MACH Bright!

I think I finally figured out why I really did not want to ‘celebrate’ Bright’s MACH, it just didn’t feel right. It’s not because I’m not proud of her and the journey we took to get there, but it’s such a very private and altogether different journey than the one I took with London. London was EVERYONE’S dog, his MACH was the culmination of many more folks than just me, it belonged to him and it belonged to all those he got to run with and helped us along the way. The journey to his MACH was full of trials and tribulations, learning and growing and was the effort of a village.

Bright, on the other hand, has always been MY dog, she didn’t run for anyone else, her training journey was largely independent of outside forces. No one really knew what to ‘do’ with Bright – when it came to agility together, it was mostly just me and her figuring out each other. What a transformation she’s gone through the years!

I also think because she wasn’t ‘my’ puppy when she was growing up, I never set out for her to even BE an agility dog. It was never a goal to be a good agility dog, she never ‘loved’ it like the other dogs did – but she loved playing with me. We have had such a good time together, and now it just makes my heart sing to see how excited she is to play every time we walk into the ring – it wasn’t always that way.

Bright has been there for me in some very hard times, most of her early agility training happened the same time my brother died – it gave me something to do. And through my divorce, she was there. She is my constant shadow, such a good girl, both very sweet and devoted without being clingy and needy. I can’t imagine life without her – always there for me.

So, yeah, I think Bright’s MACH feels like a private thing, something special between just her and I – not really anything we set out to do, but I’m proud she did it. And it’s not about cakes or bars or ribbons, it’s something just between her and I – because agility with Bright has always been our special time together. Love that dog, very much so.

Bright Standard:

MACH Bright:

And Navarre, by comparison – they were pretty close in time!

And one of Navarre’s many ‘almosts’ from the weekend:

Though, let it be said, she was being such an agility dork all weekend. Which is probably another reason I wasn’t exactly feeling like we SHOULD be getting a MACH. Sheesh. My goal for the weekend was to focus on contacts once again, which were terrible – either running off or stopping short. She missed weave entries, dropped bars, London-style off courses, spontaneous threadles or trying to take me out NOT going to a backside – ZOMG, so much ridiculousness. Navarre was SO MUCH EASIER than her, which is kind of hilarious. So kind of a fluke she did pull off that last double Q, silly dog. I’d like to think she’s getting it all out of her system before nationals, but, well, she’s probably not.

So it’s almost March, which means the countdown to nationals is getting very close. I entered one day down in Eugene, and I’ll enter one day of the PAC trial the week before nationals, and we also have a Lori Michaels seminar the same weekend before. So we’ll see how prepped we feel at that point.

After nationals Bright is retiring from the regular classes, I’m thinking we’ll just play in Premier.  I may sometimes enter Navarre in the regular classes, but the days are just too long if you want to do both. I have no particular goal to put a MACH on Navarre either, but I do think the regular classes are good for what he needs at the moment. Hm, maybe I’ll do one day of premier and one day of regular classes. I’ll figure it out, but this is our last push of running two dogs in so many classes per day!

Still, Navarre did GREAT this weekend – I was really pleased at what he showed me. We still had some dorkiness, some running around obstacles, some weavepole problems and some bobbles here and there – but, by and large, he looked great and was trying super hard. He looks way more confident all the way around, and is certainly SUPER excited to go play. He is just a blast to run, definitely doesn’t have Bright’s collection, but his ground speed can make up for it if I can get him pointed in the right direction. Contacts looked great! We did all running and he looked amazing. Baby boy is growing up.

I do like the Albany venue, which meant lots of fun runs for Haku in the park across the street. And, more importantly, he got to go herding today! It was the big test, I’ve been practicing my inside flanks by both visualizing while driving and watching herding videos and mentally practicing while watching the dogs. It’s not perfect, but I did so much better! And Haku obviously does NOT know his flanks, which is a whole other issue – at least I was calling the right ones!

Today we had a herding lesson in some more typical Oregon weather. Our weird long lasting cold front from last week is over finally, I think. Today we just got wet, which I’m not a fan of sideways rain either, but hey. I was all prepared to show off my new flanking ability – but then the sheep decided they were not going to stick together and both Haku and I kind of imploded trying to manage that. Still, we continue to make progress and have a lot of fun.

Oh, and maybe a turning point, Navarre did much better for me in practice than he did having Gabe work him at the lesson. He may not be a herding natural, but he is doing better – he was being so naughty with Gabe though. It’s still really hard with Navarre, but I’d like to think he’s progressing as well.

Anyway, fun weekend, some interesting courses, a new MACH, some herding fun – good times.