Today Kili completed her first AAC title, her Starter Standard title called Agility Dog of Canada (ADC). It has been a year in the making, but we finally got it done! I wish I had video of it because it was an absolutely flawless run (it's so nice to get titles on really nice runs, instead of just eeking one out with luck!). Sadly, my camera died after the last trial, and the one I have now has a problematic battery. Also, we did not get off to a good start with our first run when Kili figured she didn't actually need to pay attention to anything I said. Fortunately, we got it together and had 2 really great runs in Steeplechase and in Standard. This means that Kili is finally out of Starters and has moved up to Advanced!
3 comments:
YAY!
Way to go girls, Congratulations!!!
My coach has said more than once, "Don't wish away your Starters." I never really knew what she meant by that, and thought it was an odd remark. But I do know now.... moving up means more work, stress, and exception. I know you and Kili will have lots of fun meeting your next goals. It is going to be fun for me too, as I follow along. Best wishes.
Janette - starters can be fun, but in some ways starters is the most difficult because it is just straight lines. It seems like it should be simple since there are minimal side changes and traps, but for some dogs it means less attention to detail. Or in Kili's case just less attention period! It seemed like there was always something that would go wrong! Either Kili was high as a kite and not listening, or she stayed on course but would blow a contact; otherwise if she was being a good girl then I managed to botch the handling or run into equipment; or if she was listening well and I managed not to screw anything up, she would knock a bar for good measure (which was the most frustrating because she only knocks a bar once in a blue moon!). I'm glad to be on to Advanced finally, we've been ready for awhile I think! I may look forward to being in Starters again one day in the future when I get another dog though! :)
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