Sunday, February 1, 2009

SCAT CPE Trial

Yesterday Carmen, Bug, and I hit the road at 5 a.m. to attend the SCAT CPE Trial in Hamden, CT. SCAT put down new flooring at their training center in December/January of this year and this was the first agility trial on it. They used the crown rubber matting and I have to say my back did not hurt at the end of the day.

Crating was in a separate heated building. Access to the trial ring was very easy - a 30 ft walk across a parking area. I have to say I liked the set-up. The crating building wasn't "tight" at all. It was very roomy. There was a fair amount of down-time between classes due to the fact that it was one ring and completely full. I spent most of my time with the dogs in the crating building.

I have been burned with Ike. The indoor trials we've attended really over stimulated him. Typically the spectator seating and space between the trial ring if very tight. This is a big Ike no-no. So I brought Carmie in before her classes with enough time to run her about a bit and stretch her (Thanks, DGS) and then feed her some yummy treats. It worked out well. The fact that she is pretty unflappable helps too.

Our first class of the day was Fullhouse which is played just like the card game - except instead of cards you must acquire 3 jumps, 2 circles, and one contact/weaves/triple and enough points for your level. This was Carmen's first Level 3 class. Yay, Carmie! This was also Carmie's first trial running as a Vet and jumping 8". I had a specific plan in mind that would have three contacts and one triple, three circles - possibly 5 depending on time, and 5 jumps. Well Carmie totally ran amuck and we ended up taking equipment willy-nilly. But it worked out totally fine - we Q'd and placed first! Unbelievable.

Carmen did have a true terrier moment. There was a dogwalk/tunnel discrimination issue which has been very pesky for us. We have worked on it in class a lot and I thought in respect to my handling we had it nailed down. Rather than avoiding it I thought I would put to use my class work. I slowed my speed to a stop, turned my shoulders, yelled "Here-Dogwalk" and Carmen said "woo-hoo! Tunnel!!" I watched her hunker down and TEAR through the tunnel. This is an instance where I feel like I handled it correctly and Carmie REALLY wanted that tunnel. So obviously we need to proof this...a lot!! And the beauty of game classes is that we just needed to change our plan - which then involved running around like chickens with no heads taking equipment! Thankfully Carmie is fast.

Due to the fact that Standard was scheduled to be the second class of the day, I entered Carmie in Level 1 just to have something to break up the day. Level 2 Standard has weaves and we are still avoiding weaves. It was a pretty, flowing course and Carmie nailed it Q'ing and placing first.

Next class was Snooker. Jen LaPierre is the Snooker Queen - she creates very difficult Snooker courses. I have been to two trials where she was the judge (my first ever and the Hilltown Hounds Trial) and failed her Snooker courses in both instances. Fortunately Jen was not the judge for this trial.

I did a very nice across the ring lead out and Carmie said "Sure, whatever you want." Such a great girlie. I almost always do lead outs in class but I only do them about 50% to 75% of the time in a trial situation. I have to think about why that is - I think it must be ring nerves. Carmen and I were able to find some flow in the Snooker course and receive our first Level 2 Snooker Q and first place. Yay Carmie! We did take the A-Frame at an awkward angle in one instance and I feel like Carmie hit it kind of hard, so she will definitely be seeing Cheryl this week to make sure everything is copacetic.

Last class of the day for us was Level 2 Jumpers. The first two jumps to a tunnel created a beautiful line for Carmie, so I did a big lead out and released her. It was a very curvy course and for the most part I got my front crosses in very nicely. We did have a small bobble toward the end. The last tunnel in the course Carmie started to enter but I must have been still moving before she committed and she pulled out. I called her a "silly goose" and put her back in without a problem. I suspect this might be related to my continued movement but also, possibly, her eyes. It was a dark green curved tunnel and it was 5 p.m. so there was no more natural light. Regardless it was a small bobble and we continued to Qualify and place 2d.

Carmen was super yesterday. I am so proud of her. And Bug was a great companion dog - as always. SCAT put on a very nice trial with nice workers' raffles and a special last class worker raffle (you could win a 10' tunnel or a refund of your entry fees). I recognized many faces from other CPE and NADAC trials which is nice. I think I would definitely go trial there again.

2 comments:

Katrin said...

Congrats! Glad you had a good time and the girlie was so good for you!!

Diana said...

Great job! Glad you had fun. Diana