Besides getting a new job, I've also been trialing Linus in agility.
We've trialed three times now, so still rookies, but we are already in Excellent Standard (how did THAT happen???). Jumpers is taking longer because it's always first and his first run of the weekend is always rough and he's clingy. This is not uncommon. We'll either keep throwing away our Jumpers run or I'll start adding a FAST class on the first day as it's always before Jumpers. We'll see...
In our second trial in May we won all firsts, he got his Novice Jumpers and he even got Open HIT for his Open Standard run. Frankly, he was the only dog in Open Standard to even Q that day. While he is in Preferred (so he can jump 20 instead of 24 inches and he gets a little more time), he was the only dog to Q in Open, period. He's not a fast dog, but he's not called Mr. Perfect for nothing! We've been working at Excellent and went to a timed/judged/coached match, which was interesting. He was he only dog to Q there, too, but if he made time, it was with three seconds to spare. I'm working on my handling, lines, etc. to shave off time because it would suck to make it through a course and be too slow.
In early June we went to his first outdoor trial. While Jumpers was a mess, his Open Standard run was perfect and he was, again, the only dog to Q in all of Open. No HIT because they only awarded it on Saturday. I was impressed that he ran so well outside and in the heat, which he is no yet acclimated to. We have a lot of agility coming up this summer and at our National Specialty, so I'm working on lots of swimming (got a kayak to swim the dogs - they have life vests) and getting even more weight off of him to make life a little easier.
We're also planning on getting back into the Open ring at the specialty. I am still deciding whether to continue with Obedience with him or just switch to Agility. Life is hard when you are hard on yourself! Oh well, I love my Type A boy.
Great action photo there at the bottom!
Sue
Chase 9/29/2006- 6/30/2017 Always in our hearts
Lark 12/25/2012- 2/2/22
Henry 7/14/18
Joey 5/14/2022
“Because of the dog's joyfulness, our own is increased. It is no small gift. It is not the least reason why we should honor as well as love the dog of our own life, and the dog down the street, and all the dogs not yet born. What would the world be like without music or rivers or the green and tender grass? What would this world be like without dogs?”
― Mary Oliver, Hidden Content
Labradorks (06-24-2019)
Choices to make but all equally good options, how lucky. Yes, love the tire jump shot.
Hidden Content
Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content
Labradorks (06-24-2019)
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