This week's class was a graduation party of sorts, with fun games and a jumpers course. Chaos abounded! The games were

"snakes and ladders" - 60 seconds to run as fast and far as you can - the course wove up and down the training hall , making 4 loops - reach the end and turn back if you have time. Sophie was a dream to run, stuck to me like glue - her aframe contact is still weak and the weaves need work but her focus was beautiful .

"Tunnel Snooker" - instead of red jump - obstacle, it was tunnel - obstacle (up to 4 times) then a short numbered course. Our first attempt at playing the snooker game, and we didn't get flustered and ran cleanly, getting to the 4th obstacle in the closing and ending up with 40 points.

Straightforward jumpers course - soph was getting tired and drifted off to mug the trainer, but I was able to recall her and get her back on course. I got lost and missed a jump but I was able to regroup and keep soph with me and get back on course - another lovely run!

"Mat gambles" - now this was a hoot and a half. You carried the mat with you, and if you felt you could send your dog to an obstacle or series of obstacles, you'd toss the mat down to stand on and send the dog forward. MUCH laughter and dramatics for this one.. Soph kept trying to lay down on the mat at first (gotta love pattern training!) but once we got going I was able to send her to a jump-tunnel sequence and a couple of other jumps. Again, she stayed with me for most of the run. GOOD girlie and THANKS renee for a stellar evening!

Our entry for the Nationals Steeplechase Challenge has been registered and posted, so Spruce Meadows here we come!

(This weekend we are doing a dog sports show at a large community picnic - wonderful opportunity to perform under stressful and distraction-filled environment