Almost....

Last AKC trial until the fall. I had a goal to get Maggie out of Open. We almost made it.

Friday
Day started with Open FAST. I had a plan to get my points and get out. The key was to use the tunnel to propel Maggie over the send. The dog in front of me did an extra obstacle, and I thought, let her win, I'm not changing my plan. Found out later that the dog was in Preferred, so we got 1st place and finished Maggie's Open FAST title. Laura taped our run.

Maggie's Open FAST Title Run

Next was our first run in Excellent A JWW. I took an L-theanine so I wouldn't be nervous. The course felt good. I knew exactly what to do and I think I have to thank Shane for that. I've learned so much about handling with him. Maggie and I were first. We nailed it. I watched the rest of the class crash and burn, so we got 1st place by being the only Q. Now for the 5 hour wait until our next run.

The parking lot behind the Expo was off-limits to us because a concert was being set up. Around noon, the sound check started. What a noise. The building was shaking. I took the dogs for a walk to snoop and here it's a metal concert with about 4 bands. I asked one of the security guards about the start time for the show and she said 5:30. What? I hoped we'd be done with our last run before that started, but it was not to be. Luckly, Maggie listens to AD/DC in the car, so she was unfazed. Open STD 1st place.

Saturday
Decided to do Open FAST again rather than moving up. Couldn't get the momentum I needed and we blew the send. Excellent JWW was dicey. We were over time, but that is OK, so we got 1st because the fast dogs all crashed and burned. Now for the long wait until Open STD. No metal bands today so it's nice and quiet. Maggie got to play with her friend Gunner. Shane and I took long walks. Very relaxing. Finally Open STD and we nail it. Only one more Q to go and we are in Excellent for everything.

Sunday
Decided to skip FAST and sleep in. Our first run is JWW. At one point, Maggie stops to scratch something. I'm sure that was a refusal, but we marched on. She was under time and clean. Oh well. Fran couldn't stop laughing because she said Maggie was trying to scratch as she ran and then finally couldn't take it anymore and stopped. It must have been superadorable because the judge didn't call it. 1st and Q and our AXJ title.

Maggies AXJ Run

Last run of the day. Open STD. I just need this one Q to meet my goal. Maggie started off so pokey. I went into hyper cheerleading mode and cheered her right off the dog walk. The fact that I didn't know it proved that I wasn't even paying attention to her. I was running and not looking back. Mistake. So, we will try again in the fall. All in all, a pretty good weekend. Two titles and six blue ribbons.

Forgotten Friends' Maggie May AXJ NA OF