BEST. WEEKEND. EVER……..EVER!!
Karma, who took a break from agility for almost 2 full months, came back to the turf this weekend and laid it down! She had two perfect days to not only qualify for the American Kennel Club’s National Agility Championship in Tulsa next March, but to wrap up the qualifications for her Master Agility Championship! She also wrapped up the requirements for her Gold Jumpers title too!
Celebrating with her tongue out after QQ #19 yesterday!
The MACH is a steep challenge — 750 speed points and 20 perfect days. No mistakes, no wrong turns, no second guesses for both Jumpers and Standard courses for 20 days! Karma’s game is speed. She’s fast and loves a jumpers course; suffice to say, speed points were never our issue. Dog walk contacts and off-course tunnels (that girlie LOVES a tunnel!) however, threw a bit of a wrench in our consistency game. But agility is about the journey, and we have loved every moment of that journey. We would average 4 to 5 QQ’s a year and that all changed this year. 10 QQs to wrap up her title and it’s only September. We started the pursuit in agility in February of 2012 and this 3 year journey has made us realize the power of teamwork, training positively, and just how much you can love a dog — and how unmatched their love for you can be!
Karma right after she locked down her qualifications for entering the National Agility Championship (5 QQs & 600 points!)
But let me tell you about our MACH run…if you’ve never seen a MACH run, here is what happens:
Usually your friends are keeping a count. They know you are sitting at 19. If you qualify that morning, they don’t talk to you about it, they tell you to go out there and lay it down — just like they do every other time. But while you are warming up with your dog, they sneak off and grab a MACH ribbon and hide it near the ring. They watch your run, almost scared to breathe. They are rooting for you with every fiber of their being, and when you clear that last jump, they send one of your clan in brandishing that big beautiful ribbon. The whole building hoots and hollers and claps as you do a celebration run and shake the judge’s hand. Then you leash up your dog and can’t take two steps out of the ring because you are ambushed with hugs and words of congratulations.
That is agility. It is an amazing community. One we are so lucky to be part of, and the best friends we could ask for.
Today, Marc brought in our ribbon, Karma was SO excited to have her Daddy in the ring with her too. It was just the BEST day. Thank you to all of you who cheered us on today and for every moment of the last 3 years.
Some photos of Karma’s MACH bar made by our friend Katherine Hokens. It is absolutely perfect — Pink is Karma’s favorite color and the details she found like Vizsla cut outs, stars, sparkles, and shiny heart prints couldn’t have been designed any better!
And….our updated goal list!! Feels really good to make these edits!!
Agility Goals:
-Karma’s MXB title — DONE!
-Get Karma ranked in the Top 25 (agility) — DONE!
-Karma’s MACH — DONE!
-Karma’s MJG — DONE!
-Get Karma qualified for AKC Agility Nationals — DONE!
-Gunner’s AX title
-Gunner’s MXJ title
-Gunner’s T2B title
-Gunner & Karma’s XF titles
-Karma’s MXS title
Conformation Goals:
-Grand Championship on Karma
Obedience/Rally Goals:
-Therapy Dog Novice on Karma & Indy
-Canine Good Citizen on Gunner & Halo
-Community Canine on Karma
-Companion Dog on Karma
Field Goals: (some may be 2 year goals)
–Master Hunter on Karma
-Senior Hunter on Gunner & Halo
-Tracking Dog on Indy
-Coursing Ability on Halo
Other Goals:
-Versatility Certificate on Gunner & Karma
-Halo becoming a Mommy 🙂
**Need an explanation on titles? Check out our “Games” tab for write-ups on most of these events**