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NADAC (the North American Dog Agility Council) has a fair number of fundraisers every year. The closest one to me is in Calera, OK. It’s not far - just across the border.

Several people had told me how laid back the trials are, and that the folks running them are the same. It’s just a one-ring trial, so no chance of having your dog “set-off” by seeing another dog running in the next ring. And the ring is closed in on three sides by walls, so only one side is open, and there are ring gates there to block it off. All in all, it sounded like the perfect venue to try a little black terrier with issues, and this was going to be the last weekend for Calera for quite some time.

So off we went early Saturday morning. I felt a bit of trepidation deep in the pit of my stomach, but some excitement too!

When we got there he had the normal outbursts while encountering new people and dogs. We only signed up for two runs: a Jumpers run and a game called Chances, that has a numbered course with a “gamble” in the middle of it. (A Gamble is usually 3 or 4 obstacles in a row with a “gamble line” that the handler is not allowed to cross. The point is to send your dog from a distance to do the obstacles). I only signed up for it so we could practice our running together - I didn’t care about, nor was I even going to try for the gamble.

It was not what I would call a pretty run, but it wasn’t totally without merit either. He did the beginning ok, then got off course but came back to me; ran through a couple of tunnels, and then bypassed the weave poles (cause we’re still working on the 2×2 method, and not doing them yet). Then he took the next 2 jumps, but went around the next tunnel, ran to the open doorway to bark at something outside, and came back to me to finish the course. As I said, I was not at all concerned about Q’ing (qualifying) or doing the gamble. I just wanted a little black pup-pup that would stay with me and try to please like his big sister. (They are VERY different dogs; each with their own strengths and weaknesses). I came away from the run feeling OK, but not really good.

Our Jumpers run was, well, short. The building has a couple of overhead doors that were opened up by the time the afternoon heat set in. (They have chain link fencing blocking them off, so escaping is not a worry). As I set Micah up on the start line, a group of very noisy Guinea’s decided to congregate within a few feet of the door.

Micah could not contain himself, and ran over to bark at them. When I called him back, he ran past me and out of the ring. So that was the end of our Jumpers run. It WAS a very disappointing day. He usually does pretty well in class, but class is not the same atmosphere as a trial, and Micah is just not ready for it - plain and simple. It was good to find out where we are at. My gut instinct was right. So I will forego even thinking about trialing at this time, and do what I SAID I was going to do - start working him in obedience. I think that will help his concentration, and his self-control. And we will continue working the Control Unleashed program, (whether we’re in a formal class or not). More on that to follow.

I certainly haven’t given up on the little dude, but this definitely has put us behind the eight ball. At least for a while.

Stay tuned.