Monday, October 26, 2009

AAC trial Oct. 25, 2009

Haven't written in a while. Not much has been happening her, until our amazing trial yesterday! (I know I always say that, but this trial was pretty great!) I'll make the video later, I'll just write some quick descriptions of the runs for now.

Mika's excitement, drive, and speed at trials keeps getting better and better! -knock on wood- :) We tried a change in our warm-up routine at this trial -- instead of bringing Mika in about 15 minutes before her run so that I can warm her up, she's warmed up about half an hour before, put back in the car, and stays there until there are about 5 dogs left, which is when I get her out and bring her in. She stresses if she has to wait too long, so this warm-up routine works a lot better for her (which resulted in more exciting runs). We'll be keeping this change in our routine for future trials!

Masters Jumpers
We hadn't done any agility in over a week (I like to rest my dogs' bodies once in a while) so she was super excited, taking lots of off-courses, CRAZY!

Masters Standard
AWESOME teeter, raced right to the end. We faced a couple tunnel/A-frame discriminations but got them both right -- Mika's actually really good with contact/tunnel descriminations, she knows her verbal cues well. Ran this entire course fast and clean, and I actually thought we had her Masters Standard title (it would have been the 3rd and final Q) but turns out she missed the AF contact! Oh well, I LOVED this run and I don't mind at all that we didn't get the title this time. It was just a ton of fun!!

Masters Standard
Hahaha this dog is nuts. :D A similar run to Jumpers in that we had lots of off-courses! She actually grunted/huffed through the weaves, something she's done at home when she's super-excited, but she's at a trial before.

~Nat

5 comments:

  1. Gosh, Nat, sounds like you and Mika did a great job and it is so awesome to hear that Mika is running with such speed and enthusiasm! Weaving like she does at home? Mom would love to see me do that in a trial!

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  2. Thanks Ricky for another very nice comment! :) I'm thrilled with Mika, even when I thought she couldn't improve she does, bit by bit.

    ~Nat

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  3. Sounds like lots of fun. Diana

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  4. She was definitely on fire in that Jumpers! Looking forward to the video; I had to leave before the last Standard. Since I won't be there, I'll take the opportunity now to wish you good luck and much fun at your next trial!

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