Cara Sandler
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Well, DACOF was a complete disaster. Spirit got out there and just decided that she didn't want to do agility this weekend. I don't know exactly what was wrong - the surface was HORRIBLE for starters (at least 10 people fell, one broke her elbow, one injured her back, one sprained her ankle) - but she got out there and just didn't want to run. She did do her first run (jumpers) but towards the end absolutely refused to take a jump, so no score. For T2B, she did about 5 obstacles (with me yelling and cheering and encouraging her at the top of my lungs) and then decided she was done and just stood there. On to FAST, where I did manage to keep her moving (with a LOT of pleading and encouragement) so she at least got a score for that one. Yesterday, her first run was Standard. Once again, I had to go crazy to keep her even moving at all on the course - but miracle of miracles - SHE DID THE TEETER!!!!!!!! She refused to finish the course though, so no score. And onto JWW - where there was a tunnel start (she loves tunnels). She walked into the tunnel, stopped halfway, and refused to budge. I finally got her out of the tunnel, tried to get her to take the next jump, she said no, so I decided enough was enough and we were done (which is apparently what Spirit wanted because once she saw me head away from the obstacles, she perked up and ran with me).
So I am completely puzzled about what is going on in her head. The last thing I expected out of this mess was the teeter. Clearly she needs a break from trialing, so we're not going to trial in July or August at all (which will actually end up saving me quite a bit of money, since they are all 3 hours away and the hotels in the area jack their prices way up, right now my rooms are booked at a rate of $160 per night!). I think maybe she also needs a break from class - we have no class tonight, no class next week, and I think I will go to class the next few weeks without her so her little body gets a break as well. She has been seen by a canine physical therapist twice in the last month so I know she doesn't have any major injuries, but she has several small ones, and aches and pains. I think I just overdid it with her trying so hard to get her on the teeter, and it backfired. So we're going to try backing off for a little bit and see if that will make the difference.
But I have to say, I am pretty darn proud of that teeter! I was so shocked that she did it that I almost forgot what the next obstacle was!!!!!!
So I am completely puzzled about what is going on in her head. The last thing I expected out of this mess was the teeter. Clearly she needs a break from trialing, so we're not going to trial in July or August at all (which will actually end up saving me quite a bit of money, since they are all 3 hours away and the hotels in the area jack their prices way up, right now my rooms are booked at a rate of $160 per night!). I think maybe she also needs a break from class - we have no class tonight, no class next week, and I think I will go to class the next few weeks without her so her little body gets a break as well. She has been seen by a canine physical therapist twice in the last month so I know she doesn't have any major injuries, but she has several small ones, and aches and pains. I think I just overdid it with her trying so hard to get her on the teeter, and it backfired. So we're going to try backing off for a little bit and see if that will make the difference.
But I have to say, I am pretty darn proud of that teeter! I was so shocked that she did it that I almost forgot what the next obstacle was!!!!!!
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