Rhythym and the A-frameMy greys on the game get quite grumpy when we are training in the "working" category - you know, dull stuff like wearing a harness and object identification, not fun stuff like Chase. Which reminded me of how much Rhythm, my black hound, hated anything that smacked of "work". If it was fuzzy and required chasing, it was great fun. If it came with a leash and involved a bunch of dogs going in a circle while some lady shouted at us, it was not fun. I thought she might at least like agility. I was showing my Sheltie in Agility at the time and he was having a blast. So I took Rhythym to an Agility clinic. Leaving the Sheltie home. She liked that. She was rather intensely jealous of the Sheltie. So off we go. She watched the demonstration and the first few dogs quietly folded into my lap, her head draped over my shoulder. Sigh. Boring. Then she is called up to do her turn. Jumping was okay. The tunnel was...weird, but if it makes Mom happy. Then we got to the A-frame. She looks up it, rolling those big brown eyes back in her head. A treat was placed at the top. She'd do a lot for a treat. Slowly, she scrambled to the top. Then SCREAMED. AND SCREAMED. AND SCREAMED. Looked down, shook so hard she almost trembled herself off the top. AND SCREAMED. Trying to turn around without moving her feet, she got a toe pinches in the top. And then she REALLY SCREAMED. Those of you who have greys, probably know that a frightened grey sounds like a woman being stabbed to death. By now, of course, we have everyone's full attention. I freed her little pinched toe. But by now, no amount of coaxing or sweet talk was going to get her to move. Or stop screaming. *blush* Finally, I climbed up the A-frame to the top and sat down with her. Rhythm stuck her head under my chin and trembled some more. I took her in my arms and folded her long legs up (she was the incredible fold down hound). She draped her long neck over my shoulder, head hanging down my back. Although she was a small hound, I am an even smaller human, being only 5 feet tall. Then with all the dignity I could muster, since everyone was watching us, I wiggled on my butt down the A-frame until I could get my feet on the matt and stand up. My big hound snuggled into my arms, hiding her face under my arm, we slunk off a bit shame-faced. Thus ended Rhythym's career as an agility dog ;)
|