2012 USDAA Mid-Atlantic Regional

Piper by Agility Gallery

Did I say how much I love competing in USDAA? LOVE IT!!! We travelled last weekend to the Regional held at In The Net in Palmyra, PA. It was hosted by 3 USDAA clubs and except for the computer software glitches, it was efficiently run. The footing was great for the dogs as was the MAD Agility supplied equipment. The vendors were awesome with Clean Run, EMB Monogramming and several others with unique items, including really cute sheep stuff! :) I bought a pen and some oven mitts. I couldn't resist!

I have never been to a USDAA Regional before. In 2010, I jumped straight in Nationals! Duh... but even though our teams didn't qualify, we had a blast there. Since getting back in to USDAA in the last 6 months, I really wanted to go to the Showcase and Regional. The boys had their qualifications for Triathlon as well. This is a special class that takes a dog's scores from Team/PVP Standard and Jumpers to determine whether or not you make it into the 3rd round. You also had to have a GP/PGP Q too, I believe to be in the Triathlon. The boys ran clean in Standard, but didn't make the time for a Q, but they both ran clean in jumpers and MADE the time for a Q! To my surprise and pleasure, both of them made it into the 3rd round of Triathlon. The course was sort of a Hybrid course with a teeter and weaves. Both boys ran clean, but not fast enough to make it in to the placements. Piper finished 11th in Performance and Seeker finished 16th in Championship. I am very proud of them both!

Piper was in PVP with Alyssia Greiner and her awesome BC girl Zippity. The team name? "Loose Cannons", which best describes them both at times. He was rock steady in Gamblers, Standard and Jumpers. We made it through to #5 in the Snooker closing and although I screwed him up in our relay run, Loose Cannons finished 12th out of 43 PVP Teams and Piper has his Q!

 He also had a "bye" into Performance Grand Prix. He had a terrifying fall from the dogwalk in round 1 on Saturday morning, but after being taken care of by some amazing folks, he was able to finish the weekend. He ran Round 2 cleanly and finished in 8th place and a "bye" into Nationals semi-finals. We aren't going that far west, but it is awesome that he has one anyway. It was also very cool that it was being live-streamed and people we know got to see us!

Seeker by Agility Gallery

He also picked up a PIII Jumpers leg towards his PDCH with a 4th place. And we ended up not staying to run Masters/PIII Snooker on Saturday because they were holding rings while GP finished. We were all tired, happy, but very tired.

Seeker was also steady for his team, "The Evolution Of Seeking Magic" which consisted of Julia Ecklar and her wonderful, young BC Darwin and Diane Aramian and her sweet BC Magic. Although we finished in last place out of 63 teams, it was a good way to get mileage on the dogs. Seeker and Magic have their needed DAM Qs, so it was just fun for us. Seeker ran clean in 3 of 4 of his runs, with a Q in Team Jumpers. His only silliness was in Team Snooker where he earned 4 whole points and almost took me out on the way to a red jump. Naughty boy... :)

And not to forget the girls, Ceilidh and Gemmie... They were angels all weekend for their Daddy as they hung out in the van as there wasn't enough crating space inside. They got to play ball and go for walks and had their Daddy's attention exclusively. Gem got to come in and socialize a few times and watch the rings, which she does calmly. This is exactly what I wanted when I decided to enroll her in an obedience class with agility class running next to it at the same time. They were all well-behaved in the motel and it was just a great weekend. 

I would do it again... tomorrow if I could. I am so happy to be back running USDAA... and I can't wait until our next trialing adventure!

What I've learned...so far...

Piper is a great teacher of many things... Our pursuits in agility began over 7 years ago. I had no idea how to train him. I had 2 BCs in agility prior to him who only obtained Novice level abilities and titles. I was hopeless as an agility trainer with Piper. But luckily, I found some people that helped me out, but didn't teach me a "system" of handling. Piper had the skills, but I had no idea what to do with them. I came from an obedience and freestyle background and agility handling really doesn't work like either of those activities.

When I was finally able to get into a handling class (Donna Rohaus/Agility CAPabilities), Piper was older and had been competing for a couple of years. He wasn't taught the APHS and to this day, although I try to use those principles, I mostly fly by the seat of my britches when he and I run together. He has gotten better at understanding specific cues, and I have gotten so much better at giving him information in a timely fashion. I find myself using a mix of handling, that we have worked out together. I often use Stuart Mah when I need to change his focus. But I primarily use Linda Mecklenberg's APHS, with our modifications. I have had to learn to adapt on courses and Piper requires that I absolutely work the WHOLE course. He isn't comfortable taking charge like Seeker, who was trained on APHS from the beginning. Seeker is much more forgiving of my mistakes. Piper takes my movement, cues and eye contact as Gospel and if I am too slow or off, things fall apart. I have learned from Stuart to just continue when a mistake is made during a run and to not go back and "fix it". With Piper, he can de-motivate easily if I put too much pressure on him. Most of all the mistakes are mine. So why should I make HIM fix it? He is just as happy running with me, Q or no Q.

Running two very different dogs has taught me many things... but mostly how to adapt and overcome. The boys have expanded my understanding and enjoyment of the sport they both so love. But there is always more to learn and I am a willing student.