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    Ah, the good, the bad and the ugly.  After two days of all-terrier obedience trials, and one day at the Sacramento Kennel Club trials, Spur remains legless.  i have made the difficult decision to scratch the fourth day.

    And that, my friends, is the ugly.

    We are not alone in our misery.  The Utility A classes were, in a word, mowed down.  In two days of terrier trials, there was just one qualifying entry.  Alice Peterson, who came all the way from Boise, and Chett (Brisbane Plumperfect Wizz Kid) eked out a qualifying score on Friday, and another at the Airedale specialty that evening. 

    I say "eked" because, stalwart though he may be, Chett was a bit of a reluctant performer.

    But on Saturday, in an all breed Utility A class that had swelled to 18 dogs, they couldn't repeat the feat, and neither could anyone else.  Not one single dog qualified.  This was, indeed, the bad.

    I had envisioned a blog entitled, "Spur Earns First Leg".  Perhaps even, "Spur is Now a Utility Dog".  Alas, it was not to be.  They say, everyone says, obedience training and trialing are humbling experiences.  It is all too true. 

    On Friday, Spur was sharp as a tack, bright as a whistle, ready and eager to go go go.  Sort of.  He whipped through signals, articles, gloves and the moving stand as if born to perform.  He was utterly confident, energetic and eager.  He calmed my nerves.  Right up to  moment when I heeled him into position for the go, pointed out the location and "look" and commanded him to "go place". 

    He went, in a word, nowhere.  He looked at me, he looked about, he looked confused.  We tried a second time.  Same result.

    I was not completely discouraged.  True, we had NQ'ed for a second time.  Yet things had almost gone really well!  I made a plan.

    On Saturday morning, before the show, I took him to a nearby basketball court - the nearest approximation I could find of an indoor ring - and set up my babygates.  I hid cheese bites at the crucial spots.  And we did goes for 30 minutes.  Back and forth  with joy and abandon, without hesitation, with absolute clarify.  "Go place!" I cried, and away Spur went.

    But at the show, it was not to be.  Saturday was more crowded, more chaotic, and I believe Spur felt the tension.  He missed an article.  Oh well.  It happens.

    But then . . . the goes.  I pointed out his "look".  I gave him a vigorous send-off.  And away he went . . . over the jump.  "Exercise finished!" cried the judge.  And I decided, on the spot, we would not be returning.

    That was the additional bad.

    And yet, despite the disappointment, I was not truly discouraged.  There was also the good.

    Spur was clearly a little bit discombobulated by the show environment.  Especially on Saturday.  Lots of people.  Lots of action.  People clapping at odd moments.  Dogs everywhere!

    Yet when we entered the ring, Spur changed.  "Oh this?" he seemed to be saying.  "This is what we're here for?  I can do it!"

    He was happy to be showing his stuff.  He was having fun.  And if there were parts of it he didn't quite yet get, he's clearly fully determined to figure that out.  That was the sense he gave me - and it was thrilling.

    Then there were the people.

    On Friday, Barbara Henry, whose Irish terriers have won every award imaginable, was encouraging and full of tips.  On Saturday, AKC judge Stephanie Gomez, there to show her own dog, was the same.  She waited for me outside the ring to tell me how well Spur had done, and offer helpful suggestions.

    That generosity of spirit made my day.  Spur's genuine enthusiasm was incredibly encouraging.  He is a star . . . to be.

    Obedience trials are a journey.  Our next show will be in about a month.  There is a lot to do - and there will be many stories to tell - in the meantime.  I don't know when it will happen, but I do know we'll earn this title and move on to the next, even more difficult phase.

    It will all happen in its time.  For now, Spur is having fun, I remain encouraged, and our journey continues.