Our 2021 AKC Invitational FastCAT experience is now behind us. We waited almost a year for it to happen and now it is in the books. It was a super fun time and a great experience for us all. We knew it would be something special when we checked into our hotel Monday afternoon and got these special keys and door hangers.
Tuesday morning we scheduled our practice runs. When we showed up at the course, we were greeted by lots of banners. The course didn’t look like it looked online from the previous year, but a course is a course really. We dogs just want to run and chase the lure.
We checked in and Mom got her bag, t-shirt, and some other items. Since we are two dogs, she got two of everything.
Before our practice runs we took a family photo by the one sign since we are kind of all a team. Shortly before our test runs we found out the AKC does not have release people, you are supposed to have your own. Mom had emailed and asked but they said they have people. They did not, so our travel buddy, Laura, had to be our releaser. She has never done dog sports, and she doesn’t even have a dog! Mom gave her some tips, she watched a couple dogs and then she was doing it. We are so thankful as she did a great job!
Wednesday was the first qualifying run for each of us. The weather is hot and humid in Florida, so we didn’t run any best times but we still had our average times. They have fancy Q ribbons at the event as you can see in our photos.
Thursday was the second qualifying run day of our AKC Invitational FastCAT experience. It is just another run, not a big deal, but the top two dogs of each breed advance to the finals on Friday. Advancing is based on the best of the two times, not an average. We both did our best. Now we each have two pretty Q ribbons too.
At six pm on Thursday they post the list of the two dogs from each breed that will advance to the Friday final. I was hoping, but we knew going in I was a long shot with my short legs. Olivia made it, and so did Olive. Friday, Olivia had one run to win the Best in Breed. Our breeder was also there to watch and cheer us on. She took the video of Olivia’s run. Do you hear her yelping? That is the GBGV hunting call. She is hunting that lure!
Olivia is the fastest GBGV with a final run of 9.189 seconds, which is 22.26 mph. For the win, she got another fancy Q ribbon and a huge Best in Breed ribbon. Can you see how proud she is in the photo? I have to admit I was a bit sad I didn’t get to at least run but hey, the title is in the family!
Lots of photos were taken of Olivia with her jumbo ribbon (it kind of matches her jumbo pillow paws). The above is our breeder Nancy with Mom and Olivia.
Saturday we were back for two normal runs each. As long as they were offering regular runs, we entered so we could get a few more points before heading back towards home. Mom also wanted a family photo of us all with our Invitational ribbons only, so we did that too while we were waiting for our turns to run.
Our trip down was so much fun and the Invitational was also great! GBGV’s are not going to be the fastest dog in the country, but we are thankful to be invited to such an event and to do well on our runs. Next week we will post about our trip back home. We went a different route and saw some more super fun stuff! For now, we are celebrating Olivia, our sports hound!
My GBGV Life is joining Brian’s Home Blog in the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Best in Breed!! Wowza! You are so awesome. We loved the video — that is a long run! And Olivia ran her heart out!! Awesome post — we didn’t know anything about this sport! Have a great day! your friend Lilly
I can run almost half a second faster, but the heat and humidity slow me down. It is a 100 yard dash for dogs basically. No matter, I won and that is what we hoped for 🙂
Awesome girls! Sports is all about having fun and any run if fun, right? Congrats to Olivia, the superstar!
Any opportunity to chase is always super fun!
Hooray, hooray! Congrats Olivia, you sure done good girl and we loved seeing the post today! Thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
Thank you. Mom is proud of me and I am proud of me too.
the fastest GBGV … what a wonderful result!!! and we are proud that you are a french breed… congrats to you and to your mama!!!!
Thank you. It’s pretty cool being the fastest. I am fastest for 2021 in the current standings, so I can probably run again at the Invitational next year.
Yay, Olivia! You move fast on those pillow paws. My little sister, Puffin, would probably excel in that sport because she is an absolute blur of fur. Man can she move! XOXO Sparkle
She should give it a try. All breeds can run it and there are lots of tiny dogs running.
So proud of you both. What a fantastic experience to share with your mom and your friend. Well done and proud of you
It was a great experience and we are happy to have the title in our family!
Congratulations Olivia! Madison, you are a great journalist! I am looking forward to reading about your return trip.
Merry Christmas!!
I think we will get back to the rest of our trip Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Before then we have to post about Christmas.
Wow, look at all the wonderful achievements. Congratulations, Olivia. I told your mom a long time ago that you’re going to be a superstar.
What I liked the best? You’re in shorts and a polo. It’s warm. It’s not warm here.
Have a fabulous day. Scritches all around and my best to your mom. ♥
I am the family sports dog, for sure! It was not warm, it was hot down there in Florida. We are now enjoying our cold winter weather and looking forward to more snow.
Amazing! Simply amazing!!! Your breeder, your mom, and you girls!!! Proud to say I know you all!
We are all a great group!
Wahoo!! Go Olivia, great job!!!.
We bet you were the best cheerleader for your sister, Madison, they should really give out big ribbons for that too!
xoxo,
Rosy, Sunny and Jakey
I was stuck in the car waiting for her which is a bummer, but I did give her some nice licks when she came back with the giant ribbon.
your fans are so extremely proud of you girls. I know it was a tough trip, long, etc. but look at the wonderful results. I only hope Madison gets her day in the sun. she deserves it.
We each have out things. Madison is amazing for her size in FastCAT. She is our Barn Hunt Champion, and she needs to work on more nose work too. The trip was long but we had a lot of fun.
Congratulations, girls! Your ribbons are just beautiful and we look forward to hearing all about your trip home!
So much to see and do along the way. We would still be driving if we could because we just didn’t have as much time for stops as we wished we had.
You all are cutie pies! Merry Christmas! xoxo
Awwww, thank you. Merry Christmas to you too!
Congratulations to both of you, you worked hard and did great!
Thank you running and chasing is fun and we are proud to bring home the title for our breed.
WowZers! We think you ladies are terrific! Wonderfu Photos with your wonderful ribbons, but my favorite was your video! I tried to catch you with my Paw and Cinnamon barked at your Bark! Purrfect! We are so glad you did well! Safe travels home!
Thank you. It was really a wonderful trip, every single day. We had luck and missed all the bad travel weather by a day or two, saw so many things and really enjoyed our runs in FastCAT, not to mention bringing home the title we wanted!
Best in Breed is Awesome!! Go Olivia!! And Madison you did great too!
We are all super proud to have the title in our family. All three dogs competing are from the same breeder, and then two of us, the same family. It was a great week!
BRAVO! Well done. 🏆