A Mind Bender

USDAA Nationals Pics
Thanks Lisa B.!DAM Team NOT JUST GOOD, GOOD ENOUGH!

USDAA Grand Prix Finals Videos
These were sent to me yesterday:http://powerpups.net/gpfinal.htmlIt's interesting to see where dogs gain or lose time - not always where you'd expect!

Snoquera Falls Trail #1167
The past few hikes I've headed up the Greenwater/Echo Lakes Trail. This time I tried out the Snoquera Falls Trail. It took a while to find the actual trailhead, but when I did, it was a great hike. I didn't make it all the way to the falls, though, due to the snow on the trail and my lack of proper attire. Yikes, I guess winter really is here, or at least fast approaching.The wind was really howling toward the top, and the snow was blowing around in a thick fog. On the way back down the trail, a giant tree had fallen across the trail (it was not there when I went up!!). I could smell it before I even saw it; like a fresh wound, the smell of wood filled the air. It was a BIG

Are you doing too much agility and not enough preparation for agility?
Although Jester and Solar each did a few jumps the weekend before USDAA Nationals when I was teaching a seminar for PAC, neither had done any agility for a couple weeks before that, and didn't do any agility after that. Solar is entered in an AKC Trial in Cleveland, OH in December, and Jester and Solar are entered in the BTCWW AKC Trial in Elma over the New Year weekend, but other than that, no agility between now and mid December. I've been enjoying our agility break - mind you, I am totally excited for the next big events that are coming up (well, not all BIG, but bigger than local trials, I guess): Cleveland Cluster, January Cluster, AKC Nationals, Tryouts. I'm very happy

Amazing Grace - Part II
So, that brings us to the events of this past weekend. For the first time in several years, I was actually looking forward to going to the event, excited just to be there, to enjoy the weather, to run my dogs for several days in a row, and to talk to my long-distance friends, people I only get to see at the big events. Happy to be staying in a house with two good friends and their lovely dogs, happy to hang out with great people.My main goal with Solar was simple - provide my not yet 2.5 year old dog with a positive experience at a National event. No expectations, just a good time, a solid foundation to grow off of. I feel so fortunate and happy to have met that goal! Not on