Agility Trial Adventures

This is our year!  I can totally feel that we are finally going to sync and work as a team during competition.  I just know its going to be awesome!  I have complete faith in Marley!

Isn't it funny how positive my mom is that I'll cooperate?

I've been so positive I signed her up for her first AKC agility event!  I was so sure we were ready that I entered her in Jumpers and Standard.  I blocked out my entire Memorial weekend for agility (yes, I know I'm a bit behind). I just knew Marley was ready to totally rock in Jumpers and I had high hopes for her in Standard.

What happened?

Day 1:  We entered Jumpers and I signed up for Jumpers and Standard in a fun match after the event.
Jumpers: We lined up and she was looking around while I led out.  I called her and she went over 3 jumps beautifully and entered the tunnel without hesitation.  I was so excited!  The then proceeded to sniff around the weave poles and she jumped over some jumps on her way to her leash.

Fun Match Standard:  While I walked the course I decided to stay close to Marley and support her through the course.  When it was our turn, I led out and I saw her eyes light up as she saw the A-frame.  We started and she flew over the jumps and hit all her contacts and she flew into the weave poles.  She was so AWESOME!  It was MAGICAL!  My heart nearly burst from pride!

Fun Match Jumpers:  Hyped up by our success in Standard I just knew we were going to be awesome in Jumpers.  We started and she jumped over the jumps, zoomed into the tunnel, flew into the weave poles and looked fantastic zooming into the second tunnel.  She flew out of the tunnel and started sniffing around... Yep, she was done.

Day 2:  We were entered in Jumpers and Standard. After much thought I decided I needed to provide Marley more support and not expect her to perform in the trial as she does during training.

Jumpers:  Our startline great and she was fantastic going over jumps and through the tunnel.  She was a bit tentative going into the weave poles.  She was doing so well and then she started sniffing and she went off course.

Standard:  I just knew this was going to be fantastic.  We were at the startline when we heard "Ready" and Marley was like, "why, yes I'm ready" and she took off.  Yep, I was inhaling her dust as she took the first two jumps while I watched in total shock.  Once it hit me that I shouldn't call her back I took off and met her at the third jump.  We were smoking hot as we completed the next three obstacles.  Then it happened...she flew out of a tunnel and missed the weave poles and the magic was gone.

Overall, I think Marley understands the game and she enjoys running the course.  She simply soars over jumps with a gigantic grin on her face.  She is happy and relaxed after our turn and she is not stressed over the excitement and noise of the event.

I'm not going to lie, I wish we had at least competed a course without being disqualified but I'm choosing to focus on the great things we accomplished and how happy Marley is playing the game.

Marley and the CAT

A few weeks ago a friend asked if Marley was taking the CAT.  I told her Marley has a kitten and I don't want another, thank you very much.  After she was done laughing she clarified, the Course Ability Test (CAT).  It turns out the Course Ability Test is an AKC lure coursing activity for dogs that are not sight hounds. All dogs can participate and earn titles and win ribbons.

At this point I decided to join the AKC Canine Partners Program, this is for mixed breed dogs also known as All American dogs. Not only will I be able to participate in the CAT but also in AKC agility, Obedience, and Rally and earn titles.  It was about $35 and easy to join, the hardest part was deciding on Marley's "official" name.

Marley guarding her first ribbon

Today we attended Marley's first AKC event.  It was so much fun!

She was so well behaved and really calm around the other dogs until they started testing the system.  At this point she totally lost her mind and started whining and trying to get the lure.  She spent most of the event in her crate covered with a blanket to prevent her from seeing the lure.

I ended up having to carry her into the field she was just so wiggly and squirmy and I was afraid she would hurt herself trying to run after the lure while on a leash.  She had a blast, she ran through mud, large puddles, and horse poop (her favorite).

No surprise to anybody who is a frequent reader...Marley passed the CAT!  She caught the lure and earned an orange ribbon!  Yep!  We have our first ribbon (I hope its our first and not the only ribbon we earn).

I am so proud of her!  If she passes the CAT two more times she gets a CA title.

Check it out!

I attended my first trial

I attended without Marley. I feel a little guilty because I had so much fun.  A long time ago I figured it would be a good idea to volunteer and get a good feel on what to expect without having to worry about Marley.  I was pretty flexible and didn't request a specific task, I figured whatever they assigned me would be a great learning experience.

I was assigned the Gate!

When I first saw the schedule I expected to see my name under pole setter or leash runner, something that made sense for a newbie.  After looking up the Gate, I have to say I was totally intimidated and figured it was a mistake.

It was not a mistake.

I was given a sharpie and hustled over to a gigantic white board with lists of dogs.  My instructions were:  Call the dogs in order and make sure they enter the ring at the right time.  Umm...ok, I guess I could do that.

Then I was swarmed with people who had conflicts and wanted to move up or down on the list.  So, I was trying to talk to everybody, call dogs and make sure everybody knew when to enter the ring.  And, somebody would inevitability say, "you have to make sure to watch X handler/dog."  

As I was questioning my sanity, a friend saw me and said, "you need to speak up nobody can hear you and during your break you need to find Joe."  Eventually, I found Joe, who was totally calm and he gave me some great advice.  

After observing Joe, I found my groove and since nobody complained I figure I must have done alright.  I was able to watch some amazing dogs.  

I was totally inspired and I think Marley would enjoy a trial.