Dutch Shepherd Forum

I've only been involved in dog sports since late 2010, and didn't start competing myself until mid-2011, so I'm still learning. A week ago I had my first experience with Zodiac having an "off" day at a trial. It was a different location, different set-up than normal, smelled terribly, all sorts of things so I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it or what. My girl, usually a high scoring first place winner, acted like she forgot how to do jumps, how to heel properly, and wouldn't even sit without a second command! We received our first ever NQ, if we hadn't gotten that NQ she would have earned her Level 2 title that day. It was so bad that I was seriously worried that something might be wrong with her until I spoke to a friend of mine who has been doing this for years and she told me that her dogs have had similar "off" days.

So, I'm curious, what has happened to other people during an "off" day at a trial?

During a recall off of a bite, Thalie came running back but never healed. Since I cant move until the judge blowes the horn, I couldnt see where she was, so... here I am standing there for what seems like forever... I hear my friends at the judges table whisper............ " PPSSSTTT Thalie is pooping right behind you !"

OMG that is too funny!!!

That's a funny one!

My Laekenois is a very good heeler. We do a lot of Rally and a little Obedience trialing. You can tell when he's totally bored. He will start looking around at what is going on in other rings and totally forget about me. That was only Obedience, because in Rally and I can tell him almost anything I want, usually, "Pay Attention!". That hasn't happened in a long time because after more than 30 trials, he pretty much knows his job.

My really worst day was a Rally trial at the Kentucky Horse Park - Outside! It was my Malinois and her last required leg for her title. I think she had her nose in the grass the entire time. We just passed with a 74.

In PSA there are considerable distractions on the field, including dog toys.

Willow went in for a beautiful fended attack (the decoy trying to keep her off of the bite with an object). On her recall off of the bite, she picked up a stuffed bunny and and came to heal beautifully with her stuffy in her mouth.

She pooped on more than one occasion on the field.

And many others know this story, but she once pooped out an entire thong in front of LOTS of guys while I was emptying her before a trial. That was so not OK.

OMG Christie !!!!!!!!!!!! Bringing the stuffed bunny is funny but the thong???? At least she didnt do that on the field !!

Not ok that she pooped out a thong or not ok it was in front of all the guys?

whaahaha

My worst off day with the dogs?
mmmh, maybe that day Ivil got all 30 of my neioghbours chickens and plucked their feathers (she didn't kill ONE! could not decide...)
or that day she broke her leg playing in the yard with Dingo?
or knocking a huge flower vase of a stool at a birthday party of my best friend (over 25 people watching... thousand pieces and water everywhere...)
Or was it our vacation in France where she jumped a 4 mtr high wall?
Or was it when Dingo was younger he lifted his leg and pee'd on my dogtrainers jeans?
or was it when Dingo decided the nurses from the old-folks home next door could no longer approach me? (he stopped them, barking and growling in front of them )
or...well, lots of those days...

Marjolein.... Id have to say its when Dingo peed on your trainers leg!

those poor chickens!! It had to hurt to have their feathers plucked.