Due to technical issues, that fortunately are now resolved, I have been unable to get logged into my website before now. This has prevented me from completing my blog so apologies for the lack of posts.
Leading up to our first qualifier I was still teaching Lilly how to weave. Due to the absolutely awful weather that we had over Easter, training opportunities were few and far between.
The qualifier for crufts this year is for grades 1-5. Lilly is only a grade 2, so obviously she does not have the skills of a dog that has already reached grade 5. The courses are designed by the judges themselves, and so one qualifier can be pitched at a very different level to another.
The weekend of the first qualifier had very mixed weather conditions. I walked the course and decided that it was just too tricky for Lilly, some competitors would have run the course with their dogs anyway. I chose not to as she is a very sensitive soul. Lilly wants to please at all times, and if she feels that she has made a mistake she will then shut down. I very much want Lilly enjoying agility competition’s as much as I do.
To get through to Crufts, the qualifiers are points based, and it depends upon a number of factors, one clear first, or 2nd place may well get you through, or 2-3 third places.
The next crufts qualifier that we attended was Wellingborough show, the course was really lovely. Unfortunately we still managed to pick up an elimination, Lilly found the environment very difficult. Despite it being an elimination, I was still very proud of the round, there were some really nice skills that Lilly was showing.
Having returned from Wellingborough, I had to make a decision whether I was going to enter the last qualifier or not. On reflection, I decided that Lilly is not quite ready, so I will enjoy competing her this year without the pressure of any more qualifiers. There is always another year.
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