WLAOTC - Top Dog 2000

An Instant Precious Memory
By Meda Whitley
Dedicated to our 2000 WLA Top Dog Team

Twinkle came aboard our Utility team at almost the 11th hour. She was lacking in ring experience, but was steadily showing promise and had recently qualified in fine style. We were both eager to try. Although much would happen in the ring that day to test our progress as a team, it would be the directed jumping exercise which would prove to be a test of courage and trust.

I went back later, after the judging in my Utility ring was finished. I knelt down behind the bar jump to see what the picture might look like if you were only about twelve-and-one-half inches high. My eyes quickly discovered the "sight picture" that had probably given my green utility dog so much trouble. A jungle of chair legs from the chairs placed in the adjoining Utility rings for the handlers to place their articles on seemed to blend in with the bar. A virtual visual puzzle for small dogs to sort out.

We would be the last on our team to work, so all eyes were on us. After completing the Moving Stand we moved into position for our first go out. The judge asked me the usual question, "Are you ready?" I nodded my head and held my breath slightly as I anticipated the unknown.. Then, "Go" I told her, and Twinkle exploded away from my side straight down the middle of the ring. "Well done," I thought, my heart singing as I gave her the sit command. She completed the first half of the exercise by taking the correct jump, the solid jump on my right. Her second go out was a repeat of the first one, perfectly executed on the single word, "Go." But the unexpected happened and the exercise would be flawed.

When I gave the command and signal for the second jump, the bar on my left, Twinkle remained frozen in place. Her puzzled expression clearly asked "What?" I held my signal and willed her to move. She bravely got up and began to run, but I could tell that her angle of approach would not be acute enough to take her over the bar. The jump would elude her that day, but her courage would not. She continued to travel in that strange, not quite correct direction, moving on faith alone. As she drew near, I knelt down and held out my arms, and could her the applause as she flew into them. Someone handed me her lead, and I slipped it on while savoring what was an instanct precious memory.

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