What a fantastic weekend!
What a super-fantastic, amazing, wonderful, exciting weekend!!
We were at the Ultimate Air Games, which is the end of the season finals for our dock jumping group. Rocky had earned his Senior title (many times over), so we were off to compete in the Senior division. **for our dock jumping friends - skip to the next paragraph while I explain divisions and titles** To earn a title the dog has to have 5 competition jumps in that divisions range. The Senior division is jumps from 15' - 19'11". This way dogs compete against other dogs of similar ability.
Rocky has been a Senior division dog pretty much since we started competing. He has slowly been getting closer and closer towards the top of his division and really did well last weekend. But, this is the end of season games, we get a lot of dogs. So, there is a lot of close competition. The Mr and I were talking about the event and our hopes for it and we said we just wanted Rocky to jump in the 19-foot range again this weekend to reinforce what we saw last weekend. We had no grand visions of making the finals on Sunday (only the top 10 in each division make the finals). Just go out and have fun!
Rocky did not disappoint and apparently had other plans that became more obvious to us as the weekend went on. There were 23 Senior division dogs and a lot of them jump BIG, like well over 20-feet big. We had our work cut out for us. Rocky looked good in his practice jumps. So, we crossed our fingers and went out to have fun. Rocky jumped 19'9' and 19'1". With that many dogs it was tough to keep track of all the jumps, but I knew there were a couple dogs over 21-feet and at least 5 dogs over 20-feet. Which meant . . . we might have a chance. So, after waiting for the results, we found out Rocky placed 9th in the Senior division. We made the finals for Sunday!
So we head back out on Sunday. On the drive the Mr and I talk about what we would like out of that days jumps. You see, we like to talk about what goals and hopes we have. We are always happy with anything Rocky does, but like any person, we like to have goals. We talked and said, we just wanted Rocky to have fun and try to finish 9th or higher. Every dog in front of Rocky had jumped over 20-feet. So, we just didn't want to finish last.
We warmed him up and some practice jumps looked good, some were only ok, none were really great. But he was having fun. So, I am standing around talking with my friends and I was telling about our goals for Rocky. And everyone said, no aim higher. Aim for top 3. While I believe in aiming high, Rocky doesn't know the difference. Besides if I start to get super-competitive, I get really nervous and it isn't as fun.
We jump in reverse order, so we are the second dog to jump. And one of my favorite things about this group of people and this sport is how supportive we are of each other. So, while I am setting Rocky (and the Mr) in the right place, they are cheering us on. We are ready . . . the Mr releases Rocky . . . I throw. . . Rocky was flying! I knew it was a good jump. He was fast and up. I knew it was a good 19-footer. And then . . . the judge get quiet, really quiet. Like he does, when a jump is bigger than expected out that dog. Because it was - Rocky jumped 20'5"!!!
I no more than get Rocky off the ramp and I am crushed in hugs. All our friends know this is a new personal best. That's it, I can leave happy. So, we are all chatting and waiting out turn again and listening to the other scores. About 3 or 4 dogs later I ask someone if any other dog has jumped over 20-feet. Nope, no one. All the dogs finish their first round of jumps and no one else has even broken the 20-foot mark. We are in first place. Now, I am even more nervous. I had relaxed after his first jump because it was good - very, very good for his division. So, I was just going to relax and watch the bigger jumpers go. Now all of sudden we are competitive.
Off we go for a second jump, I swear our friends screamed louder this time. I am nervous, but also calm because they count your best jump and Rocky's first jump was awesome. So, I take a deep breath and try to relax because this jump probably won't count and it for fun. Rocky jumps. And it is another good one. The judge is quiet again . . . is it possible? Rocky jumped even bigger - 20'7". I didn't even get Rocky on his leash before the crowd got me. I had other people whose dogs were competing against Rocky congratulating me and hugging me. That is sportsmanship.
But now we have to wait through 8 more dogs. All of which, can and have jumped bigger than Rocky. I told the Mr that I thought I was going to have a heart attack waiting. We get down to the last 2 dogs and Rocky still has the biggest jump. And I turn to the Mr and say, no matter what these 2 dogs jumps, Rocky is guaranteed 3rd. Both those dogs did jump bigger than Rocky, but they had both jumped well over 21-feet the day before. But who cares, my boy set 2 new personal bests and got 3rd place!! I was so absolutely thrilled!! After lots of hugs and congratulations, we made it back to our stuff and fed Rocky lots of treats and gave him lots of love. He is going to be 8 very soon and continues to amaze me on a regular basis.
And not to leave Leo out, he went right off the ramp to go swim in the pool. He was wound up and excited. So, excited the Mr thought that Leo would go off the dock. Leo didn't think so. So, the Mr got in the pool to entice Leo in and Leo thought that was silly. So, Leo went swimming and the Mr had wet shorts - he he.
We don't have any pictures of Rocky's jumps since the Mr holds him for me now. We are waiting to see if some friends got some. I am sure there are some out there and I'll post them up along with a picture of the Rocketmonster with his cool 3rd place plaque.
We were at the Ultimate Air Games, which is the end of the season finals for our dock jumping group. Rocky had earned his Senior title (many times over), so we were off to compete in the Senior division. **for our dock jumping friends - skip to the next paragraph while I explain divisions and titles** To earn a title the dog has to have 5 competition jumps in that divisions range. The Senior division is jumps from 15' - 19'11". This way dogs compete against other dogs of similar ability.
Rocky has been a Senior division dog pretty much since we started competing. He has slowly been getting closer and closer towards the top of his division and really did well last weekend. But, this is the end of season games, we get a lot of dogs. So, there is a lot of close competition. The Mr and I were talking about the event and our hopes for it and we said we just wanted Rocky to jump in the 19-foot range again this weekend to reinforce what we saw last weekend. We had no grand visions of making the finals on Sunday (only the top 10 in each division make the finals). Just go out and have fun!
Rocky did not disappoint and apparently had other plans that became more obvious to us as the weekend went on. There were 23 Senior division dogs and a lot of them jump BIG, like well over 20-feet big. We had our work cut out for us. Rocky looked good in his practice jumps. So, we crossed our fingers and went out to have fun. Rocky jumped 19'9' and 19'1". With that many dogs it was tough to keep track of all the jumps, but I knew there were a couple dogs over 21-feet and at least 5 dogs over 20-feet. Which meant . . . we might have a chance. So, after waiting for the results, we found out Rocky placed 9th in the Senior division. We made the finals for Sunday!
So we head back out on Sunday. On the drive the Mr and I talk about what we would like out of that days jumps. You see, we like to talk about what goals and hopes we have. We are always happy with anything Rocky does, but like any person, we like to have goals. We talked and said, we just wanted Rocky to have fun and try to finish 9th or higher. Every dog in front of Rocky had jumped over 20-feet. So, we just didn't want to finish last.
We warmed him up and some practice jumps looked good, some were only ok, none were really great. But he was having fun. So, I am standing around talking with my friends and I was telling about our goals for Rocky. And everyone said, no aim higher. Aim for top 3. While I believe in aiming high, Rocky doesn't know the difference. Besides if I start to get super-competitive, I get really nervous and it isn't as fun.
We jump in reverse order, so we are the second dog to jump. And one of my favorite things about this group of people and this sport is how supportive we are of each other. So, while I am setting Rocky (and the Mr) in the right place, they are cheering us on. We are ready . . . the Mr releases Rocky . . . I throw. . . Rocky was flying! I knew it was a good jump. He was fast and up. I knew it was a good 19-footer. And then . . . the judge get quiet, really quiet. Like he does, when a jump is bigger than expected out that dog. Because it was - Rocky jumped 20'5"!!!
I no more than get Rocky off the ramp and I am crushed in hugs. All our friends know this is a new personal best. That's it, I can leave happy. So, we are all chatting and waiting out turn again and listening to the other scores. About 3 or 4 dogs later I ask someone if any other dog has jumped over 20-feet. Nope, no one. All the dogs finish their first round of jumps and no one else has even broken the 20-foot mark. We are in first place. Now, I am even more nervous. I had relaxed after his first jump because it was good - very, very good for his division. So, I was just going to relax and watch the bigger jumpers go. Now all of sudden we are competitive.
Off we go for a second jump, I swear our friends screamed louder this time. I am nervous, but also calm because they count your best jump and Rocky's first jump was awesome. So, I take a deep breath and try to relax because this jump probably won't count and it for fun. Rocky jumps. And it is another good one. The judge is quiet again . . . is it possible? Rocky jumped even bigger - 20'7". I didn't even get Rocky on his leash before the crowd got me. I had other people whose dogs were competing against Rocky congratulating me and hugging me. That is sportsmanship.
But now we have to wait through 8 more dogs. All of which, can and have jumped bigger than Rocky. I told the Mr that I thought I was going to have a heart attack waiting. We get down to the last 2 dogs and Rocky still has the biggest jump. And I turn to the Mr and say, no matter what these 2 dogs jumps, Rocky is guaranteed 3rd. Both those dogs did jump bigger than Rocky, but they had both jumped well over 21-feet the day before. But who cares, my boy set 2 new personal bests and got 3rd place!! I was so absolutely thrilled!! After lots of hugs and congratulations, we made it back to our stuff and fed Rocky lots of treats and gave him lots of love. He is going to be 8 very soon and continues to amaze me on a regular basis.
And not to leave Leo out, he went right off the ramp to go swim in the pool. He was wound up and excited. So, excited the Mr thought that Leo would go off the dock. Leo didn't think so. So, the Mr got in the pool to entice Leo in and Leo thought that was silly. So, Leo went swimming and the Mr had wet shorts - he he.
We don't have any pictures of Rocky's jumps since the Mr holds him for me now. We are waiting to see if some friends got some. I am sure there are some out there and I'll post them up along with a picture of the Rocketmonster with his cool 3rd place plaque.
Posted by rockysmom at 9/15/2009 8:58 AM 
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Rocky Mr Leo dock jumping fun me
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: Rocky Mr Leo dock jumping fun me
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