May 6, 2001
Obedience Trenton KC
Howdy Ho, Everyone,
Ok, I admit it. I am backlogged on Email BIG TIME. I am getting there, I promise.
Like I said last week, this weekend�s adventure is in
Doggie Geeeeestapo Land and Doggie Faaaashion Show. Well, I kind of changed the
agenda a bit. Breed and Obedience took place at the same time. I was hoping
that since Trenton KC was a Corgi Support Show that there would be some time
between events. Nope.
Instead I got a schedule of finish Obedience, groom dog,
throw on skirt, change shoes, and RUN. Time frame of five minutes. After
talking with Betsy last night, I thought that there was a way to do this, but
when we pulled into the show grounds this morning and parking was utterly
ridiculous, I made the final decision to park in Obedience parking and pull
Crumpie from Best of Breed Competition.
Since I had gotten there in true Joycie form (two
hours early) I had time to scope out where the two Rings were in relation to
each other. Aaaaaah No.
There was no more space under the Obedience Tent so I set up
next to it, shaded the crate, and pulled out the blanket from my car. We sat
and Crumpie played the part of Corgi welcoming committee. I now know every kid
on the grounds. (Minus one, but I will get to that in a few paragraphs.)
Finally, they started Novice B (I am so used to co-owning
with Betsy that it never dawned on me that I can now show in Novice A) and we
were the ninth dog in. Crumpie and I would be the last dog before the Sit &
Down.
We go.
There was something about the whole moment that was
peaceful, serine, and springtime like. I was not worried about the first
exercises because I had really entered with the Sit & Down in mind. I thought
about the work we had done on the Stand for Exam and how Crumpie was starting to
get that moving feet was �bad�. This was an awesome day and NOTHING, not broken
sits & downs, was going to take that from me or from Crumpie.
We were having fun and it was at an Obedience Trial. Who
would have ever thought?
The On-Lead Heeling
Started off with Crumpie
forging ahead and me having to turn left into him. Ooops, poooooor doggie,
should have been looking. He did after that. Awesome sits for each of the
�halts� and a �fast� that was a typical haul. Crumpie did not try to sit when
we were �slow�.
The Figure 8
Oooooooh. Nice tight turns and one step sits. Hooray!
The Stand for Exam
Crumpie did his �up� as soon
as I placed my hand under his chin. Holy Tomoly when did he learn that?????
Mean, hunkering, MAN, judge threatened to step on him and Crumpie stood rock
still. Hooray! No lost points!
The Off-Lead Heel
�Oooooooh look at me,� Crumpie
exclaimed as we were brought right past the ring gate with aaaaall of those
kids. I am suddenly lonely, but the saving grace was an �about turn�. Crumpie
flew back into heel position and we performed the last part of the exercise.
I had elected not to call a second �heel� command because
I trust my little teammate. He knows where he needs to be and that I will keep
going without him.
�Waaaaaaait for me MOM!�
The Recall
I will admit it again. My heart was
in my chest. With all of the training we have been doing on the Sit & Down I
was afraid to turn around and find Crumpie half way to me. I turned and he was
still there, staring at me like he was on an Agility Start Line. Ooooooooh.
Two black eyes, one black nose, one outline of a very serious little dog.
I have changed �Crump, Come� to jut �Come�. Crumpie
anticipates the command on his name and with him focused on me already, plus the
way I tend to yell my commands, I knew that there would be no problems.
Crumpie came in so fast that he could not stop. It was
almost a perfect sit, but he was touching me. Shhhhhhhhhhh. Don�t tell the
judge. Crumpie actually back himself up before the judge came to look for
distance.
Once again, I got the comment about �where do you get the
pills for motivation?� The crowd burst into laughter.
Off to the crate for Good Doggie Snackies��and right back
into the ring for the true test of everything Crumpie and I have been working
on�The Sit and Down da da daaaaaaaaaaaaa.
I did bring along my stop watch and hit a few buttons to
make the beep noise. I thought that the action might help Crumpie realize what
we were about to do. I shrug my shoulders.
It dawned on me while in the shower this morning that if
Crumpie seems uncertain with the other dogs in line, that I was pulling out my
collection of stuffed animals. My neighbors would really know that I was nuts
as they watched me practice.
Give �em fuel.
The good thing is that we were the last dog, so that
meant that there was only one dog next to Crumpet. A big, giant, Alaskan
Malamute. The other side was a six-foot space to the ring gate.
We all sit our dogs and get ready to leave. My heart is
everywhere but where it is supposed to be. We leave and I get out and turn
around. Crumpie is still in place, sitting there with a happy smile on his
face, panting away.
Look to the right, see big dog. Cool. Pant, pant, pant,
Look to the left�..OOOOOOOOOH a little girl and she is dropping to her knees and
patting her tights.
Look at mom. Ok, she looks happy, look back to little
girl.
Pant, pant, pant. Shift position, look at mom, look at girl and smile�����.
Meanwhile on the other side of the ring��.
�ARUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!�
I practice this exercise for three minutes every day. I
swear, the time frame was ten minutes.
�Return to your dogs.�
Oh thank god, but we still have
to get back into position and to finish off the exercise.
�Exercise Finished� and Crumpie has his first personal Q
of the day. I quietly praise him like I do at home and we prepare for the long
down. The first tears come to my eyes, but I choke them back.
I notice that my kid distraction has gotten closer to the gate.
We down our four legged kids and start to walk out. The
crowd erupts into laughter. My heart sinks because I know that Crumpie has
finally had enough of staying and has gone and jumped the gate. I turn around
and Crumpie is chillin� out in his down position. It was the Malamute that had
broken his stay.
Pant, pant, smile, look at Malamute that is closer to MOM.
Pant, pant, pant, look at little girl.
Oooooooooooh and smile.
Repeat over and over again
Everything in Crumpie�s body language screamed that he
was going to break any moment. Quite frankly, I do not blame him. The kid was
throwing out all of the tricks to get one of these dogs to come to her. Quite
unfair, but that is the game. The dog is told to stay and that is what it
means.
There were a few close calls as I really thought that
Crumpie was going to forget himself. The funniest part is that I could see him
make the decision to get up and visit, but he would look to me first.
So there I am. Crumpie is panting and smiling away,
eyeballing the Malamute who might just go and visit mom and eyeballing the kid
still trying.
Two minutes and thirty seconds to go.
I now know why I am turning gray at the age of 28.
Me being me, I also decided to pass the time with
something fun. Murderous, torturous thoughts of small children and their
parents. Why is this all of a sudden happening to ME?
One minute to go.
Train for distractions�that is a rule. I cannot say anything or do anything but stand there and sweat.
�Return�.
Ok, this is where we are going to lose it. �Exercise Finished� and Crumpie is still down.
I am kneeling down hugging Crumpie and the true tears
start to well. I was still sniffling, hugging, and �crying� when the judge
announced our number as Qualifiers.
That was the moment I have been waiting for and I barely
heard it because I was too centered on the dog.
We go back to the crate and I called Betsy�.only to get
her answering machine!!!!!
Six years of NQs (with Mandy and Crumpie) and we finally Q and I get her machine.
ARUGH! (Fear not, she called me back.)
So Crumpie and I chill out, meet more kids and more
people. Time for the ribbons and I almost missed it because what was I doing? Running my mouth.
I get into the ring and look around. Golden Retrievers, Poodles, a Boxer, and one little Corgi.
I am happy to have a green ribbon.
The judge starts to announce the placement ribbons.
First prize goes to the Mini-Poodle standing next to us. Hooray for them.
Then he calls out the second place dog and handle team
number 67 with the score of 193.5 (out of 200). Ok, I start to look
around, as does everyone else.
�Oh my gosh that is us!� I said out loud as I remembered
my number. The crowd goes wild. (Isn�t it nice to know I am liked�just wish I knew by who.)
We stand with me in shock in a newly formed line. I clap
for and congratulate everyone. The judge also awards us the �highest scoring
Novice B Corgi� award. Ok, we were the only Corgi team entered in Novice B, but hey, we got it.
Sadly enough for us, we lost the Highest Scoring Corgi
Overall Award by one half of a point. Then again, I am not crushed. I came with
the idea of getting through the sit and down, not for winning second place and a
pewter plate.
The nice thing was that there were two awards, one a pewter plate and one a $20.00 check.
Heck, they paid for me to pull Crumpie from BOB Competition.
Like I said last week, stranger things have
happened�.glad I chose Obedience over Breed.
I know have the proof I needed to know that what I have
changed in the training program is working and is a way to go�until another dog
tells me other wise. Crumpie and I will continue to hit the matches (like next
weekend) and work on building to the Open level which requires me being out of
sight.
One thing at a time. We got through today with the two
things that gets Crumpie going�.another dog breaking a stay and kids. Talk
about the ultimate in tests.
At least the stuff animals breathe a sigh of relief. They get to stay in the basement.
Hope you all had a great Sunday�..you know that we did.
Joyce, I SAID I was determined.
and
Crumpie (note to doggie self � don�t get mom going. You pay for it.)
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Last Updated on April 21, 2007
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