First off, it was beautiful out there! While on the fairgrounds, the run thru was basically across the street so we didn't have to pay for parking. People were coming and going throughout the day as they were just watching and moving along. There were a lot of 20" dogs and thats how the event started, big dogs first which felt enternity! The host was making sure everyone got their 2 runs, well that is how many I paid for. We must've waited for an hour and a half until they started running the small dogs (16" and smaller). I had Chloe out for a bit warming her up and playing with her but it was just taking too long becaue I didn't know they were trying to clear each class. Mind you, before each height change there was a walk through which took a lot of time and slowed the whole process down.

So I put Chloe back in the truck and took Scout out again and worked on his leash manners. He was a bit rowdy for a short stint but started to settled down as earlier he was howling away as he still has that SA deal going on. You should see how he acts when he sees me loading up a crate in the truck, he jumps, paces, howls, and whines. He'll get over it sooner or later. I am just dealing with it and as Jen puts, "That's just Scout." That is a good way to put it. After the first hour, he starts to quiet down but put a dog in front of him, he gets anxious again although not as hyper. 

Now I wasn't alone there as I noticed several other Countryside students there so we began conversing and such so it was a great way to past the time. They had a dachshund and shih-tzu/maltese mix. I was all ready to go run since my adrenaline was pumped up. I could not stay still, I know what will happen, my fasciitis in my left foot will start acting up so I have keep moving. So must've looked like I was on something to them. Haha.I noticed some of the big dogs that I have seen at trials. There was one or two borders there and they were really green or they weren't training enough. The dogs just lost focus. It would do 1 or 2 obstacles and get lost. The handler lost control of the dog and it was merely a recall to heel game. There were many dogs really walking the course and I pretty much figured that they would be over the maximum time.

Nevertheless, finally it was time for the small dogs to run and yeah, we got the opportunity to walk the course again being that it was so long ago when we last walked it. I didn't think it was too hard but I didn't see where there was an issue for Chloe. Boy, was I wrong. I broke up the course into 3 segments regardless of what level I was going to run and in this case, I was going to run the Novice/Open course first and second run would be Excellent. The end of the second segment bit me in the ass because it was all my fault since I lead out too far. I sent Chloe to weaves and ran to the end of it to get ready to send her to the table which I think they set the wrong height for the 12" class as it is suppose to 8" not 16". Anyhow, Chloe comes of the weave and I am at the DW and I send her and she runs up the DW. Ugh. I was too far out and that has been my problem. I don't know when to recollect. Continuing on, she ran the third segment flawless. The Novice had a very tight entry to the AF and you had to push the dog out some to get some momentum built up. Overall, she broke the starting line stay, so I put her back on it and she held it. She had no zoomies or stresses but of course, I had the toy in my hand but I didn't squeak it at all. I wasn't that winded. Chloe wasn't stressed at all. All my handling choices were a pull, push, and several front crosses.

After the run, people were saying, "holy crap that dog is fast! I think that was the fastest dog here today! I love your dog. Is that a Jack? How do you get them so calm?" LOL Have you seen Scout yet? Haha

Second run attempt was going to be doing the Excellent course. The difference between the two was 4 obstacle courses (15 vs 19). Again, I didn't think there was much of an issues by adding more obstacles but I broke the course down into 4 segments. But after running, you can see where Chloe and I need help on. First segment like the Novice, 2 jumps to a teeter to 2 jump and then DW, perfect and fast. Second segment, chute, weaves, to table and this time I even slowed down and made sure the recall to heel happened but again, she ran up the DW. Segment three, oh boy, there was a trap set there and I didn't even see it, like I could anyhow because we haven't dabbled much on stuff like this. It was off the table to a jump and then into an area of four jumps. The lady called it a sandwich. I, like everyone else running that section, ran the outside which pulled the dog away from the second jump. You see the jumps were arranged in a rectangle and you only had to jump two of them. But every dog would jump the first one correctly and then go straight to the handler thus doing a 270. What I was suppose to do was run between the jumps. Moving on.. After that was the AF and she nailed the contact there and then to 2 jumps with the last one being somewhat of a wrap to the tunnel which was right beside the DW thus being a trap. It got Chloe and I think my motion was the cause of it. I was diverging away from the line and pulled her to the DW. So since she was on the DW, what the hell, we have been working on the "back" command and here's a great time to use it, Back! And she ran into the tunnel and coming out blind so I position to collect at the jump and then hauled ass to the next jump. But I moved too slow so I did a rear cross instead and then told her to take the last jump which was a tired.

It was a good experience for sure. I was really happy about it. The course workers were helping me understand why she pulled to the DW and that sandwich area. Lesson learned for sure and hopefully we'll start working on those soon. Chloe wasn't stressed and thats what matters. I wonder how she will do at the last "Wags and Wiggles" run through?

Am I ambitious? You're damn right I am! I learn alot of mistakes. Do my dogs like agility? Watch their faces when they are running? They're smiling during and afterwards. They get 5 days of agility training per week. Just 10 minute sessions thats it!

Now I have to give Chloe a bath and some benadryl, she is all flush and she must have gotten in contact with something out there.