Cheers to Chimo

So mission accomplished. Better results than with the sheep. Frodo finished his Rally Excellent title - so once the paperwork comes in he will be CFC Elite Ch. Can. Ch. Frodo de Domaine de Polana CD, RE.  He would have been "in the big ribbons" if there wasn't this slight problem with a down - I think my human was going too fast. But she is so happy he got his last leg. I'm not exactly sure what "getting a leg means." As far as I can tell, he still just has 4!

And speaking of legs - I got one too - my first in Rally Advanced!  AND I WAS in the ribbons - a third place finish. My human was thrilled - particularly since we did almost no practice for this!

Then we also had the Team event.  We were invited to be on the Team with Goro - a Labrador Retriever and Chimo - a Samoyed.  Goro and Chimo are known to occasionally bark during obedience trials - and we also know that ON OCCASION, Frodo also barks.  So the Team was aptly named Team Bark.  Now keep in mind that this is an UNOFFICIAL class.  So let me set the stage.  The trials started at 8:30 AM - and there was no lunch break.  We arrived at 7:30AM because Frodo was in the first group at 8:30.  There were over 160 runs through the day.  By the time it got to the Team event - the LAST event of the day - it was after 6:00 PM.  Team Bark was the LAST Team of the day.  Frodo started the Team - and did well except for that MOMENT when my HUMAN had what she calls a Brain Fart - and totally lost her way on the spiral.  Costing us 3 points.  And of course, Frodo had to tell her she was wrong.  Then came Goro and Chimo - who did BEAUTIFUL work.  And at the VERY end there was moi.  Last dog of a long day...Well.  My human decided to TELL me what to do.  She and I discussed the entire course.  We argued, we plotted - and we had a BALL.  Despite her, I managed to do a beautiful job - although we of course, lost points for barking. (Please note that in our other runs of the day we did NOT bark.  We do know when to be serious!!)   The following is a video of Team Bark.  I warn you to turn down the volume on your computer if you don't want your dogs to go crazy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc-A1XrJU8E&feature=youtu.be

So Team Bark took home a Third Place ribbon.  Which was awesome.  But there is more to this story...you see,  part of the  reason my human joined this team was because of Chimo.  Chimo is THE happiest, sweetest dog.  Everybody loves Chimo.  But what everyone didn't know was that Chimo came out of "Rally retirement" to enter this trial which was benefiting canine cancer.  Chimo has a pretty serious cancer diagnosis himself.  But he is doing well - and looked amazing yesterday.  My human remembers doing obedience trials and practice with him and a very special Bernese Mountain Dog she once had - who went to the Rainbow Bridge - due to cancer.  So this Team was special in more ways than one...

So it was an amazing day all around.   Cheers to Chimo, cheers to Team Bark - and to all the dogs who came out for a great cause.  When can we do it again?

© Linda Wozniak