PNAC Porter in the Canine Chronicle!

It's great having your own personal doggie Biographer / PR Specialist / Social Media Coordinator / Agent, etc.   :)

But seriously, thank you to my talented friend Megan of Megan Arszman Communications (She is also owned by Dally & Mesa) for including us in her article!

 

 

I'm not sure the pdf above is working correctly - I've never tried that before! So here are some screen grabs. Apparently it's time I got some other types of specialists as friends!  :)

 

 



For the whole publication, click here!

Wordless Wednesday: Finals Photos!

How many other Finalists are smiling during their run?  :)  I love my Porter-Pup!

 

Finish jump!

 

Heading straight for his Ginger Snaps!

 

Victory Lap!

 

Victory Lap!

 

They didn't give me my leash back before they wanted this photo. So I had to hold Porter back by his meaty little thigh  :)

Seriously, he's not going to stand there for a photo op without getting his snacks first!

 

Little known fact about Porter - he HATES to be held.

Sometimes I wonder if this wasn't the worst day of his life...  :)

I guess this wasn't quite so "wordless!"

Nationals Photos Are Here!

I got the download link for my photos the other day from Great Dane Photos! I think they turned out fantastic!

Something about this one appeals to me - I kind of like the judge standing there...

Look at him "powering" through those weaves!

There's Megan in the background!  :)

I have had some weird hair photos lately...

Corgi bullet

I'll post the ones from the Finals round tomorrow!

Challenger's & Finals Round Videos

And last, but not least, here are the official videos from 4 Legged Flix from the Challenger's & Finals rounds.

First, the Challenger's Round:





Notice all the patented "pulling-up-my-pants" moves?  :)  I am so glad that could be recorded forever!

Seriously though, how do people wear those spandex pants all the time & not have that problem? Between that & the fact that they have no pockets, I am not going to be wearing them at any more trials! (I did try at the Cardi Specialty the other weekend, thinking maybe they had shrunk since I washed them... Nope!).

Like I said before, one of the toughest courses that I've run. There were a few small places where I could have made different choices & had tighter turns, but I also was still a little freaked out about our Hybrid run that morning. So I played it safe where I felt I should... And ran balls to the wall on the straight-aways (pulling my pants up along the way!).

So after we won the Challenger's Round, I did our usual "corgi cool-down" routine, walking Porter around, feeding him snacks, slowly making our way back to the stall. But apparently they were calling for me over the loudspeaker to come get my Finals shirt.

So I put Porter away & headed to where I thought the shirt people were. But they weren't there anymore... Anyway, I ran into judge Blair Kelly in the hallway & told him, through near-tears, that I just won the Challenger's Round. He was so nice & congratulated me. Then I remembered why I stopped him  :)  "Uh, where do I get the shirt?"

He took me to Gail Storm, who I said one of the stupidest things ever to...

She gave me my shirt & I asked her if I still needed to attach my number to it.

She told me yes and asked why I wouldn't.

I said, "Oh, I thought everyone would know who I was now."

I really didn't mean it like that. I thought they would announce it over the loudspeaker when I ran & there were only 4 of us in 4" Finals... But she didn't know that. I just looked like some arrogant idiot  :)

No, I'm just an idiot.

So onto the Finals video!





This is the round that I ran like no one else  :)  I squeezed myself between the weave poles & that wall...

I have been burned many times (mostly in practice) by that kind of threadle set-up (with the a-frame jump, weaves). So I knew I did not want to try to pull Porter to the correct side of the jump (he would never make it). And I knew if I pushed to the backside of the jump, then I would screw up either the rear cross to the weaves or do some funky weird front cross before them... So why not just run the weaves on the other side? Perfect for Porter!

As a side note, a lot of people wasted a lot of time by pulling to the correct side of the jump. You could tell those who had actually trained a threadle from those that were faking their way through! Definitely something I will continue to work on...

Porter did come out the chute wide, looking at the dogwalk. And I think that's why I did that late front cross to the teeter... Other than those 2 things, I was extremely happy with our run  :)  That whole jump, teeter, tunnel discrimination gave me fits when I walked it. Talk about an abundance of choices, for all 3 times you went through it!

So at the end, after our victory lap, they presented me with the jump bar.

Being the first one to finish, I didn't know we got a bar. I've never received a bar before.

As Carrie DeYoung (Very Important AKC agility person) handed it to me, I said "I get a bar??" She says yes. I say "But I don't even own a jump!"

She & Gail Storm just kind of looked at me...

When I ran out of the ring into the hallway with Porter & my bar, I repeat the story to Megan & some lady standing there from one of the agility equipment suppliers. The lady kind of looked around at her stuff, and was about to offer me a jump (I think)! Then Megan says "You better not be planning to put this bar on a jump in your yard!!"

Oh yeah, I guess that's not what you do with them  :)

Finally! More Videos From AKC Nationals!

I apologize for the delay in posting these. Seriously. I have been swamped since Nationals... but I'll get you all caught back up  :)  I haven't even found time to read & comment on other people's blogs...

Here are a few of the remaining videos from AKC Nationals. These were shot by the professionals, 4 Legged Flix.

We started out bright & early Thursday morning with the Time 2 Beat round:



Such a classic Porter mistake... Or is that a classic Merinda mistake?  :)

Yep, my cue was late, I continued backwards, I never turned my body... And he took that off-course jump  :)

I was happy that we got to be announced on the loud speaker though, that never happened in Tulsa. And that mistake really helped me the rest of the weekend - I was hyper-aware of all off-course possibilities! And that my mom was watching at home  :)

On Friday morning we started the official rounds - first up, JWW!



Not a bad run, it earned us our first clean run ribbon ribbon (which was my only goal for the weekend!), but I was extremely conservative. Everyone laughed at my rear cross on the flat between 3 & 4. I was afraid to go in for the blind or front cross, thinking that may push him over the off-course... And I was too scared to do a rear cross on jump 3, because sometimes I don't wait long enough and push him off the jump...  And he was moving slower than I thought he would be... But we got it done  :)

Just a note while I'm thinking about it - We were the first group to run every morning. And we only ran 1 round every day. So Megan & I would be done by like 9am. It was nice to have it over with and just relax while we watched everyone else. You know, instead of stressing about whether we made the right handling choices while watching everyone before us.

On Saturday morning we ran Standard:



Another clean run for Porter! And we actually placed!

This was our best run of the regular rounds. It just felt good. Although his start was slow, his turns were tight & I was able to get in all my crosses. I was a little more aggressive, except for the turn off the dogwalk... If Porter is going to miss a contact, it's going to be in that scenario!

On Sunday morning, our big day started with our poorest run, Hybrid:



I don't know what I was thinking with that bad cross in front of the weaves... I got lost! And I don't think he ever got his rhythm or footing after that. But at least he got the backside of the jump (Last year in Tulsa, I accidently kicked him to the backside...).

Obviously this was the run that probably cost us our chance to go straight into the Finals  :(  But it all turned out for the best in the end!

Tomorrow I'll post the Challenger's & Finals videos from 4 Legged Flix. And maybe some of the asinine comments I made to random people (including Gail Storm - the AKC agility master)... I am an idiot from Kentucky!  :)

Wordless Wednesday - Party!

 

 

It's Official!

 

 

Not going to lie - I was waiting to make sure the AKC actually recognized it!  :)

A Day to Remember...

Finally! I am ready to blog about the Best. Day. Ever!  :)

Seriously, like I said before, I was absolutely overwhelmed by the results. Never did I think that we would wind up as National Champions. Apparently other people thought so, but they did a pretty good job of hiding it from me  :)  (Thank you!)

And I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support & kind words & congratulations... I did not know that so many people knew Porter & me!  :) Actually, I want to thank you all again. And I will continue to thank you all again & again... :)

So before we get to the videos, let me thank you all again!  :)

• Thank you to John for believing in us. And hanging out at home while we took class after class & seminar after seminar... And thanks for chilling with Stout on the couch while we were in Pennsylvania  :)
• Thank you to my mom & family for watching at home. I was only nervous the first couple runs when I thought of you all tuning in...
• Thank you to Megan (& Dally)! You two are the best road trip partners ever! And you carried all our stuff & loaded up the car & you filmed these great videos! I can't thank you enough for everything you did (and continue to do) for us!
• Thank you to the Small Dog Posse! Both those that went & those watching from home! You made the trip a blast - and agility in general so much fun!
• Thank you to my Team Daily Corgi members! And my fellow corgi owners that I met at Nationals!
• Thank you to Porter's breeders - Vivian & Molly Moran and Dana & Rick Hasemeier. You bred the best cardigan EVER!  :) 
• Thank you to all my teachers & clinicians & online instructors. And not just agility, but herding & obedience & clicker stuff too. Every little bit I use for every single thing I train.
• Thank you to my students! You have no idea how much I learn from you all every week. 
• And thank you to all my friends & blog readers! 

I know I'm forgetting people... But trust me, I'll thank you again when I see you! And again. And again...

So you all came for the videos, right? :)  I'm posting the Finals day first, because that's the most exciting one. And I have these great photos & videos that Megan shot that have all the emotion in them. You may want to turn down your volume  :)  I'll post the "official" ones another day.

A little background: Porter & I had one bad run (out of 3) that eliminated us from going straight into the Finals round. They automatically took the top 3 dogs into the Finals, as well as the winner of the Challenger's Round. So yes, just like everything that Porter & I do, we did it the hardest way ever... :)

We were slated to run in the Challenger's Round.

Walking the course for the Challenger's Round. That's me in the pink jacket :)

I was a little nervous going into the Challenger's Round. I think I would have been more so, but I really didn't think I had a chance to win it anyway  :) It was by far the hardest course that I have ever run. And Porter & I had already screwed up that morning round... And Team Daily Corgi member Maddie was on fire...

I walked it a bunch of different ways, settling on the way that played into Porter's strengths. And allowed me opportunities to pull my pants up :)

Video: (Seriously, turn down your volume)



That was one of the best runs that Porter & I have ever had! It just felt good.

I immediately ran out & started treating Porter, kind of listening to the other dogs running. They would announce that I was still in the lead a couple times. But when they finally announced that I was the winner - Porter & I ran back in for a little victory lap in front of the Small Dog Posse  :)

And Megan came tearing down the ramp, knocked over a set of weave poles, and tackled me! She was so excited! And that's when it hit me. As she hugged & cried, I felt the tears coming. That was my first little bit of emotion  :)

But no crying for me right then, I needed to do a TV interview! I think you can tell just how freaking excited I was  :)  And how many ginger snaps did I feed Porter??

So Porter & I did our usual "corgi cool-down." He even got to watch the cows being washed next door. It's the little things...

But apparently they were calling my name inside to come get my finalist shirt. Oh yeah, the Shirt!

Posing with my coveted Finalist shirt!

This was the whole reason I wore those stupid black pants that I kept having to pull up  :)  I was lucky that I bought some this year!

I can admit now that I cried in the bathroom stall when I put on the shirt.

Anyway, a few hours later, we ran in the Finals.

So I said the Challenger's course was the hardest I have ever ran? Well, this one was equally hard. There was a backside jump. There were numerous call offs. There were more wraps... While the Challenger's course called for being clean, this one called for being fast. And clean.  :)

All I wanted was to finish ahead of 1 dog. Because I thought they only gave ribbons to the top 3 finishers. I picked a path that no one else walked. But I knew Porter. And I knew where he would struggle.

But he rocked it!



Porter's doggie chiropractor asked me afterwards if I knew when I ran it that I was going to win. No. I knew that we ran the absolute best that we could have though. There was nothing that felt wrong or awkward or slow (except pulling up my pants). We did the best we could. Winning was in the hands of the other dogs & handlers.

I was the 2nd dog to run (out of 4). We beat the first finalist's time (shout out to our fellow 4" Cardigan finalist - Cleo & Janice!) so got to sit in the "hot seat" while the next dog ran.

Sitting in the "Hot Seat" while the 2 finalists after us ran

I had no treats for Porter (didn't know if that was allowed) and he was PISSED! I tried feeding him dirt clods & mulch to quiet him. He's no fool...

The 3rd finalist did not beat our time, so we stayed in the hot seat. The last dog, a speedy little corgi took the course. I continued to try to quiet Porter, I had no idea what was happening in the ring.

I heard a gasp from the crowd, then the Small Dog Posse started screaming. It took me a second to figure out what was going on... Megan was a little excited  :)

That scuffle was totally my fault...

And there you have it. The remarkable day when a little corgi from Waddy, KY became the first Cardigan ever to win the National Agility Championship. 

Um, and I just teared up again.

Which is why I took so long to post this. It chokes me up to watch these videos. I needed time to soak it in & create the memories & relish in the feelings from that day. And now that time has passed, watching the videos & seeing the photos brings it all back again.

I am very sentimental.

The way I felt & the look on Porter's face & the way everyone screamed (especially Megan!) are things that I will treasure forever.

Then calling my mom & calling my dad & hearing that other people watched & cried... those things I also covet.

Thank you again to each & every one of you.

More recaps of the other runs will be forthcoming  :)

Here are some links that some of you may have missed:

• Team Daily Corgi - Porter Recap
• My awesome interview with the Harrisburg Fox News affiliate  :)
• Megan's Podcast on the Horse Radio Network
• Porter made the front page of the CWCCA website