Passing the Test

Just over a week ago Phoenix and I ventured into the Starter Standard ring for the very first time. This is also the first trial we've done more than 2 runs at a trial with Starter Gamble, Starter Standard x2, Starter Snooker and Advanced Jumper on the menu. Before entering the ring I set out for myself what I would do if I saw things I didn't want to see repeated, you all know what I'm talking about, movement on the startline, no nose touches, no down on the table etc, etc.

I really felt I had a pretty solid plan going in but you know how adrenaline works its black magic and next thing I know I'm in a race to get through the run and out of the ring. Phoenix and I Q'd on our first Standard and I was overall really thrilled with our run but...why did I release her after one nose touch on the dogwalk and none on the teeter????? And of course it came back to bite me in Standard 2 where Phoenix clearly decided tables and nose touches were for suckers and became "sticky" (putting it mildly) frozen in 2on2off on the end of the dogwalk staring at a tunnel. Didn't matter how many times I changed position that little red girl brain was chanting "tunnel, tunnel, tunnel, tunnel, tuuuuunnnnnnnelllllllll" and there was no room for a nose touch to sneak in. So the wistle went and we walked out of the ring after doing half the course.

After a week of reminders on the plank, the stairs and finally the contacts Miss Phe has decided once again that nose touches ARE fun and highly rewarding. So have I learned my lesson for my next trial, I think the answer is yes but only time will tell...

Today I am grateful for giblets, liver, cornmeal, flour and garlic all baked for 15 minutes - or as Phoefers refers to it - doggie crack.

ATChC Peso

Yay we did it! Last weekend Peso and I got our last snooker Q and our ATChC!!! For those of you who know me best you know that snooker and me go together like oil and water, like night and day, like Paris and Nicole, well...you get the picture. Surprisingly to me Peso and I have been able to get 3 snooker Qs in limited trialling this year after going what seemed like a loooong time without one so maybe my ideas on the game of snooker are changing LOL

Anyway on to the matter at hand. We faced a challenging course with the best option being a fairly safe opening of 3 7 point weaves...hmmm fairly safe but weaves can be a huge time waster if we don't get the entry and if he pops then what??? Maybe need to re evaluate but looks very challenging to get to the other obstacles and risk off course. Okay stick to weaves, walk the course again and again. Feeling positive but what's this, stomach is flipping, heart is racing, haven't experienced this feeling for a long time...find closest tree and leave all nerves with it to be picked up later if needed (read previous posts re tree reference). Get Peso, try not to touch him too much in case convey some sort of cosmic energy that mommy really wants this through fingers. Enter ring, lead out 1/2 way across ring, take a deep breath, say "ok", Peso charges full speed ahead over red jump straight towards me...and as they say... the rest is history.

Okay I'm going to be one of those really annoying people and use the rest of this post to say thank you to some people who have been integral to my life and training. And yes I know this isn't the nobel peace prize, it's just a dog title, but still it's nice to say thank you :)

To my Mom - you are the most incredible woman I have ever met. I know I don't express my appreciation of you enough but know that I love you and that I am grateful for the time, energy, love, support, etc, etc, etc that you give to me and to your grandpups.

To my Over the Edge Agility friends and in particular my training partner Shona thank you for putting up with all my various moods over the years, for making me laugh and for being friendly faces I get to see every week. Colleen - thanks for being blonde!

To Kathryn thank you for being a wise person in a crazy world. Thank you for sharing your perspective on all things agility and life, you are amazing! If anything happened to me and my Mom it would be you who I would want to take my boy. I know you would give him the most amazing home!!! Thank you for celebrating with me on the weekend. It was so cool that Peso got his ATChC at the place he did his first trial. Thank you for your gate lists on Sunday too - you made me laugh all day, although I think Phoenix might still be a little peeved.

To Linda thank you for being the person I can fight with and then laugh with all with the span of 10 minutes. Thank you for hugging me after my run, bet you never thought I'd thank you for a hug LOL

And most importantly of all thank you to Peso for being everything I ever wanted in a friend. For his loyalty, his love, his ability to forgive, for his never ending willingness to try again, even for his intense impulsiveness that has resulted in more than one unintentional scratch, bruise or broken lamp. I could not love him more, he is my heart.