Agility at Carson City Nevada

Jordana and I packed up the car with camping supplies, dog supplies, enough food and clothes for 5 days, and 4 dogs and headed to Carson City Nevada. We went Hwy 58 and stopped

at Salt Creek Falls

for photo ops; then on to

Crater Lake

for lots of photo ops.

It was a perfect day at Crater Lake the sky was blue and so was the lake.

We even saw some snow. After leaving Crater Lake Jordana found the drive and scenery to be a bit boring.

We stayed Thursday night in Susanville California at the River Inn Motel; I would recommend this motel if you are traveling with dogs, the people there were very accommodating, the room was nice, the shower was great, the A/C worked, and I would stay there again.

We had an easy uneventful drive to our final destination Fugi Park, Carson City, Nevada for the mdt/Agility Ability 9th Annual Pepper/Sampson Memorial Classic NADAC Agility Trail and Canine Cancer Fund Raiser. We arrived early afternoon and picked a great spot along the tree line to set up our crating area. After we were done with that we went across the street to the Comstock Country RV Resort to set up our tent. We could have tent camped at Fugi Park but I figured with the heat it might be nice to take a shower and Fugi Park did not have showers. The RV Park was right across the street so it took us no time to get back and forth. The RV Park was very nice with a pool, basketball court, lots of trees, and nice bathrooms but NO grass. Dogs were welcome but it was not very inviting for them. I would stay there again but only because Fugi Park is right across the street and is an off-leach dog park with lots of trees and grassy areas to play with your dogs, there is also a creek that runs along it that you can play in. We did not go to the creek because of the bugs and rattlesnake warnings. There were 3 wading pools set up for the dogs with a hose and nozzle at the trail so lots of places to cool our dogs down.

It was warm in the sun at the park but by the time the runs started Friday night the agility ring was in the shade. Kant and Echo ran in both classes of Hoopers Friday night; Jordana did not want to run PITA in Hoopers yet. Kant is really starting to like Hoopers and Qualified in both classes; one more Q to go to finish our Outstanding Open Hoopers. Echo grew up with hoops and understands them. We Qualified in Round 1 but I could not come up with a course I liked for Echo in Round 2 and it showed in our run and caused a little melt down and no Q.

Saturday morning we started with Chances; Kant could not get the out out jump but all the bars stayed up. Then we had Regular Rounds 1 and 2. Kant was perfect and we Qualified in both rounds. Echo was also perfect in both rounds of Novice Regular and Qualified in both rounds. The Q in Round 1 earned Echo her Novice Agility Certificate title. PITA was a bit worried in Round 1 of Novice Regular and ran around several of the jumps which frustrated Jordana and they ended up leaving the ring. After talking about the good and the bad we came up with a new game plan for Jordana and PITA which seemed to help in Round 2 because they got a 5 point Q and 4th place. Then it was on to 2 rounds of Touch’N’Go. Kant Qualified in both rounds, I did not enter Echo in TNG, and PITA was entered in one round. PITA did very good and had great contacts she also had an off-course so no Q for them. The last class of the day was Jumpers, thank goodness the ring was in the shade and a breeze had started because it had been a long day in the heat. Jumpers is Kant and I’s nemesis only finally finishing our Open Superior Jumpers in Moab in May and earning 1 Elite Jumpers in Corvallis at the end of May. Kant ran a perfect Jumpers course with a Qualifying run and a comment from Jeff Lyons, the judge from Newport a couple of weeks ago, that my dog wants to move to Nevada. Hmm I wonder what the job market is like in Nevada. Echo also had a beautiful Qualifying run in Novice Jumpers. PITA and Jordana had a lot of positives in their run but not quite enough to get a Q. Kant ended the day with 5 Qs out of 6, Echo was 3 Qs out of 3, and PITA was 1 Q out of 4.

There were lots of reasons to come to this trial besides supporting a wonderful cause. And one of those reasons was to see Cherie and Joker but it turned out to be a huge Northlight bonus. I found out Teri and Enzo, Echo’s brother, would also be there. It was wonderful meeting Teri and seeing Enzo again. Echo seemed to like Enzo better then he liked her; we wondered if they remembered each other and the way Enzo was acting I think he did remember Echo and did not really care to see her again. I got the pleasure of meeting another Northlight Family member, Mary Ellen and Streak. We had to take advantage of this and get some great group photos.

And of course I had to get a brother sister picture.

There was a BBQ offered after the trial Saturday night that Jordana and I went to. What a great club and a wonderful group of people and really good food! With no grass back at the campgrounds we fed the dogs and let them run around a bit at the park before heading back to the tent. Our tent is mesh fabric from about 5 feet up the side to the top and there is a rain cover that goes over the top and comes about ¾ of the way down the tent since the was NO chance of rain we did not put the top on the tent and slept under the stars both nights. It got cold enough to need a light blanket about half way through the night but EVERYONE slept great.

Sunday we started with Jumpers. I guess Kant is not ready to move to Nevada because she knocked a couple of bars in Elite Jumpers. Echo had another beautiful run in Novice Jumpers getting another Q and her Novice Jumpers title. PITA and Jordana were still having a hard time with the jumps. Then it was on to Chances where Kant did all the difficult distance work but knocked a bar. Elite Regular Round 1 was next and Kant ran a perfect course earning another Q and her 3rd Q in Regular for the weekend. It had been years since we got more than 2 Regular Qs in a weekend. Kant was on a roll and earned another Q with a beautiful run in Regular Round 2. We have never gotten all 4 Regulars in Elite and did it only once in Open in July 2006. Echo had a beautiful run in Round 1 getting her 3rd Regular Q for the weekend but we could not hold it together for Round 2 and had a bit of a puppy melt down. PITA and Jordana finally came together as a team and Qualified in both Novice Regular Rounds!! The next class was Weavers and Kant was the only one entered. She had a very good weavers run with another Q. With Tunnelers the last class of the trial we had asked if we could run our dogs first so we could get on the road. Since the course does not change everyone was happy to let us run all our dogs first. So I ran Echo with a smoking run with a couple of wide turns out of the tunnels and a little redirect back to a tunnel I thought she was committed to but still a great run. Jordana and PITA had a great run. And then I ran Kant, this was a Kant course just run as fast as you can and please listen to me a little bit. Kant had a beautiful run with tight turns out of tunnels and lots of speed. I happened to catch Kant’s time of 20.24 but did not know Echo’s time until we got home and the results were sent to us. I was shocked to see Echo’s time of 22.53, she was just 2 seconds slower than her big sister with the bobbles we had; I know people have said Echo is faster than Kant and I knew it too but to see it in print was very surprising!! Kant ended the day with 4 Qs out of 6 and the weekend 11 Qs out of 14!! Echo ended the day with 3 Qs out of 4 and the weekend 7 Qs out of 9 and two new titles!! PITA ended the day with 3 Qs out of 4 and the weekend 4Qs out of 8 and her first title!!

We had packed up the car during the Weavers classes so right after we ran Tunnelers we said Good Bye to Lin and Cherie and a wonderful trial and were on the road back home. Jordana had to be at work Monday evening so we had to get part of the way home Sunday night. I had hoped to get to Weed but figured that was too far to push it that night. We got to Susanville and thought for a second about staying there but it was still early and I would love to get another hour in. Little did I know that there is NOTHING between Susanville and Weed except deer, campgrounds, deer, and more deer. We made it to Weed, slept great, and got up the next morning for the last trek home after a little stop in Medford Oregon at the greatest scrapbooking store.

What a great weekend!! We are already looking forward to this trial next year!! Actually coming home to 107 degree weather made me want to turn the car around and head back to Nevada or even the coast anywhere but home. Did I mention we do not have A/C at home!?!

Agility at the Beach

The WAG Newport trial is one of my favorite trials but then how could I go wrong with my two favorite things, agility and the beach. We have had all kinds of weather there over the years and this year was no different. Jordana said there was blue sky and it was nice when she got there Friday afternoon to set up our campsite. When I arrived a little after 5pm the fog had rolled in. The fog got heavier and wetter as the night went on and it was pretty cold by the time we were done running.

We had two classes Friday night Touch’N’Go and Weavers.

Kant ran in both Elite classes and Q’d in both with a 1st and a 2nd. Hershey and PITA both ran in Novice TNG and neither qualified;

they both got sucked in to the off-course big yellow tunnel sitting next to the tiny little dog walk. Just as we were getting ready to call it a night the thunder and lightning started. Casey crawled up between Jordana and myself on the airbed and just shook in fear, I had set up a soft crate for Slick and he was very happy hiding in his cave, and

everyone else was not bothered by the bright light and loud noise.

Saturday it was overcast all day but still comfortably warm; the perfect weather for running agility. Kant ran in Elite Jumpers, Elite Chances, Elite Regular rounds 1 and 2, Elite Weavers, and Open Hoopers; she knocked more bars this weekend then she ever has. In Chances and Regular she ran beautifully and handled like a dream but she just would not pick up her feet. She looks like she is fine but I am going to have her looked at to make sure there is nothing physically wrong. So we did not qualify in any of the classes with jumps;

she did Q in Weavers and Hoopers,

giving her the Open Outstanding Hoopers title, thank goodness for those classes with no jumps. Hershey was in Open Chances, Open Regular rounds 1 and 2, and Open Hoopers.

Hershey is not a distance dog which makes Chances very hard for him but every once in awhile he will quit arguing and go out and do lovely distance work so Jordana keeps working at it, they did not Q in Chances today.

Hershey is also not a big fan of contacts but Jordana has worked very hard with him and he is SO much better.

Hershey’s Regular round 1 was a beautiful qualifying run but he struggled in round 2 and Hoopers and ended up not Qing in either of those classes. Slick ran in Hoopers and had a very good time with Jordana;

he is such a funny dog to run you just never know what you are going to get. He ran fast and happy and that is all that matters. This was PITA’s first trial to run in Regular and Jumpers; she has done a couple of Games trials but this was her first Big Dog trial.

She ran in Novice Jumpers and Novice Regular rounds 1 and 2. I am still trying to figure out if she likes agility or not, in Jumpers she ran around most of the jumps and that frustrated Jordana so she took her off course.

PITA had a nice run in Regular 1, knocking one bar but still getting a 5 point Q.

In round 2 she forgot how to weave.

This was Echo’s 2nd trial and she ran in Novice Jumpers, Novice Regular rounds 1 and 2, and Novice Hoopers;

I am so excited about all of her runs she is such a fun dog to run and she gives 200%. We had an off course in Jumpers and Regular 1 so no Qs but really nice work.

Echo knocked a bar in Regular 2 so we got a 5 point Q and the bar came down because of timing on my part. Echo had a beautiful Hoopers run that gave us our 2nd Q for the day. We are still learning to run together and it is getting better every time!!

No thunder and lightning Saturday night and everyone was very tired and slept very good.

Sunday morning right after the trial started so did the rain and it pretty much lasted all day. Kant ran in Elite Chances, Elite Jumpers, Elite Regular rounds 1 and 2, Elite Tunnelers, and Open Hoopers.

Kant was still knocking bars but in Regular 2 she only knocked 1 which was much better than all the other classes with jumps. She once again ran the Regular and Chances courses beautifully listening and doing everything I asked minus the jump part but she is such a fun dog to handle and watch. So once again we did not Q in any classes with jumps but she did redeem herself with two lovely runs one in Tunnelers and the other in Hoopers, did I mention I love the classes with no jumps!

Hershey was in Open Chances, Open Regular rounds 1 and 2, and Open Hoopers. Hershey had another beautiful run in Regular 1 earning his 2nd Q for the weekend.

He had some really nice moments in Chances and Regular 2 but not enough to Q.

Hoopers is a class the older dogs seem to struggle with since this is a new obstacle for them. It just clicked with Kant last September and we are still waiting for Hershey to get it. Slick got to run Hoopers with me today and he started out so fast and happy, we got one of the test done but just could not get the other one done but we did make the judge and scribe laugh, and

we ended fast and happy so it was a very successful day for Slick.

PITA ran in Novice Jumpers, Novice Regular round 1, and Novice Tunnelers;

PITA and Jordana struggled in Jumpers and the Regular classes again today but PITA totally redeemed herself with a perfect, fast Tunnelers run with drive and distance.

Echo ran in Novice Jumpers, Novice Regular rounds 1 and 2, and Novice Hoopers. Today ran pretty much exactly like yesterday, we had an off course in Regular 2 and knocked a bar in Regular 1 getting another 5 point Q. We had an off course in Jumpers again because of my handling and a pretty technical course for Novice.

Echo did get her first title with the Hoopers Q earning her the Novice Hoopers title. Congratulations Echo on your first agility title, HP-N!!

Thank you Joe Camp for all the wonderful agility photos and Tammy Kittson for the tent ones!!

We packed up all of our WET stuff and just as we were done so was the rain so we let the dogs have one last run in the now empty field before heading home.

Jordana and I stopped in Corvallis for dinner and none of the dogs moved even with food involved that is when you know you have very tired dogs.

When we got home it was raining so I unloaded all the things that needed to be unloaded in the rain. Unpacked the ice chest and started laundry. We had an absolutely awesome weekend but it is nice to be home.

4th of July weekend

Our family hopes you and yours had a very happy and safe 4th of July!!

Ours was quiet as far as we did nothing but work both around the house and at our jobs and just stayed close to home. With two dogs that get stressed with the fireworks I just stayed home and watched a movie with the volume up loud and all the fans turned on. The fireworks started days before the 4th, went on well past 1am on the 4th, and then continued Sunday night. I love to watch fireworks!!

Sunday morning I went to Scio to work the entry gate at an USBCHA sheepdog trial and I had the best seat to watch the double lift. The top 16 dogs that ran for a combined score on Friday and Saturday earned their place in the double lift on Sunday. The double lift is one of my favorite courses to watch in herding. Those border collies are amazing to go on those huge outruns to get the first group of sheep bring them about half way down the field, stop, look back, and go get another group of sheep, AMAZING!!!

Echo's 1st Agility Trial

Echo competed in her first agility trial June 19th - 21st at the RAT formerly known as Lacey but has now been name Largus trial at Argus Ranch in Auburn Washington. I started her out in NADAC which is my venue of choice; we will also do some AKC starting next year. Echo was beyond phenomenal this weekend. I entered her in Hoopers and Tunnelers Friday night; 2 Regulars and a Jumpers Saturday; and a Regular, Jumpers, and Tunnelers on Sunday for a total of 8 classes. This ended up being the perfect number of classes for the baby dog.

I was so nervous Friday night before Hoopers that I could hardly stand. I do not remember being that nervous with Hershey or Kant but I felt so many more expectations put on me now. Novice dog after novice dog ran around the ring or out of the ring or would not start and then it was Echo’s turn. To the line we go in Hoopers; sit stay and I lead out past the 2nd non-test hoop, release her and off we go with incredible speed and beautiful directionals. We got our non-test hoops with our two tests done in 18.52 second, our first agility Q, and first place.

Tunnelers was just as wonderful with just a little too much here and pulled off a tunnel but still finished in 26.39 seconds with another Q and 1st place. She ran Tunnelers in 5.42 yards per second.Saturday we started with Jumpers and Echo was running so fast I got caught standing there watching in amazement of the speed and forgot to direct her over a jump so she went and did her own. I got her back on course and we still finished 5 seconds faster than the other dogs in the class. Our first Regular run was awesome with just a little too much speed in to the weave poles and we had to try a second time earning our first Regular Q with 1st place. We got over the top excited by the dog that ran in front of us on Regular Round 2 and I did not get her focus back on me. The second obstacle was a dog walk with a big yellow tunnel right next to it, Echo took the tunnel. She pretty much will choose any non-stopping obstacle over a stopping one. We ended up with another off course in Regular 2 again because of speed and obstacle focus and not so much teamwork. Echo slept very good Saturday night.

Sunday we started out with Jumpers and I learned from Saturday to direct that speed and we had one of those runs that brings tears to your eyes. The course was 105 yards and we did it in 16.18 seconds earning our 4th Q with a run that was 6.49 yards per second. Next we ran Tunnelers and Echo did not take my turn and ended up in an off course tunnel but there were lots of places for her to choose not to listen to me and she did listen to me, over all I was very pleased with the run. Our Regular run had another dog walk/tunnel discrimination and Echo took the tunnel even with me call from way back with total body turn. Right now I am not worried about the discrimination stuff because she had a perfect start line stay at every run, incredible speed,

great contacts,

beautiful weave poles, and wonderful obstacle focus. I learned there are two things I will be working on: obstacle discrimination and finish line routine. I could not have been happier with Echo this weekend and I got a lot of great comments. It was a great start to her agility career!

We cannot forget about Kant. She also started the weekend out great getting a Hoopers Q and a Tunnelers Q Friday night. Saturday we got a Weavers Q.

Kant knocked one bar in Chances, both Regulars, and Jumpers but had very nice runs in all of the classes. Chances was difficult and Kant did all the hard part but knocked a bar. Six more months and she will be a Veteran dog and able to jump 12 inches, hopefully that will help.

Saturday night was Fido Follies which is a three dog/handler team that runs in costume on a specially designed agility course. Each year the theme changes, in the past it has been board games, jungle, etc, this year it was The Circus. I was on a great team with Adele and Beau and Anne and Zuni and we were the Flying Furballs. Adele made great t-shirts with pictures of our dogs and gold metallic capes with gold metallic bandannas for the dogs and Anne provided top hats for us to wear. Kant and I started with the first 7 obstacles and we could get 10 bonus points if I wore clown shoes; which of course I did because I needed as much help as possible. Anne and Zuni had the next section which consisted of two 40 foot tunnels (2 20 foot tunnels hooked back to back), a couple of regular tunnels, and a set of weave poles. She did not have any bonus given on her section but how fun to run a 40 foot tunnel, twice. Adele and Beau ran the last section and she had two bonuses; one if she wore these HUGE white Mickey Mouse gloves and two if she ran from this narrow long marked box (tightrope) which of course she did both. There was an additional 20 point bonus given if your dog went in to the “lion’s cage” captured the lion and drug him out of the cage. The cage consisted of set of six weave poles set in a box formation with the corners open and the furious lion was the size of a beanie baby. We all decided to try it because again we needed as much help as possible and Kant amazingly went out on the first try and captured that lion and drug him out of the box. Anne also provided brownies to bribe the judges, did I mention we needed as much help as possible. All of our bonuses, bribes, and great dogs worked and we ended up 3rd out of 22 teams, much to the shock of the three of us. Our prize was a book of Circus Dog Tricks. Great fun!!

Sunday Kant got a Touch’N’Go and a Regular Q.

She knocked a bar in Regular 2 and knocked most of the bars in Jumpers. I would like to blame that on the rain and the slick grass but that would just be an excuse, Kant was just plowing through the jumps. She did not want to redeem herself in Tunnelers and choose not to listen to me or my body position and take an off course tunnel. Not one of Kant’s better weekends. She ended up with 5 Q out of 13 runs. I just have to love her for keeping me humble.

Thank you Howard Templeton for all the great agility pictures!