Brooke Finally Did It!

October 14, 2012.  For those of you who may not know, we began our quest for Brooke's CDSP Open title a long time ago.  She got her first leg in March of 2010 (yes 2-1/2 years ago!).  After many NQs (I have it documented but don't even want to count) I decided to give it a break.  I had checked with the organization and they confirmed that qualifying legs do not expire :)  I knew she could do all the exercises because besides the one exercise she would NQ on (and it was never the same), her scores were pretty decent.  I wasn't quite ready to give up on her but she wasn't getting any younger.  

I contemplated and waited until the very last minute to enter the Versatile K9 Sports Club trial this past weekend.  It's seems a break with a little refresher training was exactly what she needed.  She qualified in the first trial under judge Linda Sperco with a 185.5 and took 3rd place.  I wasn't ready to get my hopes up for a title yet as we still needed one more leg and it could take another two years.  But she did it again in the second trial under judge Diane Cordero, this time with a 192 and 1st place!!

So finally at 10-1/2 years old Brooke is CH ARCHX Quantrels Ramblin' Brooke, RAE, CD, RL2X, RLV, CGC, CDX-C!!!  And yes, she did get steak for dinner that night ;)

 
I'm so glad we have the CDSP venue that allows exercise modification so our senior friends can still participate at lower jump heights.

Fountain of Youth

October 5, 2012.  Today was a beautiful day in NJ.  It was unseasonable warm at 80 degrees and sunny, perfect beach weather!  Maureen, Mary Beth and I took our senior ladies to Sandy Hook for some swimming.  Jenna (yellow Lab) is 7 years old and 11 weeks post-op, Posh (black Lab) is 8 years old and Brooke is 10-1/2 years old.  Despite their ages and health status, they all acted like puppies when we hit the beach.

Hey Labs, wait for me! - Brooke

Ewww Posh, that's all sandy you know.

Two bumpers for Jenna and none for Posh and Brooke.  

Hey, how'd that happen?

Wild Women, Posh and Brooke!

Jenna demonstrates the appropriate way to retrieve a bumper.  Brooke's just having fun.

Mary Beth, if you're not going to throw the bumper than I'll just take it from you - Brooke

Posh doing her best Baywatch babe impression.

Brooke wants to be a Baywatch babe too.

Posh, you're going the wrong way.

Time for Posh's close up.

Telling secrets?

Mom! I don't want to be on leash when everyone else is running free.

1 bumper, 3 dogs.  Let's go out in the 'V' formation.

Shake it out Jenna, it's time to go.

Silly Labs, you're getting all dirty laying in the sand. 

Please make sure to get my good side. - Brooke

3 friends enjoyed their beach day!

Posh, Brooke & Jenna

Wine Country 2012

September 26 - 29, 2012.  Time to pack up and leave lovely Canada behind.  We're off to the Wine Country show circuit.  One last photo of the kids before we leave.  I wanted to get a picture of all 13 Weims but that was not possible so I tried to get our crew and Barb's since all these dogs were OK together.  Unfortunately the older ladies, Windy and Fanny, did not want to come out to be photographed.

From left to right: Brooke, Hetti, Sawyer, Desi, Sharon and Daisy

Desi was anxious to hit the road.  His suitcase is packed and he's ready to roll.

I drove my car and Scott picked up the RV we were renting.  Brooke was my co-pilot and Daisy tried to get as close to the front seat as possible.  I'm glad my purse made a good pillow for her.

Being Wine Country, of course the closer we got to the show site the darker the clouds got.  As soon as we got off the highway exit it started raining.  It is apparently a requirement to set up and break down our site in the pouring rain. 

The rental RV had fancy sinks.  There was plenty of room for all of us.

Thursday had decent weather but it poured all day on Friday so we spent the day shopping at the outlets. 

The weather was better on Saturday and we discovered that there was lure coursing on the show grounds and they were offering the Coursing Ability Test (CAT) that accepted day-of sign ups.  We decided to take Daisy and give it a try.  

She caught on right away that she had to chase the bags.

She was pretty speedy.

 

She had a great time!

And earned her first leg towards a CAT title.

We tried to go lure coursing again on Sunday but it started pouring a few dogs before Daisy's turn to run.  Daisy was NOT interested in running in the rain.  She started and turned right around and headed for the car.

It was just as well since I wouldn't want her to slip and get injured.  So we'll have to find some more lure coursing events to enter.  

Desi did not mind running in the rain.  The pully broke half way through his run but they got it fixed and sent him back out to complete the course.  He earned his first CAT leg and Barb learned they do have lure coursing in Canada through UKC so she can get Desi's title through that registry.

Time to pack up and go home.  Of course the rain continued and I had my 2nd annual falling down the RV stairs.  I guess that's becoming a tradition.  This time wasn't as bad as last year but I still felt it the next day, ouch!  Oh well, overall it was a good trip with lots of laughs with friends and that's why we go.