Team Alasera had phenomenal success at the USDAA trial at our local training center- On The Run Canine Center. All dogs were entered except for Ripley-who mostly cheered on his teammates. Three of the four dogs entered earned versatility titles-one at each level.

Here were the highlights:
To start off the week-end, Mellie earned her MAD versatility title (Master Agility Dog) by FINALLY getting a Master’s Gambler qualifying run with a first place finish. This is no easy feat, and we have not been successful with distance challenges in the Master level in past USDAA trials. Not that many dogs got the gamble which was a send out over a jump, to the teeter, then to the distant end of a tunnel and then out to the finish jump. I was so happy when she did exactly as I asked. Quite a moment for both of us.

Mellie also earned another Master Snooker Q with a perfect score of 51, but not fast enough for a SuperQ unfortunately. She had a nice clean run in the Steeplechase tournament, but not fast enough for a qualifier run. Her granddaughter Katie saw to that as she finished in record time. Unfortunately, Mellie knocked a bar in the Grand Prix tournament the next day so no qualifier there. Those 12″ jumps are just a bit out of her comfort range.

Katie had a fabulous week-end and has convinced Terry that USDAA is the new favorite organization to trial under. All of her qualifying runs were first place finishes. Her speed and agile moves earned her her AD versatility title (Agility Dog) as well as a Steeplechase qualifier and a first place finish in the finals for a whopping payout of $12.00. She also earned her Starter’s Standard title, her Starter’s Snooker title, an Advanced Gamblers leg, an advanced jumpers leg and just missed out on a Grand Prix qualifier due to a dropped bar at the finish jump. Very, very nice runs.

Abby had a great week-end as well. All of her qualifying runs were for first place. She earned her Advanced Performance Standard title, which also then gave her her Advanced Performance Dog versatility title. She earned a Master Performance Snooker leg and just missed out on a Super Q by 0.02 seconds. Not bad. She earned two Master Performance Jumpers legs and finished her Master Performance Jumper title to boot. She got her Performance Speed Jumping tournament Q on Saturday, but had to sit out of the finals on Sunday due to the dreaded reverse sneezing problem. She did not get her Performance Grand Prix Q on Sunday due to a hesitation at the teeter. But she at least did DO the teeter, so that is progress. All in all, really good fast performances by Abby.

Ace had some good moments, but alas, stress and the teeter problem surfaced even on his home training turf and caused NQ’s in his standard runs. He had a nice Master Jumpers run for first place and a qualifying score and a really nice Master Snooker run with a perfect 51 to earn another Snooker leg. He needs some sort of intervention with that darn teeter but neither Terry nor I know what that will entail.