It’s been a Grand run for me in FastCAT for five years, but now it is time to say, “I’m done.” I love this sport and could keep doing it forever, but for several reasons, all good, really, I’m retiring. On Friday, August 30th, I earned my FCAT3 Title on my last run. Ending on the top is the best way to end. A dog needs to be a year old to run, and I started FastCAT in June 2020 when I was a year old.
On August 8th, 2020, I earned my first FastCAT Title, the BCAT. At the time a FCAT Title seemed like climbing a mountain, and never did I dream of earning that title three times, but I did. Don’t I look young in this photo?
The next year on June 12th, 2021, I earned my DCAT Title. I was two years old at that time, and so happy to have a bigger, pretty ribbon. Who knew at the time that I would earn so many big ribbons! One fun thing about all our traveling is getting different ribbons from different clubs.
In December 2021, I attended the FastCAT Invitational in Orlando. One note about my FastCAT career is that I have been the fastest GBGV each of the five years I have run, and also the fastest of all the GBGV’s since FastCAT started in 2016. 2024 is not over, but as I retire I am in first place again. The Invitational was a great experience, and I did race another dog besides Madison to win.
On May 17th, 2022 I earned my FCAT Title. It was so exciting to have reached this goal that seems so far down the road when I first started. The club even made a ribbon with my name on it for me!
My FCAT2 Title came on August 18th, 2023. Because of my height, I get the points for the speed I run without any handicap. My speed is 22-23 mph, so to get five hundred points takes some runs.
This year, I have been running slightly slower than in previous years, but I still love running FastCAT! Mom talked it over with me and we decided that it was time for me to retire. I’m still on top with my first place, no injuries, and rather than run until I fall apart and have lousy times I’ll retire on a high note. Mom planned my runs this summer and I ended up earning my FCAT3 last Friday, and I only had about three points to spare. That Mom of ours is a real organizational, planner nut, LOL!
My mom and I love all our sports and being a team. Now we will have more time and money to focus on other sports. I even gave her a kiss to thank her for all she does to help me with my sports.
When putting together this post we looked back at my Grand run of five years and pulled out some fun facts.
- My career consisted of eighty four runs total over five years
- I am the first GBGV to earn and FCAT, FCAT2 and FCAT3 Titles
- Since starting in 2020, I’ve held the #1 spot for GBGV’s
- So far I’ve been invited to the invitational every year I have run
- The Invitational has the fancy rosettes as Q ribbons which are so pretty
It sure has been a fun time and yes, I will miss it, but I am going to do other things. I can cheer on my brother who will continue to run for a while. It’s been great having this opportunity to run, have so much fun and to be on top of the breed.
My GBGV Life is happy, so we’re joining Comedy Plus for Happy Tuesday!
Congratulations, Olivia! You are a SuperStar and your ribbons are so gorgeous!
Thank you. Mom and I are a bit sad that I won’t be doing this sport anymore, but there are so many other things to do, I’m sure we will be fine.
it is a bittersweet mment but we bow our head and give you standing ovations for a wonderful career…. we are retired too, but the mama will bring da phenny back this year…. yeaaaah we can hear the collective outcry hahahahahahahahah
I’m only retiring from FastCAT, I’ll be competing like a tiger in my sniffing endeavors. I’m only five and I have a lot of fun and success ahead of me.
Congratulations, Olivia, for your long and illustrious career! And we commend you, and Mom, for choosing to retire at the top of your game! Now you can rest “on your laurels” as they say, well deserved and just kick-back and enjoy the memories and the accomplishments. Bravo and paws up!
Only retiring from FastCAT, so there are plenty of other sports I love to do that I will be working on.
Well done! Congratulations on a remarkable career — we are proud of you. On to other sports! your friend Chester
Exactly. Do your best, reach the top and then move on. No need to run things into the ground. I’m only five and I have a lot of other things to do.
You can still run for fun! Time to move on to other sports and activities. All those ribbons are impressive!!!!
I run most mornings with my mom, and I run with my siblings in the yard. It is time to quit running for titles and get back to using my nose for some new ones.
Congratulations on your retirement sweet girl! It sure is super wise to retire while you’re on top and you’re a SuperStar!
I won’t be top forever but as long as I am right now, I am going to take it and move on to other sports.
Time to move on to bigger and better adventures.
FastCAT is pretty good, but I love other sports too and I will work on those.
Olivia I 100% agree retire while you are in top shape. I bet $$ to donuts there will be something just as much fun as the scent trials. Maybe you can become a reading therapy dog at the local library.
Well done sweet girl and happy retirement.
Hugs Cecilia
I’m only retiring from FastCAT, I’ll be using my nose to sniff out more titles in scent work, nose work, tracking, maybe barn hunt. I am to young to give those up.
Wow on all the ribbons. I’m so proud of you. I know your mom is too.
Thank you for joining the Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Happy Tuesday. Scritches to all the pups and a hug to mom. ♥
I’m proud of me and Mom is always so happy with me as I am her dream hound. We have lots of other sports we’ll be working on now.
Huge Congratulations! I can’t wait until the collies win of those pretty ribbons!
We have learned you need to see what ribbons they have before you go. Some are really not very nice and after all the effort we make to get them, we want a good one.
Wow! You are one smart doggie ~ stopping while you are winning and Mom is smart too ~ Bravo to you both ~ hugs,
Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
It was a tough decision, but we both agree it is the best plan.
Going out on top is a brilliant way to do it. Congratulations and on to a new adventure!
There are plenty of adventures, so I will be fine, but it sure has been fun chasing that lure for five years!
Olivia, you are amazing!!! Nothing like retiring when you are on top! And now you can do more nose work!!!
Yep, going to spend more time with my nose 🙂
That is how a champ should go out
That is what Mom and I decided.
My goodness, all those ribbons! Have fun as you move on to the next chapter of your life.
I’ll keep acquiring more ribbons, just from different sports.
It is a wise owner, handler, Mom, who knows when to say, “When'” Many great athletes retire to far past their prime and their sport is no longer a labor of love, just a lot of aches, pains, and disappointments. Congratulations Olivia on a marvelous career. I’m sure Nelson will make you proud to be his big sister.
He will never be as fast as I am, no one so far has been but he loves to run and is young enough to keep doing it for a while longer. I don’t want to run my success into the ground so I will work on other things.
What a remarkable career, Olivia. Kudos for going out in style with a championship. Well done. 🏆
Thank you. I love being a winner and all that comes with it, but I know it is time to move on to my other sports.