Adventures in Training the Beagles

Another New Agility Site

We went to another new place to do agility – Teacup again – but this time, indoors and climate controlled in Goldsby, Oklahoma, just south of Oklahoma City and Norman.

It was easier on the beagle noses – fewer distractions and they do better in A/C, even though we train in heat and it doesn't seem to bother them.

Macy tried really hard, but made a few small mistakes each run. Unfortunately you have to be almost perfect in Superior. I think we left Dulce's brain back at home – but she had off night at class too, so who knows.

She was just down right silly.

It was the longest drive we've made in a while but wasn't bad until we were about an hour away from home. We were cruising along when all of a sudden traffic was at a standstill. Very slow through Denton, then picked up again until Lewisville. Not sure what was up with that, but Lewisville actually had a wreck.

I'm planning to go back in July and more in the future.

Both Beagles Qed in Teacup Agility Yesterday

Not reading the rules is not always a good idea, but thanks to a good trial secretary, I was taken care of and Macy ended up with a Q after all.

Here's the deal – Macy is considered a veteran in Teacup now, which allows her to compete at a lower jump height (good for me, since running two dogs in the same class is hard), and gives her extra time. However, it doesn't affect her titles.

So I was entering her in a trial next weekend and a sharp eyed trial secretary caught the fact she was a veteran. It didn't dawn on me, and I'm probably in denial anyway.

Then it dawned on me, that we probably needed that time to Q and I emailed yesterday's trial secretary and asked her. Sure enough! Since everyone was still on site, we were able to recover that Q.

So now Macy has 3 games towards a Teacup Game's title, and needs 2 more.

Good Teacup Day

Dulce just finished her Teacup Game 2 title, making her: Tesoros Sweet Tempation TG2 -- she also has had some Qs in AKC (Correction – Dulce still needs a Q for TBAD)

We got up early and drove to McGregor Texas, which is south of Waco. Object Familiarization was a good thing, as Dulce did her famous dash out of the ring when I took off her leash. Everyone else panicked, but I calmly called her, picked up some cookies on the way and called her to the truck and her crate (she'd made it outside the building and was sniffing near the truck). She ran away from anyone who wanted to catch her, which I predicted, but was happy to get in her truck. I put her cage in the building later, but she didn't take off again.

She was quite silly all morning but was better each run. I wasn't even sure she had gotten the last Q, but I can never remember the rules and have to rely on the judge to tell me Q or not.

It was quite warm and Macy made one or two mistakes each run – not good since we're in the top level (Superior or Games 3).

All in all a productive trip and we're going to make a run up to Norman, OK next weekend if it is still there by then.