Edan at the 2012 TDAA Petit Prix - Eastern Championship

[Silaria]

Two weeks ago, October 26-28, Edan and I participated in TDAA's Petit Prix - their equivalent of Nationals. This year the Petit Prix was hosted in two locations, Latrobe, PA for the Eastern Championship and Wichita Falls, TX for the Western Championship. Our Eastern Championship event drew a highly competitive field of 73 dogs. (Texas was only slightly larger at 78 dogs.)

Edan was one of the Top 40 Finalist. He finished 6th in the 12 inch jump height class and 15th overall. Most of the dogs who finished ahead of Edan in the 12 inch class were veterans dogs (7+ years old). I'm THRILLED to see so many veteran dogs able to compete at such a high level especially since Edan will be eligible to run Veteran Class next year.

Video (the YouTube descriptions say how Edan did):
Power and Speed: http://youtu.be/78qkuwj3SHo
Standard 1: http://youtu.be/Mcxu2IFY4Rk
Call Direct Send: http://youtu.be/mRZkFKME6pI
Standard 2: http://youtu.be/3oyyX7jVDDY
Weakest Link: http://youtu.be/ejjIIYNHPiI
Heinz 57: http://youtu.be/U7T6Dgdz1Bs
Standard 3: http://youtu.be/ptBxBlMvr9Q
Quidditch: http://youtu.be/C-7_tJ90j08
Jumpers: http://youtu.be/Lj-9vA5Hj4k

We had a photographer at the trial. Not all the pictures are available yet but here are the proof shots for some of them:
Standard 1: Pictures #86-93 http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/sli...a74307c&idx=85
Call Direct Send: Pictures #67-71 http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/sli...a74307c&idx=85
What's My Line: Pictures #11-14 http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/sli...9afef6b&idx=10
Standard 3: Pictures #18-24 http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/sli...c293022&idx=17
Quidditch: Pictures #88-99 http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/sli...22fa54d&idx=87

(There's a pretty bi-black named Heidi just before Edan in all the picture sets.)

Some other events at the Petit Prix resulted in a good showing by Edan:
- 24 Weave Pole Challenge - 2nd place with a time of 6.92 seconds
- Distance Challenge - 5th place with a forward send of 70.4 feet
- Won the crate decorating contest for our Pirate Ship (pictures coming soon)

We had a great time! Best of all - We get to do it again NEXT YEAR because we are going to have the Petit Prix in Latrobe again in 2013.

[Calliesmom]

that is a pretty biblack
the pic link for Call Direct Send: Pictures #67-71 http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/sli...a74307c&idx=85 looks like it goes to the standard run pix.......

all the videos were great- thanks for the summary for each one- looks like y'all had some fun

[corbinam]

What an awesome experience that must have been! Not only to have been there, but to do have done so well.

Congratulations to you and Edan!

There are some really great pictures in there, I hope you are planning to buy some of them to commemorate the event :)

Also, I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures of the pirate ship crate!

Curious--does Edan have any trouble switching from regular sized equipment to teacup? Do you find yourself having to practice on the smaller equipment before trials? Just curious.

Congratulations again, you must be so proud!

[Silaria]

Originally Posted by corbinam

What an awesome experience that must have been! Not only to have been there, but to do have done so well.

Congratulations to you and Edan!

Thanks! It was a great experience. I also had a lot of fun talking to competitors from different areas of the country - Wisconsin, North Carolina, New Jersey, Maryland and a few other states.

My goal for 2013 is to place within my Class. I was only 2 shy of that this year so it's possible; especially if I avoid the two NQ's I had this year.

There are some really great pictures in there, I hope you are planning to buy some of them to commemorate the event :)

I'm planning on buying the DVD of all the pictures; even though a lot of the jump pictures are the same. The DVD of everything is actually going to be the most cost effective.

Also, I'm looking forward to seeing the pictures of the pirate ship crate!

You and Cheryl both! I need to clean off the camera card tonight so I should have those pictures over the weekend.

Curious--does Edan have any trouble switching from regular sized equipment to teacup? Do you find yourself having to practice on the smaller equipment before trials? Just curious.

It doesn't phase him in the slightest. Most of the time the only exposure we get to the equipment before a trial is the 'obstacle familiarization' that happens before the Judge's briefing. During obstacle familiarization we can put the dogs on all the equipment that is different from standard agility (contacts, tunnel, tire, weaves) BUT we can't do obstacles in consecutive order. This is because the majority of TDAA dogs don't see the equipment outside of trials.

Congratulations again, you must be so proud!

Yup! I'm a proud Sheltie mamma.

[take4roll10]

How cool! Looks like you and Edan had a great time. I watched a few videos and def looks like he is picking up speed. Great pics too. Congrats!

[Sharon]

Congratulations on your success!!Just curious on your Quidditch run Edan seem confused as where to go.You pointed towards the tire when you wanted him to take the jump.I think he really seemed confused in the run.I think if you quit saying his name so much he would respond better.Great job!!!

[Silaria]

Oh gosh yes! I have to re-learn how to handle him on these courses. I'll probably end up using more distance and I'll have to train a turning cue. It's also going to force me to get into better shape so I have a better chance of being where I need to be.

It's all good though because every handling trick I have to use here translates beautifully onto full size courses, especially tight courses like AKC.

[Toffee's Mom]

oh how cute is this!!!
He's certainly turning into more of a handful and a speedy little guy, isn't he?
What a change that now you have to adjust your handling to a fast dog, lol

I have a hard time right now trying to reconcile and find the balance at the trial because I over baby and give my Q's late... I keep thinking he'll run off on me and charge something... I feel like his brain is only half or three quarters there... with all the other things going on there... and him alerting to the judges and ringcrews and whatever else is on the course or what he hears LOL
I then find myself surprised when it seems like he won't stay with me while I am ON the course but then watch the video and I am like well damn, look how slow and late I WAS, no wonder he's b*tching at me for info sooner! lol
Honestly, things I learned about ME being a horrible Handler in the last few months of trialing here n there is an eye opener LOL


Good thing you're more experienced and above all it looks like great fun!!!!

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by Silaria

Oh gosh yes! I have to re-learn how to handle him on these courses. I'll probably end up using more distance and I'll have to train a turning cue. It's also going to force me to get into better shape so I have a better chance of being where I need to be.

It's all good though because every handling trick I have to use here translates beautifully onto full size courses, especially tight courses like AKC.

Just curious does Edan always run in collection?I never see him in extension?

[Dexter'sMom]

Congratulations for all your hard work. I find it overwhelming with all you need to do as a team! I enjoyed all the clips and they certainly gave me an appreciation of how much you put into it. Well done!