Seattle Kennel Club

Graham, Washington, May 22,23,2004

Judge:  Kylie Burke

This was an outdoor trial with 300 runs each day.  Al was entered both days both events, and Grace was entered on Saturday only, in both events. 

We had never trialed in Graham before, and it was a nice location.  I had been watching the weather forecast all week hoping that we would have good weather.  The forecast for the weekend became more and more pessimistic as the week advanced, and by Thursday the forecast for the weekend was “showers” which in rainy Seattle means that you would be best staying indoors for the weekend, because a showery Seattle weekend is a rainy weekend everywhere else in the world!! 

True to the forecast, Saturday at 7AM when we left the house it began to rain, and after having our hopes brightened a couple of times along the drive, we arrived at the Agility trial in a park-like setting, and it was raining.  It was perfect place for either Ewoks or Sasquach, and as we got out of the car into the gloom of the day I could see nothing but wet grass, Big trees and juicy black clouds just above the treetops.  The clouds stretched to the end of the world in all directions.  

In the middle of this scene, was what appeared to be either a traveling circus or a flea market with colorful tents and cabanas spread out on the field.  In the middle of the field was a large crowd of people milling about as if they were in a prison exercise yard, walking back and forth in pairs.  Everyone was soaking wet, and had wet feet, socks and shoes.  Their clothing below the knees was soaking wet and covered with a layer of freshly cut grass clippings that clung to their wet pants and soggy shoes as a result of their trudging around the field.   

As it turned out, I was mistaken.  This wasn’t a circus or flea market, this was an Agility trial in the Great Northwest, and it was 8:00AM.

Al’s Runs

Saturday Standard (Excellent A)

The judge decided because of the weather that it would be a “sit” on the table.  The table was the roughest surface I have seen to date in Agility, which on this day may have been an advantage as it allowed the dogs to stand on top of the very rough texture and if they were small like Al, the extra elevation above the surface might actually give them a chance to sit above the puddle of water located in the middle of the table, and not actually get their feet or butt in the puddle. 

The big dogs went first and it was immediately obvious that the collapsed tunnel (chute) was going to be a problem.  It was so wet, that the layers of cloth stuck together like wet sheets of plywood, and dogs had to struggle to peel the layers apart as they went through.  If they ran very fast, the chute would crack like a bull whip as they exited, and then the chute would be laid out perfectly flat just to make absolutely sure that it would be stuck together for the next dog.  Several people slipped and fell, as did several dogs.  It looked more like football than Agility.  The traction got worse as the grass packed down, and became more slippery with use.   

I wasn’t going to run Al at all, but at the judges briefing, when it became obvious that the small dogs wouldn’t get through the tunnel, the judge said that they would use a short chute.  When they couldn’t find one, she then decided that a course worker would hold the chute almost open. 

I decided that I would run Al and see what happened, but if he wasn’t having any fun, then I would just run the course as a Jumpers with Weaves course and avoid the table, all the contacts and the Chute.   

When we ran, it was raining pretty hard.  It was a drop and go start for us.  I am pretty sure that I said “over” on the third jump, but it is possible that I didn’t say anything.  Whatever, Al decided the A-Frame looked good, and headed for it but I called him off it before he touched it and we avoided a wrong course, but in calling him he refused the third jump, and then back jumped it (a wrong course).  (This was going well.  A refusal and a wrong course and we are only at the third jump!!  Nothing to loose now!!)

(Al soaking wet decides to keep the rain out of his eyes by squinting)

Actually, Al did pretty well after this point.  He did the chute, and had a big shake afterwards.  Please see the attached photos.  Then he needed a break from the rain so he hid in the tunnel before going onto the Dogwalk (another Wrong Course).  He popped out of the tunnel and decided to do the dog walk although by this point he was soaking.

(Al Shaking off the water from the chute.  Those spots are rain drops and/or water flying off him!!)

He did the tunnel (almost getting a refusal), and then he sat on the table!!!  I couldn’t believe it!!  Al sitting on a wet table in a rainstorm!!  I love the little guy!!!  He did it for me, and only because I asked him to. 

We had a  refusal at the weave poles because I was so amazed that he did a sit on the table that I forgot to tell him to “wiggle” !!  This is the first set of poles he has missed in about 3 trials, and he is pretty much on his own once I tell him to “wiggle”.  After the weave poles Al ran pretty well and best of all he finished the course happily!! 

Al was so excited at the end of the course!!  He was soaking wet, he wasn’t cold, but he was soaked.  When I held him he felt like he had a warm bath.  His body heat had warmed all the water in his coat!!  He was so excited he was in hyperactive mode.  He jumped up onto the little bench at the exit from the coarse where the leash runners leave the leashes.  I realized afterwards, that he did this because the table was drier than standing in the wet grass!!  What a smart little guy.  He did everything I asked of him, even sat in a puddle!  I am so proud of my little man.  He’s an incredible little guy to do that for me.  And in the end, he seemed to enjoy his run, although he was put off by the conditions at the start of the run.

Saturday Jumpers with Weaves (Excellent B)   

The rain had subsided and come back several times during the day.  When we ran this course, it was raining but not very hard.  Al had a very good run.  I didn’t run hard because I was afraid of falling, as many people had slipped before us.  I made a mistake which cost us a Q because I didn’t run by the jump right before the tunnel, and pulled Al off the jump as I headed for the tunnel entrance.  If I had run through and shaped the turn to the tunnel, Al would have qualified.

Sunday Standard Course (Excellent A)

The Weather improved for Sunday.  It wasn’t raining when we ran.  We had trouble at the third jump again, and Al had a refusal and a back-jump.  He must really like A-Frames??!!  After that he ran well, getting all his contacts.  I am really happy he let me do a rear cross after he started up the Teeter Totter.  I can’t remember ever doing one in competition before.  Al did a down at the table, and was happily doing it, but the Judge kept moving around behind us and caused him to raise an elbow (which the judge was busily trying to make sure he kept on the table, hence all her movement).  So Al raised his elbow at “and two” and then almost got a table fault by placing his front feet on the ground, then got all four on the table and did a down to the judges satisfaction.  

Off he went and did well until he had a chance to go up the A Frame, which he did (just for fun), and then went on and did good weave poles and a fast finish.   

The best part of this run is the attention he paid on the table for his second down, and the rear cross at the Teeter, and his happy and fast finish.

Sunday Jumpers with Weaves (Excellent B)   

This was a very hard course.  The judge designed it so that you would be behind your dog as you tried to keep it out of the third tunnel on the course.  Everybody was very anxious about this challenge, and I was sure that Al would go into the third tunnel.  I decided that we had nothing to loose, and choose to run the coarse, stay ahead of Al, and do Front Crosses at every crossing point.  As I watched everyone else run the coarse, they all did rear cross after rear cross.  Nobody was running it like I intended. 

Al gave me a short lead out, and entered the first tunnel at the correct end, but in my desire to stay ahead of him, I reversed my direction right after he entered the tunnel, and headed for the weave poles expecting Al to come out the other end of the tunnel.  Wrong!! (I've done this before and I haven't learned!!)  Al popped out of the tunnel (more correctly, I had pulled him out!) and when I realized this he was under foot and it was too late to save it  and Al missed his weave pole entry!  Dang!!  After this Al ran fast and when we came to the tunnel trap, he paid attention, and went on, ran fast and finished the coarse.  

I only had to do one rear cross, which was better than the 4/5 most people did. Al had a very good time in both senses of the word, and handled the challenge very well.  This was our most difficult JWW course to date.

Summary

I'm pretty happy with the results from the weekend.  Once I learn how to run and how to not pull Al off obstacles, we'll get through some of these courses!!!

In Excellent A Std. no dogs qualified in 12" on Saturday, and very few dogs qualified at all in the Excellent class.  

To put the competition in perspective, these are the dogs that Al and I have to run against every time now that we are in Excellent.  In Excellent B JWW 12" there were 21 dogs entered.  Of those 21 dogs 5 dogs had their MACH title.  This is some very formidable competition for Al and I.  On Sunday only 6 dogs qualified and 4 of the 6 had their MACH.  Al's time was fast enough for a placement had I not blown the tunnel.  A hard lesson that I hope I remember the next time!!