...lure coursing, OMG!! 
From yesterday's big event...
Nikon earning two first places and a reserve best male.
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Nikon did his down and back like he was heeling. Ooops!
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Kenya in the breed ring.
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I was going to show my friend's police dog, but this Junior volunteered and I was happy to be relieved. Handling is not really my thing but I want Nikon to be "HOT".
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Nikon's crate neighbor. I'd never seen a Bouv this color
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"This is so boring. Can we puleez do something else?"
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"OK, Noodle, how about chasing a plastic bag through the mud like those dogs are doing?"
"Fabulous, sign us up."
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Nikon having more fun than his herding test. Who knew?
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Composite of the second turn
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The lure coursing was amazing. Nikon's first run he didn't quite understand what was going on. He watched about a half dozen dogs but I think he was more interested in dogs running than what they were doing. He went after the lure but the line jammed so it kept flipping back and forth and then he just started running wild. When it unjammed he got back on it and finished. His corners were really wide. The second run, he now understood *exactly* how it worked. The hardest part for me was getting him from the gate to the start, with this big strong dog barking, lunging, and clawing in the mud with only a flat collar for control and me without boots. His second run was amazing, very fast and his turns were much better now that he realize the course had turns. Afterward I again had to drag him off the field, still barking, screaming, and clawing into the mud. The third run would have been the best but he slipped in the wet grass twice, both times he somersaulted multiple times, but got up and finished. He went from being a bored show dog with a glowing coat to very satisfied and covered in muck.
The UKC is going to make this an official event and you bet we will be there! Move over sight hounds. They said there will be all-breed competitions Nikon can do and run by himself (I think the AKC titles are only for sight hounds?). I love finding sports like this that allow the dog to use their instinct and drive. We're also going to try weight pull but I'm waiting for full physical maturity and his final x-rays. When I left a German Shepherd was pulling over 7000 lbs.