My gf has been working with Simi and Kizzy doing agility work. We have a course set up in our yard, so they practice a few times a week in addition to class. There are trials held in a town ~90 minutes from us. Kizzy’s first trial last month went well, with three first place ribbons, each with a qualifying score.
Last weekend was another event. My gf asked me to be her pit crew. My first chore was making training treats. I got 8 turkey gizzards at the turkey farm, boiled them, then diced them into treat sized pieces. On Saturday and Sunday we had to wake up at 5 to do horse care, load the truck, and drive to the facility for check in and height measurement.
My gf got her paperwork showing the course set up for the two events she had entered; Novice Standard and Novice Jumpers and Weaves. She studied the layouts, making notes, etc while I walked Kizzy (in the constant drizzle).
While my gf loosened up, I walked Kizzy, threw a ball for her, etc then brought her in, toweled her off, got her a drink.
It’s crazy. The handler needs to get from the start to finish (1-14) while being in a position to guide the dog. Everything matters. Going from 4-14 was dizzying to watch.
Overall it was a fun, but tiring weekend. Kizzy had one event Saturday, called a Fast and got a first place. My gf really nailed the strategy on the Fast run. She purposely skipped one jump, which got her time way down while only giving one fault. Other handlers were coming up and asking her how she thought to do that. On Sunday they got two more first place ribbons. All of Kizzy’s wins were qualifying scores (you can get a first place finish, but if everyone else sucks badly your score doesn’t qualify for points).
She now has 6 first place ribbons, all qualifying scores.
I learned some of the interesting etiquette involved. During a break in the action, the judge was looking at us. A woman realized we didn’t know what that meant, so she explained that the judge wanted my gf to approach her to talk. It would be poor form for the judge to walk up to her & Kizzy, because then Kizzy might interact with her and then want further interaction during a run. That could be horrible.
