Post by rachmistyayela on Jun 7, 2007 1:21:53 GMT 1
Over the weekend i took my little girl to her first ever tracking competition. Ayela is the first dog ive done trials with so it has been alot of hard work since we only started in january but since we have been competiting in obedience for a year now i thort she couldn't possibly embarress me too much!!
Well Ayela decided that she could do much better than just have a bit of a learning experiance with her mother at the trial and showed all the other competitors just how brilliant grey dogs really are!! (the other dogs in my class all had experianced handlers and were of the more traditional 'working breeds' that are usually trialed in new zealand - 3 boarder collies, 1 belgium shepard, 1 bearded collie and a german shep)
The day was busy as my club was running trials for all 3 tracking grades over the weekend!
The UD dogs had the control work section up first. I was pretty nervous as because of ayela's height she was the second dog on...
First we did our heelwork course. Ayela was fantastic and stuck her head to my thigh for the entire course even thou it was a much more complex course with pace changes than she is used to with obedience! Next up was the sendaway. I set her up and off she sprinted!! Ayela easily made the distance and did a fantastic recall and present! So we had a quick rumble on the way to the jumps. Because ayela competes in agility she easily did all three jumps, scoring full marks - even though i accidently set her up for the wall scale croocked but she recovered well and did a great job!! I was a bit nervous about our down stay as she has never done and out of sight stay for so long! But Aye's was a good girl and stayed put!! So far so good... we were still in the running... the judge remarked to my weimy friend that even if we failed the rest of the trial i should be proud of my dog as she had a stunning control round!!
Next on to the tracking... the fun part. Ayes and i drew track number 3. I was a bit tense as my tracklayer had indicated earlier in the year that she didn't think much of wei's. As i got the harness out Ayela started whining... she was excited... it was going to be a good track!! Aye's and i hopped through the fence and made our way to the first peg ... Ayela had her nose firmly planted to the scent. We tracked up to the first corner and made the turn with ease... Ayela was pulling hard into the harness and was obviously hard on the track! She turned the second corner with ease and tracked off strongly... the third leg of the track ran straight through a large ditch in the paddock, Ayela was a little confused as the scent obviously changed a bit here but it was ok cos i moved her onto the clear ground and continued to ttrack up to the fourth courner. I could see Ayela was getting tired here as she didn't make the corner quite as strongly as before but she continued to track on until she found the magic green article!! My tracklayer was impressed!! The judge quickly told me good job before moving off to the next track and Ayela and i had a big game!! What a clever girl!
The last exercise for the day was our worst... the dreaded seekback! I only started teaching Ayela this exercise 3 weeks ago so i am not convinced that the lightbulb in her head has flicked on about it!!!! It's ok i told my self... she has done a brilliant job even if we fail this exercise!!! Suddenly the skys decided to open up and we all became drenched to the bone!! Rain always likes to come at the most inconvenient times! Ayela and i were the 5th sendaway so i tried to get her interest in her article whilst we waited our turn. Ayela and i heeled out and dropped our article the continued heeling in the traditional 'L" I downed her wen told to and just hoped things would go our way.... As i sent Ayes out she followed the track perfectly and picked up our article. (i let out a hudge shout for joy) snd she quickly returned to my side!! What a clever little dog.
At prizegiving we awaited for the results and guess which little doggy got top honours???
AYela!! Ayela not only gained her UDX title but she was also highest new qualifier and highest qualifier overall!! Ayela showed me (and others) this weekend just how clever she really is!! She was obviously made to track and now im hooked!!
Here is a picture of us!! (hope this works!!) The piece of cardboard in my hand is the UDX certificate and the sheild is for her performance... pretty neat a??
Well Ayela decided that she could do much better than just have a bit of a learning experiance with her mother at the trial and showed all the other competitors just how brilliant grey dogs really are!! (the other dogs in my class all had experianced handlers and were of the more traditional 'working breeds' that are usually trialed in new zealand - 3 boarder collies, 1 belgium shepard, 1 bearded collie and a german shep)
The day was busy as my club was running trials for all 3 tracking grades over the weekend!
The UD dogs had the control work section up first. I was pretty nervous as because of ayela's height she was the second dog on...
First we did our heelwork course. Ayela was fantastic and stuck her head to my thigh for the entire course even thou it was a much more complex course with pace changes than she is used to with obedience! Next up was the sendaway. I set her up and off she sprinted!! Ayela easily made the distance and did a fantastic recall and present! So we had a quick rumble on the way to the jumps. Because ayela competes in agility she easily did all three jumps, scoring full marks - even though i accidently set her up for the wall scale croocked but she recovered well and did a great job!! I was a bit nervous about our down stay as she has never done and out of sight stay for so long! But Aye's was a good girl and stayed put!! So far so good... we were still in the running... the judge remarked to my weimy friend that even if we failed the rest of the trial i should be proud of my dog as she had a stunning control round!!
Next on to the tracking... the fun part. Ayes and i drew track number 3. I was a bit tense as my tracklayer had indicated earlier in the year that she didn't think much of wei's. As i got the harness out Ayela started whining... she was excited... it was going to be a good track!! Aye's and i hopped through the fence and made our way to the first peg ... Ayela had her nose firmly planted to the scent. We tracked up to the first corner and made the turn with ease... Ayela was pulling hard into the harness and was obviously hard on the track! She turned the second corner with ease and tracked off strongly... the third leg of the track ran straight through a large ditch in the paddock, Ayela was a little confused as the scent obviously changed a bit here but it was ok cos i moved her onto the clear ground and continued to ttrack up to the fourth courner. I could see Ayela was getting tired here as she didn't make the corner quite as strongly as before but she continued to track on until she found the magic green article!! My tracklayer was impressed!! The judge quickly told me good job before moving off to the next track and Ayela and i had a big game!! What a clever girl!
The last exercise for the day was our worst... the dreaded seekback! I only started teaching Ayela this exercise 3 weeks ago so i am not convinced that the lightbulb in her head has flicked on about it!!!! It's ok i told my self... she has done a brilliant job even if we fail this exercise!!! Suddenly the skys decided to open up and we all became drenched to the bone!! Rain always likes to come at the most inconvenient times! Ayela and i were the 5th sendaway so i tried to get her interest in her article whilst we waited our turn. Ayela and i heeled out and dropped our article the continued heeling in the traditional 'L" I downed her wen told to and just hoped things would go our way.... As i sent Ayes out she followed the track perfectly and picked up our article. (i let out a hudge shout for joy) snd she quickly returned to my side!! What a clever little dog.
At prizegiving we awaited for the results and guess which little doggy got top honours???
AYela!! Ayela not only gained her UDX title but she was also highest new qualifier and highest qualifier overall!! Ayela showed me (and others) this weekend just how clever she really is!! She was obviously made to track and now im hooked!!
Here is a picture of us!! (hope this works!!) The piece of cardboard in my hand is the UDX certificate and the sheild is for her performance... pretty neat a??
