So how far away from us can Keene, NH really be?  Well, two weeks ago I found out the answer.  After our unsuccessful outing in Acton for the York County Kennel Club show, puppy time has taken priority over getting out for dog shows.  Since a judge I've shown under before and really had a good experience competing under was going to be the Rally Judge for Keene on August 2, I went ahead and put in an entry.

So, it's actually three hours away.  Beautiful drive, which would have been made easier by road signs that we could actually read.  Thank goodness for Pattie in the front seat beside me co-piloting.  We missed the exit for Keene the first time around.  The sign for the Vermont border was a clue that we needed to turn around.  So, we arrived late, but still in time for course walk through.

Very, very tight course.  The difficulty was increased by the large number of dogs who pottied in the ring.  This is an automatic disqualification, but makes for a very distracting course for the dogs who follow.  You can only get a grass course so clean.  Poppy was a good girl.  I had to use the "leave it" command when we got to the potty zone.  Despite what had to have been a very oval circle (I was getting dizzy in the tight, twisty course) Poppy earned her final qualifying score.  With a score of 94 I couldn't be prouder of her.  Pattie had a mixed day, one girl earned her first leg, the other was excused for peeing where a half dozen dogs had already peed in the ring.

Congratulations to Marshfield's Madam Poppy RN!