Happy New Year!

Dog show

This past weekend we were entered in both conformation and obedience, but since I had a virus of some sort, all I could handle was the conformation.  All that running around the ring with various dogs damn near killed me, but it was worth it as Sketcher won five more points, including a major!

 

Four in a row!

At hunt test the next weekend, after some work on manners and reminders that he is shore broke, Sketch earned two more legs to finish his JH title in four straight tests.  Saturday was a slam dunk, Sunday was harder and the second land mark made me stop breathing for awhile, but he finally picked it up.

 

Sunday the club had run out of Junior rosettes so we "only" got the title band for now.

 I took some cheesecake pictures of Sketch ...  ;-)

Field fun

It appears that Sketcher has earned his first JH leg.  He pinned all the birds and his line manners weren't too bad, but we had to leave before the ribbons were handed out so nothing is set in concrete yet.  We go back tomorrow for another go, so I'll find out then.

Of course, Sketch had a lot of fun!  This is from training on Tuesday, the only day we could get out.

Update 11/5.  Sketcher earned two JH legs, rather easily.  His major areas of needed improvement are that he insists on dragging me to the line, and noise as he leaves the line.  We will work on that this next week, as we have another test next weekend!

 

A great finish!

We ran out to Phoenix for a one day night trial, and Sketch outdid himself.  He finished his UD, won the class for his first two OTCh points, and placed Second in Open for his first UDX leg!

We are already entered in three trials, two classes, in Wenatchee plus I got overnight parking AND I have to drive Suede up to Iris as she came in season, so we will do those trials, and the NCCCRC trial the next weekend, then obedience will be on hold for awhile to see if he can get his JH next month.

 

Leg two

We are now in Richland, WA for four trials.  Two on Friday, the first one he just flat couldn't do articles because of some smell near the pile, but the second one he managed to hold on for his second UD leg and to actually win the class!  Only two dogs out of 10 Q'd and since he was third to last to go in and no one had Q'd up to that point, I was pretty nervous!

Two more trials, here's hoping he can finish this weekend!

The jinx is broken

After 11 trials of mostly just messing up one thing, we finally got it together and Sketch earned his first UD leg, with Third place only 1/2 point out of Second.  

Most of his points were lost on the go backs, which have been a chronic problem as I think he doesn't see the point of going all the way if he's just going to come back to jump!  I'm confident he will eventually see the light on that tho.

We are in Helena - today it started to snow but it isn't sticking so I guess we will be all right!

 

Woo whoo

We are in Northern California for four days, flunking Utility - the day after entries closed, directed jumping fell apart.  On the weekend, Iris came out and we did breed; one day Sketch was BW and won two points!

 Photo by Iris.

We won't talk about Sunday ...

The rest

The next day was obedience, where Sketch was First in Open B and High in Trial.

 

(photo by Iris Andre)

The next day was Sweeps, which we didn't do so we got to sit around and rest.  On Thursday he was entered in the regular breed and won the Bred-By class.

 

(photo by Victor Hewer)

No love in Winners but that's OK, since he still didn't have much coat!

 

Here he is with all his loot from the trip!  He also earned a Versatility award.

 

A trip to the midwest

We are at the CCRCA specialty, and started out by doing three trials in Monroe, MI.  The first two he Q'd with lackluster scores and no placement, but the third trial he won with a 195.  

 

 Then it was on to Ohio for the WC/X/Q test where he earned his WCX easily.

photo by Iris Andre

photo by Hannie

Tomorrow we do obedience again! 

And finished.

The last trial of the circuit, Sketch finished his CDX in fine style, winning a run off for Third place.  He is still making some green dog mistakes, but overall I like where he is.

 

We also got some field training in!

 

 

CDX leg number two

After blowing the down stay by jumping up as I came back, and not dropping on recall the first two days of the Montana trials, Sketch finally got it together to earn his second CDX leg in Missoula.  He had a no sit on the heeling and ticked the jump both ways but still earned a 192, so I am happy with his work.

And, there are flowers!

 

First CDX leg

We did one day of the Bahia Sur trials - the plan was to do the match Saturday evening and then show Sunday.  Well, that was the plan, but for some reason the whole of the free world decided to go south on the 5 so I didn't get there in time.  Sigh.  Sketch did manage to earn his first CDX leg with a decent score, 194.  Out of the placements, but only by one point.  Gotta work on him being so distracted ...

This is the new blanket I got to take pictures of loot, hopefully we'll soon have more impressive loot ...  ;-)

Also saw wildflowers!

Trick Dog

Yesterday we were at the annual NABOC match, which always includes activities other than just a straight match.  This year they were offering the new AKC Trick Dog titles, so I went over to see what that was all about.  "Shoot, Sketch can do that!" and $36 later, he'd proven he could.  Now all I have to do is send the paperwork and $60 into the AKC and he can add TKA to his list of titles.  Eventually I will probably get around to do the video one, the top title, so he can be a TKP!  ;-)

ASCA Rally

Sketch finished his ASCA RN despite me robbing him of First place by making a 10 point error.

So I moved him up to Advanced, where I proceeded to make a three point error, but he still managed to win the class for his first ASCA RA leg.  Here he is with all his loot from the weekend.

Two legs

Despite some issues, Sketcher earned two legs on his ASCA CDX today, with Second and Third place in the class.  Mostly he just needs to get back into training after being laid off due to his injury, especially heeling!  Rally tomorrow.

A different leg

As it turned out, Sketch actually broke off a nail on his front foot trying to dig his way to Suede on the way up to Oregon.  Eventually it wore down enough to expose the quick making him lame on and off, depending on what he was doing.  Now he has a big bandage on his foot and is healing well, so I am hoping he will be able to do the ASCA trials on Saturday.  Don't tell the vet!  ;-)

 

Not again!

So, Sketcher managed to hurt his leg again on the trip to Oregon.  Maybe doing this ...

 ... or this ...

However he managed to do it, he's not really lame, just sort of ouchie.  So it looks like he isn't going to be doing Open at the Mission circuit.  And he's REALLY bored.

Sigh.

CD title

Finished off with a bang!  Won his second High in Trial with a 198.

 

Leg number two

Today was a very good day.  The only obvious thing he did wrong during the individuals was he sneezed and went a bit wide once, and maybe a bump on the figure 8.  Won the class with 198.5 and also was High in Trial!

 

Better today

His individual exercises weren't as good because the ring was a bit more distracting, but his stays appeared solid so he Q'd with a 194.5 and First place.

Later on, we went out to play with his winnings.

 

ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Somebody got up on the down stay with 5 seconds to go, blowing a 198.5 and High in Trial!!!!!!

AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Last "expensive match" before the big time!

We went to Hollywood DOC's trial where Teaz once again failed to get another UDX leg (I suppose I should work her some...).  This was also Sketch's last "practice" before we go for his CD and he did quite well.  He won Preferred Novice with a 197.5, so hopefully he will do as well next weekend!

 

HOT HOT HOT

We went to Tucson for the GSD club of S AZ trials.  I don't usually travel for Rally, but I love this club, but damn it's HOT!  I actually broke down and got a motel room because it isn't cooling down enough to sleep at night.  We spent Friday looking for Mariposa Lillies and I did finally find one.

 

Sketch found a Horned Toad too.

Looking for flowers is hot work!

Today, Sketch earned his second RE leg with First place despite a bitch peeing in the ring *right* before we went in.  His nose kept trying to lead him astray but  he listened and did a nice job.

Sunday didn't go as well - I made a 10 point handler error in Rally so even though he did finish his RE, he didn't get the placement he deserved for HIS work.  And by the time Preferred Novice came around, Sketch was just too tired and hot to do a decent job.  The other dog entered felt the same way as we were only Second by one point!  ;-)

Quick trip

We did one day of the Apple Valley KC trials on Friday.  Sketcher earned his first RE leg with First place and probably would have had a perfect score if I'd bothered to teach him the back up three steps sign!  Teaz also managed to get her fourth UDX leg including a Fourth in a fairly competitive Utility B class.

On the way home, the dogs had a nice runamok in the desert, where Sketch posed on a Joshua Tree log.

And I got some wildflower pics.