She just makes me so happy. What a doofy, happy-go-lucky girl she is. I went to the shelter to look at a different dog who had just been adopted the night before, and we ended up with Spry instead. I couldn't be happier with her.
Last night I just watched her videos from Jan BRAG USDAA, Feb BRAG Cpe & Feb Paws Partners USDAA. The progress she made in such a short time is astounding to me. And she is just so much fun to run, even when she's geing a goofball and visiting ring crew. Or whippets outside of the ring (although not fun is hearing later that either the whippet owner or gate steward said "whew that was scary" after my meanie viscious pit bull ran to visit... with a wiggly butt and tail!).
Can't wait for the years to come with this girlie. I have a feeling she will teach me a lot :)
2.25.2011
2.24.2011
Decisions, decisions...
So I'm trying to decide where to go with Panic's agility career from here. She is so much fun to run, and is having a blast in Performance. I have just decided to not try to qualify for GP for nats this year. Reason being, it stresses me out :) I will have fun running team & psj so why add the stress of trying to Q in GP? Plus if I want to run Spry for fun at nats, not entering GP is less $ and less $ during the year while I try to qualify.
Ok so that decision is made for sure.
We are going to CCDAC in May and they have I think all masters classes both days. So, I'm going to enter Panic in 3 classes a day. We do well in and have fun in Jumpers & Snooker. We do OK in standard, OK in relay, and suck at gambles. Not to say I don't have fun running them, but I enjoy Jumpers/Snooker more. So, my original plan was to enter her in P3 gamblers/std/relay both days as they are the legs I will have the hardest time getting for MPD(????), PDCH, and my LAA titles. But it's not as much fun :( I guess I have to determine if my goal is really LAA titles or just to have as much fun with her as possible.
Her DW contacts are still marginal, and honestly at this point I'm not sure how much energy I'm going to spend fixing them. I screwed her up pretty good :) She's going to be 6 this year - not about ready to go out to pasture or anything - but I just don't how much stress it's really worth.
Currently, between CH & Perf, we have 7 gambles, 26 jumpers, 23 snooker, 10 standard, 7 relay, 17 stp, 3 gp, and 20 misc legs (indiv dam qs). So to get LAA Bronze she needs 8 gambles, 5 standard legs, 8 relay & an additional 16 other legs which I don't anticipate those being a problem. Honestly only the gambles do I really think will be a problem. & relay will take a while because only one per trial usually. I never used to enter it bc I hate spending $ on half of a course!
I would *really* like a LAA title, I think it would be nice. I'm not one of those who pretends not to care about Qs or titles :) But, I'm afraid if I focus on pursuing the classes we're not as good at, we won't have as much fun in our career.
Ok so that decision is made for sure.
We are going to CCDAC in May and they have I think all masters classes both days. So, I'm going to enter Panic in 3 classes a day. We do well in and have fun in Jumpers & Snooker. We do OK in standard, OK in relay, and suck at gambles. Not to say I don't have fun running them, but I enjoy Jumpers/Snooker more. So, my original plan was to enter her in P3 gamblers/std/relay both days as they are the legs I will have the hardest time getting for MPD(????), PDCH, and my LAA titles. But it's not as much fun :( I guess I have to determine if my goal is really LAA titles or just to have as much fun with her as possible.
Her DW contacts are still marginal, and honestly at this point I'm not sure how much energy I'm going to spend fixing them. I screwed her up pretty good :) She's going to be 6 this year - not about ready to go out to pasture or anything - but I just don't how much stress it's really worth.
Currently, between CH & Perf, we have 7 gambles, 26 jumpers, 23 snooker, 10 standard, 7 relay, 17 stp, 3 gp, and 20 misc legs (indiv dam qs). So to get LAA Bronze she needs 8 gambles, 5 standard legs, 8 relay & an additional 16 other legs which I don't anticipate those being a problem. Honestly only the gambles do I really think will be a problem. & relay will take a while because only one per trial usually. I never used to enter it bc I hate spending $ on half of a course!
I would *really* like a LAA title, I think it would be nice. I'm not one of those who pretends not to care about Qs or titles :) But, I'm afraid if I focus on pursuing the classes we're not as good at, we won't have as much fun in our career.
2.17.2011
2.14.2011
Pawsitive Partners wrap up
I really like trialing at this building. A lot of dogs have problems with the surface but mine don't, Panic usually turns in some fast runs here, and I like cratingviewing from up on the mezzanine. And BONUS - Andy and I both worked a lot of classes, and got $50 towards my next entries there. SCORE.
Overall - Panic stayed on all but one run where she broke just as I was releasing. this is a HUGE improvement. I actually planned handling strategies based on her staying, feeling 95% confident she would. It is nice to not have to do stupid RCs at the beginning because my dog won't stay!! Now we need to put this new found self control towards stopping on the DW. It's nicer out - I think I'll pull my plank out and do all kinds of cookies for 2rto position this week. She is running fast at 16, I need to adjust my handling. She now takes off courses and has a lot of wide turns! Spry is an awesome lady. She must have read comments about working on the zig zag exercise, pulled out my DHS and read it and just figured it out on her own :) This trial she read my LOM pretty darn well. I will still work zig zag though when I get a chance - hopefully next weekend. Still good stays, good contacts (though a bit slower here). She is so much fun to run!!
Sat:
Panic P3 Gamblers - I can't remember very well, but I was pleased with her opening and the timing. Didn't get the gamble, not surprised. It wasn't that tough, but we suck at gambles :) At the start line, I thought she was staying well, turned to say good girl and she was already up!
Panic P3 Standard - Really nice run, she was moving well, but took a wide turn & an off course DW. And then was pissed at me on the table. Her DW was gorgeous if I wanted her to run it *sigh*. She did hold her start line stay on this course though.
Panic P3 Relay - we ran w/Janet & Benny. Panic took an off course jump in the same exact place, same exact sequence as in standard. You'd think I'd learn, huh? But again, stayed, and ran fast.
Spry Starters Gamblers - Fast off the line & adjusted to make WP entrance. Good girlie. Pulled off a jump bc I signaled a RC with an off arm. GOOD GIRL BAD MOM. Got the gamble. Most impressive part was she took the tunnel (ob #1), sighted me, then saw the jump I was indicating and took it instead of coming straight to me!! And then she read my LOM and took the finish jump without running into me or having to spin around. Very pleased. 1st USDAA Gamblers leg!!
Spry Starters Standard - Really great run. Took an off course tunnel, was a tough sequence for a tunnel hungry starters dog :) I was thrilled with this run though, esp her WP entry and again the course was smooth, no spins!
Sunday:
Panic P3 Jumpers - Great run. She is not turning as tight as she used to at 22 so I need to work that. I think I need to work RTH positions & variations more (as you will see by the 2-3 sequence when I post videos). But she had the 2nd fastest time in the whole P3/M class, only Super ran faster, and it was only .27 faster, and I'm ok with that :) I focused on RUNNING when I could.
Panic P3 Snooker - OK opening, she did what I wanted but we wasted some time in a few places. In the close, she turned wide after #5 and took an off course red. Still got 40pts so at least a Q.
Panic PGP - She ran really well, I did NOT cue a jump in a serp coming towards me, so she didn't take it. Fixed it, moved on. She also missed her DW but the judge didn't call it. Could be bc she wasn't sure but knew we already were NQd. She would have gotten the bye if she'd ran clean, had the fastest time in her height by over a second. I got nervous at the line. ARGH!
Spry Starters Jumpers - I put her on a stay and started a 2 jump lead out. Realize my dog is no longer on the line. She is wiggling in front of a whippet at the gate!!! Oops. Luckily judge did not whistle us off, I repositioned her, quickly lead out and released. The beginning was a little ucky but since I was rushed, not surprised. She Qd (1st USDAA jumpers leg!) and I was very happy with her taking the ending loop with no turn backs, no dropped bars, and no spins.
Spry Advanced Snooker - That's right, Advanced! Her first time in any advanced class. I planned 5-6-7-3 in the opening. She let me lead out and got the 5, then she knocked the 2nd red. Luckily it was very close to the 3rd red so I was able to move on nicely. The #7 was a 2 jump combo and bc of where I was, I was very behind. Can't believe she felt me pushing from behind and took both jumps without spinning/knocking!! She is really starting to "get it" :) Made it through 7 in the close, so 45 pts and a Q!
Will post vids later, most likely tomorrow (Tues)
Overall - Panic stayed on all but one run where she broke just as I was releasing. this is a HUGE improvement. I actually planned handling strategies based on her staying, feeling 95% confident she would. It is nice to not have to do stupid RCs at the beginning because my dog won't stay!! Now we need to put this new found self control towards stopping on the DW. It's nicer out - I think I'll pull my plank out and do all kinds of cookies for 2rto position this week. She is running fast at 16, I need to adjust my handling. She now takes off courses and has a lot of wide turns! Spry is an awesome lady. She must have read comments about working on the zig zag exercise, pulled out my DHS and read it and just figured it out on her own :) This trial she read my LOM pretty darn well. I will still work zig zag though when I get a chance - hopefully next weekend. Still good stays, good contacts (though a bit slower here). She is so much fun to run!!
Sat:
Panic P3 Gamblers - I can't remember very well, but I was pleased with her opening and the timing. Didn't get the gamble, not surprised. It wasn't that tough, but we suck at gambles :) At the start line, I thought she was staying well, turned to say good girl and she was already up!
Panic P3 Standard - Really nice run, she was moving well, but took a wide turn & an off course DW. And then was pissed at me on the table
Panic P3 Relay - we ran w/Janet & Benny. Panic took an off course jump in the same exact place, same exact sequence as in standard. You'd think I'd learn, huh? But again, stayed, and ran fast.
Spry Starters Gamblers - Fast off the line & adjusted to make WP entrance. Good girlie. Pulled off a jump bc I signaled a RC with an off arm. GOOD GIRL BAD MOM. Got the gamble. Most impressive part was she took the tunnel (ob #1), sighted me, then saw the jump I was indicating and took it instead of coming straight to me!! And then she read my LOM and took the finish jump without running into me or having to spin around. Very pleased. 1st USDAA Gamblers leg!!
Spry Starters Standard - Really great run. Took an off course tunnel, was a tough sequence for a tunnel hungry starters dog :) I was thrilled with this run though, esp her WP entry and again the course was smooth, no spins!
Sunday:
Panic P3 Jumpers - Great run. She is not turning as tight as she used to at 22 so I need to work that. I think I need to work RTH positions & variations more (as you will see by the 2-3 sequence when I post videos). But she had the 2nd fastest time in the whole P3/M class, only Super ran faster, and it was only .27 faster, and I'm ok with that :) I focused on RUNNING when I could.
Panic P3 Snooker - OK opening, she did what I wanted but we wasted some time in a few places. In the close, she turned wide after #5 and took an off course red. Still got 40pts so at least a Q.
Panic PGP - She ran really well, I did NOT cue a jump in a serp coming towards me, so she didn't take it. Fixed it, moved on. She also missed her DW but the judge didn't call it. Could be bc she wasn't sure but knew we already were NQd. She would have gotten the bye if she'd ran clean, had the fastest time in her height by over a second. I got nervous at the line. ARGH!
Spry Starters Jumpers - I put her on a stay and started a 2 jump lead out. Realize my dog is no longer on the line. She is wiggling in front of a whippet at the gate!!! Oops. Luckily judge did not whistle us off, I repositioned her, quickly lead out and released. The beginning was a little ucky but since I was rushed, not surprised. She Qd (1st USDAA jumpers leg!) and I was very happy with her taking the ending loop with no turn backs, no dropped bars, and no spins.
Spry Advanced Snooker - That's right, Advanced! Her first time in any advanced class. I planned 5-6-7-3 in the opening. She let me lead out and got the 5, then she knocked the 2nd red. Luckily it was very close to the 3rd red so I was able to move on nicely. The #7 was a 2 jump combo and bc of where I was, I was very behind. Can't believe she felt me pushing from behind and took both jumps without spinning/knocking!! She is really starting to "get it" :) Made it through 7 in the close, so 45 pts and a Q!
Will post vids later, most likely tomorrow (Tues)
2.07.2011
Weekend in Review
This weekend was CPE at the building. I ran Spry, my friend Dee ran Panic for me since I don't really do CPE with Panic, and Dee & Panic do great together.
Spry was 8/10 Qs!! I was thrilled. I truly expected her to be out of control, since she has not done any agility since the Jan USDAA trial, and has had very little exercise due to weather. However, her runs were overall very excellent! We still have to work on getting her to not fixate on tunnels! But her stays were good, all contacts were great, and she had some very nice moments!
Since we started trialing in August, it is amazing how far she's come. We are finally starting to come together as a team. I had a jumpers run with NO SPINS!! That is huge :) I did kind of bump her over the last jump but... It was a nice jumpers course for level 1/2, essentially no straight lines but gentle curves intsead.
I am really excited for next weekend. We are trialing @ Pawsitive Partners. She is in 2 runs a day, and I'm interested to see how she does at another building. Crossing my fingers she does well, and I really think she will. She also gets her first go at advanced snooker!
Spry was 8/10 Qs!! I was thrilled. I truly expected her to be out of control, since she has not done any agility since the Jan USDAA trial, and has had very little exercise due to weather. However, her runs were overall very excellent! We still have to work on getting her to not fixate on tunnels! But her stays were good, all contacts were great, and she had some very nice moments!
Since we started trialing in August, it is amazing how far she's come. We are finally starting to come together as a team. I had a jumpers run with NO SPINS!! That is huge :) I did kind of bump her over the last jump but... It was a nice jumpers course for level 1/2, essentially no straight lines but gentle curves intsead.
I am really excited for next weekend. We are trialing @ Pawsitive Partners. She is in 2 runs a day, and I'm interested to see how she does at another building. Crossing my fingers she does well, and I really think she will. She also gets her first go at advanced snooker!
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