June 16, 2001
AKC Norwegian Elkhound KC
Howdy Ho, Everyone,
Miss my
little adventures? This weekend yielded a whole new set, with some wacky
twists. I think I now know why I love being a part of Dog Agility. It is
purely the idea that you are never sure what you are going to get.
I thought I
would let all of you know that I have not been able to email in about two
weeks. I have to answer everyone and no I did not ignore or forget about
anyone. That could be further from the truth. Everyone is always on my mind.
We have been
having problems with the new computer and this one is horrible with the internet
connection. Add in that I am on the computer for eight hours a day��..and well
I do not put up much of a fight with Mike for the computer. Plus, my access to
CS from the Internet sends emails in really bad format for the receiver to read.
I am
slipping, but will be responding privately soon.
Elaine headed to Vermont for a vacation and USDAA trial. I was tempted by the �game�
course of all Tunnels they were offering, but I could not take that kind of time
off from work. Susie and I are talking about going to Canada in October for a
shot at Canadian Championships and I need to save the Vacation time up.
So Elaine and I were separated once again.
Our USDAA DAM Team partner from last week, Pat, opened a welcome to hang in her tent. Crumpie and I loved
the company. Thanks, Pat. : )
We may have
missed out on the opportunity to run a �nothing but Tunnels� course with Elaine, but this
trial offered Qualifying into the International Competition held someplace in
Europe. I had the dilemma of whether or not to enter because in the
International Circuit, the Mini dogs have to jump 16 inches. Great, my 12 inch,
bar knocking CORGI has to jump higher. Hum.
I had asked
Mike, the partial, non-dog showing, supportive, Significant Other what he
thought he would do if he were me. His response was to enter and if Crumpie
looked like he was struggling, exit the ring like Crumpie finished the course.
Then do not show him the next day. Hey, it sounded good to me. I entered
totally and completely for my benefit, not Crumpie�s.
We go.
It was
hotter then all get out. Bodies were burning and sock tan lines were getting
lower.
Saturday
Excellent B Standard
Crumpet
I really
liked this course, but it had it parts. The major one was a Frame/Tunnel combo
that did not worry me for an off-course. When the tunnel is done and the dog
goes up the Frame. What did bother me was that I wanted to be on the outside of
the Frame for a cleaner Right, Over. The tunnel jutted out too far and well, I
had to be on the left side of the Frame and call a �Right� while pushing
Crumpie. The catch was that he needed to be on the Frame when I did this and
not on the ground.
Well, we get
through the course and now came the moment of truth. I get to the bottom of the
Frame and call right, out, over. Yes, he does it, but he takes the Panel jump
down. Ooooooh, can I call them or what?
Crumpie did
take another bar down and I wish I could tell you why, but I cannot.
He did stay
out of the tunnels and got the DW contact. Personal Qs.
NQ
Excellent A Jumpers
Crumpet
Now this was
my kind of course. We are hauling and the bars stayed up. Actually all of them
did. We get to the Weave Poles and it dawns on me that we are going for the
third leg. In, out, in, out, in, out and�.pop out of the 11th pole.
AAARRRUUUGGGGHHHHH.
Personal Qs? We stayed out of the tunnel and kept the bars up.
NQ
ICS Standard
Crumpet
I wish I
could tell you about the rules of the course, but the best I can do is to say,
take rules from both NADAC and USDAA and mix them together. In other words, run
until you cross the finish line.
I apologize
to Crumpie all the way to the ring. I never enter the ring for my benefit, it
is always for his little doggie self. This is his job and I just drive him
there. I am kind of like the Soccer Mom.
We do a couple of practice jumps at 16� and then we kick off the Mini Class. Crumpie
keeps the first five jumps up, but eye-spys the tunnel under the Frame�..that
any other dog would not have seen. He handles every jump with calculated
precision and is not his normal ballistic self, but still completes the course
well under time. Fine by me.
When we
crossed the finish line with only ONE KNOCKED bar (my fault, turned that
shoulder to fast) the crowd went wild. If I thought that everyone loves Fred,
people really showed their love and amazement for Super Crumpie.
NQ
I got ribbed for the rest of the day and well into Sunday.
We NQed because of the Yummy Tunnel, but it was fun and Crumpie seemed to have a blast.
It was almost like a new challenge and he was more then willing to tackle it.
Driving home
was an experience. I have to hit the storm that dropped 3 inches of water on
Ambler, Pa in one down pour. Trust me, I drove from here to Carlisle, Pa during
Hurricane Floyd and never thought about my life. I did yesterday.
One floody night and morning later and the alarm goes off.
Sunday
Excellent B Standard
Crumpet.
This course
was nice, but it had its moments. I had a feeling that we were going to NQ
because of these �moments�, but what I was really after was a Personal Q through
the unofficial agility obstacle. In one corner of the course�the one with the
three jumps, there was a puddle. No, puddle is putting it mildly. There was a
swimming pool for the dogs to get through. This was not to bad for the big
dogs, but when I walked the course and swam through that part, it was five
inches deep. Soggy socks and squishy cleats.
My Personal Q would be for Crumpie to do the jumps in the water. The second Personal Q
would be for Crumpie to keep those bars up.
We will not
discuss the knocked bar on the first jump, the wrong ended tunnel, or the run
out on the weave poles. We will discuss the DW contact and��.the water obstacle.
Crumpie
plowed through the water determined to do this. At first I could tell he was
confused, but a �Good job� as he entered the water going to the first of the
three jumps fueled his little doggie agility flame. He cut through the water
like a Rottweiler in deep snow. Water splashing and fur flying.
He got through the water and kept those bars up.
The whole time he is handling this part of the course, I could not help but think what a
sight it was. Here is a dog, whose family lineage is something to write home
about. This is the current product of the breeding programs of countless people
and many years, leaping through water, soaked to the skin and still willing to
haul. Once put onto a Grooming table to be brushed and White-chalked for the
Breed Ring, now a sopping wet dog that needed to be brushed out. Elegant, sure
footed, light on his feet, correct structure, and intelligence all determined to
get it right. This was truly a moment where I really appreciated what I have in
a working teammate.
Then I
realized he was heading toward the Tire and not the correct obstacle, the
Chute. Got him to it and we finished off the course.
NQ
The rain
moved on and the sun came out. Now it is hot, muggy, wet, and muddy. Yea for
me.
Excellent A Jumpers
Crumpet
As I leave
the tent, in a cheery voice I tell Pat, I am off to NQ. She shoots me that
Look, the same one my mom shoots me when I get her in teasing. Okie Fadokie,
better change that. Off to Q. She smiles.
We go.
Remember that image I had of Crumpie in five inches of water? Now make it two
inches of mud. This ring was slightly up hill from the other one. Wish the
runs had been reversed because I could have rinsed Crumpie out in the water. By
the end of the run, he was not �red and white�, but just �red�.
I have a
slight problem when we get to the line. I cannot remember the course. This was
going to be fun and it was. Twisty, tight, and fast. We dum dee dum dee
dummmmmm it around. Crumpie kept the bars up and stayed in the weaves. As he
heads over the last jump the crowd goes wild. Hope it was clean. Just do not
know anymore. Seems that everyone claps no matter what we do.
My
girlfriend Melanie is standing outside of the ring with the snacks I gave her to
hold. She is my Excellent Buddy�..her dog finished her AX the day after Crumpie
did and finished her AXJ yesterday. The smile on her face was proof. The
yellow sheet with nothing on it, confirmed it.
Q, 1st place, and our AXJ Title.
Go figure. Three legs in less then one month.
ICS Jumpers
Crumpet
Yup, back to jumping 16 inch jumps for Crumpie. I take one look at this course and really
wonder what I was thinking. I also do not really like this course too much, but
hey, I entered for me.
Back into the ring with the two inches of mud��..
Crumpie
handled everything perfectly. He Gambled, he jumped, he did the poles, he
stayed on course. He also kept the bars up�.except for the triple. I knew that
one was going down. He looked back to see where I was turning�shoulders again.
Not kidding
guys, my 12 inch, bar knocking Corgi not only Qed with 5 points (O being what
you want), but he took 2nd place out of ten dogs.
We Qed for
International Competition. Well, if I thought that Louisiana was too far for
the USDAA DAM Team competition, Europe is even more out of the question. Still
nice to know we Qed though.
Q, 2nd place
For those who know��..
Dolores & Treffie NQed for both of their runs on Sat. They pulled for today.
Pat & Moe Double Qed Sat and NQed today.
Karen & Skeena had an awesome Novice St run on Sat, but NQed. I did not see the NJWW
run.
I will not hear from Elaine for a few more days.
Well, that
was my weekend. Crumpie and I do not have another trial until next month. May
all of the upcoming weekends be fun and relaxing for you all!
Joyce and Bouncing Crumpie
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Last Updated on April 21, 2007
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