Yesterday Spot and Shelby were entered in the Bo Gee CPE trial in Deerfield, NH. Spot was entered in Wildcard 3, Standard 2 and Jackpot 3. Shelby was entered in Snooker 4, Standard 3 and Jackpot 2.
Wildcard was up first, but wasn't the first class of the day, so we got there around 8. I was working as scribe in Wildcard 1-2. We didn't run until about 9:30 or so. The course started with a jump to the weaves, so I pretty much knew it would be tough going. Spot was raring to go and took the jump and entered the weaves, but then ran into the center of the ring. So I just took off running towards the tunnels and he came with me, which was great. So we did a couple tunnels and the last 3 jumps. I wanted him to have fun because lately he's been doing a couple obstacles and then leaving the ring. After this trial, I am moving him to level 1 enthusiast, so I really had nothing to lose and no expectations.
The next run was Snooker level 4 with Shelby. This was a fun course, with the 7 being a 3-jump serpentine. Two of the reds were close to the serp, then there was another close to the front of the course, and one in the middle. I wasn't sure how Shelby would do, but decided to try 1-7-1-7-1-4 as my opening, and it worked. When we started, I didn't cue the side of the serp I wanted, but she took the jump, so I needed to think fast to save it. The rest of the course was fine, and Shelby was running fast and happy. We Qd with 40 points and a second place! This was Shelby's first time back at Bo Gee since she ran out of the ring after another dog two years ago and I wasn't sure how she would be. I had Marjorie at the exit just in case, but Shelby was fine.
Next up was Standard 2 with Spot. After seeing the course, which was a jump to the A frame, then also the dog walk and the weaves and the teeter, I just felt it would be too much, so I scratched. I thought Jackpot was next, and I had both dogs in Jackpot, close together in the running order, so I moved my car closer to the ring and was hanging out for a while. Good thing I did, because suddenly I heard them calling for Shelby! I had totally forgotten she was entered in Standard! I hadn't even looked at the map, so I glanced at it quickly, then did the walk through and then we were second dog up! The course was pretty nice, good flow. Our only bobble was the weaves. I tried to send her on the offside, and she entered at the second pole, so we had to do them again. We were also 3 seconds over time. But we still Qd and got a 2nd place, so that was great.
Jackpot was a non-traditional. Spot was entered in level 3 and Shelby in level 2. The jackpot was that you needed to do three different obstacles and then the table. Originally the judge intended that we could not do three jumps as our jackpot, but she changed her mind, thank god! My opening for both dogs was the same: jump, teeter, double, jump, jump, tunnel, tunnel, tunnel, tunnel, and then the closing, 3 jumps. Spot got through the first tunnel then took off towards the exit. I called him back and he came and took another tunnel, then the buzzer went, so I was able to get him to do three jumps and the table. We got exactly 40 points we needed and were 5 seconds under time. That finished his level 3 Jackpot and his level 3 strategy games title!
Shelby was up next, and I did the same course, up to the first tunnel. She was a little nervous on the teeter. After the first tunnel, I brought her behind it to a jump, and then was planning on the weaves. But the buzzer went and I didn't want her to do the weaves because if we faulted them we would be done. So I carefully guided her to do three jumps, but after the second one she ran to the table. I called her back and got the third jump, but we ended up 5 seconds over time. It was a bummer because that would have finished her level 2 title. Oh well...
So overall, a good day, with lots of fun and a few Qs. It was very cold in the morning and windy all day and I got windburn on my face, which really hurt!
Our next trial will be at Act-Up in Seekonk on May 12-13.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
All Dogs Gym CPE Trial, February 11-12, 2012
This weekend I entered Spot and Shelby at All Dogs Gym. Spot was entered only in Level 2 Standard each day. Shelby was entered in everything else.
Saturday started off awful because I woke up with a migraine and nausea. So I slept in for a bit, and got there about 8:30, still feeling pretty bad. Luckily there was still room in the crate room, and I hadn't missed our first run. First up was Shelby in Jumpers level 3. It was a good course, and Shelby was excited. We started out great, but then she got the zoomies a bit and ran up to say "hi" to the ring crew. Then she started sniffing in one area. And then she pooped. Just one little piece. I know it wasn't stress. There is one part of the ring where they have puppy play time and a lot of dogs were sniffing. Shelby sniffed pretty much all weekend.
Next up was Snooker level 3. The 7 was a combo of a weaves and a jump. I ended up doing 1, 7, 1, 3, 1, 4. Then we made it through 5 in the closing, so we Qd! She did have to try the weaves twice, so I was worried we wouldn't get through the closing with enough points.
Then we had Fullhouse. Shelby ran well, but when we came off the dogwalk she started sniffing. I got her attention and she took the tunnel, but then was sniffing again, so she used up some time. We got all our requirements, but we were 8 seconds over time, so no Q.
Spot then ran Standard level 2. He was really slow on the dogwalk descent, and also on the A frame, so we didn't get halfway through the course. But we were done by about 4pm, so I was happy to get home early.
On Sunday, Shelby was up first in Colors level 3. It was a good course, and I thought we would do well, but unfortunately Shelby started up the dogwalk, which wasn't the correct obstacle. So, because you are not allowed an off course in level 3, we didn't Q, but otherwise had a great run.
Next was Wildcard. This I also thought would be a pretty good course for us. The dogwalk was the second obstacle, so I figured no problem! Well, I guess I was being a little too aggressive, because I pushed her past the entrance to the dogwalk, then she went around a jump. So I consciously slowed down and she did great the rest of the course, but we were over time, so no Q.
Last course of Sunday was Jackpot level 1/2. No problem! Well, at one point, Shelby got so excited she ran right past the tunnel I wanted, so that used up some time, but then we got the gamble, so I thought we had a Q. When I looked at the sheet, it turns out we didn't get points for the weaves, so we were short on points. And apparently way over time, which surprised me. Again, no Q.
Spot was running at the end of the day in Standard level 2. I didn't really have much hope of a Q, because there was a dogwalk and A frame and weaves. He actually ran well, had a little trouble with the A frame, but then totally shut down at the weave poles after entering correctly. So that was a bummer. But he was happy to run.
It was a long weekend, but fun and glad I went.
Saturday started off awful because I woke up with a migraine and nausea. So I slept in for a bit, and got there about 8:30, still feeling pretty bad. Luckily there was still room in the crate room, and I hadn't missed our first run. First up was Shelby in Jumpers level 3. It was a good course, and Shelby was excited. We started out great, but then she got the zoomies a bit and ran up to say "hi" to the ring crew. Then she started sniffing in one area. And then she pooped. Just one little piece. I know it wasn't stress. There is one part of the ring where they have puppy play time and a lot of dogs were sniffing. Shelby sniffed pretty much all weekend.
Next up was Snooker level 3. The 7 was a combo of a weaves and a jump. I ended up doing 1, 7, 1, 3, 1, 4. Then we made it through 5 in the closing, so we Qd! She did have to try the weaves twice, so I was worried we wouldn't get through the closing with enough points.
Then we had Fullhouse. Shelby ran well, but when we came off the dogwalk she started sniffing. I got her attention and she took the tunnel, but then was sniffing again, so she used up some time. We got all our requirements, but we were 8 seconds over time, so no Q.
Spot then ran Standard level 2. He was really slow on the dogwalk descent, and also on the A frame, so we didn't get halfway through the course. But we were done by about 4pm, so I was happy to get home early.
On Sunday, Shelby was up first in Colors level 3. It was a good course, and I thought we would do well, but unfortunately Shelby started up the dogwalk, which wasn't the correct obstacle. So, because you are not allowed an off course in level 3, we didn't Q, but otherwise had a great run.
Next was Wildcard. This I also thought would be a pretty good course for us. The dogwalk was the second obstacle, so I figured no problem! Well, I guess I was being a little too aggressive, because I pushed her past the entrance to the dogwalk, then she went around a jump. So I consciously slowed down and she did great the rest of the course, but we were over time, so no Q.
Last course of Sunday was Jackpot level 1/2. No problem! Well, at one point, Shelby got so excited she ran right past the tunnel I wanted, so that used up some time, but then we got the gamble, so I thought we had a Q. When I looked at the sheet, it turns out we didn't get points for the weaves, so we were short on points. And apparently way over time, which surprised me. Again, no Q.
Spot was running at the end of the day in Standard level 2. I didn't really have much hope of a Q, because there was a dogwalk and A frame and weaves. He actually ran well, had a little trouble with the A frame, but then totally shut down at the weave poles after entering correctly. So that was a bummer. But he was happy to run.
It was a long weekend, but fun and glad I went.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
Shelby debuts at All Dogs Gym CPE Trial, December 31, 2011
On Saturday, the last day of 2011, I took Spot and Shelby to All Dogs Gym in Manchester, NH for a one-day CPE trial. Spot and Shelby were both entered in Jackpot, and then Spot was in Wildcard, and Shelby was in Snooker.
Jackpot was a non-traditional in which you had to take a specific jump, then get 10 points any way you wanted, then take the jump again, for a total of 12 points. If you did it correctly you would get 20 points. Spot was first, since he was jumping 4 inches. He was so slow and pokey, we only got through about 6 obstacles before we ran out of time. Shelby did very well, she was excited to be running and took all my cues. However, I messed up the course and we didn't get the 20 points, so no Q. :-( But it was still a great debut for her. I was very happy that she didn't seem nervous and didn't need to go check the entrances for other dogs, etc.
Up next was Spot in Wildcard 3. It was a doable course for us. The choices were the Tunnel (a) or A Frame (b), then a jump (a) or teeter (b), then a tunnel (a) or 2 jumps (b). My plan was tunnel, teeter, 2 jumps. Spot was raring to go this time, but He ran by the tunnel, and almost out of the ring! I called him back but then he took the A frame! So he took a long time standing at the top and then coming down. Once he was off, he ran to the exit, so I just went with him.
Finally it was Shelby's turn at Snooker level 3. We needed 36 points. This was a tricky course. It had a panel jump! They are legal, but this is the first time I've seen one in five years. It was part of the #7 combo of a panel jump and single bar jump. It was possible to get all 7's and a few people did, but my plan was 7, 6, 5. Shelby went around the 7 panel jump but I brought her back and she took it fine. Then we took the single jump and the next red jump, but then she started sniffing like crazy. I thought I was stress from making a mistake, so I just ran happily to the table and she followed. Afterwards, I saw a lot of dogs sniffing there, so there must have been something in that area. It makes me feel better that maybe she was just a little distracted and not really stressed. I am going to try to enter here there as much as I can this winter. I'm so happy she was able to have fun and not worry.
Jackpot was a non-traditional in which you had to take a specific jump, then get 10 points any way you wanted, then take the jump again, for a total of 12 points. If you did it correctly you would get 20 points. Spot was first, since he was jumping 4 inches. He was so slow and pokey, we only got through about 6 obstacles before we ran out of time. Shelby did very well, she was excited to be running and took all my cues. However, I messed up the course and we didn't get the 20 points, so no Q. :-( But it was still a great debut for her. I was very happy that she didn't seem nervous and didn't need to go check the entrances for other dogs, etc.
Up next was Spot in Wildcard 3. It was a doable course for us. The choices were the Tunnel (a) or A Frame (b), then a jump (a) or teeter (b), then a tunnel (a) or 2 jumps (b). My plan was tunnel, teeter, 2 jumps. Spot was raring to go this time, but He ran by the tunnel, and almost out of the ring! I called him back but then he took the A frame! So he took a long time standing at the top and then coming down. Once he was off, he ran to the exit, so I just went with him.
Finally it was Shelby's turn at Snooker level 3. We needed 36 points. This was a tricky course. It had a panel jump! They are legal, but this is the first time I've seen one in five years. It was part of the #7 combo of a panel jump and single bar jump. It was possible to get all 7's and a few people did, but my plan was 7, 6, 5. Shelby went around the 7 panel jump but I brought her back and she took it fine. Then we took the single jump and the next red jump, but then she started sniffing like crazy. I thought I was stress from making a mistake, so I just ran happily to the table and she followed. Afterwards, I saw a lot of dogs sniffing there, so there must have been something in that area. It makes me feel better that maybe she was just a little distracted and not really stressed. I am going to try to enter here there as much as I can this winter. I'm so happy she was able to have fun and not worry.
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