Tailwaggers #2

Tailwaggers #1 was all about the ice, Tailwaggers #2 was all about the snow. Bob suggested that #3 would be all about the flooding, but we remain optimistic for bright and cheerful sunshine all day.

Primary Agility was a fairly straightforward course, but with a tempting little dogwalk/seesaw discrimination at the start. What I really love about this show is that they fence off a fairly large queuing area, so you actually have room to warm up your dog properly before you run. So Dylan was absolutely raring to go by the time he hit the start line, stretched and focussed and it really paid off. His dogwalk was perfect, and he was all about working that course, and letting me co-pilot only. I suddenly get why everyone has those hard-staring Border Collies that you just shout directions at from the middle of the ring. It’s smooth and fast and easy!

I genuinely wasn’t sure if we’d won or not, since there were some of the usual super-fast competition still to run (although there were a few missing, like Chloe and Ritz), but Dylan came comfortably 1st in the end. Halfway to Novice, what a star! Bob’s Twig was in 2nd, over 2s behind, and Twig usually kicks our arses.

That 1st also means he now has his BAD-Bronze title. The BAD-Bronze is a special one for Dyl, because it’s the only time he’s been first to get something. Kim has always been their first before, but she never got this one. So props to Dyl!

Primary Jumping was fiendish but fun, and Dylan opted for the “take everything in sight” option. We got E’d, but it was a blast anyway. We had a slight argument in the Triple-A Agility; Dyl blew the first Aframe contact, stopped on the second in a perfect 2o2o, and then stopped on the floor for the 3rd. Naughty boy … but he made the judge laugh, and he jumped everything beautifully, so not too many complaints. I know we have to work on that Aframe, I’ve been letting him run it too often.

Primary Up and Under was a mad course, four tunnels in a row and various options! I was trying so hard to remember where I was going I didn’t really handle it all that well, but we came 2nd anyway, beaten by Vicki’s Diesel, who is just looking more and more speedy every time I see him run. Dylan has also decided that he’s maybe not so bad … maybe in another 3 months he’ll finally seccumb and actually play with him!

This Tailwaggers Dylan? He’s awesome. I’ve got to find out how to have this dog every competition.