Ann Perkins and I competed in our second AKC National Agility Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma this month! We finished 74th, which, compared to last year, was worse (we finished 18th last year) but we finished and we had a great time and 74th in the NATION is still not so bad, right?
It took us 2 and a half days to drive out there and we stayed in a cute little Air BNB just near the venue. It was great because we could come back between runs and chill for a sec.
We had 2 clean runs out of the 3 that counted. Ann ran super fast and confident and that’s all I can ask of her.
Have you ever participated in a national competition of any sort? It’s pretty intense. Everyone is hyped and in our case, all the dogs are hyped and there are over 1200 dogs present. In one place. Then you wait and wait until it’s your turn. Once they scan your tag into the system, you are the next one on the line. It feels like the ride attendant just locked your harness in on some crazy roller coaster and you wanna yell at them and say you want to get off but you don’t have time and then you step into the ring because IT’S YOUR TURN. Your heart is racing and you know your teammate can feel it and I can feel her heart racing too. Then you let the beast run her heart out and hope you don’t forget where the roller coaster is supposed to go. Then, just like a roller coaster, it’s over in a matter of less than a minute and you want to cry because clean run or not, you have a dog that is happy to run with you and do whatever you ask and trusts you with her life. And then you turn around and do it again because we are all adrenaline junkies. – even the dog. 
I am so lucky to have Ann Perkins as my teammate. She is my everything. #machannperkins#akcnac2023#dogagilityquest#streetdogrescue#akcnationalagilitychampionships
Attached are the photos from the event. Photos by Great Dane Photos.
