Awesome Agility Adventures:Jefferson's Journey: My First Blog about Small Victories...

Welcome to my first blog about AWESOME AGILITY ADVENTURES with my pup, Jefferson, a 2 year-old black and white parti Cocker Spaniel. We have been participating in the sport of dog agility since December 2010 and have had a blast! The Animal Planet television station televises these competitions as doggies run an obstacle course while their owners (aka.."handlers") guide them through a series of jumps, tunnels, A-frames, tires, dogwalks and "weave" poles.

This past weekend, January 14th and 15th, we earned our very first Starters Title in dog agility! We had the opportunity to run with our buddies, Tally, a Chinese Crested and his daddy, Dick Cicone. Since we had run with them previously and didn't do that well because I got nervous during the baton hand-off and sent Jefferson straight to obstacle #2 by-passing obstacle #1 ensuring our "E" ("E" is for Elimination!) So, when I saw that we were scheduled to run again with Tally, I knew it was a chance to redeem myself. When I reviewed the course map, I volunteered to take the more difficult side - the one with the weave poles!! And, boy am I sure glad I did...Jefferson was on fire: fast and precise with his weave poles. We earned 1st place and a "Q" ("Q" for qualifying run with no errors) in our pairs run. I am so very proud of my little buddy....

But, besides our "Q" and respectable 3rd place in Gamblers (no 3rd "Q" for us...but I will save that quest for another day and another blog...) Jefferson had two really big tremendous super-duper accomplishments this weekend. First, he did NOT poop in the ring during any of his runs while competing in an out-of-town venue. Believe me, this is big..REALLY BIG (especially when you've been escorted off the indoor turf because your pup "travels" while pooping...) These types of "E"limations can be very embarrassing to doggie owners and viewed by other handlers as poor training. (Hey, as my momma says, "When you's gots to go, you's gots to go!") And, secondly, Jefferson only barked ONE night at the hotel. The second night, I laced his cheesy treats with cherry-flavored benadryl: he was knocked-out dreaming of dancing through weave poles and hitting fast, running contacts. Thank you benadryl!!

Small victories, I say...small victories....