Ah Molly, well - it was a learning experience.
First, Scout and I. We almost had a leg on Friday, but she got up from the long down. My instructor says she's always nervous about the long sit and down, even with those dogs that seem to be 100% consistent with that in training. Novice A was first thing Friday morning, and they were still doing set up for the show. Someone hit a metal door that was right next to Scout - big boom. First time she just flinched, second time she got up, her and the dog next to her. The judge said "we lost 2 at the end" when she was announcing the results. Saturday and Sunday - we were later in the day and to do it over again, I would leave Scout outside or at home - go back and pick her up - if possible. She was hot and tired when it came time for us to trial. I thought it would be good for her to be with me so she'd get really comfortable with all that was going on. New experience and environment. But instead she was tired, physically and mentally. She was just laying at my feet most of the time, but it was too much. Wrong call on my part. On Saturday the judge said "you have a nice girl there, but she looks kind of tired". She lagged too much on the off lead heel. Sunday - handler error. I forgot to tell her to wait on the recall, and she followed me!
So we didn't get any legs, but it was a great learning experience. We'll train some more, get some help from our instructor, and pick a show in late summer early fall to try again! And next time we'll do one day, not 3. Take it slower.
I loved the show! I watched hours of the obedience trials and I'm so pumped to keep training and go further. A friend from training, she and her lab got their 3rd leg of her CDX, and they got a first place ribbon! I took pictures and it was such a thrill to watch them finish up this title - they were almost flawless. It was a little bittersweet because now we won't be training together, but I was so happy for them. I also saw a Rottie and his owner get a HIT - they were competing in Novice B - 198! And the Utility trials - wow. I've never seen any trials before and rarely seen dogs and handlers training for utility, it was so interesting to watch this level of obedience. And I saw Scout's breeder get some wins in the conformation ring, so all in all it was a great weekend.
The positives for Scout. Last year, after Scout's last knee surgery (knees are 100% now), Scout was not comfortable at times, fear reactions. She had long periods of down time rehabbing after surgeries, and pain before them. She wasn't comfortable sometimes with younger kids - especially when they ran near her, those unpredictable fast movements. New situations just seemed to spook her. And she was bitten by a small dog a year ago, had to be hospitalized for an abscess that developed where she was bitten. This weekend Scout was back to her old happy self, she didn't seem one bit concerned with all the little dogs around us. She was nose to nose with a little girl at one point, giving her kisses. That moment was worth more than a HIT for me. Don't get me wrong, I want to continue and getting a HIT one day would be wonderful, but to see Scout happy and comforable again - oh it was wonderful!
Thanks everyone for the advice, and Connie - your hints were very good! I was my most stressed the first day - I remembered what you said about dogs ahead of me. Some people got caught off guard, not ready because the dogs ahead of them didn't show that day. That was a very good heads up!