Just Like Old Times

After an unintentional six-week break, we are back in the agility world!  Due to Vixen's being in heat, it was just my huckleberry and me this weekend at the SMART trial, and we had ourselves some fun!

That's right, Pipsqueak - I have my own sign.

We've been running together for over 8 years now.  She can pretty much read my mind out there.  What a treat!  She ran like a pro in spite of little practice, and Q'd in all her classes except for the three where I did something boneheaded.

She won a Gamblers, placed in Grand Prix & Jumpers, got a Super Q in Snooker, and earned some cash in Steeplechase.

She's a stud.







Why the break?  It was totally unintentional.  First was the two weeks off for kennel cough.  Ugh.  Followed  by a quick dip back in for a wild Vixen lesson at Power Paws. Then a week off while I traveled to Arkansas, during which time Vixen entered her heat cycle.  That resulted in Jemima's joining me for last week's lesson at Power Paws.  She was very happy about that.  Bouncing, barking, crazy happy.

Evening at Power Paws

And so we're back.  Our friend Katrina saved us a spot near her set up.  She knows I like to be on the backside of the front row of canopies, a bit apart from the action.  And she knew that I was crew chief for the Starters/Advanced ring, and so thanks to her, that ring was not far from my set up - close enough to take breaks and keep my eye on things.

Wonder what the neighbors are eating?

Jemima got to do all the runs!  She needs very little warm-up now.  I mainly show her the map :D, get her out and walk her around - a lot - before we go in the ring.  So basically just warm up her muscles, maybe practice an upcoming tricky move, quickly run the course, and head back to our set up.  She gets to rest a lot in between classes, in her comfy ex-pen.

I get all the things to myself!

When it came to my lunchtime though, she was alert.  I swear if she had her way she'd weigh 150lbs.

I never feed my dogs while I'm eating because I don't like begging dogs.  But I cheated today.  I left 2 Cheetos in the bottom of the bag and put it in her ex-pen.  STOKED!!!  Kinda like Crackerjacks!

Then she got to wash the paper plate.



 


The trial ended before 4pm, and I quickly packed up and loaded my stuff into the truck, including Jemima, and helped with tear down while she watched.  Hard work.  Then I took her to visit the onsite, awesome chiropractor, Darren Hawks.  She loosened up some tight spots.  Jemima loves her now.

Home to VIXEN!!!!  A hot shower ... quick snack ... and ZZZZZZ time!!!  It's good to be back.