We started our second class today which is a higher level class with more course work. This class is consists of teams already performing in the ring at the Novice/Open level. We have in this class, two Springers, two Shelties, and three Jacks! (Chloe, Emma, and Scamp)
Our first run was so awesome and fast! I used some lateral and distance work. Denise setup a trap on the course which got one or two dogs but we ran so clean and fast. Although there was a hiccup which wasn't caused my me or Chloe as it was caused by Scamp. You see, Scamp seems to fancy Chloe and he gets all excited to everytime he sees her. His tail wags constantly, he is smiling and then there is his high pitch whiney bark. As we drew close to him, he started barking and it stopped Chloe's flow. So I grabbed my disc and get her all jacked up and we finished the course clean. Alright, I lied, I got complacent on the send to the second tunnel because after that was the jump. I got scolded for it but nevertheless, I was very happy with Chloe and Denise showed alot of excitement as well.
And since Chloe was Scamp's weakness, Denise wanted to work on his start line stays. So she asked me to take Chloe out there in the ring and play with her. Scamp was locked on her and the toy. Jan - his handler - had some difficulty trying to get him focused onto her but he finally did it. Good boy! Jan and Denise kept on telling me that they haven't seen him that excited in a long time. I told Jan that Scamp has to get the OK from Chloe's brother Scout. Hehe. Boy is he in for a treat to see the "Hulk" of Jacks. Scamp may jump 16" but he looks like he is about 14" and in a smaller package when I compare him to Scout. Scout is roughly 16+" and over 20 lbs of muscle. Scamp and Chloe are somewhat similar in length.
Our second run was modified and we had to work on a send to tunnel which was a lot further than what I was working on. It was AF, jump, tunnel and then several jumps which opened up the dogs for some speed. While the first run tunnel send was marvelous this one was horrible as I was trying to get a farther send. I think the longer hold on the AF is what threw me off my rhythm as Denise wanted the 2on/2off contacts to be held a lot longer. On the first tunnel send at the first run of the day, I called out "tunnel" as soon as I called "break" off the AF however, with this delay, I was all out of whack. I had to modify the timing and basically baby her to the tunnel. So I know I am going to have to work on this more at a farther distance. I did screw up the last jumps because I was worried about hitting the wall and trust me, I ran into the column once at full speed and braced myself. Since I was worried about hitting the wall, I slowed down and convergence with the Chloe which started to make her turn towards me thus pulling her off the last two jumps. I ran it again and I hauled ass to the end and then pushed off the wall.
Denise did tell me at the rate Chloe and I are going we'll be taking the "Excellent" course/classes in no time. I still haven't told her ....
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I posted a video of the Novice Jumper class on the last day of the trial. You'll see Cash, Ellie, Scamp which all three are Jacks and Molly, a Pembroke Corgi that is Chloe's classmate at her first trial. Now the owners of Cash and Ellie are actually mother and daughter and I think Cash and Ellie are son and mother or daughter. I forgot. They are really small Jacks. Chloe is bigger boned compared to Cash even though they jump at the same height. Ellie is so tiny.
Well here's the video:
http://www.vimeo.com/1431861