Wednesday, July 31, 2013

SUMMER SLUMP

We've hit a summer slump. It's just miserably hot and humid and the thought of going outside to train makes me sweat. I quit taking KK to classes probably in May due to the heat. Marley never goes to class. I'm taking KK out for just a few minutes late, late evening and working on some distance skills with her. Marley has just lucked out and I haven't really done much of anything with her.

We have an AKC trial next weekend and then KK will do a USDAA trial in mid Sept. After that, no more trials until mid October. I'm hoping after vacation (Jekyll Island in late Sept.), we will get back into some classes or privates.

The broken toe can know be bent some, the pain has dulled. The pulled calf muscle is better, just can't walk uphill yet. Just trying to take it easy. I get my yearly thyroid (cancer) labs drawn mid month. I'm sure my Vitamin D and Calcium levels will be low.......maybe why my bones break often??

Missy is avoiding the heat at all costs. She sacks out on the sofa under the fan. Molly still goes out on patrol. Not as long, but she still goes. She comes in and cools off and then wants out again. I'm glad she's stayin active.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

NADAC

We ventured up to Springfield, MO to try our hand at NADAC agility last weekend. Marley and I had previously attended a NADAC trial 2 years ago and I wasn't impressed. But we decided to give it another try and it would give KK's foster mom a chance to see her run.

KK did well. She earned several Q's (can't recall in what). She had some nice runs but the inability to tug really demotivated her. We are used to tugging into the ring and out of the ring. I didn't know until after our first run that tugging is prohibited in NADAC....have no idea why. She would run and we would come off the course and snap on her buckle collar and walk back to the crate. After a few runs, she didn't even jump up looking for her tug leash. I love that KK works for her tug and is so excited coming off a course and running to get her tug leash. For a 'positive' environment, it was a demotivating environment for my dog.

Marley only ran tunnelers both days. She was so happy not to see weave poles anywhere!! She Q'd her runs and earned her Novice Tunnelers Title.

I was surprised to see that there are no refusals in Open and Elite. I was amazed at the number of Elite dogs that ran around jumps and missed weave entries but could Q if they stayed on course and didn't knock a bar. I just expect at that level a dog should be able to run a course without multiple refusals. I'm not saying KK is flawless, but I think she only had 1 'refusal' the whole trial and she's only been competing 4 months.

I guess since I cut my teeth on USDAA agility, I'm used to a higher level of difficulty and stricter rules. I like structure. I like a real challenge. I like to come off a course learning something about my handling or my dog. That didn't happen this weekend. This was the first trial that I literally couldn't wait until it was over. Don't get me wrong, it was nicely run and there were some nice people there.

But NADAC isn't for us.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

ANOTHER BUMP IN THE ROAD AND.......ANOTHER BREAK

It's been a rough few weeks for me. My good friend lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. She 'took care' of me during those dark months after my mom's death. She was the first one at my office door the day I came back to work after the funeral. She was there at the 6 mo anniversary. She was there for me. We only got to see her once after she went on medical leave and I'm so glad we had that time to be with her. She has left a huge hole in my heart and life.

My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease this week. Early stage. At least we have answers for some of his symptoms. Hoping he can be independent for a long time.I'm going to have to add onto my house if he ends up living with me.

Then on Sunday, I broke my left little toe. I made it 16 months between breaks. At least this one was traumatic so I'm not too bothered by the break. It hurts, is very discolored and I can't bend it. I have yet to put on a 'real' shoe...plan on trying that tomorrow.

We have an agility trial this weekend but I'm pretty sure we will be ok. It's NADAC. Not a venue we plan on actively pursuing. It should be a good weekend though!!

Saturday, July 13, 2013

OWN IT

This blog entry has been bugging me for a few weeks now. I'm getting so irritated at agility handlers who won't 'own it'. Own it meaning if you are actively trialing to earn your MACH or ADCH, OWN IT! Don't go around saying "I just do this for fun" and then seek out people to tell them you QQ or how many points you got. Just because I'm not trialing to get a MACH doesn't make your goal wrong. So OWN IT!!

And if I'm not good enough to talk to all day, then you can sure bet I don't appreciate it when you walk clear across the arena to tell me you Q'd. I'm glad for you but if I'm not good enough to be acknowledged all day, it just shows everyone how superficial you really are. The one time I decided to be superficial to you, you made such a rude comment back (I believe you were so jealous you couldn't stand it), that I don't have anything left for you. People aren't blind to the fact that you hang out with certain people at certain trials because it makes you 'look' better.

I may be a 'loner' at trials but that's me. I prefer to be with my real friends. People who actually like me and I like them. I don't spend time camped out at the rings critiquing others. I will watch from the stands and help out as needed. But I run agility to be with my best friends so you can bet I'm outside walking or playing with my best 4 legged friends!!

As for me OWNING IT, I am actively competing to put a ADCH and MACH on Kalea-Kate! I am trialing Marley to finish her MX titles. I OWN IT!!

Monday, July 8, 2013

MONROE AKC AND FRANKLIN USDAA

We hit 2 trials back to back. We did 3 days of AKC in Monroe, LA. Marley had some beautiful runs but just wasn't herself this weekend. She was put back on antibiotics for her Heliobacter infection of the GI tract. By the time we finish this round of antibiotics, she will have completed 6 weeks of meds.She did add another Master Standard Q to her name with alot of PACH points.....and I still don't know what her total is.

 
 
Kalea-Kate finished her Novice Standard title, got an Open Standard leg and an Excellent JWW leg. She ran her JWW run at 5.3 yps! She's just a fantastic little agility dog.
 
 
 
After the trial Saturday night, my BFF and our training buddy, Mark went out to eat and then Mark insisted that we go by some Duck Center. I have no idea who they are, but I posed 'mean' as Mark instructed me.
 
Trialing is so much more fun when you have your friends there!!
 
We tried our hand at USDAA this past weekend. Marley had some nice runs. I only entered her in 2 events a day. No Q's but she placed in each of her runs. Unless USDAA changes their jump heights, Marley won't be competing in that venue again. It's just not fair to her little body.
 
KK had a phenomenal debut. 6 out of 10 Q's. 4 seconds and 2 firsts. She ran her jumpers run Saturday at 20.31 seconds, that's 5.76 yps! She ended up with 2 Snooker, 2 Gambler, 1 Jumpers, and 1 Pairs Q. She took off courses both days in standard and once in jumpers. I caused an E in pairs the second day. She was just a little rock star!!
 

 
 
We will try our hand at NADAC in 2 weeks. I entered KK in a ton of runs and Marley just in tunnelers. After that we will hopefully we will have a long break from agility. We need time to recover and rest!