numbers mean so little...

Sally's first AAC Q was  a jumpers Q in mid July of 2010. Her last Starters Q was this weekend.
She has only had one trial that she hasn't earned a Q between the two dates...  this September's trial when she was feeling crappy (Lesson learned there maybe ~ although even feeling crappy she enjoyed it!)

We only trialed Saturday. Our first run was advanced gambles - we knocked the 4 point jump in the opening (our only rail) and even so got over the 20 required points. The gamble had a straight tunnel (on a blind entrance  to a spread - both set at the maximum distance - I stopped my motion too early and Sally peeled back to me instead of doing the spread. Good girl! Then must have been standard - Sally ran a nice course - although I had to put her back in the weaves as she came out one pole early. Her table was lovely! Snookers was hilarious ... as you can see for yourself! Sally nearly added a tunnel -but didn't, then a jump but didn't, then stopped DEAD in front of the double but leaped it from a standstill. A true Sally, character filled run!  Steeplechase should have been in the bag - she had a great run but forgot all about aframe contacts in the excitement of running flat out. Goof!

So in two years and two months we have done 8 AAC trials. She's had some train wrecks in there and she's had many five fault rounds. She's had 1 point snookers and 34 point snookers runs.   We've had fun in every single class at every single trial.

Brody's first Q was a jumpers Q at the end of March of 2007. His first day at a trial.
His ADC was early August 2007. 4 months later. He had quite a few trials where he was 1-3 OT in standard and no qs at the trial at all.  His SGDC followed at the end of November of that same year. 7 long months. Back when you had to have team as part of the title. (To be fair we earned both snookers and team the same trial).

16 months for my agility superstar; 7 months for my rockstar. If ever there was a better way to prove they are different dogs these numbers just may be it. (The fact a few years have passed made a difference too - Sally would still have earned her ADC this weekend but you needed fewer starters games Qs for that title so she would have had that in April of 2011.)

Thea was brilliant this weekend - she's hardly done any agility but when I realized she was coming with me I entered her in starters gamblers and snookers.  She was fast, furious and had a great time. Always a great reminder that Qs are not what the game is about!

Yen was pretty darn good at the trial. I'm so smitten it isn't funny.

reflections on competitiveness ...

Final house league was today ... I spent a whole lot of time over the past 4 months looking at numbers and putting them into a spread sheet. Talk about proof that statistics exist to be manipulated! Individual dog scores were easy in a raw form but when trying to calculate variations of top dawgs it got complicated. When pulling together team scores, this year, it became impossible. We had a couple of teams that never got to run as the same team. Hardly fair to just write them off. If I used a "system" the littlest change had the team results changing. I decided it wasn't fair and stuck with individual scores.

Lynne and darling Amy - getting ready to run for the love of it!

Even that caused grief of course. Should I only consider the dogs who made every single run? That wasn't fair - some days ran late and people had to go, one day we had terrible weather, and so on. So I figured out a system for standard runs (best 5 runs) and just did raw math for speed scores and points scores. Interestingly enough some of the top dawgs missed runs. Was quite pleased that Brody and Sally were both quite respectable in the group.

In the interests of saving my brain I also didn't include scores from today. Too much to judge three classes, do prizes and try to score. House League was a lot of work last year. A LOT. It was less work this year but still probably an average of 3 hours between each one and then the never stop pace for me of the day itself. Between certificates, tallies and prizes the last day probably took 8 or more hours. That's enough!

I'm sure some people wanted to know exactly how they ranked compared to everybody - so I did lists of top dogs in terms of faults earned, points earned and speed. People poured over the lists. No shock to me!

I have always competed against myself in agility. The concept of a Q fascinated me at first. Then it thrilled me. Actual swag for competing against myself and measuring our skills against a standard and doing what was wanted required. Then a pretty ribbon and a record online? Amazing. It has never been about the placement for me  - mostly because Brody was often the only dog in in his height when we started (and Thea nearly always runs against herself). Had I started with a 22 regular dog I might have been more aware of placements but I wasn't ... and, honestly, I think that's a good thing!

Thea's second AAC Q - lots of fun in this ribbon as Sally and she were the only 2 Qs in the class - and Thea was only 5 seconds slower than Sally!

I run for me. I run for my dogs. We have fun. That's truly what has always mattered to me!

Sally. being Agility, runs to win! 

Pretty pretty ...

Nice ribbon eh?
I had the pleasure of picking up 4 of them this weekend.
1 for Sally's sister Sophie.

 

That title ribbon belongs on this collection ... but they ran out of title ribbons at the actual trial we were at. 

2 were for titles Sally earned at the last trial. (Perhaps the only standard title she'll ever earn!)

1 was Brody's last level 3 title. 

What good dogs. I wasn't going to pick them all up but then I tried to decide which to take for my guys to pick up and couldn't make up my mind - so laid out my  eight dollars and took them all :)

a good good day ...

Thea ran 4/5 clean Q runs the only one we missed was a snookers run ... (in which I missed the number three jump - whoops!)
Fullhouse started a little lookie loo but she settled down and ran well
Her standard run was nice too- a little tiny think about the dog walk but a tiny yay got her in gear along the top plank ... at 3.1 yps it wasn't her fastest run by any stretch but she was not hesitant at all
Colours was a nice open course - we chose the wide open option .. and she flew the back line! 3.8 yps !!
Wildcard was nice too - she is a lot of fun to run :) It was our slowest run (2.8 yps) but felt quite strong anyhow.

Sally ran 3/5 clean Q runs. Her errors were honest (the judge called a missed dogwalk contact - I thought she had it - it happens!) and in a very tricky bit of a course she entered a wrong tunnel, realized her error and flipped around .. too bad the errors weren't in the same course!
Even with the bobbles she ran well and I am pleased with her too. She pulled the oxer down too, luckily in fullhouse, so it was an error easily recovered from. the fullhouse Q was earned with 26 points.
Her standard run of dog walk infamy was 5.3 yps. Colours (the off course tunnel flip) was 3.9 yps even with the extra miles. The wildcard course ran nicely and her yps was the same as Colours.
her snookers course was a thing of beauty - as was Brody's. Our judge, the awesome Pat Saito, brings little cones to trials for 51 point snookers courses. I was doubtful but determined. Both Brody and Sally succeeded in getting their cones! I was so impressed!

Brody had a good day too. Level 4 isn't easy and, as usual Brody handled the courses cleanly and with his usual high standards! Fullhouse was shorter than with Sally but clean all the way so they tied for points. Standard was a tricky course - a wrap, off course tunnels and jumps shouting all over the place. 3 yps was enough to earn the q! (Although only a second place - hardly an issue to me)
Colours was a zippy 3.5 yps. Wildcard was 2.8 yps and we did 2 sets of weaves! Unreal. I had been worried about 5 runs for Bman - no need - the last class (snookers) was Brody's best class of the day. I literally just sat on the floor at the end and admired my rockstar!
I will put together a little video compilation to bore you with soon!

Some ribbon pictures ...

did ya think I'd do the posed judge shots? Not likely  - though I like other peoples versions :)

Sally might be tired

My best boy

Not sure Brody loves the ribbon as much as I do

Missing ribbons - 1 cpe q ribbon, all the placement ribbons (10 of em) and a title ribbon

CPE time...

Spoiler: Sally's great leap off an aframe meant one lost q ... but 14/15 ain't shabby that's for sure!

I was only going to run Thea in Jumpers and Fullhouse but she was RARING to go  so she ran all 5 classes (a first for her I think) and earned all 5 qs ( a certain first for her!) She earned zero faults for the day as well - which is going to do a fair but towards her 1000 point title :) I ran her as a vet which meant 4 inch jumps instead of 8 inch jumps - she was MUCH more confident. I think asking a dog her size to jump nearly should height is pretty tough. She is very athletic and capable - don't misunderstand but she was a pocket rocket today and her striding to the lower jump was great - not one stutter pop*  all day that I could see. She is an awfully fun play dog!

Brody ran a little slowly in jumpers ... in fact had he been in level 4 we would have had 3 times faults ... however he eked out just enough yardage to be OK in level 3. His other runs were fast and furious though - he is a lot of fun to run when he is hot!  He finished another level 3 title and earned his first level 4 standard (and fullhouse). He may be in level 3 jackpot for ever .. as I never seem to get to a trial that has it. He has 1 jumpers left to go in level 3 as well. He laid out some nice paths that others duplicated ~ always a compliment :) So standard and fullhouse level 4 Q's earned - as well the last wildcard and colours level 3's earned for his CL3- H title  and his second jumpers level 3 q earned. Good boy. He took quite a hard call off with enthusiasm and ran well both the rest of that class and afterwards. I was a little cross with myself as had I realized he'd eaten his Wheaties for breakfast I would have handled the line to not need such a strong call off.

Sally was spectacular. She was fluid, and on, fast yet responsive. We just ran .. like the wind. She really is agility. Her only error was leaping one aframe and I actually think she got a nail on the contact but it wasn't a frame I'd want rewarded anyhow. So level 2 wildcard, jumpers, colours and fullhouse earned. She moves on to level 3 jumpers and fullhouse now. (She had the highest number of points of any dog 43 points in total)

Over all the weekend was lovely  - 3 titles earned, 18 Q's and a great sense of accomplishment. Regionals will be challenging but if Brody runs like he did this weekend he'll be laughing all the way to 400 points or so. Sally really isn't quite ready for the challenges ~ she's close though so we'll use it as training experience and enjoy the party!

* stutter pop - my expression for a dog (or horse) that has to adjust it's stride right to the base of the jump as it isn't sure where it should take off from .. it stutters until finally it pops hoping to clear the jump

on aac ....

As I am sure I've said before - great dogs ~ shame about the handler :) Actually I am well pleased with the start up for 2011.

Sally had a steeplechase which was a bit of a trainwreck. I was in the wrong place; she was in the wrong place; she blew the aframe and I put her right back on it. She touched and touched again and I could see the wheels turning in her brain. I actually think that was a really good choice (as you'll see in snookers report). We had NT but I wasn't too stressed about it. She was working so hard. She reads body language so well. I need to learn to be aware of exactly where I am sending her when I run in any given direction.

Sally  had a small issue in her first advanced gamblers - the judge was standing on my chosen opening line. Whoops - I hadn't even looked as Brody is so steady he doesn't even see stuff like that.  We got a little off track  but Sally recovered quickly missing just one planned jump. She got the mini - which was the double (4 points)  to tunnel to repeat the tunnel for 16 points and then the 4 point double again .. for 20 points. Spinning dogs around back into the tunnel made interesting handling  for many dogs. I just did a post turn and Sally blasted into the tunnel. In the opening we also did a tunnel, a couple of jumps and the aframe (yay contact) - 27 point opening. The gamble was a jump, a  tunnel then a push out to a jump beside the tire ... many many dogs couldn't get the jump and did the tire instead- I booted it and called her and she was MOST excellent. She earned 54 points so not a million extra but the job was done ... and that makes me laugh. If Brody ever earned 54 points in a gamblers class I'd be hysterical and giddy!

In her second gamblers class she was a little worried in the weaves so popped out once (they were the second obstacle). I just carried on with the plan and did the four point chute twice then a jump and a GORGEOUS set of weaves ... through a tunnel and down the eight point mini (like a superstar)I turned back the whistle went and I was in the perfect place for the gamble. I sent her out and she flew with confidence but the second obstacle was the teeter and I froze when she was half way up it - I don't think we've done a teeter from 18 feet laterally before.  Dumb me as she jumped off the side to make sure I was ok - then sent out to finish the gamble no problem. KEEP MOVING should be my motto so many times.

Sally's  first snookers class. Whoops! Although I was using my brain so it was good for learning again. I  thought my way around the course. Sally pulled a rail in the 7 combo (the first time through) .. so I did the 6 point teeter twice .. sadly the number 2 rail also came down in the opening or we would have been just fine ... she was attentive and excellent.  I think the rails came down because I wasn't driving the way I usually do. The curse of overthinking. I was pretty determined to earn the Q in the second run. "Enough of no snookers qs" said I!  I carefully looked at the course. The only way I could see to be ENTIRELY sure of getting the q was to do 4 reds and 4 weaves (the 7 pointer). Even if we had a meltdown I decided working weaves in a trial made a whole lot of sense. The first two sets were a little worried and required a reset - the last two sets were HEAVENLY. She got through 2,3,4, and the 5 point aframe sticking a very nice contact! The whistle went somewhere in the 6 point combo but she earned over 40 points anyhow. Good girl!


DUMB Handler in advanced jumpers with her. 10 faults in one class (How can a dog jump a tire a handler is standing right in front of? Sally wonders too). 5 faults in the other. Good dog. Smooth happy running so it will come. She was really really good.

Brody only had 4 classes. 2 snookers and 2 jumpers. My snookers King wasn't ... we were 2 and 4 points short respectively but he ran well and happily - just long courses for little legs. He was a jumpers star though happily earning both Qs and finishing the aac part of the weekend with an extra Q than required for his Masters Jumpers Dog of Canada.  I was amazed - he was 15 seconds undertime on one run and 12 for the other. He didn't trot one step. A little bittersweet as I'm fairly sure that will be his last AAC title. I think everything else requires an Atch and I'm not planning on doing gamblers classes with him anymore. He is such a pleasure to play with.

Good, GREAT, marvellous dogs. CPE afternoon tomorrow. Maybe Sally will be tired :)

Stats from 2010

I am not mathematical ... nor do I do much with my computer. However I have been inspired to learn to do more with the tools at hand. I made a cute little xtranornmal movie for the students at school then made a silly movie about a conversation I could SO see Tom and Sally having about agility. Tom is wandering around now reminding me "I am not agility". He has also taken to saying, while watching Sally " I run like the wind" or " I am a train" (a couple of the lines given to Sally dog in the clip).
I decided last night to learn how to make charts on the computer so I made a pie graph and a bar chart. Finding stats to use that would hold my interest was easy - I used the gang's trial stats.
I can't quite figure out how to share the charts here yet .. but I can share the info ;)

Sally earned 37% of the q's this season (15: she missed 7 qs including a gamble she got but was under 1 sec OT and 2 maniacal start up classes), Thea 15% (6: she missed only 2 qs as I was very careful about what she entered) and Brody 49% (20: he missed 8 qs including 3 that were me confused on course)

To total things up 41 qs of  58 attempts for a q rate of 70 percent. Brody rocked along at 71 % but we only did gamblers twice. Not too shabby eh? All in all I think I have to declare the come back tour a grand success!

Why end the post with an ice picture you ask? Well that would be because of Sally. Sally ran across the half frozen pond yesterday - she ran so fast (like the wind itself!) that she made it to the shore before the ice gave way and she crashed into the water - she leaped out - shook hard and galloped away. That Whole Lot of Dog is going to be the death of me!

blurry eyes and brain

a 12 hour day - hundreds of clicks on the truck - cold , hot, damp and happy

CPE morning (running and volunteering)+ AAC afternoon (volunteering)= happy me

restored me maybe even - at least a little

I felt guilty about going to the trial but I had committed to help the whole weekend so felt guilty about just going one day too - this was actually a reasonable, working comprimise as it turned out

Our first class was a level three standard - Brody's run. Brody ran in 3.8 yps. No bobbles, no worries. LOTS of dogs struggled with a turn to a chute off the dog walk then another turn after a line of jumps to a teeter. Interesting but Brody had no issues.

Then Sally had a colours course - 4.5 yps and we held on the dogwalk to reinforce that. She was fastest dog of all at the level 1-2 (she was running as level 2) There was a nice tunnel under the dogwalk away to the far side of the course thing too. She handled it like the pro she is turning out to be.

Brody's Colours course was smooth as it could be honestly. Not speedy but flowy and lovely, certainly not slow. 3.7 yps it turns out - pretty quick when you consider the dogwalk and weaves were both on course.

Brody's snookers was next - again I went for flow - 7, 7 (a three part combo) then 2 ..we often do one jump drills so I really dont mind pulling my dogs around to rejump (not back jump) number 2. Brody made it all the way through the freaking closing!!!!!!! I'm sure we've done it before but never with 2 sevens as part of our path. What a boy!!!

Sally's snookers was next (and last). We did three sevens in our opening and she was FANTASTIC. Again it was a 2 jump, one tunnel combo and we did some slicing that a lesser green dog wouldn't have managed. However, I was in a BIZZARe place for the single number 5 jump and it came down. Fair enough - Brody could have done it - Sally could have done but there was a turn to a tunnel afterwards and the combo of my position and the next obstacle was a little over her head. I let her do the tunnel anyhow as it was on the way to the finish line as I was well pleased with her run.

What good dogs!!

weekend wrap up ...

and what a LONG weekend it was
my second three day trial of my life (first being cpe nationals back in 2008) and I had all three agility dogs with me ... wowser

Friday (AAC)
Starters Gamblers Sally was on ... ran beautifully except for blowing two aframe contacts (NOTE TO SELF: MUST figure out how to train aframe with Sally) min gamble no problem at all .. final gamble jump jump turn tunnel ... bing bang boom done
6 seconds left over and we weren't racing ... 54 points ... all good

Starters Snooker Thea - red 7 point, dropped behind me and did a jump on the way to red - she was happy but quite shocked the course ended :)

Starters Snooker Sally - red, and then a blur - she was great - got to 4 in opening no problem but needed to finish 5 for quite enough points .. ended up with over 30 points - probably my fault for micro managing a bit 9and therefore slowing her down) but I was thrilled with her run

Masters Snooker Brody - red, 7 red, 7 red, 7 and away we went - got through 5 only needed to finish 4 - 39 points in the bank :) that's twice he's qd using a three part sequence to accumulate points - I must go for flow with him ...he speeds enough it's worth it

Starters Jumpers Sally - flew the course 2 Qs in the whole class - she was one of them. YPS 5.38 - you should know I can't run that fast ;)

Advanced Jumpers - Thea - only tried to drop behind me once - flew the course on chihuahua wings .. but tiny legs can only move so fast - YPS 3.4

Masters Jumpers Brody - STUPID HANDLER - turned left not right for jump 4 realized I was looking at a 13 cone .. had to think - then took off - Brody (as usual) ran a foot perfect course - now I'm thinking I many never get that last jumpers q I'd like)

Friday was a good day :)

Saturday (CPE)

Jackpot first class - everybody was in it ... all ran well, none for quite enough points but a nice warm up ..

Standard level 1 Thea - chute was 3 obstacle - it took awhile to convince Thea this chute was safe so we ran out of time but she did a dog walk and a nice jump on the rest of the course

Standard level 3 Brody -Q can't think what the course was but he flew it and aced it aprt from one bobble in weaves (took a large swing out)!

Snookers Sally Q- aframe was 7 and I wasn't chancing it - this was a snookers course for Thea (easy 3 frames) but OF COURSE she wasn't entered ..) so Sally and I were conservative red tunnel for 2 red jump for 3 red tunnel for 2 repeat tunnel and away you go ... 30 points so we must have gotten 20 points on course which means we got through 6 - actually I think we did and I knew we were OK so opted not to even try the aframe

Snookers Brody Q 31 points red 7 red 7 red 5 (weaves) and away we went - time is tight in snookers cpe so we only got 30 points but that was enough :)

Jumpers must have been the last class .. Sally Q - very very fast run fastest clean in whole class - one dog with some bars was faster than her by .2 seconds
Thea - also Q - nice and happy run Brody was not entered

Sunday CPE- let me just say right up front it was 8/8 Q day ... there you can stop reading and think I'm bragging - I'm not though - I'm just really proud of the dogs holding it together for three days of a trial where I was working nearly every minute I wasn't running and with running three dogs none got much chilling time with me ... all were happy, and running well - I don't do Brody justice on a day like yesterday but that can be another post for another time


First class Full house - my least understood class still but Q, Q, Q Thea with 20 points, Sally with 31 and Brody with 30 - nice flowing course made it easy to get the points especially with an aframe dog ;)

then came standard - Thea loved the course perfect fast clean
Brody's course was rocking too - foot perfect even through the bits other people were bitching about (some people love to complain eh?)

Colours was up next ... I didn't want to do the aframe with Sally so didn't choose that course - she was brilliant
Brody started off slow (good thing it wasn't aac masters) but did pick up eventually and was clean and quick enough

Wildcard was last - only Sally was in the class and we had an aframe in it - I nearly considered pulling from the class then thought no - she does know TOUCH and even if she doesn't understand aframe behaviour I should be able to really manage that frame (it was after a tunnel I knew I could send her to from a weird spot to get to right beside the frame. She did it and the rest of the course just fine!! YAY Miss Sally

The wild child managed to save her wildness for a 5 -6 throw of the Frisbee before every class she ran and for some good games in the moments I had time .. she was amazing. Thea and Brody were fabulous too. Thea ran with a q rate of 60 percent .. not bad for a dog who doesn't teeter weave or chute ... or get trained ;)

75% for Brody - simply amazing - he really is a rockstar ...

78% for Sally unbelievable - now the fact I didn't do standard courses with her sure helped that rate ;)

We ran 24 runs over 3 days .. and earned 17 qs with an overall q rate of just over 70 percent. But it wasn't just the q's the dogs ran WELL. In many classes including 2 they didn't q in they were foot perfect. They were attentive and did everything I asked for. They are brilliant dogs. And I want to keep up the training - shame I have to work for a living a little more seriously come September.

jump jump jump

oh now that was some FUN

The wild women had a trial last night, if you can even call it that. Thea had a jumpers class and Sally had a standard class and a jumpers class.

First (in discussion not in order of go) the disaster - the standard run. I sat Sally and said go not wait. OOPS! She came right back before crossing the start line and sat again but was PEEVED. She was barking and tossng her head and just hilarous. I released her. She flew the jump and brought it down, raced for the dog walk and was NUTZ the rest of the round. She actually ran over to investigate a lab playing outside the ring - I actually touched her to return her to the last obstacle - the tire. Silly Sally. But there were a few good things to keep in mind. It took awhile but we got our table count done. Her weaves were amazing - hit 'em frst try - popped the last pole (the tunnel was callling her name loudly I guess) but came right back and did a fabulous job. Her teeter was solid and she waited to be released. She stayed on course though she added one obstacle.

Jumpers, in the other hand, was AMAZING. Sally held her start line stay perfectly and read the turn to a pinwheel despite a jump right in front of where a straight line would take her. Many dogs didn't turn for the pinwheel. Many dogs dropped bars. Some dogs missed jumps. Miss Sally, my wild dog was in control. She had FOCUS. She was fast. AND she was careful. She was clean. She earned a Q. She ran like a dream. She was only the third dog in the ring so people weren't really watching or appreciating the challenges of this little starters course. Applause was very scattered (which is fine with me - I don't suffer ring nerves much at all and don't pay any mind to the people around me).

Thea was last in the class. Thea creates buzz where ever she goes. Her joy? Her size? I don't know but I do know if I could clone her I could rehome at least one of her every time I was in public. Thea ran another stunning fast clear round. She sent out to the tunnel so I could get a cross in to set up for a tricky last line. She motored around the pinwheel even though we haven't done many of them with her. She was quite frankly a super star! She was the second fastest dog in the class; only Sally beat her time. Sally and Thea were the only two qs in the class.

Q or no q I am so enjoying the comeback tour. But a q or two make a night such fun!

what a HOT day .. luckily the gang was ON FIRE..

well relatively anyhow

I didn't stay for results as the trial was running way behind but I do know Brody q'd in master jumpers (his 3rd q in that class) and didn't in snookers - he either ran out of time in 6 or I put him in the wrong end of the number 6 tunnel - actually I did that - DOH two trials in a row picking the wrong tunnel - but I think he ran out of time - we would have had to do one jump afterwards anyhow and I'm positive we were that tight to the time that it wouldn't have happened. Handler error in the heat - that's what I'm calling it anyhow. He was remeasured and is certainly under 12 inches now. (Probably always has been but what can you do - seeing as how he can still jump 16 inches without much effort I would never have worried about it if not pushed by the masters judge clinic participants)

Sally had three runs - jumpers, standard and gamblers. Jumpers incuded an off course for team us- and a couple of time faults but given that the course was largely straight lines strung together with straight tunnels I think an off course was a miracle.

Standard by some standards (hahaha) was a train wreck - 45 faults. But they were honest faults if such a thing is possible. I wasn't where I should have been a couple of times so she went off course and did an extra tunnel. She did 12 weaves - not as confidently as at home or in class but she did them and with enthusiasm. The table came after the weaves and a LOT of the dogs struggled with the table. I knew the off course had already killed us so made the choice to put her up and if she did her automatic table to release her quickly. She freaking ACED it. So on the judge's 2 I called her off and raced off - the next bit of the course (spread, tunnel, tunnel, teeter) was PERFECT. Coming off the teeter I wasn't too sure which side to be on so she blew past a jump then came back and did it fine. A frame - PERFECT, flip away to a tunnel - PERFECT end tire - PERFECT. So you can see why what was really 2 off courses on her part don't upset me much at all. The scariest thing is that Sally would come third in that class if all heights were combined. Most dogs were eliminated. The "winner" had 5 faults; second place had 23 then us - crazy eh? It was a very challenging course for starters. Opening was a chute; then an offset line of 2 jumps to a tunnel under a dog walk then a flip up the dog walk then weaves and on to the rest. I counted 6 major challenges in the course. It was a fun course to run actually though. (and the weaves, the held contacts on all equipment, the table and the 2 places the flow was heavenly are what I will take away from that class!)

Sally's gamblers class was amazing. So glad I stuck it out in the heat to have that run. She got 3 mini's, 2 4s and a bunch of singles ... and the main gamble but she was 2 seconds overtime. She was so much fun to run. I couldn't be more pleased with her.

Thea was the queen of the day though. Her only class was starters jumpers and she NAILED IT, ROCKED the course, had a blast and easily happily and with great joy earned her first aac q!!

Way to go Princess Thea!!

day 2 and the fun continues

3/4 today and the missed Q was a Q for Brody and I - somehow I had the wrong course entry into a tunnel (the MUCH HARDER ONE) so I asked him for that tough one - never realized it was wrong and zoomed off to run a fabulous course - while I am PEEVED at me I am thrilled to be running again .. and I didn't let it rattle me for long 9it was the second class today)

The other classes were great - snookers is one of my favourite classes - I like the thinking - Brody racked up 45 points!! Fullhouse is fun too - the challenge of this course was to get three plain jumps in - a NUMBER of people didn't manage that. brody needed 23 points and got 29 so that was quite secure. Wildcard is not my favourite game - I always try to do something in it to make me think - it is usually VERY straightforward and over too fast for me .. today I ran without my hands - no sweat ...

I am so very lucky to live with Brody ..
I am so very lucky to be able to play a game I like SO MUCH even if not often enough
I am so very lucky to have a support system that understands this strange desire

Sunday - what a rock star!

The THIRD day dawned sunny and breezy too. I could NOT have asked for better Brody weather honestly.

I grabbed the notion of running with intention for the whole day. I was a little worried about Brody's fitness (never having done a two full day trial I had no idea how a three day one just 4 days after his first two day would be. Apparently I have conditioned him well.. I worked out a plan and stuck to it - for him and me but never having tried it before I wasn't sure what would happen.

Our first run was standard and there was a tunnel dog walk discrimination that looked an awful lot like the aframe we had issues with Saturday. I was DETERMINED that error would not happen again - Brody ended up running a clear round under time! (He placed second in the class as well behind a very cute cocker who had struggled with both standard runs prior to Sunday.)

Our second run was colours and I let up on my goal of running with intention - it was clear and the weaves were excellent but it was a bit slower - we got the q but it was a bit close for comfort. He handled some tricky tunnel entries cleanly though.

Our last run was nearly at the end of the day and I had considered pulling out and heading home but I checked in with Brody and he seemed quite keen to run.. it was snookers too - one of my favourite classes so I decided to try it. I changed my plan a BILLION times but eventually worked out a short path that ad flow and got us our required points without doing the last two obstacles if I ran out of time. Walking to the start line I decided even if we had time I was running for the table (end point for games) rather then doing the weaves as I wanted to end a wonderful weekend on a real HIGH and Brody loves the race for the table. I ran with serious intention and Brody was FABULOUS. He NAILED the course path laid out and we had a couple of spots we could RACE each other so we had a blast!

We decided to stay and cheer the canuks _ I had heard Xena and Emma were top contenders adn knew other folks (like Pat and Lesley) had good weekends too.
So glad I did as I am now looking at a plaque for Brody - High in Standard for his level and his height - WOW!

(a sad note - right as they called Brody somebody in the crowd collapsed - so instead of any cheer there was a GASP as she went down - I have heard she'll be OK but what a sad way to end the weekend eh?)


Brody ran 7/9 qs and placed in every class but snookers but I am thrilled with every run (apart from the tunnel/aframe thing - that just annoys me!)

he truly gets his game on for me - he is a ROCK STAR!

saturday..some blips and an amazing run too

Saturday was lovely again.. the weather gods were smiling at us :)

Our first run was jackpot (gambles in aac) not Brody's strong suit so I planned an opening to get minimum points to get some momentum built for the day .. and felt the gamble was doable for him

we did a nice opening but when I pushed him a little to get the tunnel away from me he actually pushed WAYYYYYYY out and got the far end... an error of enthusiam is something I can celebrate though - I was thrilled with our NQ (no qualifying score run) and pleasantly shocked by our second place... I guess a lot of dogs struggled with the gamble

Then we headed out to the standard ring - Brody got SUCKED into to two tunnels - choosing them over the a frame. TWICE! I was shocked...except I couldn't really blame him - it was HOT and the tunnel takes a lot of work from Brody. He did it immediately and ran a lovely course - including the weaves apart from that. He placed second again as only dog qualified at his level in this class.

Our final run was jumpers. We were back inside and we both like jumpers so we simply FLEW the course- fast and clean and I was thrilled with his Q and first place!

It was another LONG day so we went back to the motel for a bit, tidied up and headed out for dinner. We to Findleys on Sharon's recommendation but sadly it wasn't as good as Bob Evans.

First Masters Standard Q

and it should have been two but I mishandled a tricky weave entry - he was HOT - he was smoking and I was out of breath !

I am so pleased that he is earning masters qs I really wasn't sure that we would be able to it - and here we are a year after starting to trial placing ahead of some very very nice dogs :)

The steeplechase was irritating - 3 seconds over time but clean ... our fate it seems :)

the brodster does it again!

and Thea starts to rock on too :)

we had a CPE trial today - Sally stayed home which I'm sure didn't thrill her but it did let me concentrate on the little guys ...

Brody went 5 for 5 - 5 qs in 5 classes.. at level 2 CPE so it's reassuring to have that in my toolbox for the Nationals now.. He really is a rockstar - he is so reliable and such fun to work with

His first class was a colours class- pick your course and run it - they are usually quite short and this one sure seemed fast ... 14 seconds was all it took him to run (despite having 38 seconds he could have used). He finished the course and all the way back to the car seemed to be looking for the next obstacle... he is too funny!

On to two standard classes .. again zip zap no faults and quite pretty - except the weave poles.. he did NOT like the weave poles much but he did them .. which is what matters ;)

The last classes were wildcard card classes..... ZOOM no problem at all for the Brodster - no faults, no bobbles and a lovely way to end the day ... in fact he was running so well I ran the last course without saying a word! Always good for me to focus on non verbal cues and it didn't phase Brody in the least.

Thea went 3 for 5 - only struggling with the dog walk (hardly as shock as she hasn't worked any element of it since the snow hit! and she actually did it beautifully the last time) She was confident, flying and having a great time!

Her two colours courses were great - fast and flowing and very focussed. She took 16 and 18 seconds respectively (with 41 seconds allowed!)Her first standard was great except for worrying about the dog walk .. the second run the dog walk was no problem but she was so excited about getting it she did two extra tunnels .. she is too cute- the little crowd pleaser had everybody eating out of her paws.

Her last class was the wildcard class - it took her just 7 seconds longer then Brody and she had to really think about the tire jump :)


It was great to run at a new venue - both of them weren't phased in the least .. and so nice to see familiar faces too .. CPE is such a friendly place to be ;)


loads of fun - and I'm exhausted :)

Another Title Ribbon

Brody got his last advanced standard run Q!(Which makes him a Veterans Advanced Agility Dog Of Canada - and gave us a lovely ribbon to boot!)

He will now be running in the enormous masters courses in standard :)
He is already running in masters jumpers and he got his FIRST Masters snookers Q this trial too... in his FIRST try - yah to pat saito for the great plan!

she pointed out that we could open at the start line - hit the 5 pointer, hit another red, redo the 5 pointer, then another one the aframe for 6 points, another red then 4 then start the course - the flow was BEAUTIFUL... Brody had extra points in the bank..

So he is masters standard, jumpers, and snookers and we haven't even tried advanced gamblers or team yet ;)
We'll see what happens ... but he's already acheived everything I thought he could when we started :)

Sally had fun and is slowly getting better and better too :)

What a start to 2008!

Sally and Brody and I went to Morningstar trial in Kingston on Friday and Saturday. Thea was off and on lame so she had to stay home but I think she enjoyed being cuddled in front of the fire. Brody was in a funny mind set - but so was I so it seemed fair to me. He did pull together 2 VERY nice snookers runs in the advanced level (one of Brody's sweeps) and earned one advnaced standard leg so he only has one leg left at that too. He's run very few advanced classes - maybe 4 -5 tops so to have 2 legs done is great. His q rate is rapidly improving but even more importantly he's having a blast!His masters jumpers runs were pretty darn ok too - he fell for one trap in the first run but was fast... second run was slow and careful - and went 5 seconds over time but sped up as the course went on. Sally was attacked - badly and frighteningly by a dog who left the ring to get her. Sally only tried to get away and was totally submissive and appropriate (though she screamed very loudly) . The judge has written a report asking that the attacking dog be banned- be interesting to see if I hear anything about it. She is recovering quite nicely - thank heavens but it really was very traumatic for a whole lot of people and dogs.