Here is the big hodgepodge of JP’s ribbons, awards, and whathaveyou. First is the title ribbon JP earned for Coursing. I have yet to find something big enough to display it in so it’s just on the bookcase. Next are all his little qualifying ribbons from events (conformation, herding, coursing). One is crooked because it sits on the floor and JP knocked it over (I don’t want to punch anymore holes it the wall to hang it!). I have a case for his STAR Puppy and Canine Good Citizen necklaces as well. Then I have his pedigree and a picture from herding framed. And lastly, a portrait of JP painted by a good friend.

I am a very very proud corgi mom. Now I just need something from agility!!

Some pictures taken by the event photographer, Gary Depp of In Motion Photography.I’m going to buy some prints and frame them with his ribbon. As you can see, despite the fact that Kev and I didn’t have much fun, JP had a BLAST. And ultimately that’s what’s important.

HERDING YESTERDAY WAS A BUST.

So, we decided instead of waking up early to get to the event site we’d get a hotel nearby instead. We had to be there by 8am and its a 2 hr drive - last time it was pretty exhausting. That part of the plan was fine. Upon entering the room, JP immediately jumped on the bed, turned around and looked at us like, “Awesome! So, where are you guys gonna sleep?”

But once we actually got to the site, it was pretty miserable. It was really cold. Even the corgis were shivering. And everyone was extra tense because there was some kind of AKC representative on-site to observe. People were worried the AKC lady was going to get them in trouble if they messed anything up during the event. No one wanted to talk. Even JP’s awesome roll-over skillz didn’t win any smiles. Plus everyone left their dogs in their cars so there weren’t even cute corgis running around to cheer up the place. The whole event felt stiff and sour.

To top it off the judge was a grump! He kept telling Kevin to keep JP from barking during his test. Um, hello, corgis bark. That is how they herd, dude. Then the judge took JP’s lead and yanked it…and pulled JP’s collar right off his head. So my corgi was running around the pen naked, being yelled at by the judge, herding sheep. He was so excited to be herding that he ignored the judge and Kevin. I think JP would have managed better with a different judge and I think he performed well. We did pass the test, so there’s that. Kevin also ended up having to tackle JP. Unfortunately I did not get  video of that.

After we did our run we grabbed our ribbon and left. I felt really disappointed because this was the same club that hosted that awesome Corgi Agility Fun day we did a year ago. That event was awesome. This one just felt like a waste of time a money ($35 entry fee for one test!!). JP has already gotten 2 passing scores on Instinct Tests, so he’s earned the title. We just wanted to have fun. Instead, I felt like we crossed a chore off our to-do list.

My emotional state on the way home is: EH.

JP, not paying a bit of attention to the task at hand.

For the coursing, they had three plastic bags tied to the line. Just sitting there, they held no interest to him. Once they started moving, JP paid more attention!

BARK! BARK BARK BARK!