Mangawhai & Whangarei Agility/Obedience Ribbon Trial

Hi! It's Cinnamon.

Well, perhaps Mint would be the right person to write this post, but I am writing as usual, as Mint is busy napping after a big day out.

Yesterday, on Sunday, we went to Mangawhai, over one hour and a half hours away from our house, for Agility and Obedience ribbon trials. Well, we hadn't to plan to go, but at the last minute, at night on Saturday, Mum decided to go to the trials with us if it didn't rain. As they were ribbon trials, we didn't need to enter in advance.

On Sunday, Mum, who usually has trouble getting up early, got up before 5.30am, packed her snacks and our treats, put us in the car, and left home before 6.30am. (In fact I am very impressed that she got up so early!) Although we had showers on the way to Mangawhai, it didn't rain at all while we were at Mangawhai Domain where the trials were held!

Preparing for our rounds

Both Agility and Obedience trials started at 9am. As the first agility classes on the day were higher levels than those we wanted to enter, Mum entered Mint in Obedience Special Beginners class which also started at 9am.

Mint was the third in the running order. Although I didn't see him competing in the ring myself, as I had to wait in a crate in Mum's car, it seems that he started off nicely in his on-lead heelwork. But, he did what I, not he, usually do, shortly after he started doing his off-lead heelwork. He suddenly ran off, sniffed around an edge of the ring, picked up something, ate it, and finally came back to Mum!! Of course, Mum was very disappointed with what he had done, but she said that she didn't get as upset as she had used to.

Mint doing his off-lead heelwork

In fact Mum was more worried about Mint's stays, as he had broken his stays many times before. But, to her relief, he finished both his one-minute sit stay and two-minute down stay with no problem. Well done, Mint!!

As a result, despite a big point deduction for his wandering off, he got placed the fourth!!

The first Agility class we did on the day was Starters. As we usually do, I went first and Mint next after four dogs between us (There were only six Mini dogs in the class). I did very well for most of  the course but had to redo the weaves twice. Mint had no problem with this class, getting placed the 7th in the whole class (48 dogs) which includes all larger dogs.

Next, I did Elementary A and got placed the 2nd in the whole (unsplit) class (only 11 dogs).

Then, both Mint and I did Jumpers C. Well, I didn't do well in this class, as my nose caught some interesting smell by the ring and I couldn't help checking it! Mint also felt like checking out the same thing, but he came back to Mum as soon as she called him. In this class he again gor a placing!! He got a 6th place in the whole (unsplit) class (45 dogs)!

At the end of the day Mint did his first ever Novice, which includes contact obstacles, and got a Clear Round! Well done, Mint!! He was placed the 4th out of 18 Mini/Micro dogs but the placing was not good enough to get a ribbon.

Ribbons we got yesterday :-)

It was a long but fruitful day. Altogether, Mint got three ribbons and I got one!