So, about a year ago, I decided to retire Nisha from competition. I had a PDC on her, but working her was painful for both of us. It didn't matter how much reward I used, she would just always be down in the dumps. In addition, I had some issues in bitework that were created when "daddy" was also her decoy...and I was having a very hard time fixing.
Anyway, I bred her in March (didn't take), and I brought her out about a week after breeding her to get some video and pics of her working...
When I brought her out, she really impressed me...it seemed that her old issues in bitework were no longer there...and she was happy and upbeat doing the obedience (and looked better than she EVER had before)...
So, I made a decision to bring her out of retirement.
I worked hard with her to get her ready for the Level 1's.
Anyway, I didn't show her at our trial in June (I wasn't 100% confident in her obedience, and I knew she hadn't seen the surprise bitework scenarios for the Level 1's)...I realized I was running out of time to qualify her for Nationals this year, so when Greg got asked to judge the Maine trial this weekend, I decided to throw her in the 1's, just to see where she was at. In reality, I broke the biggest rule that I've lived by: don't "find a trial and get your dog ready" instead "get your dog ready, then find a trial". I crammed all week last week to show her the surprise scenarios, and get her ready...
I took her up this weekend, and showed her on Saturday. She didn't pass obedience. My nerves caused her to not pass...well, that and the fact that she had 7 seconds left in her long down, and decided to start chasing flies. Anyway, we went on to bitework, and she looked great.
So, I showed her again on Sunday. I tried to stay calm, and it helped, she passed obedience (thereby earning her PSA TC)...we went on to bitework, and she, absolutely, smoked it. She earned "With Distinction" on all 4 scenarios. After the trial, the decoys told me what a nice dog she was, and one said that her performance was the best of the weekend...
Well, she earned her PSA Level 1 title, and took home all the weekend awards: High obedience, and High protection, and the three memorial plaques: High in trial, High Owner trained, and High Owner trained Club award (goes to the club that trained her)...
I can't tell you how glad I am that I brought her out of retirement.
Also, I want to give a huge Congrats to Alyssa (SisMorphine) and Teeny who earned their PDC this weekend. They had a very good showing, and they should be VERY proud of themselves!