Fifth Trial of the Season
Tail Blazers Agility Club
September 5 & 6, 2009
As August wore on into September, I realized this weekend’s trial was going to be an interesting experience. Having class cancelled
for four week’s due to two different kinds of heat meant Niven has not been worked on any Agility equipment since the beginning of August.
Add in employment interviews for me and one garage roof project that occupied the backyard of ‘stuff’ meant that nothing was getting pulled
away from the fence. As is normal for the TBAC trials, I had to go to work, might as well just run Niven and see what she hands back in return.
Of course, since most of the clubs are now using the horse arena in New Jersey, it did not rain at all this weekend. Instead, the sun was not
even over the horizon when the alarm went off or after I got the dogs out.
Traffic for a holiday weekend at six in the morning was incredibly light. We got there with time enough for me to set camp in the arena
corner with Sally, Janet and the other Y2K9 people. I helped where I could in setting courses and found Open Standard walking before the
small dogs were to begin.
I tried to stick to the new ritual I started with Niven a few trials back, taking her for longer “flexi-lead” walks well before a run, waiting
until the last possible moment to take her quickly outside and then to the ring entry areas. This seemed to work well, as it has been proving,
with the exception of the last run on Sunday.
What was really cool about this weekend is the amount of time I spent watching the Open and Novice Dogs run and being able to meander over to
see Sally, Larry, Dave and Elaine have their Excellent Runs. Over all, I just had a great weekend.
Saturday
Open Standard
The over all course had its technical limits, especially in ‘back corner’. Both the Teeter and Frame were close to each other and both
would be seen as choice by the dogs as they came out of the Tunnel. Following the Teeter, the Table was in a direct line of sight and close
enough to pose a problem if one was the type who owned a dog who really liked Tables……
I did laugh when I saw the Broad Jump as #14, as I honestly thought we would never see that again. Even had that thought the night before
the show and was happy to see Niven so excited about running that she cleared it without any thought.
Again, this was the first time Niv had seen Agility equipment in about a month, exercise has been limited and the Moon Full. I had no idea
of what to expect from her and stepped into the ring with serious first run jitters.
Niven did hold the Start Line stay and performed the Tire from an angle to carry her over the Jump and toward the Dog Walk. My timing was
off for the Rear Cross at #4 and the illusion of jumping into the wall for Niven did not help. Coming from the Frame, Niven did make the
contact but stepped forward, stopping again as she realized I had called a ‘wait’ for TOTO. Although not wanted, it did give me enough time to Front Cross and send her to the Weaves, which she missed twice. Focus coming back, the Weave Entry was found and she did not hesitate, but slammed through all twelve like it had always been done this way. ( Niven does in class, but will lose confidence after pole six and I have to step in and guide ). I was very pleased!
We continued on with the pinwheel of Jumps and Niven decided the Table Sit was dumb. Her response to each request to Sit was to continue
to stand and bark at me from eye level. I was about to end the run, she must have realized my intention and sat long enough for us to continue
on.
The Broad Jump, once so dreaded was cleared with nice height and I remembered to call her name as she came out of the Tunnel. The ending
was completed with flare, especially since the last jump was the Double.
Non-Qualifying Run
#4 Panel Knocked
#7 Two Refusals for missing the Weave entry
Novice B Jumpers
I thought this course looked nice on paper and was happy to see it ran even better. I am still working on keeping my arms out and
low, so this course really enabled me to slow down and match handing to the speed Niven was giving.
Running in complete control, we hauled serious butt around and over the Jumps. For the #10 thru #13 sequence there were eight ways
to handle, but I realized two possible Front Crosses placed me in ill position for #13 Jump. I was not willing to be risqué and reverted
back to old school handling of angles and distance. In other words I Rear Crossed while Niven on the ground after landing from #12 Jump.
Personally I thought it set a larger dog better for the last two Jumps on the course.
Unfortunately, the #10 Jump came down and I was lucky enough to have Jackie give feedback. It appears Niven was trying to determine
‘leading foot’ or change of gait/stride and the bar came down which should correct itself with time and experience.
Non-Qualifying Run
#10 Knocked bar
Open FAST
This would have been a fun course, but I seemed to have gotten myself confused on the rules and used the Finish Jump to start with.
The Judge did not appear happy and I got whistled off the course.
What was good about this ‘not run’? Niven held her Start Line stay, came off the line like never before and found the entry to the
Weaves before being rudely called to a halt.
Non-Qualifying Run
Advice: Read the Rule Book and never ask
Sunday
I woke up a bit later then the day before and went through what has become custom in getting out the door in a hurry. I did not need to pack
the car, so I thought I would risk waking the neighbors and try heeling Niven down the yard. I had not thought about using treats to keep her
quiet and rediscovered this trick last week. I do wonder if having that much control did nothing to save excitement or made it worst, but we
quietly got to the car and quickly got to the trial despite heavier traffic.
After getting Niven settled and helping to build one of the courses, we did have time to go for a few minute walk. When we got back,
I knew something had changed and that Niv was going to be hell on wheels for the first run. I guess it was her squeaking while she stood
within the ExPen that was the tell-tale sign, but I was not disappointed. I thought I had timed getting to the ring well, but we stood for
longer then I wanted to.
Open Standard
The opening sequence to this course was most difficult with two Jumps ( one being the Double ) and a hard call left to the Tunnel.
In hind-sight I should have stayed to the right of the Jumps and Rear Crossed, but I will not babysit this kind of thing forever.
The result is that Niv came off the line faster then anything and flew over the Double looking at me, then blew off the command to turn.
Down went #2 bar and the off course top panel bar. Since the other end of the Tunnel was now right there……..
With excitement energy slowly running out we pulled together and continued on to the Table. She was not thrilled with having to Down, but
I wonder if that helped? For #9, I thought Niv had committed to the Tunnel, but two steps to the right, I found myself with a dog. Back
into the Tunnel and around the Pinwheel of Jumps.
The Frame contact was awesome as was the really odd direction to the Weaves, which she got through without a problem in two seconds. The
rest of the course was completed and the morning continued.
Non-Qualifying Run
#2 Double Bars dropped
Backwards #7 off course followed by Reverse #3
#9 Tunnel Refusal
#9 & 13 Tunnel/Frame – Wrong course by placing two paws on Frame after popping out of the Tunnel
Novice B Jumpers
There were a couple of elements that were technical and one needed to pay attention to. The first two Jumps created a direct line of sight
with a hard right turn over the #3 Jump. The angle to the Weaves was extreme, but there was space enough to properly set the dog up if a Tunnel
suck was not that strong. The next problem obstacle was #7 and #8 Jumps which followed the Weaves because of the angle and spacing. If a dog
did not get into the correct stride there would be a higher rate of dropping the bar.
Moving on to the Tunnel, if one had time to perform a cross before the dog came out, tripping over number #12’s Jump wing was a high rate of
possibility.
All of these potentials did crop up in our run, but Niven was very centered and hauled with focus and determination. She found the Weave entry
without problem and stayed in tune to my flipping around to send her on to #7. Unfortunately that bar did go down and I am sure it was a
combination of me turning, throwing a hand signal and/or slowing down too shortly or it was her not getting it stride.
I was able to make the cross while she was in the Tunnel, but nearly got caught up in that #12 Wing Jump. That caused me to be behind and
she sent out to #13. This worked better to turn her to the right and over the final Jump.
Non-Qualifying Run
#7 Dropped Bar
Open FAST
When I saw the “Send Bonus” I knew I would have very little luck getting Niven out that far to the Teeter. Even if we had been going to
class every week, distance work to Contact Obstacles is not stressed. Add in that Niven has been working closer to me then normal and well…..
I pulled her out of the ExPen sooner and waited outside of the ring to generate excitement for an immediate push out. We were the first dog
to run so there was no visual information from other Handlers’ experience to gage my decision, but I hoped ‘excitement’. Nope. I was wrong
and after five attempts of “almost on” the Teeter, I elected to spin around and send her on to a Jump and try again with running momentum.
That resulted in the start of barking, so I elected to move on to the #3 Jump and #6 Tunnel while stepping over the Handler Line. Something
fast and fun followed by Weave practice. I was greatly shocked to see Niven slam straight in and through the full set.
I knew it as time to head towards the Finish Line and called the Frame command while running at full tilt to get there. Niven ran passed
causing me to reinforce the command. The Buzzer went off just as she was climbing and I hauled on, only to see the contact jumped.
So a big giant NQ. We really do need serious Distance work with Contacts.
It was an odd weekend, almost familiar really in coming home without ribbons or excited achievement. I do have to say I am really pleased
with how Niven did run under the circumstances and I loved that she was putting the Weaves together the same way she shocked me months ago
with six poles. Even more amazing the contacts/target were made with calculation and I could not ask for anything beyond that. Dropped bars?
Well, I have been the queen of them over the years and I will just have to default back to watching what I do.
As is always how it is, the next trial should be interesting.
|
Last Updated on
September 7, 2009
|