Starting The Year Off Right!

Tractor and I went down to Phoenix for a NADAC trial this weekend and left with high hopes of what 2009 will bring for us! It had been 6 months since we have done any trialing - but his focus in class is always so serious and great, that I didn't even think that he might be a little stir crazy!

We started off after the 5 hour ride down on Friday with his first ever attempt at a weavers course. We have just recently gotten him more reliable on his weaves, so I was really excited to give this one a try. Well, I set him up - first obstacle is a tunnel of course.. and lead out just to the end of the tunnel. We have practiced REALLY difficult lead outs in class, requiring him to do multiple jumps in a funky order and other things - and he has had NO issue with lead outs. WELL.. my fault for assuming.. because I led out to the end of that tunnel and said "Let's go" - he bolted right for me.. completely by passing the tunnel! Oops.. so I take him back and send him through and the chaos began. Not only did that frazzle me because I wasn't expecting it - my nerves played in as well, so the rest of the run was a combo of frantic arm movements (my trainer is going to love watching that video!), horrible front crosses and zero focus. I will say, his last two obstacles were beautiful, as he read/responded to his newly learned "turn" command and had a nice finish. Somehow, we managed to pull of a Q and a first place!

Second run, it was completely DARK by the time Novice got to run - and it was Touch N Go. I was bummed, because he only needed one more Q in this class - and combining the dark with about 5 hoops (which he NEVER gets to see.. and I think are the most ridiculous piece of equipment EVER).. I figured we were in for another ugly run. Well, prove me wrong! He had a beautiful run - but towards the end, I didn't pull back enough to pull him off a tunnel (it was a tunnel/dogwalk discrimination) - and he took that instead of the dogwalk. The rest of the run was gorgeous, he had amazing contacts and had no issue with the hoops.. good boy!

We went back to hotel, each had a big dinner and went to bed by 9:30.. ha! The next morning.. we started off with a Novice Tunnelers run. This was another course brand new for him - and while his focus wasn't 100% where it normally is, he did a lot better with only one or two mis-steps/misreads - which probably were my fault, watching back the videos. He did Q though!

Next up was Jumpers. He had two runs, basically back to back. The first course was a really nice, open course - and after my lead out disaster, I was scared to go more than two jumps out, so I stayed a bit closer with him. Again, aside from him not collecting enough (therefore passing) two jumps, he had a nice run, read his rear crosses and managed to get a Q. That made his second novice jumpers Q for NADAC. The 2nd course was a little bit tighter, but still a nice course. About halfway through, he overshot a jump because I was crowding him, so I had to bring him back and when I did, I didn't give him enough room to take it, so he knocked the bar, but otherwise had a clean run!

After Jumpers, we had a bit of a break to walk around, play a little fetch and just relax. Next runs were standard, and again they were basically back to back (on different rings). First course scared me.. I watched Open and then as they built Novice.. (in my mind) the novice was WAY more difficult, as they had three really hard discriminations. I was the only one in the class to block the tunnel (very first thing up was a tunnel/dogwalk (needing the dogwalk) discrimination - so I was thinking people would think I was weird to do that, but I'm glad I trusted my instinct on knowing how Tractor would take it. He sailed on the dogwalk and held a beautiful contact, giving me time to catch up from blocking it. Seeing as it was now our 5th run of the weekend, I was starting to calm my nerves, so I was focusing/breathing and taking my time, like we do in class. I made him hold his contact, led out quite a bit so I was able to push out (it was an A-frame/tunnel (needing the tunnel) and he nailed it perfectly. He then came out and we had a series of jumps including an "across the feet" move which we had worked in class - and he read everything so well! Then it was back to the A-frame/tunnel and I pulled back just a little and he flew up the A-frame! The ending was nice as well, with only having to re-attempt the weaves once, and overall a VERY nice run. That was his 2nd Q in Standard.

Last run of the day was another Standard course, and this one had no discriminations, so I right off the bat felt a little better. This was another great run for us - with me only messing him up once, not connecting with him after a front cross before taking off, but we came back, he took the jump and nailed his weaves on the first try! This Q was what earned Tractor his very first agility title.. his NAC title!

All in all, it was a GREAT weekend, as always, I learned a lot from him - and am looking even more forward to the next trial. We go to LA next weekend for an AKC trial (jumpers and standard only) - so hopefully the more we show, the less nutty he will get and the less nervous I will be when we actually get to a trial.

Way to go Bitty Boy... I'm so proud of you!

Here's a video of our weekend! (Thanks Becky for shooting the footage!!!)