I am still super happy about this trial because, although we didn't Q, Mika actually BARKED ON COURSE!!! She has NEVER done this before. Understand that Mika is a very vocal dog; she barks at people, she barks at dogs, she barks when she's doing tricks, she barks before agility, she barks after agility...you get the picture...but she has never actually barked during a run or sequence. At this trial we did Snooker for the first time and the least thing I expected was to hear Mika barking during the run!! This is absolutely a great thing because Mika only barks when she's excited and "high," so hearing her bark during our first Snooker runs means that she's happy and not stressing, and is just plain having fun.
I had planned a flowing course for our first run, but we got whistled off after about 15 seconds for accidentally taking two obstacles-of-choice in a row. (Mika was pleasantly surprised to get her jackpot after only 15 seconds in the ring).
In our second run, Mika entered the weaves wrong, so after she finished them I had her do them in the opposite direction because the first time hadn't counted. But then I didn't have a plan for what to do after that, so I just sent her over a red jump we'd already taken to stop the run. This was Mika's first time doing 24"-spaced weaves at a trial and her footwork was great considering!
Again, awesome trial because I'm uber happy about Mika barking during both of the runs!!
Congratulations on the barking!! I can't get Layla to bark during the course either. But then again, she never barks; she howls, so maybe that has something to do with it.
ReplyDeleteWhooo hooooo Mika the barker!!! My old agility instructor always used that as her barometer of how a dog was doing, if you could tell them to speak on the start line and they could you were in good shape
ReplyDeleteFunny how some people try to get their dogs to stop barking on the course and you and I Would be/are thrilled to get a bark! It's just terrific that Mika felt that happy!! I did think it was a milestone when I got Ricky to speak at the startline! :)
ReplyDeleteI know exactly how you feel! Or, I can imagine. I would feel the same if Marron ever barks at me on course. Some people walk their dogs off course for barking. I've always said I would walk her off if she barked, just so I could give her a jackpot!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLora
That's one happy dog for sure! I especially love it when dogs bark at the ring, and others just disagree. But barking means knowing the dog is really thrilled and excited, not stressed up or pressured. :)
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