Amazing few days.....

Photo by Keith Highley, Utah.

Just wanted to make a quick post about the trial this weekend and our training day with Stacy P-G today.
Rift was a super good boy this weekend at the trial. My goals of startlines and nailing every contact came true.
The boy did absolutely awesome. He did everything I asked for. In one run I managed to get some distance off the
aframe with him holding his contact and in Gamblers I got great lateral distance to the weavepoles. I was very, very happy :-)
First run of the weekend was Masters Jumpers. It was a tough course with lots of side changes etc. Rift was really good and I felt I handled the course the way it should be handled. It felt great. We had one bar down but I was really happy with the run. Next was Steeplechase. We had a clean run with just one moments hesitation caused by me having to work my Aframe contact. I got caught a bit behind and Rift did not know where we were going after the tunnel. It cost us a Q as we were 8/100ths off the qualifying time. But again it felt good. Next was Masters Standard and we had a good run but I called Rift out of the Chute with too much enthusiasm and he missed a jump, then I did not drive to a tunnel entry and we got a refusal. I forget he is still a baby dog and I need to work these entrances and not be lazy and just think he will do them. Next run was Grand Prix. We had a nice clean run and got out first GP Q for 2010 Nationals. Next up was Masters Pairs. Rift's partner was a friend from Colorado with his dog Pistol Pete. Rift got his first Masters Pairs leg. He had to stick his DW contact in order for me to get my front cross to a jump then a tunnel that was staring him in the face. He nailed it. Did I say how happy I was with him. Next day we had Masters Standard up first. We had a nice run and got a Q. This is the run I got distance on the aframe.
Next up was Masters Gamblers. It was a tough Gamble. 12 weavepoles with lots of lateral distance with a jump at the end of the weaves on the side of the handler with a tunnel at the end of the weaves. They had to take the tunnel entry that was not apparent and Rift did it. After that they had to come into the handler for a jump and then back out again to another jump. I forgot to buy "real estate" and I did not get the push to the other jump. The horn blew as I retried and he got it but a little too late. But I was of course thrilled we got that far. Next run was Masters Snooker. It was what I call a "speed snooker" where the fastest dog will win. We did well on the course but you had to take two jumps in sequence and if the dog did not you did not get points. We lost a five pointer but I recovered pretty well and we finished the course with a Q. Another great thing about the weekend was Rift's weavepoles. He did not miss an entry and no pop outs or anything he was perfect. All in all a really great weekend all around. It was a small trial but we had a lot of fun. I won a free DVD of our runs so I can't wait to see them.
Today we had our two monthly seminar with Stacy P-G today. I was a bit worried as I wondered if Rift would hold it together mentally and physically after a full weekend of trialling. I need not have worried as he did great. He actually picked up a lot of speed and we got through some tough sequences. He held his startlines on the whole and was as good as he could be.
Everyone in the seminar did really well and we had a lot of fun. Stacy is such a wonderful presenter and despite the cold we had a blast. I have a lot to work on but it will have to wait awhile as I am giving Rift a break from agility and we will start training again beginning of January.
Next post will probably be on how our obedience training is going. I have got to get going on that!!
Well I guess this ended up being a long post instead of a quick post but I am really proud of my baby dog.

Nervous about this weekend..........

Wish we still had some green grass around!




Well not really just hoping that Rift will hit his contacts and hold his startlines. I have worked so hard on both I hope the stress of the trial won't change anything. He is doing great "at home" but we all know it is so different in new places. It is hard for me to get to new places living so far from anyone with equipment. I had Rift's hips xrayed a couple of weeks ago and my vet said they looked very good. I sent them to OFA so we will see what they say. I will only be running Rift in agility for the next few years which will be strange but that is what happens when you have three dogs close together in age and they all get old and your other dog has to be retired due to medical reasons at 6 years old. He is 8 years old now. I will NEVER get dogs that close together in age again. I have learned my lesson. It is getting really cold here now and we do not have any snow which is unusual but I am sure it won't stay away too much longer and I will have to put all my equipment away for the winter. Plus I don't have another agility trial until January 29th 2010. So I have decided to get stuck in to my obedience again. Last weekend Rift did pretty well at his lesson considering I have not been focusing on obedience work. He even did articles and got the correct one every time. I did some obedience with his brother Cash too and he did awesome at his articles also. So proud of my boys. Anyway enough gabbing. More to report after the trial this weekend. Hopefully good things.

Video of Velo's Retirement Run USDAA Nationals 2009

My friend Alan video taped Velo's final run and did a special video for me. It is a really nice remembrance as I retired her from agility after this run. She is still very healthy and in good shape but she doesn't love agility enough for me to keep on running her so we went out with a bang in front of the GP finals crowd. We can only imagine that one day I could be there with my Border Collie Rift :-) Better keep training!!

http://www.powerpups.net/usdaa/Veteran/velo.html

Video of USDAA GP Finals

http://www.powerpups.net/gpfinal.html

Overlays of GP finals as well.

Rift's brother "Angus" FEMA Certified.

Rift's littermate Angus. I nearly got this dog instead of Rift. The only thing that changed my mind was his color. After so much trouble with my red BC Tug I decided not to get another red dog :-) I may change my mind next time as Angus is very handsome.

USDAA Nationals 2009

View of Mt Timpanogos

Rift in all his regalia. (I like to keep a halti on him as we bump into people and dogs on the trail and I can manage him better with it on)

My sweet boy Cash. My easiest and best dog.

Had to get a bit of color in this shot. A new red barn that has sprung up lately.

Rift and Cash love to pick up sticks on our walks.

Couldn't resist this old truck left out in the fields to rust.

Well I leave tomorrow for Scottsdale. I think this is my 6th or 7th year in a row to attend. I do plan on going next year no matter where it is. I have so much fun and really enjoy the top level in the competition. Steeplechase and Grand Prix are very exciting to watch. This year I am just running Velo in the Veterans Division. No pressure and if she doesn't run well it is no biggie and I am not letting a team mate down at all. I am taking one other dog with me. I decided to take Cash as he has been depressed looking lately. I am not sure if he is in pain or not. I got him some pretty strong medication for pain but really he does not appear much different. He still goes for walks no problem but I just feel he is getting weaker in his rear end. Anyway I think the trip will do him good and as he is my most obedient dog he won't be a problem. He also gets along well with every dog he meets which means I can relax a bit. If I took Rift I constantly have to keep my eye on him and definitely can't trust him with strangers and strange dogs so makes it more stressful. It will do him good to stay home.
We have been walking the last four days. I finally remembered to take my camera. Everything appears so brown and dry now. Not that I want snow but it will look prettier when it does.

Windmills in Wyoming!

Finally uploaded a little video I shot while driving back from Colorado. Thought these windmills looked awesome with the fabulous sky in the background.

On a side note that has to do with dog agility we had 24in weaves at the trial this weekend and Rift loved them. He was the fastest I have ever seen him in the weaves and the most comfortable. I really hope USDAA allows 24in weaves in the future.