9-23-08
Things slowed down in the south for the summer. It is to
hot outside and there aren't many indoor trials. We did DACOF and a couple ODTC trials in air conditioning.
DOI did real well at DACOF, both teams moved up 10 teams in the final standings.
We had another
great visit to Hattiesburg, MS in July '08. Corie and I worked hard, met lots of nice poeple and each earned Q's.
We made a trip to Western Pennsylvania, our homestead, in late summer
and competed near Dulles Airport, indoors. It was our first run on artificial turf. Mom and Dad liked it
but I didn't. I got 1 Q on 8 runs. This was a very big and competative trial. I ran Steeplechase really
well, but there were so many really fast dogs that I didn't Q. The next week end, we competed outdoors on grass (my
favorite) in Ohio. Even though it was hot, I Q'ed 50%.
3-02-08
On a beautiful Sunday near Charleston, SC; I completed
my 5th Gamble leg and earned my ADCH! I'm the 9th mini poodle in history to earn an ADCH.
It took just over 2 years, no thanks to Phil. I've see him fall down, get lost, confuse the buzzer, get too far ahead,
and fall behind. There is no end to his creativity in making up ways to fail. (Did I mention he has jumped over
a jump and the teeter?) But, now he must admits, that I am devine! I have
Silver Champion Jumpers title, a Relay Champion and a Bronze Snookers Champion titles too.
There is no end in site, after all: "The fun is in doing, not in having
done."
Corie is now a MAD dog! Late
in February, he qualified in two standard agility runs during the same week end to earn his MAD dog title at PBH Agility in
Chapel Hill, NC. What a trial! Core qualified in 9 out of 11 runs and brought home a check for the
Steeple Chase on 2-24-08. We love running on grass in Chapel Hill.
I, Rusty, am the 10th Mini Poodle in history to earn the coveted
title of CHAMPION JUMPER. I did it at PBH Agility near Chapel Hill, NC on 5-26-07. (To be fair, I must admit that
Corie is the 11th, he earned his the next day.) It was a long, hot event and Phil was so tired that he trashed 2 of
4 runs on the last day. But we all had fun. We recently became the 6th and 7th poodles to earn the Bronze
Champion Jumper title with 15 Jumper Q's. But I don't think we will ever catch Sonic's jumper speed.
We had another great visit to Hattiesburg, MS in July '07. Corie
and I won the DAM team event with Susie. Orlando did well, our teacher Martin won both first and second places
with Susie and Fletch. I earned my Master Snookers title. Corie and I each earned 5 Q's after
the DAM team victory. We met lots of really nice people, especially the lady at the restaurant who gave Mom 5 pounds
of steak for the Poodle Pair!
Corie surprised
Mom by earning his AAD title on Mother's Day in Asheville. She was thrilled! "The whole trip was worth
it." It was a beautiful and productive trip to the mountains we miss so much. Cool weather and friendly
people made us feel right at home. We will see the Blue Ridge Agility folks again next
year.
Not so with the USDAA trial on 5-19 near Atlanta. The Cobb County Equestrian Arena had a
dust floor that made us all look like coal miners at the end of the day. That was unpleasant, but acceptable.
What killed it for us was the "Killer Corner". It seems that last week's circus caged their big cats in the northwest corner of the arena. As cats do, they left their
smell behind in the dirt. I (Rusty) and many of the small dogs were terrified by the smell of predators and wouldn't
go into that area. Even on the second day, after some treatment of the area, it was an overpowering distraction.
Sunday I saw big dogs, losing their Qs by sniffing out the big cats. The time and money invested in this trip was lost.
We will not be back.
