RAT USDAA

Last weekend Mom & I drove down to Elma with Kelly, Pearl, Tucker & Quin for RAT's USDAA trial. Kelly & Tucker were entered in the DAM tournament. Me & Mom were just entered in the titling classes. Mom was having a hard time getting excited about going. Something about this Christmas stuff coming up & my Grandma Lavida coming to visit made her all stressed out. Plus she's been sad lately because my two human sisters are moving out. Kelsie's going to Pullman to go to college & Angela is moving into a house in Northgate with some friends. She keeps mumbling something about the "empty nest" and saying that her babies are all grown up. Whatever that means I have no idea! Me & Robin are still there so there's no way her nest will be empty & we'll always be her babies! It makes no sense! Humans, sigh!

Well in Elma we got to stay at the Microtel. I'm getting to know that place pretty well. I know exactly where the potty area is & that those stupid BC's do NOT own the motel. Mom lets me pee where they'd peed so HA! I'm the boss of those dumb BC's! When mom goes to get coffee I have to behave & pretend I'm not there since dogs aren't allowed in the food area (good thing I'm so small, I can blend in with the carpet). The rooms are really cool with big fluffy beds with LOTS of pillows! Just perfect for me :) It would have been a perfect weekend except I had to share the room with Tucker, Pearl & Quin. Tucker's not that bad. Pearl kept wanting to jump up & say hi to my mom. I had to let her know that she was NOT under ANY circumstances to come near my mom! Then there was Quin. What can I say about Quin. Cute puppies are not a good thing. They make your mom go all gooey & soft & say stupid things like "aahhhh he's so CUTE!!!". Dumb puppy.

On Saturday we got to the fairgrounds early. First class in our ring was Advanced Standard so mom thought she could relax & drink her coffee & study our course maps. We sat in the stands & watched all the dogs run. Then the Performance dogs started. Mom about had a heart attack. She had COMPLETELY forgotten how things go in USDAA. She forgot that the Championship & Performance classes walk the same time. She forgot our walk through! DUMB MOM! Well, I guess I should give her some credit. She knew the course from watching it so when it was our turn to run she ACED it! Whoo hooo! We got a Q & first place.

Next up was Performance 1 Gamblers. Mom didn't have a lot of hopes to get this one since I haven't been doing good at distance lately. Well I sure surprised her on this one. It was so cool, she planned this really nice flowing opening so I could get going really fast. When it was time for the gamble it was a tunnel, tire, jump. No problem! We Q'd with a first place again!

Next up was Jumpers. I was pooped out. I don't like jumpers much. What's the point. No tunnels, teeters, dogwalks. This course didn't even have weaves. BORING ! Second place & a Q. Mom was okay with that since it finished my Performance 1 jumpers title.

Sunday wasn't as good a day. I wasn't feeling too good so didn't do too good in standard. Next up was Snooker. Mom really wanted to get a Snooker Q so I did my best & we Q'd! She was pretty happy about that. Since we didn't need another P1 jumpers leg she let me skip the last jumpers run so I could rest.

Well that was it for the weekend. Mom really likes USDAA courses. They are a lot more flowing than AKC courses are.

Merry Christmas Everyone!
Jolie