If I had the skills, this email would open with the Hallelujah Chorus.

You see, on Friday night in the Canberra rain, Lara got her third pass in CCD.
She got her second at this very trial last year, in torrential, freezing rain,
and water laying on the ground. In fact, she won the ring in that trial, when
only five dogs got through across all classes due to the conditions.

And since then, nothing.
It seems Lara developed an allergy to doing 'drops' during heeling. And then
she decided that drops were actually OK, the problem was, in fact, the judge.
Stand for examination was an exercise that she always scored full marks in. Rock
solid.
Suddenly that all changed. She got a fright at our club's Competition Day when
she saw someone dressed in clothes like my youngest son wears. You know, 6 sizes
too big. Then she had to go into a ring with a male examiner wearing a baseball
cap. Lara shied, and when he tried to get around her, she actually growled at
him. Those of you who know Lara will be shocked at that, but that is how
strongly she feels

After that, she would not let a male judge or instructor near her without
turning to see what they were up to.
And on Friday night, the judge had a noisy jacket and
- horror of horrors -
a broad brimmed hat.
And it was dark. She used to be scared of the dark.

So I wasn't feeling too confident of a pass, I was thinking it was training.
Lara won't work at any other grounds, either. Our club grounds have the rings
fenced. Other trials have white ring ropes and they look like dog shows. So
traumatised was she by the whole showing thing, that she just refuses point
blank to do anything. Really funny for spectators, not much fun for either of
us.
So we only get about four trials a year, and this was the last one for 2008.

Our good friends Chris and Michelle Coulson trial their Wei boy, Cooper in
Open, and were at the trial, too. Lara let Chris give her a really good pat,
without even a flinch, and I am sure that was the extra boost we needed.

We went in after doing some reving up play with Lara's favourite toy, a white
gorilla with boxing gloves, thanks to some suggestions from another friend, Jo
Hagan. Jo has GSP's - well, nobody's perfect. Lara heeled better than usual,
but we got to the 'Stand for Exam'. The hatted judge walked over, she moved one
foot, two feet, three - but the other stayed cemented to the spot. I am sure it
was held there by the weight of my gaze alone, as I stared at that foot.
To move it was to fail.
The judge commented on how she had moved two feet, I am not sure if he only
saw two, or was being generous due to the difficult climatic conditions.
But I wasn't about to argue!

I was too scared to look at the scores after the heeling. We went in for the
stays, which she has bombed lots of times. Lara thinks that if she stays where I
put her, it's a stay.
The rules say that she also has to stay HOW I put her.
Lara hasn't read the rules.
She, being such a high energy girl (NOT) likes to lay down during the sit /
stay.
My father has a saying.

Why stand when you can sit,
Why sit when you can lay down.

Lara fully concurs.

We were in the sit stay, those eyes started to get heavy, but I am sure I held
up with my thoughts alone.
Then we only had the down stay, which she usually is fine in, mainly because
it takes energy to get up and walk away.
When the judge told us to return to our dogs, I was SO careful not to walk too
close, and perhaps walk on her tail, and I have never been so happy to hear
those two little words
'Exercise Finished'!

It is only CCD, a level that they have put in below CD in place of the old
Novice Encouragement. It gives you a title and is supposed to be very
attainable, and encourage you to continue.
Clearly these people have never met Lara, who probably should be named Cybil,
for all her different personalities.

So I am proud to announce that Lara will now be known as
Australian Champion Sinaway You Can Hope CCD
The first Obedience titled kid for her lovely parents
Gr Ch Sinaway Quest For Gold, Brodie,
and
Aust Ch Sinaway Remembrans Rose, Rosie

Lara can do the Novice exercises, and even some of the Open, but the trick
will be convincing her to do them when I want her to!

Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you.


Wendy (still grinning like an idiot)




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