This past weekend Aiden was entered in his first agility trial. We felt that he was ready to compete but elected to put him in the “Preferred” classes so that the jump height would be lower than in the “Regular” classes.
This is the 15th year that the LEAP Agility Club of Central MA and the Talcott Mountain Agility Club have held their annual “Thanksgiving Agility Cluster” at the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA in conjunction with a large AKC Conformation show and Obedience/Rally trial.
We took a half a day off from work on Friday and headed out to Springfield. Aiden loves to be comfortable and Dylan makes for a nice pillow.
Dylan and Aiden relaxing at motel
Saturday morning at the trial site. There were hundreds of people and dogs with constant activity.
Dylan was of course with us at the trial.
He is such a good boy. One time after walking the dogs we came back and Dylan went right in his crate. We were focused on Aiden and went off to the ring with Aiden for his class. When we returned to our “home base” we found we had left Dylan’s crate with the screen door down but unzipped – something we have never done before. Sweet, calm Dylan was still lying inside the crate waiting for us to come back!
Aiden’s first run of the day was Novice Agility Standard Preferred. Aiden had a good run, stayed with me and made all his contacts. It is obvious, as you will see in the video, that we need to work on entering the weave poles from different angles when moving at speed. Luckily in Novice you have 3 chances to complete the poles without being penalized! The best part was that Aiden did not get the zoomies as he sometimes does in class! Aiden was well under the course time and qualified with a score of 100 and 2nd place for his first leg. There were 9 dogs in his class. Way to go Aiden!
His next class was Novice Jumpers with Weaves Preferred. Aiden qualified with a score of 100 and 1st place for his first leg. There were 11 dogs in the class.
On Sunday the first class of the day was Novice FAST Preferred. This agility class is meant to be an additional test of strategy, skill, accuracy, speed, timing and distance handling, to demonstrate a dog’s athletic ability and willingness to work with its handler in a fast-paced atmosphere over a variety of agility obstacles. The obstacles are given a point value and you make up your own course. There is also a “Send Bonus”. Teams must successfully complete the Send Bonus to achieve a qualifying score, as well as a minimum number of required points defined at each class level.
Aiden qualified with a score of 66 points and 2nd place. There were 9 dogs in the class.
The next class was Novice Agility Standard Preferred. Aiden had a good run but knocked one bar and therefore did not qualify. After coming out of the chute he decided to go and visit the “ring crew” person before heading to the next obstacle which caused him to miss the Dog Walk and you can see him acting like the young boy he is before getting back to “work”!!
The last class of the day was Novice Jumpers with Weaves Preferred. First I have to say that both days of the trial Aiden was terrified of “Spray Bottle Man”…. 
The trial is held indoors on dirt and it gets rather dusty in the building. There is a gentleman who walks around and mists the floor to keep the dust to a minimum. The sprayer does not make a noise and the operator never did anything to Aiden but from the minute Aiden saw him he was scared of him. There were hundreds of people around but Aiden could tell instantly when “Spray Bottle Man” was approaching…and of course he always seemed to be near the ring entrance that Aiden was running in when it was close to Aiden’s turn! Just as we were about to go into the ring for the last time Aiden saw him again. I put Aiden in a sit but he was looking over his shoulder and as I led out he got up. He stayed again on command and then started the course when I released him. He did several jumps and then said “Hey, that’s my Daddy over there in the corner….maybe he will save me from the weird man…” and off he went. I called him back and we continued on the course and completed it with a score of 100. He only lost time running to see Jack and still did the course in 28.43 seconds! He placed 2nd to a dog that was only 3 seconds faster so we will blame Jack for Aiden not coming in 1st!!
We are very pleased with the way Aiden handled everything over the weekend…. except “Spray Bottle Man”. LOL. We will have to work on that but luckily this is the only trial site there has ever been anyone like that!!
I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! I had a feeling the Brogden-Burns family was up to something, and I had a suspicion that it had something to do with agility….and that’s the truth!
CONGRATULATIONS! Ed (of Ed and Mary who own Aslan) was over at the house visiting the puppies, Ed says to me about Lynda and Aiden “those two can do anything.” Ed you were right!
I will have to watch the videos late, connection too slow right now.
Great job, Lynda and Aiden! Great handling, and Aiden really looks like he enjoys it. He has great weaves once he gets the entrance, that will come with time. He really follows you well. Have fun in your future shows.
Congratulations to you and Aiden! He is such a handsome dog -as he matures he just gets more and more beautiful! The 2 of you look great together.
OMG he has springs for legs! He is having so much fun, he loves everything doesn’t he? What a fun dog! congratulations again Lynda and Jack!
Aiden sure appears to enjoy life!
In October the herding judge nailed it in her comment “What a great boy. Happy, Happy, Happy” !!
and what a joy to be around….when he isn’t giving you black eyes that is.
If this is an inexperienced dog, just think what he’ll do once he has a few of these things under his belt, er…collar! Yes, Aiden is an awesome dog, but it is you & Jack who bring out the best in him. And having Dylan as a mentor doesn’t hurt either.
I’ve watched these videos several times already and each time enjoy it as much as the first. I love his happy-go-lucky attitude, that sparkle in his eyes and that big smile on his face while flying through the course. Wham—bam—nailed it!
Good for you, I agree with Carole, love his joie de vivre.
oooooo fancy “joie de vivre” but it says it doesn’t it?
I saw Julie commented that she had done an update. The look of the site just changed for me today. I finally came back to this post to watch the videos but they aren’t showing for me. Maybe it will resolve.
Aiden is so handsome and the pictures with him resting on Dylan and the two of them on the bed together are so sweet. Dylan just goes with the flow, doesn’t he? The trial site sure looks packed. Dylan was wise to stay in his little house.
Congratulations.
Try again Scarlett. Let me know if you still cannot see the videos.