Chasing Bags--LaMesa Tackles Lure Coursing

The Stump Kids have been on an agility sabbatical, taking a break from training and trialing for multiple reasons (time off needed, finances, etc.), but that doesn't mean we haven't been totally dead.

Just a little over a week ago, I headed two hours south to Columbia, Ky., to take part in the Bluegrass Coursing Club's Coursing Ability Tests. They offered one test Friday evening, two Saturday, and two on Sunday. We pre-entered Friday just to see if the girls would even be interested. Well, one was very enthralled with it. The other....yeaaahhhh...not so much. Can you guess which was which?

If you haven't guessed, here's a video hint:



So...can you guess who earned her first qualifying leg on Friday, and then the final two legs on Sunday (yes, we went back)? That's right. LaMesa went 3-for-3 to become only the second Swedish Vallhund to earn her CA title!

Here was run #1, in the rain:


(Complete with cheering from the Brews Brothers)

Run #2 on Sunday:


(The yelp at the end of her run was not LaMesa, so don't worry, she wasn't hurt!)

Run #3 on Sunday:



I loved how every time the judge asked me "Ready?" LaMesa answered with a bark. (See, "Ready?" is what I use to rev her up in training when she's getting tired.) I also loved how every time she'd catch the bag at the end, she'd give it a little shake then run towards me like "Did you see me, momma??"

I joked that this was the easiest title I've ever earned with her, but it was so natural! LaMesa loves to run and loves to give it her all, so those 300 yard sprints were nothing for her.

I might go for her CAA, which requires just seven more qualifying runs, but I'm not going to spend the money, nor the time, to drive two hours again. Hopefully the BCC will have some events closer to Lexington, and that's when you'll see me out there. It was a fun break from the usual training and agility, and fun to watch dogs of all breeds go for the bag.

Mill Creek's Chyna Rust RN, AX, AXJ, NF, CA

Winning Is About More than Just Trophies

I'm doing a little cross-posting today because this is an agility-related subject, so why not post this on my dog agility blog?

Recently I had the opportunity to write an editorial for Clean Run Magazine. Yep, that's right, the agility magazine to end all agility magazines, and one some say is the "Agility Bible". So that's pretty cool, right? Anyway, I had pitched an idea to them back in March and they wanted me to share my friend's story with the rest of the agility community.

You might already read The Brews Brothers blog, managed by my good friend Merinda. You've followed along on her training and struggles with Porter, her 9-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and now Stout, his younger brother. We all cheered when she won the Preferred National Agility Championship in 4" with Porter in Harrisburg, and I know I definitely cheered when they finally finished their PACH in May. While we all know the hard work and the dedication it takes to build a championship team, whether a national championship or an agility championship, but Merinda's story is so much more than just constant weave pole training and behavior shaping. Which is why I wanted to share her story.

My editorial came out in the August 2014 issue of Clean Run, so you can read it for yourself in there, or you can read it on my writing website where I have uploaded the PDF from the magazine. (Megan Arszman Communications--Winning and Being a Success it About More than Trophies)

Thank you for being such an inspiration, Merinda! 

Wordless Wednesday: Dally the Agility Trial Chair-Pup