Bragging Rights

Definitely her venue

The weekend of June 7 and 8, at the High Octane Agility trials, in spite of the scorching heat (95 degrees +), Sophie earned two new NADAC agility titles with clean runs!

Saturday we ran standard first in the morning, and it was already quite hot. Our first run I sent the little miss off course twice with slow commands. Our second attempt (the course in reverse) was super with a clean run, 12 secs. under time and 1st Place!
Later that afternoon (could it get any hotter?) I almost decided not to bother with the rest because I was beyond hot and worn out, yet Sophie seemed ok so we ran Weavers (tunnels and sets of weaves) and Tunnelers (just tunnels…lots of them).
Sophie was super with the tunnels aspect, but tried to avoid the 3 sets of weaves we had to do, but I got her to complete them anyway. I was happy we ran clean, but had no expectations of making time since I was moving slower than a turtle.
Our Tunnelers course was last. Sophie's favorite class, yet she wasn't her fastest, but we ran clean. Yes! Now we could really cool down with the A/C in the van, then head on home! Just for fun before we left I went to check how we did on the last two runs. I couldn't believe that WE Q'D IN BOTH (each one only 2 secs. under time)! Sophie earned her 2nd Weavers leg and 2nd Place! Her Tunnelers Q (1st Place) gave her the title!

Sunday we were back for more (I must be nuts). At least there was a stronger wind which made it a bit more tolerable, and clouds had moved in to cover the sun.
Again, our standard runs were first. Her first one was clean, 13 secs. under time, and 1st Place! Yippee, our Novice Standard title! She was moving.
Our last run of the day was a new game called Hoopers. Think of a hula hoop on edge that the dogs have to run through. There's more to it than that, but it's too involved to explain in one sentence. There were about 31 hoops on course, but some are non-test and some are set up as tests within the course.
Sophie and I gave it our first try. Even with just flat running, I could tell she was hot and really tired (only 1 sec. under time). But was a trooper she was! We Q'd and got 2nd Place and our 1st Hoopers leg!

Chris

She's at it again

Chris' wonderful write up from April 26-27, 2008

On Saturday at our home club (Kruisin' Kanines) Sophie earned her 2nd Open JWW Preferred leg and 1st Place with a perfect score of 100 and 10 secs. under time! The class had about 47 dogs, and only about 10 qualified, so she's quite the little lady!

She also earned her 2nd Novice Standard Preferred leg and 1st Place (again, perfect score)! She is just amazing me more and more at every trial.

Sunday at the APDT rally trial, we had two runs and we Q'd in both with scores of 198 and 209 (210 being perfect with the bonus; 200 being perfect). Our first course I mistakenly had a brain fart and instead of doing a right step to a halt, did a right pivot, so we lost 5 points on that. Our other pts. lost were for tight lead (she tends to forge or go wide which does pull the lead). We did complete the bonus for an extra 10 pts.

I really worked harder on our second one to not have such a tight lead and it obviously worked, plus I made sure I did the step right correctly! These legs count towards her RL1 Championship. You need 10 Q's total after achieving your initial title. So.....only 8 to go! If we don't do a lot of rally, she enjoys it more so that's my plan.

Chris

...and a nice start to 2008

On March 29-30, 2008, Sophie completed 4 titles in two days of fun per Chris' report:

Saturday

S-SBA (Select-Beginners Standard Award)
    Run 1 -- sct = 61.39 drt = 37.98 (1st Place)
    Run 2 -- sct = 61.39 drt = 39.27 (1st Place)
Run 1 gave us the title, but it's nice to get an extra one just in case!

S-INAC (Select-Intern North America Challenge)
    sct = 72.64 drt = 61.38 (2nd Place)

Select-Beginners Jumpers
    sct = 36.66 drt = 19.85 (1st Place - our second leg) I was amazed at our run time; never realized we were moving that fast!

Sunday

S-BSLA (Select-Beginners Snakes 'n Ladders)
    sct = 82.88 drt - 69.92 (1st Place) at beginner's level you only need one leg to earn a title!

Snakes 'n Ladders is a course made up of just contacts, several sets of weaves and tunnels. You plan your own course, but you MUST have a tunnel between each contact and weaves and make time; for example, weaves, tunnel, a-frame, tunnel, teeter, tunnel, weaves, etc. It's a fun game to play.

S-BJA (Select-Beginners Jumpers)
    sct = 32.00 drt = 21.88 (1st Place)
We were the next to last run of the day but she easily earned her third leg for the title!

Select-Intern Standard
    Run 1 -- sct = 67.66 drt = 52.49 (1st Place)
    Run 2 -- sct = 68.90 drt = 52.93 (1st Place)
I moved her up to Intern for Sunday, feeling confident she would do just fine. We only need one more leg to title.

Successful end to 2007

At the DOCNA trials on Saturday 29, 2007 Sophie was entered in Standard Beginners Select and Jumpers Beginners Select.
Demonstrating beautiful teamwork with Chris, she earned her first two standard legs with a 1st and 2nd Placement! She also earned her first jumpers leg and 1st Place!

Another weekend and two more titles - no time for hibernating

At the DOCNA trials this weekend (December 08-09, 2007), Sophie earned her:
C-BSA (Competition-Beginners Standard Award)
and
C-BJA (Competition-Beginners Jumpers Award)

In Chris' words [edited]:

On Saturday, she earned her final two jumpers legs (only 2 secs. under time each run--cutting it a bit close!) and earned a 3rd and 4th Place! I was thrilled!
We also had 2 standard runs on Saturday. Our first one I messed her up prior to the weaves so we ended up 4 secs. over time.
But I redeemed myself on our second run and Sophie Q'd and took 1st Place! This time we were 12 secs. under time! This was our second leg towards our title. Yea! A double Q!

On Sunday we had 2 standard runs and 1 jumpers run. Our standard runs were early in the day. Our first run we Q'd, got 1st Place and were 9 secs. under time! Yea, our title! Our second run we Q'd, got 2nd Place and again were 9 secs. under time! Always nice to have an extra leg.

This brag will benefit the Francisvale Home for Small Animals.

Keeping Positively Busy

This past Sunday, (December 2, 2007), at the Dog Training Club of Chester County, Sophie earned her APDT Rally Level 1 Title!

From Chris:

Her score was 202 (out of a possible 210)! We lost points on occasional tight lead, and one exercise we had to repeat (halt, down, walk around). She was a bit nervous and didn't want to stay down, so I chose to do it over (lost 3 pts.). But she did the bonus exercise (halt, recall, finish). We were also in a run-off for 5th place with a golden retriever (had to do the first 6 exercises), but the golden was more precise. Not bad for us, qualifying in 3 out of 4 trials!

This brag will benefit the Francisvale Home for Small Animals.

A Week to remember, and what a venue to have it happen

Montgomery All Terrier Agility Cluster (AKC) October 02-05, 2007

A wonderful report from Chris [edited]

I still can't believe my little girl earned two AKC agility titles in one week! ;o) Wow!

Tuesday:

Novice Standard - 2nd Place - Score 86 - our 1st Leg (1 wrong course and 4 secs. over time)
The course run was a bit challenging, having a complete u turn from jump 3 to the weaves. Since I didn't call her fast enough, she went to the dog walk (wrong course) which was parallel to where we needed to be. The judge (Bonnie McDonald) happened to be standing behind the walk (to better observe the entire course) so as Sophie got to the center she stopped and started wagging her tail and giving kisses to Bonnie! Well, everyone started chuckling and saying how cute and Bonnie held her on the walk so she wouldn't jump off towards her, but I said to Sophie "come on, it's not going to help you, so let's go" and she finished the dog walk, and I got her on track and we finished the course properly.
Later as I was checking the posted score sheet and happily realized we Q'd, Bonnie came by and said "is this the little one that gave me kisses?" "She is adorable and I'm not a terrier person, but I really like her!" Maybe this judge kissing works after all? I was just thrilled that we finally earned our first leg!

Wednesday: (our first double Q!)

Novice JWW - TITLE - 2nd Place - 10 secs. under time (Judge Bonnie McDonald)
Our third leg - I was beside myself with glee! We FINALLY got her title after 2 years! It's that terrier persistence that works for humans too! I had a friend take our photo with Bonnie, and she was so happy for us!
Novice Standard - 1st Place - Score 96 (4 secs. over time) - 2nd Leg Yippee!!
What can I say other than I was so, so proud of my little girl and her performance, and earning our first double Q!

Thursday: : (Another double Q!)

Novice JWW - 3rd Place - Score 98 (2 secs. over time)
So glad to earn an extra leg just in case! ;o)
Novice Standard - TITLE - 1st Place - Score 95 (1 refusal) (9 secs. under time) (Judge Bonnie McDonald)
Sophie was the ONLY 12-inch dog to qualify!!!
By this point, I'm definitely on Cloud 9 having never expected anything like this! Unbelievable!

Friday:

Novice Standard - 1st Place - Score 100 - (10 secs. under time)
AGAIN, Sophie was the ONLY 12-inch dog to qualify!!!

This was a week that I will never forget. Hoping for at least one jumpers leg to finish her title, and she gives me TWO titles with extra legs on each! For each Q she received a toy and a Q-cookie from the hosting clubs. My only complaint is that our parent club doesn't support performance events like it does conformation; key rings seem rather cheap compared to what the other breed clubs offered their qualifiers, especially since this cluster is associated with Montgomery. Considering what Sophie and I achieved last week, I think a nicer reward would have been appreciated and not just by me; the other Border folk had the same complaint.

...and her fall even more exciting

Kruisin' Kanines trial (home club) September 29-30, 2007

Saturday (29th):
Touch 'n Go (tunnels and contacts Novice Level) - was our first time trying it so I didn't know what to expect. FIRST PLACE, 1st Leg and 7 secs. under time!

Sunday (30th): (all are Novice level)
Touch 'n Go was first - 2ND PLACE, 2nd Leg and 16 secs. under time! Wow, a great way to start the day! Only one more leg for a title!
Jumpers - 2ND PLACE, 1st Leg and a mere 7/10 of a sec. under time! (couldn't cut it much closer!)
Standard run No. 2 - 2ND PLACE, 1st Leg and 12 secs. under time! Hooray!

Chris summed it up with: I do believe that next year we'll be achieving our Novice titles in several of the classes. Sophie keeps me on my toes! She's always surprising me, and I love her for it!
Little did she know......

Sophie's Summer has been a good one

a full report from Chris

The venue was DOCNA (Dogs On Course in North America - August 18-19, 2007) and it's a nice venue. Very relaxed (of course I'm not) and nice open flowing courses. The folks who run them are really nice too. It's like having a trial in your backyard. I really like it.
The trials were held inside on artificial turf in a fabric covered structure. The kind that allows them to role up the sides when the weather's nice. The weather was nice and cool on Sat. We had a Competition Beginners standard run and a jumpers run. Our standard run was first......well, let's just say Sophie was feeling the coolness and was crazed! She was a MACH dog (mach as in speed, not titles)! If I remember correctly (really need to watch my video again) the only obstacles she did in proper sequence was the first one (tunnel), when I sent her to the teeter, and the last jump! Needless to say, we got a big E for our run (possibly for Entertaining?)!
Our jumpers run was late in the day. There are no weaves in their jumpers courses, but you must run clean and make time. I wasn't that nervous and felt confident we'd do our best. Having walked her and playing with her outside during the day helped settle her down and tire her out a bit. It worked!
Sophie earned her 1st DOCNA Competition Beginners Jumpers leg and 3rd Place!
We were 4 secs. under time! What a recovery from the morning!

Sunday we were back for more. We were both a bit tired, but I could tell she was much more settled. We had 2 standard runs and 1 jumpers. The standard course is run in one direction the first run, then they reverse it for your 2nd run (same as NADAC). The first way I thought was better for us as far as having weaves after the tunnel, which I can gather her to focus. Well, that didn't work! ;o) She was ahead of me, ran past the weaves to sniff along the fencing. When I called her back my body language sent her back to the tunnel. We tried the weaves again, but she missed the entry and I know enough not to push her to try more than twice because her face tells me she's stressing, so we continued. She missed part of the serpentine jump sequence (went straight to the tunnel which was after it), but we completed the rest of the course just fine. So I'd say it was 85% good due to my handling errors.
In Run No. 2 I was concerned about the jump, weaves, tunnel sequence since she would be coming over the jump at an angle. She's had that sequence before and she usually bypasses the weaves to the tunnel (much more fun). After the jump I called the weaves, but again she ran to the fencing to sniff. My golden opportunity to call her back to focus, she did the weaves, and we got through the rest with the tire being the last obstacle. I gave her the wrong command and she ran past it (luckily DOCNA has no refusals), but I called her back around it and then sent her through so we finished 6 secs. under time!
Sophie earned her 1st DOCNA Competition Beginners Standard leg and 2nd Place!

Still rolling....

In Chris' words

On Sunday July 15, 2007 at our agility club's NADAC trial, in the absolutely awful heat (92 degrees) and humidity, Sophie earned her second Tunnelers leg and 1st Place!

We were 5 secs. under time. I was so pleased with her performance! It's so much fun when we come together as a team, especially since she absolutely LOVES this class! Fortunately I have it recorded and it's fun to watch her run flat out on the course! Only one to go for her title!

Two legs in two months - Sophie's going overboard (for Sophie)

Sophie earned her 2ND APDT RALLY LEVEL 1 leg and 1ST PLACE with a score of 204 (perfect score is 210) under judge Natalene Lamming at the Pawsable K9s Events trial in Freehold, NJ on July 1st, 2007 [celebrating her Canadian roots no doubt - pd]!

I'm very proud of her, and winning 1st Place was icing on the cake!
There were 16 entries in our class. The course had some challenging sections, but Sophie came through for me. The bonus exercise was leave your dog in a sit then call them to heel position (worth an extra 10 pts). We had never tried it before so I had no idea what to expect, but when I called her she came immediately into position, but took her time to finally sit and then she was quite crooked, but we only lost 1 pt.

There were two other LBDs in Sophie's class and they also qualified. We enjoyed saying "Borders Rule!" ;o)
Chris

On a roll...............

On Sunday, May 6, 2007 Sophie earned her first APDT Level 1 Rally leg and 2nd Place! Yea!
Her score was 201 (she earned and extra 10 pts. for the bonus exercise).

This brag will benefit Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals, a local no-kill shelter.

No point in rushing...............

On Sunday, April 29th 2007 at Kruisin' Kanines' (home club) AKC Agility trials,
Almost 2 years after earning the first leg, Sophie earned her 2nd Novice JWW leg and 2nd Place!

In Chris' words:

Right from the start line we were poetry in motion! She was totally focused on my direction, and we were a thing of beauty! The standard course time was 41 secs. and we ran it in 27! I'm still in shock! ;o)
I couldn't remember if it was our first or second leg until I check my records at home. She earned her first in May 2005 and 2nd Place. I told her we need to step it up; can't wait every two years to qualify! :o)

This brag will benefit Francisvale Home for Smaller Animals, a local no-kill shelter.

Introducing

U-CD Jansim Sassy Sophia, RN, NJP

We did it!

On Saturday , July 22, 2006 Sophie earned her UKC CD at Hilltown DTC under Judge Louann Currey!
It wasn't our best performance (173) but enough for her third leg and that was my goal! I'm so proud of us as a team completing it in 3 out of 3 shows, with minimal training, and in spite of my nerves!
She got lots of treats and kisses and hugs!
I should mention that she had 5 no sits! I think Louann was kind to us! She's a nice judge if you ever have the opportunity to show under her.
Sunday we went back for a spare leg, and let's say, thank goodness for Saturday! Not one sit during the entire on and off-lead healing or figure 8!
A fun part was Sophie made friends with an Irish Setter, Harry, who she adores and he likes her very much. When we were in the ring, his handler had to take him out of the room because he was whining so much for her! Plus we won one of the raffle prizes which was a metal dog crate, small dog size, filled with an thick orthopaedic crate pad (Spunky can use it for sure), toys, treats, grooming items, and a martingale collar and lead. It was all donated by dog.com. So Sunday wasn't a complete washout! ;o)

It's a Title!

Sophie earned her AKC Rally Novice Title

In Chris' words:

Thursday, November 17, 2005 at Penn Treaty KC, we earned her 3rd leg for her title with a score of 90 (out of 100)! That was our personal best! Besides our green ribbon we also got a New Title Rosette which is way cool!
Friday, at Greater Phila., we earned a 4th leg in Rally with a score of 93! Upped our personal best! I was very happy. Our points are always lost in healing (no surprise there). I entered Friday as a backup just in case.

Weaving her Magic........

On Saturday, July 16th, at Kruisin&146; Kanines&146; (home club) NADAC trials,
SOPHIE EARNED HER FIRST NADAC NOVICE WEAVERS LEG AND 4TH PLACE!

In Chris' words:

This was our first attempt at Weavers. It consists of just tunnels and weave poles (lots of them, sets of 12 and 6, usually used twice during the course). I was proud of how she stayed her start line, found the weave entry after a tunnel with me just sending her, she stayed with me on course, enabling us to perform all the weaves plus take the tunnels in the proper sequence, and make time!
The trials were held in an indoor sports arena which kept us out of the many thunderstorms that came through all weekend, but it wasn't air conditioned, so the heat and humidity were really intense, especially on Sunday. Although the thunder did spook some dogs from running, Sophie was fine with it. There were large fans in the building, plus we had kiddy pools outside, and I had Sophie set up in her x-pen with her crate, plenty of drinking water and a fan. I also had a dishpan that I put water in for her to lay in to cool off, only when I was there with her. Everyone was saying how she had her own little condo area complete with pool! Only the best for my little girl!

SATURDAY WAS JANSIM QUALIFYING DAY!!
Chris and Sophie (Miss Zoomies)

Rallying Round........

.........and two good ones at that!

In Chris' words:

This weekend Sophie and I entered AKC Rally for the first time on a whim, not having done much preparation in the way of training.

Saturday we qualified with a score of 87!
Today we qualified with a score of 92!

Only one leg to go!
You start out with a score of 100 and then it's up to you! Since we didn't want the judge to just stand and be bored, we gave her stuff to write about! Mostly it's our heeling part. Sophie doesn't understand that when she's on a loose lead she needs to stay closer and not forge! Even so, I'm quite proud of us. I was able to read the signs and understand them!

The trials were on June 4th and 5th, 2005.

Alert, active and AGILE!

Sophie earned her 1ST AKC Novice B JWW LEG and 2nd Place at the Lower Bucks DTC trial on May 22, 2005

Chris writes:
"The course time was 38 secs. and we ran it exactly at 38! She had one refusal when she ran past a jump, but I got her back and focused and we finished with flair!"

It's a Title (and the start of another one)

That's right.....Sophie earned the third leg of her AKC Novice JWW-Preferred Title at the Prestigious Montgomery Terrier Agility Cluster on Friday October 01, 2004. She then followed this up on Saturday with a NADAC Novice Tunnelers Leg at the Kruisin' Kanines NADAC Trial (Kruisin' Kanines is Sophie's "home" club).

This brag will benefit a local no-kill shelter

Following up in Fine Style

While some of us still feel like we are still recovering from the Specialty, Sophie is out their covering the ground - Agility ground that is. She earned her 2nd AKC JWW Preferred leg on September 19, 2004 with 3rd Place and a score of 95! - Nice going Sophie and Chris!

2004 BTCA National Specialty Brag

Sophie continued her versatile ways at the Specialty, taking First Place in Pre-novice Obedience, a Third Place in Puppy Sweeps (21-24 mths) and passing her Canine Good Citizen Test.

Not Just a Pretty Face

Sophie changed gears to earn her first AKC Jumpers with Weaves leg and 2nd Place at the Lehigh Valley Poodle Club agility trial, June 27, 2004!
In Chris' words:
We had 2 refusals and were still 3 seconds under time. The refusals were because she's so fast on the course, she just blew past the jumps before I got her back on course to do them properly. Her favorites are the tunnels (of course!). Initially I thought the course was going to be too challenging for our level of training, but she proved me wrong once again! Yeah!
On Saturday it was a different story, she had lots of fun running the course, but we incurred 4 refusals and 2 wrong courses. Seems she liked the two tunnels so much she did each of them twice! Eventually, we did complete the course, and she didn't knock any bars down. The judge was laughing too just watching how much fun she was having, especially with the tunnels. I just take it in stride and keep it upbeat and happy for Sophie so she'll always enjoy herself. Life's too short to worry about qualifying!
She's so fast off the start line (we definitely need to work on her stay) because she HATES waiting! At the end of the run I was more exhausted than she ever could be! Forgot how out of shape I've gotten. I can't wait to start running the standard courses once she conquers her fear of the teeter. It's the only obstacle holding her back.

One step at a time

December 13, 2003 - Delaware Water Gap Kennel Club under Judge Charles Edward Dalton - Winners Bitch over two other females for her second point - this judge really likes Sophie.

First step......... but oh so important!

September 13, 2003 - Lehigh Valley KC show (in the downpour) under Judge William Ferrera - Winners Bitch and Best Opposite Sex for her first point.