Archie Update: Going to the Invitational

Archie and I have been working on our agility teamwork and handling these past few months. He is on his way to a MACH--he has 14 of the 20 double Qs required, and more than enough points. We stalled out this summer because I was pushing him too hard. I took a long break from trialing and spent the past couple of months focusing on training.

I'm not sure we will get that MACH. It will be a big accomplishment if we do. There are not many smooth fox terriers with that agility title. 

Our next big adventure is coming up in just a couple of weeks. We are off to Orlando for the AKC Agility Invitational. Going to the Invitational was definitely on my bucket list for Archie. After he advanced to the number 2 position in his breed this summer, I decided this was the year to go. Three years ago he was in the number 11 spot, and last year he was number 5. I didn't go last year but now that I'm vaccinated to the eyeballs and he's moved up so quickly in the rankings, I decided this was the year. He may qualify again in future years but I will only take him once. It's an expensive dog show and it eats up a lot of my paid leave. 

I went to the Invitational with Iz back in 2006. It was in San Diego that year. Boy, things have changed a lot in the past 15 years! For starters, there will be a lot more dogs there. As a result, there are many more rules and organizational fiddly bits that I have to keep track of. It was a big dog show back in 2006, and it's even bigger now in 2021. 

The Invitational is an interesting event. Only the top 5 dogs in each AKC recognized breed who are actively competing in AKC agility are invited. If any of those dogs decline, AKC moves down the list. To qualify for the AKC Agility Nationals, you have to be the best in your height class. Archie jumps 16" so he competes against small border collies and other fast dog breeds. Still, he's quite good and he qualified for Nationals this year (I didn't go). To qualify for the Invitational, you have to be the best in your breed. So "best" is somewhat relative. If there are only three of your breed doing AKC agility, you can be quite shitty at agility and still get an invite to the Invitational. 

As a result, the Invitational can be a mixed bag. You will see Basset Hounds, Elk Hounds, teacup Chihuahuas, Saint Bernards, and all manner of tiny mop dogs who somehow, somehow, still manage to knock down bars that are only 4 inches from the ground. You will see living examples of dogs that you've only seen before in books. And I can assure you, some of these dogs, both breed and individual, should not be doing agility in any form. But they will be there. 

One of the benefits of attending such a ginormous dog show is the vendoring. It should be magnificent! I've got some specialty items on my shopping list already. Bulk bags of freeze-dried lamb lung? Check. Real fur tugs in a thousand different permutations? Check. German steel thinning shears? Check. Hand-made leather collars? Check.

I have an "agility trial packing list" that I print out about a week before each trial we attend. I meticulously cross off each item when it is completed and/or packed into the van. Trim toenails. Take out the trash. Dog bedding for trial crates, car crates, and hotel. Bathe and groom the dog. 

The last bit may seem odd, but Archie stands out. He's got striking markings, and he's an unusual breed. Archie gets noticed. It would not reflect well on me (or his breeder) if I showed up to a trial with a scruffy, dirty terrier. As a result, he gets a bath 4 days before any trial, and is thoroughly groomed from nose to asshole 2 days before any trial. That schedule will have to be adjusted this time since we will be on the road for two days just to get to Orlando.

Lots of planning and packing. Always more training to be done. It's going to be an adventure.

It's Been A While...Time For A Recipe!

The blog post count for the past couple of years has been pretty low. But I'm not ready to toss this baby out with the bathwater, not quite yet.

So today, you get my recipe for Trailer Park Chicken and Dumplings. Or should that be Dumplin's? This is my own variation of a more complicated recipe. Tasty. Cheap. Makes a lot of food.

 

Ingredients

1.5 lb boneless chicken thighs

1 onion

bouillon (I use Better Than Bouillon Roasted Garlic Base)

flour

4-5 carrots

flour 

can of ready-to-bake biscuits (I use Trader Joe's Buttermilk Biscuits)

Instructions

1. Coarsely chop the onion and saute in olive oil until soft. Scrape the onion into a slow cooker.

2. Add 4 cups warm water and 2 Tbsp bouillon. Turn slow cooker to high setting. Sprinkle in 3 Tbsp flour. Whisk gently until smooth. 

3. In the same saucepan, brown the chicken thighs. They don't need to be cooked through, just browned on the outside. Scrape the pan into the slow cooker, including all of that delicious chicken fat. Stir gently.

4. Cook at the high setting for 1 hour.

5. Chop the carrots into rounds. Add to the slow cooker. Add thyme (dried, or fresh leaves finely chopped) and black pepper to taste. If the liquid needs a little more thickening, you can add another tablespoon of flour. Do this carefully to avoid lumps. You won't be able to whisk the lumps out now. Stir, and cook for another 20 minutes.

6. Open the can of biscuits and gently lay the biscuits on top of the liquid in the slow cooker. They will touch each other. Gently press the biscuits down with a spoon until they are submerged/covered. Make sure they aren't sticking to the sides of the slow cooker. Cook for another 20-30 minutes.

7. The canned biscuits will be cooked through and puffed up but will not brown.