Netherlands here we come again!!!

I just keep pinching myself. I just cannot believe that we were selected this year to have the honor of competing on Team USA for the WAO this year.

Now I don’t want ANYONE to think I am trying in any way to downplay my dog or her amazing accomplishments.  She is such an incredible dog and has already done so much in her career that I feel lucky to have been brought along for the ride.

But anyone who knows me well understands that even though I am one of the most competitive people out there I am also a realist. I knew going into this year’s US Open that Kermit was closer to 9 years old than 8 and stacked up against the younger (and many of them much bigger) 8” dogs that we had an uphill battle to earn our spot on the team.

Flash back to last years USO. I finished the event disappointed in myself and my performance in the event. Kermit did everything I asked of her but because we were not the best prepared, we could be for the style courses we were going to see I was not able to confidently handle every course with the skill and trust that is necessary to do our very best. So, when we were selected as alternates, I was 100% dedicated to making sure we would be ready if we were needed. I refused to not be prepared again.

Going overseas and stepping into the ring, although my results could have been better the learning experience was priceless. I left the event feeling even more confident in us as a team and what we could accomplish but a bit sad knowing that this “first learning trip” could have happened back in 2020 (when we made the team but didn’t get to go because of Covid). 2020 should have been our learning year and then 2023 should have been our year to shine, but that isn’t how it worked out.

So, after I got back from WAO 2023 I had a decision to make. What did I want to do for next year? Did I want to try out for the team one more time? If yes, some profound changes needed to be made to make sure we gave ourselves the best chance possible to make the team.  And even with that I knew that being older and smaller than many others would be a long shot. 

I asked Lori what she thought about it. She asked me about how I would feel if I didn’t make the team. Would I be disappointed? And after some soul searching, I decided that the only disappointment I would have would not be putting my best out there and giving it a chance. If we did that and it wasn’t enough, I was OK with that. Realists remember 😊

So, to work we went. We chose to show only on UKI courses so that we were able to trust our skills that I knew we have. We focused on conditioning, so Kermit was in the best shape possible for the huge USO courses and the long event. (thanks to McIntyre Canine Rehabilitation www.mcrehabilitation.com) trained at home on courses that not only pushed our handling skills but also our mental skills (thanks to Aaron Froude and Joe Boudrau and KYA Training www.flatoutdogs.com).

The US Open was a whirlwind event as always. Long days, huge courses, big challenges, mental management to the max, but at the end of the event Kermit and I had made the finals of every single event (minus team which we didn’t run because our third wasn’t able to run). Every run didn’t go perfect, but I felt we went out there in every run and ran it with the intent to win, never “playing it safe”, 100% trusting our skills and our teamwork and I can tell you never have I had such a feeling knowing that we did all we could do to give ourselves the best chance to make the team.

Both of us gasping for breath at the end of the run but with huge smiles on our faces.

We did what I set out to do. It was now just a waiting game to hear who would be selected for the team. In past years, waiting was so hard. Nervous, worry, hoping, waiting, made it a long-drawn-out time before we got or didn’t get a phone call. But this year was different. I was at peace. I did want to make the team, but I already met my goal and controlled all I could control.

So, the call I got was a bit of a surprise, because I wasn’t “stalking my phone” I actually missed the first call. When I did get to talk to the coaches it was to get the amazing news that I had been selected to be one of the 4 dogs to be members of the 250mm WAO Team USA. First thing I did was grab up my little frog and tell her Thank You little peanut we are going back to the Netherlands.

I still get a bit teary thinking about it that this will be our last “team” together, not that matters to her, but it makes it such a special trip with even more special teammates and close special friends.

We will do our best to prepare and as always to represent our Team the best we can, but I most importantly want to make sure that I am the partner that Kermit deserves me to be. To make sure she knows no matter what happens in the ring that I love her more then words can say, I cannot be luckier to have her in my life and she plays this silly and crazy game with me with the joy and sass only she can exude.

And for those who might be wondering, no Lori isn’t going this year she says the Netherlands is “still moldy.”

What happens when A Frog, A Stick of Butter and A Potato walk into a Dutch bar??  Guess we will find out in May!!