Helen's Home World: ATChC

Showing posts with label ATChC. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

Already

Today, it is already a year since I had to let Beckett go, how time flies even when you're not having fun. I chose the song A Thousand Lovers by Lynn Miles when I did one of his videos and the lyrics "But there's nothing in this world tonight that's going to take away my pain" still are true some nights. The song that really tears at my heart now though is Joni Mitchell's River; it's one of those songs I'd heard before but never really heard the words. The lyrics "I went and lost the best baby I ever had" and "I made my baby say goodbye" really get to me. I know it was for the best to let him go but it's still so hard that I had to make the decision.

Beckett was my first heart dog, who knows maybe he's the last. I needed him and I believe he needed me. I always felt Beckett looked through me to see my heart and soul. It's not that I don't love the others and that it didn't hurt to lose each one of them but I so miss the connection I had with Beckett. It's not the same right now with the others, Keltic I sometimes don't even like even though he is a character, Teddy still feels a little like someone else's dog and Liam hasn't been with me long enough.

Agility Trial Champion of Canada

Tucker and Beckett

Ceilidh, Tucker and Beckett

I gots your chin, mums.

Fall photo shoot with Keltic and Beckett

Last photo together - 17 Dec 2019

We had a wonderful life together with so many memories. He was an awesome agility dog despite my limitations as a handler. Agility Trial Champion of Canada, Silver Versatility, Silver Award of Merit, Finalist at the Canada Cup, Beckett took me farther in agility than I thought possible. He loved to play with me; wish he was playing with me still.

Friday, August 16, 2013

C'ATChC'ing Up!

We've been away on our holidays so we've got some catching up to do. I'll post about our vacation activities later but this post is about the agility trials we did while we were Down East.

First up was the Little River "Not the Nationals" trial. The trial started on Friday with two Steeplechase, we didn't Q in either of them. My leg was still bothering me a little go I couldn't run all out. On the Saturday and Sunday, they have 2 Standards, 2 Gamblers and 2 Jumpers just like at Nationals and they score the runs two ways, one for your qualifying score and one for points like at Nationals.

Beckett and Keltic down by the Little River

The runs over the weekend were challenging and Beckett ran well but because of my leg, I was a bit tentative with my running so I kept getting behind him and incurring refusals when he started to spin. In our first Gamble, I planned quite a conservative course so I could get enough opening points but I wouldn't have to run too much. The first time we took the double jump, you can hear the judge call 0, that's because Beckett managed to jump between the uprights of the double rather than doing both bars. Pretty impressed he didn't knock any bars down doing that. Any way, we got the main gamble and had enough points for a qualifying score which gave us our Masters Gamblers title and our Agility Trial Champion of Canada title.

Beckett with the judge and me.

The link to the YouTube video of Beckett's ATChC Run

We also had done well enough in the first two Steeplechase runs that we qualified for the Steeplechase challenge so our third Steeplechase was not only for a Q but also for a money prize. Good thing there are no refusals on Steeplechase. We Q'd and came in third among the mini Regular dogs winning a $20 prize.

Sunday, we didn't Q any of our events but our Jumpers run was beautiful. We didn't Q because I had one moment where I forgot the course for just a second and in that second Beckett spun before a jump and we had one refusal for that run. We did do well enough over the weekend to win first place for mini Regular dogs at the Not the Nationals. We won a nice light blue rosette for that.

The next weekend we were at the Little River agility trial. It started on Friday in the pouring rain with a Standard and a Steeplechase. We Q'd the steeplechase, the judge said he could see Beckett's paw print on the A-frame just barely in the yellow contact zone. The next day it cleared up but was quite windy. Again we Q'd in the Steeplechase. We had a beautiful Standard run but Beckett decided to leap from the A-frame and then spin in front of the tire incurring 10 faults. The A-frame was the third last obstacle and the tire was the last obstacle of the course.

Riverside venue looking towards the warm up jumps.

On Sunday, it was a Standard, a Jumpers and the Steeplechase Cash Cup. We didn't Q in either the Standard or the Jumpers but because we had Q'd in both Steeplechase we moved on to the Cash Cup. There weren't many Regular dogs so Beckett had to compete against the open (big) dogs. We were up first. We weren't fast but we were clean and in the end that was what clinched it, Beckett won the Cash Cup for Regular dogs. We won a $200 cash prize. The Cash Cup is not an AAC sanctioned event so there was no chance of a Q, you were just running for the prize.

My family had come out to watch on Sunday and they arrived in time for lunch and to see the Cash Cup. It was nice that they were able to see how well Beckett can run.

My nieces with Beckett and Keltic

It was a good thing we won that $200 as my new screen tent didn't survive the winds, one of the pole sleeves ripped and one of the shock corded poles split.

Beckett with his ribbons

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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