My 2nd USDAA Trial - this weekend

You can always just be the first dog in so you don't have to worry about keeping him calm. [\quote]

I hope they let us choose, cuz I'd really like to go first. I don't think Koji will rush the dog, but I know watching the other dog run will make him absolutely bonkers!
Just talk to your partner about running first. As long as your partner agrees, you can do whatever one you want.

I know it's about speed, but since I'm not concerned with winning Regionals or Cynosport Finals, it's just fun and games for me. Which means I will run better and have fun. Honestly, if we don't even Q, I won't be heartbroken.

That's the way I look at it with USDAA as well. I'd love to qualify, but those runs are getting me no where closer to my MX, MXJ or MACH so it's more fun to me. I'm going to regionals, but I'm not nervous about it. I just want to have a reason to go and stay the whole time :biggrin2:

True, but that never stops me from running the best to my abilityy. As for hyping him up, no can do. Well, maybe I can, but he's never learned how to run under control, so it's bad when he's crazy. We tried it in class a few times and basically all he does is bark and me and tell me off. My goal this weekend, just like it was the other weekends, is to get as many FC's in as I can. RC slows Koji down, he likes to chase me, so I will bust my behind to get ahead of him.

And being in P1 is going to make this even more fun. :) Honestly, I am really looking forward to this weekend.

Sounds like you'll do just fine. Just don't count yourself out so quickly and you might surprise yourself sometime :wink2: Good luck!
 
I'd come cheer you on if we lived closer. Fingers crossed for you and your pup. We have two in agility class now, but are months or even a year away from competing. Still lots to learn, but having a blast along the way!
 
Thanks everyone, for all the support and making sure I am staying positive. Overall, I am very positive about Koji's runs (okay, minus gamblers and his contacts), but I know our strengths and our weaknesses. And yes, I know how fast we are in comparison to others in the 16" group (AKC).

I've been working hard this weekend to make sure Koji remembers his DW contacts. And the funniest thing was last night, he was whining at where his DW board is. I guess he's associated it with "dinner". lol. Too funny!
 
Calm down, go out and have fun, and don't worry so much. Your dogs will pick up on your stress and you don't want that.

Good luck - looking forward to hearing of all the points/etc. that you pick up - think positive.
 
Okay. Pairs is done. I let the woman I was running with that I have no clues how Koji will react. The upside is that her dog was on the other side of her for the baton hand off. And she pushed her dog away just a bit. I had Koji in a sit with the leash wrapped around him. He stayed in his sit and barked once. So proud. We were clean so I'd say we Q'd.

The really great thing was that my partner said, "when you get to P2, let's be partners." I did confess that were not Novice runners, just novice to Pairs. I told her is ask for her when I get there if she's running too.

And more fun stuff? daisy is here with her baby dog. Kinda fun watching her run live.
 
Okay. Pairs is done. I let the woman I was running with that I have no clues how Koji will react. The upside is that her dog was on the other side of her for the baton hand off. And she pushed her dog away just a bit. I had Koji in a sit with the leash wrapped around him. He stayed in his sit and barked once. So proud. We were clean so I'd say we Q'd.

The really great thing was that my partner said, "when you get to P2, let's be partners." I did confess that were not Novice runners, just novice to Pairs. I told her is ask for her when I get there if she's running too.

And more fun stuff? daisy is here with her baby dog. Kinda fun watching her run live.

Hooray! Nothing to worry about! If you were clean, you Qd. Pairs is time plus faults, and in starters they allot a good bit if time.

Can't wait to hear how the rest of the day goes!
 
A quick recap. I can post videos later, but for now, I have to cook Miko's dinner. :)

Pairs went really well. We Q'd and got 1st. We won our class by 10 seconds, lol. Yay! My partners dog was great, one of those slow but steady dogs. So it works. Especially since the dog had great contacts. I still am very proud of Koji for being focused on agility, not the other dog.

Standard went really bad. Well, not really. He actually did everything wonderfully and a few people said I had a great looking run and Koji was moving. But he flew his DW contacts and I'm not sure why, but I just let him finish that last jump of the course. He also missed his a-frame contact, but that's hit or miss, so it's okay. The one proud moment? He stayed in his down on the table as I lead out again. Woohoo!!!

Snooker. I am proud of Koji. He did great! I had a bobble here and there, but honestly, I couldn't ask for a better run. We were one of the very few that Q'd. He got his a-frame contact (probably because I had to RC it).

And now, for the moment of truth. The PSJ tournament class. I had an AWESOME lead out. But then peeled off a tunnel too fast and pulled him out. He hit is A-frame contact going BOTH ways, yay!!! I fell behind a bit and threw off the last few obstacles, so he literally trotted through the 3rd to last obstacle (tunnel). I also noticed he clipped about 2 jumps. He probably was very tired. We haven't run this much in awhile...and it was on dirt.

The results? We did not Q......by......HALF A SECOND!!! AUGH!!! I was in 10th place (not bad considering).

I did tell the woman with the awesome aussie to run slow for me. Holy moly she ran awesome. Even with her 5 second dropped bar fault, she came in 3rd.

So, had I not had those darn tunnel issues, I would have gotten it. AUGH!!!

So close. But such a great day.
 
OMG. Today was downright horrible. Well, kinda. DW was a disaster so that threw out both Standard and Gamblers. I figured I had a chance in Jumpers. I did.....that is.....until I FC'd the wrong jump and then Koji backjumped a jump. Ugh! Frustrating. Honestly, I just didn't feel right. I was walking the course, couldn't even remember it. I had a headache all day long. Before I was to line up at the start, I just felt queasy and dizzy. Bleah.

I had some good points. Though. I got some awesome LONG start line stays. Yay! I forgot how nice it was to lead out. lol. The Jumpers run was nice minus my bobbles. Yesterday overall was positive. I'm still bummed over the half a second miss for PSJ, but I'll try again in April. If not, it's okay.

And now....since this was in a dirt ring, Koji is going to get a bath with my CC products. Here comes some white on white and thick and thicker. lol.
 
OMG. Today was downright horrible. Well, kinda. DW was a disaster so that threw out both Standard and Gamblers. I figured I had a chance in Jumpers. I did.....that is.....until I FC'd the wrong jump and then Koji backjumped a jump. Ugh! Frustrating. Honestly, I just didn't feel right. I was walking the course, couldn't even remember it. I had a headache all day long. Before I was to line up at the start, I just felt queasy and dizzy. Bleah.

I had some good points. Though. I got some awesome LONG start line stays. Yay! I forgot how nice it was to lead out. lol. The Jumpers run was nice minus my bobbles. Yesterday overall was positive. I'm still bummed over the half a second miss for PSJ, but I'll try again in April. If not, it's okay.

And now....since this was in a dirt ring, Koji is going to get a bath with my CC products. Here comes some white on white and thick and thicker. lol.

Sorry today wasn't a great day. There are times when you just feel totally out of sync. That's okay--just try to focus on the good stuff. Awesome job on the lead outs--you guys have come so far when it comes to that!

And don't stress about your contacts. They just aren't there yet. Retraining can be a super long process--don't get discouraged. What do they say, "don't complain, train!" And I know you aren't complaining, I just mean to say that you should be motivated to keep working!
 
A bit OT. I always think that Koji having to jump 22" in USDAA Championships is just crazy. BUT, after watching this, I bet he could do it, just not constantly. I bought a new bedframe and instead of jumping up on the side, he jumps up over the foot board. It's 29" high. And he clears it nicely.

Check this out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foKXplZmflQ

Now, granted, he may clear it nicely because he lands on my bed which is what, maybe 6" lower than the foot board after he goes over, versus landing on the ground.

I always just shake my head. :)

My crazy jumper.
 
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