CATC AKC Agility Trial

We ran two runs today in the Columbus All Breed Training Club Agility Trial held nearby at a Sports Barn (usually the building is used for soccer so the surface is artificial grass carpet). It was our first time competing somewhere other than the horse barn. So new place, new surface. Mom decided that she wanted me to get used to spending some time in my crate at trials, so my friend/trainer Deb let us set up with her. That part was nice, but I was not too comfortable in my crate! (I like my crate at home but this building was hot and noisy - too many people and dogs!). Mom didn't make me stay in there very long - it was cooler outside than in and I also spent some time sleeping in the car.

Any way, we ran our Open JWW run around 11:00AM. It went pretty well - mom quickly gave up on the plan she had for running the course and started running on the outside of the jumps - it worked - I sped up and fortunately finished the course just under the standard course time (STC:42/My time: 41.88)! Here is the Open JWW course map:

Then we waited nearly 5 hours for our Open STD run! We hung out in the car, we walked, we hung out with Deb......it was very boring! When it finally got to be my turn, I was less than excited (even with the prospect of meatballs)! I sniffed the ground before I got on the aframe and the judge called a refusal. One refusal is ok in Open. Then the chute - I surprised mom when I came out faster than I usually do. Then when I was supposed to be going into a tunnel (mom clearly told me "tunnel"!), I thought I saw something near the table and headed that way. Mom yelled, 'HEY!" and I turned away and took the tunnel. But the table was next and I stopped to sniff and darn if the judge didn't call another refusal (so now NQ!). I wasn't refusing to do these obstacles, I was merely sniffing, but apparently the judge didn't know that! The rest of the course went well - good weaves and faster than usual dogwalk. We finished a little over course time (not sure of the timings but I think it was 10 points off so we could've Q'ed if it weren't for the second refusal!). Here is the Open STD course map:

And last but not least, here is the video of both runs:

It was a pretty good day! I have two legs toward my Open Jumpers title (just need one more) and I made some progress in the Open STD run - at least we didn't get whistled off for running out of time like we did the last time we tried an Open STD course. Maybe we'll actually Q next time! Tomorrow I get to stay at home and mom is going to volunteer at the trial. I am looking forward to my day off after working so hard today!

Gotta zoom!

Ricky