Gemini CPE Trial-August 23-24, 2008

Last weekend was our "home" trial at Gemini Dogs in Littleton. I had been looking forward to it, hoping Shelby would have a home field advantage. :-)

The weather was sunny and warm-hot but bearable. Thankfully there was nowhere near as much humidity as last year. The heat definitely affected the dogs, but Shelby was fine. She was a little slower than usual, but willing and ready and having fun. She pretty much zonked out in the X pen when she wasn't running.

Saturday started out with Fullhouse. Our run was a little crazy, with Shelby missing the dogwalk in the beginning, so I had to compensate and ended up doing an extra tunnel in order to get back on the dogwalk. I think because we don't usually practice the dog walk at full height. I didn't think we Qd, because at the end, Shelby was really fast and ahead of me, so I thought she missed the required 3rd single jump, but when they posted the scores, we got a Q.

Next up was Standard. We were still in level 1! We started out, took a couple jumps, then Shelby went around the third jump and skipped the tunnel, but I just kept it going. She got with it and took the rest of the obstacles, missing one more jump, so we didn't Q. We had 78 fault points!

Next up was Wildcard, which Shelby usually does very well. We were in level 3, so it was a change to needing 1 A and 2 Bs, rather than 2 As and 1B, so I was worried I would mess it up, but I did great and remembered what to do! We were humming along no problem through the first 4 obstacles, but then we got to a corner where a bunch of dogs had peed and Shelby stopped in her tracks. I got her going towards the tunnel and she got stuck again. I get her back, she goes through the tunnel, comes out and gets sidetracked sniffing again! Finally we get going up the A frame and finish the course, but at the end she blows by the last jump and she back jumps it, giving us one fault. We were over time, so no Q, but Shelby did perform 6 poles on my right with no hesitation, so I was really happy. It was our first set of poles in competition.

Last but not least was Snooker. I like snooker a lot. I think it's really fun and challenging. At first glance this course seemed like it would be hard to get a high score, but I realized we could take the first red at a really sharp angle, since we had practiced in class. Shelby did great, we got 50 out of a possible 51 points and came in less than a second over time. I was really pleased. We Qd and got first place!

On Sunday we started with Jackpot. Of course, I was running late by about 10 minutes and missed the judge's briefing and the walk through! I was a little pissed actually that they started before 7:45. It was a non-traditional Jackpot, so that made it harder. And they were out of course maps! It was crazy. I definitely think when the judge is a hyper type, it affects everyone. I felt bad for the people who ran first because no one was really clear on the Jackpot rules and the judge was rushing to get the day started and it was not pleasant. One person actually had an argument with the judge after their run when they didn't Q!

When it was our turn, I had a good plan to get points and use up the necessary time. We executed it well and when the gamble whistle blew we were in good position. I look to see where the gamble is and then turn back to Shelby and I see her stopped and sniffing. As I go to her she drops and rolls around on her back, loving it. Everyone gets a good laugh as I try to get her up. Finally I get her up and we complete the gamble but we're way over time, so no Q! But we had fun. Always expect the unexpecgted I guess...

Next was our 2nd chance at Standard level 1. This time Shelby was a little more tired, so a little slower, which is good for me. She did really well, but dropped a bar, which is unusual. I think I crowded her, trying to get ready for a rear cross. But we finished the rest no problem and got our Q. I was so happy!

Next up was Colors. Shelby also does well in Colors. She was super slow on this run. I was able to get a video of this run and it looks like slow motion! We had a clean run-it was a simple course, I didn't even do any crosses.


Last run of the weekend was Jumpers. This was a level 1/2 course and I thought it was pretty complicated. The opening was challenging and a lot of people didn't really handle it well. I was planning a lead out pivot, but Shelby stood up before I was in position, so I just started and did a front cross between 2 and 3. Then I did a front cross between 5 and 6, then another front cross after the tunnel and before jump 8. Then I did a rear cross between 13 and 14. Shelby was perfect other than breaking the stay.

Overall it was a positive weekend, but very long, especially since I volunteered and didn't have a lot of downtime. Spot was not really happy being in the pen all day, either. Our next trial is Bo Gee in October, and we'll be in level 3 Colors and Wildcard and level 2 everything else.