Update for Aria!

AHBA ( American Herding Breed Association) trial today. Aria entered on three different courses. First was HTAD-1 (herding trial arena dog). She was tight on her gather and was a little pushy on most of the course. She got an 83.5 out of 90, awarded 3rd place and earned her HTAD-1 title. Next was HRD-1 (herding ranch dog). This course involves getting sheep out of pens, sorting, repenning, putting sheep through tight chutes and trailering. She did everything flawlessly. Thought she would get first place. She scored 86.5 out of 90. Only good enough for 5th place as four other dogs tied with scores of 88. Only 1.5 points out but a good solid performance earning her the title of HRD-1. Finally we did the HTD-1 (herding trial dog) course. This course is out in a big field so no fences and dog needs to control sheep and not lose them. Aria has been having trouble going to the left on her out run to gather so I set her up to go right as she is wide and gathers better in that direction. As soon as I gave her the command to go gather she flipped and went to the left like it was her normal thing to do. I was surprised but did not stop her as that would cost me points. She had a little bobble at the second set of panels but finished the course. She scored an 86.5 out of 90 and got first place. The judge talked to me afterwards and during the award ceremony said ” I hope you all watched this run. Not just because Rich is an instructor here but to see what a good dog with a good handler can do.” So three new titles for Aria HTD-1, HRD-1 and HTAD-1.

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In Arizona we did an

AKC trial. Aria qualified on all her runs. Completed a title on started A course sheep and moved up and earned

her first intermediate leg on A course. Also got two started A course legs on geese. Last Friday she ran an

AHBA level two ranch course and qualified. Saturday and Sunday it was back to AKC. She qualified twice on started A course ducks for two legs and once more in intermediate A course sheep. In a couple of weeks she will run in ASCA for the first time on ducks and sheep and hope to finish at least two titles and if we are lucky four. May have to send multiple emails to send all photos. Where are you posting the photos? Will keep you up to date as Aria moves on. More AKC and AHBA trials coming here and Arizona in the next couple of months.

Newest update:

Trailing has been tough. Aria has been perfect at practice and a handful at trials. Several time I have just called our run and left the arena. She starts going after the stock and doesn’t follow or listen to any commands. She has however managed to have finished the intermediate A course title on sheep in AKC. Also in AKC she has finished one leg in excellent A sheep, started B course one leg on sheep and two legs on started A cattle (three legs required to title). In AHBA she has titled on Herding Ranch Dog II on sheep and earned one leg on Herding Trial Dog I (two legs required to title).

Now on to this weekend. Went to Arizona for an ASCA (Aussie) trial.The first run was on started cattle and Aria just took off after the cows and split them up. Got them back together but again she refused to follow commands. We just went through the course and did not qualify. The judge later commented that we should have tried to complete each obstacle more. I knew this but when my dog just blows me off they do not get to play and I take them off the field. Next was open (level II) on sheep. After a brief talk with Aria prior to the run she settled and did a nice run with a second place finish. The judge commented that he loved the way that when I turned my back to close the pen gate that Aria was making very small subtle movements to keep the sheep in the pen on her own. Next was started geese. Again she listened and earned a first place. Next day started cows again. She was calm and did great and earned first place. Next was moving up in class to Open geese and she finished third. Again on to open sheep and another second place. Sunday was second place on cattle, first place on geese, and moving to Advanced sheep she was perfect having the high score in trial but was a tie and fell to second on tie breaker. In all had one third, four second, three first, high score cattle other breed (non aussie) twice, high score other breed geese once, high score other breed sheep once, high in trial other breed once,  high combined other breed twice. Result in the end was four titles. Was a good weekend.