Packing, Preparation and Staging - At trials, it is not appropriate to tie your dog out as we do at class. So plan ahead: if you don’t have a crate, x-pen, or suitable car facility for holding your dog, get one. It’s a good idea to study the rule book for the sanctioning organization (AHBA, AKC, ASCA, etc.).
Care of the Trial Dog - Don’t change his diet the night before or morning of a trial. Check his feet the night before for any debris that may have lodged between his toes. Potty walk him during the trial. 
The Trial - If you have questions about the course or procedures in trialing, the time to ask questions is at class. If you don’t understand the answer it’s important to say “I don’t understand.” At the trial you have to ask your questions during the handlers meeting.
Trial Day - The first order of business is to check in with the Trial Secretary and pick up your number and program. If you don’t, the Trial Secretary may inform the judge you are absent. 
Trialing Manners – Sideline coaching or interference is prohibited. Of course you wouldn’t intentionally do that – but inadvertently you could.

Your Trainer...

You may not know that we have a few dogs at class working to become herding champions. One that is 2 POINTS away from her second herding championship and begun the quest for her third.

There are some at class now that may earn their first herding championship this year and do not realize how close they are. This is because of the hurdles they must first overcome to get there. Not understanding that champions are made, formed by powers greater than ourselves. Molded by challenges, hurdles they must overcome that  produce an inner change, educating the soul on what it takes to rise above it all, then testing the spirit of those that have taken up the challenge.

I encourage you to take this voyage. Persevere and keep getting up. Learn and go at it again. Step on the excuses because that is where they belong, under your feet. You can become greater than you are today if you do not give up on tomorrow. Wait and that tomorrow may never come.

 Brags...

On Sunday, September 13 at the IEHDA Trial, Stonewall Ranch  ;

Tess- WTCH Tess HTDIIIs,ge,  HTADIIIs,  HRDIIIs. It's been a long hot summer and as it draws to an end Jerry and Tess marched onto the home field to take a High In Trial on the HTDIII geese course with a 1st place score of 90. Unfortunately the point we needed was on the HTDIIIs course which we missed by 1/2 point with a score of 79 1/2. So we are still looking for that elusive second championship. (BCX) handled by Jerry and owned by Bonnie and Don Roloff. and,

Cassie- Border Collie Casaddy, HRD Is completed her HTD IIs title under judge Peggy Richter. Cassie was proudly handled by Matt Villa and is owned by Margaret Elliot. Thanks to Jerry and Matt for Cassie's continuing education !

Choice Recognized...

At the Pleasanton Scottish festival September 5,6th came a member of the Queens court, it seemed that the Queen desired an audience with someone that had a dog that new tricks and we were asked if we could do something for the court and the Queen.

I explained that Tess and Pic were entered and that they were not available however Choice would love to play Frisbee for them. Our time was extremely limited, we were between runs, Pic would be coming up soon.

So it was that Jerry and Choice gave the Frisbee demo and then was presented to the Queen and her court.  Choice's introduction was complete with the recognition of his 3 Herding Championships bellowed out to the hoard of well wishers waiting to meet with the Queen. Choice is the first herding dog ever presented to the Queen. What an honor. Choice and Jerry both received commutative ribbons from the Queen.

October, 2009 Class Newsletter