First CDX Pass

The Queanbeyan & District Dog Training Club winter trial is one of my favourites.  I got my first ever Novice pass with my first darling Bouvier, Percy, at a QDTC trial under Jake Blight - i can't remember how many years ago that was.  Harpo earned his Novice title at a QDTC trial at Burra  -  there were kangaroos in the next paddock that day and those Novice stays were some of the longest moments of my life.  Eepie earned her first CCD pass at this trial last year .

Queanbeyan is always a friendly trial with nice cold "Bouvier" weather and a relaxed feel.  I swear this trial brings me good luck!

This year at Queanbeyan, Eepie earned her first CDX qualifying score under Judge John Green - and a win with 190.  It was very nice to get that pass - it has been a while in coming.  She wasn't working at her sparkiest but she managed nicely on grounds that she had only seen once before.

We were off to a good start with our Open exercises until we went to Albury to trial earlier this year.  Nobody mentioned the freight train line that ran through the corner of the grounds - i had no idea we'd have to contend with that as a distraction.

Eepie worked nicely in the individuals at Albury and then, Murphy's Law, the train went past during the stays which led to a Very Negative Experience in the ring that has taken months to overcome both in training and competing in Open.

This made the win at Queanbeyan a big boost to my confidence.  

We have travelled far and wide to compete this year.   Along the way we have made new friends, found a beautiful dog-friendly cabin to stay in and met three terrific new judges to add to our list of people to trial under.

 I really love being on the road with the dogs and i am looking forward to our next trials - we're halfway through winter already - i'm not enjoying the prospect of the return of warm weather and the end of our competition season.........

Lessons Learned so far in 2011:  We will not be going back to Albury to trial and in future when i'm thinking about trialling in unknown places, i'll make a point of asking if there are any significant distractions right next to the competition rings.  We're all set to start competing in UD but i'm not sure if we will get there this year.  There's plenty of time, she has been with me for a little over two years now and Eepie has just turned three.

This year is all about building our confidence in the ring.