February and Video Runs

So a few .... mind you just a few?... folks have told me that they want to follow the Blog and that I should write more fequently even if just a brief point or tip or two. So.....

It has been a fast two months. It's just February and we've hosted three Run As On Agility Trials already this year!. All have been a blast. So much fun watching all the dogs and handlers trying... trying ... trying to Run As One!

More on the trials later.

Tip: Video Runs... Short Story!

Quick lesson to be learned... Have your head around the preparation of who and what you want videoed. Also, for Contact Classes "Instruct Videographer to Stand By The Judge!" Our first Regular Saturday morning was a debacle. You know how you rush to get your dog 'cause you're first up. Then.... I saw the 'filmer' out of position...they could not see 'both' downside contacts...unbeknownst to me the video phone froze. (yes it was an Iphone, but I think it was a memory issue). 

 

Now I'm on the line.. Judge says: "Good Luck", a bit frustrated, feeling pressure to get going and losing focus on the task at hand... I think 'heck with it just go for it anyway'. "OK" through obstacle #1 Wyatt goes, then onward starting up #2 Dogwalk... Just then, the scribe (seemingly harmless right?) yelled to the judge that she could not see him. For a split second I was not sure what she was yelling.... at the time...was there a loose dog? an emergency?? Hot coffee spilled???  Something pretty important??? I looked back over at the scribe... quickly comprehending what she said ..another second or two goes by as I give her a look and say her name to question essentially.. "Why are you Yelling while we're running???"

 

Meanwhile Wyatt had gone on doing his job and was waiting for me at the end of the dogwalk. Wyatt hears me say something  (to the scribe) and as I turn back he decides "Maybe dad said go? Which way? 50/50 chance"  and with that... Game Over! :)
 

Needless to say we improvised that run:) ... And had a better plan from that run on. Sooooo, save yourself that lost run and have a better first plan than I did. 

 

The upside was I decided that if that was the worst thing to happen to us all weekend ( which it was) then we would be ok :) ...And We Were! No harm done. Wyatt ended up having some Amazing Bonus attempts later that trial. A few are below.
 

So... have a Good Plan... to Run As One!
 

Hope this makes you smile.

 

 

 

 

 

Farewell Calera

     Bittersweet it is officially over in Calera. The last FundRaiser was this past weekend. I am mixed with emotions still. I am happy for the NADAC folks for having sold the property so they can make their final? move to California. I am sad for those of us who found a home away from home there. We have already missed Sharon & Chris and my buddy Marj who have been gone for a while now... but my friend Becky Woodruff who held that place together these past several months will be dearly missed most of all.  The feral dogs, the rescues, the trials, the gathering of people, the kindness. the friendships... are all now soon to be wonderful memories.
    Well, we went out with a bang. Two full days from dawn to dusk... trialing, eating. The food people brought was ridiculous. I wished all these year we had had the desserts and pastries table out near the lines like last weekend. Run a dog have pastry, run a dog eat a cream puff, run a dog munch a cookie.....burn those calories, put 'em back on. Whoever put that table out there.... Genius I tell you... Genius!!!
    Our family alone ran so many runs up there, earned so many titles up there. Just recently Cathy and Alex hit 5000 Lifetime Points.  Tank earned 4 or 5 of his Natchs on runs there.  Wyatt and I really started pushing long distances and received much guidance there too.   Rookie was one day from being put down before NADAC Rescue saved him and took him to Calera. My  young Zack was even a brief Calera rescue.
     Truly as much as few wanted to talk about the last runs, folks were laughing, smiling and taking in every moment.  The atmosphere up there is so relaxed.  I have learned so much about dog's and agility there. Hopefully now I can take more of that knowledge and teach it too.  I hope Gunner finds a home or at least a good foster situation soon. He is a good dog that will be Great given some direction and a chance.
     I will miss the best parts of many of my days... Waking Up there my 3 dogs by my side & feet, taking out all the dogs, getting breakfast and walking right over with friends dwindling in to all Run As One!

Tank or as he is currently nicknamed "Lampshade"

     So my dog Tank has had some past five months. What started out as many possibilities from stroke, to Horner's syndrome, impact trauma, aneurysm... turns out current diagnosis 'idiopathic' which translated means 'unkown'.  I suspect when 2 of the dogs collided (there were 3 running around our shrubs 'playing') that loud thud I heard was the beginning of the problem. Shortly after 2 Vets, MRI and a broken canine from the collision it was time for action.  Brain scan showed no markers so his brain was fine. No consistent pathology issues. Antibiotics, anti inflammatories, etc......
    So, off to a Dog Dentist and Facial specialist. Yes they do exist.  Not cheap mind you, but they do exist. My other concern was the canine tooth roots proximity to sinus tissue. Willing to try anything to help my boy who's head was crooked, face partially sagging (no, not a stroke) we chose to bone graft and repair the canine. Thus my action Agility North American Grand Champion dog and travel/errand partner was restricted to a liquid diet, a crate and just 3 light walks a day while stuck wearing what looked like a Lampshade around his neck and head.  He was one sad looking boy.
     But a trooper through all of it. Patient, he never whined or cried. He made the most of our 3 daily walks and occasionally me 'scratching' around his neck being very careful to have NO contact with his mouth. Three procedures over 3+ weeks too.
    So we are hopeful for many things this Christmas. More than any that when he gets this Lampshade off he will heal ok and be able to get back to his normal life.  I miss running with him. But I'd still rather have him in a Lampshade than not have him at all.

NADAC Championships 2011 Tank Wyatt & Alex

   A little less drive time this year as the NADAC Championships were at the Springfield, Illinois State Fair Grounds. We packed up our Herd of Six for the round trip to Dog Agility week. Pre-Trial events included non-jumping events Tunnelers, Touch 'N Go, Weavers, Hoopers and some EGC runs.  AND... even our 'Man Child' dog Rookie ran in all the pre-trial runs and was a crowd favorite. What a great facility! The setting was regal... well as dog events go :)... , the atmosphere was both energized and relaxed and the turf was terrific for the dogs.
    We watched many runs over the week. There were so many great dog/handler teams and a lot of amazing performances. Sharon Nelson, Chris Nelson, Beck Woodruff and all the crew of volunteers nailed their tasks and made everyone feel welcomed. Special Cudos to the most delightful Tim & Becky Spring! Tim oversaw all volunteers and was flawless.
   We ran of our partners this year. Tank ,Wyatt & Alex all finished in the top 10 with a number of high placements. Wyatt placed 6th in SuperStakes, while Tank finished 5th overall.  Cathy & Alex made it to the Finals this year finishing 5th!  They were Awesome too! 
  So, now back home settled back in our own beds with plenty of things to work on for the coming year. As for me, off to North Carolina tomorrow!

Check out some of our Championship runs here:
Wyatt Superstakes
Cathy & Alex