Decent Agility Weekend

Silaria

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Edan and I were entered in a 3 day AKC trial over Labor Day Weekend. We went in needed 2 Qs to finish Open FAST, Excellent A, and Excellent A JWW. We managed to earn our OF title but only gain one more Q toward the AX and AXJ respectively. Overall we were 4 Qs for 8 runs on the weekend.

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of video. I stupidly deleted about 21 agility videos (video from every trial in August plus all of Saturday and and Sunday's FAST run) while moving them from my camera to my tablet to an SD card in the Tablet.

In both FAST runs, Edan and I earned more than enough points to Qualify. (We actually earned enough points to qualify in Excellent.) In both cases we came in 2nd. Saturday's run we had the same number of points but the dog (another Sheltie) who took 1st ran 1 second faster than us. On Sunday we had 1 less point then the dog who finished 1st.

The Standard and Jumpers courses for the weekend were NOT easy by any stretch of the imagination. There were handling traps all over the place; the maps are attached.

My Standard Runs
Edan was the only Excellent A dog (between both Regular and Preferred) to Q on Saturday's Standard course. We were starting off great! One more leg down toward my AX and 2 days to get the last one.

On Sunday, Edan had a complete breakdown on the course; I think he left his brain in the crate. What didn't he fault... he popped his weaves, refused the tunnel, ran around the table, and lept off the dog walk (http://youtu.be/qLKn76dl-H0). :confused2:

On Monday, we managed to navigate through the difficult section the course only to have Edan bounce the table. :gaah (http://youtu.be/4f1uXqFJxbI)

My JWW Runs
Saturday's run ended almost as soon as it started. I had a major handling between obstacles 3, 4 & 5. Basically I was trying to put a front cross in between 4 & 5 but was so far ahead of Edan he read the turning cue but took jump 18 backwards instead of jump 4 then turning to 5. :o

Sunday's run was much better until we got to Jump 8. I pushed him off the jump trying to rear cross him. :rolleyes2: (http://youtu.be/UmDIMBhjfFg) The rest of the run was pretty.

Monday's run we FINALLY managed to get a JWW Q - 3rd times a charm right? (http://youtu.be/L48o3qz3bcY)


Overall, it wasn't a great weekend for Q's but it was a great weekend for Edan's speed. His average YPS over all 6 Standard and JWW runs was 3.50 YPS. His Saturday Standard run was 3.31 YPS and his Monday JWW run was 4.16 YPS. For Edan, this is OUTSTANDING for him. A year ago I didn't believe he'd have a change at even making time on an Excellent course.


I have no idea when we are going to have a chance to go to another AKC trial given what my schedule looks like between now and the end of the year. I may be February before I can try again.
 
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I have yet to watch the videos, but bummer about losing so many! That sucks. I know the feeling.

OMG, I was getting dizzy reading the JWW maps. Dear gawd, I doubt I would have Q'd those and we excel at JWW. I'm sure it'd be all handler error about getting lost, sheesh. I hate when course wrap around and in upon itself. Yikes!

Congrats on the OF title and the two Q's. I know you would have wanted more, but they didn't make it easy, did they (the judges - were they married?).

And to think, you never thought Edan would make time in Excellent. He's doing great. Can't wait to watch the videos (will view them when I get home).

Oh, OT, but curious, has CJ started running AKC?
 
Why were you running in a skirt.I think Edan looked good.He was running and looking like he really enjoyed himself.Great job.On your standard course I think he popped the weaves as they were going right into a wall.I see alot of dogs do that pop on the 10th pole.As for the tunnel your hand shot in the air and the table you didnt give info.I heard you say table after he ran by it.Anyways Congrats for a nice weekend.
 
Congrats on the Q's!!! Edan is certainly looking a lot faster!

I calculated his YPS for all his Standard and Excellent runs (obviously or I wouldn't know his average over the 6 runs). The YPS breaks down like this:


Saturday Std: 3.31 YPS
Saturday JWW: 3.45 YPS (with faults)
Sunday Std: 2.80 YPS (lots of faults; this was the implosion run)
Sunday JWW: 4.06 YPS (with faults)
Monday Std: 3.16 YPS (with faults)
Monday JWW: 4.16 YPS
​

Those are quick numbers for Edan.

OMG, I was getting dizzy reading the JWW maps. Dear gawd, I doubt I would have Q'd those and we excel at JWW. I'm sure it'd be all handler error about getting lost, sheesh. I hate when course wrap around and in upon itself. Yikes!

Yeah, definitely NOT 'gimme' courses. You had to earn those Q's; and the Q rate wasn't that great. They were definitely a challenge; and honestly what I'd expect on an Excellent course. I don't want to see 'gimme' courses at this level.

Congrats on the OF title and the two Q's. I know you would have wanted more, but they didn't make it easy, did they (the judges - were they married?).

Yup, they were married. This particular club tends to bring in husband/wife teams for their judges.

Oh, OT, but curious, has CJ started running AKC?

Not yet. Her weaves are no where near solid enough to enter her. They are only at about 60 or 70 percent success rate. Usually she doesn't hit the entrance on the first approach or she decides to run along side the weaves.

We are still working on it and we'll get there.
 
Nice runs. I know the feeling, I never thought I could get Ember to Q in AKC excellent. Congrats on your hard work.:smile2:
 
awwww, congratulations!!
you must be so proud, after all the work you guys have put into this!
I haven't had a chance yet since I am still at work to peruse the videos but I am looking forward to it!!
 
I know you are disappointed with the Qs, but you really should be SO pleased with his speed. I remember someone told me that with a slower dog you sort of have to let accuracy go a little bit at first to get some of the speed, then the accuracy comes back :lol:

Congratulations--those were some tricky courses.
 
I know you are disappointed with the Qs, but you really should be SO pleased with his speed. I remember someone told me that with a slower dog you sort of have to let accuracy go a little bit at first to get some of the speed, then the accuracy comes back :lol:

Congratulations--those were some tricky courses.

I am very pleased with the speed. The burst of speed started with the CPE trial in August and has continued ever since. I was joking with my friends that someone replaced my dog with one with speed. :lol:

I know he's still not the fastest Sheltie out there but we've come a long way in a year. (Last year we were barely making 3 YPS; more often 2.5-2.8 YPS.) I'll take that speed as a victory.
 
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