Marq competed in Novice B

[tessa_s212]

Well, not much of a brag, but thought I'd share the experience anyway.

Onleash/offleash heeling: Most all of his halts were straight, though he did forge some in the beginning of the slow, as well as heeled wide once before an about turn. On his offleash heeling he started off in a very good heel position, not forging on the slow, and keeping close next to me until right before the about turn again where he began to heel wide again and this time lost his heel position completely. I had to call him back into heel where he actually sat nearly in front of me. From then on, however, he did do a good job on the heeling again.

Figure 8: very good actually! Didn't lag, sat straight!

Stand for exam: Yet another flawless exercise. Didn't move a muscle. (Yay for him being a show dog! :p)

Recall: Didn't sit straight in front of me, and though he did finish, he didn't stop in heel position but again sat nearly in front of me.

Stays: This is where he blew it. The darn dog layed DOWN when I commanded him to sit for the sit stay. I could NOT get him to sit back up again for the life of me. There was nothing I could do, he'd already layed down, so I left him like that, which NQd us. When we returned and prepared for the down stay I actually had to physically PULL him back up into a sitting position. He defiantly refused to sit up on his own. However, he was quite content and stayed perfectly for the down stay. :rolleyes:

Needless to say, Marq is going into doggy training boot camp. The heeling and finishes were permissible. I knew that though they were good in practice, it was likely they'd fall apart in competition. However, the stays have no excuse. Going back to doggy boot camp to make sure he doesn't dare move a muscle from that sit stay.

A bit dissapointing for me. This is probably only my second time ever in nine years of showing ever NQing with a dog in an obedience trial. And surely not on the stays! Honestly, when the dog broke the stay I wasn't sure of what to do because I've NEVER had a dog do poorly on the stays.

But, to make it all better I did have a very experienced and wonderful trainer that had dogs in Utility and Open B come up to me and tell me that I was a wonderful and smooth handler, even if my dog was a bird brain! I was very glad for the compliment, although slightly embarrassed by not qualifying. But hey.. if you aren't ready for a humbling experience, dogs are NOT your thing. :p

As they say, Better luck next time! (Which is actually tomorrow for me. I've got a 4-H fun match.)

[Lizmo]

Good Job, Tessa! :D Any pics?

[tessa_s212]

Good Job, Tessa! :D Any pics?

No, sorry. :( My mother is technologically retarded and our digital camera eats batteries within minutes. Just the other day we put brand new batteries in the darned thing and it went dead in a matter of four or so minutes. And I'm not rich enough yet to buy new rechargeable batteries. :(

And I guess I will share the other results. My sister finished Misha's CD yesterday with a score of 196 with a 2nd and a Q. Today she got another 2nd and a Q with a score of 190.

Yesterday my sister showed her Cocker. Pepper layed down in the sit stay.

Yesterday I also showed Cocoa in Open A, but she walked over the broad, so no Q for her. Other wise she did fairly well besides some lagging on the heeling and figure eight. At least she had fun with the dumbell though.

[Jynx]

good job Tessa!,,hey those "birdbrains" just like keeping us on our toes,,he probably figures you've had it to easy with the other dogs so he's gonna make you work for this! :))
diane

[tessa_s212]

good job Tessa!,,hey those "birdbrains" just like keeping us on our toes,,he probably figures you've had it to easy with the other dogs so he's gonna make you work for this! :))
diane

Haha! I guess. But so far all of my dogs have been difficult. The first dog I ever trained was dog aggressive as well as my mother's dog(8 years old at the time). The second of my own is Cocoa, who I had completely ruined with harsh correctional training before I knew better, and took me over two years to get where I am now with her, so just to have her happy in a ring and enjoying working for me is enough to make me happy, Q or not. And Marq is my third dog. However, I've trained more to competition level that were rescue dogs and owned by my trainers. Most of which had been previously abused, so there are a lot of quirks to work out, sadly.

But I got a pointer knowing he'd be a bird brain. He's no golden retriever or border collie. I knew that getting him, and at the time the challenge seemed inviting. :lol-sign:

I've seriously thought about going next for a breed that was more known for its ability to focus and obey.... but I think there is a reason I'm drawn to harder dogs... where's the joy in success without a hard challenge? Might not always win first place... but its a fun, hard and humbling journey that teaches you a whole heck of a lot. :)

[adojrts]

For Digital Cameras use Lithium Batteries, we use our digital all the time including the video on it and a set of lithium batteries last about a year. Digital cameras eat regular or rechargeable batteries for a snack. Even the *New* Batteries for Digital Cameras don't last as long as the Lithium (about half the time). Lithium Batteries are about 7 bucks for 2, not bad for a years worth.

Lynn

[tessa_s212]

Thankyou adojrts, I'll try to get some Lithium batteries.



Today I competed ina fun match in Novice B obedience, Senior B Dog Care, Senior B Showmanship with MArq, and Open B obedience with Cocoa

Cocoa didn't do her best in her Open B class but was the only one so still brought home 1st.

In my Senior B competition I had five others as competition. With a score of 226 out of 230 I placed first. In my Senior B Dog Care I placed 2nd with a score or 226 out of 230.

In Marq's Novice B obedience competition there were four in my class. With a score of 221 out of 230 I placed 1st!!!! Who would have imagined, First place with a Pointer in obedience! The judge did go easy, so I did deserve a lower score, but since she did go easy on everyone my 1st place was fairly won. Marq should have been marked off for wide heeling on the entire offleash heeling. He didn't move a muscle on the stays. So, perhaps Marq just needs a second day of showing to get warmed up and in thinking mode. :P (And he's earned his way out of doggy training boot camp.)

Also, for my high scores I got High Scoring Junior(BJH) in both the Showmanship competition and out of all the classes in Obedience!

For being such a bird brain, my Pointer might actually know how to use his brain once in a while!


Oh, and there were people from another county there today. Which is excusable because they just don't have any knowledgeable instructors in their county, they were very inexperienced and ignorant. However, one was VERY rude. She had an attitude the entire day, cocky and snobby. She even(once that I heard, but there were more times) threatened to hit her dog. And after I won my Novice B class we were walking out she rudely addressed the judge demanding to know why she got certain points off on her score sheet. Apparently she did not understand that you can't move the dog physically with your feet or push on its butt to sit in the ring even before an exercise. But daaang, I can't ever imagine treating a judge so rudely.

Bad thing is we are competing at their fun match next Thursday. My trainers forewarned us to expect rudeness, trouble, and maybe even unfair judging against individuals in my county. At first almost decided not to go, but it would be good practice for Marq in new environments, which he desperately needs. And other people from my county are going too.. so, at least we'll be a small group. And I've learned very well to just ignore rude behavior towards me.


And today I again got more compliments on my "great" handling both in obedience and showmanship. :D