually went over time. Not sleeping in tomorrow for sure. Now the team stuff starts. I can't believe I agreed to do this. All Master's level dogs and my green puppy. Team Snooker. We are the first 16 inch dog. Great. All these experts standing behind me waiting to go on. Whatever. I agreed to do this. Should be in College Station at the NADAC show training in the ring. Here we go.... Took a red bar by mistake. 14 points. Oh well. We head for the finish line. Shane decides he is not done. Can't catch him. Back onto the course and heads for the teeter. Gets his contact and just sits there until I go get him. Crowd is laughing. Great. Thank you very much. Happy to be the entertainment. Starters Gamblers. Again, doing just to tire him out. Knocked the second bar in the gamble. Steeplechase. What was I thinking. Eliminated after jump #2. Didn't do too badly though. Considering. Now Shane should be tuckered out and maybe we'll do fine in Starters Jumpers. Not a chance. Knocked a bar and 2.62 seconds over time. What? Wish I remembered what happened. Again, no Q's for the day, but we got two 2nd places and one 1st place.
Starters Gamblers
Sunday, got up early to burn off steam. Had to walk Team Gamblers and Starters Standard at the same time. Starters Standard was a complete mess. Shane was fence running while the dogs were doing Team Gamblers in the next ring. Obstacles were just too close. Shane headed for the opening to the next ring and I just panicked. Luckily, Diana was standing right there like an angel and booted him back into the ring. I got him the hell out of there. She saved my life. If I didn't have that team stuff to do, I would have packed up my bags and headed home. I was never so scared in all my life. I shook off the fear in time for Team Gamblers, which surprisingly did not include a distance challenge. We didn't do too badly. Next was Team Standard and of course we were eliminated. Frank and Woody came up to visit and cheered me up. It's so nice to have a dog I can walk around the show without any incidents. Very emotional day for me. Last run of the day was Starters Jumpers. Had to wait a very long time. 10 faults, but got 1st place. Glad this day is over. Going home tomorrow.
Starters Jumpers
Monday, Team Jumpers. Do not remember what happened. Team is in last place. Did Starters Gamblers to practice contacts. Shane ran in front of me to do a jump and bashed into a wing, which came down on top of him. He shook it off and kept going. Nothing phases this dog. Knocked a bar in the gamble, but we got 1st place anyway. On to the Team Relay. We actually did our part correctly, but Shane again did not want to stop and ran back out on the course. I had to pull him off the dog walk. Mortified, but glad this nightmare is over. Next is Starters Jumpers. Finally, a clean run. It was exhilarating. 4.7 yps. He was flying and all our crosses were magical. 1st and Q. Wrapping up with Starters Pairs. Should have rear-crossed the Aframe to turn Shane. He went the wrong way and bashed into a 22" jump. Great. Chasing him and he keeps going in the ring. Had to pick up off the dog walk again. We are done.
Headed home for a New Year's eve party and decided not to go back Tuesday. We need to do a lot of work before we enter another show. I am going to a Reactive Dog class next week. I had some aha moments Tuesday. As I was chasing Shane around the house to put his leash on, I realized that this is what I was doing all weekend. He knows he is getting treats and having a great time on our walks, so not sure what this is all about. He also does it when I want him to come in the house. So, until I fix this problem and get him to walk around without going nuts, we won't entering any shows.
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