Beginning the Trial Season
TBAC Agility Trial
March 7 & 8, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Niver-Kanivers, Torch-man and I traveled down to New Jersey for the TBAC Trial held at DreamPark. I figured I had to be there for the weekend to help, might as well
throw the Kanivs in to Novice. Unfortunately, my entries got to the Trial Secretary's house after other people's and we missed the FAST limit. At least
we 'got in' and were able to run Standard and Jumpers.
Since this was an indoor trial, the weekend turned out to be one of those early days of Spring; sixty
degrees, but cloudy. Saturday rolled around and the alarm
went off, this time me hearing it at the ungodly hour of 4:45am. Niven and Torch did not and needed to be woken up, which I thought funny. The only thing
I had to do differently was to drive the car around front and load dogs and stuff into it while parked on the sidewalk. I do not think my neighbor's appreciated
my effort not to have Niven tear butt down the yard barking...in the dark. Not to mention I did not want another encounter with the neighborhood dogs that
tend to get walked off-lead at that hour. The driving was easy and we made it there in less then forty-five minutes, which surprised me given the location.
I was expecting another two hour drive like the last time.
The building was really nice, a newly constructed livestock arena set on more then a few acres of land. If you told me every trial would be held there, I would
not have a problem returning time and again. Definitely a huge step from what we started with fifteen years ago.
Crating for the Volunteers offered me a place out of the way, but still close
enough not to be crated in the separate room in the next building. It also helps when you show up early because one thinks the schedule reads "first thing".
Na, I had to be there to get Niven measured and was happy to see that both mornings had "AKC Official Measurers" there to perform the function. At least now
I can submit a copy of the card with the entries and show up a bit late when the schedule says I can.
One biggest change that has me shaking my head is the course scheduling. Six years ago we complained that Excellent Standard and Jumpers should have its own
ring and finally that has come into being standard. It can take five hours to get through each class; even the twelve inch class takes an hour where it used
to be fifteen minutes.....at maximum. The other nice feature added was the
mixing up of running the different heights. Having a dog on the extreme ends of eight
or twenty-four inches, meant one was either first or last, with everyone else leaving at respectable times. Having a jumbled schedule means anyone can 'go last',
making it more fair.
Since TBAC is the club I now belong to, I had to work this trial and I was not sure of how Niven would handle being crated while I was away. For the October
Trial, I "worked from the car" so neither Niven or Torch had been crated inside a building before. I was not sure if this would put
excitement or stress on either
dog, but did the best that I could in the balancing act. The attitude I ended up with was that I had to be there anyway, might as well enter the dog and see
what happens.
What made running Niven more difficult in expectation was that TBAC had taken a three week Holiday Vacation at the end of
December and we came back for three
weeks. I ran her at twenty inches for us to get back into the swing of things and then Niven went into season, pulling us from all classes for three more weeks.
At the end of February we came back to both Agility and Rally-O classes in time for two weeks of practice ( one week was at twenty-four inch height ) and the
last class before the trial, extreme low temperatures cancelled class. I really did not know how the dog would
perform with so many negatives pushing against a perfect performance. What was good? The trial was held in an
arena with dirt flooring, similar to what we
have for Tuesday night practice.
~~~~~~~~
Novice B Jumpers - Niven
I liked this Jumpers course, as it was free flowing, yet challenging as a first course of the weekend. There were aspects that from a qualifying perspective
I was not sure if we could pull this off, especially since Niven was running at twenty four inches. Then there were the points where either a Front-Cross would
work, but the Rear Cross is what I am used to, so I ended up in self-conflict of how to handle it. Finally I decided to run the course with Rear-Crosses and
try a Front at the 270 Jumps ( #7 and #8 ).
Everything about this run was about as flawless as I could have asked for. Niven was really focused and careful about
jumping. My job was to let her figure
out her pace and jump habit while hanging back and watching how I turned my shoulders. There was the time 'here and there' were she figured the Jump in front
was the correct one, but 'checked in' to make sure, thus keeping on course.
The higher point was that Niven came off the Start Line and slammed into the Weave Poles so accurate and fast that it even surprised me. In class the Poles are
Channeled at five or six inches apart, so where this came from, who knows? She did however make me look good. Again, she was carefully finding the way over
the Jump Bars as we moved from side to side.
For the 270 Jumps, I sent her out and did the Front-Cross. Ok, I admit it, I am not good at this kind of thing and
Niven went wider coming towards me over the Jump then I wanted her to. Just as she landed I looked up and could not remember where I was on the course, could
not remember what the next Jump was. In another split second, I chose the Double Jump ( #9 ) and kept going as everything seemed to flow the way I remembered it
from the walk through.
When we came over the Finish Line there seemed to be a lot of cheering, so at that point I figured I had managed to keep us on track. A few seconds later the
yellow scribe sheet said I did and I knew the time was good. Niven managed to keep all the Bars up and stayed under course time .
2nd place
Second Jumpers Leg
( A great way to start a weekend )
After this run, I had to work as Ring Crew for Excellent Jumpers Twelve, Eight and Four inches so it was crate time for the dogs while I sat as bars stayed up
for all the Corgis. I did have to laugh as I watched one tri-color run. Although a bit slower then Crumpet, he was the spitting image, almost like watching
Sprout's litter brother Sam who could be a carbon copy of Crumpet. Strange, strange, strange.
What I did like about these three classes is that most of the bars stayed up. Either we have nailed teaching Jumping correctly or Handlers are taking more
care in how they are handling....if not combined together. I am really looking forward to seeing how Torch performs because I think I
understand this Agility
thing so much better......thirteen years later. There were so many mistakes us Handlers and Trainers made in the beginning.......
~~~~~~~~
Novice B Standard - Niven
Like the Jumpers course, this one was very nice and free flowing. The technicalities of the Tunnel
discrimination with the Table so close to the Dogwalk
could have caused confusion. The ending sequence proved more challenging in that the space from the end of the Chute to #13 Jump was very close. I elected to
try to cut time and perform the Front Cross. It would not be until well after the run that I realized I could have just called Niven over and Rear-Crossed just
as easily if not easier. But hey, it seemed to be a crowd pleaser.
What did develop happened before the run began and that was Niven starting to figure out where she was. The rational is there was really is no point having to
sit and wait while mommy handler walked out to where ever she needed to be. It took a few seconds to get Niv to sit, but she held the wait until I was ready.
Thank god for that.
Niven handled everything on this course beautifully. Unfortunately, I heard her tick the Broad Jump, but the judge did not call it. Coming from the Frame,
Niven did drop the Panel Jump which seems to be a nemeses. Both of these obstacles are rarely trained....maybe they were pulled out in late October/November???
She had an awesome send/in to the Weaves and slammed through again. I used her exit momentum of cutting to the left to cross behind while coming out of
the Weaves. This put us in better position for the Table which was a Down. I did have to throw a
"slight" shoulder (Reverse Flow Pivot ) to get her to grind
to a holt, but she stuck the Table and fought with me for a few seconds before dropping into a down.
The Teeter was performed to AKC control the board specs, but was not performed to the way we have trained. This to me is a border-line fly off and I am sure as time goes on, Niven will straighten
this out. I think she knew something was wrong as I shook my head before sending her on to the next Jump. She was very careful, but seemed to pick up speed,
which caused me to have to haul out for that cross at the Chute. Hindsight, I should have stayed on the left of the Jump and Rear-Crossed, but things get stuck in the mind
and that is that. She did perform the back end of the course as nicely as one could and was only faulted for the dropped Panel.
Non-Qualifying Run
One Dropped Panel Board
~~~~~~~~
I had to help course build the Excellent FAST ring and once that was completed, we headed home. I found it funny that I was leaving the trial at 4pm and getting
home by 5pm. At least it was early.
~~~~~~~~
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Sunday morning rolled around one hour sooner, Daylight Savings time began the day. By the end of the day all I wanted to do was go home. Niven and Torch were
both on to me and knew that we were heading out. There was an air of controlled excitement, but I was still not sure of how the day would go.
The drive went
better then the day before, mainly because I had a better idea of where I was going and not relying totally on the Maps and GPS. It also helped that I had left
the crates in the building and did not have to worry about crating space and that whole like. A few minutes after getting there, Niven was measure for the
second time, eliminating that extra stress of having to be there early or I do not run do to not having a height
verified. ( Ironically, I measured her at 24 1/4 inch and both judges were fractions from that. ) If anything was a positive about this weekend it was that
Niven got a double measurement.............
Neither course to be run that day was to my liking, too many twists and turns that one would find on upper level courses. The good thing is that it truly tested the dogs' ability to not only
perform the obstacles, but avoid traps such as Jumps, Teeters and Tunnels. I found myself suddenly wanting my NQ's so I could go home. Thank god I was there
to work the trial, as it made everything seem worth it. I have no idea of why I was suddenly in this funk. Maybe too many years of Crumpet knocking one bar,
ruining his effort of completing the MX and MXJ before a forced retirement was etched in the back of my mind. Yet, I should be focusing on the positives
of starting out a new dog????
There was no time as I was to help Course build Excellent Standard, so I could grab Niven and haul off to the Novice Ring. I hate when they schedule work like
this, but at least I was able to jostle the rings and make it in time for both obligations.
~~~~~~~~
Novice B Standard - Niven
This course was nothing but traps and obstacle discrimination. I did not realize how severe the Teeter pull was until I set Niven on the Line. I know we are
told time and again that one should check to see what your dog will see and then move the dog, but this was something I had always checked, calculated and let go.
Unfortunately, this time it could have gotten me, especially with Niven giving me a hard time sitting at Start. I just got her to sit and tried my best to be
that "more of a pull" off #2 Jump to turn left into the Weaves. The pull to the Teeter was extreme when looking down the line through the first two Jumps.
As Niven had done previously on both courses, she slammed the poles and was through them before I had time to move. Like the day before, I crossed behind while
she came out and we ended up on the Table, which was also a down. This time it was performed without any help from me and with speed. In five
seconds it was off to the Jump, Frame and
Broad Jump combo. Niven did tick the Broad Jump, this time noticeably and was called on it. ( We are already planning to pull both problem obstacles out in class. )
All obstacles including the Teeter were completed perfectly, but I was a second behind Niv at the #12 Jump after it and she spun. Either I was late with the Tunnel Command, she did not
see it ( it was dark ) or I was not in position due to the Jump wing, but the spin was not called as a refusal do to where it was performed. I sent her on to the
DW and lost her at the top....only to turn around and find her waiting for it to drop ( confused as the Teeter Sally said later ). At that point she jumped off
and we continued on to the Panel Jump which was also knocked do to Niv jumping and
then turning to see where I was. I think she was
surprised that we were not going
back to re-try the DW. At that point, she is trying to figure out what is wrong and I just need to make sure I give her to confidence via body language.
Non-Qualifying Run
Ticked and knocked Broad Jump
Jumped off Dog Walk
Knocked Panel Jump
It is funny to see how one instance can ruin the rest of the performance. I wish there were more obstacles to keep going on and get her back on track, but
the end of the course is the end of the course. The best that can be done by the Handler is to maintain straight shoulders and lighten up on the Command Tone
to let the dog know visually and verbally that things are ok with you, the handler.
At least Niven stayed with me and remained focused while we negotiated this course and that is saying something!!
~~~~~~~~
Novice B Jumpers - Niven
Like the Standard course, this one offered a lot of traps and turns that would offer lots of knocked bars. Handlers really needed to pay attention
to their own speed, fast or slowing down in order to get the dogs to complete jumps demanding call offs and dealing with lots of crossing. In all fairness
to Niv, I was beyond tired and this course was doing nothing to lift my spirits.
Niven gave me the worst problem about sitting at the Start Line and it took longer then normal to get moving. I was about to pull her off the course, when
she decided enough was enough and she had better sit. Once there she did hold the stay and came off the line like a shot. I believe it was the #2 Bar that came
down, but that would be my fault as I hard shouldered to the right to pull her off #8 which was so alluring. Already she was moving much faster and I cannot
remember if she spun or crossed in front of me. For now I leave it that she spun, but the bottom line is that she moved too fast for me to even see her
compensate at that point.
The biggest bobble of this course was the weave entry, but on this level the poles are NOT faulted. The dogs can run past a thousand times and never incur a refusal,
they just have to perform the whole set to qualify. The distance was far greater then normally set in class and I figured she might not 'see' them for distance
and the white border around the ring might blend them in. It did not matter as Niv was too
revved up by then and shot past them. Odd considering how she has been doing with this obstacle all weekend, but not unexpected. I took a step backward and
she slammed through as if nothing had happened.
We continued around the course at top spend with me calling 'harder' as she landed from the #8 Double Jump. I am sure in her twisting around either a leg or tail
took the bar and we continued on. The longer the course continued, the more into the "right and left" command Niven became and by the end she was turning and
hauling with very little check-in. That is something I really would rather see.
All in all the performance was not bad, but some how got over shadowed with disappointment. I guess I still had Crumpet on the brain and now many Qualifies were
lost in the same manner....one knocked bar.
Non-Qualify
Knocked Jump
Knocked Double Jump
~~~~~~~~
By now the day had grown late and someone decided to set up the Open Jumpers course in another ring, everyone waiting for the Novice Judge to finish. This
would save a lot of time, but since I was to help build the course, I felt bad. I ended up working as Ring Crew instead and thought that course so much better
then what we got. It is funny how some things just look better no matter what the course level is.
Once completed, we packed back into the car and headed home..........until next time.
I did spend some time over the weekend comparing Agility to Obedience/Rally-O in form of competition. The two/three sports cannot be compared when it comes
to the performance, but they can be in general make up, psychology and carry out. I am thinking about spending some time writing something up for posting, but
like everything around here, it comes down to having the time.
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
Two Questions that spawned from the weekend:
Question One
Is it better to Non-Qualify due to a dropped bar or is it better to Qualify with a refusal?
Question Two
How does one keep the competitive edge without being competitive?
~~~~~
Observation from FAST Handlers
I was very surprised to see how people stopped handling once they 'reached the Gambler line', causing the dogs to stop forward motion. I guess I am used to
running USDAA Gamblers Class and watch how so many people pay attention to this aspect of the 'team'.
The Open FAST gamble area was no joke and I am not sure if Niven would even make the attempt, but if I had Crumpet I would have added an extra five feet to the
line, allowing me the opportunity to take a step forward. Another option would be to have to the dog on the right side and "rear cross" as the dog landed after
the Jump.....but what was seen instead was Handler's stopping dead at the line and really depending on the dog to send out while seeing that handler dead
stopping of movement.
I think I will keep this kind of thing to myself......
Big and Little Dogs - Handling Styles and Options
One thing that made me feel so much better was watching the Excellent Jumpers course on Saturday. So many people with smaller dogs managed Front-Crosses and that
is all it seemed to be. I am still not sold on this type of switch, but can understand the benefit, especially when there is time and room to do get this done.
Although the handler looks flashy and some how more like a...handler....I guess I see it as a quick cop-out of not training the dog to drive ahead??? Or is it
pushing for time since a Rear-Cross tends to let the dog land, step out, then turn where the Front-Cross pretty much has the dog cutting lines?
If it were for saving time and yardage, how come the larger dog handlers very
seldomly perform the Front-Cross. ( Tunnels and Chutes are excluded as most everyone
will interchange the crosses. )
What made me feel better was watching the large dog classes........Rear Crossing is still in style. Hooray because I was starting to feel old.
As with each time I come home, there are lots and lots of things to think about. Looking forward to getting everything down to "paper".
Until next time....
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Last Updated on
March 9, 2009
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