Wind and Rain and Mud, Oh My!

All that was missing was the Flying Monkeys from the Wizard of Oz. What a wild day!

Cosi and I went to our first USDAA trial in Gamber, Maryland, today. We got there at 7 a.m. with buckets of rain pouring from the skies. The trial committee wisely decided to postpone the trial for an hour. So we all snoozed in the nice, warm van. Jenny took advantage of Mike's warm fur. Here she is lounging in her crate using Mike as her pillow:

I zoomed in on her, as her face was a perfect picture of contentment:

We should all have it so rough! Ah, Jenn, I envy you. =:O)

At 9 a.m. I donned my rain gear and headed out. I heard that there was a CMJ at this trial. I found her and pleaded for her to measure Cosi. She was gracious in the face of my pesting. Two measurements down, one to go!

Cosi and I were to run P1 Gamblers, Standard, Pairs, and Jumpers. Gamblers started off in the pouring rain. I was *very* proud of our run because in a trial last fall in a terrible rain storm, he acted all silly and crazy like he does when you spray the garden hose. Today he stayed very focused and ran well. He back-jumped the one jump in the Gamble so we didn't Q. But we placed third. (That crazy system in USDAA!) Click here for the YouTube link to his run.

On to Standard. The ring footing was getting progressively worse and worse. Then this 20 mph wind blew in. I was afraid to put him full blast on the dog walk, afraid he'd slip or even get blown off. In the video you'll see me stop him as he comes out of the tunnel. I was slipping even though I had cleated shoes on and had trouble keeping up with him. Watch the beginning of this run. He goes from a sit, to a semi-down, and watch the butt action as he gets ready to blast off the line! There's something we need to work on! Click here for the YouTube link to his run.

With the footing getting iffy and the rain still coming down in sheets, I decided to pack it in and go home around 1 p.m. We didn't run Pairs or Jumpers.

3 Positives
We had *awesome* weaves in our two classes.
He held his contacts.
He maintained focus.

2 Things To Work On
Start line stay (in a sit)
Avoiding back jumping

Great experience. I got our 3rd place ribbon to have a souvenir. Can't wait until the HOT Agility trial to run again.

MADness

Cosi at last year's DOCNA trial at Coleen's.

All my thoughts and focus are on our upcoming trial this weekend. We'll be traveling to Maryland to the Mid-Atlantic MADness trial.

This is our first USDAA trial, and I'm glad I'll be going alone as I need to make my way in this new (for me) venue. I've entered Cosi in four classes, and my goal is to stay focused and on course. The only games we're running are Pairs and Gamblers. (hate Snooker!) Then we'll also run in Standard and Jumpers. We've run successfully at DOCNA trials (see photo above) in the games, and I'm hoping that will translate to the USDAA venue. Don't need to win anything, just run *together* and well.

I can't wait.

Keep your paws crossed for us and pray for good weather.

New Venue - New Opportunities

I'm working on my trial schedule for 2009. With Brisco I limited myself to only AKC trials. Now with Cosi I have new worlds to explore. I've shown him in AKC and DOCNA over the past half-year. Now in 2009 we will be adding USDAA to our trial schedule.

At first I was unsure of showing in USDAA. However, I've taken advantage of our club's matches and instructional seminars to learn more about the games and rules for running in USDAA trials. It's starting to make sense. When I first watched a USDAA trial, it looked like mayhem to me, disorganized and out of sync with what I was used to. There's the key: what I was used to. It's time for me to expand my horizons now that I have a high-drive, capable dog.

I'm going to try a USDAA trial in April and another in May. I'm going to run Cosi in the Performance level, not the Competition level. One thing at a time, folks! Let this ol' lady get her act together before I throw caution to the wind.

Did I mention I like to follow rules, stay in the lines, and plan ahead? (grin)