Each year over the Thanksgiving weekend there is huge 4 day agility, obedience and conformation trial in Springfield, MA. There are 4 agility rings, 5 obedience rings and 2 buildings with conformation rings all going at once. We went on Friday and Saturday.
My sister, Donna, and niece, Caroline, came up to visit and go with us to the trial.
There were several hundred dogs entered in agility alone. The noise and hustle and bustle seem to have little effect on Ivan as he qualified in 3 of his 5 classes.
Ivan on Friday:
Nov. B Jumpers with Weaves – did not qualify but had a good run knocking 2 bars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKSQ6g2VbgI
Nov. B Standard – QUALIFIED with a 2nd place.
Nov. B FAST – Qualified with a 4th place.
Ivan on Saturday:
Nov. B Standard- did not qualify but had another good run but knocked 1 bar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxSYK7g8ycw
Nov. B Jumpers with Weaves – Qualified with a 1st place.
3 Q’s out of 5 classes, not bad for Ivan’s first Agilty Trial!!!
This was Dylan’s FIRST Agility trial SINCE his surgeries. We did not want to push him but he is feeling so good that we decided to let him try. Dylan also qualified in 3 of his 5 classes and had a great time.
Dylan on Friday:
Ex. B pref. Jumpers with Weaves – Qualified
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2141xDo5s
Ex. B Pref. Standard – did not qualify due to a refusal (my fault!) but had a nice run.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WThM12UHoLI
Ex. B Pref FAST – Qualified with a 2nd place.
Dylan on Saturday:
Ex. B Pref. Standard – did not qualify, knocked one bar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwGPgh3F6KY
Ex. B pref. Jumpers with Weaves – Qualified
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1CwKvNpZtg
Yay, the Doggie Duo is BACK! They are as handsome as ever. Dylan looks like he’s back in good health, which I’m very thankful for. It’s just not the same without him!
What a great first showing for Ivan! But then, I am never surprised by what he can do.
Are you in New York?
Way to go with your boys. I was just thinking that we have not had an update lately. Glad to see Ivan has recovered and back with a bang.
AWESOME job, Lynda, Ivan & Dylan! Lynda, you are a great trainer. Your boys love working with you and it shows in all of these wonderful runs.
Nice work for all THREE of you!
So nice to see Dylan back and looking so good! Congratulations on a very successful weekend. A super debut for Ivan – 3 qualifying runs and all 3 runs were placements. It looks like Dylan is happy to back doing agility. Ivan looks like he enjoys it, all his obstacles look super. When I was watching the videos I wondered when you had the time to train for agility? The dog use to have to sit or down on the table, now they can stand? What kind of flooring is that?
Hi Julie,
Dylan was soooo happy to be at the trial and never stopped wagging his tail.
Ivan was AWESOME! I have taken Ivan to beginner agility classes and have done some training at home but he only started the advanced class LAST week!
Yes, in AKC agility the judge used to state if it was a “sit” or “down” on the table before the class started but this year they changed the rules and now the dog just has to be on the table (in any position) for the count. Ivan will be trained to go into a down when on the table. At training last week we had a low table and Ivan jumped on the table and then went into the 2 on/2 off position all by himself! I did not have a chance to train on a higher table before the trial so decided just to tell him to “stay” when he jumped up. I will work on the down before the next trial.
I just let Dylan “get away” with standing as he likes that better than the sit or down…and he’s a spoiled baby!
The trial is held in a large Fairgounds barn type building with cement floors. They bring in 6 – 8 inches of packed dirt for the flooring.
Great photographs and videos. Concgratualtions on a successful weekend. Your boys are the happiest pair. I am so glad Dylan is back to his old self. He looks great!
Lynda, it’s always great to read your stories & watch your videos… it’s like we participate with you vicariously… Ivan & Dylan must make you so proud!
BTW, your sister is a copy of you… or you a copy of her…
Thanks.
I am VERY proud of my boys!
I’m the older sister so I guess Donna takes after me??!!
Lynda, I LOOOOVE Ivan’s jumping style and weaves! Dylan looks great also!
What method did you use to teach the weaves?
Would you mind if I sent Verdae over to you for a few months to train? 😉 JK!
I think I am going to be doing an AKC trial the last weekend in March in New York. Might need to make a visit. 🙂
Is the Trial in Farmington NY at Boometown? If so that is about 15 miles from me.
It’s the huge 4-day agility trail at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY, not the Boometown show. Although, I have always wanted to go to a Boometown trial… Hmmm. 🙂
Hi Monica,
Everyone told me to train the weaves using the 2×2 method. Ivan and I just didn’t get it…
I went back to the “old” way and just showed him what I wanted and he picked it up much quicker. I bought a set of 24″ weave poles at the trial this weekend. I need to practice more and work on the entries but just got him ready on the 6 poles to be able to compete at the trial this past weekend. The 2×2’s are supposed to help teach the entry so maybe I’ll work a little with them again…
Sure..send Verdae over!!
Oh, okay! I see. Thanks!
Great job Ivan and Dylan!!! Awesome team.