Make that, Baby’s First TWO Q’s, and her first 2 clean runs :)!

At our first CPE trial, “BabyDog” Jayda Q’d in her Standard and Colors classes, taking 2nd place besides! She had a very nice opening in Jackpot too, accumulating 33 points (level 1 dogs only need to get 16 points). She earned herself non-qualifying first place ribbons in that class and in Snooker. I was very proud of her!

Not to be shown up by “the noob”, Bryce Q’d in all 5 of his runs at level 3 (you can choose to start trialing in CPE at level 1, 2 or 3) with an assortment of placements. His standard run was rather naughty – I didn’t think he qualified, but apparently CPE has generous rules regarding faults for level 3 :)!

Colors is a strange game. It’s two nested mini-courses (about 9 obstacles each) and you need to tell the judge which one you’re running before you start. I’m not sure I see the point of it but it’s easy and fun, especially for less experienced dogs.

CPE has no teeter or weaves at Level 1. Not an advantage for Jayda because she loves them both. Level 2 can have them, but yesterday’s trial level 1 and 2 ran the same courses all day. Jackpot had weaves and a teeter on course however, so Jayda got to do them both once.

It also seemed like there were LOTS of jumps on the courses, not very many tunnels. I was glad I didn’t enter Jayda in jumpers – that was the last class of the day and she was tired enough by then. The height cutoffs are different than other registries – Bryce got to jump 12″ all day for a change.

It was an exhausting day for both dogs (and me) – they were crated inside the building and, unlike outdoor trials where they nap between runs, neither one slept the entire day!