The Pood tackles AKC Agility

Here is the Pood with her weekend booty from her very first AKC Agility Trial (until this past weekend, she had competed only in USDAA trials). She was especially pleased that she got to share her wins with her boyfriend, Mango.

Mango's mom, Cindy, had the inspired idea of having a 'girl's weekend', leaving our menfolk at home and traveling to the Ventura, CA event in the 'Lazy Daze' RV with Carbon and Mango riding shotgun. Carbon REALLY liked riding up front with the rest of the people, rather than in the back of the Explorer like, well, a dog.

Friday afternoon we settled into our spot at McGrath State Beach and enjoyed the quiet and serene evening before heading indoors for dinner and several segments of the 'Dog Whisperer' that Cindy's husband Rock had taped for us....we were as content as could be. The dog and the Pood played and wrestled themselves to sleep.

On Saturday, we arrived at the trial site in plenty of time to check in; Mango wasn't too sure about all the commotion at the trial site on Saturday, but he had greatly relaxed by Sunday and was able to watch his woman (Carbon) burn up the course.

Carbon won 2 seconds on Saturday, along with 2 Q's (qualifying scores, or 'legs' toward titles) in both classes -- Jumpers with Weaves, and Standard. On Sunday, she earned 2 firsts, along with 2 more Q's. All four of her scores were perfect 100's. She could conceivably earn both her Novice titles in just one more weekend! Of course, then she would move up to Open, where the competition gets MUCH harder...the jumps get higher, and the dogs are allotted less time on the course, and fewer faults are permitted....!!!!

It was really fun to spend the weekend with so many members of my agility club, the Santa Barbara Flyers. Karen was there with (Border Collies) Waggz and Zing (Zing's VERY first trial, and a very successful one!), Janet and (Miniature Poodle) Rowdy, Disa and (Parson Jack Russell) Benton, Dika and (Labrador Retriever) Adeline, Mary and (Portuguese Water Dog) Kona, and Eric, our official photographer!! ...we ALL did well; lots of laughs and moments of terror, but it was all good.

Carbon and Mango are both worn out after all the excitement of the weekend -- but they did spend a little time together today, just to reconnect...

Citizen Poodle

Carbon Rose has earned her AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate! She did very well during her test today, and passed. She was not too sure about allowing the evaluator to touch her right front foot, but relented.

She did beautifully considering that I have never used the formal commands 'heel' or 'stay' with her before.

Naturally, she took a moment to inspect the evaluator's tote on her way back to me during the recall. I suspected that she could never walk past a tote without looking for possible treats and toys, and I was correct. She's always good for a laugh.

Carbon's First Agility (Jumpers) Title!

Carbon Rose has competed in 3 USDAA agility trials and has had some great adventures. At her first event, in July, she was very excited at being in a new place with new dogs, new smells...she was very interested in the dogs and toys outside the ring so she simply took a few minutes to leave the ring and explore during her first run (Gamblers). It was very amusing for her and everyone except me. After many excruciating seconds she returned to me and finished the course.

In the standard class (2nd class, same day) she looked blankly at the weave poles as if she had never seen anything like them before. EIGHT tries later, she had completed them and we went on. She held the distinction of being in the ring longer than any other dog in any class in that trial (98 seconds -- the allotted time was somewhere around 48 seconds if I remember correctly) and likely earning the most faults, too, although I did not really take the time to verify that. Naturally, she did not qualify in that class. She did great in Jumpers, however, and placed 2nd and also Qualified in that class and in Pairs, with Waggz (it was Waggz's speed and accuracy, NOT Carbon's, that accomplished that win!).

The second day she stayed in the ring with me, and was more focused. In all we came home with an armful of ribbons. The next event was in August and she did well there too, coming home with more ribbons, and a Qualifying ribbon in Jumpers. Most recent event was in October, where we FINALLY got a Q in Standard, as well as 2 Q's in Snooker and one more Q in Jumpers. So she has earned a title in Jumpers!! and now we need just a Q in Gamblers and 2 more in Standard and she will have her first USDAA Agility title.

In a couple of weeks we are competing in our first AKC Agility Trial at Hobart Park in Ventura. The biggest differences (between USDAA and AKC) are that she will jump slightly lower (20" instead of 22" in USDAA) and there are weaves in the Jumpers class. Several people from our agility club, the Santa Barbara Flyers, will be going, so it will be a fun weekend.

Above are photos of the athlete at work.