19th Nervous Breakdown

OK, who's to blame

That girl's just insane

Well nothing I do don't seem to work

It only seems to make matters worse, oh please

You better stop

Look around

Here comes your nineteenth nervous breakdown

Shane run off at class and I freaked out. I wanted to cancel the Austin show, but it was too late. I was going to take him to Belton and walk around, but I talked myself out of it all three days. Driving one hour to walk a dog seemed silly.

Friday, I took my stuff to set up and walked Shane around the arena. We started out slow outside and worked in concentric circles until we were next to the rings. He got excited at some barking dogs in crates, but for the most part did pretty well.

Saturday morning, sleep-deprived, I had way too much time to think and got myself all worked up. For the first time ever, I cried on the way to the show. I was terrified. Got everyone settled and decided to walk Shane around. Again, way too excited. I had given him a Benadryl and it wasn't helping. I walked Open Jumpers, scratched him, and left the building to sob in the field. What an idiot.

At home, I spent the evening beating myself up for being such a chicken. Got a good night's sleep and woke up with some confidence. Today I'm going to try.

Shane's jumpers run wasn't too bad. I lost him for a minute into a tunnel, but got back on track. Towards the end, there was a loop in the corner and Shane got distracted by some barking dogs. I was worried that his level of excitement would end the run with him running out of the ring towards the barking dogs, which he's done before, so I got him to come to me and we left the ring. My trainer said to stop as soon as he loses focus. I felt pretty good about it. I can tell when he's left me mentally. The audience can't see it so they don't understand. I scratched his Standard run because it was still so noisy in the arena. I wish I hadn't moved him to Open.

I cannot believe how many dogs ran off, ran out of the ring, and one even left the building. The judge just shrugged his shoulders. Why must my zoomies look so damn bad. Shane isn't going to hurt anyone.

On to the good news.

Thanks to Maggie. Running her is such a joy, even with all her problems. She finished her Novice Agility Jumpers title with a 2nd place. Still a problem with the teeter. She slammed it down at home like a pro, but at the show, she's still scared. On Sunday, Maggie spent a few minutes playing with Watson before her JWW run and shaved almost 12 seconds off her time from Saturday. We tried it again before her Standard run, but she still wouldn't go over the teeter.

The Watson Effect

Shave time off your run by spending a few minutes with this cutie!

Maggie and I will stay in Novice JWW until I can get her over the teeter. I know she can do it because she slams it down on our teeter like a pro. She just needs some confidence.

Miss Maggie May NAJ

Jumping Queen