After the Premier, we took a week or two off and then went to Montpellier.
We were participants in agility, only, this time, and had a wonderful time.
Linda Thomas, the communicator was there again, so we all went to talk to her, including Brat, the rescue.
She spoke with Pepper, first, and Pepper badly wants to do flyball, but isn't sure about earth dog. It looks like Cookie isn't the only one who doesn't want to get her feet dirty!
Brat said he wanted to go to a home were there are children! He said our family was better than nothing, but he wants a real family, of his own. Sooner the better, I say!
Mom asked about health issues and he said he can't take a deep breath. We're taking him to the vet for more shots and will have this looked into.
Then she communicated with us smooths.
The Fox said he doesn't like all the strange dogs coming and going at our house. It takes too much of mom's time away from him! She told him that he is instrumental in training the visiting dogs so that they can get a better home than they left, and he thought on this then replied, "Then why didn't you tell me before?"
Silly Fox! I knew that we were helping mom. We are very good helpers, especially me!
Linda said The Fox was very pleased at the idea of being a rescue helper!
Then mom had her ask us about running outdoor agility. Fox told her he likes it better than doing in door!! Mom then asked why he was not finishing courses and he replied that he thought things were fine! Mom was always happy when we finished, so what was the problem!!!! He thought he was titling, just like Cookie! Duh! I know good and well we don't finish, and I know why I don't!
Then she asked the same of me, and I said I didn't care, but I want to do agility by myself. I don't mind training with mom, because no one is really watching, but when we are both in the ring people look at mom, not me!!!! I want people to look at me, so I run out of the ring because that makes all the people look! (Linda didn't know I was running out of the ring. We haven't seen her since last year!)
Cookie said she was happy to do anything. No wonder Pepper calls her "Miss Prissy Puss"! Mom asked her if she knew what she had done at the Premier and she talked about the ring outside, with no trees around, so Mom asked about what happened in doors.
She said it was noisy and mentioned going into the ring and running around. So, mom asked what she thought about the time she went in with all the other dogs, mom in shorts, standing in a line, and going up by themselves, getting a big ribbon.
She had no idea, and wasn't concerned about it! She was with mom and that was all that mattered! Silly Cookie! I would have liked to have everyone watching me get a big ribbon!
Then Linda told us that mom and dad are very proud of us. It pleased both Cookie and The Fox, but I simply glanced at Linda and told her "Of course they are. They should be!"
Then we were asked about health issues. I laughed and actually flexed my muscles! The Fox said his left hamstring was tight and he wanted stretched, so mom stretched right there.
Then, Linda asked Cookie. A few months ago one of our trainers commented that Cookie was running as if her shoulders were stiff. Mom stopped and stretched and massaged her again, and it seemed to be ok, so she forgot about it.
When Linda asked her about health issues she said she doesn't run fast because her shoulders feel stiff! And, sometimes that makes her upper leg hurt. Mom has found a good chiropractor.
As our time drew near for CPE agility, mom stretched Cookie, paying special attention to her shoulders, massaging them carefully and stretching her front legs, out and back, several extra times.
She ran her course, and was a little faster, placing twice, but not qualifying.
Then The Fox and I had our turn.
Mom took me to the line, I did the first few obstacles and left the ring. Ran right past a row of people and on to our set up, going into my crate.
Everybody was looking at me then!
I did the same on my second run. Boy can I run fast!
The Fox was next and we went to the line. Mom told him to sit and he did. She said his name and he looked up at her!
The timer said "go when ready", and they went. Fox did the first two jumps, and then there was a 180 to the tire. She lost him. He looked to the street, where cars were passing on the other side of the 6 foot chain link fence.
Mom stood her ground and demanded he down. He sat in preparation, so she called him. He turned and went to her! The game was on!
And he ran! Fast enough to finish 10 seconds under time, earning a perfect score and a first place! Friends said they heard mom cheering from across the field. They knew The Fox had done something great and so did everyone else. Everyone patted him and told him how good he was.
I wanted to be patted, too!
For his second run he did even better! He was a bit slower, and it was hoter, but he had a perfect run, qualifying and placing first again. And, he only lost mom once.
Then it was time to do UKC agility. Cookie ran clean, but was over time in both of her runs, qualifying, once, but not with a high enough score to earn points.
Fox went to the start line for his run, did 2 jumps and lay down. The judge and mom agreed that he was obviously tired from the stress and heat and she told him they would go back to our tent and he went with her.
Mom had to make me go into the ring for my walk through. The judge had seen me take off before and said, "tighten that collar and don't carry him into the ring. Make him walk. Then, for his run, try to get him to do the first 2 jumps and the A frame and take him out." Everyone was watching that!
So, there was mom, me with my rear firmly planted on the ground, front feet planted at an angle, dug into the turf, and mom pulling me out to the start line for my walk through. Once there, I did the walk through,and even wagged my tail, grinning like a fox. I had a plan.
When our turn came, mom drug me to the entrance, and, then, to everyone's suprise, I walked to the start line with her and sat on command! The starter said "go" and we went. At the second jump we had to make a turn of 90 degrees to the A frame. I turned just like I do in class, so we didn't stop, but kept going.
I, Chiparoo, ran with my mom! We finished the course together! People clapped and patted me as we went back to the tent.
I think mom was floating!
When all the runs were over, we went back to the UKC ring for the presentation of ribbons. Cookie's run earned a third place with a score of 193, not enough for points, but everyone was proud of her.
Then, my name was called! My score was 200 and I had earned second place!!! Everyone was very proud of me! They should be!!
Mom and dad celebrated!
On Sunday, Cookie's first run was perfect! She was right on time and qualified in CPE level 3, earning first place!
I left the ring again, so mom pulled me from his next run. It was too hot to run.
Then, The Fox ran again. They went to the start and ran together. No stopping. No loosing contact. Even the though the temperature was climbing as we ran, and the sun was burning, he ran. He finished this run clean and received another first place.
He's the only dog to ever take a year to earn his CPE level 1 title and do it with 4 clean runs and earn 4 first places. Show off! You only need 2 clean runs to qualify at level 1.
It got hotter and hotter and mom was beginning to wonder how bad this heat was for us.
Cookie ran, but Fox, even though he started well, left the ring in his second run, after doing 5 obstacles, going into the shade, under a car, and laying down. The Fox hates to be too close to a car.
In UKC Cookie went over time, I did the first 3 obstacles, turned and did a tunnel and walked out of the ring. The Fox, for the first time in a year, did some UKC obstacles, outdoors, before stopping and asking to go home. Mom thanked the judge and went.
I love my mom very much, so I had some photos taken of us at last year's Medina Swarm trial and at the Premier 2000.
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