Leslie & I stayed up late Thursday night talking about Kira's obedience performance on Thursday & I was really not sure I wanted to give her another chance to re-inforce her getting away with breaking her stays, so I wasn't in any particular hurry to get to the trial site this morning.

I got lost again trying to get back to the trial site, but then it's Pennsylvania where none of the roads are marked.  A GPS would have been quite handy for this trial site!  I arrived ringside about 5 dogs before Kira was due in the ring, so I took that as an omen that I should try it, and got her warmed up.  Her heeling was SO much worse than yesterday, I was pretty sure that we'd NQd when we finished the individual exercises, but the judge didn't say anything, she didn't say we were still qualified, or that we were not.  So when we lined up for the stays, Kira and I had a little heart to heart talk and I told her that she'd better not break the stays this time or we'd have words.  I scowled at her through both stays, but she held them.  I figured that was a good thing even if he had NQd on the individual part.  The judge went down the line telling everyone if they'd Qd or not & she stopped at the dog in front of me for quite a discussion & the gal behind me and I just didn't know if we should stand there or leave or what.....  finally the judge looked up and noticed us standing there and said in sort of an off handed way "Oh, you both qualified" and I almost jumped for joy!!!  We got a very nice "New Title" rosette to go with our green qualifying ribbon and I had our picture taken with the judge, of course. 

After finishing Kira's CD, I really didn't care if either Aren or Marseille qualified at all.  The CD is the title that I really REALLY wanted & we've worked so hard for so many years to get it that everything else paled in comparison.  But since we were already there and I'd paid the entry fees we stuck around and did our duty in the Rally ring. 

Today, Marseille went first and I thought she did a good bit better, but when we finished the course the judge told me that I'd been moving my feet on one exercise where I wasn't allowed to move them - I just got confused I guess.  Oh well, we still managed to get a 71 for Marseille's second RN leg.  When I took Aren in the ring I made sure I didn't move my feet & we scored an 87 to finish Aren's Rally Novice title.  Yipee!  Aren, too, got a nice pretty Rosette for his "New Rally Title" and I got our picture taken with the Rally judge. 

It was two very long days in less than ideal surroundings, and it was dark before we left the trial site & after dealing with snow/rain/ice most of the way home we arrived back home at about 10:00 pm.  I was SO glad that I didn't have to go to work the next day!

Five legs and two titles for six entries - I'd say that was a good trip!

~~Joanne