Green paws at Woodside
2 Comments Published by Gussie on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 at 5/06/2008 10:24:00 PM.
Not a bad spot for a show! And in spite of the forecast (and the ominous skies) there were only the lightest of showers all weekend.
Very soon after I took this picture, back in the exercise area, I saw Jake’s shoulder go down for a roll ... I dived for his collar and pulled him out of a cow pat just in time. Only to step in it myself! From that moment my left shoe was irresistible to the other 800+ dogs in the show. I called him Green Paw from then on but strictly speaking, the name applied to us both.
Anyway! I'll try to be brief with show notes.
Graded 1-2 jumping class: we should have been OK on this course, but Jake was Mr WAAHH-IT’S-AGILITY: broke his stay, got ahead of me, was deaf to my direction command, took a wrong turn… oh well!
Then we headed for the ABC combined 1-7 class. The ring was parallel with the the burger van, and Jake walked to heel with his head at 90 degrees as though he was passing the Queen. The ABC course was (as expected!) well above our level, but it was fun to walk and plan. Jake and I got round the first section of the course with only one muffed contact, and then, as I did a pull through in the far corner of the ring Jake found himself facing the burger van – and nipped under the rope to investigate!
Then onto a combined 1-4 agility class. It was entertaining walking the course with 270 other people! Luckily for us we were drawn to run in the first 30. Jake was a bit more in his stride by then, and I was really pleased as we navigated the tricky parts as planned - Jake held his stay - and went straight into an opening slalom, correctly ignoring the enticing dog walk right in view - - entry into the weave was great, even after a stretch of running / jumping at full pelt - we got the tricksy tunnel sequence – yay! BUT we were eliminated over a simple thing - (again) down to my handling. C'est la vie!
Apres-show, Jake enjoyed a few mouthfuls of very excellent local delicacy : Scotch Pie.
On Sunday we had a much better day. Jake was steadier and more focussed. Jumping combined 1-3: I thought we might go clear, but we fluffed the weave entry. But check! we got the box work right. Check! Jake was taking "left" and "right" commands brilliantly.
Agility graded 1-2: We got a clear round and came 2nd - blimey! So we scooped another tartan rosette and our first trophy. Much excitement and a hug from our teacher!
Jumping graded 1-2: So much went right with this course. But the now-traditional fluffing of the weave entry (oh, and a knocked pole) was our undoing. But check! Stay held until 3rd obstacle. Check! A turn I always find tricky executed properly. Check! Right turn (away from the jump straight ahead) into a snake. The two parts of the run either side of the doomed weave felt really fluid and FAST, Jake and I watching and reacting to each other so quickly we weren't really thinking - what a buzz. That's why I love agility.
Very soon after I took this picture, back in the exercise area, I saw Jake’s shoulder go down for a roll ... I dived for his collar and pulled him out of a cow pat just in time. Only to step in it myself! From that moment my left shoe was irresistible to the other 800+ dogs in the show. I called him Green Paw from then on but strictly speaking, the name applied to us both.
Anyway! I'll try to be brief with show notes.
Graded 1-2 jumping class: we should have been OK on this course, but Jake was Mr WAAHH-IT’S-AGILITY: broke his stay, got ahead of me, was deaf to my direction command, took a wrong turn… oh well!
Then we headed for the ABC combined 1-7 class. The ring was parallel with the the burger van, and Jake walked to heel with his head at 90 degrees as though he was passing the Queen. The ABC course was (as expected!) well above our level, but it was fun to walk and plan. Jake and I got round the first section of the course with only one muffed contact, and then, as I did a pull through in the far corner of the ring Jake found himself facing the burger van – and nipped under the rope to investigate!
Then onto a combined 1-4 agility class. It was entertaining walking the course with 270 other people! Luckily for us we were drawn to run in the first 30. Jake was a bit more in his stride by then, and I was really pleased as we navigated the tricky parts as planned - Jake held his stay - and went straight into an opening slalom, correctly ignoring the enticing dog walk right in view - - entry into the weave was great, even after a stretch of running / jumping at full pelt - we got the tricksy tunnel sequence – yay! BUT we were eliminated over a simple thing - (again) down to my handling. C'est la vie!
Apres-show, Jake enjoyed a few mouthfuls of very excellent local delicacy : Scotch Pie.
On Sunday we had a much better day. Jake was steadier and more focussed. Jumping combined 1-3: I thought we might go clear, but we fluffed the weave entry. But check! we got the box work right. Check! Jake was taking "left" and "right" commands brilliantly.
Agility graded 1-2: We got a clear round and came 2nd - blimey! So we scooped another tartan rosette and our first trophy. Much excitement and a hug from our teacher!
Jumping graded 1-2: So much went right with this course. But the now-traditional fluffing of the weave entry (oh, and a knocked pole) was our undoing. But check! Stay held until 3rd obstacle. Check! A turn I always find tricky executed properly. Check! Right turn (away from the jump straight ahead) into a snake. The two parts of the run either side of the doomed weave felt really fluid and FAST, Jake and I watching and reacting to each other so quickly we weren't really thinking - what a buzz. That's why I love agility.
Labels: Agility, Agility shows
What? A ring-side burger van!? Now there's one hard-to-beat distraction!
i'm sure remind my owner to buy that burger for me when i finish the run...
this really sounds like a big thing with hundreds of participants...
well done for the 2nd placing, jake...