SacPaws.com

First, an apology.  I have been remiss in keeping Spur's blog up to date.  This was pointed out to me by several people this weekend. I am so delighted to learn we have several followers - that I promise to do a better job going forward!

Life has intervened.  Work has been crazy.  My husband had a brief and scary health episode - he is fine now.

But through it all, Spur and I have been working.

Earlier this month, in Carson City, Spur earned his second UD leg.  We showed early in the morning, on cold wet grass, and I very much feared for the down.  On the first day, something spooked Spur as he ran for the articles, and he did a sudden about turn and raced back to me with nothing.

But on the second day he was a trooper and came through gangbusters.

Speaking of bust - that's how we went at the San Joaquin Kennel Club in Galt.  We were a disaster, and we learned a lesson - make like a Boy Scout and always be prepared. 

Although she had signed in, the exhibitor immediately ahead of us could not be found, and Spur and I were called to the ring without our usual preparation routine.  The result, alas, was not pretty.

I had great fears as we approached the Donner Trail trials.  We practiced at the well organized match the night before in a drizzling rain.  Overnight downpours ensured the grass remained wet for the trial.  But no matter.  Spur did his stuff and we earned that all-important third leg.

On Sunday, under beautiful conditions, he was among six or seven other dogs who missed signals.  So he did not do the sit and we were out.

No matter. He is a UD dog now and we are catapulted into a higher level which we approach with both concern and enthusiasm.

We first entered the Utility ring in April.  It wasn't until September that we earned our first leg.  Now, five weeks later, we have a title.

But our scores have not been good. 

The goes, once the absolute bain of our lives, are now executed beautifully and energetically.  But our performances are filled with automatic finishes, crooked fronts, no sits, and a tendency to drop the articles.  Hmmmm.  We have a lot of work to do.

I called my trainer, Mary Vogler, after today's show.  My message was that the missed signal wasn't that important to me.  It was an anomaly.  But if we are to move forward successfully, we must work hard on the key issues that are dragging our scores down.

That work begins next week.  For now, however, it is time to celebrate.  Spur is a Utility Dog!
I couldn't be happier, nor could he be more proud.

It is an important step for both of us.  But it is just that - a step.  There is much to come, and it is a journey we are going to love.