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Subject:Smitty - STP Finals - 4th place!!!
Time:10:27 pm
I could not be more proud of my baby girl!!!!!

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Subject:quick usdaa nationals update
Time:08:20 pm
I havent been back to the library, so this is on my blackberry and will be very short.

Austie is running GREAT, and taking him to the line has been pure joy each time. I still get a thrill to see how much he loves to play this game! He was just a half a sec out of stp finals, and i believe the top placing non-bc.

Smitty is nothing short of amazing! We have yet to lay down a clean team run, but we pulled it together to win steeplechase semi's and grand prix quarter's!!! So tonight will be my first time running under the lights in the steeplechase finals!


I get both excited and emotional, as in a way, austin and regan will be running with us. They each have contributed so much to what i have applied to training smitty.

She is seeded to run last, and i understand that usdaa is broadcasting tonight for free so watch and cheer if you can!!!
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Subject:Scottsdale 2009
Time:07:20 pm
Well, this is definitely our best trip out here so far! I'm out here with my Mom, Austin, and Smitty. We flew out on Monday for our week long visit. We found a 2 bedroom condo for the same price as 2 rooms at Motel 6, and are loving our kitchen, washer/dryer, and all the extra space!

Tuesday was "spa day"...wow, was that fun to be pampered for several hours. We enjoyed our "treatments", as well as taking advantage of all the spa's amenities as we lounged around drinking hot tea, wearing robes and slippers, and otherwise being extravagantly lazy. :)

The condo's location is fabulous. Seems to be 5 min from just about anything we could want. And I've found a great 30 min walk for the dogs that allows for full length flexi walking, so they are enjoying themselves as well. I'm working hard to keep up with my running, and am taking advantage of the complex's fitness center. I've found a random running program, and have made a little challenge to myself to see if I can do 30 minutes, one level harder each day. I started at level 4 on Tues, and did level 5 today, so we'll see if I make it to level 10 on Monday!

Today was our first day at West World. They definitely improved the kenneling location and it's actually adjacent to the rings. Keep in mind that I didn't get the "closest" kenneling location, and the rings are quite spreadout, so there's still a bit of a walk, but nothing like last year. We got there just after 10am, and were all set up fairly quickly.

Today was HOT. So glad that each day gets cooler! We were in Ring 3 today. I LOVED the course! Looked fun and totally doable. I was super pleased with the runs of both dogs. Smitty's was WILD! Lots of spins and excitement. Clean until I forgot to indicate the last jump (think I was mentally fried). MUST follow through the very end for her...she watches me SOOOO closely! Thrilled to prove to myself that we can stay connected and run a full course here! Totally open to a reminder on a course that "doesn't count" to drive to the end of our runs!

I had to chuckle...seemed Smitty caught quite a bit of attention today. I think given that she has lost nearly all of her coat, she looks even smaller, and folks all wanted to know what she was crossed with. When we came out of the ring, folks seemed a bit shellshocked! ;) She's a speedy little monkey, no doubt about it!

Austin was supercharged and ready to rock! He ran fabulously. I underestimated what was in his path due to his larger stride and he went off course up the dogwalk, but hey, yet another great reminder! He was perfect on the rest of the course, and looked fabulous jumping 26". Can't wait to run him again tomorrow. He is ultrapleased with his SAM'S CLUB GIANT BAG of MEATBALLS! :)

Currently at the library catching up on a few things, since I opted to leave the laptop at home (won't do that again!) ;)

All in all, I just couldn't possibly be in a better place right now. I feel settled, calm, and confident. My dogs are healthy, fit and strong. They know their jobs, and I'm ready to lead them around their courses.

GAME ON! :)
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Subject:Rock n Roll Team Miller!
Time:09:21 pm
Woo-hoo, Smitty picked up QQ #4 and Std legs #5 and #6!

Here is her JWW run from today, at a blistering 6.56 yps! I'm sure dogs turn in faster, but I was shocked when Agility Trial Journal did the calculation....wow!



Regan had a perfect weekend, picking up QQ's #16 and #17 towards MACH2. She had her fastest yps ever in Std at 4.3 yps. She continues to pick up speed (making contacts more and more difficult, of course!) and clearly loves the game. She has picked up a rather annoying habit of going crazy before I set her up on the startline (fierce barking, growling and snapping) but then sniffing the entire time I lead out....crazy monkey. Regan is definitely her own dog.

Austin picked up QQ #1 towards MACH3 and 79 points for the Invitational. I'm so pleased with how fantastic he looked. Truly motivated and fast....he really seemed to appreciate the cooler weather. Makes me very happy to see him happy. :)
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Subject:MACH2 Austin!
Time:01:02 pm
With all the *lack* of blogging, I realized I missed mentioning this as well...on Oct 4, Austin finished up double Q #40! I never in a million years would have thought that we could ever be that consistent! He is such a star. I love my red boy.

Oh, and here's one of the runs...grace and all!
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Subject:ADCH Smitty!
Time:01:48 pm
Well, I haven't been blogging much lately. Just not in the mood, I guess. We have a lot going on, but for some reason it's staying more in my head...

I did feel I should at least mention this milestone! Smitty turned 3 on Sept 22. We needed a jumpers leg and 2 standard legs going into the weekend, and the little monkey got all 3!!!
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Subject:Day 3 - Durham Kennel Club
Time:04:38 pm
A better day for us! Still no double Q's (or even Q's today) for Smitty, but we'll get there. I'm still learning tons of stuff with her.

Austie picked up 119 points this weekend, along with double q's 17 and 18 for his MACH2. Hopefully this will put us on the board for Top 5 for the Invitational. We've only done one other AKC trial since the new qualification period started, so just haven't had a chance to get points.

Regan seems to be stretching out more and moving more confidently on course. This is causing weaves to be a challenge, as she's skipping holes, I think because she's going faster and it's harder, but hopefully we'll work through that soon.

And Smitty is still just freakin' brilliant. I've got a lot right now in my head to process, but I'm confident that we are on the brink of some major improvements.

Smitty - Standard: I allowed watching other dogs to influence my handling (probably ok if I'm watching other fast BCs, but not so helpful watching most of the small dogs as she doesn't run like they do). So they were having trouble committing to a jump so I over handled it, and sent her right on the the next offcourse jump as well! That would have been fine, but then she came out of the weaves...not ok. So we left.


Regan - Standard: Another good run for baby Ray, earning 2nd place. It's nice to see her really enjoying herself out there!


Austin - Standard: A Q and 1st place...yippee! It was very muddy, and he thought this was pretty stupid (walking though the weaves!), but seemed to figure out it was all worthwhile as he gulped his smoked salmon afterwards!!!


Regan - JWW: Another brilliant run with lots of stretching out, and trouble with the weaves...I'm telling myself this is a good problem... ;)


Smitty - JWW: Oh, don't know why...I led out to a dumb place, knew it, and still released her. No surprise that she knocked the 2nd bar. GREAT weaves (could tell there was NO WAY she was popping again!) And I just didn't handle the ending well.


Austin - JWW: He was back in the game on this run...nice and fast and another blue ribbon!!! Oh, I do love my Austie!!!
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Subject:Day 2 - Durham Kennel Club
Time:04:22 pm
Well, not our best day today. Several little things in each run got in the way of qualifying, except for Regan's Standard run.

Smitty - Standard: Had a BRILLIANT run going. However, we did some work last week to get her to open up more on the dogwalk, and, well, we didn't add the turns back in. So she was opened up...especially with both me and the judge running beside her...and she ran straight into an offcourse tunnel!!!


Regan - Standard: Blue ribbon for RayRay. I do believe she's getting a wee bit faster! Nice efforts on her contacts too!


Austin - Standard: Oh, damn! I held onto everything, until a late rear cross cue at the end...got him off the off course, but he ticked the triple.


Smitty - JWW: This course was HARD for us...lots of boxes, and she didn't get the info to turn enough to go across the box, but instead took the diagonal....twice. Cool blind out of the weaves though...


Regan - JWW: You will see this happen again on Sunday...she seems to be going too fast and misses some weaves. Took 3 tries to get her through them. But wow...good speed on this course!


Austin - JWW: I just have to smile about this run. Got him through lots of tricky stuff, but was handling at such a distance, I think he thought we were in Steeplechase, and found himself one hell of a weave entry!!!
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Subject:Day 1 - Durham Kennel Club
Time:09:49 pm
Well, here we are...I really debated about whether or not to drive 4 hrs to Columbia, SC to a covered arena, and was just too tempted by the 40 min drive/sleep in my own bed option of this trial. Well, now I'm not so sure. Today was misty pretty much all day. Tomorrow is 100% chance of rain, up to 3 inch accumulation in the next 24 hrs...

Anyway, today went well. I wanted to use some ideas that Wendy and I went over this week, and it went pretty well! A double Q for Austie and singles for Regan and Smitty. I was too careful with Smitty in standard (let talk outside of the ring get me about the weather) and Regan just did something odd in jumpers.

Here are the runs:

Smitty - Std: too careful in the opening as I said; should have called in tunnel and gotten eye contact coming out. but then I got on track and I loved the rest of this run. great blind off of frame, great rear at weaves and fab dogwalk!


Regan - Std: a good run with all reasonable contacts. didn't execute off the frame very well; not sure what i would have changed for her though


Austin - Std: yay austie! what a good boy to run on the wet grass (not his favorite!) same miscommunication after the aframe...that was tough! a nice Q though...


Smitty - JWW: remembered my obstacle verbals this time! and boy did it help. she was absolutely brilliant!!! very proud of little spitty!


Regan - JWW: what in the world??? such a lovely run...why, oh, why did she hit the *front* bar on the triple? she added an odd stride just before and pulled the bar...


Austin - JWW: another solid run from big red...very pleased with him, and he picked up 1st place, giving him a total of 55 points today!
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Subject:Inspiration
Time:01:06 pm
Wow, we are so lucky in this "day and age"...haha....I thought it would be fun to say that!  Seriously, AgilityVision is bringing us amazing access to events that we used to have to wait months to catch any footage of, and even then, it would only be 2 hours of a 3 day event!  To have access to all runs at any time over the next year for a mere $29 is just amazing.

So I'm walking away from the weekend feeling both inspired and overwhelmed!  I recognized several teams from the EO.  And I know that Smitty totally belongs amongst that level of competition.  But wow, that's a lot of fast thinkin' going on.  Those dogwalk exits were unreal...holy smokes!  And it was obvious that you had to be dead on to win. 

But I cannot think of a more fun challenge to pursue!  So I'm recommitting to foundation work.  I'm working my way through Linda's articles (post DJS) in CleanRun.  Plus, I now have 12 new international courses to set up and work through!

And I really must point out that Silvia's runs were breathtaking.  Medals or not, to see a dog that has been at least as challenging as Regan run at those speeds with all the yelling and noisemaking and energy....  Wow.  She really is playing a game that few others are participating in.  Can't wait to soak her in for 5 days in November!!!  :-)
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Time:06:54 pm
Sorry folks, I just haven't felt like posting much lately. We haven't had a lot of downtime, and any time spent processing has been more focused on what we need in our training sessions and those type things. I've spent quite a bit of time analyzing our trial runs at the trials themselves, but just didn't feel like typing it all out.

I'm also becoming quite active on Facebook, and putting some updates there, so that may be a good place to check if you want to see what we've been up to!

Here's a summary of the trials we've been to that haven't been recorded here:

(lots of videos posted on YouTube)

Chicago - Austin and Smitty

Austie was a total superstar, picking up 3 titling Q's and his steeplechase semi-finals bye with a personal best of 4th place in steeplechase finals!!! Hell yeah, a vizsla!!! Woo-hoo!!!

Smitty had an awesome regional as well. She laid down a kick-ass, fastest of all jump heights masters standard run, and took 3rd in steeplechase finals.

We also had a few struggles. Austin developed a cough Saturday night, making me unsure he'd be able to run at all on Sunday. I celebrated too soon in Smitty's GP run and dropped the last bar. I didn't managed Austin's contacts enough in GP and he got called on the aframe.

TAG - Austin, Regan, and Smitty

Regan picked up a few Q's, and make it to STP finals. I'm starting to struggle running her a bit, since I've been so focused on Smitty. She does not commit nearly as early as Smitty does, and needs far more forward cues. I'm sure we'll work through it, but it's interesting to see the tables turn and Smitty become easier to run!

Austin racked up more Q's as well, and just looked fabulous running. I seem to constantly worry about him getting older and when it makes sense to move him down to performance. Well, he just looked fantastic and clearly had a GREAT time!!! It really does my heart good to see how much he loves this game.

Smitty did some great things - another smokin' masters standard run and a snooker super Q. But we had a HORRIBLE startline in GP, causing me to pull her in STP, and had a couple of wilder than ideal runs. This weekend really helped me recommit to solid startlines1

Dallas - Smitty

What an awesome weekend. I felt like I learned a TON from this weekend. Highlights were a blazin' Team Jumpers run and a 2nd place in Steeplechase Finals. We again struggled in GP, and I did some experimenting with the dogwalk that flat out FLOPPED. But I felt like I was a bit more intentional with my handling, and it was my first real experience watching other dogs run and letting them tell me what the course was saying to the dogs....very cool!

PBH - Austin, Regan , Smitty

Labor Day weekend...I think 40 runs for Team Miller...

Austin picked up a much needed pairs leg and finished his Standard - Champion Silver title, another vizsla first! He is now just 3 pairs legs away from his ADCH - Silver...woo-hoo! He reminded me that he is NOT a tiny BC in snooker, and that running around the outside is ALWAYS a better option for him! Oh, what fun he is to run!!!

Regan and I struggled again this weekend. I do think she's kicked up her speed another notch, which is awesome. But I will have to work harder to give her the support that she needs, as she is just not as committed to obstacles as Smitty or Austin. I'm sure we'll get it, and I'm thrilled that she's added some more speed to the equation.

Smitty had a great weekend. I entered her in everything to have plenty of opportunities to train. Well, she started off the weekend earning her MAD!!! She also finished her Snooker Master title, and now just needs a Jumpers Q and 2 Standard Q's for her ADCH...now that's just crazy. And on Monday, she gave me a chance to pull her for a teeter self-release and missed weaves. (she was solid on both in subsequent runs!)

Next up: A good bit of AKC. Smitty needs 4 double Q's to go to AKC Nationals, so we will see if we can pick those up. If we can get them quickly, then I will take a break from so much trialing and spend more time just training.
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Subject:Dog boots
Time:01:09 pm
Has anyone tried these???

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Subject:14!!!
Time:11:01 am
Can't believe it, but Cole turns 14 years old today. He is now almost 3 times his age when he ruptured that disk and everything went to hell. Who would have thought he'd still be here??? Since changing his diet to add carbs back in, his energy level is amazing, and he is still one incredibly happy dog.


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Subject:Headed to Chicago...
Time:02:54 pm
Off to another regional! I'm not taking my laptop, so updates will be via Twitter/Facebook...
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Subject:Sanford AKC - August 02, 2009
Time:06:21 pm
Today's results were slightly better...3 for 6 for Team Miller, again with small mistakes in each of the other 3 runs. I'm torn about trialing at this site in the future. I think the sand is really an issue for Smitty on the dogwalk. She shortens up her stride and then often misses the contact. I can't say that I completely blame her, as it does get slippery as the sand builds up. Folks also don't understand that it's not just the contact zones that need to be swept clean, but the entire contact. The surface also has some issues, as you can't tell where it will suddenly be deep or packed, which can be a problem for dog and handler. It has definitely got me thinking about future trials in general (not just here). With Smitty's speed, I may have to be more selective about where I will and won't trial.

Anyway...on to our runs:

Smitty - JWW: Well, I learned something...in these type set ups, handling decisions to "get down the line" may not be as important as decisions to "direct for the weave entry". I think I could have gotten there if I had put my rear between the jump and the tunnel.



Regan - JWW: She continued her "ON FIRE" weekend with a fabulous 1st place finish! This was a lot of fun to run!!! Note that there are some single striding instances!!!



Austin - JWW: Ahhh...now this is more like it!!! He really powered through, particularly the 2nd half!!! 2nd place



Smitty - STD: There were tons of nice things in this run, including major lateral distance on the weaves, awesome table, fab teeter, beautiful aframe. However it was a very ugly dogwalk. Again, I think this was due to the sand on the dogwalk, as her strides are off and very, very tiny. Granted, she should know to drive to the bottom, but if she thought it was slippery, I can't really blame her for bailing. I need to decide if this is a training issue, or just a venue to avoid...



Regan - STD: Another blue ribbon! Gosh, she looks good! Seems that Ray-Ray isn't done getting better just yet!



Austin - STD: Heartbreaker of the weekend...just fabulous run. And then he has to sneeze in the weaves and misses a pole. Everything else was totally spot on... Dang it! But you can't blame him for needing to sneeze.

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Subject:Sanford AKC - August 01, 2009
Time:06:07 pm
Wow...what a shocker to attend a local trial after A-dam. The courses were SOOOO very different! It felt weird to run Regan and Austin, since I had been so focused on Smitty. And Austin is a wee bit chunky.

Not our best day, we only achieved 1 Q out of 6 runs. And as usual, they weren't nearly as bad as I thought when I watched them on video... Perhaps if I keep doing this, one day I'll have a better perception of reality!

Smitty - Standard: Felt a bit heavenly to have a straight hit off the dogwalk...ahhh. It was such a simple little course. I was just a tad late cueing the 2nd turn of the serp, and she brushed the wing. She was a bit naughty on her table. ;) Fabulous weaves!!!



Regan - Standard: Hot damn, look at this little puppy go! I liked this run a lot, and I think she did too! 2nd place



Austin - Standard: He felt a little slow to me, but again, my perception may be off. I forgot to hesitate long enough on the aframe and he missed the contact by a good 6". However, the rest of the run was quite nice!



Smitty - JWW: Holy crap, did she come out of that tunnel fast!!! Clearly she didn't pick up on the front cross in the pinwheel. But killer weaves again...and she was whining in them...that's something new!



Regan - JWW: Another drivey run for Ray-Ray! And I guess just going too fast for the weaves...I wish I had reared.



Austin - JWW: Well, dang, same mistake as Smitty, and you can tell I tried to rotate sooner. Still too much lateral motion.

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Subject:Slideshow from our trip
Time:05:48 pm
OK, just to clarify, Gary wrote the captions, not me! :)

Slideshow

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Subject:Smitty Pics from EO
Time:05:42 pm









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Subject:Arnhem - Sunday
Time:01:35 pm
After floating all evening on Saturday, I couldn't believe that we had another day of agility to enjoy!!! I was ultra curious to see what the courses would be like today. Similar schedule in the morning, although we arrived slightly later to the site.

When we arrived, we found out that the running order in our catalogs had been printed wrong. Luckily, this proved to our advantage, and we were to run nearly last in Group 3 again. Sweet!!! Did someone just know that I was here to learn or what?!?!?

First up was Jumpers today. I was a little overwhelmed by the opening. A push through off the startline. The weave entry was extreme, but looked doable (we had done one similar in practice). Then an awesome drive across the field. The ending was quite tricky. An odd 270 push through off the broad jump (do what???), and then another push through before the last jump. WOW! Smitty was on a baby dog team with no expectations....PERFECT! I wanted to get out there and do our best, but the team knew that more than likely, we wouldn't place well.



Well, the opening went off without a hitch. Not true for the weave entry. I guess she had too much power going in, and she missed the first hole. It was a very quick correction, and we were off again. Very pretty until the broad jump, and then some more "hang on by the skin of our teeth" moments, but otherwise clean!

Next was standard. Now this was an interesting experience to walk. All the other courses, I could have stayed out there longer to walk more. But this one, I was sort of like, uh, ok, I've got it. Knew the threadle before the weaves would be tricky, and I didn't trust our pull thru skills, so went with the less risky turn left/front cross.



Well, basically we nailed it! Threadles were a bit wide in the opening, and we lost some speed in the closing line, but hell, I'll take it!!! She placed 17th on this run....OH MY GOD! Isn't that cool????

After a bit of celebrating with Gary...we did more shopping and got ready for the closing ceremonies... More congestion with too many dogs too close for our taste, but Smitty did very well.

Oh, forgot to mention that she got massages on Saturday and Sunday. Had just a little tension in her neck on Saturday, and he said that she was even looser on Sunday... How cool is that??? Compete at a major event and my dog gets looser???? LOVE IT!

Anyway, it was fun to see folks run for the podium. Almost everyone had someone follow them with their flag...it was neat. And with no effort at all, I could totally see Smitty up there! :)

After the ceremony, it was time for us to bust a move out of there. Mindy gave us a ride to the hotel, which was holding our luggage. We got everything correctly packed (forgot to mention Gary had made an excursion and found us a new suitcase for 15 euro...cool!), and then were able to walk Smitty for 30 min before catching the bus. Then it was bus to train to hotel.

The Sheraton was nice...especially nice was that it was connected to the train/plane station! I felt like the journey home was a sort of test of what all we had learned about public transportation. Well, it went off without a hitch! Easy smooth sailing, and by 9pm on Monday night, we were at home with all the pups, as if we never left!

Next step is to scan in some photos from the competition...they got some great ones of Smitty!!!
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Subject:Arnhem - Saturday
Time:11:57 am
Wow, so I'm actually going to blog about the event itself??? ;-)

We set the alarm for 6:00, time for Gary to get in the shower and me to snooze until 6:30...then quickly get dressed and head down to breakfast with Katie and Eric. Breakfast was a nice spread of hot and cold items, and only 10 euros, actually a steal for a hotel breakfast from what I saw (other prices ranged as high as 32 euros per person!!!). We managed to get to the site around 7:30, and acclimated ourselves to what was going on where.

There were 4 rings of agility. Two for the large dogs (one standard - called "agility" in europe, and one jumpers) and two for small / medium (one standard and one jumpers - small in one, medium in the other, and then they would switch). Within medium, there were 3 groups, schedule was to walk/run group 1, walk/run group 2, walk/run group 3. I was fortunate to be at the end of group 3, so was able to watch and obsess just as much as I wanted to! All of the country team members were grouped together. It meant you couldn't really watch each other, but at least you could decide as a group when you needed to be where, which was nice. Walk thrus were only 5 minutes, and you did not get a coursemap.

I found what worked best for me was to do the following: 1) learn the course 2) begin watching teams run 3) every 3-4 runs, I would move 20-30 ft to gain a different perspective on the course. I gradually made my way around the ring, until I had seen the course run from all angles. 4) Decide how I would likely plan on handling the course, or at least narrow it down to 2 options. I spent some time brainstorming with "outside the box" ideas, especially for the sequences that were unusual for us. By doing this, I found that when I went to walk the course, I didn't need to walk to see the path, I could just focus on my handling.

We had been warned that folk would be less "nice" on the walkthrus, running right through you if you were in their way. I did get bumped more than usual, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

First up for us was standard. I could tell it was going to be a challenging course for Smitty. Multiple passes at tunnel holes we were not to take. A killer weave entry. A tough dogwalk exit. And a threadle at the very end. Well, the tunnels did prove to be a challenge, as did the weave entry. But she nailed the dogwalk, and the threadle at the end was no problem! :-) Oh, and her startline was STELLAR!!!!



I wasn't particularly disappointed or thrilled with this run. It just didn't seem like the thing to get worked up about. The challenges were over our head, and we were there to learn. I had a whole new appreciation for what was required to be successful. So lots of data gathered!

Next up was jumpers. I felt better about this course, as I usually do with jumpers. It had several tricks, but I thought I knew what I needed to do. I decided to do a backy-uppy off the startline, which would be fun. I had seen some wide turns afterwards on the way to the weaves, so I wanted to focus on moving after said cool move, and get her to the weaves. I thought this entry would be easier for her, and I chose another unconventional choice, leaving her in the poles and driving ahead to push to the tunnel (I was determined to get the *correct* end in this run!). I knew it would be tricky out of the straight tunnel, so planned to really work that section of the course. I felt like if I could get past that point, we just might have a shot.



Well, it was a bit wilder than in my head (tee-hee) but not too bad! The opening was brilliant. As I feared, I was late out of the straight tunnel, and had to handle the push thru from behind, not so pretty. But I held on and continued to work the course, and KEPT HER ON COURSE!!! Wow, how cool!!! Lots of wide turns, and not so efficient, but clean...we came in 33rd!

So here is the crazy way that we made it into the finals! First of all, this is a BIG finals event, with 60 dogs in each jump height. They allow the Top 20 in agility *or* jumpers into the finals. And then, if there's a dog that is in both, that frees up an additional spot (so #21 would get in). In addition, the top placing member of each country also runs in the finals.

So specifically for USA Medium, Sarah and Siryn were 21st in standard. Well, because of the rule mentioned above, they got into finals. Now they were #1 for USA Medium (the original posting that I saw listed Smitty 1st, but they changed it for some reason). Smitty was #2 for USA Medium, but since Sarah got in already, we got in too!!! Isn't that crazy???

I was beside myself! Smitty in the finals?!?!? Are you kidding??? OK, time to focus on the course... After much confusion on my part, I understood that they were going to walk small, walk medium, run small, run medium, so the course was the same. Holy crap, did it look tight!!! I didn't understand rules on refusal planes and such, and didn't really have time to consult with anyone, so I just opted to turn the way that I was sure wouldn't get called. I tried to keep my handling as simple as possible. And I did not care about wide turns. I wasn't out there to win, just for the experience and to keep things fun for me and my dog.

I knew the opening would be tricky. I was also concerned about the turn after the dogwalk. The rest I thought I could handle.



Well, it was trickier to handle the opening than I thought (I'd do it differently if I could run it again), and I had to help too much, putting me behind as she got on the aframe. I couldn't get up the line enough to show her the jump. But past that point, I was SUPER pleased with our performance. I thought my handling choices were good, and I thought she ran really well. Best of all, while a touch excited, I wasn't really nervous. I stayed focused on my plan and my dog, and felt like we performed to our ability, which is all I can really ask for!

And her startlines were AMAZING! Woo-hoo! I was so very proud of my baby girl!!

For dinner, we again went with Katie and Eric. Took some looking about downtown, but we finally settled on a restaurant, and enjoyed a nice meal. I pretty much collapsed into bed that night....looooong day! It doesn't get dark until after 10pm, so it was always tempting to stay out and up longer than you should!
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