AKC Nationals  January, 2006

International Sweepstakes Class - JWW

This is one of my favorite events!!  Al has to jump 14" in this event instead of his normal 12 inches.  That isn't a problem for him. 

Al wasn't really charging through the course.  He was excited to start, but once he was over the first jump he started to pitter pat, instead of running hard.  After the 3rd jump he looked hard at the off course weave poles, and I called him off the poles, and he came but I think he thought it would have been way more fun to go in them then.  Three more jumps and I felt like I was dragging Al around. After the 3rd jump I was a little flustered as Al wasn't speeding up.  I did a front cross which was 1 jump to early, pulling Al off the jump he was supposed to go over, and then we headed for the weave poles.  I realized my mistake when I noticed the judges arm go up as we went into the poles.  Two jumps after the weave poles Al started to feel comfortable and started to get into the course.  He began to fly. 

(Click to Enlarge)

Al started to run at a speed he should have been at for the first half of the course.  Better late than never.  He was 2  or 3 striding  the jumps from this point on, and enjoyed the run.  At the end of it he jumped up and I caught him in my arms.  He was a happy boy!