McCormick Dog Show – Agility for Lancelot

You have probably noticed that I have not had a post since winning my five blue ribbons in agility in January.  Now I am pleased to announce that at the McCormick IKC dog show in February I won another four blue ribbons in the agility competition, plus I had a qualifying run (a run where I did everything correctly, but where I did not place in the top three).

It was three days of fun at the huge McCormick Convention Center in downtown Chicago.  Six thousand dogs and lots of people to primp them, play with them and admire them.  The McCormick dog show is a “benched” show which means the dogs are there all day with their people and available to answer questions (the people mostly answer, but several of the dogs had plenty to say).

The people near us had a sign asking that their dogs not be petted without permission.  The dogs clearly did not make the sign.  If they did, the sign would have said, “PET ME!”  Note that the signs were nicely laminated with C-Line Cleer Adheer laminating film.

Over the three days I had nine agility runs – three in Standard Class, three runs in Jumpers with Weaves and three runs in FAST Class.  I have videos of my best seven.  Regarding the other two, let’s just say I hate yappy dogs. Their people should give them more treats.  You can’t bark while you are eating a treat.

Friday’s Agility Runs

My first run was in the Novice Class.  As a review, you start in Novice.  Once you have successfully completed three qualifying runs under two different judges you get your Novice title and you can move to Open.  From Open, once you have successfully completed three qualifying runs under two different judges you get your Open title and you can move to Excellent.  I’ll talk more about Excellent Class when I get there!

The run above was really picture perfect and allowed me to earn my Novice title in Standard Class agility.

Watch me soar over the jumps in the next run in the Jumpers with Weaves competition.  I was a little wide on some of my turns, but again it was a beautiful run.  I placed first again and received my Novice title for Jumpers with Weaves.

The final run of the day was in FAST Class agility.  See my post on an explanation of FAST Class for more details on how it works.  Let’s just say I got a little confused in this run.  We won’t look at any video of this one.

When you have a qualifying run in both Jumpers with Weaves and Standard on the same day it is called a “Double Q.”  Friday was a Double Q day.

Saturday’s Agility Runs

Saturday was a new day filled with hope and promise.

I started my day with a run in Open Class Jumpers with Weaves.  It was my first run ever in Open Class.  Note that in Open Class we go from 6 weave poles to 12 weave poles.  That is OK, because I love the weave poles.  Weave poles are fun.

In this run (shown above) I qualified, but did not place.  I would have placed, but I decided to go for a laugh from the crowd. I went in the tunnel and then came right back out again a few seconds later.  The crowd roared (and boy was Joe suprised)!  Then I went on to complete the run.

My second run was the first time I competed in Open Class Standard.  Let’s take a look.

It was a very good run.  The judge loved me.  In fact, he loved me so much he disqualified me for a “fly-off” from the teeter.  He wants to be sure I run safely and don’t get hurt.  Does the expression, “Hot dogging it” mean anything to you?

My final run on Saturday was in the Novice FAST (Fifteen And Send Time) Class.  As I indicated in my last agility blog entry, in fast class you design your own course and race the clock.  There are fifteen obstacles.  You get points for each obstacle you complete.  Point values vary by obstacle.  You also get bonus points for running obstacles on your own (a send).  If your team mate enters the send area, you are disqualified.

In the FAST Class run above I won a first place blue ribbon and completed the second leg of my Novice FAST Class title.  I could not resist checking out the points flag from the top of the A-Frame, but who could?

Then it was back to the car while the boys went to the ballet to learn new moves.

Sunday’s Agility Runs

Sunday was not a day of rest.

My first run was bright and early.  That’s OK, though.  I am an early bird.

I started with Open Jumpers with Weaves.  I let Joe go for a long lead-out and followed through with a first place win.

I then moved to Open Standard:

My Open Standard run started out well, but as you see when we got to the table I was called called for two refusals (or run-outs).  Our agility instructor in Deerfield, IL had warned us that if we go past a table we need to get back on it from the other side.  We didn’t listen.  You only really learn the rules as you break them.

The day ended with another FAST Class run.  I can’t blame those yappy dogs who distracted me, but I know I will get another chance to run again soon and show eveyone I can run and jump and hold my ears at the same time!

- Lancelot

Tags: Agility, AKC, apex agility, blue ribbon, C-Line Products, double Q, fast class, jumpers with weaves, laminating film, Lancelot, McCormick, novice, open class, standard class