The Big Show... part 2

The Tennessee Miller Coliseum and surrounding property was a beautiful back drop for the 2013 Cynosport World Games. The 5 rings were inside, 3 in climate control, 2 without. Who would think that we would get 20 degree temps in Tennessee in October? We had 50-60 degree days and a few nights in the 20s. Made those crack of early walk thrus a bit challenging. All in all, it was a good experience. There were a few negatives, including the lack of security around the crating areas and getting in to the exhibitor areas. Sometimes they checked for wristbands. Most times they did not. The stalls were cold and the boys spent most of the time in the van, where it was warm. Even with BOT coats and Foggy Mountain coats, the mornings were too cold for even those two hairballs in the stall. The good thing was that parking was decently close so working from the van was doable.

I was fortunate that I spent most of my runs in the climate controlled rings, but I did have several runs in the ice box/rain forest. It was very cold and with that came frost, which melted and dripped onto everyone and everything in those rings as the day warmed. Red mud puddles were everywhere, including in the rings. The dirt along the edges was also softer and deeper which caused problems for some of the dogs. All in all though, the rings were well maintained, dragged each night by tractors, and SO much better than Kentucky in 2010. However, with the amount of entries, 6 rings were needed as the days were very long with walking before 7am for some and not running until after 6pm. I was lucky. My longest day was walking before 7am and running around 4pm or so. I think that it is time for USDAA to limit entries, requiring that anyone attending has to qualify in everything... Grand Prix, Steeplechase, Biathlon and Team. If they can't have another ring, at least at this site, then something needs to be done. Not many felt like staying to watch the evenings festivities when they had been up since 4am. We did enjoy the on-site dinners though. They were good, filling and fun with live bands the nights they were offered. Of course, Piper and I had a blast dancing to Orange Blossom Special before Performance Grand Prix finals.

On to the boys... Well, warm-ups started out well with both of them. Piper missed his weave poles, but still managed to run well enough to earn us a free month on USDAA's Data Services. Seeker ran clean, but not fast enough in the HUGE 22" class to earn anything. Seeker's Grand Prix and Steeplechase quarterfinals runs were a disaster. He missed a jump in GP, then blew the A-frame. In Steeplechase, he blew the A-frame again. I think the 5'9" height was bothering his leg, because missing the contact is very uncharacteristic of him. He ran Team Jumpers cleanly, but again, not fast enough to make the cut-off. He also managed 47 points in Team Snooker, just missing 7 on the closing. Gamblers didn't go as well, but he put points on the board, 30 to be exact, but again he blew his A-frame and dropped a bar in the gamble, ending his time. In Team Standard, he ran cleanly again, but well off the times of the top dogs. I enforced his A-frame and he did an awesome job with the entire run. I am proud of his Master Challenge Jumpers run, even though we didn't Q, he gave me some nice work. The mistakes were mine, except the dropped bar, but he tried and listened very well. We didn't stay for Master Challenge Standard on Sunday, as you needed to Q in both for Biathlon.

Piper... what can I say. He put up a 1st place score in 16" Veterans Gamblers earning a rosette. In Snooker, I had a momentary stupid moment and cost us 1st place there. He was the only Vet to attempt 4 reds and we HAD it, but I sent him over a wrong jump to end our turn with only 27 points. In Jumpers, we imploded. The course was ridiculously unfair, in my opinion, and there were MANY Es for the Vets and Performance dogs. Piper missed his weave entrance, then got worried. I had to seriously micromanage another part of the course which worried him more, and he just lost connection with me for an off-course and an E after that. One mistake that we couldn't afford as the scores for the 16" Vets were very tight. We did have a beautiful Standard run, earning another 1st place rosette. Unfortunately, the mistakes I made cost us getting into the Showcase. The dogs that were slower made it in and although I was happy for them, I wished we had made it there. Piper deserved it, even if I didn't.

It was a LONG week. Every time I attend one of these events, many lessons hit home with me. The folks that are the most competitive and do all the winning are mostly those that do this for a living as instructors/owners of their own schools, etc. I don't have equipment other than a few jumps and weave poles. I don't have the room for more. I have a job which sorely cuts into my training and trialing time. I have to drive somewhere to do any serious training. I am far from perfect as a handler, but I am proud of the progress I have made. I will never be on the World Team. I don't always handle pressure as well as I wish I could. However, the one thing I do know is that my dogs will always leave the ring happy and that they don't really care about ribbons or titles. They only want to spend time with me. There is only the pressure I put on myself that takes the fun out of this game. I've gotten better at letting things go and seeing this for what it is... a game. I don't make my living at it, although I wish I could. I am an average handler with GREAT dogs, in my eyes if no other. All that really matters is that we have FUN, spending time together doing something that makes us happy. As cliché as it sounds, it really IS all about the journey. Where will yours take you and your best friend?

The Big Show... part 1

Soon we are leaving to attend and compete at the 2013 Cynosport World Games which is the USDAA's Nationals. It isn't just a National, it is a sort of International with competitors from Hungary, Japan, Puerto Rico and Mexico as well as the USA. This is the 3rd time that the boys have qualified to go. This is the 2nd time we are going. Seeker is on a team and we are also trying to get past quarterfinals in Grand Prix and Steeplechase. He is also in the Biathlon, which consists of Master Challenge Jumpers and Master Challenge Standard. Realistically, Seeker probably won't make it into the semis in anything. He is consistent, but not fast. He is still nursing a collateral ligament injury to his left rear leg. No delusions of grandeur for us in team, but I am looking forward to having some fun and running with my teammates.

 Piper is competing in the Veterans All Around. He does the team classes at his Veterans height. We are competing for a shot at the Veterans Showcase, where they take the top 3 dogs from each Veterans jump height. There are 7 Veterans in Piper's 16" class. My hopes are high that we can make it into the Showcase. He is coming off a pulled right illiapsoas. In truth, it isn't up to him as much as me and whether or not I can hold it together, be where I need to be and support him. He is a very honest dog. He does what I tell him to do. It's all on me. Gulp...

If I could have, I would bubble wrap them both until we leave. I pulled them from multiple trials due to the injuries. I jokingly DID wrap them in bubble wrap for a photo op. They were not amused. I did  release them from house arrest a few days ago and did let them run agility. They were both higher than a kite, but they did well. I, on the other hand, sucked. Not having run agility for several weeks has taken a toll on my timing. I am glad that we have a warm-up run at Cynosport.

This is a HUGE trial... 800 exhibitors, 1100 dogs, with around 9000 runs over 5 days. I believe they said that is the highest attended in the history of the event. It will be a LONG week. Some of my walk thrus are at the crack of early and the run times are hours later. I will spend a great deal of time watching the ring, remembering what I walked before we get our turn. It is nerve-wracking and even though I've done it before, it still worries me. Gingko Biloba anyone??

This is the last National competition for the boys most likely. We are planning on making it memorable and having a blast. I am looking forward to seeing some of the best dogs in the world running agility. What could be better than spending time doing what you love to do with the most wonderful creatures in the world? I love my dogs to the moon and back.

My goals for this competition? For both boys, NO Es!! I want to be able to put up a score in each round. I would like to get Seeker into semifinals for both Steeplechase and Grand Prix. There is a very slim chance of that given the caliber of dogs in the 22" class. I would also like to make it through his Master Challenge rounds cleanly and under time for biathlon. So my advice to myself with both boys is JUST RUN! The other advice is to always remember that it's ALL about stepping to the line with my boys, not crossing over it victorious over others...

Seeker by Tien Tran

More later...

Meltdowns... and where to go from here...

This is the second weekend that Gem has had a major meltdown doing agility. It happened a few weeks ago at a USDAA trial and it happened again today at an ASCA trial. My goals have been simple for her... keep her happy, in the ring and do a few things she know how to do in a competition environment. Her debut in a few weeks ago in CPE was awesome. She was happy, even qualified a few runs in Level 1 and seemed to really enjoy herself. It encouraged me enough to put her in a few classes at a local USDAA trial. She had a meltdown in the gamblers ring, startled at the bar setters and judge, tucked her tail and laid back her ears. She didn't get much better the next day.

We are still in class and she seems to be fine there, working happily and enjoying herself. Today, I put her into an ASCA trial in Novice. She completely fell apart. She was stressed and worried. I wanted her to just get some mileage and have some fun as I can train in ASCA, unlike other venues. In gamblers, she was worried, disconnected and left me. I ran to the back of the ring and she chased me. She did do a few obstacles and then we left. She repeated this in the 2nd round. When it was time for her next turn, she completely freaked out. I am still at a loss as to why. She wouldn't come to me, left the ring and even tried to get out of the facility. This is devastating to me. She didn't trust me enough to come to me when she was worried and scared. She just about got out of the door and in my opinion, she would have been gone. It makes me sick thinking about it.

I packed up and brought her home. She was happy and relaxed once at home. So now what happens? Well, I'm just not sure. I have decided to remove her from class for now. I started teaching her some nosework today.  She seemed to have a good time with that. For now, it will be something fun for her to do with me. I don't want her to be unhappy. I want her to LOVE whatever she does with me. If it means not doing agility, then so be it. Only time will tell...