Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Post-Montgomery Earthdog Test 2008

Hi gang!

So this makes the 101st post of mine, but who's counting. Wonder what I'll be talking about in post 200? Hmmm...

Well Mom and I had a good time at the Earthdog test in New Jersey on Monday even though we didn't get any ribbons. It wasn't for lack of trying! We got up at 4:00 in the morning (argh) and left the house at 4:30 and drove up I-95 to the Jersey Turnpike -- smooth sailing all the way. If I could find a picture of total darkness you could see what the drive was like! I was napping half the time. Mom was nice enough to keep the radio down for me, so to keep awake she drank a bottle of Dr. Pepper. That's quiet enough!

We arrived at the showgrounds about 20 to 8 --- I'm still a little sleepy!



People and doggies were milling about waiting for things to happen...



Finally the fun started. These are the Master and Senior boards so we could tell when it was our turn:


We had plenty of Westies and some Cairns and I see at least one Glen of Imaal terrier in this picture. The AKC photographer guy ran all around with two cameras all morning trying to get pictures of every breed that was there. They feature this Earthdog event on their website every year. Guess who was the only Bedlington?



"Ohhhh Mom there's rats over there!! Pleeeze can I go play???" (whine whine)



My Scottie pal from agility class and his mom just got finished doing Master and he had sticky plant thingies all over him! He had FUN.



Earthdog isn't exactly a big spectator sport. Here's a spectator's view of the Master walk-up to the den. Ho hum!


You can't tell but they're at the den site and Mom says it looks like they're waiting to see if the Westie will indicate to its owner the presence of the rats. That's one thing you get judged on in Master. The judge is behind the handler on the left:



Oh it looks like it's almost my turn! I'm in brace number 6 and we're next!



Here is my CUTE brace-mate, a Smooth Fox Terrier named Diva. We had fun together since we're both longer-legged terriers. We ran all over the place and hunted very well, Mom said. I want her phone number...



Like I said there wasn't much to see of our turn, Mom couldn't take pics as we went. But the AKC photographer guy got some pics! Check out http://www.akc.org/events/earthdog/post_montgomery/2008/ and my pic is in rows number 2,6, and 7. Cool!

Look how dirty I got -- I sure had fun. I also got a lot of sticky plant thingies all over me. Mom says the dirtier I get the more fun I had. Yep-per!



I was also entered in Senior; since I have my Master title I can enter any class, so this was just for fun too. I was sooo excited Mom let me run again I went in like a house afire and left the rats after 50 seconds, 40 seconds too soon. In Master I did everything right but left the rats after 90 seconds before Mom could get me out.(MOM: Argh!!!) I went right back in the tunnel for Mom to get me out of the tunnel end like she was supposed to. I'm just in it for the fun now.

Then we had lunch. That sandwich looks good Mom!!



Practicing for the next Bacon Bits commmercial -- i-i-i-i-it's BACON!!!



Someone had a big banner up for the Most Versatile Westie award. I had no idea! They sure are talented.


We spotted one of the rats sitting on the secretary's table. He obviously didn't read the sign (next pic)...



Here's the sign:



Mom talked to a lady who asked her how come we Bedlingtons weren't at Western PA's Earthdog test this last time. That's the one Dewey Dewster and Asta Marie were at I believe! The lady was a gate steward and remembered their names. We'll have to make a point of going next time. We used to go a lot back when gas was cheaper...
Small world!

Mom is still recovering from the long drive up and back in one day. How she went to work this morning is beyond me -- I slept all day and then Mom took me to agility class tonight. I proceeded to run HER ragged (Mom: Oh yes he did!). We'll go to another agility trials weekend-after-next, but on Columbus Day next weekend we're going back up to NJ for a training day. Woohoo! More rats!!!! Josie needs to practice Senior so she can run in November back up in NJ at their Earthdog test.

Have a great week --

Love,
Rudy

8 comments:

Asta said...

Rudy
You look like you had the most fun evew..you awe so good at this, and so happy always..I'd love to see you wunning
smoochie kisses
ASTA

Amber-Mae said...

I'm sure you had tons of fun! I think i would have too but too bad Malaysia don't have this sport & secondly, I'm no terrier. So boohoo!

Butt wiggles,
Solid Gold Dancer

Dewey Dewster said...

Wow Rudy,

That lady with the Scottie was at our earthdog club trials....Gram is still learnin all the names of the people but if she's there the end of the month I will be sure ta tell 'er we know ya....well, sort of know ya anyway....yep there's lots of Westies and Cairns at our club too and a bunch of Doxies...we're the only wires there...can ya imagine that? 'n not a Bedlington in sight....

I can see ya had a great time...yep fun, fun, fun fer sure.....our last meetin' is Oct. 26 and there is a pot luck dinner after it....we then return the rats...Pap will be happy cause he feeds 'n cleans 'em out too.....we'll be sad cause we wanna get 'em....but then we know there's chipmunks runnin' around that we can get so we'll still be busy.....

Enjoy yer Fall weather.....

Dewey Dewster here....

Urban Smoothie Read said...

u must be really proud for being the one and only bellington terrier on ground...

Noah the Airedale said...

First of all we want to say congrats on your 100th post (sorry we're a bit late lol).
Secondly, you look like you had heaps of fun getting all gruby at the earthdog trials. Well done.

tailwags
Noah

Fenway said...

I guess I can't technically be an Earth Dog....but I figured out a way to participate.

I can be a Dog of the Earth since I love nothing better than to roll in the dirt and mud!

Seriously, your mom is as devoted as mine. Thank goodness we have them! They think nothing of driving us all over the place for events and classes.

You're lookin' real good, Rudy. I'm almost old enough to do some ultra serious agility training so maybe we'll get to meet up!

Molly the Airedale said...

You did get yourself pretty dirty there, Rudy - and weckies too?!
It's really all about having fun and we can tell that you sure did!

Love ya lots,
Maggie and Mitch

Mack said...

Oh that looks like so much fun!

And congrats on your 101 post!!