TO COMPETE OR NOT COMPETE.....

I have recently been mulling over whether to continue to compete agility or not. I have 2 remaining goals for Marley. I really want to finish her Open FAST and Excellent Jumpers Titles. We only need 1 leg each. We are heading to LA in a week and a half, so maybe we can finish those titles. After that, I haven't set any more goals for Marley. I don't know if I want to invest the time, effort, and money into trying to track down a PACH. I just don't know if I really want a PACH. I know Marley can do it, but I don't know if I WANT it. As we know in agility, you have to be mentally in it to win it and right now I'm not in it.

Marley does not go to a formal class. I train her myself with some privates as needed. I can count on one hand how many formal classes she has attended in the past year. She is just too sensitive to be around all of the class chaos. Oddly enough in a trial, she usually does well. I am very cognizant about keeping her away from barking and yapping dogs. I will cover up those dogs and I have been known to pack my stuff and move Marley somewhere else. Marley is a sensitive girl and I will protect her!!

Little Miss Kalea-Kate moved up to Intermediate Agility class and I think we did 2 classes before I needed to make a change. I have decided to teach her on my own. Her safety is very important to me and I can't have her around a certain vicious dog that is also in the same class. I'm not a novice handler and I feel competent that I can do it on my own. We will still do privates, probably every month or so. We are working on "Go ons", weaves (she learned 6 poles in 5 days!!), solidifying her contacts, and beginning to sequence multiple obstacles. A little every day. I don't know when I will debut her in agility, but I do know I want her to be mature! I love her to pieces but she is very much a puppy and I want to let her be a puppy as long as possible!!!

LITTLE ROCK DOG TRAINING CLUB AKC AGILITY TRIAL

Marley was entered in our local club's AKC agility trial. She had a great weekend overall. We've made tremendous strides in her training. Marley is my special girl! I never know when we go to the start line if Marley is going to be a tortoise or a hare. I never know until the first obstacle if Marley is going to take off running like a maniac or if she's gonna take her time. She is not a cookie cutter dog. Sh'e never going to be that reliable dog that lives to do agility. She's Marley. She lives with bilateral hip dysplasia and chronic GI issues. You would never know though. She's very stoic and I have to be on alert to any subtle changes with her. She finishes her agility runs with a bounce and a smile and I love that about her!

Today, she refused weaves in both of her runs. She's stiff in her hips and has a slight hitch in her step. If you didn't know Marley, you wouldn't even notice the subtle hip changes. So Marley will be on hip rest and Rimadyl for a few days.

Marley was a great girl this weekend! She was so friendly and happy. She recognized some people from our previous training group (3 yrs ago)  and was so cute when she realized she knew them. She just had to go and see them. I'm so pleased that Marley is becoming more comfortable in new surroundings.

Marley is MY GIRL!!!