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Gratuitous retriever blogging: Bummer! edition
By Gina Spadafori
September 28, 2008
The bad news: We did not pass the hunt test today.
The good news: I got to go home with the sweetest, funniest dog there.
Oh well … it’s not as if I don’t have a lot of work to do at home today …
Update: McKenzie’s sister Mikaela picked up her final leg toward her title at the level above the one at which we were competing. That’s the third dog in the litter to do so, and another is the fastest agility dog in the world.
:::sigh::: Nothing wrong with McKenzie. The problem is me, alas. No time to train.
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I am sorry you and your girl didn’t get that Hunt Test leg today. maybe next time. I do hope though you both and a great time participating!
Gina, between here,the books, BarkObama, the dogs, the cats, the chickens and whatever else you are involved with, there is only so much one can do in 24/7.
I do share your pain though about the litter “competition”. I am in sort of the same boat with my breeder. We each have litter mates. My dog’s brother has his UKC CH, is pointed in AKC, has his CGC, and his JC and some LGRA GRC points. Their sire has the biggest collection of alphabet soup at both ends of any dog to date in his breed: AKC/UKC CHs, the top AKC/APDT Rally titles, his AKC CDX, his UKC UCD, his FCH, has been multi BIF winner, his VCM from the breed club, and is an AKC DC obviously. His son, my dog, has nada. It’s sort of embarrassing, but not really.
Comment by Anne T — September 28, 2008 @ 3:21 pm
What I want to know is: when do you sleep?????
Comment by Susan — September 28, 2008 @ 3:45 pm
If I could sleep a little less I could train a little more …
I certainly can relate to the “competition” with litter mates. I just had to have a dog from a littler with one sister (the above-mentioned Mikaela) who stayed with the breeders, two people who just happen to be top notch field trainers (the husband’s a judge at the Master National this year, a competition for the best working retrievers in the country). And then of course sister Sprint (fastest agility dog) is with one of the best agility competitors in the world.
Now maybe I’m one of the best dog-bloggers in the world, but that ain’t getting my dogs trained or worked.
Yes, I’m disappointed, although of course I’m not surprised. You have to put in to get out. I knew we would need lots of luck to pass. McKutie was dead-on perfect on the first run, and I thought — oh yay! we’re lucking out!
But then … she got lost on the second mark and came back empty-mouthed. Fail.
Bless her pointy head, she then wagged like crazy and mugged for the judges. Sweet, silly girl. She always makes me (and everyone else) smile, and I love her so much.
Two more tests next weekend. I gotta find some training time …
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 28, 2008 @ 4:21 pm
Hey, you are doing the rest of us a huge service with this Blog and your contributions to Bark Obama, your books and Dog knows what else! As long as you and McKenzie are happy together, get some time for those moments that really matter to both of you, that’s what counts! Our breeders understand we can only do so much, but speaking for mine, I know she couldn’t be happier her boy is where he is with me as she’s said so. In fact we have made a pact that the other gets their boy ( both affectionately referred to as DammitJr) if we should be run over by a runaway bus. We make sure we look both ways before we cross the street or back out of the driveway!
Dogs are magical beings. They lead us not only into green pastures inhabited with deer scat and Canada geese, but they also open the most amazing doors. There certainly have been some amazing doors opening for you, and you grabbed your keyboard and charged through. There will be a time for you to finish those titles if you want them badly enough. You are mired in everyone’s Catch-22 involving paychecks, deadlines and supporting one’s dog sport addiction.
Comment by Anne T — September 28, 2008 @ 4:42 pm
A wise breeder once told me that the most important title is the GD (Good Dog), and it sounds like you have that. And it sounds like McKenzie had a great time in the field! What’s more important than that?
Comment by Debbie — September 29, 2008 @ 9:28 am
You’ve got a lot of “birds on your antenna.” The point of it all is that McKenzie has fun, you have fun - and it sounds like you did!!!
Comment by Sharon H — September 29, 2008 @ 6:02 pm