Monday, June 17, 2013

The Weekend Report - Just Heartbreaking

Well, another agility trial is behind us. This one was given by the Mattaponi Kennel Club. Now, if you remember my last Weekend Report , Jimmy had a bad scare due to the A/C vent. This weekend's trial was held at the same spot. I was hoping, hoping, hoping Jimmy wouldn't be holding onto the fear he felt last time. Unfortunately, he not only held on to it, it festered. As soon as I got him out of the car, he knew this was the scary place. He did not want to enter the building. I let him crate out of the car since it was early morning and not too hot yet.  I brought him inside as close to our run as possible and he was shaking just like last time. I  hoped he would work through it like last time and once in the ring his love of agility would help him through. He took four jumps into a tunnel....and didn't come out. No amount of coaxing would get him out, so I had to crawl into the tunnel to grab his collar. I carried him off course and out of the building. I can't describe how I felt.

Our Jumpers run was fairly soon and on the other side of the building. Over there, his fear was noticeably less, but still with him. I decided to give it another go just to see what he would do. It was a really hard course and I didn't care at all about Qing. I just wanted to see if he could hold it together. And he did! He even pulled off a Q!

This gave me hope for Sunday, but alas, the Standard ring still held its menace. It was almost identical, a couple of jumps and fleeing into a tunnel to hide. I am just so heartbroken over this. I hated seeing him reduced to a quivering wreck all because of bad timing and an A/C vent noise. If he hadn't heard that damn scary vent noise, he'd still be as right as rain. I managed to keep it together as I got him back to his crate (on the safe side of the building), but I do confess to getting teary while I sat with him. Funny how you can get so emotional over "just a game". Both of us have put a lot of heart and soul into getting this far. I can only hope he won't take this fear to another building. The fact that he ran his Jumpers course again on Sunday (just one bar down, but he stayed with me and ran) seems like a good sign. I'll hold on to that as a good omen.

Before we headed home, Jimmy had a 30 minute massage. Naturally, he had a good bit of tension to work out, but no ouchy spots. By the end of the session, he had relaxed into lying flat on his side. It lightened my heart just a bit to see he could let go enough for that.

We've got another trial next weekend, thankfully in a different location. I wouldn't be going otherwise. I'll have my answer soon enough. Then nothing for a full month. Probably a very good thing.

Here's a picture of Jim when scary thunder-like noises were far from his mind.....


17 comments:

  1. I've got my fingers crossed and Teach has his paws crossed that this is only temporary and he'll bounce back next weekend. Jimmy doing so well in the jumpers is a fantastic sign that all is not lost. If you have somewhere to run through some jumps into tunnels on the break from trials I would take advantage of it especially if its a place he loves.

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  2. Oh, that's hard. Rita has a lot of fears so I know how hard it is to watch them be afraid of something that we know won't hurt them. But I think the fact that he did the Jumper run fine is definitely a good sign. Hopefully the next run in a different building will be fine and he'll have his love of it fully back!

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  3. Oh that must have been very disappointing for you. Poor Jimmy. Let's hope he will be OK at other events. Sounds like he will. Have a marvellous Monday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  4. oh Im so sorry you had a bad run. I know EXACTLY how this feels - the emotions are similar to showing horses. I hope you too can work it out and Jimmy can put his fears to rest.

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  5. If only...I know that feeling well. Like Rebecca, we have fingers (two) and paws (10--we only cross the front ones:) crossed for Jimmy's next run to be fear-free.

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  6. Brought tears to my eyes just thinking about it! I am confident that you can work through this problem and bring back the happy Jimmy. Susan and I worked with another exhibitor's girl who was having issues in the show ring and made big improvements in one day. I'm sure you will be able to do the same! Hugs.

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  7. Poor Jimmy :( I would be near tears too.

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  8. HUGS. I understand completely. Is this a building you can visit in the interim between now and the next trial to just hang out and hopefully relax? Poor Jim, prayers he can work through this.

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  9. It takes patience and time but I think you can get Jimmy back on track. Keep working at it and don't give up.

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  10. so sorry that happened but i know everything will get back together and you will be doing great

    urban hounds

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  11. I am so sorry to hear this. Jimmy is near to all of our hearts.

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  12. Paws crossed for next time! Maybe he can conquer his fear.

    XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy

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  13. So sorry to hear that Jimmy didn't get over his fears in time. I guess it goes to show that he's smart, because he can remember the scary place. I hope the fear's only temporary and that he'll be the speedy corgi that he is in no time at all! Maybe invest in a ThunderShirt?

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  14. Oh noes. Sorry Jimmy. You have a pawsome Moms, and I thinks with time and her loves you will be conquering that course in no time (pun!)!!
    {{{{hugs}}}}
    Kisses,
    Ruby

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  15. poor Jimmy, poor you! as someone who sometimes struggles a bit with anxiety, i really feel for him.

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  16. So sorry for both of you, but I especially feel for poor Jimmy. I hope you are able to help him with his fear.

    Susan and Wrigs

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