Learning to Show Dogs Entry 1

I am a NOVICE A competitor.  I purchased my "show" dog 2 and 1/2 years ago and wish I had started my blog back then!  I have some notes here and there that I will dig up an post later.

My dog:  Sure Haven Mighty Quinn, Russell Terrier born in July 2008.  

Training to date:  I purchased Quinn in August 2008 and took him home September 6, 2008 and we went to Puppy Class on Sept. 8, 2008.  We graduated Puppy Class and entered Basic Obedience and graduated in December 2008.  We took a break over the holidays and then signed up for and passed Canine Good Citizen in the Spring 2009; next we completed an Clicker Off Leash Class.  Then it was Summer 2009 and we took another break.  I was unable to find any Obedience classes beyond Clicker Off Leash.  Finally I found a Healing Class with Ann in Fall 2010!  

September 2009 Beginner Rally, Intermediate Rally, then Advanced Rally. 

Started Agility with Maureen in Fall 2009 then due to school (finished my bachelors) had to switch to a different day and picked up with Julie.  First Match in Winter 2010 was great fun.  Continued to train in Rally and Agility through the Winter 2010, then in the spring had to stop to save money because my daughter was to be married in June 2010 and then my son in September 2010. 

So we begin to show:  

In August 2009 I went to a dog show in Keene and saw my trainer while watching a Rally class.  She asked if I was signed up.  I thought to myself, "Me??? Really you think I could compete?" I then began to think after watching the Rally Class that Quinn could do that.  The next week while at lessons I noticed a trial in Maine. It was an UKC trial not AKC but I asked Ann if she would help me prepare.  When I came for my private lesson I realized I was SO NOT READY!  I had spent much time on the internet watching YouTube videos of novice dogs and thought I could do this, until I was in the ring with Ann actually trying to do it!  

September 2009: We went to Maine; Bob and LouAnn were nice enough to let me stay in their camper.  First day we qualified with a 171.  Ugh.  But we Q'd.  The second we disqualified for moving during his honor dog.  The spot where the dogs were honoring most of the day was covered with slobber; I decide I would set Quinn up a little behind the slobber; mistake, he wormed his way up the the slobber.

September 2009: Show and Go in Merrimack with Ann.  Our first outdoor event.  We did okay, not great.


Winter 2010: Agility Match:  Did great through the course except for the Teeter Totter and Weave Poles.  We have not mastered those yet.  HAD A BLAST that day.

 August 2010 our first AKC Obedience Trail in Canterberry.  3 Novice A Rally and 3 Novice A Rally.  Earned 1 Obedience leg and 2 Rally Legs.

 

October 2010 Second AKC Trial in Amherst.  3 Novice A Rally and 3 Novice A Obedience.  Earned 1 Obedience and 1st place in Obedience.  Earned 2 Rally legs, our RN Title and a perfect score on the last day!

November 2010 Third AKC Trial in West Springfield, The Big E.  2 Novice A Obedience.
A shit show.  An abortion.  Awful.  Quinn acted as though he had never been on on leash before!  Feeling very depressed to say the least.