I titled my first dog! Conan and I completed both legs of our HT this weekend. Thanks to everyone who commented on my other thread. It really means a lot to me!

I fell twice in BOTH runs! Can you believe it? It's my new style of herding. I couldn't stop laughing watching the video. Luckily I don't embarrass easily The first run was great, Conan never dived into the sheep and he never split them. When I fell both times he kept the sheep to me and brought back the one we lost on his own. The judge commented that he's a "lovely dog!!" I couldn't have been happier. The second run, was wayyyy worse. He started off bad and I thought he was going to fetch twice, and he didn't, so I went and got the sheep and tried to take control but he moves faster than my brain can think so I end up on the ground. But we made it through. We had fun AND qualified for our HT title. I am so happy!!! Thank you everyone who was there to support us. I really appreciate it!! I have a few PM's I need to get back to - if you're one of them, I'll do it soon. Thanks!!

Here's the video:
http://www.vimeo.com/10852873

And here's our cheesey ribbon photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49215683@N04/4512941724/

Good job to both of you!

WOOOTTT!! Awesome job! Congrats to you both.

Congratulations! You two looked very cute together on the field

Good Job, Never knew about the sport, congrats to hard work. Dan

I hate to sound cheesy, but I'm really proud of y'all.:smile:

You had a rough day leading up to the trial and still held it together and got it done.

Congrats on your first of many titles.

Thanks everyone!! I'm a bit surprised we pulled it off, especially the second time around, but I'm so glad we did.

Michael, I'm proud of us too. Conan really held it together when I fell both times the first day (he kept the sheep to me, unlike what you see he did in the video, haha) and pretty much did the work by himself. The second day he got under control fairly quickly (I'm just a bit slow to react) and didn't turn off. Sometimes if he gets his way and I start making him work my way he doesn't want to play anymore. Stubborn little guy. But he did great. And I guess I did well too. I did a lot better than I thought. Figuratively and physically, I fell, and I just got right back up and kept on going! I really can't wait to do it again.

Dan, it's such a fun sport. I swear it's not as hard or dangerous as I make it look. It's tough to learn to read livestock if you're a city dweller like me, but it's such a great way to be a team with your dog.

Hey girl! Woohoo!

There is nothihg cheesy about ribbons or pictures with them (speaking as a true ribbon slut<g>.

I hope that your first trial experience will result in a lot less angst when you trial in the future. It really is all about having fun with your dog, whether you qualify or not. And, you learn so much from it...what needs to be worked on, holes in training, etc.

Congratulations on a successful start to your herding career together!

(He looks so happy in the picture...kinda self-satisfied<G>.)

leih

Congrats Katie and Conan!!
Judging by the new sig pic, the pupper was clearly chuffed with his performance, and BEAT - winning titles and ribbons is hard work!!
So happy for you guys - can't wait to see you rack up even more titles!

~Natalya

Congratulations Katie and Conan! Can't see the video, but the photo is adorable, not cheesy at all.