My princesses

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Sava Sara Brakada, AKA Xsara was born on 06-27-2004. She was raised in Kennel Brakada spending the first two months of her life on beautiful countryside Gorenjska (Slovenia) with her siblings and parents. As soon as she came to Ljubljana we started a puppy class, followed by an obedience class. She passed her B-bh exam with 96 points (instructor Agility EO winner Polona Bonač). We now continue with Rally-Obedience under Polona's supervision. Our biggest passion however is Agility. We started our first Agility class in October 2005 (club Agility Ilirija, instructor Silvia Trkman, two times agility world champion). When Silvia stopped teaching agility classes, we switched to Daša Zakotnik. We regularly participate in Agility trials in Slovenia and sometimes abroad. Xsara also loves to learn new dog tricks, you can see some of them in our videos. Her other passions include long walks, big meals and playing with dogs, specially her pyr shep sister Tani, her crazy agility pals and her sister Sena.

Friday, January 25, 2008

A Weird Trial


The trial was almost a week ago but I've been in Italy this week and I just came back. I don't know how to describe this trial adventure, words like weird and unusual come to my mind. The first surprise was waiting for us before we even reached the event: we ran out of gas! I've never ran out of gas before, but I guess there's a first time for everything.
The other unusual thing was the list of competitors. Less than 100 dogs partecipated in the trial, partly because there was an instructor's seminar on the same day and partly because the trial was very far away. I think I've never attended a trial with so few competitors. Since we finished both runs very quickly, we (the crazy agility enthusiasts) decided to run another course for fun. The judge was willing to do it and he quickly made up another course, which was very sweet of him.
It was good for us to pratise on the carpet since we almost always run on the grass. Xsara didn't like the floor at all, which resulted in some mistakes, mostly refusals (very unusual for her). Since there were so few competitors we were still 2nd, but to be honest we didn't actually run well.
However the training on Monday was just incredible. On the grass she could find weaves entrances from the most impossible angles, she was running like crazy so that it was hard to keep up with her, no knocked bars, no refusals, no missed contacts, all fast and clean runs with very difficult courses. I think that training session made me fall in love with the sport all over again, I just can't wait to go back!

12 comments:

snoutbeagle said...

I LOVE the photo of Xsara flying down the A-frame. Good work team!

Marvin and I are in our 15th week of agility class (once a week) and I can see how addicting it is. Our class is inside. I can't imagine how in the world I could keep his focus outside on grass with all the yummy outside smells. We did a run-through at a different training facility one time and he was extremely curious and unfocused. Made me wonder how we could ever compete.

How did you work with Xsara to keep her focused? Marvin can stay quite focused, but not consistently, and when he's really distracted treats don't even snap him out of it right away.

I put a few videos from our 13th week class on my blog. Take a look if you get a chance. I wonder what you'd think.

I so envy you two!

:) Jackie

Eddie N Peaches said...

Wow! Sounds like loads of fun.
Baroooooo!
Eddie, Peaches, Bella and Lady

i said...

Congrats Xsara! That sounds like a lot of fun.

Lorenza said...

Glad you had great time at the trial.
Yes. My mom says that there is always a first time for everything and sometimes once is not enough!
Have a great weekend
Lorenza

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous photo of Xsara on the A-frame!

Sounds like you had an awesome training day - I cant wait to get back to agility either!

River

JAZZ AND DIXIE said...

Congratualtions on your placing in the trial. It sounds like you had a good time getting to run the course three times! We have given you an award so come over and check it out.
Licks
Jazz and Dixie

Amber-Mae said...

Xsara, we missed you! Well, atleast you got 2nd placing. Congrats on your win! For me, any ground will do but I always prefer to be indoors where it's not HOT!!! I'm doing very well with my Agility too eventhough I have not gone for training for three weeks. I did some Agility for a game during the K9 event last week. Mommy hopes that I will do as well as you soon especially weaving...She hopes that she won't have to ask me to go "in-out-in-out" while weaving. She just wants me to do it myself & fast when she directs me to weave & saying only one command which is, "weave".

Love licks,
Solid Gold Dancer

Thor and Jack said...

Congrats, Xsara! Looks like you had a great time in trial. Great photo on the A-frame!
I sniffed your blog and I like it. I love agility too. You look nice, smart and pretty!

Thor

Thor and Jack said...

Hi Xsara! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I added you as my friend!

Thor

Urban Smoothie Read said...

congrates again...

sorry to hear about the running out of gas misfortune..

btw... 100 competitors is really a huge amount to us... i never could have imagine such a large number of competitors over here...

maybe on dog show would achieve that number, but never agility...

Girasol said...

Congratualtions!
Training days are a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! What a smart dog you are!!! You look like you are having fun, too.
My owner's first 2 dogs were Beagles. She has me now, and we're quite happy as a family with dad.

wags,
Behr

http://behrrake.wordpress.com/