Could it be? It seems like I have only had Tangle in my life for a short time.
Those Eyes
Happy Birthday my Tangle-man!
All of my dogs have exceptional qualities and Tangle is no exception. Tangle has done agility before, I am sure of it. He also was born into this world knowing how to love. He has such a playful and loving quality about him. A true gentle giant.
Tangle got his ADCH at the age of three, has qualified for three USDAA Cynosport competitions, competed in two. Attended many USDAA Regionals, always walking away with metals. He has attended a World Team Tryout. He has placed in "High in Trial" several times. All of these competitions he has done with grace and a calm head. He has traveled this road before.
Photo by Ken Gee
Tangle is a good teacher for me. Patient and forgiving. Willing to let me struggle until I figure out what he needs. We are beginning to develop a common language and now our conversations go much more quickly.
Improvement, that is always the name of the game isn't it?
This blogging event (Improving Agility Organizations) is our opportunity as a community to gather together to be the 'Whos' in 'Whoville' and provide feedback to agility organizations on how they are doing, what we like, and where we would like to see improvement. If everyone uses their voice on the same day might be heard in more circles than just our own.
Horton Hears a Who (tvfirstlook.com)
I participate in several venues and all of them have great things about them and all of them have things that well...they could improve. True about everything in life isn't it?
If I had Kenneth Tatsch's (USDAA) ear today, the couple of things that I would say to him:
I love USDAA. For me it is a great balance between
having challenges that are interesting to me and course that are fun for the dogs to run (running! most interests them!).
In our area USDAA trials are mostly outdoors, fairly relaxed and casual events. I love that!
It would be helpful to know qualifying criteria ahead of time. Announcing criteria for National events (Cynosport, IFCS Continental) BEFORE the qualifying period has begun is really important to me. For me, I have to plan in advance where I will travel in order to qualify for things. It is not possible for me to decide at the last moment to go on the road to a trial in order to qualify. Are they purposely biasing their events?
Ken, you have a wonderful opportunity to get more small dogs to join USDAA. Just give them a jump height that is fair for them.**
At Cynosport you should consider loading results onto a website. Large monitors just don't cut it. It is very hard to see your results gathered around monitors with 120 of fellow competitors. It is really fun to obsess about my dogs results relative to my competitors. Your affecting my ability to obsess. BTW, the monitors never scroll at the speed that you want :)
P.S.
Actually if I had to pick a favorite venue that isn't really a venue it would be AKC's world team tryouts. The people are friendly, the courses are amazing (fun for dogs and humans), and extremely well run!
I am not an old timer in agility, but I have been in it long enough to have a lot of ups and downs. So, when I have an "up" time I certainly know enough to take a moment and fully appreciate an accomplishment. It keeps me driving through to the next opportunity to appreciate our accomplishments.
We had a USDAA trial this weekend. I entered two out of the three dogs (Tangle and Tip). It was the very last weekend to qualify for Team at Cynosport and we were honored to help another team qualify.
The icing on the cake was that both dogs ran great and had several notable accomplishments. Some can even be measured in terms of wins or titles :)
I don't enter Tip in all the events. At 8 years old, I am conservative about the mileage I put on her. She ran 2 Standards, Gamblers and a Jumpers. She ran beautifully, listened really well, and just generally seems to be feeling great. She got a 1st in Jumpers and set the fastest time on course of all dogs/all jump heights, Performance and Championship. I think that constitutes feeling great, for which I am thankful!
Tangle had an awesome weekend as well. Huge accomplishments for the weekend, but what really gave me pause was looking back on his last 8 months (since he started USDAA). My initial goal with Tangle this year was get him mileage, running with confidence, and qualified in at least one USDAA Cynosport event since it was going to be in Denver. I would say that we more than met that goal.
(Pinch me now)
Tangle has:
4 Team qualifications
3 Grand Prix qualifications (2-2nd places)
A Semi-Final Grand Prix bye at Cynosport
1 Steeplechase local qualification at Regionals (3rd Place)
Starters Dog, and Advanced Dog Titles and is now running everything at the Master's level in USDAA
But, really, best of all. The speed and confidence that he has picked up in 8 months is AMAZING to me. And, best, best of all....he barks in his crate and comes out ready to play at trials. Seriously, yes, this is the best to me. Speed, titles, etc...come if the dog loves the game. Well, this dog LOVES THE GAME!
So, as Tangle's handler, he put me on notice this weekend. I was in his way several times so I better get my ass moving faster :) What an AWESOME problem to have!!
Since my foot kept me from participating in this year's Nationals, I will begin to look forward to next year. USDAA Nationals will be in Denver next year! That will be awesome, right in my own backyard.
I am already starting to think, which dogs do I want to qualify, in what events, how will I achieve those goals etc...
Nationals will be in October, outdoors at Dick's Sporting Good's Park. Of course that time of year the weather comes to mind, after all it is Colorado! We have been known to have snow one day and be 70 degrees (21 c) the next day. This weekend, it was sunny and warm Friday, cold and snowing (nothing stuck to the ground) on Saturday, partly sunny but cool on Sunday. Today, Oct 10th, it was an almost perfect 60 degree sunny day!
I went back and looked at the last 10 years, what was the weather like on Oct. 10th, the starting day of Nationals.
For the most part, we didn't have any precipitation the week of October 10th. So, if history repeats itself, it could be fairly nice. We don't have a history of being hot this time of year, so the dogs and handlers should be pleased to run in the cooler temps.
If you plan on attending the Nationals next year, one thing is for sure. Bring layers. This time of year Colorado always has cool mornings and the temps can swing 30 to 40 degrees in a day.
Whenever I go to trials out of state I always try to search maps, and google for information about the surrounding area. I want to know where I can walk my dog off leash, eat where I can park in the shade, find near by stores, and stay in hotels that are nice, but dog friendly. Since I live in the area, I am thinking about blogging from time to time though out the year with helpful information for those who will be attending USDAA Nationals from out of state. Perhaps things like dog friendly places, dealing with the altitude, hikes with dogs, not sure what else. If you have suggestions, leave a comment!
