UGH!

In an effort to bring Gusto up to the 26 in height, I have to trial him at 26 and give him time to get used to it. BUT does he have to drop bars in almost every single class; outcome - ZERO Qs.

I know, I know - it's not about the Qs. I tell LuAnn this all the time. It is demotivating to me to show a dog knowing that it will drop bars and not qualify. He ran really really well again but dropped bars.

First class of the day at the Paws in Motion, Freehold, NJ trial was Masters Gamblers. He was great - the plan worked brilliantly. He even got the gamble which was jump, push out to the weaves on the other side of a straight tunnel closer to the gamble line (many many dogs took the tunnel) then 2 additional jumps. Doable but not easy. I knew he could get that one BUT he dropped the bar after the weaves.

Second class was Masters Snooker. Very doable course and I actually liked the challenge of it. Gusto had a great opening (I mis-handled a section because I changed my plan). He kept ALL the bars up - 4 reds, and combinations that included a jump - 4 other jumps. Then got a refusal in the closing at a tunnel - of all things. At least he kept his bars up.

Next class, Masters Standard. Very challenging - spacing was much more like AKC but I liked the course and also looked forward to running it. HE DROPS THE FIRST BAR! I fussed at him to pick up his feet. He nailed all the tough sections and dropped one more bar. Got a tough weave entry so I was happy with the run but the darn bars!!!

Next was Pairs - I messed up the opening and he went off course - to a tunnel but kept all the bars up. Missed a weave entry that was along the ring gating (flags). When I told him weave, he went way wide and was actually looking at the ring gating! So I had to fix the poles.

Last class, Jumpers. Weird angles on many of the jumps - he handled all but one section beautifully and the one section was my fault. He took the jump like it was a serpentine but it was a threddle - I didn't pull his head in to reset the line. I rushed it. He kept all the bars up to that point, dropped one down the closing line.

He did improve as the weekend went along but those DARN bars. OK - enough whining. Time to get on the bike. I had a bit of knee pain because the footing was very undulating. I put my miracle drug on last night and today - no pain.