Agility Trial This Weekend

This weekend the dogs and I are at an agility trial close to home.  Today I had Max entered in three runs and Rylie in two.  Can you say exhausted?  Max ran in the advanced standard class first.  He did really well and ran fast.  We didn't Q due to two jump refusals - most likely due to my handling - I'll have to watch the video but I was really happy.

Next I had both Max and Rylie entered in Starters Gamblers.  There were only four dogs at their height so they were nice enough to move us into the #1 and #4 spot.  Rylie ran first.  It was a bit of an experiment and I honestly had no idea what to expect.  I started him with the weaves because they are his favourite thing but he popped out almost right away.  My trainers voice saying "when young dogs are stressed the first thing to go is the weaves" echoed in my ears.  Regardless we carried on and ended up with enough points.  Rylie didn't get the gamble which was a tunnel and two jumps working 10 feet away from me.  That surprised me because usually when he locks on to a line he has it.  I'll have to watch the video and see if I pulled him off unintentionally.  He thought it was all great fun though and it was a good learning experience for me.  I didn't think my brain was capable of remembering two courses so I planned to run Max the same course.  Since starting with the weaves didn't work for Rylie I got brave and changed my plan.  Max hopped on the teeter and decided he wasn't moving even though he'd done it without issue in the standard run.  It wasn't a fault as it was starters so I called him off and carried on.  He didn't initially get the gamble but we had enough time that I was able to send him over the jumps and he got a Q.

Next came Rylie's starters jumpers course.  He ran really really well and did exactly what I asked of him.  Unfortunately what I asked was to go over an off course jump.   Oooops.  So he didn't get a Q but he didn't care he had fun anyway.   He'll get to try again tomorrow.  Max's advanced jumpers run was next.  I managed to keep my wits about me and direct him around the right course so he got a Q.  He's just that bit slower than Rylie that gives me a bit of time to think during the run.