Another Trial

What crazy weather we had.  I tried to get into an indoor trial but got wait listed and my friend forgot to enter. So then we decided to do an outdoor trial.   Last weekend it was 85 degrees.  Saturday is was 35 degrees and raining when I woke up.  All around us people were having snow. My friend , who live just below me but still in Columbia, sent me a picture of her yard covered with snow.   We decided to go anyway. When we got to Charleston, it was cloudy and windy but no rain.  Well, until we were done setting up our stuff.  It never poured but it was raining on and off.

 

This was taken Sunday.

 

Anyway, our runs were ok on Saturday.   Java had weave pole problems. Not sure why.  She had a nice jww run but popped the last pole. Then a nice T2B run and again popped the last pole. I forgot to go back an fix it. Ugh.

 

 

The weather was miserable.  I didn't stay for the B-match. I think only 4 people entered the b-match. Even in the regular trial I was the only 12 inch dog and there were 3- 16 inch dogs. Most people left. The contacts weren't rubberized. I didn't realize this until walking the course and the equipment was wet. Plus on the dogwalk, the down ramp supports, kept coming loose. Sometimes you didn't see it until dogs were running. Ugh.
It was windy and jumps kept falling over.  Dogs were dropping bars all over the place.  Even on Sunday. I didn't see a lot of slipping.  Then on Sunday I notice that the bars seemed short on some of the jumps.  Plus the PVC jumps were sometimes coming loose , which made the bars barely touch the jump cups. I kept seeing people pushing the jumps together. On one of my friends runs, the bar was uneven going across, and her dog dropped that bar. Someone noticed it after her run. They went out there and pushed the side pole down into the 5 way connector. Then the bar was straight across.

Granted  your dog shouldn't be touching the bars but it seemed like it didn't take much for them to fall. One person came out of the ring, her dog had dropped multiple bars. She said to me, this is so weird, my dog never drops bars.   It was crazy.



Im only showing Miley's runs for Saturday.  Sunday was terrible ,with both dogs. The weather was much better. Sunny, no rain.

This trial is at a  huge park. They have a big dog park. I took the dogs in there first thing in the morning so they could run off some energy.  There were a few people in there but they were all near the lake, where there is a big beach area.  I Stayed far away from them. Then all of a sudden I heard a huge dog fight.  I saw multiple  trying to pull big dogs apart. I quickly leashed up my dogs even though we were no where near them. Then, they didn't even leave the park. They all stayed there. Crazy.

So Sunday I had entered FAST. That way I can work on the teeter and weave poles.

 

Both dogs did the weave poles twice in my run. They were perfect. I even left Miley in the weaves and moved off to the #10 jump. Java Qed.  Miley dropped the bar in the send. The sun was coming through the tress , so there was sun and shade right there where that jump was. She jumped weird. 

But then in Standard both dogs couldn't do their weaves.  I corrected Java with a "no" and she then did them perfect. Didn't help for Jumpers, she still popped out.  Miley, I made a mistake and also said "no" , when she popped the poles. Bad me. She stressed and ran around the ring, which hasn't happened in a long time. I felt terrible.  Ugh!

 

 

 

 

I felt pretty bad when I left Sunday. We sucked.  Ugh. And in 2 weeks we go to the UKI nationals.  Man, we aren't ready for that and now I wish I hadn't entered.  Every time I think things are coming together, they fall apart.  Java's teeter is looking so much better and now she it popping poles.  I don't know why she dropped those bars in the last jumpers run.  The one after the weaves, she didn't get any lift off her rear end.  Maybe she slipped but I couldn't see it because her back end is kinda covered by the jump stanchion.

Mickey is still covered with sores.  It is getting better but it still looks bad.

Wordless Wednesday

AKC trial last week

So last Friday I went to an AKC trial.  It was kind of weird but people weren't helping at the trial. They were begging for help and people wouldn't step up. Very , very sad.  Lots of those people trial every weekend and not to help???  How do they think trials will go on if they don't step in and help. I felt bad for them.  I worked both 20 inch classes and got double coupons. Whoohoo!!    Then this person that I know, her dog peed right there in the building. She saw her dog do it and she saw me looking at her.  She just walked away and left it there.  So disappointing.  So I probably didn't have the greatest attitude after all this.

Java's standard run:  I meant to FC before the a-frame but didn't make it there , so I RC after. You will see she almost went off course. Then I had planned to RC this jump to the tunnel. As soon as I started to push, just a slight turn of my shoulder, boom -off she went to the tunnel. Akc!!  So we were off course and then I  didn't think she was going to make the weave pole entry so I RC her and stopped. She made it but after I stopped, she pulled out of the pole. Ugh!! 
Then JWW.  I really thought we could do this. And we almost did.  She was running a line of jump. I said tunnel but she went straight, and then turned to the tunnel. So we got a refusal. I was confused why would she do this. There were no obstacles where she was going.



When I left the ring, after the jumpers run, someone told me it looked like she was going for the jumps that where outside the ring. ( her dog once jumped into the orange ring gating when someone put a broad jump right outside the ring. He was suppose to turn to the a-frame but went straight. Thank goodness Java didn't jump into the ring gating).  When I watched the video, you could see that's what she was doing.
When I went to walk the course for Miley's turn, then I could really see what the problem was.

It looks like its a pin wheel with the practice jump also there.  Plus, because no one would work, that chair, for the ring crew, was empty. If someone would have been sitting there, it may have made a difference.   Also, someone who work  the big dogs, who was sitting there, said several dogs ran straight there to. She thought it was because someone had a Frisbee and was playing with there dog outside the ring. Maybe it was because of the jumps.  I had them move them for Miley's class.

  Miley Qed in standard and I was hopeful we would Q in JWW. But no, she went off course.  I guess I shouldn't have had so much distance from her , so I could have shown more motion in the direction I needed her to go. Ugh!  Will I ever learn to do this right??? LOL



I only did one day at the trial. The next day I went to Savannah to spend some time with my mom and sister.  We had a nice time and went to down town Savannah.  The weather has been really nice lately. 

Mickey has a staff infection all over his body.   Because I didn't recognize it right away, it got way out of control.  I first noticed these sore on the back of his neck. I thought one of the other dogs bit him.  Then I noticed a few more and started thinking it was weird.  If they bit him that much he should hurt when I pick him up.  I pick him up at least twice a day to give him his liquid phenobarbital.  Then a few days later I flipped him over and he had sores everywhere. Ack.  It looked like he had the chicken pox.  So I posted a picture on face book and everyone told me he had  a staff infection.  So I took him to the vet.  When the vet first saw him, he said "Wow, your dog has chicken pox".  LOL , then laughed and said "Just kidding. He has a staff infection".  They gave him an injection of antibiotics and some shampoo to wash him twice a week.  Its been a week and I felt like he was getting worse. So I took him back to the vet.  The vet said he only wrote in his notes that it was every where so it was hard for him to tell if it was worse. But he  said usually the owner knows. So he gave me a different shampoo and now he has to be washed everyday. Ugh!!  Thank god its not a sheltie.

In a couple of weeks is the UKI nationals. Its being held in Fletcher, NC.  So, about 2 hours from here.  These friend of mine are in charge. When I talked to them last weekend, there were 1800 runs scheduled for Friday.  They were stressed.   Shortly after that we got an email saying that they are starting on Thursday, to take some of the runs off of Friday's schedule.  I think there will be 5 rings going. Way bigger than last year with only 2 rings.  Now Im not sure why I entered.  There is no way Im ready for this type of competition.  Oh well.  I already said I would be in charge of hospitality.  Hopefully I can do an ok job at it.

Thank goodness for little trials. Next weekend Im going to a small AKC trial. There are 30 dogs in all of masters.  It will be a nice, non-stressful trial.

Seminar weekend!

I went this weekend to a Daisy Peel seminar.  I only did half a day on Saturday and then the whole day Sunday.  I left my house with plenty of time to get there. I was even planning on stopping to get lunch. Well there was an accident on the highway and we only moved 2 miles in 30 minutes. Ack!! Now I was going to be late because I did stop to go to the restroom. I got there about 5 minutes late. I felt bad but there was nothing I could do.
Saturday was on blind crosses.  Very fun!!.  I wish there had been a whole day on this.  Ok, I know most of you probably know this and Im the only person who didn't but here is goes.  Its what you do before you blind cross that cues the turn. OMG!!  LOL, I didn't know this.   So your lateral motion, or your deceleration ect. cues the turn. Good to know!!  LOL



Only 5 dogs were there, so we got a lot of running time and it was great!!!  After the day ended I drove down to my parents and spent the night. It was only an hour from the seminar so a lot closer than my house.
The next morning I made sure I had plenty of time to get there. I wasn't going to be late again!  I got there with no problem.  This day was on cueing combinations.  We aren't allowed to post any video from Sunday.  You would think I would  have been perfect since I had seen these before went I went out to Oregon  to the DP camp. But I wasn't. Ugh!!   One of Java's relatives was there too.  And then several other people I knew.  That was nice, to know people at the seminar.   Today was full with I think with 11 participants so not as much working time as yesterday but still nice.  It was nice out, until you were running. Then the sweating came on. LOL    I think Java has definitely improved since the last time I saw Daisy in person.  She is no longer driving all on her front and not stopping when asked.  Before if I stopped on course, she would just fly on by but now she engages here rear end and can stop.   (although still needs to be reminded sometimes). Several dogs had this problem at the seminar and they had to do the stopping on course thing and reward the dog if they actually stopped. We did one more very short easy set up at the end of the day. I was tired and just wanted to stop. So I didn't do well on an easy course. Ugh.  So Daisy suggested I listed to this book on tape called, "The Sports Gene".  (its not an agility book).  But she thought it would be insightful for me to read.  She said I have good foot work,  and motion and training on my dogs. I lack figuring out timing. When to do the footwork and the motion. (its true and Im not offended by this at all).  Ive never been good at any sport.  My timing was horrible. Always. Ugh.    Oh well, all I can do it keep working at it. I think I am getting better.  Miley finally got a double Q a couple of weeks ago and Java Qed all three runs on that last Saturday. So I hope Im going in the right direction.

I had new carpet put in my bedroom. Holy crap, what an ordeal that was.  I had no idea how much junk was in my bedroom. Then in the closet, they thought they could just remove this bar that was attached to the floor and the clothes would be ok. Nope, everything fell to the ground. Ugh!!  So now all the clothes had to be removed from the closet too.  What a lot of freaking work.

Its does look nice!!

Beach trial

I went down to Charleston for a USDAA trial.  I decided to go to the beach before the trial. They were running team first and then at the end of the day was Steeplechase and Grand Prix. I was only entered in Grand Prix and Steeplechase. It was suppose to thunderstorm all day but the weather held and didn't start raining until after I ran my last run. How lucky is that??

Anyway, we went to Beachwalker park.  Its a public beach on Kiawah island. They allow dogs. It was great to be at the beach but felt sad too. I really miss going to Seabrook island.  Its so peaceful and quiet.  This beach doesn't open until 9am. I like to be out on the beach at 6:30am -7am.   There were lots of people and dogs for the middle of the day.   Lots of off leash dogs who don't come when called. Ugh.   My dogs didn't really want to play they way the would at Seabrook. They just walked right next to me.  I finally  had to throw a pinecone to get them to start running.

No dolphins were out today.   After spending a few hours at the beach we drove to the trial site.

I just put all the video's of each dog together on one video. It was just easier that way.  Miley Qed in Speedjumping with one dropped bar. In Grand Prix I pushed her off the jump before the tunnel when I rear crossed.  Then next day , we got into the second round of Speedjumping.  I didn't get the front cross in before the A-frame and decided to blind after the a-frame. I pushed in and decided I didn't have enough time to blind. She read the blind, blinded and I didn't, so we went off course.  I didn't put the jumpers video in there. She was just kinda crazy, running her own course and we left the ring.
Gamblers was tough, at least I thought so.  But actually lots of dogs got it.  It was tough because of that tunnel being right there.

It was also hard because you had no momentum going into the gamble (the number 1 jump).  We were so close. We got all the way  through #3 but didn't take number 4.  Then in standard, it was a wrap to the DW from a tunnel. She came out of the tunnel and I thought she had the DW, I started running and she pulled away and came with me. Oops.




Java , in Grand Prix, she went around the first jump. Oops. Then I put a RC in the wrong place (at the tire), so it pulled her off a jump. But otherwise very nice run.  In Steeplechase, there was a 90 degree turn after the a-frame.  She didn't turn, I called her , she stopped right before taking the jump. I thought I had saved it. I turned to put her over the correct jump and she went back over the a-frame. Oops. LOL.  The next day she had a beautiful jumpers run with a dropped bar.  She got the gamble in Advance gamblers. Then the biggest surprise  was we Qed in standard.  I figured the judge called her teeter.  The judge was very tough on teeters  all weekend and it wasnt a perfect one. So after that I figured run like heck and see what happens.  When I watched the video the next morning, the judge didn't call the teeter and we Qed. WhoooHooo. We might get out of starters standard yet. LOL

Ugh!!!

Im so mad at myself.  I took Miley out to the field last night to work.  I had been there earlier in the day. But after killing all the ants, moving the a-frame, dogwalk and teeter, then setting up the course I wanted to run, I was to hot.  So I went home and then drove back after 7pm, when the sun wasn't on the field.   Anyway, our club  has really old jumps at the field. I don't even know how old they are.  Probably from when agility first started.   Java had gotten hurt on one of these jumps in May. I thought maybe it was something I did, like a really late cue, and she got hurt. Which is what is still going on with her now. Hopefully we will get good news tomorrow on that.  Anyway, last night I ran Miley and she got hurt.  Her foot got stuck on the wingless jump stanchion feet.  I saw it happen. My husband felt like it was her trying to avoid the dropped bar. (I had forgotten to reset the bar).  Well, we were video taping and you can see her foot gets stuck. Ack!!



We stopped right then and there. I walked her around a little bit and no limping. I didn't let her do anything today. Hopefully she is ok.   I went back out to the field to bring the wagon and the a-frame mover back to the field. (the tires were flat, so I took them home to fix it).  I also took my 3 wingless jumps from home to the field. Im not using those stupid wooden  jumps ever again.  I took a picture of the bases of my wingless jump, and the clubs.  I was shocked to see the difference in the size of the base feet. I knew the clubs feet were bigger, I just didn't realize how much bigger. No  wonder my dogs are getting hurt.  Im going to have to talk to the club about getting new jumps.

Rain, Rain go away!

    Yup, its been raining a lot!!  For 3 days.  Im over it.  And today is my last day off. Tomorrow its back to work. Ugh!!  Would have been nice to have one last nice day. Oh well, what can you do.
Java is still on rest. Well , no running or jumping. She is allowed leash walks.  She goes back next Monday to get an ultrasound. Im really hoping she is healed.
     Ive been doing a couple of on line classes. One is with Denise Fenzi, "Sensational Stays".  I really want Java to stay at the startline and on the table and teeter.  I hope this helps. I already found a hole in my training with this program. Now Im trying to fix it.  The other class is a learn on your own, with Kathy Keats, "Perfect Timing". Which well all know I don't have. Im trying to fix this. I think my biggest problem is not being able to watch my dog while I run.  I cant catch the mistake happening before its to late. Then we go off course. 

This is Miley running a course on last Wednesday.



She looks ok.

Yesterday I drove up to a UKI trial that was 2 hours away. They had posted on FB that if it was raining, it would be moved down the street to under cover. The whole time Im driving, its raining. I keep praying they are going to move it. Everyone is different in what they think is acceptable surface to run on. I wont run my dogs in the rain. Dogs slip all the time. One slip, they pull a muscle or something happens, and your dog can be out for 6 months to a year. Its just not worth it to me. But Im not saying anything against anyone who wants to run their dog in the rain or on wet surfaces. You know you dog best.  I got up there around 7am and stopped at a McDonalds.  I checked FB, they hadn't posted anything.  Ugh, I was worried. It was just misty outside. I drove to the site. The field was full of water and they decided to move to trial site. Yay!! We had to load up  jumps, tunnels, sandbags, contact equipment and other things in the vans. Took it to the trial site and unloaded and set up. It went quickly. I think we had it set up by around 9am. 
It was a nice small trial.  I think under 20 people ran.  It was  nice. Set up a course, run. Set up the next course, run again.  It was nice practice , with lots of different courses.  I could have never set up that many courses in a day , by myself, to practice.   Miley did well. No broken start lines. Yay!! But no Q's either. But that's ok.   She had some nice runs with just little mistakes by me. Again, I don't see things going wrong until its to late. Well , except for the last run. I was able to save a few things there but she dropped the last bar.
The footing felt ok. It was some kind of dirt/ saw dust type surface. It was fluffy but easy to walk in.  It seemed the bars were dropping easily.  Miley dropped the last bar several times. Weird. She doesn't usually do that.  I think it was the surface. After watching the video, I think she just didn't get the lift she thought she was going to get. The last run, I knew she was going to drop the bar, because when she took off to jump, her back end didn't lift off the ground. It was weird.   Still , we had a good time. Everyone so friendly and nice. Everyone worked together to keep things going.



So you can see she is jumping a little different than how she did on Wednesday. It had to be the footing.  I wonder if its something your dog just has to get use to?