Junior Handlers (agility...for non-agile folks!)

I just had the pleasure of judging a Junior Handlers (JH) trial tonight. Our club (Good Dog Agility) hosts 2 JH trials each summer. Normally they are fairly well attended...tonight we had only 2 handlers and 5 dogs. A very small trial, but boy...did Good Dog have the turnout in terms of workers! The JHers were treated to a nice crowd of people watching them work through the courses.

I'm not entirely sure why the turnout was so low. Could be that the heat was too stifling? Or maybe folks were just plain busy or out of town? I don't know. What I do know is that it's a cool program that allows Juniors to compete against kids rather than against adults or "professional" agility handlers. The courses at the Beginners level are fairly simple, but once they progress to the Senior level, the courses are much like what I'd put out for the Starters class in the "adult" version.

I do enjoy watching the Juniors and hope that they come out in droves for our next trial which will be held in June.

My own little Junior Handlers were spending time with Lisa, our ex-Nanny. This was most likely the last time they'll see her as she (the Nanny) is moving. We'll miss her as she is GREAT with the girls and they love her and her son. I'm glad they had the chance to see her once again.

Time for puppy news!!! They are 2 weeks, 2 days old today. Their eyes are starting to open and they are whimpering quite a bit. I have pictures, but I'm too lazy to post them tonight...maybe tomorrow night! I also have made my flight arrangements for "project puppy pick-up." I am judging a show in Michigan the first weekend in October...since the pups are in Illinois, I am going to pick them up on my return trip home. I've scheduled an almost 3 hour layover at O'Hare and the breeders wife will bring my pup to me. I can't wait! :)