The start of this month saw Darkleys last KC show of the year, our first Grade 3 show. So I was excited to see how we compared to the other grade 3 dogs. Everything was normal for a show day. Set alarm for a stupidly early time, alarm doesnt go off, panic, get ready in record time, throw everything in the car, make sure you have the dogs and head to the show. (pretty much what happens with me anyways!) I walked the course, got Darkley ready. Brought him new treats and lined up like normal. After the second jump it all felt a bit...wrong. Darkley was running at half speed and struggling to focus. He then knocked a pole, which is unlike him. Then another, then he didnt even take off and skidded through a jump, taking most of it with him. I stopped him in his tracks and took him out the ring...he was bouncing about in front of me and trying to hug the judge as normal but something was "wrong".
I checked him over best I could and couldn't see anything wrong. I rested him up for a bit then took him for a run off lead to see if he was walking/running/acting like normal. He seemed his normal self, bouncing about the field being naughty.
The next class was a very simple course. I decided to run him to see how he was, as the other ring was really slippy. He went clear but was a lot slower then normal. I was very confused! We then tried the agility and after the 3rd obstacle he started to wander about and not focus so I pulled him out and we decided to go home. We went home with a 9th in the comb 1-3 jumping though bless him!
At home he was sleepy, looking for more cuddles then normal but was eating etc all fine, He then took himself to bed...which he has never done. It then clicked that a few days before he had gotten his boosters at the vets...I am guessing he was feeling a bit rough from them! Never had any issues before so it hadn't entered my mind they may be effecting him. He seemed back to normal the next day...shouting at my poor aunts tortoise and playing with my cousins children. I rested him for the next week just in case though.
This weekend we were at a winter league show that takes place between our club as some other local clubs. Darkley loves these shows as there are so many people we know at them! I wasn't sure how he would do but he got 1st in the 1-3 agility and 2nd in the 1-3 jumping!
We are in the middle of having two weeks off agility, we both need a little break. We don't have any shows till mid November either as Darkley is going in to have his glands flushed.(an ongoing issue!) Even though its not a huge procedure I wanted to give him lots time to recover just in case.
Will update soon when we have some news!
