AM JUST A LITTLE BEHIND........

I can't believe I have not stayed on top of this.........it's been almost 2 months to the day since I started this and I haven't been very good keeping it current. I know now that one of my New Year Resolutions will be to update this page on a regular basis. Without any more excuses, let's not keep you in suspense any longer on Mia's accomplishments and Belle's antics!

We did travel to Scottsdale, AZ, at the end of October so that Mia could compete in the Cynosports event. Being new, we had to become quick studies as to the protocol of Dock Jumping. The day is broken up into "Waves". The "Waves" are then broken into "Heats" with about 8 to 12 dogs in a "heat". Each dog in the "heat" will be given one jump in a rotation order. After the rotation of all dogs in the "heat" has been completed, the dogs will then take a second jump in the same rotation order. The best of the two jumps is recorded for that "heat". Competitors must have 5 jumps within a division in order to qualify as a competitor in that division. For this particular event, the Divisions were as follows:

Splash Class	0'1" to 9'11"
Junior Class	10'0" to 14'11"
Senior Class	15'0" to 19'11"
Pro Class	20'0" to 22'11"
Extreme Division	23'0" and above

On Wednesday, October 29, Mia made her debut in "DOCK JUMPING" in the First Wave of the day. Her very first competitive jump was 15'04"..........WE COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!! She was so excited.......Pete too! Belle started barking and running off to meet Mia as she came out of the pool. Now since I was holding(!) Belle, I was being pulled at breakneck speed to the exit ramp of the pool. Belle gave Mia a quick kiss and a quick once over to make sure she was okay........Mia was wiggling and shaking, getting us all wet!!! Mia second jump was 14'3".......still not too shabby for her first time. With her first jump being the better of the two, Mia had one leg qualifying in the Senior class. During the second Wave of the same day, the excitement wore off........her first jump of the heat was 10'8". Her second jump of 12'1" was the better of the two. She now had a qualifying leg in the Junior Class.

Because the Waves on Wednesday were held in the afternoon, we were done for the day and headed back to Ahwatukee to spend the evening with Leslie, Jason and Tanner! The evening was dedicated to carving pumpkins for Halloween! Pete, Leslie and Tanner, and Jason had pumpkins............Jason was in hurry due to a game of some sorts being on, so he cheated and used his drill motor on the gourd!!!!! Naturally, his was a little to perfect, whereas Pete's and Leslie and Tanner's had that "rough look" which comes from using knives!

On Thursday and Friday, Mia competed in 2 waves each day. Her recorded jumps for those 2 days were:

• Thursday 14'3" , 8'11" Junior Class and Splash Class
• Friday 12'6", 13'5" Junior Class and Junior Class

Naturally after each jump, Belle was beside herself!!!! Jumping, barking, cheering Mia on (at least, that's what Pete and I would like to think!) and running to meet Mia as she exited!!!!! Of course, I was at the end of Belle's leash struggling to keep her in control as I was being dragged across the venue!!

By the end of Friday, Mia had 4 legs qualifying in the Junior class. Saturday's jumps would surely land her in the Finals.....at least, that's what we hoped! We headed back to Leslie's on Friday night to help out with "Trick or Treat" and watch our little "FIREMAN" Tanner marvel over his loot for the evening. It had been a very exciting day for both Mia and Belle. After they had their dinner, they each found a cozy spot on Leslie's couch and preceded to snore away the evening!!!!

Saturday morning dawned bright and early. Pete, the girls and I headed back out to West World (about 35 minute ride with no traffic) for Mia's last day of qualifying. She surely was up for it! After arriving, Belle and I made ourselves comfortable while Pete and Mia practice. Pete commented that Mia was READY TO GO!!!!!! Mia's first wave recorded jump was HER BEST YET............15'11". Belle was the first to congratulate her...barking and giving her kisses! The first wave finished and Mia had qualified in the Senior Class. Not too bad!

Time for the 2nd Wave of the day. Pete and Mia headed for the dock. Mia's first jump was 13'9" which would qualify her for the Junior Finals on Sunday. Mia still had her second jump to go. Pete took her up the dock, got her under control, threw the ball....Mia ran.....AND..... leaped 15'6"!!!!!!!! Recorded jump into the Senior Class! She had jumped herself right out of the finals!!! Proud and excited, Mia wiggled her way back to Belle who started jumping all over her.........how could you not love these little girls!!!! Belle, Pete and I were so PROUD that she finished with such GREAT JUMPS, that we weren't disappointed at all to miss the Finals!

We bid our fellow Las Vegas Dock Dog members "good luck" in the Finals and headed back to Leslie's. All in all it had been a GREAT experience. Mia had surely proven she was a competitor......her timing was just a bit off on when to throw out the big jumps!! And, of course, Belle proved she was the Big Sister.....always on alert when Mia wasn't close.

Mia's next scheduled competition was the "Strutt Your Mutt" event, November 7, 2008, which was hosted by our club. That too proved to be a FUN COUPLE OF DAYS. HOWEVER, If I don't get this post published now, it might be another 6 months before doing so!!! Take care and check back REAL SOON to hear about Mia's accomplishments in November..............and, Belle's wild run!!!!