Bobbie
04-06-2009, 09:12 AM
We headed off Friday driving north with the wind blowing hard south- made for "fun" pulling a trailer. But we made it safely to Elk Grove and got set up by 7 PM Friday. The dogs love going there because there are big exercise pens for off-leash elimination and running. Jack likes to run the fence of one while dogs are in the other so he got some good exercise Friday night doing that.
Saturday morning, cold! It was about 40. Luckily I'd remembered a jacket so over a sweatshirt it was warm enough. It warmed up outside much faster than in the shade of the arena (one ring was out, one in.)
Jack was unfocused on Saturday. He'd run about three obstacles (or fewer) and then start sniffing or picking his own course. We were entered in five runs but after walking Jumpers I scratched as it had two counter-clockwise circles and I knew I'd lose him. And I scratched Wildcard as the A-frame was not optional. So he went 0/3.
Saturday we also visited with the owner of one DM dog who came to watch a bit and let me see what was unfitted about her dog's cart, and the owner of another who was entered (with a different dog) and whose dog is just starting to knuckle.
Saturday evening we had a breakthrough- Merlin walked around the pen and then pooped while in his cart! That was a first and very god to see as he had previously wanted out of it and then I'd have to grab him and hold him up.
Sunday morning was colder- 36, though the groundskeeper claimed there had been frost. At any rate, Jack was much more on his game Sunday, and went 3/3 (we left before the last two as I was exhausted and hot and thought the dogs were getting too stressed- and one of the two I didn't think we had a chance on as it was a horrible Snooker course, no way to do it in flow unless you could do three sets of weave poles.
The drive home without the wind was much easier- but first I had to have someone help me jump my car as the battery was dead. (Get a new battery is now on the list of spring break errands.)
Saturday morning, cold! It was about 40. Luckily I'd remembered a jacket so over a sweatshirt it was warm enough. It warmed up outside much faster than in the shade of the arena (one ring was out, one in.)
Jack was unfocused on Saturday. He'd run about three obstacles (or fewer) and then start sniffing or picking his own course. We were entered in five runs but after walking Jumpers I scratched as it had two counter-clockwise circles and I knew I'd lose him. And I scratched Wildcard as the A-frame was not optional. So he went 0/3.
Saturday we also visited with the owner of one DM dog who came to watch a bit and let me see what was unfitted about her dog's cart, and the owner of another who was entered (with a different dog) and whose dog is just starting to knuckle.
Saturday evening we had a breakthrough- Merlin walked around the pen and then pooped while in his cart! That was a first and very god to see as he had previously wanted out of it and then I'd have to grab him and hold him up.
Sunday morning was colder- 36, though the groundskeeper claimed there had been frost. At any rate, Jack was much more on his game Sunday, and went 3/3 (we left before the last two as I was exhausted and hot and thought the dogs were getting too stressed- and one of the two I didn't think we had a chance on as it was a horrible Snooker course, no way to do it in flow unless you could do three sets of weave poles.
The drive home without the wind was much easier- but first I had to have someone help me jump my car as the battery was dead. (Get a new battery is now on the list of spring break errands.)