A view of the world from the eyes of an
english springer spaniel...
Reporting in from a recent CKC
Agility Trials held on July 31 and August 1, 2004, hosted
by the OVGRC & the OVPC at Dream Fields - Ashton/Ottawa, we welcome
back "Bob" and "Trudy".
Agility Springers
Well this isnt news about the Nationals, but I have some news to share with
my fellow springer pals.
I entered my two springers, Bob and Trudy in the CKC agility trials in
Ottawa this weekend. Trudy, my 19 month old pup just made the age cut of 18
mths to enter Novice and Bob was entered in Intermediate.
Saturday - picture this, pouring rain (I think Sue Warner can) and many
others can also. There was thunder in the distance and I asked if they
would cancel the trials and they said only if there was lightning, yikes.
Then I asked what about the chute, how does a small dog get through a chute
that is soaked, its like a trap, I was getting paranoid. So Trudy is first
in Novice, lucky her. Well my worries came to the forefront as Trudy would
not go through the chute, no coaxing would help. I looked at the judge and
she said just let it go, she is a pup and just move past it, second last
jump so not much left to do. It was so dark out and the chute was a dark
blue, we train in a nice bright yellow one so that goes to show you how much
you need to train with other equipment and yes in the rain, uggh.
Second run is Bob in intermediate. I must have still be in a 'flap' about
the chute and how am I going to get Trudy through it in the next run. Well
here I go running Bob, he is utterly fantastic then after a tunnel, I turn,
look out, there are all these jumps and I didnt know which one to send him
too, the more I turned the more mixed up I got, Bob ran around jumping
saying is it this one, this one, what a pal. The judge kept looking at the
teeter but I didnt clue in, she laughed later saying she couldnt tell me, so
no Q for that one. I did figure it out and finished the course, but we ran
out of time in a big way.
Next trial for Trudy, will she go through the chute, it stopped raining,
just a drizzle if that and I had the rain gear off and shorts on so it was
much nicer. The judged laughed with me as the start line went jump, chute
and I would know pretty quick if she was doing it or not. Well no worries,
she did it in style. Trudy qualified (perfect run) and came in First
place!!!!
Next trial for Bob was not as lucky, I changed my route thinking I had a
better plan, wrong and caused a refusal then he made a poor entrace at the
weaves, refusal no. 2 and thats a NQ. So we came home Saturday with one
First Place ribbon for Trudy, beat that.
Sunday - beautiful day, hooray.
First run for Trudy she knocked a plank on the solid jump so NQ, not our
best handling I must say, but she was happy and had fun AND went through the
chute again so I was thrilled.
First run for Bob was FANTASTIC. He ran like stink and ran a perfect
course. He came in First Place in the 20 inch and only three dogs qualified
in all that class, it was a tough course so he did super.
Second run for Trudy was great, it was a nice course, a bit more windy than
we had done with her but she ran it beautifully. My teacher was there and
told me I handled the last stretch of in and out jumps well, nice to hear
since I am an amateur at this sport. Trudy ran a perfect course and came
out with another First Place ribbon, yeah Trudy.
Last run of the day for me, Bob, now Trudy is coming home with two First, he
has one First, can we come home with another ribbon. Well Bob ran a great
course, tough and windy as heck, first trap was at the start of the course,
tire to tunnel with the dog walk beside it. But we had been trapped in an
AAC course on this before, we were ready. Well Bob got five faults at the
weaves as he entered at the second pole and I had to restart him, that was
stress, please complete the 12 poles with no mistakes now, but his weaves
were good this weekend so he did a great job. Bob qualified and placed
Second.
So we came home with two Novice legs for Trudy and two Intermediate legs for
Bob, I am thrilled. We probably wont finish these titles until next year.
Bob will be working on his AAC Advanced as there are more trials closeby and
very few CKC, like one a year, every August!!! So same time next year we
will probably finish these. Also Bob has some utility training to do and we
hope to get his UD this year. Trudy will probably trial in Novice next
spring. They sure keep me busy. And I golf too!!!
Happy summer gang, Michelle Armitage
Bob and Trudy
Michelle Armitage is a CKC-licensed obedience judge.
What
is the Canadian Disc Dog Association? Find out more about this interesting
sport by clicking here. To buy the
"Official
Canadian Disc Dog Association Fastback Disc" click here.
Traveling high and low -- let's meet Millie right here.
What is Flyball? Find out more about this interesting sport by clicking here.
Who are
these 2 teams from the Afterburners Flyball Club in Ottawa, Ontario -- Formula 1 and Pit
Crew? Find out here.
Oh look! What can that be? Is it a plane? No! It's Rollingview's Cape Crusader in the
Conformation Show Ring on the next page.
"Go -- down and back" to read all about his adventures right
here!
A view of the world from the eyes of an English Springer Spaniel on the next
page...
(Copyright,
2006.
Used with permission
from
Michelle Armitage.)
Keep an eye open for different topics of interest such as: profiles on
people and their dogs, to name but a few interesting topics...Also, have a look at what Rita Susanto and "Justin" have been up to these
days.
Why not be part of "out and about" and send in your canine
companion's accomplishments to us. To do so, please send us a brief description of how you
both did in the event(s) along with the location(s) you and your canine were both in to: NK Concepts - Dog Supply Training Specialist.
A View of the World Through an
English Springer Spaniel
