The sad thing, is that I don't know until she's in the ring.
Today is a good example. We had a horrible Open JWW run. Awful, and everyone said her nose was completely down and she definately wasn't listening.
Part of it is the cold. I am so stiff from the cold I can barely move. We've had two days of overcasts 40 degrees and that barn just stays cold. So I understand that she can't be in the game.
However, she had a fabulous Standard run. And the funny part was that I was just about ready to leave, and kept saying I was going to.
By the way, here is a major irritation on my part. Someone decided to check in the Novice dogs and a bunch had decided to leave. Like there was an 8" dog checked in we couldn't find. Besides for me, I have a routine. I watch the course build, walk it in my head, check in, walk the course, go get my dog. It's part of me putting my own head in the ring. Having a bunch of dogs checked in who aren't there is irritating because the ring steward has to find them.
Back to the run ... The only difference I can see was that she was really throwing behaviors and asking for food. Hate that little impatient bark, and usually put up the food as I don't want another criticizer.
However, she was taking everything I was throwing out her, and just a moments hesitation on her problem obstacles, in fact, she threw herself onto the teeter and it just took a moment of concentration to get her in the paint. Lovely. Weaves sucked, had to sniff each pole, but that's okay we were well under time according to the peanut gallery.
She took a second place, just seconds behind a Papillion and ran clean. Very nice! We need one more Novice Q.
Comments