Spry's debut is on Sunday :) :) :) :) I am very very excited. The tough part will be walking the same course for Panic & Spry. I told Andy to remind me when I go in the ring with Panic to run fast & really push it, and with Spry that she is a BABY DOG! I anticipate tunnel suckage, some visiting the judge, and probably a few knocked bars. I am hoping to maintain her great stays & contacts. Handling-wise I hope I give her fair approaches to everything and give her reason to trust me.
I am interested to see how she does outdoors in the heat - she tires quickly but will have at least an hr between runs. She has a cool coat, I will be using the power boost, and i bought one of those Ryobi fans to run on the xpen as well.
can't wait :)
7.30.2010
7.23.2010
working w/spry, upcoming brag trial
Working through more of DJS with Sprybelle at home. She is doing very well - sometimes she still extends more than I'd like, but no reward and the next rep is very nice. What this tells me is she does understand and I just have to be very consistent in not rewarding extension when I'm asking for collection.
Worked her at the building last night. I set up a course. I was very happy with her performance, she hit a decently hard WP approach (ps - 1st time on 24" poles and as expected, she looooved them), is taking jumps at flatter angles now, and is also starting to gain confidence and go ahead of me more when I'm giving her forward cues instead of pacing herself to me and head checking me a lot. Yay for progress! Now what I think our biggest problem is goign to be at the BRAG trial is off-courses. of course, this would be because she is running team which is going to be way over her head... But I'm trying to figure out how best to handle off-course possibilities. I am doing my best to handle her like a baby dog and give lots of forward cues, so for example if I have a 180 where I need to change sides and an off course obstacle near the top of that arc, it's going to be hard for her to stay on course. We had this situation last night - I needed to cross at some point during/after the 180 but there was a pesky table calling her name between the two jumps. I chose a FC on the flat between the two jumps instead of staying behind the plane of the jumps and FC on the landing side because obviously she's not ready for that kind of lateral motion etc at this point. But giving her sufficent forward cues for the jump meant she went on to the table.
I think I may just have to accept a few off courses in order to remain good and consistent with my handling. Should be OK bc our team is really not expecting to Q!
Speaking of the trial... so far 87 dogs and 422 runs. Expecting at LEAST 13 more dogs that are entered in at least team, so at LEAST 65 more runs. That is putting us dangerously close to 500 runs... with one judge... and one day! I am excited to have so many people there but a little worried about how long the day is going to be.
We are setting up 2 rings and alternating between them, as well as timing walkthroughs so that should help. Also hopefully people pitch in to help which will move things along faster. There are some great dogs entered, and I'm excited to see the runs!
Worked her at the building last night. I set up a course. I was very happy with her performance, she hit a decently hard WP approach (ps - 1st time on 24" poles and as expected, she looooved them), is taking jumps at flatter angles now, and is also starting to gain confidence and go ahead of me more when I'm giving her forward cues instead of pacing herself to me and head checking me a lot. Yay for progress! Now what I think our biggest problem is goign to be at the BRAG trial is off-courses. of course, this would be because she is running team which is going to be way over her head... But I'm trying to figure out how best to handle off-course possibilities. I am doing my best to handle her like a baby dog and give lots of forward cues, so for example if I have a 180 where I need to change sides and an off course obstacle near the top of that arc, it's going to be hard for her to stay on course. We had this situation last night - I needed to cross at some point during/after the 180 but there was a pesky table calling her name between the two jumps. I chose a FC on the flat between the two jumps instead of staying behind the plane of the jumps and FC on the landing side because obviously she's not ready for that kind of lateral motion etc at this point. But giving her sufficent forward cues for the jump meant she went on to the table.
I think I may just have to accept a few off courses in order to remain good and consistent with my handling. Should be OK bc our team is really not expecting to Q!
Speaking of the trial... so far 87 dogs and 422 runs. Expecting at LEAST 13 more dogs that are entered in at least team, so at LEAST 65 more runs. That is putting us dangerously close to 500 runs... with one judge... and one day! I am excited to have so many people there but a little worried about how long the day is going to be.
We are setting up 2 rings and alternating between them, as well as timing walkthroughs so that should help. Also hopefully people pitch in to help which will move things along faster. There are some great dogs entered, and I'm excited to see the runs!
7.12.2010
Flashpoint Agility
Had a USDAA trial in Marengo this past weekend. Dexter was entered in Starters Gamblers & Standard on Sat and Standard only on Sunday. Panic was entered in Relay, Gamblers, & GP on Sat and Standard, Jumpers & Snooker on Sunday. We also got an opportunity to join a DAM team, so Panic ended up running the team classes as well.
I was very plesed with the weekend in general. Panic was running fast & confidently, and I tried my best to apply what we learned at the APHS camp in June. Panic did pretty well in team, q'ing in all 4 classes for LAA, and her team actually won! So that was a lot of fun. Given & Sniper made a very fun team also.
In addition to the DAM team stuff, Panic got snooker & jumpers Qs, and another Gamblers Q!! I was thrilled to see that now that I'm not so nervous about our gambles, I was able to handle/act like a normal person out there :) Hopefully we are able to reach our next levels in gamblers without too much of a problem!
Panic's getting close to several "Silver" titles - she has 23 jumpers legs, 22 snooker, and needs 1 DAM & 2 GPs to get Tournament Silver :) I am so pleased with this little lady and all she gives me. We are behind on standard, relay (bc I rarely enter!) and Gambles... we have 9 standard, and 6 relay & gambles. So I think I need to start working on those!
Andy said that Panic is just exhausted still today after this weekend. She even looked out the window to see the trash guys and opted not to bark at them, but instead to lay back down! I guess she was passed out pretty much all morning.
My private for tonight got cancelled, so I'll be working on some courses & probably some jump work with Spry-belle. She is hyped up after not getting to do anything all weekend when she *knew* they others were going to a show! Can't wait for her debut in 3 weekends...
I was very plesed with the weekend in general. Panic was running fast & confidently, and I tried my best to apply what we learned at the APHS camp in June. Panic did pretty well in team, q'ing in all 4 classes for LAA, and her team actually won! So that was a lot of fun. Given & Sniper made a very fun team also.
In addition to the DAM team stuff, Panic got snooker & jumpers Qs, and another Gamblers Q!! I was thrilled to see that now that I'm not so nervous about our gambles, I was able to handle/act like a normal person out there :) Hopefully we are able to reach our next levels in gamblers without too much of a problem!
Panic's getting close to several "Silver" titles - she has 23 jumpers legs, 22 snooker, and needs 1 DAM & 2 GPs to get Tournament Silver :) I am so pleased with this little lady and all she gives me. We are behind on standard, relay (bc I rarely enter!) and Gambles... we have 9 standard, and 6 relay & gambles. So I think I need to start working on those!
Andy said that Panic is just exhausted still today after this weekend. She even looked out the window to see the trash guys and opted not to bark at them, but instead to lay back down! I guess she was passed out pretty much all morning.
My private for tonight got cancelled, so I'll be working on some courses & probably some jump work with Spry-belle. She is hyped up after not getting to do anything all weekend when she *knew* they others were going to a show! Can't wait for her debut in 3 weekends...
7.06.2010
Targeting & Jump work - also, Spry is a freak, and Panic is limping
Got to work on both with Dex this weekend. He is enjoying the target so far. I'm not really going to ask him to have this gorgeous stop at the bottom, I just want his nose targeting the ground, he can keep on moving if he wants to. Did several sessions inside just getting the nose touch then moved it to the end of my DW board and got to practice that way. Did pretty well!
Also got to work on some jump stuff with him. He was so enthusiastic, I was thrilled! Especially because it was hot out! I got to work on some nice tight turns which we learned we need to work on after last Thurs class! I never have really gotten to work on them bc I've always been working on motivation and him not shutting down!
Spry, on the other hand, has turned into a big weirdo. Our neighbors have started putting their Sheltie out on a tie out (which is better than what they used to do which was stand at teh door w/a leash and let her potty and let her back in... Fancy would be *so* pissed!). Well the other morning, Spry saw the sheltie's silhouette behind our privacy fence and flipped out! She got scared and won't go by that fence now, and wouldn't for a day and a half even come in our living room bc our side door opens to that side of the fence. I thought she'd get over it quickly but she's not... I couldn't even work jumps last night bc she wouldn't turn her back on that side of the fence. Going to start feeding dinner out there... this is so weird and just not like her!!
Oh and Sun AM Panic got caught in a cord and came up limping. She didn't cry or anything and she tends to be a little dramatic so I wasn't that concerned... then she was fine. But yesterday she limped a little too. I think it's her shoulder. She seems ok 97% of the time and then randomly limps from time to time. I think she's probably fine but keeping her calm this week to be safe... flashpoint USDAA this weekend and I'd hate to have to pull!
Also got to work on some jump stuff with him. He was so enthusiastic, I was thrilled! Especially because it was hot out! I got to work on some nice tight turns which we learned we need to work on after last Thurs class! I never have really gotten to work on them bc I've always been working on motivation and him not shutting down!
Spry, on the other hand, has turned into a big weirdo. Our neighbors have started putting their Sheltie out on a tie out (which is better than what they used to do which was stand at teh door w/a leash and let her potty and let her back in... Fancy would be *so* pissed!). Well the other morning, Spry saw the sheltie's silhouette behind our privacy fence and flipped out! She got scared and won't go by that fence now, and wouldn't for a day and a half even come in our living room bc our side door opens to that side of the fence. I thought she'd get over it quickly but she's not... I couldn't even work jumps last night bc she wouldn't turn her back on that side of the fence. Going to start feeding dinner out there... this is so weird and just not like her!!
Oh and Sun AM Panic got caught in a cord and came up limping. She didn't cry or anything and she tends to be a little dramatic so I wasn't that concerned... then she was fine. But yesterday she limped a little too. I think it's her shoulder. She seems ok 97% of the time and then randomly limps from time to time. I think she's probably fine but keeping her calm this week to be safe... flashpoint USDAA this weekend and I'd hate to have to pull!
7.01.2010
Dexter
I have a few things I'm going to work on with him this summer.
1) weave poles - he used to have great poles but they are crumbling under the stress he feels at trials. So, to make him a happy puppy we are going to work using 2x2 and basically start over, using TONS of happy reinforcement, short sessions, etc.
2) contacts - he totally BLEW his contacts at BRAG! I am thrilled he's not afraid of them anymore, but geeze little tiny dog - don't jump off so high!! So I'm going to teach him 2o2o. I tried a little bit of 2rto with him and he was so not into that and I think honestly with him being so small he was not getting the concept somehow. I couldn't get him to stand with his front feet off and back feet on the edge. So I'm going to use a dish. Which I can start training indoors in the AC - for those days when he is like "heck no mom, it's hot out there!"
Also, I just got from Clean Run a cool coat for him, and Power Boost for all the dogs to recover faster at trials.
1) weave poles - he used to have great poles but they are crumbling under the stress he feels at trials. So, to make him a happy puppy we are going to work using 2x2 and basically start over, using TONS of happy reinforcement, short sessions, etc.
2) contacts - he totally BLEW his contacts at BRAG! I am thrilled he's not afraid of them anymore, but geeze little tiny dog - don't jump off so high!! So I'm going to teach him 2o2o. I tried a little bit of 2rto with him and he was so not into that and I think honestly with him being so small he was not getting the concept somehow. I couldn't get him to stand with his front feet off and back feet on the edge. So I'm going to use a dish. Which I can start training indoors in the AC - for those days when he is like "heck no mom, it's hot out there!"
Also, I just got from Clean Run a cool coat for him, and Power Boost for all the dogs to recover faster at trials.
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