I Got My First Qualifying Score!!!

Well my day started with mom letting me sleep in a little today. I was a worn out dog yesterday. Usually I like to get up and make sure mom is up by 7 or so. She sometimes says something about it being Sunday and she doesn't have to get up, but well I'm a dog that like routine! However, this morning it was 8 AM when my mom took this picture of me sleeping with my reindog (one of my favorite toys). Mom said that we could laze around this morning because I had to go back to dog school camp today for another performance. So I took full advantage. When I wake up in the morning, I always like to check in with my mom first thing. She said I looked adorable this morning and took a picture.


Then we had a talk about how I had a lot of supporters, but that mom asked them to not attend or come say hi to me today before my show. She thinks it was making her, and me, distracted and a bit more nervous. Then we talked about how we would be lazy this morning until around 10 or so. She said I had to practice all of my school exercises in the back yard before we went over to the expo. So that is what we did. I took every opportunity to rest and nap that I could this morning. Then we went outside and I did great at all of my exercises on my practice run. Then it was time to head to Expo Square. Mom thought my class would be at 12:30 or so. Once we got to expo we learned that my class would be going closer to 2:30-3:00. Mom debated whether we should go home for a while or hang out. We decided to hang out. I loved just sitting on mom's lap watching people and kids go by. Thor and I chatted some, but not a lot. He was doing his first conformation show today before our class did Obedience. Mom got us a corndog to share. She had the corn part and I tried to get as much of the dog part as she would give me. Then it was time...mom left me in my condo while she went to the judging orientation. We had a different judge this time...mom was nervous that I would be nervous that she rode an electric scooter. I thought it was pretty cool and it didn't bother me at all. There were supposed to be 9 dogs in our group today, but only 6 came. I was set to go 5th today instead of last, because Thor asked to be moved to the end so it wouldn't conflict with his conformation judging. So once mom got all the instructions she came and got me out of my condo and we did just a small amount of practice. I couldn't believe that was all the practice we had to do. Then we sat in a chair and waited our turn. Then it was my turn. They called for number 16 and in the ring we went. I did my on-leash heeling pattern decent...I lagged a little, but caught up when I thought about it. I did an excellent job on my slow walk today. Then we got ready for the figure 8 exercise. My first time doing the 8 didn't go so well, but I made up for it on the 2nd time. Then it was time for stand for exam. Mom stood me up and moved my feet all around like she does..then she told me to stay. The judge moved her scooter towards me a bit and i was a little nervous but held it together. When the lady touched me, I lifted my left paw but then put it down and waited for mom to come back. I thought I handled all that very well. Then it was time for off-lead heeling. I did so much better than yesterday. When my mom did an about turn i was on the wrong side of her but I quickly got myself on her left side. Then it was time for recall...I failed this exercise completely yesterday. I stayed in place until mom told me to come, but when I got to my mom I forgot to sit down. there was something off to my left that was very interesting to look at, so I missed my mom giving me the signal to finish. She had to give me the signal twice. The judge then approached us as mom was putting my lead back on and told my mom that her hands are too far forward and the need to be more at her seams...hope mom can relearn stuff...Then we had to go out and get ready to do the stay exercises. Mom remembered to give me some yummy treats after all the hard work I did in the ring before going in for the stays. Then we lined up to go in for the stays...I was on the end next to a schnauzer today. I was glad to have a little dog next to me. Then I did my whole sit/stay without ever looking like I was going to get up. I think I shocked my mom...and the judge. Then came the down stay. Do you guys have any idea how long that 3 minutes is??? Ugh..there was so much to smell on the floor, but Thor told me I had to hold it together so I just kept looking back at my mom then back at people walking by and towards the judge...and before I knew it the 3 minutes had passed and my mom was back by my side. We were then told that all 4 dogs that did the stays had qualified!!! So the judges tabulated the scores and back in the ring we went. My buddy Thor got first place today!!! Way to go Thor. Then a boxer got 2nd (the boxer received his title today). Then get this everyone ...I took 3rd place!! I had a total score of 180.5! My mom was so excited and I was excited and Thor and his family were excited for me. Now I'm wiped out. Mom says we have to do it all one more time tomorrow...wish me luck!

Day 2...if at first you don't succeed...

Wow was today ever an adventure! I am feeling quite tired and worn out. My mom got up and went for a run this morning. I enjoyed sleeping in! Then she came home and told me she had to run some errands with Gramma. So I curled up on the couch for a mid-morning snooze. Then came the whirlwind of a day!!

Mom packed me, my vacation condo, some snacks, and a fold-up chair and off to Expo Square we went for day 2 of the Tulsa Round Up Dog Show. I was completely cool walking into the show today. I didn't pull on my leash, or poop in the middle of the floor, like I did yesterday. Mom and I set up my vacation condo in the same spot as yesterday...I was right across from my buddy Thor. It was a big day for Thor. If he received a qualifying score he would get his CD (Companion Dog) title today. I was pretty cool all morning...mom and I practiced my heeling and some recalls throughout different times. I had a long time to wait until it was my groups turn in the ring. We were in a different ring today than yesterday. I really was pretty calm. I laid on my mom's lap for a bit, laid in my condo for a little bit and people watched, and walked around letting people admire my good looks. Then it was time...

Mom went to the orientation from the judge for our group. Everything seemed to be going status quo. I watched my buddy Thor...he did awesome. Mom took some video of his exercises:

HERE is Thor doing his on-leash heeling

HERE is Thor doing his stand for exam exercise

HERE is Thor's off leash heeling

HERE is Thor's recall exercise


He did awesome on his on-leash heeling! Well he did awesome on all of his exercises. I heard the judge report that he got a score of 189 total!!! That's awesome. Way to go Thor. I am hoping that I still get to see him from time to time. My mom tells me he may start going to a different dog school or at least be enrolled in different classes than me. Congratulations to Thor and his mom and dad (Karla & John).

My performance today was again recorded on my mom's phone. I told her to go ahead and put it on here even though it wasn't my best performance. I got distracted here and there but I always found my mom in the end...that has to count for something right?

HERE is my video from today.

Mom says 2 more days of the trial...we'll see what tomorrow brings...

If at first you don't succeed....

I participated in my first Novice A Obedience Trial today at the Mid Continent Kennel Club Show at Expo Square in Tulsa today. Boy was my mom nervous, okay I was a little nervous too. My mom went to the show early this morning to scope it all out. She decided that I would get to take my new Vacation Condo with me (thanks again Gramma it ROCKS)). So mom got all my stuff together and we went and set up camp at expo.



There were so many dogs there...I was a bit overwhelmed.


I was so excited that my best dog friend Thor was there with his family! Mom finally got a good picture of us together. I know he always has my back... and I would have his if the other dog was small enough.



Once it got close to time for Thor and I to go strut our stuff mom walked me all around the Expo. I was trying to get used to the different flooring and people everywhere,and so many dogs barking. It was a little over-stimulating, but then mom started doing school stuff with me and I started to focus and get relaxed. It was awesome, it turned out I had my own cheering section at the event.




My Gramma was there, hiding on the bleachers in a print shirt along with Uncle Pat and Aunt Terrie...even Thor and his parents were cheering me on. Then it was Thor's turn in the ring. Mom took some pictures and video of Thor doing his thing. He rocked it out!! He even got 3rd place. I'm so proud of my buddy Thor!!!



My mom even got a video of him doing his recall exercise!



Then a few other dogs went and then it was almost my turn. Mom gave her phone to Uncle Pat to hold while we took our test. He got some good video of me in action. Mom is gonna try to post it for you all to see how great I did!!


Click HERE to see the Boca and I during our individual portion of the trial today!

After I kicked butt in the ring, it was time to line up for our sit/stay and down/stay test. Mom forgot to give me my treats when we left the ring. I was a little thrown off and discombobulated. We got in line and went back in the ring. I was right next to some funny looking tape on the floor. I didn't feel very comfortable. Mom told me to sit and then she said stay and started to walk away. I walked right away with her. This meant that I was automatically disqualified. Once all of the other dogs did their sit/stay mom was handed my leash and we left the ring. I was really worried my mom was gonna be upset with me, but she said I did really well for my first time at a dog trial. According to my mom I get to do it again tomorrow...hope i can do well on my ring stuff again with mom and remember to do both of my stays. Mom says that I only lost 17 out of the 140 points possible for the ring stuff...and if I had done my sit/stay and down/stay I would have gotten a qualifying score (above 170 out of 200) and would have placed 3rd for my group. I want a ribbon to hang up in my room, so I am gonna try harder tomorrow to stay focused!!

My First Obedience Trial is 1 week from Today!!!

Sorry that it has been so long since my last blog entry. My mom has been busy with running stuff and stuff at her work winding down, but I have not been slacking off. I have been doing night school for Novice II obedience. I have been doing pretty well in all of my school classes this go round. I am not quite so "on edge" in the evening time because I'm worn out from my daily activities. My mom thinks I've been doing well enough in school that she entered into my first official dog show. I will be doing my things for 4 days over Memorial Day Weekend just a half mile from my house.

I have been working for bones a lot lately. If I do really good at dog school then I get to come home and have a yummy rib bone.



Once I chow down on that, then it's time for a good night's rest.



Things are well in dog land. My mom went to Chicago for a bit and I got to play at Gramma and Granddads. We had loads of fun. My Aunt Hannah (a cat) and I had fun playing and playing and playing...we are both learning how to share our toys.

My mom found out that my show next weekend will be on a dirt service. I guess she made arrangements with her friend Pat, who works at the building that my show is so that I could try out my skills on dirt. It was so much fun!! You get to get dirty paws and there are so many smells...so much fun to go play in the dirt!!!



I did all of my skills on the dirt. Even my sit/stay and down/stay. Mom snapped the above picture during my down stay. The dirt was nice and cool on my tummy. Mom says I'm ready to go...sure..bring it on. Once we practiced heeling on and off leash and recalls and figure 8's and stays mom said it was time to go. She even let me get in the car with my dirty paws.



Gramma would say I'm in country dog mode...I love it!! I will make sure to let everyone know how I do during the Obedience Trial next weekend!!!