Resources:Articles:First Agility Trial
Our First Agility Trial
By Mary Beth Hall
Almost 2 years ago, I was anxiously awaiting the birth of a special litter of Weimaraner puppies. Daily emails kept me in touch with the breeder who probably regretted agreeing to sell me a puppy by the time the Big Event actually occurred. After many hours of deliberations, my future agility, obedience, show champion and do it all puppy was picked out. Email pictures of Cooper chasing balls through open boxes simulating tunnels probably tipped the scales in his favor.
Before you try to guess how we did or start to judge all my many mistakes, keep in mind that for some crazy reason, I CHOSE a puppy sired by Nani’s Smart Aleck and grand sired by Nani’s Class Clown. I took one look into Aleck’s eyes and decided I had to have one of his puppies. I just loved his personality. Oops. Yes, my puppy lives up to his sire’s and grandsire’s namesakes. Watch what you wish for, you sure do get it sometimes!
So new puppy in tow, I began training my beloved bloomin’ idiot Weimaraner puppy in the great sport of agility last January. Then, I got even sillier and actually got brave enough to enter my first bonafide AKC agility trial eleven months later.
Did I pick a nice quiet trial far from home where no one I knew would ever see us? Did I try my new team skills out at a few show and go’s first? Did I pick a time to trial when my dog and I were working like a well-oiled machine? No. No. No. Geez, that would make too much sense! Instead I chose to pursue a dry run at the Cleveland, Ohio Christmas show right after I bought my first house ( It’s a great way to stress you and your dogs out and get all your training to backslide. I recommend it.) If you’ve never been to the Cleveland show, I’ll describe it. The Christmas Classic is probably one of the biggest dog shows in the Midwest with about 30 rings encompassing agility, obedience, weight pulls, and conformation over four days in a facility literally big enough to park many airline jets in comfortably (seriously, my dad tells me they have quite a display at their indoor air shows).
So the big day arrives. I show up early to pace the ringside and to make notes of the oh, about 100 or so familiar faces in the crowd (Forget, anonymity! Any mistakes I make are gonna hit the Internet within an hour after the trial!). I’m about the 10th team to go on course. That leaves me just enough time to get totally nervous, but not quite enough time to develop full-blown panic.
I attempt a lead out for the first jump, but Cooper has completely forgotten the meaning of the command “Wait”. He’s already running circles around the first jump, waiting for me to quit holding my breath. Finally, my brain clicks on and I say, “Jump”, then miracle of all miracles, he jumps. Ever the bundle of nerves, I approach the second obstacle, a tire jump, then stand there like an idiot watching my dog run circles around the second obstacle just having a grand ole time. At this point I burst out laughing and decided to start going with the flow. We completed the third obstacle, a broad jump with ease and I kick in some stylin’ agility handling moves by adding in an RFP (Reverse Flow Pivot) to draw him into the tunnel. Would’ve worked too, if I hadn’t added in the dreaded Backwards Agility Move, and backed up so far that I sent him into the wrong side of the tunnel. Oops! Now, I’m really giggling. What a mess. The next two obstacles go a little smoother. I complete the wing jump and take a 90-degree turn to the dog walk. I keep a mental picture of my instructor linebackering me, which slows me down while Cooper is on the dogwalk. It works! We hit the contacts! Next obstacle has me worried, and rightly so. The dreaded table. Here’s where the crowd gets their laughs in. Cooper chooses to use the table as his throne to survey his kingdom. He spots a fan (the judge), and charges over to give her a few sloppy dog kisses. Finally, he remembers that I gave him a command and he charges back onto the table. After a cute play bow, a move guaranteed to keep me from yelling at him for goofing off, he finally lies down and completes the obstacle. The last half of the course goes fairly smooth….A frame, jump, jump, teeter, jump, chute. Thank goodness, he didn’t get stuck in the chute.
Sound like enough torture? Oh no. I return for the Jumpers class. I guess I’m a glutton for punishment. I can’t give you any details on the first half of the course, because it all went by too fast. Cooper lets me have a nice lead out and zings through the first part of the course at lightning speed….jump, jump, jump, turn, broad jump, jump, tunnel. Sounds good, huh? Here’s where the trouble begins. Problem is, my brain doesn’t work at lightning speeds. Cooper comes flying out of the tunnel and I hit the wall. I’m standing right next to the double jump and can’t even focus on it. So Cooper zings around looking for something to do while I’m kicking myself. Finally, I call him back to me; we complete the double jump and head for the weaves. On the second try, we have success! On to more jumps, and we’re done. I was so mad at myself for blowing it. Cooper would have qualified on that run if I wouldn’t have been in the ring! So much for teamwork.
As I hug my dog and try to sneak off into the sunset, I’m waylaid by a couple of friends. When they can stop giggling, they inform me that they managed to videotape both runs. Is this a ransom demand? How much do I have to pay to keep this video from the public? Wait a second, why bother? Ringside is packed 4 –5 people deep all around. Everyone saw our run!
- So, was my first agility trial a success? Well, we didn’t come home with any green qualifying ribbons and we certainly didn’t come home with any blue ribbons, but I still call it a success.
- We successfully and completely entertained the crowd.
- My dog had an absolute blast.
- I successfully recognized my mistakes, which hopefully I’ll be able to correct one of these days or at least correct before my instructors lose their patience and end up murdering me!
Well, it’s off to matches and show and go’s for the winter. I’ll see ya at the agility trials later this spring. Watch out, here we come!