Obedience "baptism" in more ways than one!

[Karen]

 Well Tia & I went off to our first trial together on Saturday. It was my first time back in the ring in about 13 years & her first in quite a while as well. The day started well although there were dark clouds looming until we went to go in the ring - as we stepped in the heavens opened & the wind got up & it went downhill from there as my always reliable girl decided not to drop. I can't say that I entirely blame her as the three dogs before her also failed the same exercise at the same point. I had meant to move a little to one side or further on but lost track with the rain beating on us both (not the ideal time for just a Tshirt & jeans ). It got worse from there with a long delay to see if it would clear & the thunder would cease before we were called into the ring for our stays. The judge had set the dogs up with rain then deciding to blow into their faces. Tia did stay although she sat up part way through the downstay as the shelter next to ours collapsed.
It was the first trial, one judge said, he had ever known where whole classes failed to qualify. .
Oh well - it can only get better from here & at least Tia did do what she did well nailing her stays despite the weather in the second trial. . hopefully we will breeze through at our next lot of trials.
On the lighter side the man I used to train with when I had my salukis doing obedience was there & his comment when told I was back in the ring with a standard poodle "Oh, she's got a proper dog". By the way he has border collies   With any luck our next trial report will be a brag. At least the rain meant the last of the bushfires that are still burning is now at least contained. With a bit more rain like that (we got about 40mm at the trial) the fires may soon be out.

[Michael]

Well, you've got a great perspective on it all, Karen! That it can only get better from there, and with weather conditions like that, I can see the results for so many being as they were. Definitely nothing you personally did wrong in all that...in fact, sounds like you did everything very well and handled it all superbly! Also love the comment about the *proper dog*! So, you'll definitely have to let us know how future trials go.....

[Karen]

Thank you for the encouragement. All being well we will be back in the ring over Easter this time with more sucess & more cooperative weather I hope

[zefi]

You're much braver than I am... I think I'd have pulled out rather than go through that! LOL

[Karen]

Unfortunately we were in the ring by the time it really began to rain. I do like one thing about obedience as opposed to the conformation ring - at least you can put a rain coat on your dog & yourself & still go in the ring. By the time we went back for our "stays" we were both in much more suitable wet weather gear although I have discovered the time has come to reproof my oiler

[spoospirit]

Love the title.   That had to be some experience for all of you.  Wish you well with your next trials.