USDAA Nationals Preview

The running order lists for USDAA Nationals (in 2 weeks! How time flies...) are out.

• There are 905 dogs entered in one or more classes. No wonder it feels like a zoo/cattle-call/4-ring circus.
• There are 492 dogs entered in the Steeplechase, which last year was the equivalent of the semifinals; about the top 30 dogs (I think--maybe fewer) in each height category (4 groups) went on to the finals. I'd like to be one of them.
  Last year, we knocked a bar, but if we hadn't, our speed would have put us very close.
• There are 359 dogs in the Grand Prix quarterfinals. Last year half of them in each height group went on to the semifinals. I'd like to be one of them.
  Last year, Tika knocked a bar but still missed by only 2 dogs (argh!). So if she'd been a second faster, we'd have gone on anyway.
• There are 200 Dog Agility Master 3-dog teams entered. I believe that something like 20 teams went on to the finals. Sigh. I'm not on a speedy or particularly accurate team this year (well--at least one dog is more reliable than Tika, but is sometimes beaten in speed by Jake. So we'll provide the speed, they'll provide the accuracy...). We'll be there. We'll compete. We'll do OK probably but maybe not even in the top half. That's OK, they're good friends and I'll enjoy spending time with them and comparing notes.
  Last year, Tika and I mucked up repeatedly in the team events. I hope that this year my head is more together.