USDAA 2004 Championships

On the weekend of November 14, 2004, the USDAA Grand Prix of Dog Agility World Championships were held in Scotsdale, Arizona. Pritamo and her dogs had outstanding performances. Here’s what she has to say about it...

WOO HOO! WE DID IT... ! Both my "boys" qualified in the quarter finals on Friday and the semi final round on Saturday and earned one of 6 spots in the final round Sunday afternoon in Scottsdale.

Opening ceremonies were at one pm with representatives from all the countries participating .. can’t remember them all - Japan, Spain, Mexico, Italy, Canada, Russia, Guatamala are the ones I recall .. and there was also a team from Puerto Rico.

We didn't get course "maps" until AFTER the walk through which was only ten minutes. I knew I was third in the ring after the walk through so it was a big rush. Originally, there was only one dog running between my two. I was lucky and caught the ring steward at the right moment and got it switched so there were two in between. Turned out that extra 60 seconds really did give me time to "catch my breath" and get grounded again between runs.

Dog number one - faulted,
Dog number two faulted,
Dog number three (Shimmy) - did NOT stay on the start line to let me get out to my spot, but I had planned for that so we were off when HE decided! It was a bit shaky and there were a couple of potential "refusals" and "off course" spots that we managed to survive and he ran clean. YEAH! SEE the video below.

Ran out and gave him to a friend and grabbed Surfer. I had brought very special treats and a bucket of cold water to "inspire" him to run fast! I had enough time to get his belly good and wet, "showed him the money"... (beef deli meat in a bowl waiting in his crate until after our run) and off we went.

Dog number four had faulted,
Dog number five ran clean,

Surf and I were number six, and the last team to run in that class. He stayed like an angel and I walked out to my spot at obstacle number 3 - after that it is almost a total blur to me. I remember him nailing the very tough weave pole entry and I remember him hitting the end of the teeter perfectly.. two more jumps and we were over the finish line. He ran in 37.? seconds or so. I never did get the exact time. I ran Surfer back and gave him his treats and then took me and the dogs for a nice slow cool down walk around the arena while the next jump height ran their course.

Then they announced the winners from my class and we were called in with our dogs for photos. Surfer had WON - and Shimmy came in second! There I was on the podium with me and Surf in the middle and Shimmy sitting on the number two block. YEAH for us! I am so incredibly pleased you will never know. I just wanted to make it to the finals... then I just wanted to run "clean". Having both of them qualify for the final round, run clean AND place is just too exciting. Thank you to everyone for your kind words of encouragement and well wishes before we left on our big adventure.

We got back this morning. Surf did just fine - he flew in cargo roundtrip with no problems. We're all glad to be home.