Monday, November 25, 2013

HOLLY SPRINGS HIGHLIGHTS

Kalea-Kate went to her third USDAA agility trial over the weekend. She is really proving herself to be a force to be reckoned with in agility.

She had a near perfect day on Saturday. She was in Advanced Gamblers and Advanced Jumpers for the first time. In Gamblers, she ran perfect. Paid attention, ran the path I wanted her to. When the buzzer went off for the Gamble, she didn't hesitate. Went right out to the tunnel and straight down the line of jumps without a bobble. Q/1st.

She held it together on Advanced Jumpers run for another Q/1st. Starters Snooker was an almost. She back jumped #6 in the closing so we ended up with not enough point to Q. I never got a good feel for the Snooker course, just couldn't get a plan together...KK was honest with me about not knowing the plan and it kinda fell apart.

Starters Standard was near flawless for a Q/1st. Missed weave entry but other than that, she was right on. That was the only missed weave entry of the weekend.

I entered KK in Steeplechase just to see what she would do. She was flawless and Qualified!!! I think she was by far the youngest dog in the field and I was bursting with pride over her performance!!

Sunday ended with no Q's but with lots of bright spots. She ran clean in Advanced Jumpers but was overtime....she was a little slow because I had let her chase geese with Marley earlier. My oops.

Starters Pairs was a complete bust. KK had one bobble but pairs is a duo and if your duo can't do it, then you are sunk! We did run accommodating partner for someone else and KK ran clean.

Starter Standard was lovely until the table when KK decided she did not have to 'down' nor did she even have to look at me. We will be practicing lots of table downs before the next trial.

Steeplechase finals was beautiful until #16 where she took an off course. I should have done a shoulder pull to the left but I didn't and the off course jump was in front of her and she took it. I'm just proud she made Finals.

I got lots of compliments on KK and how well trained she is. She is a diamond in the rough that is starting to shine brightly!!
 
Videos of her runs can be found on our YouTube Account: RunARescueAgility

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

LITTLE ROCK LOWDOWN

Kate and I ran in our local AKC club's All Breed Agility Trial this first weekend in November. It was a good trial for us. She finished her Open FAST Title and got an Excellent Standard leg. She is in all Excellent classes after 6 months of trialing...not bad for a baby who just turned 2.

This trial really opened my eyes to how just the slightest shoulder rotation or a dropped hand can cause Kate to come in to me or take an off course. I am going to have to really concentrate on my handling skills. Distance will be our friend! I'm lucky that Kate has an awesome start line stay, because that is the only time I will be ahead of her on a course. She is so much fun to run! I can't wait to see where our journey takes us!


We have 2 more trials this year. USDAA next weekend and an AKC trial in early December. I have entered Marley in the AKC trial and am hopeful she will be able to compete. The USDAA trial should be fun as a lot of my training buddies are entered too. Trialing is so much fun when your real friends are there!

Monday, November 4, 2013

CARTHAGE CATCH UP

We ventured to Carthage, MO 2 weekends ago for some AKC agility. Just KK was entered. We had a good weekend. She earned her Open Standard Title and I moved her up the next day to Excellent Standard. She had a good Standard run with just some baby mistakes. Both of her Excellent JWW runs had some baby mistakes or handling errors on my part. I'm learning how to handle from the rear. I will never be able to run with KK like I do with Marley. There is no way I can front cross her in a jumpers run....to front cross you have to be ahead of your dog and that will not happen with KK.


 
I found the trial venue to be filthy. Animal excrement on the railings. No where decent to walk your dog. The venue was so disgusting that I would not bring my other dogs inside. I left them in the van. I could not risk Marley getting an infection in her paw from the filth. The trial secretary was not nice and unfortunately I had to speak to her several times. Carthage does not have much to choose from in terms of restaurants. There was a restaurant on the venue premises but after seeing how nasty the venue was, there was no way we would eat there. Carthage is at the bottom of my trial venues, I don't now if we will go there again.
 
On a positive note, we got to go to Precious Moments Chapel. It's changed some in the past 10 years. Unfortunately it's been hit by the bad economy. But it is such a peaceful place and I have such good memories of being there with my mom. We stayed at the Best Western Precious Moments motel and it was just as wonderful as I remember it. So the trip to Carthage was worth it.