Spencer did amazingly well. We did three different events (USDAA):

1. Performance I Standard :: Third Place - the third place was completely my fault. I sent him through the weave poles the wrong way. I was so worried about him doing the weave poles that my brain just completely blanked out. We got 25 fault points because of this. Everything else went perfectly, though we were about nine seconds over the course time. His first run ever in any type of competition!

2. Performance I Gamblers :: First Place, plus a "Q" - This is a game event where you have to pick a sequence of obstacles (each is given a point value) that if completed successfully will add up to at least 12 points. The dog and handler are given 30 seconds to accumulate points. Then after the 30 seconds expire, there is a sequence of obstacles that the dog runs and the handler is limited by a line on the ground as to how close they can get to the dog or the obstacles. This sequence must be done in less than 15 seconds and is considered the "gamble". Successfully completed it's worth 20 points.

Spencer finished with 38 points (18 + 20) and was under time so he received first place and a Qualifying score. The accumulation of qualifying scores is what leads to titles and movement into the higher levels of competition.

3. Performance I Jumpers :: First Place - This is a course of all jumps and maybe one or two other obstacles. Our course had 14 jumps and one tunnel. We had one five point fault because Spencer ran past the jump, then jumped over it the wrong way. We ran the course in 38 seconds which was under the course time (I think there was a mistake on the times listed, so his time may have been over the course time. They were fixing this as we left).

All in all, he did amazing. He's my boy.

The Smooch. I'm so proud of him!