Becca's Lompoc Report

Less is Sometimes More When Training - from Donna and Becca

Becca and I have taken a break from obedience training for the past couple of months due to a variety of life events. When the entry deadline approached for the obedience trial at the Greyhound Club of America Specialty in Lompoc, I hesitated to enter Becca. However, I also wanted to support the Club! Eventually, I went ahead and entered her in Novice B.

It is said that 99% of the missed points in the obedience ring are the handler's fault. This day was no exception. I was pretty nervous at the trial and made the same mistake not once but TWICE while in the ring! I anticipate the command to halt at the end of both the on- and the off-leash heeling. Sigh. Nonetheless, Becca did what she was asked to do and we still qualified! Thus she earned the first leg of the three she needs for her CD (Companion Dog title). I was very proud of her!


The next day, there was a lure coursing trial that Becca and I went to watch. Since Becca seemed so keen on the lure, I took advantage of the fun runs after the trial. It was a nice way to “reward” for her performance the day before. Slipping Becca was like releasing a tightly wound rubber band. She had great follow and was blazing fast. It was amazing to see her perform on the field as only a greyhound can. I am now contemplating pursuing some field titles with her. She is in complete agreement!


At the end of that day, she was definitely tired. I enjoyed the contented look on her sweet face as she dreamt about catching that “bunny”.

Bryn Becomes A Show Dog

I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had time to let everyone how and what I am doing.
Since my first show in Vallejo (where I rec’d 3rd place both days), I took my first long and overnite RV ride to Oregon. The first day, we just played with the lunge line and walked around the show site. It was inside an arena for horses. Not as noisy as the show in Sacramento.
The next day, I was the only greyhound, so I rec’d a Best of Breed ribbon. Marie was more excited about me than I was. On Saturday, there were other greyhounds and I had to go around the ring a few times. I must have settled down a bit because I took the Breed again and got a 3 pt major. I haven’t the slightest idea of what that is, but it sure made many people happy. It seems to be a good thing. I sure did get a lot of attention and treats. A girl could learn to like that!!.
I had no more shows that weekend. Gator (my friend) had to work (show) on Thurs and Sun. He took the Breed on those days. He’s so nonchalant about his wins. He doesn’t even get excited like I do.
Today, a Boxer named Badger came to the house to play. I think the 4 of us rather worked over Tom’s garden. He said it had to be replanted anyway. I think he was just being kind.
Then Marie and I went to Dixon to meet my Mom (Helen) and Echo (my sister). Helen thought a little interaction and playtime at a non show (for me) would be fun.
I watched Helen’s dog, Whisper, in an event called agility. It really looked like a fun
thing to do. Those dogs really had to be on target. We are going back tomorrow for some more meet and greet and playtime.
With everyone working with me, I am getting more comfortable with the “hands on” part of showing. I really like the going around the ring.
On Sunday 06/06, we went to Livermore to a lure coursing practice. But, as it turned out, it became a Qualified Courser test. I, of course, have no idea what that means, but, another dog and I chased 3 plastic bags around a long series of turns as fast as we could. I(Byn) am blue blanketed in the run. I passed the test for a QC title behind my name. I must admit, things are looking a lot more like FUN!!.

Zoom Zoom Zoom (by L. Stine)

On Sunday, we (Helen, Marie and I) decided to put the pup's natural instincts to the test. That is, the running instinct. It's one thing to watch them zip around the yard chasing squirrels and birds and bugs, but it's another thing altogether to have them sight a lure, instinctively chase and remain keenly sighted on it exclusive of any other distractions, and follow it through a course of turns and switchbacks. And so this is what we set out to do with our 18 month old puppies on Sunday in Livermore. The Basenji Club of Northern California was hosting an AKC and ASFA trial (basenjis only) as well as an all breed JC and QC test.

For those not in the know, the AKC requires prerequisite test runs on all dogs competing in lure trials, you cannot just show up with a dog whose never run a lure and enter it in a trial. It used to be that you would take a young dog to a test/trial and run them by themselves on a short course with a minimum of 4 turns of the lure to test if they had interest in the lure and if they could remain sighted on it. You had to do this twice and pass (with two separate judges) to obtain a Junior Courser title and thus be qualified to run in trials against other dogs. In recent years the AKC has amended their requirements to more resemble the common sense of ASFA in requiring that dogs be run with another dog. This Qualifying Course not only ensures what the old JC tested, that a dog run sighted, but in addition arguably importantly that the dog run clean (not interfere/play/intimidate the other running dog). The QC now takes the place of 2 JC runs, although I personally think the JC single runs are still very important because they allow a young dog to practice run and build up their lure intensity.

Anyhow, Gail Burnham was bringing two of her young dogs to QC, so we all met up in the afternoon at the field to....wait. Lure trials and tests have a schedule, but they are rarely if ever on time. Unless, of course, you are running late, then it's almost guaranteed that they will have run whatever you were suppose to be there for early. :) I brought Dee along as a qualifying runner and Gail brought Hunter. All QC test dogs have to have their own experienced running dog to qualify with. Dee is a Dual Champion and an exceptionally clean runner, she's a good teacher. Hunter is a fast, firmly sighted runner and thus a good qualifier as well. Echo ran first with Dee, and ran very well. She loves the lure and is very fast, there was no doubt that she qualified. Then came Hunter and Pixie (Gail's young dogs) They ran well together and Pixie qualified. Then Darby and Dee. Dee crashed and burned on a corner but recovered well and there were a couple of pass-bys made with no incident. Darby was fast and sighted and seemed to not only be intent on the lure but in destroying as many orange course cones as possible. Despite the complete cone destruction, he qualified. Then Bryn and Hunter ran...wow is Bryn fast. She opened up on the straight and it caught my heart in my throat. She's beautiful and very athletic. Hunter, her qualifier, took a gut wretching spill on the straight but rolled and instantaneously recovered to continue on the lure. He is one tough cookie. Bryn, of course, qualified.


So now we have 3 of Lyric and Merlin's kids QC'd. We (Darby Crash) will be doing some road work to build up stamina and muscling and continue to do practice runs prior to trials to get him used to following the lure and work on turning. They still have a lot of growing up to do before they start seriously competing, but it's good to know they have the drive and the ability to perform as well as the natural ability look good in the show ring. Pretty only goes so far, or so they say. ;)

Lompoc Lure Coursing (Day 2 Part 2)

We went to the lure coursing trial to watch the dogs run and see what the puppies think of the lure.

The puppies hung out most of the day and watched and waited for their turn to run.

Lyric really, really wanted to run but is still recovering from a jammed toe so she didn't get to.

All the puppies got to run a short straight and they all loved it! Here are pictures of the boys. They were very intent!

When it was all done they crashed in the car on the way back to the hotel.