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...