First rally-obedience competition 🐶.
We finally can rest after a hard weekend. I hope you are all okay and feeling well. It was our first time at a rally obedience competition where we also started. It was the St. Martin’s RO competition of our club - we were both days (I also one day before the competition) from 3 midday to about 12-1 o'clock at night, because I helped with building up and down, decorating, etc. It was a very cozy atmosphere, it was so lovingly decorated with many lights and the people were all in a good mood. There were such great runs to see with wonderful, harmonious teams. But I was as anxious as ever the whole time. There where so many people, loud noises and no space to take a break. And Sammy was away in a kennel (he was not allowed near the parcour) - I heared him screaming the whole time and it broke my heart. It was a 50/50 change if our turn worked out or not. Because Sammy sometimes gets panic attacks - especially in the dark (it was 6 clock, so it was dark). I know that, it is one of the weak points we’re working on. And it came as expected. When we started from the preparation ring, it started. Near the start was a rain cover for the judge and the documents and there was a helper standing under it. In short, Sammy got frightened, panicked and barked like hell. It is hard for me to turn him back on me, that he focus on me again I heard my RO trainer shouting “quiet, take a deep breath.” Easier said than done, I panicked more. But okay, nothing helped, so at the parcour start and go. The music started playing and then it changed. Sammy was still nervous and I panicked, but he was walking and stopped barking. Our heelwork was not as we know it in my eyes, but he was attentive. In the end, we got 93/100 points and are now in RO1. In summary we got the 4th. place from 30 people with their dogs who started. All the mistakes was made by myself, because I was like a flummy because of the panic and could not work with a straight mind. That showed me again that I can rely on Sammy, no matter when, that he is there for me. He did his best, I’m so proud of my little furball ❤.
Class: beginner Time: 2 minutes and 26 seconds Judge: Birgit Müller-Histermann Place: 4th with an V (Vorzüglich in german) Points: 93
