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.