12/07/2025
I have finally gotten caught up with my bookkeeping at work, and caught up with my sleep so I will give you my report of the AKC National Rally Competition that Emily, Kelly and I attended in Gray Smmitt, Mo.
The drive was beautiful and rather uneventful through New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and finally Missouri. To keep ourselves occupied, Emily and I spent our time identifying and keeping tack of dead critters on the side of the road. Armadillos won with a total of nine. I thought they lived mostly in Texas, but boy was I wrong!
Emily with her Corgi, Honey and Kelly with her Standard Poodle, Falkor both showed the first two days. I could not have been prouder of these two young ladies and their dogs. There were scores of 100, and 95. They each ran their dogs three times. The crowds at ringside were amazing. There was all kinds of noise and even one German Shepherd who decided to leave its handler jumping over the ring gates, going through two other rings, which had other dog and handlers exhibiting and all the way back to its crate! All the while people were screaming “Loose Dog!” The girls were not shaken at all.
Hailey and I did not show until Friday and Saturday. We showed four times. We started with what became a very common score of 90, due to a sign called send to jump, which also had the broad jump. Next time in 100! The next day my head was being taken over with thoughts of my brother, who was in hospice. My head did not want to be in those rings. We walked out of the ring with a very questionable 88. I still think it should have been a 98, so I will never show under that judge again. It was not just my run that was questionable, but several. So between my brother’s situation and my anger, I decided to be marked absent for my last run.
Early Monday morning I got the I got the call I was dreading. Ken had passed away. This trip was the hardest I have been on in all my years on the road. I am glad to be home. Enjoy a few photos!
