Rickie Roo: My sister got a MACH!

PJpupp: Yes, Gigi earned another AKC Agility Championship. She earned her MACH 2 running with Mei at the Dog Agility Racing Team trial in Rancho Cucamonga on May 16!

Gigi: Just in time for my birthday! I turned 8 on May 19.

PJpupp: Magi earned several new titles too. He finished all his AKC open classes and now is in AKC Excellent.

Rickie Roo: HA HA – he’s in the excellent classes ’cause he did so excellent on course!

PJpupp: Yep, you’re right.

Rickie Roo: I’m excellent too – in jumpers.

PJpupp: Yes Roo, you are competing in Excellent Classes in the Jumpers with Weaves Class. Sadly, you are a bit too enthusiastic in the Standard class and are still in Novice.

Gigi: Kokomo got out of AKC Novice this past weekend, when we were competing at Woodley Park.

Rickie Roo: I coulda gotten out of novice too, but Mommy wouldn’t let me run my Standard classes.

PJpupp: That’s right Roo, your back is a bit sore so Eileen the doggie chiropractor advised you to not do any contacts for two whole weeks. That means this weekend you won’t be doing any contacts either.

Rickie Roo: That sucks. I wanna do the teeter tip-tip and zoom around. And I didn’t want Kokomo to beat me out of Novice.

PJpupp: Unless Eileen says it’s OK you’re not going to, Roo. Tonight Earlene from Tailwaggers Massage is going to come to the office and work on you, so maybe by Saturday you can do some contacts again. Also, you need to be happy for Kokomo, she was a very good girl.

Gigi: I’m gonna run all my classes though, right?

PJpupp: Yes, Gigi. You are showing Thursday through Monday at the Mission Circuit events held at the Fairplex in Pomona, Calif. Sometimes you will run with Mommy and sometimes with Mei.

Gigi: Mei really liked that I got my MACH 2 when she was handling me!

PJpupp: She and Mommy had a deal. If Mei started you over again in Novice Preferred and worked her way up to Excellent with you, then Mommy would move you back over to the championship program and let Mei earn a MACH with you. Together the two of you worked very hard and were awarded your MACH 2.

Rickie Roo: It was fun to see everyone cheer for Mei and for Gigi when she earned her MACH 2. Someday I’m gonna have a MACH too!

PJpupp: Yes you will, Roo, and so will little LC. I’m too old now, but I enjoy watching all of you earn titles.

Gigi: PJpupp you have a championship too. Remember you are a CPE champion.

PJpupp: That’s right, and speaking of CPE, we did a CPE show May 8 and 9 and Magi won first place in every single class he was entered into. He is such a good boy!

Rickie Roo: I did good too!

Gigi: Me too.

PJpupp: Yes, everyone on our team did well. I think Mommy counted 33 Qualifying scores for the team on that weekend. AWESOME JOB!

Gigi: Did you tell everyone that Mei is running our friend Beau the Bedlington Terrier now? He used to run with Mommy and then with our friend Desiree and now he’s running with Mei!

Rickie Roo: They did GOOD over the weekend.

PJpupp: Yes, they did. We love Beau and it’s nice to see how well he works with Mei.

Gigi: Did you know that Mommy ran our friend Gremmie the Bernese Mountain Dog for the first time last weekend? She said it was fun going from running little Mason at 8 inches to running Gremmie who jumps 24 inches.

Rickie Roo: Gremmie is gonna teach me how to surf.

PJpupp: That sounds like fun Roo, but I think Gigi, Hobo and I will watch you from the sand!

Rickie Roo: Gremmie says it’s fun – as fun as agility but in a wetter way.

PJpupp: Good thing we have a doggie life jacket for you, Roo. We wouldn’t want a big wave to take you to Hawaii without us.

Gigi: I can skateboard, but there’s no way I wanna get all wet surfing. I think I’ll stick to agility.

PJpupp: Good idea, Gigi.

Rickie Roo: Did you tell them about all our company PJ?

PJpupp: Oh no, I forgot! We have lots of company this week, not only is our friend Mushu Hu staying with us, but so are Bogey and Lacey Jane!

Rickie Roo: Bogey tried to steal my spot in the bed but I wouldn’t let him, and then he tried to go over by Daddy and Mushu grrrrrrr’d at him, so then he went and snuggled with Gigi instead.

PJpupp: I do have to admit the bed is getting pretty full. Good thing everyone is little like you or there’d be no room for Daddy in the bed.

Gigi: Don’t forget that over the weekend we had Chili Dog, LC and Mei in the house too.

PJPupp: Yes, we did. Did you hear that Mei gets to do dog agility as her independent study for physical education when she starts high school next year? She’s going to meet with Desiree of Fido ‘n Friends to get a fitness routine designed just for her and her competitions in dog agility! How great is that?

Gigi: I remember Mommy met with Desiree and got a stretching routine after she tore her calf.

PJpupp: You’re right, she did. Desiree is a fitness expert and is a top competitor in agility, so she understands what stresses are put on both the human and the dog, so she is the perfect person to help design our team’s program.

Rickie Roo: I heard Mommy say that we are going to do lots of shows in June and that we have to keep fit.

Gigi: We always have lots of shows.

PJpupp: That’s true. Have you noticed how good Hobolicious and LC have been at the trials? They are practicing their dog show behavior and Mr. Chili Dog is learning how to relax and play ringside so he doesn’t get so nervous when it’s time for his run. Speaking of relaxing, how would you girls like to go outside to Hobo’s run and we can all take a nap in the sun?

Gigi: WHOO HOO! I love to sunbathe.

Rickie Roo: Are there cookies involved?

PJpupp: You never know Roo, there might be a hidden kibble or two… You wanna go look? Hey! Where’d she go?

Gigi: She’s out in the run already. She’s looking for a snack.

PJpupp: Well then, we better get out there too. We can’t leave her unsupervised – you know how your sister is! Let’s go!

Hobo: I’m in charge of barking loudly if someone suspicious comes in. Sometimes the UPS man looks suspicious. Sometimes he’s fine. Other times its a customer that I need to bark about. I do my best and get rewarded if I do a good alarm bark that Mommy deems warranted. If I bark for no reason she isn’t so happy with me and I don’t get a reward. Usually she defers to my judgement on who is a nice person and who isn’t. She says I know more than she does in that department.

Rickie Roo: I’m in charge of picking up papers and shredding them. I also grab parts off the low shelves and bring them in to mommy. Sometimes I bring her a mouse that I caught outside. Other than that, I just have to look cute and be ready to go run agility out back whenever mommy wants me to.

Gigi: Rickie Roo – that is NOT your job. You are just being naughty when you shred the papers and steal parts. You are supposed to just rest up for your next training session and help Hobo bark when help is needed. 

Rickie Roo: Hey, you might be older than me, but I  KNOW what my job is. I’m supposed to tear stuff up and hide it in MY bed. It’s called RECYCLING.

Gigi: It’s called being naughty.

Rickie Roo: RECYCLING.

Gigi: NAUGHTY. 

Rickie Roo: Grrrrrrrrr.

Gigi: GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

PJpupp: KNOCK IT OFF you two! [She proceeds to circle around them and herds them over into a corner.] You better start behaving RIGHT NOW! [She lays down and glares at them both.]

Gigi [She hangs her head and looks oh so sad]: Sorry PJ … 

Rickie Roo [Looks very defiant.]: SHE STARTED IT!

Hobo: You guys are making me nervous. Can’t we just go take a nap?

PJpupp: Gigi, you may go back to your bed. Rickie Roo, you SIT.

Rickie Roo: NO! [She tries to run out of the corner, but is stopped by PJpupp.]

PJpupp: Are you sure you want to do that, Rickie Roo?

Rickie Roo [Tilts her head ... then bows down, runs over and licks PJ's teeth.] I love you, Pup-Per-Roni.

PJpupp: Stop licking my teeth! That’s not gonna get you out of trouble.

Gigi: Sure it is, PJ. She is always out of trouble once she licks your teeth. You always forget what she was in trouble for in the first place.

Hobo: Hey PJ, I think the people are waiting to hear the rest of your story.

PJpupp [Stands up and goes back to her bed.]: Oh yes, sorry all. Besides coming to work with mommy every day, we are busy doing doggie photo sessions, agility demos, library programs, and sometimes films or commercials. This week we got to give out samples of TJ’s Health Bites and Active Care Dog Food at the dog show. 

Hobo: Don’t forget to tell them about how much we train.

Gigi: Yes PJ, that’s work too! 

Rickie Roo: I don’t think it’s work at all. I think it’s fun.

Gigi: Just because it’s fun doesn’t mean it’s not work.

PJpupp: Girls, don’t start up again. Rickie, sometimes work is fun and if you are lucky, you get to have a job that you love. Just like all of us. Besides our jobs are at daddy’s business. We also have dog agility classes either here with Mommy and her students, or at Robert’s in Torrance, or at Noriko’s in Gardena, Calif.  We have some kind of class every day. Sometimes they are before work, sometimes after work and sometimes even during lunch time! 

Rickie Roo: Is getting a massage work? We got massages and aromatherapy last week and are getting one today from Earlene at Tail Wagger’s Massage.

Gigi: I LOVE Earlene!

PJpupp: Me too, Gigi. Rickie Roo, getting a massage is nice, and I suppose since you get them to keep you in tip-top shape they are work. But then again, they feel so good they are just fun, so I’m not quite sure how to answer that.

Hobo: I heard mommy ask Earlene if she could get a massage too. Earlene told her she could only get a massage if she grew fur and had a tail!

Gigi: I don’t want Mommy to be furry! That would be YUCKY. And just plain embarrassing at trials.

Rickie Roo: Ha ha! Mommy might have to get a tail! Mommy might have to get a tail! [She starts spinning around and jumping about.] HA HA ha HA! [She stops and tilts her head.] I wonder if she would get a long tail like you three or a little nubbin tail like me?

Gigi: I bet she’d like a tail like PJpupp’s. She loves that PJ has a white tip on the end that she calls a shepherd’s lantern. Lots of Border Collies have that and mommy thinks it’s really cool.

PJpupp: Girls, Mommy is NOT going to get a tail. She will just have to go to a massage place for people.

Rickie Roo: But we don’t go to a massage place for doggies. Earlene comes to our office. 

Gigi: That’s because that’s what Earlene does. She drives to the doggies and gives them massages at home or at work.

PJpupp: We get ours at work because that’s where we are. And those massages help keep you in tip-top shape for the agility trials. 

Rickie Roo: We go to lots of trials! Last weekend was fun and I think we are going this weekend too!

PJpupp: Yes, last weekend Mommy took you Rickie Roo, Gigi, Magi, Kokomo, Mason, Bogey and Hobo to the trial. I stayed at Mojo’s house and we had a turtle watching party in the back yard. 

Rickie Roo: Why do you watch turtles, PJpupp?

PJpupp: I just like them. Those box turtles and desert tortoises pique my interest. I could watch them all day. And sometimes when you guys are at dog shows I do.

Gigi: I miss you at the trials, PJpupp. You must really miss running the agility course.

PJpupp: One day, when you are 12 like me and Mojo you will understand Gigi. We still enjoy our classes, but we really like lounging and taking naps a bit better. But we are so proud of all of you when you do well at the trials and we are so happy to see you when you get home.

Rickie Roo: I didn’t get so many ribbons last week. But everyone else did. Magi and Kokomo got lots of new titles and ribbons, too!

Gigi: You can’t be perfect all the time, Rickie Roo. Sometimes you get ribbons, sometimes you don’t.

Rickie Roo: I had lots of fun!

PJpupp: That’s the important part of dog agility, Roo – having fun!

Rickie Roo: I’m gonna have fun this weekend! We are going to a USDAA trial and I get to be partners with my friend Cricket, the Pumi! And guess what? Magi and Gigi are gonna be partners, and Chili Dog is gonna partner up with Stormy the Poodle and Kokomo’s gonna pair up with Stroller the Border Collie! It’s gonna be fun!

Gigi: If we run clean and make no mistakes we should be able to qualify to compete at the Cynosport World Games again. It will be so much fun!

Rickie Roo: Hey! I see Earlene’s car! [She starts barking and jumping up and down like a kangaroo.]

Gigi: ME TOO! ME TOO!

Hobo: IT IS HER!! WOW oh WOW!

PJpupp: Time to get off the computer then! We can’t miss our massage! BYE!

Devin:

Kai: You should, since she got hurt while she was walking you! BTW, you messed up my walk because I was supposed to be next.

Devin: Well, now neither of us are going on walks or doing jungle gym until she gets better. At least her foot is a really pretty shade of purple.

Kai: It’s called agility, Devin, not jungle gym. And yeah, you are going to miss the race this weekend.

Devin: I am?! Mom didn’t tell me I was going to race this weekend. Are you trying to upset me?

Kai: Who, me? Look, if Mom isn’t upset, you shouldn’t be upset. I gave her a bloody nose once when I kissed her, and that didn’t make her mad either. I know that as soon as she can run on her foot she will start taking us places again. Maybe you two need to work on not being so clumsy, BOL!

Rickie Roo: Yeah!! They let the mutts in at an AKC trial!

Gigi: Hey! They are not called mutts. They are called “Canine Partners.”

Rickie Roo: But Magi told me that he and Kokomo were mutts. Doesn’t he know what he is?

PJpupp: Well, Roo, Magi is right and Gigi is right. In AKC the mixed breed dogs (or mutts) are called “Canine Partners.”

Rickie Roo: I’m a Rat Terrier.

PJpupp: Yes you are, Roo.

Rickie Roo: But I’m a canine and a partner to mommy on course, so does that make me a “Canine Partner,” too?

Gigi: No, it does not, Rickie Roo. You are a Rat Terrier. Stop being silly.

Rickie Roo: I want to be a “Canine Partner,” too. They got a special show ribbon just for showing up!

PJpupp: That’s true Roo, the AKC is very excited to allow the mixed breed dogs into their companion events like Rally, Obedience and Agility. So they gave each mixed breed “Canine Partner” a special maroon-colored ribbon that says “AKC Canine Partners – Lots More Dog Fun — April 2010 First Events — I Was There” on it.

Rickie Roo: I want a special ribbon!

Gigi: You have enough ribbons, Rickie Roo – stop whining.

PJpupp: Magi and Kokomo were never allowed to come to the AKC trials to compete before, Rickie Roo… they didn’t have a chance to win ribbons like all of the purebred dogs on the team. So this was to make them feel welcome.

Rickie Roo: Magi’s been to lots of shows with us. He’s been to more agility trials than me!

Gigi: You dummy — Magi went to USDAA, CPE, NADAC and ASCA trials, not AKC trials. Those are different. We are talking about AKC trials today.

Rickie Roo: Well, he’s an Agility Champion and he had to compete in Novice.

PJpupp: That’s because his Championships are in other organizations. He has to start his AKC career at the beginning just like you did, Roo-ster.

Rickie Roo: He got lots and lots of ribbons, and so did Kokomo!

Gigi: Magi got four first places and a fourth place. Kokomo got four first places. They did great.

Rickie Roo: I did good too! I got ribbons!

PJpupp: Yes Roo, you did good too, and so did Gigi and Bogey. Bogey even got a new title ribbon.

Rickie Roo: Everyone got ribbons except for Hobo!

Gigi: Hobo is team security. He doesn’t compete in agility, Roo. He can’t win a ribbon.

Rickie Roo: Doesn’t that make him sad? Doesn’t he want to run on the course and then afterwards go to the cookie chair and get ribbons, too?

PJpupp: Roo, Hobo still has the stray dog spirit about him. He can’t be trusted off leash like the rest of us. So mommy gives him cookies just for behaving.

Rickie Roo: Is Hobo a “Canine Partner”?

PJpupp: As a matter of fact, he is.

Gigi: Maybe someday he will get to run agility, too?

PJpupp: He’s taking lessons, so maybe.

Rickie Roo: I’m gonna be faster than him if he does! I can run faster!

Gigi: You won’t be in the same class. He’s a big dog, you’re a little dog.

Rickie Roo: I’m still faster.

PJpupp: Maybe you are Rickie … but for now you need to work on doing your own course without mistakes. When you can do that then you can worry about being faster.

Gigi: Being the fastest isn’t always the most important thing. You have to run the course without mistakes to win.

Rickie Roo: Sometimes, I don’t have mistakes. I win lots of ribbons.

Gigi: We all do.

Rickie Roo: How come you didn’t show this weekend, PJpupp?

PJpupp: I’m old and tired, Mojo and I decided to stay home and relax. I spent a lot of time watching the box turtles, and Mojo took lots of naps.

Rickie Roo: I could beat you, PJpupp! I can be faster than Mojo!

Gigi: Shush it Roo, they are old dogs. You are a young dog – that’s different.

Rickie Roo: But when I lick Mojo’s teeth and she growls at me I can run away really, really fast!

Gigi: If she wanted to catch you she could, Roo. She’s just giving you a warning to stop it.

Rickie Roo: Well, I’m still faster!

PJpupp: Ok girls, I’m tired of all this terrier talk-back. Why don’t we go bug mom for our lunch?

Rickie Roo [she starts hopping up and down]: LUNCH?

Gigi [she starts looking around frantically]: LUNCH?

PJpupp: Yes! Lunch!  [she runs out of the room with the ratties following behind] 

PJpupp, Gigi, Rickie Roo: MOM!!! Stop typing! We want lunch!

Kai: Hi everybody, my name is Kai. That means “ocean” in Hawaiian. I’m 7-and-a-half years old and I’m the reserved one of the family. Oh yeah, and I’m a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I like to fish, hike and do agility, but mostly I like time with my mom doing just about anything. She’s my best friend.

I live with Devin who is very, very social, and frankly she’s a little pushy and irritating. My mom sometimes has temporary guests over because she does rescue, breeding and training. Boy, was I hoping Devin was one of those, but after a few months I realized she was actually going to stay. That made me pretty unhappy because sharing mom has been tough. Plus, the toys are never the same after “she” gets done with them.

I always like doing new things and I’m real smart. Everything that my mom and I have done has been easy for me. I have lots of American Kennel Club (AKC) titles, as well as other ones. I was the most titled Rhodesian Ridgeback in 2007, and I was the No. 13 Ridgeback in agility in the U.S. that year. The national club even wrote a magazine article about me.

Mom is real proud of me cuz she calls me Superman. She says that the REM song “Superman” is my song because I can do anything!!

Devin: I have a song, too. It’s “Soul Sister” by Train.

Kai: Shhhhh, no one is talking to you. See? Devin is just like an annoying kid sister. Anyway, I’m semi-retired. Mom wants me to do obedience but I’m not sure I like it because it’s so serious. I think retirement should mean I only do the things I like best, like eating and agility.

PHOTO: Bark Pet Photography

This is me – it’s my glamour shot, and girls love glamour shots you know. We were at the i Love Dogs and Maya Hotel TweetUp/Facebook Meet Up fundraiser for spcaLA in Long Beach. I got to meet all kinds of new friends. My mom, her name is Lisa Adams, told me that it was a great success because lots of food was brought for the hungry dogs in shelters. 

Even though I’m not very old, when I was only one I had already done many things.  I’ve been to numerous dog shows and received conformation championships from the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the International All Breed Canine Association (IABCA). I also have an AKC Rally Novice title and Field Championship in lure coursing. 

Remember I said I love to run? Well, last year at just a year old, I was the No. 9-ranked Rhodesian Ridgeback on AKC Bowen Top Dogs (lure coursing rankings for RRs across the United States). Mom says we are going to start straight racing and agility this year, so I’ll have lots of things to woof about.  

Right now I’m going through a false pregnancy so I’m not really looking my best. Mom says that I’m really not having puppies and I should stop acting silly so we can get back to competing and training.

Anyway, I have loads of adventures planned…well, my mom plans them, but I love to go places and can’t wait to tell you all about them! I hope you’ll like my stories.

Okay, I better go. Mom says I that I always have an opinion about something, whatever that means, and she sometimes calls me “Squeaker” because I make all kinds of noises, BOL! Maybe next time I’ll tell you about my buddy Kai. He lives with me and has four legs, too.

PHOTO: Bark Pet Photography

Okay, back to the main event. Now pooches, this was no ordinary commercial shoot. We had 19 doggie actors on set ready to show off their cool tricks in front of the camera! Almost all of them were from the PM2 Dog Agility Team. Of course, there were my constant buds PJPupp (she’s so sweet!), Gigi, and Rickie Roo, and they brought some of their friends – Chili Dog, Ollie, Aimee, Magi, Kokomo, Mojo, Hobo, Mason, Bogey, Lacey and Remmy! Then, my favorite person in the world (who I love because she gives me lots of scratches behind my ears), i Love Dogs boss lady Martha, brought my ace K9 reporter Shelby! Oh Shelby, she’s so snuggly, wiggly, and loves to play (my kind of dog!). Shelby brought her cousins, two big ol’ Mastiffs, one was named Jocko and the other was a little pup whose name I don’t remember just now (there were 19 dogs!). Border Collies, Rat Terriers, Pitadors, Maltese, Icelandic Sheepdogs, French Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers, Mastiffs, oh my!

Let me tell you, when you bring that many of my doggie pawls together you’re guaranteed the time of your life — BOL! We started with some agility and boy my friends are so talented! Look at these videos of my friends running like mad dogs through the tunnel, weaving through poles and jumping over obstacles.

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Don’t ever let anyone tell you a big dog can’t do agility. Here’s Remmy, a Bernese Mountain Dog, running the obstacle course! He also gave us all a special treat by pulling the teeny dogs on a wagon, what a trooper.

Here’s an overall video of the day’s events, so much fun all around!

And, here are some quick photos for your tail-waggin’ pleasure:

 
Of course, the pièce de résistance was at the end of the shoot when all of my pals showed the humans who were the bosses of the park. They all went kuh-RAZY and ran all over the place! Magi and Kokomo leapt into the lake to chase some ducks and everyone else scattered.

The chaos was doggone beautiful. I don’t have a video of this because the human recording the videos left her post to chase down some doggies. You know what that means, right? You’ll just have to wait and see my commercial to see the beautiful shots of Magi leaping out of the water!

Check out my video of these pawsome pooches showing their mad skillz on the course at the AKC Agility Invitational, held in super dog-friendly Long Beach from December 12-13.

Rickie Roo: I’m really the ONLY one of us that competed all three days! Remember? Gigi got hurt on Friday and Dr. Bob said she could NOT compete for the rest of the weekend?

PJpupp: Oh, yes, Roo you are right. Poor Gigi tore her nail on her dewclaw and had to have it removed. She is doing much better now though… Isn’t that right, Gigi?

Gigi: Yep. I had a hot pink bandage with pawprints on it and lots of people felt bad for me and gave me cookies.

Rickie Roo: But Mommy kept busy, anyway. She ran Mason the Maltese and Aimee the French Bulldog, too.

Gigi: Aimee and Mason did REALLY good. Mason got TWO titles over the weekend!

Rickie Roo: I didn’t. 

PJpupp: No, Rickie Roo, you didn’t. You had some very nice runs, but did not get a title this weekend.

Rickie Roo: Maybe I will get one next weekend?

Gigi: No silly, Mommy gave us the weekend off because we leave for the Cynosports World Games next week.

Rickie Roo: But will I still get to do agility?

Gigi: Yes,  you are taking my spot in class tonight, because I have to wait until the games to run… Just to make sure my foot is all better.

PJpupp: You will be fine, little G. Your leg looks all better to me. But then again, I’m not Dr. Bob. We will go see him on Friday just to make sure.

Hobo: That little Mason sure did run. And Aimee did really good, too.

PJpupp: You’re right Hobo – there are not too many Frenchies  like Aimee competing in agility. Those stocky little dogs can sure move, though, if they decide they want to and our little guy Mason stopped sniffing long enough to run the course and make course time. His mommy (we call her gramma Jeanie) was so proud of all  the ribbons he earned running with our mommy that she gave mommy a big hug and a kiss.

Hobo: I saw that. I was kind of jealous. 

PJpupp: But I thought I saw her sneak you a cookie.

Hobo: SHHHHHHHhhhhhhh that’s our secret. The little girls don’t know about that. She said Grammas were allowed to do stuff like that.

PJpupp: OK. I won’t tell them.

Rickie Roo: TELL WHO WHAT???

Rickie Roo: Huh? Huh?

Gigi: Yeah, what don’t we know?

PJpupp: Nothing girls. You know it all. Hobo is just being silly and trying to trick you. That’s what big brothers do.

Rickie Roo bows down, puts her front legs on the ground and wiggles her nubbin tail up high in the air…. she glances around and sees Gigi minding her own business… before you know it, she does a rattie P O U N C E and surprises Gigi — Gigi pounces back and THEY’RE OFF!!! Hobo doesn’t want to be left out, so he chases after them.

PJpupp: Well, I guess I better go referee… See you next time! It’s not always easy being the big sister, I’ve got to go make sure all of those silly dogs behave and act as the Fun Police. Is a Border Collie’s job EVER done?

Photos: Aimee, Aimee and Deborah, Mason Tire and Mason and his owner Jeanie Pelzman show off his ribbons

Rickie Roo: I GOT A BLUE RIBBON!!

PJpupp: Yes you did, Rickie Roo. It seems that when you compete you’re either the Hero or the Zero.

Rickie Roo: What does that mean?

Gigi: She’s being nice. She says you either win the class or you go so crazy you lose the class. You are either best or worst and very seldom anything in between.

Rickie Roo: I like to run and jump FAST! Sometimes mommy isn’t quite fast enough for me, so I have to decide where we should go next.

Gigi: Roo-ster, it doesn’t work like that. You are supposed to be a team. Working together, if you do stuff without her saying it’s okay, she won’t know where you are going and then you won’t win.

Rickie Roo: I think having fun is the most important part. Sometimes it’s fun to make up your own thing.

PJpupp: You’re right, Rickie. The fun IS the most important part. 

Rickie Roo: I got to run with Mei and with Mommy, too.  I just love Mei. She can run faster than Mommy.

Gigi: That’s because Mei is only 13 and Mommy is much older than that, Rickie Roo. You might hurt Mommy’s feelings if you say that too loudly.

Rickie Roo: (Whispers) Okay.

PJpupp: Mommy is the one who decides who gets to run with us on course. If she thinks any of us will run better with Mei or if she thinks Mei needs practice on a special part of the course, she will have her run with us. Or if there is a conflict in the rings, and either Mommy or Mei can’t be in the other ring at the same time, the other person will fill in. That’s why it’s fun to be on a team.

Gigi: With so many dogs on the team, once in a while there’s bound to be a conflict!

Rickie Roo: How many dogs are on our team now?

PJpupp: Well, currently we have myself, Mojo and Magi  the 3 founding members of the team (which is why we are PM2 dog agility team–for PJ, Magi and Mojo) Perry, Gigi, Mushu, Gidget, Kokomo, Mason, Aimee, Chili Dog, Abbie and Bogey.  Sometimes Bogey and Lacey Jane compete with us and sometimes there are others.

Gigi: Don’t forget Hobo. 

PJpupp: Oh, yes, our brother Hobo (a shepherd) is just starting to learn agility. Soon he will play just like all of his friends. 

Rickie Roo: I have LOTS of friends! They are almost as good in agility as ME!

Gigi: Roo, believe it or not, some of them are better than you are right now, Rickie Roo. When you get older you will be even better. PJ, Magi, Perry and me are all agility champions. The rest of the dogs have lots of titles or are brand new like you. 

Rickie Roo: It’s old dogs and baby dogs. I’m one of the baby dogs and so are Chili Dog, Gidget and Kokomo. All of us are 2 years old!

PJpupp: That’s true and Perry, Mojo and I are all 11 years old. The rest of the team fall somewhere in between.

Rickie Roo: Well, I STILL got a blue ribbon!

PJpupp: Yes you did, Roo, and we are proud of you and all the dogs on the team who earned ribbons this weekend. But remember, sometimes your best runs are not the runs that you win. AND the most important part is to earn the Q ribbon–the qualifying ribbon saying you met the criteria set forth by the judge and the sanctioning body. You get a certain amount of Q ribbons in each class and level and you earn titles.

Rickie Roo: I thought you said the most important part was to have FUN.

PJpupp: You are right, Roo. That IS what I said. That is very good of you to remember that.

Rickie Roo: Let’s go have fun right now! I wanna go practice my weave poles.

Will Rickie Roo practice her weave poles? Will she ever stop asking PJPupp questions? And what will Gigi make of the whole situation? Check in next time and find out!