It has been a busy summer, but I have been taking some time off from writing. Time to think about our goals and what writing in a blog really means. I mean, I am definitely not your super agility competitor, but I also want to share my journey. I don't obsess over running contacts and back sides of jumps. I enjoy being competitive in agility, but I also strive for balance. As much as I love going to trials, I also love getting home and letting my dogs just be dogs.
Earlier this summer we trialed in USDAA agility for the first time. The weather was cooperative and the other exhibitors couldn't have been nicer. Many of the classes were similar to other venues, so I felt pretty comfortable. Zoe had great runs in gamblers and standard. She did an awesome teeter and did her down on the table...tail wagging the whole time. Breeze dealt with the higher jump height beautifully and didn't bail on her contacts. Both dogs were a bit distracted being that it was their first outdoor trial and a bit warm for them, but I was happy with the focus that I got.
We also played in NADAC earlier this month. I used this as an opportunity to work on Breeze's contacts so that she didn't always get away with running through them. She had a couple of nice runs, but she wasn't as focused as she normally is, so it was kind of an off weekend for her. Zoe had several beautiful runs, one of which was her very first Q in Elite Chances. She is still not 100% confident working that far away, but she is getting much much better. On the second day, she was really close to qualifying in chances again, but the distance she did show was a personal best for her. After that weekend, I made the executive decision to move her to the skilled division. There were so many runs where she was still over time by a second or two. Being in the skilled division would allow her more time so that it would be more likely that she could be under time by a second or two instead. I think this change will make NADAC more fun for us and make a NATCH a little more attainable some day.
CPE was also on the schedule for us this summer. Last weekend we played in Rochester at a wonderful soccer facility. Breeze showed an amazing amount of maturity and was focused for almost every run. She ran through her contacts, but she did not blow any completely. She was well-behaved between runs and in the hotel - practically a perfect angel for a full trial weekend! Zoe had some teeter issues again, but otherwise had beautiful runs. She thoroughly enjoyed being in a hotel room again.
Outside of agility, the pups are enjoying the summer. Breeze and I have done a couple of disc demos and will do a couple more at the Ren Fest later this summer. She continues to do well at these - it is interesting how she often does better with large crowds rather than with fewer people. She goes nuts for joggers/walkers/bikers when we are out on walks, but if we are at a crowded event, she practically ignores them. I wonder if she just sees crowds differently in her eyes. She doesn't seem to stress at these events as much as she does at agility trials - I am sure I am partly to blame for this!
