Trust Your Dog

Today was an AKC trial in Freehold, NJ. Sadie was entered in all three events; FAST, STD, and JWW (in that order).

While we didn't Q in the first two runs, I was very pleased. In FAST, I was generally able to keep Sadie moving and connected. We didn't exactly follow my plan, but she happily took most of the obstacles I sent her to. She missed the send, but that was not unexpected. We don't do any distance work in class.

In STD she kept on-course and moving. She overran the table (up and over!) but did come back immediately and finish the time. Her contacts were far from perfect, but she took the A-frame, dog walk, and teeter quite happily. The only real problem was the weaves. Apparently there was a breed show on that site the weekend before, so there was food all over the ground. Sadie scented it on her way into the tunnel (third obstacle from the finish) and then found something to eat by the fence on the other end. I ended up skipping the weaves entirely, and just finishing the final jump.

You can't see me at the finish, but I wave to the dog and say "Bye, Sadie!" to get her over the last jump.

JWW was a whole 'nuther animal. Sadie was focused and connected. She moved well. She did everything I asked of her. Too bad I was all messed up. For whatever reason, I was so concentrated on her that I forgot the course and my plan. I ended up missing intended front crosses (which meant a rear cross instead, which she NAILED) and having to call her off jumps (because I was taking her off course). She was forgiving, and ran despite my obvious mental deficiencies. In fact, she took the weaves on our first approach! Not only is that a first in a trial, but it's the first time she's weaved at all in a trial in over a month! She totally deserves her jumpers title. Unfortunately, my forgetfulness lead to me colliding with her (a fault) which caused her to take down the bars on the next jump (another fault).

To summarize: No refusals, no wrong-courses, and the two faults were 100% due to handler error.

She's getting a pork chop for dinner. I am unbelievably proud of her. I need to be taken out back and shot for sheer idiocy and/or do as Mr. Trainer suggested and watch "Great Dog, Shame About the Handler...". I just know we'll get that third jumpers Q next trial!