This weekend Brandy and I finally had our first experience at obedience trials. We didn't do too shabby although I was a bit disappointed with our performance on the second day, but I was still very happy with the outcome. We showed at novice A and we got 194 and the second place on the first day and 191 and the first place on the second day. Even that I am saying I was a bit disappointed it's only because I've seen us do better during matches, but in overall I am very very happy to get first two legs in first two trials and place on both days!
The group stays was the most scariest thing I had to do. I didn't realize how long and scary that one minute sit stays feels until our first match. As I was standing yesterday and literally counting the seconds until the min is over and as I counted about 40 seconds and thought that we are out of the woods, a pointer that was sitting pretty nicely till that second decided that he had enough and not just broke and headed for the owner, but started galloping like crazy around the ring. The second pointer wasn't too far behind them and before I could even blink two of them were heading for Brandy stopping short of running her over. For the split second I thought that everything is over as Brandy lowed her head and was ready to charge and punish those who disturbed her peace, but before I even had a chance to blink, she changed her mind and turned away. Such a good girl!! As judge was shouting for everyone to get back to their dogs, another dog broke. Now we had bunch of dogs and bunch of people running around the ring chasing after each other! We all, but one had to redo the stays:-)
(To see the video correctly you might have to open it in full screen, I guess I need to stop shooting wide screen videos. Unfortunately my husband was too busy watching what was happening rather than looking through the camera, but this should give some idea of what was going on. also I have to same that the chase was continueing way past him stopping the recording)
Today, I think it's fair to say that everyone was hoping that that pointer will not show up. Including those that were not part of the our class, but no, the person showed up. Luckily for everyone, the dog did the same crazy ring as yesterday, but before the stays, so they were excused from the ring and stays were pretty quiet.
I do not understand why people would do this kind of thing?! ok, maybe things happen and your dog can suddenly loose his head, but why in the world would someone bring that dog back the following day? hoping for what?! putting her dog and other dogs in danger, that's just stupid and irresponsible!
I got a lot of compliments this weekend on how attentive Brandy is and how solid her stays are and what a great dog she is and the bright future we might have in the obedience ring. Hearing that and watching other dogs performing, I was very happy that we train the way we train, and that my dog looks at me because of the connection the two of us have and not because she expects me to spit a chunk of a hot dog out of my mouth!
