Tom's First Agility Trial

On June 2-3, Tom competed in his first agility trial. We have been taking classes for about 8 months now at PCOTC under the instruction of Kim and Kris Seiter. He has come a long way and learned a lot (and so have I!!) We decided to try competing this spring at a trial or two to see where we are and what we need to work on this summer so we can compete (for real) in the Fall. We did two standard runs and a jumpers run. On Saturday we did just one standard run and Tom was amazing. He ran a clean run- he didn't miss one contact. We were over by 7 seconds on the time though so we didn't qualify but it was so great to have set a few goals and surpass them. On Saturday we did not do as well but overall we accomplished all of our goals such as staying in the ring, getting a good sit stay, keeping good contacts and most importantly having fun. On the jumpers run Tom got ahead of me and did a few laps and was very unfocused. I felt so embarrassed because he ran all over the ring. It was very overwhelming for Tom to be around such high drive dogs and especially all those Border Collies! It will be an adjustment but another competitor came over after my run and said some very encouraging words to me. She said her dog did the same thing for the first four or five trials she went to but he got over it and settled down. This was incredibly encouraging since her tent was decorated with all these ribbons from the weekend including Master of Agility she earned that day with that same dog. I learned some very good lessons that weekend and became more comfortable with the environment. I am looking forward to our next "practice" trial in two weeks. I am sure it will be a fun one since it is upstate and both Tom and Smartie will be competing. I do have to say one thing--->Several people mentioned that we had such great contacts- It must be from all those months of Beginner Agility! Thanks Kim & Kris!!!!