International League!
I very much enjoyed the last International League that Daisy put on at her place. Was that last year or the year before? Great format, you get two chances to run a fun, challenging course - what's not to like? Really excited to play again this year, but the weather had been pushing it back. Finally got to play tonight!
We were rusty, but we were in good company - great group of people, and we've all been out of practice with the weather (and sickness!). Fun to get back into it, and Daisy's new turf was really nice. Hard to remember what it used to look like, I'm getting used to this turf thing. Tricky with keeping it clean though, we had to stay inside, no going out for romps after - and much barking in the 'crating room'. The dogs were VERY happy to be there, and had a great time.
As expected, Navarre did better than Bright, he's just got the baby dog focus going on. Bright was, as usual these days, just going, "Wheeeee!" But I'm getting used to that.
The course was tricky, lots of off course possibilities - and we explored a lot of them. I found myself baffled by 12-13, which is apparently something we never practice. I either got the aframe when I tried a bypass, or the wrong end of the tunnel when I tried a threadle. Obviously something we need to work on! And, weirdly, both dogs acted like they had never seen a threadle rear before at 17 - and especially with Navarre, who LOVES those, I was really surprised.
I was also surprised that Navarre had no issues with the weaves, which were weird colored and with a giant white base - and he just weaved, like he knew what he was doing. I'll take it. His contacts looked good too, jumping was nice, he was trying really hard and did not want his turn to be over. My super fun agility baby, very proud of him - he's growing up!
Navarre's runs:
Click to viewAnd if you combine Bright's runs, we don't look nearly as spastic:
Looking forward to next week, definitely my kind of agility.
Poor Haku, he did get to tag along - and wait in the car. He keeps getting the short end of the stick. His latest is that with the really dry cold weather, his paws cracked on the sides of his big pads on all four of his feet - ouchies! So he's been on rest and being slathered with bag balm three times a day (he's not a fan). They are looking better, and the weather has finally returned to normal. Crazy how warm 45 degrees feels now! The snow is gone, so looking forward to getting back to classes and fun.
But not for Haku, I didn't realize that Preferred obedience was still an OPTIONAL class - and they don't have it at the trial I tried to enter him in. Which is a huge pain the ass, as I entered Navarre and Bright in the agility that afternoon (a Friday, which I never do!) with the assumption that I was going to playing obedience with Haku in the morning. So that sucks, and really lame they don't have preferred, it's not any different than normal, just the jump heights are lower. So who knows when Haku will get to play in obedience again, poor guy. Hopefully he can get back to running soon though!
