Echo was trained through CDX level obedience, but due to new and inventive ways to NQ each time, he failed each of the 8-10 times he was entered. But, boy, he looked beautiful for every one of the other exercises. His most often used tactic was to perform and pass every exercise with a very high score right up to the broad jump....and then he would seem to say,
"Ah, who needs to jump over that thing when my mommy is right over here.....Hi Mommy...I sit in front. Aren't I good?"
Agility was the same way. If anyone saw him at the St. Paul shows in, I think 2001, he completely and literally crashed his way through the course, breaking 3 pieces of agility equipment along the way. He was very, very fast that day.
He knocked every bar off the jumps breaking one, went through the first tunnel twice because it was the wrong way the first time, hurled himself over every single contact zone, slid off the other side of the table with all his toenails trying to find purchase with no hope, leapt back onto the table like a border collie and smiled madly at me during the 5 count, then hit the A-frame with such force it rocked, and I seriously think he jumped from the top of it, hit the ground and with one more leap, he cracked that silly broad jump he loves so much when he jumped right ON it instead of over it, rolled the second tunnel into a little girl on her daddy's lap sitting just outside the gates, and finished by crashing onto and off of the teeter with such force that it broke the weights off the end of it.
As I left the course with me very naughty dog, a mob of course setters shaking their heads converged onto the assaulted course to assess the damage. It took 15 minutes to repair or replace the equipment. The judge was not happy.
But the audience, which was brimming with hundreds of people including the balcony, thoroughly enjoyed Echo's performance. The entire time gasping out "Ooh's and Ahh's and Oh no's and laughing hysterically...which Echo heard plain and clear as encouragment to continue with his rampage. He clearly had no remorse.
I have to admit that while I knew it was a horrible run of unbridled naughtiness, I smiled right back at him during that 5 count on the table. I really loved him at that moment. He is the happiest dog in the world and if he wants to share that with the whole crowd, it's not the worst thing that could happen.
It was always fun to show Echo in obedience and agility.....the title wasn't important.
The ride was.
We had a blast.
Some of Echo's achievements:
Echo finally gets his 1st Novice Agility Leg in 2006 without breaking any equipment!
First place in Grad. Novice at the Sept. Cluster 2004
May 2003
Echo finishes his Companion Dog Title with 4th place at the Mason City show.
With his usual flair, Echo adds a 4th leg at Marshalltown with a score of 195.5 and SECOND PLACE! Woo-Hoo Echo! On to OPEN!!
NEW CHAMPION!!
ECHO Finished May 11th, 2002 with a 2 point win from the Bred-by class.
April 2002
Best of Breed in Grove, OK. for 1 point.
January 2002
4th Place in Open Yellow at LRCTC
BEST OF WINNERS at Chain 'O Lakes Kennel Club for Echo's 2nd 3 Point Major win
October 2001
Passed the Working Certificate Test at the National
September 2001
2nd Place in Open Yellow at the LRCTC Specialty
August 2001
Winners Dog for 2 points at the Greater Hickory KC in North Carolina
April 2001
Echo finished his Started Retriever title AND took a GROUP 4 at the Heart of Iowa KC Show.
Echo finished his Championship May 11th, 2002.
Echo's first Major...
Echo won his first Major with style, going Best of Winners. He continued his winning ways by taking a GROUP 4 April, 2001
