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Publisher’s message: National Rally Championship, here we come

(A special thank you to Burrill Strong for these photos and to Bridget Favre for the ad design.)

I’ve probably rewritten this column 10 times during the last two weeks as Buzz gets ready for the 5th Annual National Rally Championship a week from today, June 29.

My thoughts and attitude have bounced around as much as Buzz’s energy levels. But I think we’re both on the same page these days.

(As many of you know, Buzz was diagnosed with Lyme Disease this spring. He’s had two treatments of megadose antibiotics and the first of two Lyme Disease vaccines. And although some days he’s not as energetic as others, we’re trained at Buzz’s pace and on his terms.)

This whole unexpected health diagnosis has forced me to re-evaluate a lot of things, including this year’s Championships.

On the plus side, I’m better prepared than last year since I’ve done this once already. We’ve competed in quite a few dog shows leading up to this year’s National Championships, which means more ring experience and different venues. And we’ve competed against, beaten and lost to, some really good dog-and-handler teams.

I know to spend a lot more time studying and learning the courses, which we will receive the night before. (Let’s just say that last year, I thought I was “all that,” and kinda looked them over, but didn’t take the time I should have to really study them. Then I screwed up a sign, which knocked us out of the running.)

And, I’ll be sure I eat a good dinner the night before. Last year, I tried to save money on food expenses and ended up at a horrible place with food that was barely edible.

Plus, I was REALLY nervous last year. With lots more classes shown since then, I’m getting a lot better about that, and, there are some new, high energy tunes on my ipod to listen to before I compete.

With all that said, Buzz’s health scare earlier this year put this one-day competition in a new perspective for me.

There are 149 dog-and-handler teams entered in our class. We will be competing against the very best of the best on the highest level. There will be better and worse dog and handler teams out there competing. I’ve done all I can to be ready and will try my hardest to do the best job I can to assist my partner. And not screw up any signs. Smile.

One thing that hasn’t changed is that this year is my redemption tour. As long as I don’t mess up, Buzz will do fine. The scores will be what they will be. I’m fine with that.

But I’m also going to remind myself to stay in and enjoy every moment. I want to have fun and laugh and enjoy the experience because you never know if this will be the last one for us.

So, even though this is our Olympics, there’s a lot of luck involved as well. No matter how much you train, stuff happens that you can’t predict and you just have to think and act quickly to any adversity. And do the best job you can.

After all, it’s one day in our life. Buzz is my beloved pet first, and a competition dog second.

The trust and relationship I’ve built with this dog over the years is so much more important than competing on a national stage.  Just qualifying for this competition is a huge honor and I need to remember that. There’s a special bond that you develop with a dog when you’ve trained him for hours and hours and hours during the last five years and I need to enjoy that, too.

Plus, let’s not forget that I wasn’t truly feeling it — pushing through the pain of the fatty tumor I had on my leg last year — while we competed for our Rally Master title. That turned out just fine.

Buzz was the second dog in the country to achieve the title and the first Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever to get it. (Thus the ad included at the start of this column). I know no matter how he’s feeling, he’ll give it everything he has, and I’ll be thrilled with that.

So, Chelsea, I’m asking you to send healthy and positive thoughts toward Wilmington, Ohio on Friday, June 29.

The adventure begins with the competitors walking the four courses will compete on at (yawn) 7:30 a.m. Then we’ll show four times in one day.

I’ll end this column the way I start each course when we compete: “Let’s goooo.”

Buzz, I love you to the moon and back. We got this. 

And Chelsea, we’ll do our very best to make you proud, too.

Photo by Nancy Jennings. Buzz at the 2017 Rally National Championships in Perry, GA. This year we’ll be in Wilmington, Ohio.
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