Well we did it. Our first trial of the year. What a success!
We should start with me of course because I’m oldest. I didn’t expect to
do as well as I did because at the start of the first day, my back went out.
Mom had to carry me off the field because of my pinched nerve. But, she
always knows what to do and after she worked her magic, I was able to
compete. And compete I did. I didn’t qualify because I played it safe
around the jumps, but when the scores were read, this old man took a
couple of placements including a first! Not bad for a 9 year old, huh?
Kwin was wonderful all weekend. Actually he was better than I expected.
He managed to stay calm, attentive and collected around multitudes of
other dogs. I was kind of proud of the little guy. Maybe he’s not so
annoying after all.
We camped with a few students and their owners for the weekend and
it was a good time for all. There were a lot of ribbons hanging all around
our tents. Valkyrie, my pit-bull friend, pulled got first place. T.J. qualified
and came in second. Even little Addie, who was at her first trial brought
home ribbons as proof of all her mother’s hard work.
March 10, 2008
Kwin is in focus and paying attention. He’s been doing so well that Mom is entering him in two dog trials. She says he’s ready. I’m bummed.
I just don’t know. I still find him annoying. You all know how a 2 year old German Shepherd acts, right? Very annoying.
I will say that he’s becoming easier to live with and we spend a lot less time waiting on him, but does that really mean he’s up to a DOG TRIAL? I mean, really, just because he’s coming when called mostly and obeying when told, does that really justify letting him off leash in PUBLIC? This is Kwin, after all. It just comes too easily for him. I have to work at it and he just breezes through life. He doesn’t seem to get the hard work aspect of it all.
I spent this winter working on self control. I am holding my contacts as much as I can and letting Mom get a bit of a lead out. I think I’m ready for the season. I just wish she could run faster and start quicker. I think that it’s not really a sin to blow a starting line stay occasionally. It adds drama and suspense to the run.
February 26, 2008 –
Welcome to the wise and sometimes amusing ramblings of me,
Kohl, a 9 year old German Shepherd, owned and loved by Lisa Antonucci.
I am not big on introductions, but should probably take a minute
to dwell on my humble beginnings in case it everz becomes pertinent to my story.
I was born in Ct. I can’t quite remember where and because my life was
not as storybook as most way back then. I tend to think of my start in
terms of after I was adopted by my 3rd “mother” at the tender age of 6
weeks. Somehow between leaving my nest and finding her, I managed
to wear out my welcome, not once, but twice.
My mom changed my name to protect the innocents. She spent lots of
time and energy challenging me in those early years. Her patience
helped me to grow to trust everyone I meet, whether man or beast.
I try to repay her by helping her in her classes. I don’t profess to be
an obedience champ, but I can hold a heck of a stay.
I live with 3 other German Shepherd Dogs, two kittens, and a Blue
and Gold Macaw. I am the second oldest. The bird is older than
everyone, a fact that he loves to share with everyone. Then there’s me,
followed by Rose, Ayla and Kwin. Scully and Stitch are the babies.
They aren’t even 1 year old yet. They came to us after the mice.
Now the mice are all gone.
I have tried many sports, but my favorite is Agility. I flunked out of
Schutzhund, a German sport that encompasses many skills, including
protection. I just didn’t see the need to bite a man who, ten minutes
before, was nice to me. I just couldn’t get it.
So, we moved to Agility. I love Agility. I love running and barking
and jumping and climbing and oh, just about everything that it involves.
I love traveling to show sites, camping, staying up late and anticipating the day.
But most of all, I love working with my partner, my friend. I don’t know
if I can express just what a thrill a dog sport brings to a relationship,
but give me a chance and I’ll certainly give it a good try.
