Today was the first of 5 APDT Rally trials over three days in Red Hook, NY.
It was a bit chilly (just the way a Labrador likes it) and very windy. It
was really well attended, lots of dogs and exhibitors. There were two trials
today and all the exhibitors were commenting that we had a good judge.

In the first trial Kali took 5th place (APDT awards to 5th place) with a 194
(one single repeated command robbed us of 3 points and second place!).

In the second trial I kept my big mouth mostly shut and we earned a glorious
198. A golden who's owner was using food in the ring also scored 198 and we
had to do a run off. The lady with the golden was saying how it's not fair
that I had to do a run off against her since she was using food and I was
not. I told her that I too had the option to use food (all exhibitors in
APDT Rally do) but chose not to-but if she wanted to forfeit the blue ribbon
to me, I'd take it. She didn't.

Well...Kali beat the dog in the run off. Both dogs didn't lose any points
but Kali and I had the faster time. I learned a neat lesson there; food in
the ring isn't always an asset-the time it took her to pause and give the
dog food might be what caused her to lose the run off.

After showing I assisted the secretary who taught me all I needed to know to
run our August 21/22 trial-if you are in the White Plains, NY area and haven
't signed up yet, do it! It's a lot of fun and our trial is really filling
fast. Email me for a premium and entry form; we are awarding super nice
rosettes and have lots of great prizes. If you are not familiar w/APDT Rally
email me, we can get together and I'll show you what you need to know and
you have plenty of time to get ready.


Looking forward to what happens tomorrow!

Kristen and Kali
(who now has two R1 MCL legs and should not only finish her title but finish
with a Magna Cum Laude!)