USASA NATIONALS! 04/28/2012
 
We came, we saw, we conquered.  Well, some things!

So the driving tally according to my truck was 1900+ miles, 35+ hours of drive time, and wait for it... 109+ gallons of fuel (at $3.50/gallon average).  Go me :P  Left on Saturday and got back yesterday (Friday).  Glad I know I can drive that far in one day still. 

Things I learned:
Audio Books are the BOMB on long drive
I like Qing
I love taking pictures
I love my family and bed <3
Going north is hard on me... WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE COLDER THERE?!
Getting back is bittersweet
You know you're home (Texas) when billboards are talking about chipotle and jalapeno things :D
You can live off of Taco Bell in other states, but its not ideal
Steak and Shake sells burgers.  I refused to eat there on the idea that that was false advertising lol
My truck is my friend and totally capable of being lived out of when needed
Maggie Pryor's new RV is so AWESOME.  I'll sleep in the back with the dogs... don't mind me
I like making friends and meeting up with people all over the country
THERE ARE SOME GORGEOUS DOGS OUT THERE!

OK, enough of that.  I left the state of Texas and marveled over lots of things.  Most importantly are the results I suppose:
  • Trip showed in Futurity and Sweeps.  We won our class and also $176!  So that was a definite win :)  In addition, Trip had to go back in for Best in Futurity and he did great, learning to gait in the HUGE 100 x 80 ring and then promptly forgetting about it in Sweeps an hour later.
  • Geo Qed with a 97 in Rally Novice B for her title!
  • Cole Qed with a 98 (1 point out of a placement) for his title!
  • Sutton Qed in Rally Excellent A with a 3rd place for a big rosette and a new slip lead!
  • Sutton Qed in Novice B Obedience with a 3rd place for a big rosette and a new slip lead!
Picture
Here's our loot from Nationals (minus the check)
I also took a TON of pictures at the show on Wednesday and Thursday and fell in LOVE with the lens I rented.  Yes, I promptly bought it when I returned home.  Doh.  Here's the link of all the gorgeous dogs I captured:

USASA Nationals, Gray Summit, Missouri LINKAGE

Now the irony... I have to wait to buy the pictures the "official" photographer took of my dogs in the ring and obedience.  *tap tap tap tap...

But seriously, if you have the chance to go to an Aussie Nationals (ASCA or AKC), go!  I'm not a social person and thought I'd be wasting a ton of money, but its super cool and only as frantic and stressful as you make it.  Also, Purina Farms is GORGEOUS!  The new building is so awesome!  I'll post pictures once I sort out where they are :)
1 Comment
 
 
New Hope ASC had a show in town last weekend and despite family obligations on Sunday, I decided to pack a few dogs for a Pre-Nationals show and tell on Saturday.  The dogs weren't as stripped out as I would normally have them as I'm trying to keep as much hair on them as possible until I get to Missouri.  It'll work... maybe :)
Picture
Gamble's been looking pretty good lately, so I neutered him a few weeks ago and decided to hit the Altered Champion Trail.  He already has a 5 point Intact major but as I never planned to breed him and with about 50 intact boys at my house (HUGE exaggeration but it feels that way at times) I thought I'd go ahead and get this going.  Gamble ended up winning Winners Dog for something like 2 points?  Maybe 3?  I suck at looking these things up while at a show.
Picture
Georgie as always was more than willing to come to the show and play and even though she tried her hardest to heel instead of gait (the point in showing her was this) we had this sorted out quickly and she did well.  Here's a pic of her smiling (as she normally does).  She does have a neck under all that fluff, I swear :)  We did reward her second try in Winners with a round of heeling right outside the ring.  She was instantly very happy with that!
Now for Trip.  So this was LITERALLY Trip's first time in the conformation ring.  He'd never been examined in such a strict exam setting so while I thought he'd be fine, I was just going for keeping "four on the floor" with him.  He showed like a champ when stacked and heeled like a maniac on the go arounds.  We ended up doing double down and backs cause he was dancing like a happy deer, but oh well.  Obviously he has no issues being in the ring and likes being the center of attention.  Its good to be Trip Trap!
Note to self:  Love this outfit... but don't let Trip ruin the shirt so you can't wear it again.  Stupid thing ripped on his nail... grr.
2 Comments
 
 
Just a quick note on our past weekend in Rally Novice B with baby dogs!  Pictures taken by Adrienne - so awesome having my own photographer now instead of me always doing it! :)
Picture
Cole did a good job in Rally Novice B this past weekend, Qing both days with a 92 and an 89.  Had to repeat a station cause he thought it was too hot to bother laying down again, but not too bad!
Picture
Georgie was a rock star in the ring and nailed everything really well for her first attempt!  Only issues were her running into me a few times on heeling, but she's getting it.  She got 2nd place both days with a 93 and then a 95!
Picture
Trip was a puppy and had NO issues with being in the ring, but he NQed merrily.
I just liked these two pics... Georgie's down is SOOOO her... I'm down right?  How about now?  MORE DOWN HAS TO BE BETTER YES?!

And this picture on the right is SO Trip!

Note to self:  Never wear this shirt again, it looks awful lol
Add Comment
 
 
Since I'm trying to train for an event, I like to evaluate my progress on video so I know what to work on.  I'm TERRIBLE about writing these things down, so videos are a great way for me to log it.  It just also means taht most of my stuff is done for me and not the masses and a lot of times things don't go as planned. 

Exhibit A:
I lost track of the many ways this was horrific :P  The winds were high and we had to set the course at least three times so it was dark by the time I got started with Tripper Trap.  He does well despite my son running amok (that's the weird green flashing lights from his shoes), the high winds, the cones all over the place, me forgetting the course, me failing at getting cheese out of an EZ Open wrapper (seriously, NOT EASY TO OPEN!).  But yeah, we trained that night gosh darn it!
This is a Striker video that I actually did some editing in.  Then I deleted the video short where he was doing all his tricks and commands so yeah... its just him stacking kinda.  I'm awesome, I know :P
Here's a Trip Trap video.  He's stinking cute and tired after the rally class we'd had that night.  That is all :)
Add Comment
 
 
We've been holding back on the showing more or less as we FINALLY get some things done on our house!  New flooring's going in ,so for all the fans of my infamous avocado green linoleum, sorry but it is no more :)  Well, its technically dormant under the flooring we put in.

Here's a post demo, pre flooring video I did:

For the first time ever, I'm going to USASA Nationals.  My awesome out of state friends made me do it and I'm working hard to make sure I'm staying busy there!  We're entered in Rally with 4 dogs, Agility for three days with Lana, and Conformation with 3 dogs over 5 classes.  Potentially we can finish 5 titles in performance, so here's hoping!
Add Comment
 
So Far Behind!! 03/30/2012
 
March 10, 2012
Lana and I hit an ASCA Agility trial to see if our retraining is sticking.  We still have some more to work on before we'll be competitive again, but my handling and her skills are definitely better!  Lana got an Elite Regular 5pt Q even though we really went just for training!
Add Comment
 
First Post! 12/25/2011
 
A new year is fast approaching and its time I overhauled the site!  This past year's accomplishments are listed to the right at the top or here's another handy dandy link HERE.  We had a great year full of lots of showing, training, and traveling so here's to another fun filled year with lots in store hopefully!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
Add Comment