SpoK-9s Flyball Dogs Racing Team, Spokane Washington

· Friday we left for the west side with plans to storm the tournament and secure our first place ribbons. Well things did not go exactly as planned. Maggie

· Mom woke up with all the symptoms of flu. Being stubborn she refused to stay home and care for herself. I think she enjoyed very little of our trip. Holly

· There was a great rush to leave and hurry to Argus. That plan lasted about 90 minutes until we stopped at Moses Lake for lunch. The K9’s sat patiently in the cars for at least 2 hours before venturing on. You know the drill – hurry up and wait. They never stick to their plans. And they talk about me being easily distracted. Parker

· Did you all see mom bounce as I ran to the end of my leash just to test her strength against my current weight. Rest area stops offer so much opportunity for fun. Jeffy

· The further we traveled the more I worried about mom. She looked like walking death. But I did notice that she didn’t upset dad for 3 days. I think he was in heavenly bliss. Holly

· We were scheduled for the first race Saturday morning. We lined up and kicked butt. Then we did very well in our second race. I thought we were on a roll. Then the wheels came off the wagon. Eddi

· Like the Flyers the Gliders also got off to a great start. We were hot and tearing up the track. Just like practice we were beating our times and posting faster times with each run. What does break out mean? Rani

· Bad luck seemed to be our friend and then to top it off our handlers could not even get the hurdle height correct. Maybe we should consider hiring a replacement pit crew. Pandy

· I heard Dad telling everybody to say that we got 4^th place Saturday, not last place. He said it sounded better. What a batch of bull. Maggie

· We ran our hearts out and just kept beating other teams. But when we went to the awards ceremony they announced that we broke out and were disqualified. Who decided on the seed times? Our new pit crew better have a competent seedtime estimator. Annie

· I listened to all the advice Kathy shared with our handlers. I wonder if she believes they understood any of it. Maybe she could consult with the K9’s on our hiring of the new pit crew. Lacy

· I didn’t like that Kathy very much. She insinuated that I couldn’t be patient and relaxed between heats and still post outstanding start and run times. I guess she is blinded by Border collie bazaar behaviors and therefore does not recognize composure and commonsense when she sees it. Just because I run like a Border collie I don’t have to act like one. Eddi

· Then she convinced Mom to take my harness off and hold me by the neck between heats. For the rest of the weekend she held me by the hair on the back of my neck – how humiliating was that? Eddi

· Dad also took off my harness. What was that suppose to prove? Maggie

· After all the wrecks on Saturday our handlers went to dinner and stayed late into the evening. We learned later that they scrambled the rosters and organized new teams for Sunday. None of the new lineups had ever been practiced. They expected us to just accept all the new changes, pass well and win. They justified all the changes by believing they needed to speed up the Flyers and slow the Gliders. Just the thing to do at a tournament. What were they thinking? Another reason for seeking a new pit crew. Rani

· Whose idea was it to hold a tournament in a horse barn on dirt? It made the tennis balls filthy and taste like @#$% in the mouth of a Golden Show Dog. I started refusing to carry the ball and Sunday I got all clean balls. What a hoot. Thank you Claire for helping clean all those dirty balls. You are a great gal. Parker

· What ever!!!!!!!!! Why would anybody own a blond self-proclaimed queen? Dexter

· Why didn’t Dad realize that mouthing the ball was my attempt to minimize the awful taste the ball was leaving in my mouth? Why didn’t I get clean balls Sunday? Pandy

· Saturday night I looked out the motel window and every Auburn police car was in the Motel parking lot with the flashing lights on. My immediate thought was that Dexter had taken the girls out on the town again. Scrappy

· I sure liked the statement Kathy made about a good dog will bite their handler several times during a tournament. I always knew I was a great fly ball dog. Buster

· Who is that person that ran me? She had way too much fun at my expense. However, if all the handlers allowed us to pass like she did our teams would be much faster. I hope she doesn’t complain and show off her thigh bruises like mom does. Holly

· I have had all the complaining that I can stand. Fly ball is not hard nor is it exciting. I go and run perfectly - hoping Tiffany will be at the tournament. Dexter

· Did any of you see mom’s “look of fear” when she got confused and opened the back of the Patty Wagon and was greeted by 3 big Goldens and Mr. T. Rani.

· I was worried that Saturday night there would be another party in the hallway of the Motel so I peed on the carpet. That seemed to end the hallway party idea. Pandy

· I was so embarrassed when mom tried to shorten the course distance by placing the box ahead of the line. You know her - anything for a win. Maggie

· Rainy days muddy balls and fast running all make up a Labs dream. Puma

· What did that Kathy mean when she looked at me and said that she could not help “Taylor with his starting times”. It’s me that get those great times. Annie

· Mom sure is easy to fool. It was raining outside when she decided to go outside and potty me. I distracted her for a moment and peed on the wall. She is so easy. Mr. T

· Mom said when we ran so hard to and from the box that we sprayed her with so much dirt that it was even in her underwear. How cool is that??? Maggie

· Kathy was talking about not using sugar treats for energy and mom got up and gave me some M&M’s. Guess which Kathy I love the most? Buster

· We are not sure that we want Flyer and Glider handlers training us all the aspects of fly ball when they have to write the names of just six dogs on their wrists to remember who is running – especially when it has been the same dogs for about a year. Tessi & Anne’ gun

· Mom must be on a money saving kick again. After every race she would take me outside to cool down, walk me by a pile of spilled potato chips and tell me to take only one. I think she figured if I took only one the pile would last all day. Eddi

· I worked very hard Saturday to help my teammates go fast only to be denied a ribbon because we all ran to fast, then Sunday I was moved to the Flyers and the Gliders ended the tournament with a first place ribbon. What a rip. Annie

· I sure hope mom has time to take me to all the tournaments next year. Puma

· I ran very well Saturday so why was I moved to the Flyers team Sunday and sandwiched between Eddi and Maggie. I felt like a mouse among elephants. Scrappy

· Who does Holly think she is growling at as we passed? Do I have to kick her butt too? Mr. T

· I saw Eileen with Trace at the club. Now if mom can find an equally pretty Border/Jack her life will be complete. Be patient. Maggie

Well another fun tournament and after all the craziness we still ended up Sunday with the Gliders in first place and the Flyers in third.

We thank John and Helen, and Debbie for coming and cheering for us.

I hope we get to practice our techniques this winter so we will be faster next spring.

And to my teammates Lacy, Rani, Buster, Scrappy, Parker, Eddi, Annie, Spring, Bill, Puma, Holly, Pandy and Mr. T, you are the greatest. This year was almost too much fun.

Lets do it again next year.

See you all soon.

Maggie

Ps: I think if our handlers really loved to party we would attend the New Years tournament in BC. Guess that’s another reason for considering a new pit crew.