Two good dogs

Well, Collie Nation has returned from the BCYR 2012 Agility Regionals with some very good news - they both qualified!  This is Wick's 5th or 6th time qualifying, and I fully expected her to make it (though after Sunday's performance, I was a bit worried!), but Rex, who has only be trialing for a year, and who may not know all of the equipment yet - I was absolutely thrilled that he pulled one off.

In addition to qualifying, each of the dogs earned an individual placement in Jumpers.  Wick came 2nd in Jumpers 1, and Rex, the dog who often forgets how to do a tunnel, came 4th out of 68 22" dogs in Jumpers 2.

We've about 50 days before Nationals, and there's a lot we need to practice.  But before that, there's the matter of a few sheepdog trials, including the Calgary Stampede.  Wick gets to sit those out, but Lou and Rex, get ready to switch gears - set focus on sheep.

Here are a couple videos from the weekend.  Turn down the volume, my dogs are LOUD!

Wick:



Rex:

Motivational thoughts before Regionals

DS4_3558, a photo by voteforbear on Flickr.

Whether or not you win this thing, you’ve got to decide how you’re gonna walk out of here when it’s all said and done.  Because the game is going to go on ...and there’s only one rule you’re going to need to know about:  “There are no second chances.”

There’s only this moment and the next moment.  Every one of those moments is a test that you get to take ONE time and ONLY one time.  So, if you see an opening, tear into it!  If you get a shot at victory, make DAMN sure you take it.  SEIZE that moment!

That moment is a crossroads where everything you want will collide with everything standing in your way.

You’ve got momentum at your back.  Fear and doubt are thundering like a freight-train straight at you.   And all you’ve got – the only difference between making history and BEING history - the only thing — the ONLY thing you can count on at any given moment is YOU!

It’s you versus “them”
… you versus “no”
… you versus “can’t”
… you versus “next year”, “last year”, “statistics”, “excuses”

It’s you versus “history”
… you versus “the odds”

It’s you versus “second place”

The clock is ticking.  Let see what you’ve got.

When bad things happen to good dogs

Rex's world goes dark, a photo by voteforbear on Flickr.