MACH PIPER!!!!

Piper by Kaitlyn Dreese
 



     Where do I begin? This has been such a long journey for us. AKC agility has never been kind to us. The courses are tighter and he can't really stretch out and run at speed the way he likes to do. My handling has to be perfect. While we have had good success in other venues where the courses are more open, QQs eluded us like mad.
    
     Several years ago, I stopped running Piper in AKC for a little over 2 years. This decision came after a trial where the course was so ridiculously tight and twisty that I feared for his safety. I didn't like the judges, their attitudes, the courses, and even some of the exhibitors and their attitudes.  I had found that other venues were more supportive, less cutthroat and more relaxing. So I pursued those instead. When Seeker was of age and ready to trial, I returned to AKC. I finally started to see the courses becoming more reasonable. So we stuck with it, as well as the other venues.

     Piper earned his USDAA ADCH in August 2010. This is still a very special championship to me because of the versatility USDAA requires to earn it. Super Qs, Snooker, Standard, Jumpers, Relay Pairs, Gamblers, DAM team, Steeplechase, Grand Prix, etc. all offer very different challenges than does the AKC MACH where there is only Standard and Jumpers with Weaves. If you are persistent enough in AKC, you will very likely earn your MACH. Not the case with the ADCH. I know very persistent teams that still haven't achieved that title.

     He next earned his ASCA ATCH in July 2011. We both really enjoy competing in this venue. Although I originally used ASCA trials for training, the fun courses, laid back attitude and friendly faces quickly made it a favorite for us. But finishing a championship took some time because of the lack of local trials.

     In the Fall of 2011, I dropped Piper to 22" Performance in USDAA and in June 2012, Piper earned agility championship #3 when he finished his PDCH. We struggled a bit with earning Super Qs, but got our PVP Q easily in April with partners Alyssia and her BC Zippity. And before we knew it, he had earned this championship too. He is also very close to earning his Lifetime Achievement Award - Bronze in USDAA also. I couldn't be happier.




 

     So now, comes the most elusive, earned on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at the Lancaster Kennel Club trials in Palmyra, PA. We had been hung up for a long time on QQ #13 at the beginning of the year. We squeaked QQs out 1 at a time to get to #17. His last 3 QQs came quickly and seemingly easily, with 1 NQ out of the last 4 trials. He is no longer in the ribbons because at 9 1/2 he's slowed down a bit, but all I truly care about is that he is having a great time running with me. Win, lose or draw...

     This is Piper's 7th championship... 3 of them are in canine freestyle and 4 of them are in agility. He has far surpassed anything I could have imagined us attaining. Considering I could have lost him in the summer of 2011 to sepsis, I am indeed SO blessed to be in his life. He is such an amazing creature that has taught me so many things. Most of all, he taught me to love agility just as much as he does. And that was no easy task for him. Thank goodness his attitude is truly infectious. He has made me want to be a better trainer and handler. He has made me want to lose weight to be faster and be able to hold up my end better physically. He has made me thank God everyday for the blessings I have in my life. And for all of this, I will always be in his debt.

     And our story continues for as long as Piper wants to play this crazy game called agility... I will be there for him and with him. Because we are an unstoppable team, my Pi and me. Thank you for putting up with me in good times and bad. I love you Pi-man!!!