whew, we’ve been really busy around here.  We did find the time to sign Kess up for a foundations agility class.  We had just started in agility when we noticed the lump in Kess hind leg, so it was nice to be back on the field with a spunky crazy gal.  Kess is very good at concealing her tripawdness.  In part because she never sits still long enough for anyone to notice the leg is missing.  In fact no one in the class had noticed she only had three legs until I announced it during the introductions.  Kess had a great time and was very pleased to get to go with since she’s been watching mom and Suki head out without her for the last year.

As usual Kess applied her go fast and faster strategy, but our instructor was wise to her and we spent the class doing various body awareness exercises, and I spent my time trying to convince Kess to go through the exercises SLOWLY and with her brain turned on . . . we were only mildly successful.  Kess thought playing tug was the best part of the class and was happy to show off how awesome she is at tug of war.  As a side note you know you are in Washington when your agility instructor teaches class in Birkenstocks and wool socks.  The second class was spent indoors as it has been raining for 2 weeks in Seattle.  It was a clicker class and my only goal was to get Kess to watch me instead of the treats.  Kess showed everyone that she was really good at pointing her nose at me, even if her eyes were looking somewhere else.  Silly girl.

It looks like tripawds can compete in tunnelers, weavers and hoopers.  We’re going to focus on hoopers since they are just hoops on the ground.  Kess has some history with her back so I think weavers would aggravate that, and she’s to tall to hop through the tunnels.  I expect she’ll pick it up very quickly as she’s always loved to run and work with me, and she only has to learn one obstacle.  It will be a nice change from pokey old Suki,who thinks agility is LOTS of work some days.

I’m also mired in all sorts of disc dog business trying to secure fields for competitions, solicit sponsors, and organize demonstrations . . . it’s almost like I have a job.  At the very least it gives me something to occupy my mind while the rain streams down outside and makes us all feel like sunny days can’t be to far off.  The snow crocus have flowered and some day in June it will stop raining 🙂