Dexter achieved a new accomplishment on Wednesday before I taught my L4 class - he is now weaving SIX poles straight in a line :) :) :)
We are still doing the recall through the poles, so the steps are to now do it with my back to him (recall to heel), and then work my way back through the poles until I am starting next to him. He is doing so well with weave poles. I couldn't be happier with his progress.
We have also been keeping up working on table, tunnels, jump, and starting to walk up and down the teeter board (but not past the tip point!). I am not seriously going to start contact work until spring when it is warmer outside.
This weekend is the BRAG CPE trial, and Dexter and Panic are staying with their Grandpa Baird. I am sure he is super excited! Andy and I are just vending this weekend - we haven't done a CPE trial in a while, should be fun! Next weekend is the Pawsitive Partners trial in Indianapolis. Panic's first Masters trial! I cannot WAIT!
1.30.2009
1.22.2009
Panic's weekend and Dexter's training
Panic had her first trial back after her broken toe (which occurred in early September!) this past weekend. It was the January BRAG trial at the Buckeye Ranch in Grove City.
She did AWESOME! I could not have been more thrilled with her performance. She Q'd in 5/10 runs - Steeplechase, M Jumpers, M Snooker, A Relay, and A Standard. That A Standard leg actually finished our AAD!!!!! WOOHOO! I was not sure if she'd gotten called on her A-frame or dogwalk contacts, so when I checked the scribe sheet and saw she did not, we had a major party :)
She also ran really well in some non-Q classes, including what I thought would be a very difficult M Jumpers on Sunday morning. I felt really connected with her and we didn't have any off-courses this weekend, which is fantastic. Our next trial is Pawsitive Partners in Indianapolis, Feb 7/8. It will be our first crack at M Standard, Relay, and Gamblers. She needs 3 stds, and one in each Relay and Gamblers for her MAD. I hope my Standard nerves will subside some now that we are in the same level forever.
I got a chance to work Dexter at the building last night some before and after the class I was teaching. He seems to generalize his behaviors VERY well, and doesn't take a lot of relearning in a new location. We even tried something new w/the weave poles last night - we used the competition poles instead of the channel ones! He is now weaving three in a straight line on the competition poles. I had to return the poles I was borrowing, but am hoping to get another set soon so we can work up to 6 and then 12. He also did the tunnel for the first time running next to me and not as a recall. Me going out of sight was tough for him to be comfortable with, but boy does he LOVE the tunnel now :)
Two Mondays ago, I took him down to the building with me for Panic's class (this is the class which petrified him before, with all the barking dogs!). He is 100% fine with it now! It is so fun to see what a confident, self-assured little dog he has become. We were standing around and watching, and he jumped up on a table, so I thought I might as well work on table-down! I lured him only ONE time into a down, and after that he started offering a jump onto the table into a very fast automatic down. A week later w/out practicing in between, and he still remembers. What an awesome little dog he is. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us as a team!
She did AWESOME! I could not have been more thrilled with her performance. She Q'd in 5/10 runs - Steeplechase, M Jumpers, M Snooker, A Relay, and A Standard. That A Standard leg actually finished our AAD!!!!! WOOHOO! I was not sure if she'd gotten called on her A-frame or dogwalk contacts, so when I checked the scribe sheet and saw she did not, we had a major party :)
She also ran really well in some non-Q classes, including what I thought would be a very difficult M Jumpers on Sunday morning. I felt really connected with her and we didn't have any off-courses this weekend, which is fantastic. Our next trial is Pawsitive Partners in Indianapolis, Feb 7/8. It will be our first crack at M Standard, Relay, and Gamblers. She needs 3 stds, and one in each Relay and Gamblers for her MAD. I hope my Standard nerves will subside some now that we are in the same level forever.
I got a chance to work Dexter at the building last night some before and after the class I was teaching. He seems to generalize his behaviors VERY well, and doesn't take a lot of relearning in a new location. We even tried something new w/the weave poles last night - we used the competition poles instead of the channel ones! He is now weaving three in a straight line on the competition poles. I had to return the poles I was borrowing, but am hoping to get another set soon so we can work up to 6 and then 12. He also did the tunnel for the first time running next to me and not as a recall. Me going out of sight was tough for him to be comfortable with, but boy does he LOVE the tunnel now :)
Two Mondays ago, I took him down to the building with me for Panic's class (this is the class which petrified him before, with all the barking dogs!). He is 100% fine with it now! It is so fun to see what a confident, self-assured little dog he has become. We were standing around and watching, and he jumped up on a table, so I thought I might as well work on table-down! I lured him only ONE time into a down, and after that he started offering a jump onto the table into a very fast automatic down. A week later w/out practicing in between, and he still remembers. What an awesome little dog he is. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us as a team!
1.06.2009
Beginning Agility
Dexter stayed with our friend Mary Klein while we were in Hawaii from Dec 12-19th. It was GREAT for him!! She had lessons and classes down at the training building, so he got to go to all of those with her, and hang out in his crate acclimating to the noises during them, and come out to visit in between. I saw a HUGE difference in his confidence when we got back. So thank you thank you thank you to Mary!
I took Dexter to the Wild Weavers New Years Trial, and he was 100% comfortable there. Now he's to the point where I have to watch out because he is trying to go up and play with all dogs and people. He doesn't yet know that not every dog wants an annoying little Podengo in their face :) So now we have to work on manners. Leash manners too - he is like a wind up toy at the end of his leash when he sees something he wants to go check out!
There are so many little things he is OK with now that he didn't used to be. One big one is at the building, he wouldn't go potty outside before! It's very close to a road that a lot of semi trucks drive on, and he was not too fond of the noises they make. He has no problem with it now!
We have been working on more training recently. He is very enthusiastic about learning! He now knows sit, down, shake, and we're working on roll over. And stays... We're also trying to teach him to blow bubbles in water :) Panic learned it VERY quickly - he's picking up on it but he's more dainty than Panic is.
As far as agility goes, I am so excited! We began our jump training. He is 6 months old, and for a dog his size, it's a safe age to start. We are using Linda Mecklenburg's Developing Jumping Skills book to help us along our way. He jumps 12" with no problem, and also does wing jumps, double jumps, and tires. I still need to introduce triples (but will probably wait a bit on that), broad jumps, and panel jumps. He LOVES being at the building and getting to work! We've also worked on tunnels, walking on planks, and started weave poles. We are using Joe Canova's weave pole method. It is how I trained Panic and worked great with her.
When a training session is over, sometimes Dex isn't done working yet, and instead of nicely allowing me to pick him up and put him in his crate - he RUNS back onto the training floor and says "well how about I do this jump? This tire? this tunnel?" and does pretty much everything he's learned, hoping his smarts will convince me to not put him away. As cute as it is, I need to work on that!
Oh - we've also been working on the flat just walking with him at my side, doing FCs and RCs. For now he is just following the treats, but he is doing great and always turning the correct way.
Ok... it's the New Year and all :) Here are my doggie goals for the year:
1 - Lose weight and get in shape! Panic is pretty fast and I need to be faster to really reach her potential.
2 - Be ready to enter Dexter in AKC trials when he turns 15 months old. That will be October 7th. From what I've seen so far, I think we'll definitely be ready.
3 - Teach both dogs more tricks, and I'd also like to work on some obedience.
My goals for Dexter competitively:
Compete in the USDAA 12" Nationals - and be competitive
Compete in AKC Nationals - maybe
Earn metallic ADCh and MACH
Complete UKC championship, and AKC championship if/when they are in Miscellaneous
Complete CD
I took Dexter to the Wild Weavers New Years Trial, and he was 100% comfortable there. Now he's to the point where I have to watch out because he is trying to go up and play with all dogs and people. He doesn't yet know that not every dog wants an annoying little Podengo in their face :) So now we have to work on manners. Leash manners too - he is like a wind up toy at the end of his leash when he sees something he wants to go check out!
There are so many little things he is OK with now that he didn't used to be. One big one is at the building, he wouldn't go potty outside before! It's very close to a road that a lot of semi trucks drive on, and he was not too fond of the noises they make. He has no problem with it now!
We have been working on more training recently. He is very enthusiastic about learning! He now knows sit, down, shake, and we're working on roll over. And stays... We're also trying to teach him to blow bubbles in water :) Panic learned it VERY quickly - he's picking up on it but he's more dainty than Panic is.
As far as agility goes, I am so excited! We began our jump training. He is 6 months old, and for a dog his size, it's a safe age to start. We are using Linda Mecklenburg's Developing Jumping Skills book to help us along our way. He jumps 12" with no problem, and also does wing jumps, double jumps, and tires. I still need to introduce triples (but will probably wait a bit on that), broad jumps, and panel jumps. He LOVES being at the building and getting to work! We've also worked on tunnels, walking on planks, and started weave poles. We are using Joe Canova's weave pole method. It is how I trained Panic and worked great with her.
When a training session is over, sometimes Dex isn't done working yet, and instead of nicely allowing me to pick him up and put him in his crate - he RUNS back onto the training floor and says "well how about I do this jump? This tire? this tunnel?" and does pretty much everything he's learned, hoping his smarts will convince me to not put him away. As cute as it is, I need to work on that!
Oh - we've also been working on the flat just walking with him at my side, doing FCs and RCs. For now he is just following the treats, but he is doing great and always turning the correct way.
Ok... it's the New Year and all :) Here are my doggie goals for the year:
1 - Lose weight and get in shape! Panic is pretty fast and I need to be faster to really reach her potential.
2 - Be ready to enter Dexter in AKC trials when he turns 15 months old. That will be October 7th. From what I've seen so far, I think we'll definitely be ready.
3 - Teach both dogs more tricks, and I'd also like to work on some obedience.
My goals for Dexter competitively:
Compete in the USDAA 12" Nationals - and be competitive
Compete in AKC Nationals - maybe
Earn metallic ADCh and MACH
Complete UKC championship, and AKC championship if/when they are in Miscellaneous
Complete CD
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