Agility Fun Match Take 2

What a night!  Little Ms Hendrix is already snoring…  We just got back from our second ever agility fun match.  We arrived just as the sun was setting, and the weather played pretty nice (for once).  We made a bee line for the sign up table, and I decided we’d do only one run on the standard course.  Next time, we may do jumpers, too.  I think we should since most courses are primarily jumps versus other obstacles.  I also signed up for the 12″ height because it would happen earlier than the shorter heights.  12″ will probably be Hendrix’ competition height, and she generally has not problem clearing it (I’ve recently started always practicing at 12″ or 14″ anyway).  Then we made the rounds saying hello to all our What A Great Dog! friends.  Ronald & I set up camp…just a few soft chairs & a water dish initially.  Then, I decided we should bring out the crate & see how Hendrix would behave crated in all the hubbub.  The hour or so we waited for our turn, she was mostly good.  She made sure to throw in the occasional stranger bark; but overall, I was really pleased with how she was behaving in the crate.  Our crate game work has definitely paid off!  There were moments where I could even leave the door open and she would not rush out.  She did get a little anxious if she saw I was paying attention to other dogs while she was in the crate (jealousy?).

As our group (jump height) approached, I took Hendrix over to practice a start line stay & jump just outside the ring entrance.  She stayed…and I said “jump”…she looked at me…and then ran for me…then ran off.  Fortunately, some friendly dog owners nearby helped me corral her pretty quickly.  So, we went back to watching from the crate.  After that, I was prepared for the worst…I thought she was bound to just run off & zoom.  When our turn came, I opened the gate & entered.  It’s nice that this fun match features dog proof fencing around the ring.  I took her slip lead off immediately, but I realize now – I should’ve waited until we got situated in front of the first obstacle.  She wouldn’t budge from the corner by the gate for sniffing the grass.  Now, I had REALLY LOW expectations.  No attempts on my part seemed to redirect her attention.  So, I went over and picked her up, and set her down in front of the first jump.  I think I saw an honest to goodness doggie lightbulb.  She practically beamed with “OH!  THIS is what we’re doing!  A-ha!”  So, I asked her to stay, and led off.  I returned & rewarded her for the stay.  I asked her to stay again, and led off then we went jump and full height dog walk.  She nailed those.  I hesitated thinking what I wanted to set up next.  Since this is only our second time in a “real” course, I was not really following the course as directed.  I was just picking and choosing for the sake of real competition like experience.  In my moment’s hesitation, I lost her to smelling the grass again…but only briefly.  I got her back and I was able to send her over a jump and then bring her over another.  Then it was A-frame, tunnel, tire, and table.  Those were all in a pretty straight line (or curve) so she nailed those.  Because I liked her energy on that sequence, I sent her back through after the pause on the table…tire, tunnel, A-frame and we got the two jumps again.  At that point, I heard “30 seconds”, and I said “We’re good!”  We headed toward the gate, and Hendrix started mugging with the crowd.  It was a crowd of WAGD! folk and Ronald…guess that’s why she was interested.  I got her attention and her slip lead on & off we went.

Here’s a little video clip of tonight’s action –

It’s clear this little gal loves her agility!  I’m really proud of how she stayed with me (ON GRASS!!!) and didn’t get the zoomies.  I loved seeing that she LOVES the big full height contact obstacles, and LOVED that I was able to handle her through the turn in the 2 jump series (both times).  I think it’s only a matter of time before we can run a full course.  Honestly, I think it’s more about me learning footwork and handling skills than Hendrix learning anything.  Once I set her on a course, she’s a fast little booger!  This time we skipped the weaves (Hendrix hasn’t done 12 poles yet) and the full height teeter (though I think she might’ve done that one).

All in all – a great fun with the little four legged one & all our training friends!