The elusive third leg...

The third leg of Sophie's CDX has been a bit elusive... We earned two legs fairly easily then ran into some trouble trialing outdoors. As summer approached, I backed off all together on obedience entries to get ready for and spend some time trialing in agility. It has been several months since we were even at an obedience trial - let alone entered!

To focus my thoughts, I put a magnetic blurb on the fridge about three weeks ago. Every time I went to get a drink or feed the dogs, I saw this:

So today was our first obedience trial in a very long time. We were entered at Morris Hills Dog Training Club's show - held at Top Dog Obedience School in Flanders, NJ. The alarm went off at 4:45 A.M. and we were out the door and on the road at 6 A.M. Sophie and I were the second team in the ring - about 8:15 A.M. Things started out well - she stayed with me on the first step of heeling - always a good sign! There was a missed sit and a bit of lagging, but all in all, the heeling was acceptable for me - 9 points off - whatever - its a huge improvement from the days in Novice when she wouldn't move a single step on the off lead heeling! Her "Drop On Recall" was drop-dead-gorgeous! ZERO points deducted! "Retrieve on the Flat" lost us 1.5 points - no sit on the return and a bit of mouthing on the dumbbell. "Retrieve over the High" was very nice - .5 point deduction. "Broad Jump" was also very nice - .5 point deduction. Going into the stays I was VERY nervous - everything relied on her little butt staying put for the long sit and the long down - with an active Utility ring VERY close to her! But she did it! She qualified and earned that elusive third leg to complete her title! Saving Sophie - Companion Dog Excellent!

Here are our three qualifying ribbons for Open Obedience. No placement today with a 188.5 final score - but don't care at all! Having completed this title means we can take a break from obedience trials for a long time while we teach Utility...which means more time for AGILITY!!!
Here's my little star enjoying a new toy for the win :)