A Fabulous Experience!

OK so Belle is not a golden, but she has two golden sisters so please forgive me my transgression.

We just got back from Labrador Nationals, it was a BLAST!!!!! So many nice dogs, great courses and good judges. Wednesday (day 1) was gorgeous, cool perfect weather for running a lab. We NQ'd both our runs standard Belle went to sniff and missed a jump. She has never gone sniffing before. In jumpers her handler lost her in a cross, and pushed her off a jump. Oh well day one was out of the way.

Day two also known as building the Ark 21st century story. OMG did it rain. However these are labradors, they like water, very few people scratched. A lot of handlers went down, but I did not see one dog struggle with the footing and the contacts were rubberized! Not a slip to be seen. Belle Q'd in her standard run, placed 3rd, and finished her MXP title!!!!! I didn't even think she would run in the rain, she does not like rain. In her jumpers her mother messed up AGAIN!!!! and we NQ'd :doh: After the excellent dogs were done, they put straw down to make the grounds less slippery. Yes it was outside. That afternoon after the agility was done, it really poured.

Day three, we did have some scratches. Still raining, and let's talk about the mud! However I still did not see a bunch of dogs slipping. The straw helped keep the handlers upright, but it was slowing us down. The only dogs I saw slip were the very fast intense dogs coming in or out of tunnels, and one dog flew into the weaves, went to plant his butt for the slowdown entry, and flew right into the first pole. I never saw one dog have an issue at, before or after a jump. I ran Belle in both classes, she is not a speed dog, so I thought she would handle the footing alright. Boy did she!!! She Q'd again in standard with win, and Q'd in jumpers with a 2nd place finish! WE DOUBLE Q'D AT NATIONALS!!! How cool is that?! Belle did NOT want to sit at the start lines but she did hold her stay.

I have never been so wet in my life (when not in the shower) as I was when I was done on Sunday. I did take a change of clothes for the drive home.

We won a wing jump in a raffle. That was fun! I met a ton of incredible people, and everyone LOVED Max and Teddi the honorary labradors for the week. Max did "ok", the car rides take a lot out of her. She was bright and willing to wander around, just not excited. That was until the rain came, then she just wanted to stay in the car. Teddi LOVED the rain and was disappointed we would not stay out with her longer or let her roll in every puddle she could find!

What a fabulous experience. I hope some day to have a golden I can take to Nationals and play there too. Thanks for letting me share.