NOISE!
29 Nov 2024
NOISE! Spark’s debut in the massive UKI US Open Gambler’s final ring almost didn’t happen. Spark was 4th seed in the large 20” Games final round. As usual, I got him warmed up and ready too damn early. 🤦♂️ So I thought I’d take him up the stairs into the stands and watch a couple teams run to see if I wanted to adjust my plan. Spark’s response took me off guard: he came up the stairs and then pulled hard to go back down!
Some background: Spark hasn’t trialed all that much, he was a Covid puppy, we’d done some local trials, but only two big events: the UKI Invitational, and the AKC ISC Championship. He’d run snooker and gamblers probably a couple times each. But, the judge calling the numbers with a microphone wasn’t loud in our local one ring trials.
At the USO the judge was calling the obstacle numbers and it was being played over the building PA system and it was loud. There was a lot of loud cheering. I think this year’s finals were the loudest I’ve ever been too. The crowd was electric and cheering every run!
I got him to tug a little but he wasn’t too happy, he was still looking to leave. After a few seconds I took him back down under the stands to Snap!‘s temporary crating where it was much quieter. He’d also been there to get in line to run in that ring at least once before. I started tugging with him again and he was more interested.
I started thinking of my options: Just scratch him, get him in queue of dogs to run and see if he felt better, or wait until he was on the line and scratch or take a jump and then leave, or go for it.
Then it got weirder, in a good way. I dropped the wubba to better cover up Snap!‘s crate (he was running 8 dogs after Spark in the 20s group). As I turn back I see Spark behind me shaking the wubba side to side slamming it into the dirt. I have no idea what flipped the switch in his head. He was pumped up!
The rest is history, we go in the queue to run and he started barking at the dogs running, so I knew he was ready. After watching Jessica and Perry run brilliant and perfectly executed plans (you have to watch them!) we took to the line and ran.
I screwed up as we got to the tunnel under the AF and didn’t send him into the correct side of the tunnel. Then I wasn’t sure how much time was left. The only way to get the gamble was to have your dog going to the jump before the weaves as the buzzer went off. He was right in position but I pulled him off!! Spark hit the hard weave entrance and, after a stumble getting onto the DW, he hit the down contact!! What a great crowd cheering for him!
I couldn’t have been happier with his recovery!! We ended up in 16th place in that round and 5th overall in Games. A wonderful debut for Spark!
TL;DR: work your dog with judge sounds, buzzers, etc. before heading to the big event!
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