Cutter Joins Our Blog

Sarah Mairs-Heaslip & her young, male, Golden Retriever, Cutter, making his Nationals debut.





Following the video a few photos from the beach at one of our vacation stops together after National's. Bungee & Guinness are in a group shot at the end near a lobster trap we found washed up on a deserted beach on P.E.I.

Sarah runs the agility program at Tamsu Learning Center, where we train 3 nights a week and some time more. Sarah's father John, runs the obedience program as well as owning and founding the school 20+ years ago. Tamsu is like our 2nd home, at least I'm sure all the dogs think so!

Back to Mr. Cutter...I think he is Bungee's favorite playmate, after her "brother" Guinness. He was our stud of choice in our early hopes for Ketchy. He is a phenomenal dog. Starting his agility career running 7 y.p.s., the sky's the limit for him. Our biggest congratulations to Sarah, Cutter, Gabby & Jiggy on all their successes at National's. Great as he is, the big 1st place silver bowl in the awards pictures actually belongs to Cutter's mother, Gabby, who won her division!

Fantastic job on the video Sarah! LOVE that song! :-)) It really speaks for Cutter: "put me in coach! I'm ready to play! today! Look at me! I can be...Centerfield!" I think Miss Bungee is singing that tune to me too! Speaking of which, I better get her back out to our "centerfield" right now!!! :-)))


Note: When you see Sarah doing what may look like "weird distance handling" these are Gamble runs. On the ground there is orange tape staked down as lines or boxes, you cannot always see them in the video. In a gamble course you earn as many points as you can in your opening sequence which is a course you design for maximum points, according to the obstacles given to you in the opening area. The opening may include "mini-gambles", which offer higher points if you can get them. To get any gambles you cannot cross the line on the ground the judge has laid, you must send the dog to the gamble, and handle from a distance which may vary, but which is always behind the line. At 40 seconds into the opening sequence, a whistle or horn blows, and you must proceed to the main gamble and complete it in the remaining time allowed. Usually you have about 20 seconds or less to complete the main gamble. If you complete the main gamble it doubles your opening points. You must earn a minimum # of points in the opening sequence and complete the main gamble sequence within time to earn a qualifying score. Highest points with fastest time of those qualifying wins. Gamble courses are very challenging when you are trying to be consistent with your handling (for your dog's sake back in regular standard & jumpers classes)!

At AAC National's each dog gets 2 standard rounds, 2 jumpers rounds and 2 gamble rounds. There is also an optional, separate Steeplechase event with elimination rounds to a final selection round, which is often a money round with a cash prize.

Happy Training & Hugs to the dogs!...It's About Love!