This year we took a bit of time and stopped in Zion National Park, what a great choice.

Then we stopped in Page and went  hiking at Big Bend. And the Grand Canyon.

Then on to the nationals!

Two Shots and a Swig had the best t  black shirts, I think we finished 147 out of 210 teams.

Amy and Audrey in the semi finals with winners blue on!

Our Fuzzy Force team member Candy and Harley,  Leo snuck in the shot, we never got a group shot, Candy made us the best Tshirt, and we were 57 of 210 teams.

Amy and Audrey

No though on that contact! (this judge was not so picky about the steeple chase finals that night!)

Kells was Miss wonder girl with clean run after clean run. 

Leo pulled his share, and ran like Leo,  like silk and steel all week.

Barb and Emma

Tito the brilliant and his steeplechase medal

Leo ran wonderful , love that distance.

Carol in the crating area, which was incredible improved from last year. Garbage pick up was stunningly better too.

No Korean team this year, the team from Bermuda had a wonderful time, so did the Mexican team. the Japanese had the coolest corgis and did very well in the Grand Prix semifinals. The folk from Bermuda invited all of us to one of their shows, only 35 dogs compete.

My mother, Delores, once again holding hot shelties in the shade, she never sees me actually run, she stays in the shade with my next dog and a cheese stick and a water bottle. This year I tried to get a lot of tape to make a DVD , if she wants to see it....

the night excitement...

Heather Lyn and Fenwick did awesome, and she photographs well under the bright light too....

see their website for details...

This was one of the coolest new products , clip and go, plastic PVC jump pieces that just clip onto a standard jump.

www.clipandgoagiity.com 

That's Kells, looking like a new table mannequin , modeling her new cool coat. 

Lots of people asked if it works, ask Kells ......

She who goes home with the coolest t-shirts wins.

Fuzzy Forces t shirt, Cynosport , two Grandprix semifinals, and a a Shot and Swig.

so how did my dogs do?

Clean runs, fast times, no handler complaints

Over view....

Courses were harder this year, which was nice, last year it was too easy. One wit said about snooker, "This course weeds out the pups from the dogs..."

Competition in 16 inch was much tougher, fewer dogs, but they were fast.

Crating was much improved this year, as was the grounds layout,,,, except the dock dogs were too close and it was annoying to hear their micro phone patter all day.

Garbage pick up was much improved, did not feel so much like a health risk by Saturday as I did last year.

Stayed at the Motel 6, which is clean, comfortable and affordable and next to a great mall  with a wonderful food court within short walking distance, Safeway is near by, and a Wal-Mart, up on Chapparral Rd. Also a wonderful, no cactus allowed,  green park to walk the dogs on Chapparral Rd.

 Draw backs, too many people living at the hotel. I had the mangers call the police during a domestic dispute, which involved gunshots. the swat team arrived while I was swimming, wrecked the swim. Other than that, things were fine.

home at last

dog lady of forest grove