Below is a copy of the course map of the USDAA Grand Prix semi -final round with some notes about our run. If the course map is not clear enough for you to follow, there is a better copy on the USDAA web site.
Click here to watch the video of Charley's semi-final run..
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Since Charley was the 2006 Northwest Regional Champion, he had a bye into the Finals so the semi-final run for him was to determine his running order seeding in the finals. With this in mind, my goal was to put together a good run with him with solid contact performances.
The first jump was a spread jump which is very unusual. Many handlers were crossing in front of the A-frame to keep their dogs off the wrong course jump #16 but I chose to perform a front cross at the bottom of the A-Frame to give him a better arc around the #5-#6 jumps. His A-Frame contact was great! I raced him down the straight line to the teeter. He went to the end of the teeter but came off on the side away from me. Not exactly what I like him to do but certainly acceptable to the judge. I front crossed at the end of the teeter to pull him around the next jump and into the tunnel. I watched Charley take the tire as we raced to the dogwalk. His dogwalk contact was exactly what I wanted. I kept him on my left and pushed him out to give him a nice entry to the weave poles. I got ahead of him while he was weaving, keeping my shoulders straight until he finished the last pole and then I got a smooth front cross in. The rest of the run was with him on my right, watching his head to make sure he was looking at the correct obstacle.
