Helen's Home World: A Q for You!

Monday, January 13, 2020

A Q for You!

This past weekend Keltic and I went to our first agility trial for 2020. There were lots of hugs from friends in the agility community and a few tears too.

Keltic has had the worst luck in Master Jumpers, having had many runs with only one refusal or a bar down. I thought with Jumpers being our first run and not having done much practicing over the holidays that he would be wild. I'm sure Beckett was there in spirit and helped out sending us positive vibes for a clean run.

We stepped to the line prepared just to have fun. Even if Keltic didn't let me lead out as far as I would have liked, I still got my blind cross in between obstacles 3 and 4. It wasn't a perfect run by any means but all the bars stayed up, there were no refusals and I remembered the course. The standard course time for medium veterans was 55 seconds, Keltic finished the course in 36.01 seconds. A time that would have made Beckett proud and so Keltic got his first Master Jumpers Q in his first trial and first run after his brother went to Rainbow Bridge. It was like Beckett said to Keltic and me, "Here is a gift of a Q for you!" Tucker and Ceilidh both sent rainbows to Beckett but that's a little hard to do in the middle of winter.

The next run was Steeplechase, Beckett's favourite event. I had to blind cross the tunnel after obstacle 4 and 17 to try and get Keltic to do onside weaves. He's better at onside weaves than offside; it didn't help, he still didn't get the entry but weaves are judged at Starters level in Steeplechase so all we were losing was time. I sent him into the weaves again, the first time he did all 12 weaves, the next time through he popped at 10 and I had to get him to do the final two poles. Again we had no bars down, no missed contacts but I thought we would be over time. Surprisingly, Keltic got another Q. The standard course time for medium veterans was 70 seconds, Keltic finished in 65.65 seconds, close but still under time.

We had two more runs afterwards, two Standards, both with offside weaves. I decided to give Keltic a chance to do the offside weaves. He didn't get the entry but he also didn't argue about it and did do the weaves on the offside when I sent him back in; I've always had to change sides before to get him to complete the weaves. He did get all of his contacts and didn't knock a single bar all day.

So the agility season of 2020 has started off well, hopefully that will carry over to Regionals in the spring and Keltic will qualify for Nationals.

4 comments:

Bella Roxy & MacduiJanuary 13, 2020 at 4:29 PM
Congratulations! Over all just great. We're sure Beckett was helping. LOL at the photo, Keltic looks like he's wearing a crown...a well-deserved crown.
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DukeJanuary 13, 2020 at 5:57 PM
Congratulations, Keltic! No doubt, Beckett was right by your side♥
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DawnJanuary 14, 2020 at 6:54 AM
He sure is smiling on that podium! Looks like he's wearing a crown too, the angle of the shot. Congratulations to him and to you! I'm sure Beckett is smiling too.
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Agility Blessing

May the tunnels not have too much suction,
May the course be fun and fast.
May your dog not stop to say "hello" to the photographers they pass!
May the table not be too slippery,
May the chute house no scary beasts,
May all the yellow parts be touched with one little toe, at least
May the wind be always at your back,
May no bars fall on the ground,
May the A-frame have no stop sign on the top,
May the judge's whistle never sound.
May your dog obey all correct commands,
And ignore the ones that are wrong.
May your heart be light, your feet be sure, and the bond with your dog grow strong.
At the finish line, may great joy abound, regardless of your score,
You have your dog, your dog has you, and who could ask for more?

Written by: PJ Hughes

What is a Title!

Not just a brag, not just a stepping stone to a higher title, not just an adjunct to competitive scores. A Title is a tribute to the dog that bears it, a way to honor that dog, an ultimate memorial. It will remain in the record and in the memory for about as long as anything in this world can remain. Few humans will do as well or better in that regard, and though the dog himself doesn't know or care that his achievements have been noted, a Title says many things in the world of humans, where such things count.

A Title says your dog was intelligent, and adaptable, and good natured. It says that your dog loved you enough to do the things that please you, however crazy they may have sometimes seemed. And a Title says that you loved your dog, that you loved to spend time with him because he was a good dog, and that you believed in him enough to give him yet another chance when he failed, and that in the end your faith was justified.

A Title proves that your dog inspired you to have the special relationship enjoyed by so few, that in the world of disposable creatures, this dog with a Title was greatly loved, and loved greatly in return. And when that dear short life is over, the Title remains as a memorial of the finest kind, the best you can give to a deserving friend, volumes of praise in one small set of initials before or after the name.

A Title is nothing less than love and respect, given and received, permanently recorded.

Written by Sandy Mowery, Wisconsin

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this -- the last battle -- can't be won.

You will be sad I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.

We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end

And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kindness you do to me.

Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.
Don't grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;

We've been so close -- we two -- these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

Author Unknown

Beyond the Rainbow

As much as I loved the life we had and all the times we played,

I was so very tired and knew my time on earth would fade.

I saw a wondrous image then of a place that’s trouble-free,

Where all of us can meet again to spend eternity.

I saw the most beautiful Rainbow, and on the other side

Were animals of every sort as healthy as could be!

My own tired, failing body was fresh and healed and new

I wanted to run with them, but I had something left to do.

I needed to reach out to you, and tell you I’m alright

That this place is truly wonderful,

Then a bright Glow pierced the night.

Twas the Glow of many candles shining bright, strong and bold

I knew then that it held your love in its brilliant shades of gold.

For although we may not be together in the way we used to be,

We are still connected by a cord no eye can see.

So, whenever you need to find me, we’re never far apart,

If you look beyond the Rainbow and listen with your heart.

Do you think the time is right?

May I say goodbye to pain filled days and endless lonely nights?
I've lived my life and done my best, an example tried to be.
So can I take that step beyond, and set my spirit free?
I didn't want to go at first, I fought with all my might.
But something seems to draw me now to a warm and living light.
I want to go, I really do; it's difficult to stay.
But I will try as best I can to live just one more day.
To give you time to care for me and share your love and fears.
I know you're sad and afraid, because I see your tears.
I'll not be far, I promise that, and hope you'll always know,
That my spirit will be close to you wherever you may go.
Thank you so for loving me. You know I love you too,
And that's why it's so hard to say goodbye and end this life with you.
So hold me now just one more time and let me hear you say,
Because you care so much for me, you'll let me go today.

I Loved You Best

So this is where we part, My Friend,

And you'll run on, around the bend.

Gone from sight, but not from mind,

new pleasures there you'll surely find.

I will go on; I'll find the strength,

Life measures quality, not its length.

One long embrace before you leave,

Share one last look, before I grieve.

There are others, that much is true,

But they be they, and they aren't you.

And I, fair, impartial, or so I thought,

Will remember well all you've taught.

Your place I'll hold, you will be missed,

The fur I stroked, the nose I kissed.

And as you journey to your final rest,

Take with you this...I loved you best.

-Jim Willis

The Price We Pay

There is a cycle of love and death that shapes the lives of those who choose to travel in the company of animals.

It is a cycle unlike any other.

To those who have never lived through it's turnings and walked it's rocky path, our willingness to give our hearts with the full knowledge it will be broken seems incomprehensible.

Only we know how small price we pay for what we receive; our grief, no matter how powerful it may be, is an insufficient measure of the joy we have been given.

Suzanne Clother