The year following our first “Q”, I continued to grab every opportunity to compete.
Travelling presented a few new challenges. He already realised that being in the car meant something good was coming, so the actual road trip was never a problem. Staying in a strange house wasn’t too bad either as long as he had “his pack” (Lindsay’s dogs) with him. Most venues were acceptable, while on course, unless an aeroplane happened to fly overhead or the judge insisted on running alongside the contacts to judge them, he started notching up the clear rounds!
His on course speed was never in question and he has reached 4,93m/second to go clear in jumping.
The World of Cats and Dogs came to Cape Town and entering was a huge risk. An indoor venue, a ring surrounded by vendors and cheering spectators, carpeting in place of grass underfoot, and my nerves competing against competitors from all over SA. No one was more gob-smacked than me when he won the Gamblers event.
(It was at this event that he ripped his crate for the second time trying to escape. It also made me realise that he wasn’t panicking to get out but was more excited to get to the agility ring. This did, however, mean that I would have to somehow, resort to getting him used to a metal crate).
He was being noticed and recognised as a dog with possibilities in the agility ring. Slim and trim, his build was commented on as being perfect for the sport and his demeanour towards people and other dogs was exemplary.
He was really enjoying the world of agility and the “social side” was attractive too. Dylan, the cute Brittany is still his favourite and is always responsive to his attentions. Rocket, another shy Border Collie gets him all gooey and Chinzi too - only the best for this blue-eyed boy! With his ears up high, with the tips actually touching (a sign of flirting in dogs for the un-informed), Mac would prance around the girls encouraging them to return his advances or to play. Watching this trim (he was 14kg) Tri-colour behave like a puppy at this age always made me teary.
He progressed relatively quickly through the ranks and by the end of 2010 he was in the top grade for 3 out of the 5 disciplines. A year later, he was in the top grades for the final two disciplines.
Mid 2011, it was 3 years since DAY #1 and had taken him only 2 years to conquer all his “on course issues” and not be distracted by “off-course issues”.
Mac and Me
C’est la vie
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