Bay Team CPE, 3/22-3

"'Scuse my dust!"

This was a big event held in Sunnyvale, considerably closer to home than our usual Elk Grove venue.  There were 3 rings going at the same time, but things were so well organized and orchestrated that there were few to no SNAFUs.  I took both dogs, and at the end of Saturday's events was hoping for a double "perfect weekend" -- 9 Q's/9 events for Mox, 7/7 for Miko.  Miko had Q'd in all 3 of his Saturday classes, with a 1st and a 3rd place, and Moxie had Q'd in all 5 of his, with 2 1sts, a 3rd and a 4th.

However, this perfect weekend was not to be.  On Sunday, Miko Q'd in his first class and then he had clearly had enough.  I ran (okay, trotted) him in one more and then scratched from the final 2.  He gets seasonal allergies and was on meds; I don't think he felt very good.  

"I think I'll sit this one out, thanks."

"Not Me!!!"

Moxie ran either hot or ... not cold, maybe "too hot."  He Q'd and finished 2nd (on accumulated points) in his Jackpot class with an excellent run that earned us compliments from total strangers, and he was absolutely brilliant in his Jumpers -- more than 5 1/2 seconds faster than any other Level 2 dog of any size!  But in Full House we ran into some trouble, ended up not exactly where I intended, and I got flustered and patted him before sending him to the table to stop the clock.  This constituted "touching the dog on course," which is elimination.

Our primo disaster, though, was Sunday's Standard class.  The wheels came off, the boiler exploded, it rained rubber chickens and the stock market plummeted yet another 300 points.  Everything that could go wrong, did.  He broke his stay at the start (only time all weekend, and I was doing some lonnngggg lead-outs), which meant I was behind him from the gitgo.  He took an off-course jump.  Blew his weave entry.  Blew his weave entry again.  And again.  And he barked -- at me, not just his usual "look!  I'm running!" enthusiastic noise.  Babysitting the weaves put me behind him again, out of position so I had to rear-cross the teeter.  Apparently I cut it closer than I shoulda, because I tripped and went sprawling -- took most of the skin off my right knee (the one that works!).

Good going! In one class I "handle" my dog, in another I fall over an obstacle...

But I balance these mishaps against the truly excellent runs, and I feel pretty good.  I have a private lesson set up with Sandy to help me teach him directional commands, so that when he gets ahead of me I don't lose him.  I think that'll make a real difference.  I certainly don't want to try to slow him down!

The photos included with this post were taken at the WAG NADAC trial 3/15-16.  Dave Mills is the photographer, and yes, I have bought prints!