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Record high temperatures and humidity in Anchorage, Alaska made this season’s first trial more stressful than usual.  Saturday June 26^th was the fifth day of temperatures in the 80s with no end in sight.  Our Judge, Doug Deacon, and Jim, who laid most of the tracks, were at the field at 5AM.  We started tracking at 6AM hoping to be finished with the trial before the day got too hot.  The grass was long and heavy with dew, but little of the precious liquid had reached the ground, which made for interesting tracking conditions.  After tracking we headed straight for the obedience and protection field, still trying to beat the heat.

Kelly S. and Kasina Vom Haus Grossen Hund started their TR 3 track strongly, but when the track got close to the edge of the field, Kassina sensed something sinister in the trees and lost focus on the track.  She finished with a 70 score.  At the start of her TR 2 track, Prinzessin Zena Vom Schlacht gave her handler, Jeanine, a severe case of heartburn by lifting her head and wandering around.  A couple of “suc” commands got her going though and she settled in for a score of 90, which turned out to be high tracking score.  Chris and Chrilo's Kona Nut Jones had a good track except for missing an article.  The mandatory point deduction brought their SchH 3 tracking score to 76.  Youth member, Bryan, and Ricochet von Talarik (Ric) struggled with the long grass and difficult conditions.  Bryan’s cool handling brought Ric through the SchH 1 track with a 73.

The other two teams did not fare as well for reasons known only to dogs.  Liv and Nicko Vom Barock Schlossle just couldn’t get started and received no points on their SchH 2 track.  Veteran team Jim and Kayoz Vom Diener (Oz) started strong, but at the first corner, Oz decided she had done enough and would not continue.  Fifteen points were earned in her efforts on the SchH 3 track.

The temperature climbed into the high seventies as we made our way to Pena Soccer Field for obedience and protection.  Bryan and Ric were up first for SchH 1 with Jeanine and Zena on the long down for their OB 2.  Startled by the gunfire, Ric ran off the field and Bryan was unable to call him back, new behavior for Ric.  While Bryan and Ric were dismissed, Jeanine and Zena took a break in the shade at the edge of the field and waited for Liv and Nicko to partner with them.   After checking in again, Jeanine and Zena resumed their long down while Liv and Nicko did a good job in obedience for 86 points. 

After a faultless long down, Jeanine and Zena were doing well until the dumbbell work.  Zena hit the one meter hurtle hard when returning with the dumbbell.  Then when she started for the six-foot wall, she looked back at Jeanine with an “I don’t think so” expression on her face and retrieved the dumbbell without scaling the wall either direction.  A mandatory 15 points were lost for that show of disobedience and the team finished their OB 2 with 75 points.

The two SchH 3 teams did well in their obedience.  Oz and Jim gave a very good performance which was a joy to watch and earned 91 points.  Their deductions came from some loss of attentiveness as well as a little chewing on the dumbbells.   Kona and Chris lost points for forging, but the team put together a sporty showing for a total of 90 points.

Liv and Nicko were up first for protection.  After circling one blind, Nicko charged to the live blind for a nice bark and hold.  He bothered the helper a bit at various places, and earned 80 points in protection.  Jim and Oz performed a nice routine, but shallow grips cost them eight points for a total of 92.  Chris and Kona also had difficulty with the blinds, but overall Kona gave a strong performance with 93 points, and a total score of 259, which was high in obedience, protection and trial.