No matter how many dogs you train or how long you’ve been doing agility, there’s a dreaded moment that rolls around ever so often – it’s that day you run your new dog in a trial for the very first time!

I had Jayda entered in jumpers both days but scratched her on Saturday – it was VERY windy, things were blowing all over the trial site and she was pretty freaked out about it. I found a place where she felt comfortable and she managed to settle in there (and eat a lot of cookies) , but I didn’t want to push my luck by running her.

Sunday was much better. I also decided to try walking her around on a harness – good move. It made her more secure because if something did happen to spook her she didn’t choke herself and make the situation even scarier. So she spent Sunday in what used to be her big sister Sally’s tracking harness .

By the time Jumpers rolled around, she seemed pretty comfortable though, as our luck would have it, a FOOTBALL GAME or something was in progress nearby – complete with marching band and DRUMS! She wasn’t happy about THAT, but I think I was more nervous than she was – I had 3 people ready to catch her (or shoo her back to me) just in case she happened to make a run for the ring gates!

The run wasn’t a stunning success, but it wasn’t a disaster either. She took the first 3 jumps at a good speed (actually, faster than I was expecting :)!) , missed a tunnel entrance, zoned out and stared at her surroundings a little, came AROUND the tunnel, then went into the correct end. When she came out she had another “moment” (probably heard the marching band!) and started trotting the general direction of the end of the ring, but I was able to call her back to me before she got halfway there. That led to little mess at the weave entrance, then she did the rest of the course cleanly (just a couple little bobbles) and pretty quickly.

At the end, my “dogcatchers” greeted us (with her treats) and we had a BIG party :). Considering how few times she’s ever done agility outdoors, I was VERY happy with that! And considering all the stuff she ate, it’s a good thing she has the same bombproof gut as Bryce!