An Agility Trial!

It wasn’t really intentional to have this long of break from agility trials, but there were a lot of things that sort of made our trialing break longer than intended. Still, six months later, we returned! I wasn’t expecting much, and I’m always a little thrown by running courses by other people, which I just want to smooth the angles and make more distance between the jumps. I was surprised at how tight some of courses were, but big kudos for Navarre, he only ran past ONE jump and only knocked two bars in sequence (and one first bar, which I’m putting totally on him!). It’s hard for my big boy to handle though crunchy lines and squished spacing.

Both dogs were over the moon thrilled to be back. And I forgot to fill up on treats before one run and, OMG, Navarre will NOT shut up waiting for his turn. He was very excited, Bright was super excited, and they were just so happy. I’m lucky, as there are a lot of dogs that really struggle with stress and confidence in trial situations. Heck, Bright used to be one – but not anymore! Bright is at that perfect age, she’s come so far it’s hard to remember the days when she was so worried about the people and dogs and being ever so serious. Now she’s just a party – and also loud!

I really do love agility, there is no sport out there that to me is more about teamwork and joy. Makes me happy, makes the dogs happy, no matter what else I try, it remains my favorite. Any mistakes I had with Bright were all mine on Saturday, she’s pretty perfect. Trying to think, she ran four times. A lovely premier standard, and then I didn’t support a lateral send in standard and we kind of imploded. You’d think I’d learn – take one more step, she’s good, but not psychic! Jumpers was nice though, and premier jumpers she got as well, but ALMOST squirted off when I sent to a backside that she took as a threadle to another jump. Lovely threadles, lovely contacts, lovely weaves, nice jumping, no knocked bars. She ended up with 3 out of 4, which isn’t too shabby!

And then … there was Sunday. OMG, Bright was just on her own agenda! The off courses she invented were pretty epic, and the fun kept on rolling all day long. 90 degrees spontaneous turns away from me, amazing threadles on straight lines that I most definitely did not cue! Little Bright was a free spirit. She ended up qualifying in only one course, a jumpers course of pinwheels, and mostly I think she was tired at that point. I’ll have to say, maybe doing 16 runs for our first trial back was a little overkill, we were all pretty pooped for those last few runs (but I actually STAYED!).

Navarre had good stuff over the weekend too, and, as usual, a little more goofiness and a lot wider turns! On Saturday, our premier standard was nice, but he knocked the first bar and off course tunnel at the last obstacle, coming off with the running dogwalk if I need him to come in I need to be big and obvious. It’s funny how many turning cues I have to give to him, and so much earlier than Bright. Two very different running dogs! He had a nice standard run, but ran past a flat angle slice in jumpers (and knocked a bar). Premier jumpers he did really well, but threw in an extra backside (which I will take as logical … because he went out so wide!). It was not an easy course for my wide turning guy, he was trying really hard. Lovely weaves, lovely threadles, lovely contacts – lots of good stuff from him. Navarre went 1 for 4 on Saturday, but he does get bonus points that the one he Qd in was the one Bright didn’t!

Sunday we were all a little goofier, but Navarre held it together for a double Q. He had some really nice stuff in his premier runs too, but popped the weaves on an extreme lateral pull (which he nailed in standard after we fixed that!), and ran past a serp jump, I think because I put up a threadle arm ‘just in case’. Premier jumpers he took out a wing, which is very unusual for him, just misjudged, I think.

Navarre’s birthday is this week, we have finally arrived at 4 years old – let the magic begin! I think most dogs kind of come together at this age, and I think he’s ever so slowly growing up. We have another big test in his first obedience trial over the weekend, and, maybe, his first herding trial later this year. Four to five is a GOOD age. I’m kind of wondering if I should try to qualify him for WTT in Minnesota next year, as maybe he will be ready at that point. 24 inches just makes him go WIDER, but he can do it. It would involve flying to MN, but he’s a pretty solid guy, I think he’ll be okay with it. So … a thought. And then hopefully AKC nationals in Reno in 2021 – I’d like to think we’ll be ready for that. And Bright too, if she’s still running well, we’ll go down to Preferred at the end of this year, I think.

So, yeah, goals, maybe we should have some!