Comic Relief

When coming up with the title for this blog, I realized that I could have named the entire blog "Comic Relief", however it did seem fitting to the topic of this particular post.
Jet usually gets looks and comments no matter where I take her. Most people have never seen a miniature bull terrier and either think she is a puppy (she is 2 and a half) or that she is various breeds (including pit bull --eeek). Her black smear of 'lipstick' on the one side of her face, never fails to be noticed. The usual comment is - "she always looks like she is smiling" (which to be honest I think she is), or "she looks like the Joker" (wait wasn't he a bad guy?).
That kind of attention I don't mind. It is when she decides to liven things up in true Jet fashion that I sometimes find myself wanting to hide behind things.
Take for example her now infamous trick with the agility tunnels. If you don't know what those are, the are long 'tunnels' made of heavy vinyl with ribs along its length to help it coil and uncoil to various lengths (usually 12 feet or so). The goal is for the dog to go 'through' the tunnel on a cue from the handler.
The first time I showed Jet the tunnel she charged through it at its full length. I was ecstatic - what a clever girl. So why not try it a second time- perfect right through. Then I made the fatal mistake of saying "just one more" (all dog trainers know what I mean). As I lined her up, I should have noticed the twinkle in her little bully eye...she headed right towards the mouth of the tunnel..and...leaped on top of it and proceeded to run/trot the full length with it rocking and rolling underneath. If that wasn't enough she showed her agility and balance by turning around while still on top and running back the other way. Now you have to appreciate that there were many people watching this escapade. Friends, all dog trainers, all now laughing hysterically at my dog's inventive nature. Me on the other hand - did not find it so amusing.
Through some training, I thought I had almost convinced her that running THROUGH tunnels was the real object of the game. Trust me, everything needs to be Jet's idea - there is no forcing your will on a bully. So flash forward to my dog club's Memorial Trial. A day of competition and games with our canine friends. The tunnel race game...now here is one Jet and I can play I thought. She loves tunnels and can go like stink when she wants (this was a timed event). As we waited our turn, Jet was getting more and more excited watching all the other dogs charge through the various tunnels. Woo hoo - this was going to be good. Yeah - not so much. As I left her at the start line I think I saw her give me a wink...I should have known. Off we went - well she went really - through the first tunnel - ok good to go, wait a minute...where did she go? One end of the ring at full tilt, then charging back to me (well I don't think she was coming to me but she ended up in my vicinity at least), then over top of a tunnel at full speed, through another one (not the one she was supposed to take), up on top of another and back at break neck speed to the far end of the ring. By the time we finally corralled her (it took a few people) I realized that everyone (about 40 people) were laughing so hard , I think I saw tears in some people's eyes.
As I carried my little girlie out of the ring...I could see her smiling - didn't I do good mom - that was fun. See everyone loves me.
A kind soul walked up to me. I thought she was going to give me a pep talk and tell me not to worry about it - Jet was just young, excitable, it would come with training. But no, instead she said (as she wiped tears from her eyes)..."That was great - can Jet do an encore!"