I'll try to keep it short, but Sunday was Hades' first "match", a correction match because that's all I can enter him in, but a match nonetheless.
So the scores!
Hades:
Heel on leash and figure 8 24/40
Stand for Exam. 30/30
Heel Free 30/40
Recall 29/30
Long Sit 30/30
Long Down 30/30
Total: 173
He settled down quite well and his scores I think show that. His off leash heeling was WAY better. He lagged pretty bad at first on leash, sniffing and such. But I was more than pleased with my little guy for his first time out. At first I thought he wasn't even going to get to do the long sits/downs, some people were uncomfortable with him being a pitbull. ANd on top of it, I had to handle both Roxy and Hades in the sits and downs, because we were the last group of Novice. As their scores show they both got perfects on them, and I was happy that someone commented after, her exact words: "The two dogs that everyone was most worried about did the best in the class!". So his score isn't spectacular, but not only was this his first time out, but he was also the youngest competitor at a year and 5 months old! After people saw him work though, I think their fears dissipated. I'm not just some yahoo off the street with a big bad pit, but it's quite clear we train very hard.
Roxy:
Heel on leash and figure 8 32/40
Stand for Exam 0/30
Heel Free 34/40
Recall 26/30
Long Sit 30/30
Long Down 30/30
Total: 152
Roxy was amazing! We skipped her SFE, I don't want to risk anything, but the judge was awesome and just walked towards her and stood right beside her, rubbed her leg against her side etc. Kept her arms crossed in front of her with no eye contact at all. No snarls/growls or anything. Her tail wasn't wagging, which it has been at school lately, a HUGE improvement, but given the circumstance I was pretty happy with her.
As well on the outside of the ring there were a few well known trainers that approached me after her work complimenting us, of course I told them not to touch her blah blha blha. And a few of the trainers helped me out a bit, ignored her etc, and Roxy ended up moving to touch them! Trying to get into their pockets, licking hands etc! So it was a great experience for her and she didn't do anything out of order to ANYONE! I'm sooo happy with her!
On top of it all, the judge approached me after Novice and said she LOVES to see happy hard working dogs, if she could give me extra points for it she would've in a heart beat. She loved the tone of voice I had with them and said it was more than clear that we work together very hard and that my dogs LOVE to work for me. I must've been beet red I was so damned proud!
I entered Roxy in Open as well just to see how'd she do... SPECTACULAR! She was the only dog to get applause for anything and of course it was for her drop on recall (THANK YOU REBEKAH). [she loves it so much, hence why her Novice recall is so terrible, she clearly anticipated the drop but I could care less right now!)
Her drop was just amazing. I was a little worried during her retrieve on flat, because lately in school she's been heading out on the flat, and then coming back over the high ROFL. But thank goodness she didn't. So if it were just for those events, the judge said she would've passed with flying colours BUT, of course but, her out of sight sits/downs was absolutely terrible! LOL
I ended up just standing outside of the ring. She was obviously quite worried and did move a few times, but at this point I could really care less. Her performance in every other area was absolutely spectacular!
I wish we could've gotten a score sheet for her open performance, lol, but the judge has just recently become a judge, so she wanted to take all of the sheets for open and utilty home. She said to all of us "If you all got a 196 it's gonna be pretty clear I messed up!" LOL
So both of my guys were absolutely amazing! I can't even express how proud I am of them! We got a TONNE of compliments on how happy my dogs were, but still obedient. Everyone had great ideas to help with Roxy's issues, some of which already proved to work just during the short time at the show.
I couldn't be a prouder mama today!
So the scores!
Hades:
Heel on leash and figure 8 24/40
Stand for Exam. 30/30
Heel Free 30/40
Recall 29/30
Long Sit 30/30
Long Down 30/30
Total: 173
He settled down quite well and his scores I think show that. His off leash heeling was WAY better. He lagged pretty bad at first on leash, sniffing and such. But I was more than pleased with my little guy for his first time out. At first I thought he wasn't even going to get to do the long sits/downs, some people were uncomfortable with him being a pitbull. ANd on top of it, I had to handle both Roxy and Hades in the sits and downs, because we were the last group of Novice. As their scores show they both got perfects on them, and I was happy that someone commented after, her exact words: "The two dogs that everyone was most worried about did the best in the class!". So his score isn't spectacular, but not only was this his first time out, but he was also the youngest competitor at a year and 5 months old! After people saw him work though, I think their fears dissipated. I'm not just some yahoo off the street with a big bad pit, but it's quite clear we train very hard.
Roxy:
Heel on leash and figure 8 32/40
Stand for Exam 0/30
Heel Free 34/40
Recall 26/30
Long Sit 30/30
Long Down 30/30
Total: 152
Roxy was amazing! We skipped her SFE, I don't want to risk anything, but the judge was awesome and just walked towards her and stood right beside her, rubbed her leg against her side etc. Kept her arms crossed in front of her with no eye contact at all. No snarls/growls or anything. Her tail wasn't wagging, which it has been at school lately, a HUGE improvement, but given the circumstance I was pretty happy with her.
As well on the outside of the ring there were a few well known trainers that approached me after her work complimenting us, of course I told them not to touch her blah blha blha. And a few of the trainers helped me out a bit, ignored her etc, and Roxy ended up moving to touch them! Trying to get into their pockets, licking hands etc! So it was a great experience for her and she didn't do anything out of order to ANYONE! I'm sooo happy with her!
On top of it all, the judge approached me after Novice and said she LOVES to see happy hard working dogs, if she could give me extra points for it she would've in a heart beat. She loved the tone of voice I had with them and said it was more than clear that we work together very hard and that my dogs LOVE to work for me. I must've been beet red I was so damned proud!
I entered Roxy in Open as well just to see how'd she do... SPECTACULAR! She was the only dog to get applause for anything and of course it was for her drop on recall (THANK YOU REBEKAH). [she loves it so much, hence why her Novice recall is so terrible, she clearly anticipated the drop but I could care less right now!)
Her drop was just amazing. I was a little worried during her retrieve on flat, because lately in school she's been heading out on the flat, and then coming back over the high ROFL. But thank goodness she didn't. So if it were just for those events, the judge said she would've passed with flying colours BUT, of course but, her out of sight sits/downs was absolutely terrible! LOL
I ended up just standing outside of the ring. She was obviously quite worried and did move a few times, but at this point I could really care less. Her performance in every other area was absolutely spectacular!
I wish we could've gotten a score sheet for her open performance, lol, but the judge has just recently become a judge, so she wanted to take all of the sheets for open and utilty home. She said to all of us "If you all got a 196 it's gonna be pretty clear I messed up!" LOL
So both of my guys were absolutely amazing! I can't even express how proud I am of them! We got a TONNE of compliments on how happy my dogs were, but still obedient. Everyone had great ideas to help with Roxy's issues, some of which already proved to work just during the short time at the show.
I couldn't be a prouder mama today!