Toka and I were back at Paws for Thought Farm again for Day II of CPE trials sponsored by the Ithaca Dog Training Club.

As per usual, he was wild with excitement during his first run.  Can you say ‘train wreck?’

Silly boy broke his start line stay, and for about 15 of the 35 seconds we had for our run he had a blast charging around the ring, jumping whatever was in front of him, tunneling, climbing the dog walk.  What fun he had! (Not that I think him self-reinforcing by being a brat is a good thing.)

Once he opted to tune into me and get back to work he did fine, but clearly, we NQ’ed.  Sigh.  I have to laugh, albeit with some chagrin.

His run was SO bad, I put in for the Whiner’s Wine.  And for the “SPLAT” award:  Special Points for Losing Agility Teams.  I gave us 80 points out of the schedule posted.  10 for breaking the start-line, 10 for knocking a bar, 30 for going off course and 30 for ‘creativity’ when he made his own course.

Ding, ding! Round II

Much better!  He still got a bit nutty, and I found myself making calming gestures with my hands and saying ‘calm, calm.’  We had to circle around in front of obstacles once or twice, but he had a clean, relatively fast run.

Toka loves this sport.  He starts pawing at the gate when we’re cuing up for our turn, talking deep in his throat with excitement.  He’s fast, fairly accurate, and has enthusiasm.  Once he calms down in the ring, and I improve my handling skills, he’s going to be a super little agility dog.

Brawn (agility) and brains (nose work and tracking).  Lucky me!

He earned his Level 1 standard title today.  Good boy, Toka!