Ups and Downs Day 3

Day 3 had many ups and downs. Down- Starting with 4:45am packing and loading the car. Up - seeing the JWW course, and feeling confident about it, seeing the hybrid course and loving it. Down - being asked as I'm stepping to the line if I can be filmed by the ABC news and then interviewed directly after my run. Up - Not letting that affect my run! :) Down - Trin was skipping her rear left leg after we finished the interview. :(



(two rounds clean!) 

I was very worried, being already emotional about the whole end of her career thing. Poor Trin, I checked her pad, gave her a good massage and walked her until I didn't see it anymore. Massaged her some more and put her up to rest. We had to do the Mini Amerie group photo where I was surly and aggravated (feeling guilty now), and as soon as I was done with that, we went to the warm car to rest. (It was cold yesterday!) My ears were ringing, head pounding. I was stressed. Should I run Trin in Round 4 if she's lame? Some time with my eyes closed in the quiet, warm car, away from the activity of the show did me well. I decided to let it go, if Trin looked fine, I needed to accept she was. We walked back and I didn't see much though something still looked a bit off. She's always dragged the tips of her toes, she's really not the best built dog in the world.





Round 4 - hybrid, was my favorite course of the weekend, and maybe my favorite run. I really liked our finals run too. Trin was FIRED up, crazy eyed, screaming at me. I think just before that run I figured out the secret to getting her so crazy. I got her out a bunch of times to do some tricks and short walks to keep checking for any lameness and I think the up and down of getting rewards and then getting put up, made her wild. Tested again for finals, confirmed. Fascinating. I didn't feel any pressure at all for Round 4, it was easy to relax and run. So odd that Round 2 was my most stressful round this time. 



(part of the finals course I was most worried about)


And then finals, the course looked alright, but I asked for help anyway. One of the big reasons I committed to the event, even though I had reservations about the breed change thing, was to work on my mental game. I knew I could run a series of rounds clean with focus, but I hadn't run finals clean at nationals and I wanted a do-over. So, I was SURE we were running clean. There was no way anything could go wrong because I was going to be perfect. Determined. Focused. My only bobble was to over call Trin in the chute, she only needed a "chirp" to turn, but I called her like I was running mac-truck Kate and then I took a step to the left after the weaves, it's tiny but I'd rather that line have been straight. Trin's contacts and weaves were perfect, the best I could have asked of her. I don't know why she ran by the teeter, I had my eye on her, I can see she was aimed for it correctly, I just felt her converge on my line and pushed back a second too late, making her jump over my leg. The only thing I can guess is whatever was wrong with her earlier in the day made her not want to do a teeter, but possibly I should have been watching more carefully. Everything else was as close to flawless as I have the ability to produce on course, so I really am proud of myself and SO proud of Trin for everything she did all weekend. This really was her standout performance, as it should be. 

(video to We Are Young, Fun. feat Janelle Monae) 


Very strange to listen to the finals run with sound, oddly enough people *were* watching, and... rooting for us? ;) Only because I have watched the teeter miss slowly, agonizingly, tons of times; now I always laugh, giggle even, the people in the background, who surely I've never met, hands clapping down over mouths and heads. So sweet. 


For the event, we were awarded:


#1 Miniature American Shepherd for 2011 (hahahaha) But yay! (also would have been #1 Australian Shepherd, but who's counting? ;) I'm very glad Nika got that honor.  
#2 FSS/Misc Group Agility dog ($150 cash prize!) (would not have been #2 herding dog with the Aussies - so ha) 
#3 seed 16" dog going in to the finals!!!!!!! 


2-time AKC National Finalists with a 2/2 record of making finals! 

Not for the event, but seriously, there is no one more proud of what her and I have accomplished together than I. She did so well, and accomplished everything I ever asked of her. Except that running clean in a finals thing, but I made that condition later, so I won't hold it against her. So what adventure will we move onto next? as we sat at the top of the stands watching the remaining finals runs, Trin gazing over my shoulder. I followed her eyes to the dock diving pool. I know Trin, I know. More swimming.





Then again, she is qualified for Reno. ;)