We dog people often focus on what we are teaching our dogs and lose perspective on what our dogs are teaching us. In some ways, I have a LOT of patience. But not like this. I guess I have always felt like I had to have something to work with. Yes, I would have been one of those people who thought "Why is she showing that dog?!" Stories like this one remind me that there can be a very rich pay off to just hanging in there and digging deeper. It is also cool to see a Berner who actually looks like a working dog. (Coulda/shoulda not put the music to the video but that's my opinion. I hit the mute button real fast!) Kudos to the team!
Watching them, I thought of Maxine Brinker and Nutmeg and their struggles early on. Nutmeg's problem, though, was that she was too willing. In her early years of competition, Nutmeg missed a lot of contacts and made up many of her own courses. But with Maxine's patience and persistence, Nutmeg learned the finer arts of agility - such as not flying off obstacles, or forging her own paths! And, like this woman, Maxine was nothing if not persistent.
It paid off. Together, Maxine and Nutmeg earned MACH5. That's 100 trials of qualifying in both Excellent classes in the trial ("qualifying" meaning zero faults and within standard course time), and 3, 750 Master Agility Champion points!!! I believe they were the just the third dachshund team to do it. And the first standard longhair. I admire their accomplishments.
Watching them, I thought of Maxine Brinker and Nutmeg and their struggles early on. Nutmeg's problem, though, was that she was too willing. In her early years of competition, Nutmeg missed a lot of contacts and made up many of her own courses. But with Maxine's patience and persistence, Nutmeg learned the finer arts of agility - such as not flying off obstacles, or forging her own paths! And, like this woman, Maxine was nothing if not persistent.
It paid off. Together, Maxine and Nutmeg earned MACH5. That's 100 trials of qualifying in both Excellent classes in the trial ("qualifying" meaning zero faults and within standard course time), and 3, 750 Master Agility Champion points!!! I believe they were the just the third dachshund team to do it. And the first standard longhair. I admire their accomplishments.
