09-03-06, 09-10-06

Sinking Spring, PA (09-03-06)

We arrived at the trial site a few minutes prior to our estimated ring time. After checking in at the Open STD gate, I heard a voice yell out "first dog on the line!" and that's when it hit me... I missed the walk thru. You can image the next two words that were uttered. Anyway, I asked where I could locate a course map and someone pointed waaayyy over yonder to a tent. The running order was big - small and there weren't many 24 inchers before us so I opted to just watch the previous competitors run until our turn came up.

Max was first in. A couple of days before the trial, he was actually limping from licking and chewing on the pad of his front paw. He must of had a very small embedded object or irritation because I was unable to determine the problem. At that time, I wasn't even sure that I was going to run Max but he seemed to recover from his injury quickly. He really ran great for his handler not knowing too well where she was going next and although he was the fastest dog in the 20" class, Max was disqualified because he knocked down a couple of bars.

Caleb was up next and I believe that it was his best run to date. He placed 1st and earned his 3rd leg in Open STD! Can you believe it... Caleb... in Excellent STD? The best part for us Bully Lovers is that the 2nd place dog was also a little AmStaff named Hannah (Caleb's new girlfriend - a Jersey Girl), owned by Deb Roseman. If Max had qualified, he would've been 1st because of his time. It was still extremely cool to see three AmStaffs topping the 20" list!

Caleb also had a great run in Open JWW but, unfortunately, knocked a bar down after I called him off of a wrong course. You should watch the video of this one because he was really moving and then slammed on his brakes when he realized that it was the incorrect jump. Everyone told me what a good dog he was after that and sympathized that he didn't qualify.

Kennet Square, PA (09-10-06)

Well, the following weekend wasn't so exciting. It was the longest trial that I have been to, even with 3 rings going at the same time. Caleb did pretty good for his first day in EX STD but ran past the 2nd to the last jump and rolled around in the chute again. Does anyone have any idea how to get him to stop doing that?! Also, still no Q's in Open JWW as Caleb took a "dump" in the ring and was disqualified - Ugh! Looking back at his EX STD run, I can see that he was sniffing around for a spot then even though we walked him about 20 times that day hoping that he would relieve himself.

Max knocked bars down on both courses so I wonder if his paw is still bothering him.

Attached is a Photo of Max's Harem.