The 2013 Boykin Spaniel Society Spring Nationals were April 4th-6th (Thursday-Sunday) in Clinton, South Carolina. We weren't able to go because Hunter had a state conference in Orange Beach, AL & I had to work. We decided to let Brian, Kristy, Madeline & John Espy take her since they were already taking their boykin, Charlie. Madeline & John are absolutely precious & are two of the most well mannered kids that I have ever been around. Madeline promised me that she would be Saige's 'mama' while they were gone & take super dooper good care of her. We took Saige to Brian & Kristy's Tuesday night. If you're reading this, I'm sure you already know how much we love Saige & how she pretty much consumes our lives, so being without her from Tuesday until Sunday was pretty much torture & yes, I cried once or twice. Anyways, Hunter has been working on retrieving ducks & birds with Saige since she was a puppy. She actually retrieved her first bird when she was 3 months old! Brian had worked with Saige a couple times before, but on the Tuesday before we took her to the Espy's, we met Brian, Madeline & Charlie to practice!
While Saige did good on Tuesday afternoon with Hunter & Brian, Wednesday morning & Wednesday after noon, she absolutely WOULD NOT pick up a duck for Brian!!!! I'm sure it's our fault because she wasn't use to being with Brian without Hunter around. She heeled by Brian like she was supposed to, didn't move when the gun went off & didn't run until Brian commanded her to. She took off running hard when Brian said her name, got to the duck, smelled it, left it lying there & ran back to Brian!!!! I don't know if it was because she's not use to him or if she just missed us or what. Thursday morning before they left for Clinton, South Carolina, Brian put Hunter on speaker phone & Hunter told Saige to go get the duck (in this silly little voice that he always talks to her in) & she got the duck & brought it back!!!!!!!!! That broke Hunter's heart because he knew that she had it in her but she missed him, so he considered leaving his conference at 5:00 Thursday night & drive to SC but wouldn't get there until 2:00 Friday morning. I got a call at work & our unit clerk said, "Tara, your husband is on the phone'...I panicked because he has NEVER called me at work! He called to see if I thought we should let Saige go on to SC or keep her home since she wasn't retrieving like she should be. He decided against driving up there, we decided to let her go on & we just prayed! Thursday night, Kristy called me & put me on speaker phone & I tried to get Saige to go get the duck, but Kristy said she just licked the phone & wouldn't get the duck. Hunter told them they they're going to HAVE TO baby her!!! This was a big deal because Brian is really strict on Charlie & we treat Saige like a human being, so it's totally opposite! Sooooooo, Kristy sent me a picture of Brian, their kids & Saige all piled up in the bed before they went to sleep on Thursday night! It was precious! Saige was in the 'novice' class & Charlie was in the 'intermediate' class. Saige had 85 dogs in her class & Charlie had 36 in his. Hunter texted me at 1:00 on Friday afternoon & said Kristy texted & said Saige was almost up...
I said a prayer in the Old Navy dressing room. Kristy called at 1:35 while I was driving down the interstate & said, "SHE BROUGHT THE DUCK BACK THREE TIMES!!!!!!!"...I started BAWLING!!!!! I was so proud of her!!!!! I wish I could upload the video on here, Kristy's commentary is so funny! Saige had 3 runs that day...2 on land & 1 in water. Kristy said the only thing she could see that wasn't perfect was that Saige dropped the duck at Brian's feet once, instead of holding it until he reached down & to her to drop it in his hand. When they finished, the judge told Brian that Saige ought to be in the top of the leader board! After her run that day, they made the first cut from 85 dogs down to 53 dogs & Saige made the first cut.
I had to work on the Sunday that they got back from South Carolina but my sweet husband brought Saige to the hospital so I could meet them in the parking lot & see her!! I missed her so much & couldn't wait to get home & snuggle with her!! Next time there is a competition, we WILL be going!
TARA!!!!! After reading this I am so proud of Saige. I actually cried reading this. Call me a little emotional right now. HA!!! I completely understand being attached to your dog. GO SAIGE GO!!!
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