Movin' West

It was nice to leave the tolls and bumpy roads of Oklahoma. The following day we went through the "sticky uppy" part of Texas....it probably has a real name...and that's probably not it!  Then just squeaked into New Mexico for a night to a place called Tucumcari. The dogs didn't like it. If you went off the pavement it was just all stickers.

Then today we made it to Albuquerque. For the first time in almost a month, 2iggie and Boogie got to be off leash in the great outdoors.

There is a gate behind the RV park that leads to hundreds of acres of desert land. Mike took the two Monkeys (that would be 2iggie and Boogie) and let them run free in the desert. 2iggie stayed fairly close but ran and ran. Boogie headed for the ONE bush in the entire area and laid down underneath. I've never had a dog that gets hot so easily.

There was a little rise in the land and 2iggie went running over the knoll. By the time Mike got there, 2iggie was nowhere in sight. Mike called Boogie and as he got near Mike, he stopped and his nose started twitching, and then he took off like a shot.....right in the direction of 2iggie.  Mike gave him quite the treat when he got home to thank him for finding 2iggie.

Speaking of Boogie being fast. Here is his run in the Finals of the NADAC Championships. Out of 1,665 runs at the Championships, only 58 qualified as 100+ run indexes. Boogie had one of those.....it is in this run.

Since this was the last run of the Championships for our dogs, Mike decided he could suck up the pain in his knee and try to go for it. Here they are!  (If you click the four little arrows in the bottom right, it will play a full screen.  It seems a little blurry to me when you do this thought.)

Notice the great distance Boogie does too.

Here is Sparkie's run....she got 1st place in this run.

Debbie

L'Argus NATCH-18

(Auburn, WA) This weekend we were at Argus Ranch for the L'Argus trial. The weekend was just about as perfect as it could be. Great weather, great friends, and great agility.

I wasn't able to be out to enjoy the weekend so Mike purchased videos of many of the runs as you'll see below.

But I don't think a better weekend could have been had. Mike and the dogs went 30 for 32. Boogie was perfect going 11/11 with many 1st's. Sparkie went 12/13 with many 1sts....and many runs where she was the fastest of ANY dog there. And there was stiff competition at this trial. And Wazzu went 7/8. What a weekend! Maybe I should stay away more often!

I actually did try to do two runs standing still in the middle. Needless to say, that was a very bad idea. While Mike went 30/32, I went 0/2. I was much to focused on the pain and couldn't help my dog out at all. Poor little Boogie didn't Q either run with me but it was totally my fault, not his. So that was my five minutes out each day. We didn't Q but I love being out there with my little boy....even if I did suck.

Here are some videos of their wonderful weekend.

Boogie - Weavers, notice what a great move Boogie makes when Mike gets lost for just a quick second. Saved by the dog!





Boogie - Regular





Sparkie - Jumpers, notice how Sparkie seems to be doing all the work!





Boogie - Touch N Go, notice the fantastic start (NOT - but hey, border terriers are allowed to get distracted) But once he leaves the line he really goes.





Wazzu - Regular, last but not least...not super fast but fast enough and very happy.





Oh, and by the way! Sparkie earned her NATCH-18 this weekend. Way to go, Mike and Sparkie.

Debbie
6/25-27/10

Touch....and GOoooo

(Woodinville, WA) This evening we attended the first "one day trial" of the year held at Mega-Dogs. There were two Touch N Go runs offered.

We entered Wazzu, Sparkie, and Boogie in both runs. As usual this Juneuary, it had rained a good portion of the day so the trial was held in the sand.

The courses were very tricky and the Q rate on both runs was extremely low. The first run, Boogie just couldn't understand why there were all these people in his yard watching him practice agility. So he kept stopping and looking back at all the people. The parts he did run without stopping he did beautifully.

Wazzu was happy and fast....a little too happy and fast. She jumped off the dog walk at the very end of the run, missing the contact. Sparkie had a misstep at the very beginning of the course but did well after that. So we were 0 for 3 the first run. Even so, all three dogs placed....I told you the courses were tough! Out of 38 dogs there were only nine Q's.

The second course was probably the most difficult Touch N Go course we've ever seen. And our guys rose to the occasion. Wazzu went first. She was spot on....not falling for any of the many difficult traps.....and even hitting the end of the course dogwalk contact!

Sparkie was next and she too handled the traps nicely. By the second run, Boogie realized this was a trial! Now he was amped up like usual. And he was fast.....until the very end. Let me explain.

I have to spend most of the run in one general area as I really wasn't able to move well today. He did great distance for me and listened well at all the tricky spots. He did his dogwalk contact perfectly with me very far away. But there was one more obstacle (which many dogs had trouble with....and their people could run). I told Boogie to go on but he didn't see the last hoop since it was offset. So he thought maybe I meant for him to get back on the contact...nooooooo. Phew, saved that. I Tried to send him but he wasn't understanding. After some time (seemed like forever at the time) I finally got up close enough that he figured out what I wanted. Phew! A 2nd place Q. Yippee!

Take a look for yourself.....




We ended up, Sparkie 1st place, Wazzu 2nd place (very close behind Sparkie) and Boogie 2nd place. Great job! There were 38 dogs with only eight Q's....three of which were Mason dogs!

The dogs had a great time...as did we. 2iggie, however, didn't understand why she never got to go out and play. Soon 2iggie, soon.

Debbie
6/16/10

Goin' Out

(Woodinville, WA) We've spent the last couple weeks just hanging out. That means lots of hiking for Mike and the dogs. And I mean lots of hiking since Mike only takes two or three dogs out at a time.

Weekends, of course, have been agility trials. The first one was down in Corvallis, OR. It was inside and pretty dark so no pictures there. But it was a good opportunity for 2iggie to go inside and start learning about arenas. Mike discovered he doesn't exist once they get out into the arena. 2iggie goes into hunting mode and sees nothing, hears nothing, except what's on the ground. Hmm.

The dogs had a good time but I had the better time. I was so enjoying getting to be out on the course with Boogie for at least a couple runs a day. Of course the highlight for me was when Boogie got a pretty difficult Elite Chances Q.

The next weekend we were at Argus Ranch in Auburn. Once again, too dark for pictures....too bad as there were some great picture moments! I don't think anything could have been done to make this trial any nicer. Two great judges, perfect weather both days, very nice trial committee, fun and challenging courses, and of course, super nice people.

Saturday will probably remain one of the biggest highlights in my memory. I was able to run Boogie in two runs....both were Elite Chances. One was really hard and other was super duper tricky and difficult. My little Boogie Man rose to the occasion and got BOTH Chances Q's. I am still on cloud nine. In addition to that, Boogie and Sparkie were both perfect for the day going six for six. Wazzu didn't Q but she was very happy.

A friend of mine was nice enough to try and record Boogie and I doing one of our Chances runs. Here's what she got. Thanks, Susan.

Sunday we didn't fare quite as well but it wasn't for lack of trying. Boogie and I need to work a few things out and then we'll be golden. He does the big distance very nicely but the turn aways are difficult. Leave it to Boogie to make everyone laugh. He got confused at one point....so instead of going over the jump, he just ran up to it and put his paws up on the jump and just stood there...barking of course. Needless to say everyone laughed.

But we had some stellar runs with all the dogs. Wazzu took more air over the a-frame than I've ever seen. Of course the whole crowd went "whoa" which excited her even more. She was close to two feet over the apex and landed in the yellow. It was so very fun to watch. Many Q's today from all three dogs and many smiles from both dogs and people.

I just can't put into words how much it means to me to have so many people come up to me and give me encouragement and support. The agility community is just amazing. I can't imagine a nicer group of people. It touches my heart in a very special way. Thank you all so very much...

Debbie

6/1-13/10

Flying High...

(Elma, WA) We're at a USDAA trial this weekend and since this is Boogie's first time he has to be measured. That means Mike had to get up super early to get in line.

We saw so many people this weekend that we hadn't seen in many years. I was really surprised how many of them remembered us. It was another nice weekend.

Sparkie and Boogie both have to jump much higher in USDAA than they do in NADAC. It didn't cause either of them a problem except for one time. During Sparkie's Standard run on Saturday she got hung up in the tire. It was quite the collision with Sparkie getting flipped. Fortunately she is okay but Mike said Sparkie won't be doing USDAA anymore. Just not worth the risk.

Little Boogie is game for anything. Even though there were many obstacles he hadn't seen in a long long time (well over a year), he did them all without even blinking. He qualified in every run except for one...and it was a beautiful run right up until the very end.

They were doing Gamblers. Mike had a beautiful course made up and they were in exactly the right spot when the buzzer rang. All Boogie had to do was jump, tunnel, jump - all on the other side of the line. Easy....you'd think. Boogie did the first jump, headed right for the tunnel, got his head and shoulders in the tunnel...then came to a screeching halt. Just as he was entering the tunnel a little Border Terrier girl started barking at him. He immediately came out of the tunnel and started looking in the stands for his girlfriend. No matter what Mike did, Boogie wouldn't stop searching for his girlfriend. Finally, the second buzzer went off. Oh, Boogie! But you know, you just can't help that sometimes. There are some things more important than agility...border terrier love!

Everything else on Saturday was perfect. Boogie even qualified for the Finals of the Steeplechase. What a good boy as the Steeplechase is run on a Masters level course and he is only a Starters dog - at his first trial no less.



Sunday was successful too although Mike seemed a bit disappointed at times. Sparkie ran great (she was only entered in three runs). She got Q1 in Standard and Q1 in Pairs. In Snooker she had an off course as she just couldn't believe she wasn't supposed to do the obstacle right in front of her. Here is Sparkie in her Standard run.




Boogie ran well today as well. He started the day off with a Q1 in Standard, a Q1 in Pairs and a Q1 in Snooker. He had a great pairs partner and we thought they could easily clean up. Boogie's partner did the first half fast and perfect. Boogie was really jazzed and did his half (the much more difficult half) perfectly as well. They were the "odd couple" of the group. All the other pairs were same breed partners. Boogie's partner was a super cute and super fast Pumi.

Boogie was also entered in Grand Prix. Once again this is a Masters level course, and it was extremely difficult. I saw many many good teams taking wrong courses. I figured Boogie would make a lot of errors but knew he'd have a great time anyway. Well my little boy was amazing! He did the entire course correctly! But he had his only missed contact of the weekend on this course. Oh, so close! I am so proud of the little guy. That's my boy!

In the Finals of the Steeplechase, Boogie and Mike were totally connected. Boogie went exactly where Mike sent him the entire way. And Boogie was fast! Ever since being on course with another dog (during Pairs) he was amped. As we have all done, Mike sent Boogie into the wrong end of the tunnel. He didn't realize it until the run was over. Had they done the tunnel correctly they would have had 2nd place in this very competitive group. But I didn't care. I was very proud of them both.

After it was all over we packed up and headed to Woodinville....our "home" for the next few months. Thanks Karen and Steve!

Debbie
4/10-11/10

Snow and Hoops

Today we made our way over the Sierra Mountains on our way to Carson City, Nevada. It was gorgeous.....at least what I saw of it. I'll let you in on a little secret. I don't really watch too much when we drive as I get so nervous. The RV just looks so wide and the lanes always look so narrow! So I'm always leaning way to the left so that we won't hit things. Needless to say, that doesn't actually make the RV move to the left - it just makes me all tense. So, I just don't watch unless we are on a nice super wide road.

But today Mike told me that I had to look as the scenery was just beautiful. It was hard to get pictures through the windows as we drove - but there was definitely no room to pull over.

The white you see in this picture is actually a lake that is totally covered with snow.



It was so pretty! And it looked so inviting. Sparkie was sure it looked like a great place to play. So she kept standing up in the front looking out the window crying. We were sure she was saying "Are we there yet?"



Even though it did look a great place to stop and play we were on a time schedule and had to keep moving along. We kept going up and up to over 8,300 feet! There was a lot of snow.



I was really enjoying the scenery when suddenly I saw that the snow was plowed off the road alright but that meant there was no shoulder. YIKES. You can see in the picture where other vehicles have hit the snow bank. No more looking at scenery for me!




After we got down the mountains a ways, Mike convinced me to take another look. Now that we were down lower there was still some snow but here you could see one of the lakes.



It took us a little longer than we had expected but we made it to Carson City in plenty of time to get all set up at the trial site. Fortunately for Sparkie, there was a Friday evening run at this trial. It was our first opportunity to try the new class, Hoopers.

This is a class that is set up like a jumpers course but instead of jumps there are hula hoops (standing up on end) that the dogs run through. We had never even practiced on a hoop before so this was totally new to the dogs - and to us.

There were a number of dogs here that had done this event before but most had not. We entered Wazzu and Sparkie. Sparkie went first. She acted as though she'd done this numerous times before and ran fast and clean. She could care less what the obstacles are - as long as she gets to play agility with her daddy. The more runs the better.

Wazzu also ran it like this was old hat and ran fast and happy. Personally, I didn't really care for it - it seemed boring to me. Maybe when we progress to more difficult courses it will be more interesting.

Here, take a look at our Hoopers experience. Click on the picures to watch the videos. (Just click one time - that will take you to another screen which will load and play the video - no need to click anything on that screen. To return to the blog click the Back button.) We have loaded two videos so when you return to the blog just click the next picture to see the second video.

When the scores were posted, it seems as though the girls really had done well. Even though some of the other dogs had done this before and ours hadn't, Sparkie ended up coming in second and Wazzu came in third! Well done girls!

Driving is always hard on Wazzu but especially when we go on bumpy and windy roads. Here are a few cute shots of Wazzu sleeping after her rough day.







Sleep soundly sweet Wazzu, we've got a fun weekend ahead.

Debbie
4/13/07