Yep you read that right Pennsylvania. North East Boxer Klub hosted this years nationals and for the 5th time Tia did NOT get her BH. But wait I am getting ahead of myself. So I decided to drive the 6-7 hours by myself with two dogs (one trialing, the other one there for moral support). So the plan was to get there Thursday evening, check into hotel. Luckily Minna and Chris let me share a room with them so I just had to pay half. Win-Win situation. But Chris wasn’t arriving until Friday. So it was Me, Minna, and Mr. Windy (one of Minna special needs pups). I didn’t get there until almost 1am. Had to walk dogs for one final time. Load up my luggage on a cart and take it to the 2nd floor unload it, take medicine, change into bed clothes all while trying not to wake Minna up. That mission failed when I almost tripped over something and yelled, “Holy Shit”. She woke up for a little while and talked. Then we all went to sleep.
Friday the field was open for exhibitors to use. Tia did great when it was her turn, even when I took the leash off she stuck right with me. I was so proud of her. If she did this the next day we would have the BH title. So We worked our dogs, helped set up or do whatever was needed. Then we got dinner and went to bed…so we thought. I’m taking a new sleep aid medicine called Lunesta. My husband told me that since I started taking it I would just sit up in bed (eyes closed) and have conversations with the air and then I’d lay back down. I halfway didn’t believe him but I found out…yep I am doing that LOL. Apparently Chris and Minna thought I was talking on the phone in the middle of the night, but then saw my phone on the charger. Minna even threw a pillow at me and just started laughing and talking to my imaginary friends. Then finally laid down. I have no memory of it happening. None whatsoever.When I got back from the national I asked my doctor about it and she said it was normal as long as i’m not getting out of bed trying to do things. I got up at 5am to do my IV fluids which take a little over an hour to do and I think they thought I was sleepwalking but quickly saw my eyes were open this time LOL.
Saturday, I was first on the field. Paired with Renee and Zuli. I was the first one to do the obedience routine. She did great on leash. There were some good moments on leash, so I’m told.
No soon I took her off that leash she bolted. She would come back to me but the second I told her to Foos (heel in German) she would run away again, then she came back to me. You’re not allowed to touch the dog at all. I tried I guess about 3 times to not manipulate her. I apologized to the judge and told him thank you. He wanted me to do a long down with her but don’t leave her just stay with her, while Renee and Zuli did their obedience routine. They did great and they passed. I was so happy for them. They work great as a team. Afterwards I took Tia back to the car, I wasn’t angry with her. I wasn’t angry with myself. Yes a little embarrassed seeing as this has happened 5 times. I just tried to think what is going through her mind when she does that. She seems like she wants to play, like maybe I get to serious for her and she’s like “oh let me be a silly boxer and make her laugh” type thing. I don’t know. I didn’t cry either. I let her stay out with me for a little, of course she hugged and kissed me and acted completely oblivious to anything that had just happened on the field. After about 30-45 minutes of sitting in my car I rejoined the group and I was ok. Minna said she would take her home for 3 weeks and there was going to be a trial in November she will work with her and trial her and get her BH. The other day I asked how training was going and she said for the first time Tia did the running from her thing. She said up until that point she was perfect even with the off leash stuff then Saturday she decided to show her ass. But Minna said they are gonna fix that real quick. The trial is Nov 21 2020. Plan to get BH and AD (12 mile run- endurance title). Everyone else from EWWBK (east wisconsin working boxer klub) did great, got their titles and celebrated. I celebrated with them. Chris and Minna were leaving early the next day to make the long trip back to Wisconsin. Checkout at the hotel wasn’t until noon and it was only a 6 hour drive back home for me so Renee and Lloyd were having breakfast before they left around 730. So I had breakfast with them and left. I plan on attending the Malinois trial the 2st of November to watch and retrieve Tia. Hopefully she can get her BH and AD. Overall it was a nice weekend with a smoothly run trial. North East Working Boxer Club did a wonderful job hosting the Nationals and congrats to everyone who had the guts to step onto the field. Speaking of guts a woman we train with Ann is a physicians assistant in Iowa. She suggested Propranolol for my performance anxiety. So I asked my doctor about it when I got home and she thought we could give it a try because Vistaril and Neurontin definitely didn’t work with my nerves. The theory goes that whatever you’re feeling goes straight down the leash and your dog knows that something is different. So if I’m a ball of nerves when I hit the field Tia is going to pick up on it and start acting weird. So taking something for the anxiety should help. But the past two medications havent helped in a trial or training session. So third one is the charm. I don’t know when I will be trialing next probably not until 2021. With that said my next post will be about 2021 goals and hopefully it doesn’t get blown to pieces by pandemic, police violence, rioting, elections, etc. etc. etc. Happy Training.
Ellasha
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