The morning started great as we got up early and packed the truck, then realized as we neared the PA-OH state line that I forgot to bring the leashes! Too late to turn back now! The route that the GPS chose was a bore because it was a just a straight road. As the sky was gloomy in which it showered on and off, we approached a section of bridge on Pymatuning Lake that reminded me of the movie, "Twister" where Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, and Jami Gertz as there were coming to a bridge and the tornado was creating flying cows. This is the first time, I have ever crossed a bridge on a lake and boy was it narrow and low as I am so accustomed to bridges that cross bigger bodies of water that are the completely opposite. I was thinking of what ifs scenarios had this bridge been on a bigger body of water and waves would be crashes over it engulfing or swallowing it hole. Then I started to play out the Twister scene in my head and looked at the dark and gray clouds and started laughing to myself then I remember what Laurie told me about tornadoes tearing up areas near here. I wasn't laughing any longer.
We arrived at the facility, Canine Affair Center, and I'll admit I thought the GPS was wrong because I didn't think we were at the right location. I didn't see any clearly visible signs (they were there but were small). I drove around a bit exploring until I saw someone walking their dog into a building. That was a clue! So I had to drive back where I was originally. As I drove to the other side of the building, I recognized a vehicle which happens to be a fellow classmate, Michelle and her Corgi, Molly. So I parked and loaded me up (treats, baggie, toys, and a our new lead from Rite-Aid) and got Scout for a potty break. Once he was done, I gave him a soup bone to keep him busy while Chloe and I did the run thrus. She was jacked up of course and I waited until she calmed down. She did and then shortly started back up again. I registered and paid for the runs I wanted to do which was only three in novice. There were some dogs there that were going to run and some were just going to watch.
First impressions of the building, somewhat small, they had one ring and this atmosphere is going to be good for some green dogs. Little did I know. They had laid out a standard course and the course was tight due to the space of fitting in all the obstacles. Michelle had told me that she had already run Molly and told me her dog went a little crazy. I hadn't walked course yet so Michelle's friend offered to hold Chloe as I walked it. I was feeling rushed at this point, I felt I was playing catch up or it just could be anxieties in being at a new place. I thought I memorized what I was going to do but for the first run, obviously not! I was uncoordinated or clumsy with my movements. I was calm but forgot what I was going to do or forgot how I was going to set up the dog. Its a new learning experience for sure and I think Chloe was going through the same thing. I pondered if she was going to return to her old self; lack of confidence and worried, but you know what? Her old self never came back however, the new smells and sights caught her attention.
Anyhow. It seemed that Michelle's friend had a handful of a rambunctious Jack because Chloe kept on squirming to come to me and then it was time to do the first run. I put her down-stay and start to lead out and then she ran all over the the course for a bit and then came back to me. Let's do that again. Down stay and lead out. I hesitated and he went. OK. Let's start over again. Third time. This is all nerves IMHO. Down-stay, lead out, and we're off. Jump, A-frame and the handler forgets to do a front cross. Release to jump to tunnel. Perfectly fine. Run towards the dog walk. She blows by it. Start over. She goes up and does her 2o2o. Send to the weaves and I pull lateral way too early and she pulls off. This is all handler causing the havoc in the first run. Resend back to the weaves. Now handler forgets the front cross to the chute! Bloody hell! What is up? This is due to lack of preparation of walking the course methodically as I was in a rush in playing catch up with the others. So I am rushing it!
She goes into the chute, I call her has fast as I can to do a 180 to a jump (that was tight the rest of the runs weren't because I was so out of the loop on what I needed to do) then to a hard approach to the teeter. She flies through the teeter and the bang and the speed catches her off guard. This teeter was aluminum and it was fast. Off to the double and back to single and then to the broad jump. We have not done broad jump yet. I didn't pay attention to her because at this point because I had to work my way between obstacles and to be sure that I would not run into any of them that's how tight the course was. I found out after the 3rd run she didn't do the broad jump. Send to the table. All the smells caught her attention so I had to work her to the table. She held her sit-stay on the table! And I wanted to lead out but now since I was so out of sync, I got worried about her breaking her stay and worried about more mistakes so I didn't lead out as much as I normally do which it really bit me in the ass. I was on the wrong side of the tire (approach) and she has such an explosive burst second step, she blew right by me and also missed the tire! Start over again at the tire this time I am on the landing side but still not far enough, she jumps through and here comes the second steps, bang, I am sprinting to pace with her to the triple and then to the tunnel. We're done for the first run.
I was terrible! She did a lot better than I thought. I caused the mistakes on the course not her. The second was better than some aspects of the first but I was still fumbling around like a clumsy ox. I just don't have a rhythm yet. Her performance was dwindling and I think she could be feeding off of me. This run was getting worse and I ran the last sequence better (tire, triple, tunnel) on the first run as I had better body positioning. I wanted to try the other side because others were having success but attempts were worse it exposed the obstacles to Chloe and she bit on the single and entered the wrong side of the tunnel she was making her own path. I continued to try this way on the third run and I should have stuck on what worked me and my dog. I had major setback with the third run, Chloe kept going blowing past me. Rob told me to stop with the forward motion which I did and she would come to a heel and as soon as I started to run she was off to the other side of the tunnel. Again, same thing and I am on the wrong side still. Nothing is sinking into my head at this point. Every time Chloe gets near the tunnel something is either catching her eye or her nose and she stops at the tunnel. She did that on the second and third run (when her and I finally got that right). Rob (instructor) noticed it as well something was going over there.
And her nose, OMG, on the last run, she would jump over the broad jump and then slam on the brakes on a certain spot and then get on the table. I know that Michelle dropped a lot treats earlier in that vicinity.
All in all, it was learning experience. Chloe did a lot better than I expected. I didn't want her to be her old self. This shows promise. For me, I need to prepare on the course better for one and I need to stop doubting and worrying what her and I can do. The more run thrus in the trial type environment the better. I need more experience in understanding the thought process on the course. Its easier said than done because you have to think for the path of the dog which I at times forget!
When they were jumping at the other heights, I did bring Scout out and into the building and he was focused on me. But when we walked back to the truck, someone was bringing out their dog and he lunged and barked at it. I don't know if he was surprised or the dog was too close for comfort. He didn't fuss or whine most of the day and thats a good thing as I was expecting the world is ending cries in the truck. He was so quiet. So its a sign that he is possible more tolerable being in the truck. In the house, we have a lot of work still.