One of my goals for this year is to do a better job of making notes after trials and events. I need to remember to get pictures of course maps and I need to ask others to help video our runs.
Griffin and I had our second trial AKC trial in Open (second level). For the second time this year, I arrived after the Jumpers walk through. I was able to watch a few dogs run. Other than the start, the course was a figure 8 shape and not that interesting other than two places with some off course options. In training we’ve worked on doing fewer rear crosses but all I did was rear crosses here. We ended up with a clean run and fastest of all the Open level JWW dogs. Yay Griffin!
I like that this trial site has wifi – I was able to rotate between training the puppies (including a visiting puppy!) and getting caught up on work while watching the Excellent class.
Standard was nice – we got to do two of the tricky parts I had watched all morning from Excellent (an interesting line off the aframe and a 180 into weave poles. We ended up with the same problem as last time we were at this trial site – the aframe chains rattle much, much more than any one Griffin has been exposed to. He heard the noise and thought it was a dog’s tags. He didn’t stop on the aframe and then circled underneath and pretty much touched the chain with his nose. I was able to persuade him back and we finished fairly well – one knocked bar at the very end.
I was very happy we’ve worked on a few weak skills since last weekend – I was confident enough to rear cross at the teeter and felt confident he would respond to forward sends. We have a few big things to work on – his start line stays and contacts have been a continual problem. The contacts I can justify – as soon as he’s comfortable in the environment he does it very well – if he was continuing on just for fun, he should get worse over a day rather than better. Start lines? No excuses – we just need more training!