Jake's Progress II

Dundee was the first show of the 2010 season for us. We went through for just the Saturday, on a glorious spring day in Camperdown Park. We didn’t even manage a clear run but I was just so relieved to be back at agility after all those weeks dealing with grim inevitable family stuff.

Jake was even more enthusiastic than I was – and so fast! – but a little unfocussed. Probably down to a lack of practice and me not being as quick as I need to be giving voice and body signals. On the plus side, Jake’s weaves, our bête noir at this point last year, were rock solid. On the down side, his contacts were terrible – he jumped on and off the A-frame, used the seesaw as a launch pad, and hopped off the side of the dog walk in his excitement. How could I be cross? He was so enthusiastic. (I might have had a little fun too).

And of course there was the traditional Scottish feast for athletes.

Since then we’ve really been working on his contacts on training nights. Back to basics! The dog walk & seesaw are now much improved, but the A-frame is a work in progress.

So our aims for the 2010 agility season (our third!) are

• to keep having fun
• to improve consistency on contacts
• to keep Jake sweet and below threshold round ringside
• to get the points we need for Jake’s bronze agility warrant
• to maybe even win out of grade one day …