Sometimes agility is hard for Gustavo, and sometimes it isn’t. It wasn’t here. This is agility like we practice, this is agility like it’s supposed to always be.
We stuck to the plan on all runs except for Jumpers, as a test. Jumpers is usually ok for him. He earned a Jumpers Bronze with this one. Sticking with the plan worked allright, he had 3 of 4 good runs. 1 meltdown in the ring that seemed to be harder for him to run in, sandwiched between 2 others. This one with a wide open space on 2 sides of it made him happy. Could be a coincidence, but who knows? I am keeping notes and records, so now I know these things.
I’m not sure what our agility future will bring, me and Gustavo. This is something I’m going to think about a lot.
Otterpop was fine. Some fast runs, some slow runs. She earned a Tournament Silver with her Grand Prix win and a Standard Silver in Performance. Her favorite run was Gamblers, but she left out one of the weave poles in the gamble! Oops.
I’m not sure what our agility future will bring, me and Otterpop. I think she has some Gamblers and Grand Prix and Standard runs still in there. I know for a fact Otterpop likes agility. She tells me before we go in. I will never crack the nut that is the why of Otterpop. But every time we practice, she tells me she never, ever wants to quit.
I did run my favorite lab again and this time got an E! Oops. We had a very fun run nonetheless. Thanks Peggi and sorry about that! Hopefully Peggi will let me try again.
You sure do learn a lot about ups and downs in agility. Lots of ups and downs happening over the weekend, for everybody at Bayteam and everybody in Minnesota. Some times people’s kind words about the downs come out a little bit crookedy and sideways. Luckily I have a sense of humor. So when someone said I looked like a hobo, and someone else thought perhaps we might better enjoy competing in CPE, I can smile on the outside with my new tooth and not put a curse on anybody, because I’m not a witch.
There is a lady in dog agility that looks like a real witch. And she is not me. And for this, today, I will be grateful. And me and the dogs, right now? We’ll just go to the beach.
"Some times people's kind words about the downs come out a little bit crookedy and sideways."
is that not just the most profound truth ever?
you gotta wonder why they even try sometimes
Sounds like a pretty fine weekend – with some very pretty hardware too – keep on enjoying the runs, and the dogs and all will work out I'm sure!!
Fun weekend. Watched Gustavos jumpers run and thought, "Wow!" My new motto is don't listen to anyone unless they are saying something I want to hear. It keeps the crazy to a minimum.
"is that not just the most profound truth ever?
you gotta wonder why they even try sometimes
"
Understood. My experience watching conformation shows often leaves me thinking "for dog people, these folks can be awfully catty."
Sorry you took the brunt of that.
As one of those people who has been known to say something meant to be encouraging and have it come out "a bit crookedly and sideways," I'll just apologize for all of us 🙂
Best wishes that it all works out!
Beautiful, Laura!
It is hard to know what to say sometimes when you know that someone is frustrated about their situation. I suspect that people mean well. I also sometimes find myself explaining, "what I *meant* was…"
I look at you and see someone who's an excellent handler (look at all the people who want you to run their dogs!) and an excellent trainer (look how well you've done with dogs that might not have been able to do anything in the hands of someone else–you've made them into fine dogs) and I wish that I were as agile and talented and danged determined as you are and then I go home and eat ice cream instead.
Love your front crosses! I wish I felt as comfortable as you look doing those lovely crosses. Oh and what a great send to the tunnel! Got a grin out of Vici's "keeps the crazy to a minimum!"