Harlow's First USDAA Agility Trial - advice needed!

Good Dog Agility sponsored USDAA agility trail this past weekend and I entered Harlow.  While we didn't place we definitely had a great time and I learned a lot!

Driving to the show...

Waiting our turn...

Resting...

Making new friends...

Sleep pup!

So my question...

Harlow is EXTREMELY friendly and is easily distracted by people she wants to make friends with, which is just about everyone.  While she is getting better at practice, it really comes out in trials where she is seeing a lot of new faces.  Here is the important part:

Harlow prefers people to treats and toys.  Even if I have some tasty morsel or her favorite toy, she will always run over to people to make friends. 

Any suggestions on how I can redirect her enthusiasm?  She has a wonderful recall (except for in the ring) and just minutes before I went in with her we were practicing it.  Everyone I ask starts with "take a treat" or "grab a toy", and that just won't work with her.  Take a look at the video below - you'll see what I mean. 

If the video won't play, click on this link here.  Thanks, everyone!

A day at the fair....

Our normal Monty Monday post has been replaced today with a recap of our weekend at the Grand Teton County Fair.  Monty Monday will return next week!  :)

Saturday morning the fair hosted an agility event and I decided to take Harlow along.  It has been two months since we practiced and I felt she needed a break from squirrel hunting challenge.

Of course, I was easily distracted the moment we got there - the horse show was going on.

We knew we weren't in Arizona anymore the second we got to the ring - right outside of the exit gate was the cattle washing station for the petting zoo....

Mooooo....

 Thankfully the course was easy, a long S pattern, but I made sure to study it carefully.  So did Harlow.

After da tunnel is a sharp right.  I got dis, da Momma.

Unfortunately, I have no photos of Harlow doing her courses.  Let's just say the first one she decided a freestyle pattern was the optimal way to go.  Our second time through she did just fine!  We only messed up because I missed the last jump - a skinny little thing that blended in with the cattle washing pens.

How could you, da Momma?

Since this wasn't an actual trial, they only gave ribbons for clear rounds and participation.  I'm still pretty proud of our participation ribbon.  We can now say we performed at a county fair!

Of course, to Harlow?  The day was perfect - zoomies and lots of loving from strangers!

I iz awesome!

Nearly Wordless Wednesday - Why I like agility....

Just look at that smile!  :)

Pomp and Circumstance

Our little Harlow has graduated Beginner's Agility!  Next week we start Advanced Beginner's. 

I'm really proud of her - we had some catching up to do due to breaking her toe midway through class, but she caught up quickly!  :)

Barktoberfest 2014

Today was the annual Barktoberfest event in Gilbert, AZ.  Barktoberfest is sponsored by Friends for Life, one of the rescues in the valley.  I've never gone to this, even though it's been held every year for 15 years!  Since Monty doesn't handle large groups of dogs well, Harlow got to go today.

We've arrived!

There were all kinds of events going on - live entertainment, an Alumni (dog) parade, dog washing, pet arts and crafts, shopping booths, food trucks, a lure course and contests for best pet-owner lookalikes, tricks and costumes.  We got there early and I knew we'd miss some of the events later in the day - Harlow wilts like a daisy when it gets a little warm out.

First we walked around and took a look at all of the booths.  ...and you know me, I kept an eye out for Golden Retrievers...

Random Golden #1

Random Golden #2

I have a lot of other Golden photos, but these two were the best.  I also enjoyed looking at the other dogs and a lot of dogs came in costume.

Red dogs in the red rocks...

This cutie was nice enough to pose for me. 

His brother was a bumble bee....

This pair was just so super handsome!

Great Danes!

Lots of folks came prepared for a picnic.  I'll remember this for next year.

This is one of Sam's former agility teachers and his dog Yoshi - they were entered in the lookalike contest.

So was this guy!  :)

Harlow tried agility with her favorite instructor, Amy, from Good Dog Agility:

Getting instructions from Amy.  Did I mention Harlow just adores Amy?

Piece of cake, Amy!

I'll admit, a few minutes prior to this Harlow tried to walk on the tunnel and had a victory lap around the field...

Wheeeee!

 ...but hey, when she comes back to look this awesome, she can be forgiven!  :)

 I also tried lure coursing with Harlow.  I think she loved it!  She didn't quite get what she was supposed to do, so I had to run a little bit with her.  Then she caught on...

I'm gonna catch you, funny moving thing on the ground!

Of course, the Princess got a little tuckered out.

Keep da water coming, Momma.

We watched a few of the other events going on:

I must let other dogs be awesome too.

Happy Harlow

This year I learned to come early, bring a blanket or a chair and find a shady spot to watch all the fun!  We are looking forward to next year.  

Wordless Wednesday - Harlow the Agility Champ (Or getting there...)

Sam's First Agility Trial

This last weekend we entered Sam in a Beginners/Intro Agility Show sponsored by Good Dog Agility.  He was entered into Standard and Jumpers, with the decision to skip Snooker and Gamblers - I didn't want him to get too tired in his first event!

Our goals for the day?  Complete each event and have fun!  We also added a new hat to the collection to celebrate the big day.

The front...  they matched Sam's colors!

The back...

 I always want Sam to be happy - look at his face.  I think my little guy was having the time of his life!

Leaving the dog walk

Weaves

The chute...

We had good friends there!  Thank you Judy for sharing your tent and Lin for all your advice - Sam and I are still learning and need lots of help....

I also think Sam needs a new handler - cough cough....  (I sent him crooked over the jump!)

...and thank you Brenda and Eugene, from Brenda's Arizona, for taking such awesome pictures! 

Sam doing a down stay.

My furry gazelle...

...and yes, we made a lot of mistakes, but we are still beginners.  ...but, every great once in a while you get  a surprise that makes you cry because you are so happy and never imagined it was possible...

Sam the Agility Super Star!

Next Sunday I have entered Sam in a Intro Agility Show sponsored by Good Dog Agility.  This means lots and lots of practice for him and I - although I think he would do better if I just let him do his thing!

One of the best things about bringing Sam to agility is that while we started training him late in life (he is 9 1/2!), having a job has brought out the puppy in him.  He has more energy and less "stiff" mornings than he had before!  I take it easy with him, and only let him practice a couple of times before calling it good.  He usually lets me know when it is time to quit and as long as I listen to him, we've been having a lot of success!

Sam waiting for his turn. 

First jump!

Wingless jump - this was my mistake!  I got too close to this jump and Sam hopped over it to save us!

Dog walk!

Since Sam and I are new at this, we still need to learn a lot!  I still "micro-manage" him and am trying to not crowd him as much!  While it looks like I'm touching him in the weaves, I'm actually not - just pointing in front of him where to go.

Weave, weave, weave...

Another thing I need to learn is focus.  Sam was doing great on the weaves, and about halfway thru I got really excited and distracted him!  He popped out and missed a pole...  What did Sam think of it? 

PBBBBBBTTTTTHHHH....

...but he still knew he did well!

In between, we found time to play some catch too!

Of course, the best part about it is how happy Sam is!  He knows I'm happy and proud of him!