We didn’t have to wait all that long after all. I had forgotten that Mountain States Dog Training Club (MSDTC) holds their AKC Obedience and Rally show in early May. I wasn’t too hopeful since the weather was warming up significantly and at last year’s MSDTC show I could barely get Skimmer to move from the (cooler) floor. What an fiasco and it was only Beginner Novice; yah, he passed, but I swear it was a “gimme” from one very nice judge. I can imagine her thoughts… “Hey, it’s only Beginner Novice – if I don’t let this woman and her turtle dog pass, she may never come back!”.
So… it was hot… darn hot for a Spring day… and the first day Skimmer dragged like an August dog. Depressed, I envisioned another dismal turtle-y failure. But then I remembered that I had been able to get Skimmer’s attitude up at the last show by playing with a tennis ball beforehand. We snuck off to a little-seen corner and I bounced, tossed, spun, kicked that tennis ball around in seemingly vain effort to move the 140+ lb beast off the cool cement floor. Finally… a spark! he’s up! he’s chasing the ball! Wait, get water immediately… ok, don’t overdo it… now in to the ring, Skimmer!
Voila! Nothing spectacular, and he was getting hotter by the second, but we passed every exercise and he didn’t fall asleep and crash to the floor on his sit-stay.
My awesome little dog… even stayed awake for the celebratory picture and – true to form – crashed the photographer’s props with one upbeat tail swing. Atta boy!
On to CDX. Oh right, it’s summer, cancel that. Even better: on to Waterwork! (CDX = Fall. ). Lots to do.
