McCook Agility Trial

At our agility class, our teacher Anne Riba suggested that we could break new ground by blogging live from an agility trial.  So, here we are.  It is Sunday morning in McCook, IL and we are at the McCook Athletic & Exposition Center (or MAX) where they offer free wireless access in an air conditioned indoor facility with artificial turf.  This is an all breed AKC Trail sponsored by the Great Lakes Belgian Tervuren Club and the Golden Retriever Club of Illinois.

We took a day off from C-Line on Friday so we could compete on all three days.  They will have to make the plastic name badge holders without us.

Our first run on Friday was in the Jumpers with Weaves Agility Class.  While I jumped and weaved, my first jump was on top of the jump instead of over it.  Let’s take a look.

In our second run of the day we were in Excellent A Standard Agility Class.  We had an excellent, blue ribbon run and my partner, Joe Hopper, and I took first place.

Here is the Standard Agility run:

In our second day we started off with a run in Excellent A Standard Class.  It was not a good day for the table as I did not want to go up there.  And once I was up I did not want to stay there.  Did I confuse the number, “Three” with the word  “Free?”  Perhaps, perhaps not.  I’m not saying.  Now it is time for Paul to start shopping for a table so we can practice at home.  (On the table you must stay for a count of five in either a sit or down as specified by the judge).

Here is the Standard Agility run.

Minutes later it was off to Jumpers with Weaves.  Going into the competition in Jumpers with Weaves I had two out of three legs of my Excellent A title.  I had a nice run and came in second place.  This allows me to move up into Excellent B.  Excellent B is the top class so now I will compete with the fastest border collies.  A quick review on agility classes: You start in Novice (A for first time dogs and handlers, B if you have won a title or if your person has).  From Novice you move to Open Class.  From Open Class it is onto Excellent A and finally to Excellent B.  In Excellent B there is no place to go, but you start acquiring points toward a Master Agility Champion title (or MACH).  My next run will be in Excellent B where a qualifying run earns points.  More on that when it happens.

From Jumpers I went on to FAST Class.  My run was clean (and fast) and I took first place.  Here is the run:

Sunday starts a new day and I started with Standard Class Excellent A.  I took an off course and once again suggested that Paul really needs to get a table on order.  Here is a look at my first run of the day:

My second run was in FAST class.  It was a surprise because we don’t usually run fast class until the end of the day.  I was the only dog to qualify so I got 1st place.  Since this was my third “Q” in FAST Class (and my third first place in open fast class), I received my title and now move in to Excellent.

Now I am officially an excellent dog in all events (and ways). Take a look at my run:

The final run was in Jumpers.  It was my first run in Excellent B.  It was great right up until the end when I missed the tunnel.  I can’t wait to try again next time!  Here is the final run:

Thanks for reading and watching.

–Lancelot

Take your dog to work day

Lancelot takes a shortcut to the lunchroom on Take your Dog to Work Day. Photo by Pat Behles.

I’m very excited that Friday is Take Your Dog to Work Day.  At C-Line, where I work marketing office products, I’m sure that everyone will bring me home baked biscuits in celebration.  Yum.  Speaking of C-Line, I just ordered some photo prints of my latest agility competition.  They were taken by Pat Behles of PB Pet Photography.  When they arrived I put them right into my plastic photo holders.  It will keep them safe so that none of my friends drool on them.

–Lancelot (now also known as Resolute Sir Lancelot du Lac OA, OAJ, NF, CGC, PGD)  (I made up the PGD (Pretty Good Dog) part)

C-Line’s New High Security Sheet Protector

You simply must read about the new C-Line Products High Security Sheet Protector.

– Lancelot

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.

Jumping for Joy

I started in a new agility class last week and I have a whole new group of names to learn.  Once again, name badges would be very helpful.  Our new class has has an agility nerd named Steve and a dog named cannibal.   I like my new class, but of course I miss my friends from my old class.

Here are two of my runs in class. The first was lots of fun.

The second was great, too.  Even thought Joe got confused in the middle, I like this run.  Pay particular attention to the final jump.  It filled us all with joy.

Thanks for reading.

– Lancelot

Is a sheet protector with black paper inside a perfect gift?

I was reading the C-Line Products Blog and saw a post on holidays on a budget.  In it they mentioned giving sheet protectors as a gift.  I wonder if the post was in reference to my post on  my pal Mary Jo looking for sheet protectors with black paper?  In fact, sheet protectors are not the only thing we have given to Mary Jo.  We have given her lots of plastic name badge holders and Hello my name is badges.

She uses them at Family Matters,  a family-centered organization in the Chicago/Evanston North of Howard neighborhood that seeks to be a catalyst for change – building and strengthening the community through programs that support personal growth and leadership.

Here is a holiday picture of my co-workers and me.  Please note that I have nothing to do with what appears to be on my head.

– Lancelot

Holiday Group Picture

Those sheet protectors with black paper inside

We were going for a ride the other day and our friend Mary Jo asked if we could help her find those funny sheet protectors where you still have to punch a hole in your papers.  You know, the ones with the black paper inside.  I went back to sleep as Paul excitedly explained that she wanted the C-Line 00010.  It is a folded heavyweight polypropylene sheet protector with black filler paper.  We delivered a box the next day.  Not sure what she wanted to do with them, but we were promised a treat in return for providing them!  I’m thinking liver snacks…

Canine Good Citizenship Certificate

Last night I passed my canine good citizenship test and sent in for my certificate.  When it arrives I will attach the certificate to my office wall using my magnetic cubicle keeper.  Everyone will be so impressed.

At the same time I passed the CGC test I also passed my test for Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy.  I guess I am certifiably friendly.  Rainbow is a volunteer organization committed to using the capabilities and magic of dogs in therapeutic environments, especially with children.

Friedr. Dick 10 inch Chef Knife

You may ask why I jump so well.  The answer is simple:  cheese and tennis balls are great motivators.  That is where a 10″ Friedr. Dick chef knife comes in handy.  Before practice we use our chef’s knife to make perfect, bite sized cheese cubes.  We then put them in a reclosable small parts bag and off we go.  Or I guess it is over we go!

Why I like name badges

In agility class we started a new session.  It is so hard to keep track of everyone’s names.  Let’s see, does Royal have the brown paw or the white one?  White, obviously.  But wouldn’t it be easier to keep track of each other if everyone wore pressure sensitive name badges?  We would not even have to waste time sniffing each other.  Yes, I’m sure name badges would make it easier.  Hopefully our agility instructor will have some out next time.

Here we are in class today.