WWHA August 2010 agility trial Marymoor

Sat Aug 28th
Just two runs today as Stephen withdrew Sky from STD.


They did Open FAST first, the run was a little untidy as Stephen avoided the A-frame and tyre which were on the main route to the SEND. Sky didn't seem to get the SEND at first, but as he didn't enter the no go zone they did not get a refusal, Stephen pulled him back and repeated the SEND and this time he did it perfectly. A short loop of jumps plus the See-Saw and they  finished, 63 points in 29 seconds, plus they got first place!


Next onto Open JWW, this time Sky was really focused, he ran the course perfectly, including doing some killer weaves. Unfortunatley, he clipped one of the easy jumps (Stephen thinks he may have taken off to soon again) anyway they completed the course in 25 seconds. Although they didn't qualify they had the second quickest time of all the dogs entered - beaten by Cool, Lisa Ross's super quick Border Collie.


Video links below
JWW: http://www.youtube.com/user/ghostyboyster?feature=mhum#p/u/0/WeL2uFGo2hc


FAST: http://www.youtube.com/user/ghostyboyster?feature=mhum#p/u/1/Ti4oQUKWlTw


Sunday
Came very close to qualifying again in FAST - the Send was a double, followed by a single then a wrap back over the double, all from a distance of 12 feet. Sky did all three but there was a slight hesitation when he came back to the last double, which the judge called as a refusal, they  still got 50 points even though they didn't get the Send bonus!


However, Sky did something very bad at the end of the FAST run (tore Stephen's shirt) with the result that he's now grounded (literally) - no more until Sky can control his enthusiasm.

Weekend in Sequim

Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club Agility Trial in Sequim, WA. August 13, 14 and 15, 2010

Dirty Poodle ...

Today it is time for Sky to have a wash and brush-up.  It is a good day for dog grooming as it is overcast and not too hot.  Walked 'the boys' first thing so that Sky wasn't bouncing off the walls while I was trying to groom him.  This is what he looked like when we got back from our walk ... it had been raining overnight and early this morning so he's a bit wet around the edges ...

First thing I had to do was comb his coat through before washing him ... here's what he looked like after the brushing and combing ...

Next he was placed in the tub while I cleaned his eyes and ears, clipped his toe nails and emptied his anal glands (yes, it needs to be done!).

I use hot water and get his coat totally wet before starting to add shampoo ...

Now he resembles a drowned rat more than a poodle!

When he's been shampooed and thoroughly rinsed off, I use ShamWow towels to absorb as much water as possible.  Once he's as dry as I can get him with the towels I have him jump back up onto the grooming table.  Next comes the long process of drying his thick coat.  I only have a forced air dryer, no heat is involved, so it takes more forever to dry him.  Below is the end result: a clean, dry and tangle free poodle.

Before Bath

After Bath

Now onto the shaving and clipping stages ...

Not a good day for agility ...

We went down to Argus Ranch again today for the NW Bearded Collie Club of Puget Sound Agility Trial. No FAST this afternoon so Stephen and Sky were just running in Nov B STD and then JWW. Both runs were quite spectacular, in STD, Sky jumped off the A-Frame just as Stephen slipped and fell (neither of them was hurt).

In JWW Sky took off way too early for a jump ... as you can see above ... and took it out! The jump was flat on the foor but to their credit Sky jumped the 'pile' when the jump had to be revisted later on the course from the other direction :-)

So ... not a bad day yesterday and lots of lessons to be learnt today.