Team Practice Day

Wow! Today was an amazing team day. Now as Slice and I sit in the pub to recount the day she is sprawled out and sleeping beside me.

Our day started with official team photos at the hotel in full uniform. Everyone looked so sharp, even the dogs. One of the sponsors made customized leashes for each dog. Slice's fit perfectly around her wee wee neck.

When team photos were done we all hopped on the bus and headed to the venue. This was our first chance to see all the equipment and the venue itself. What a massive and lovely venue! We got all our benching set up and Canadianized then off for a team tour to see where everything was. The equipment is awesome and colorful but the biggest difference we see is the dirt surface. It really isn't dirt but a mixture of sand, fabric, lint for lack of a better word. It resembles the stuff in some shipping envelopes or dryer lint. Soft and cushy to run on and not dusty at all. We were briefed by the master course manager on the process that will get us in the ring as well as when we are on live video and when we are not. I was not nervous until we spent 20 minutes with him!

Tour over and off we go into the ring to get the dogs on the equipment. We had two hours as a team to practice different sequences and faniliarize with the equipment. Being the only small dog, Slice and I had a lot of time to practice the teeter and dogwalk. Not sure why I was so worried coming in about that because clearly she doesn't care. The teeter is heavy but tips at a great speed for her. By the time practice was over the entire team was exhausted, dogs and handlers.

While we were practicing the team management decorated our crating area with beautiful posters of each dog with a motivational quote we live by. Such a simple touch but so important. Slice is making an impact wherever she goes and after practice people were stopping us around every corner to chat and pet her. Such a trouper she is.

After practice we head off to the grocery store to make sure we all have the food we need to get through the weekend. Funny watching people getting on the bus with bags and bags of groceries. It was quite amusing shopping in another country. So many neat things to choose from.

Back from a team dinner at a restaurant down the road and it is definately time for bed. Intense day tomorrow so a good nights sleep is a must.