C-Side

On Saturday we went to Golden Cross for the 2nd show of the C-Side crystal challenge tournament. I was not hopeful as Rup does not run well at Golden Cross due to the acoustics - the background noise seems to de-focus him and he finds it hard to hear Jordan's very quiet noises.
We nearly didn't go as I am that close to taking Rup off agility for a few months to repair the run contact after WAG last weekend. However I did some really intensive contact training with him this week but I wasn't hopeful.

Pigs flew. Well, the flying cocker did. He flew round the agility course with passable contacts and Jordan and Rup came 3rd in the Starters' agility. They then did a fantastic jumping round which sadly got faults when Rup did a wrong weave entry just before the last jump. They both seemed to have gone up several gears. Jordan was more calm and confident and both seemed more focused and not racing each other.

The afternoon's open jumping course was a real Rupert trap. A fast flowing start that led straight into a box with 3 diagonals. I could see Rup doing his flying cavalry charge and straight across the box before Jordan could get in there and switch. When we walked the course I tried very hard to warn Jordan or that danger as well as the need to do the 3 switches to execute the diagonals. ...As well as telling him there would be a lot of Es and it was the experience that was important.

As expected Rupert couldn't believe his luck and flew off over the first 5 jumps. Jordan was running flat out 2 jumps behind and would never catch him up in time to get in the box and switch. Then the cocker did something he has never done before. he decided for once NOT to take his own line if he got there first and turned and looked at Jordan just before he entered the box and Jordan started to run in a diagonal pointing to the left. Rupert immediately did a diagonal. By then Jordan was in the box and there was some lovely fast handling with beautiful switches. They then skillfully executed the rest of the treacherous course - the tunnel into right hand weaves and staggered finish. Jordan was so elated he stripped off his T-shirt. They finished 4th in a strong grade 1-7 class.

They didn't come down to earth in time for the open agility. It was a nasty backward start with a horrid angle from teh second fence onto the dog walk. Rupert went far too fast and fell off the dog walk. Then jumped back on to it from a standstill. Typical Parkbreck cocker.

So the good news is that Jordan and Rupert have now qualified for the finals of the Crystal challenge in March. Whatever happens it will be a memorable show with J and Rup in the finals and Magic making his agility debut in the fun run.

We spent today trying to speed up Rup's weaves and doing some Tellingtouch exercises to try and slow him down and focus him over the dog walk. We also introduced Magic to 12 weaves. He shows great potential but needs a lot of verbal prompting and encouragement. He is defiantely not a take-your-own-line dog. However he is a merry little dog who seems to enjoy running with Jordan.