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.

 

 

 

 

 

Looking Back at Our Inaugural Trial and the Value of Bond

Now that 2 weeks have gone by I'm taking a few more minutes to post just a few thoughts of what was likely the most fun Agility Trial that I have ever been to. Not to offend anyone because I have been to many many really fun trials... and we probably all think ours are the most fun? 

Our Inaugural Trial was the epitome of folks who love their dogs. A lady who trains with me came to our first trial... I believe this was only the second trial she and her husband had ever been to. A few days later she commented to me that she "really admired that our dogs looked happy"... she "liked how we interacted with ours".  She added that "she had seen other dogs in other places where they were more like machines and while responsive... they did not look happy" ... and neither did some of the handlers. That clearly was not the case at our NADAC trial. Happy Dogs and Happy Handlers.

Most of the Run As One Trial teams were happy. Folks running with their partners... all levels.. all types of struggles and successes.  Yet no matter what one element seemed common there... Both Dogs and Handlers were Happy. That Amazing Dog/Handler Bond was everywhere.  They both appeared to appreciate each other... in spite of faults and late commands and off courses.  I have said many times that some of our Best Runs were not our cleanest, but the ones where we were both trying, both giving 100% and both enjoying the ride with our partner.

People for the most part just did not complain. Volunteers... so many to name here...  that just kept stepping in and stepping up. We could not have asked for a better group of folks to be there for our first Big Event.  And to that... I am compelled to speak of one other bond... The Human One. I know some folks came just to be here out of Loyalty. My friend Sue who ran with Broken Bones in her feet, My friend Pat who worked her arse off for 2 straight days and did not even run a dog, My friends David and Joie who were relentless in continually jumping in where needed... even with Tunnel Bags ;). Friends like tireless Jenny & Tim whose contributions began months ago and right to parking the trailer back at our home... Courtney, Jeni... My friends Gwen, Randy and Desiree who showed up like Knights in Armor on Day One to 'Rescue Us' in setup while running behind... My friend Mary Jo the sole Okie Gal I will always remember you being here, Linda and Dianne and that Amazing Run As One Cake (if you haven't seen it go to the Events or Home page). Our first trial Junior Handler Danielle and her Dad Daniel performing as Roadie so she could debut Tejas, Our study friend Marcy who I know hates the heat but helped often each day, Tamara who without being asked jumped in to course build, Lauren and Graham volunteer partners, Kathryn gate. Renate leash runner, Karla, Pam, Sophia , Michele and William... loyal to a fault, Donna, Yani, Denise, Gretchen. Danielle and chauffeur Paul, a cast of new and beginner folks from Caroline, Aimee, Joy, Katrena, Micki, Tom, Donna, Ric, Jane, Elizabeth, Lauren, Gayle, Sarah, Tim and Carol... among others.  Even if I did not name you here please know you are all appreciated.

Even with us in spirit in spite of not being able to be there each day Deb, Rena, Ragni and a cast of others all representing the Human Bond.

Thank You all and remember to always strive to Run As One!

Last New Year's Calera FunRaiser Trial?

    Sad but possibly true. Our home away from home in Calera, Oklahoma just north of the Texas border my be selling the property so this may have been that last FunRaiser there. That also means trials may be coming to an end there.
    New Years was terrific though. 4 Days of Running, visiting with old friends we seem to see too little of.  Many laughs and of course it's still the Holidays... so way too much food.
 It seems like we all occasionally get pulled into what I think of as the "Q Count". And while Alex and Cathy had something like 14 Q's and no less than 3rd place, Wyatt and I worked distance, youngee Rookie earned 2 Titles, my youngee Zack earned his first Open Tunnelers Q.... then there was Tank.
     Tank you may recall had been wearing the "E- Collar" or as we like to call it "The Lampshade"up to the Day before Christmas. So we had a week of light training leading up to not pushing him too much for the trial. I truly did not know how much I would run him if at all.  We ran very soft on the Weave Poles as his mouth was healed, but likely a bit sensitive.   Anyway, he had his handful of Q's and placements... but it reminded me more than ever of something.
    The best runs are not always the clean ones. I was just happy to have my partner back running with me.  After the last 6 months I will always appreciated every moment of every run more than ever.
     Oh, and my oldest dog Luke "The Wonder Dog"... He's Still Got It!       Run As One America!