Both dogs piled into the back of the 300 hp turbocharged Dogmobile on Friday, and off we drove in a chilly rain to what's becoming our home away from home, the Western Agility Group's dog-sports facility in Elk Grove. Fortunately, I had booked a room in a motel there, because it would have been pretty miserable sleeping in my tent, even with 2 dogs as foot-warmers. Plus, I'd had a cold all week and was worried it might get worse. It didn't; despite off and on drizzle on Saturday it went away!
This weekend's trial was affiliated with the North American Dog Agility Council -- my first experience with their rules and classes. Unlike the CPE trials that Miko entered last year, NADAC doesn't use the teeter or the tire jump. The A-frame is lower and doesn't have slats for the dogs to stub their toes on. The courses tend to be open and flowing, so the dogs can really stretch out and run. I figured this would be right up Moxie's alley, which turned out to be the case. He Q'd and placed first in 3 of his 4 Regular (standard) runs, one of his 2 Jumpers runs and his Tunnelers run. In each of his other classes, one mistake caused him to NQ -- once he knocked a bar, 5 faults. The other times it was handler error; I just didn't get information to him in time so he took a jump out of order and had to come back and correct it -- 10 faults.
Because of all the emphasis on speed I was a little worried about Miko, who had been kind of a slug in practice lately, but he had his game face on for sure. He motored right along and had a perfect weekend -- 8 Q's out of 8 classes, 7 first places and 1 2nd. We don't call him St Miko the Good for nothing!
One of the things I like about NADAC is the emphasis on distance handling. It was a trip to watch the elite-level dogs and handlers run, with the handlers having to stay behind a line and send the dogs halfway across the arena. The best of them made it look effortless, as if the dogs were remote-controlled ... which in a way they were! I'd love to be able to do that! It's nice to have a goal :-)
NADAC even offers classes with no jumping -- just tunnels, or tunnels and weaves ... and they're introducing a new class called Hoopers, where the dogs run a course through upright hula hoops. When I arrived on Friday they were setting up a hoopers course so I stayed to watch. The jury (mine anyway) is out ... it just seemed sort of weird to me. On the other hand, I can see that it would be a good test of handling, and a good, fun activity for a dog that was unable to jump.
David Wong the photographer was there again all weekend and got some great shots of both my guys. Moxie looks completely demented, wild-eyed and mouth wide open. Miko looks his usual handsome self, but finally I'll have some pix of him doing weave poles. When I've got 'em I'll post 'em.
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