Well, in the end, it was a good day. Joy did her best run, with a score of 94. I think we lost points on the moving down, because she went down slow and sat prior to going down. But after the mess in obedience I made for Babsy, I decided that doing it over was probably not the thing to do.
And it made no difference really as first place was a four way tie of 99.
Very proud of my little Joy Joy.
What about Babs???
Well, in her defense, most of the debochle was my fault.
I was running late, and decided to leave Joy in the car, and just take Babsy in. I was going between two cars and slipped. I hung on to the leash, but wrenched both of my arms holding onto the vehicles, and twisted my good ankle to a painful nasty angle (the other foot has been lame since Thursday night). So now I was nervous, swearing, and gimping on both legs.
I got to our ring, and signed in. I then went and asked of they would move me up in the line as I would have a conflict in Rally.
They did this. They told me I would be the first dog after the first group of sits and downs. So I figured I had a little time, there being about three dogs left before sits and downs. A few minutes later, they asked if I wanted to be in THIS group of sits and downs. Well, I figured it would give me more time, and since yesterday I was shaving it very fine indeed, running out to get the dog, and today, I had no one to hold the dog while I did the run through, I agreed.
Just then some people were all excited to see a shepherd and were talking to me and petting Babsy, and blocking my view to the ring. I told them right away that I was next in, but they did not take the hint, and a steward came over and said, Are YOU 144????
Anyhow, flustered, I went forward, and walked into the ring.
I heeled on leash, and my dyslexia made me hear "Left Turn" when the judge said "About Turn." Feeling terribly embarrassed, we recovered, and did not do badly on lead. Then the figure eight (also on lead).
The posts are humans, and we never practice this with people of course, so it was a little different for Babs, but she did ok, being still a little flustered, when she said HALT I stopped abruptly instead of easing into it. I moved my head slightly to see if Babsy sat, and the Judge bit my head off. She told me I could NOT tell my dog to SIT! If my dog did not sit, I could NOT tell her to. I told her that I did not say anything. My lips were sealed. I never said a word. Both posts also said that I did not say anything. She went back at me, and I did not want to argue, and I was all worried I would NQ for something I did not even do.
Anyhow, the judge said she would not take points off, for it, and my legs were wobbling and sweat was running down, and I could not believe how flustered I was then.
At that point, I do not remember handing the leash off. Standing my dog, I was scared to death I would make ANOTHER stupid mistake, and walked away without crossing my arms, and Babsy at that point had had enough, she did not let the woman touch her back. The lady asked me if she always did that.
Really, it is not one of Babs' fortes, but yesterday with the man, and the day before with the lady, she passed with flying colors. But whatever. We went on to heel free, which was better because I wasn't telegraphing my fear down a lead, and then the recall.
I sat the dog next to the lady, told her to stay, and started hiking to the other side of the moon. Halfway there, Babsy was following. NQ, well it was already and NQ so what was the major issue anyway? I let her sit front and finished her, and the judge told me that it was up to me whether I wanted to sits and downs. She would excuse me, as it was better for her not to get used to doing the wrong thing.
I agreed.
The obedience chair in my club cornered me later and asked what the heck happened. I told her and she said she has to get me some drugs, because the dog was working great, and it was all my fault. She told me the dog works a lot better OFF lead than on, and I have to agree to that as well. But whatever. It was not my day, or maybe, I should not have tried to jump the gun, and think about everything but what I needed to think about.
So Babsy still needs a leg. All I could think about was that 2010 might be the year of two legs. (Heidi got two in April at a two day show, and I was going to finish her in May at the specialty, but she went into heat.) And Joy had two legs, if I NQd with her this afternoon....
But I did not. After failing obedience, I put Babs in the car, had lunch, brought my chair in, did some Christmas Shopping, and watched some Rally Advanced.
I did the Novice A walk-through to give me more time to get the dog. And then got Joy. Besides being very proud of her, the only thing of interest that happened was during the awards. As I was entering, I heard some lady say to her dog, we will sit next to the Rottweiler, that should be ok. Letting things travel in one ear and out the other, I did not realize that the other person she was sitting next to was ME.
And halfway through the judge's spiel, the small wrinkly dog and the Rottweiler broke into a furious fight. Stews ran into help as the owners separated their dogs. I talked quietly and calmly to Joy, thinking no WAY are we going to get involved in THAT mess, not after I already TOLD people I qualified!!!
The wrinkled dog was carried across the ring by the head snarling, The Rotty was removed to the other corner and her owner downed her.
It looked like the judge wanted to NQ the Rotty. She talked to both owners. I do not think she NQ'd either, but I am really not sure about the other dog. I would have NQd her.
We can NQ for picking our dog up (which she did) or having a treat, even in the award section.
Well, anyway, I am not out for blood. The judges were all very good.
And there were ALL American Dogs at the show!!! There were prizes for the highest scoring mixed breed dog. I thought that was pretty kool.
It was a good day. I have a new title ribbon. Now I have to change my signature.
