I learned my lesson from yesterday - don't keep a dog named Rocket cooped up in a crate for 6 hours before running a course!
I let him sniff his merry way all around the stable grounds, then brought him back inside and worked Obed stuff. Lots of attention, fronts, backing up, and spins with tons and tons of reward. He was so easily distracted yesterday that I concentrated on when he was giving me attention, and it worked - he would purposely look at another dog and then offer eye contact 1 second later. I think we got through to one another that horse barn does not automatically = assclownery.
Jumpers was first. We managed 13 out of 16 jumps! My goal for the day was 1, so he did a good job. There was still sniffing, and greeting the ring crew, and I know that I had a handler error or two.
Hoopers was next. We only had one course fault, but we were over the course time. BUT, we only had one fault!!
Tunnelers was last. This dog thinks that tunnels are FANTASTIC. He was quick and soooo responsive - it was like driving a sports car. I hope that was a glimpse of things to come in the future! His only fault was mine - the course was a ton of circles, and in my rush to get in front of him, I directed him to the tunnel and hauled butt, but it wasn't enough to shove him in the tunnel. Instead, he decided that the shortest route to the tunnel following the correct tunnel was to jump ON the tunnel in his way and use it like a spring board. Didn't throw off his concentration a bit - he ran right to the next tunnel on the course and continued on his merry way. He finished only 6 seconds over course time and had the one fault, but otherwise it was a fantastic finish to the day.
I think we both learned a lot. I need to work on his level of comfort with distractions and his attention span. I'm looking forward to our next NADAC trial!!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
First Agility Trial
I'm calling it that, because I paid for entry fees. :)
I entered a NADAC trial this weekend, just to see what Rocket and I would be able to handle. I only entered Jumpers, and it was the last class of the day. Knowing that my dog has a tendency to get wound up and then sulk when he's not given something to do, I left him in his crate all day, with the exception of two potty breaks and a short warmup on a jump.
He was doing great during our warm up. I put him away to walk the course, and somehow, in 5 minutes, a horny, disobedient assclown took the place of my well behaved, ready to tackle a course dog.
We were at the starting line. "Good Luck" says the judge. I take off his leash, give him a wait, and take a two jump lead out. I call him.....and he took off.
Not over the first jump. Or the second. Or the third. Do you see a pattern? We completed NO jumps out of a 15 jump course. Instead, we visited the leash runner, scared the crap out of a sheltie too close to ring gating, made a beeline for the judge, and then left the ring to sniff another sheltie.
On the plus side, he did come back to me when I called him from in the ring while he was out of it?
Keep your fingers crossed that we can get at least 1 jump tomorrow!
I entered a NADAC trial this weekend, just to see what Rocket and I would be able to handle. I only entered Jumpers, and it was the last class of the day. Knowing that my dog has a tendency to get wound up and then sulk when he's not given something to do, I left him in his crate all day, with the exception of two potty breaks and a short warmup on a jump.
He was doing great during our warm up. I put him away to walk the course, and somehow, in 5 minutes, a horny, disobedient assclown took the place of my well behaved, ready to tackle a course dog.
We were at the starting line. "Good Luck" says the judge. I take off his leash, give him a wait, and take a two jump lead out. I call him.....and he took off.
Not over the first jump. Or the second. Or the third. Do you see a pattern? We completed NO jumps out of a 15 jump course. Instead, we visited the leash runner, scared the crap out of a sheltie too close to ring gating, made a beeline for the judge, and then left the ring to sniff another sheltie.
On the plus side, he did come back to me when I called him from in the ring while he was out of it?
Keep your fingers crossed that we can get at least 1 jump tomorrow!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Training Goals - Jan & Feb
I'd like to make it a yearly schedule, but I've found that I can't schedule out reliably that far, so two months is it!
There are two shows in February that I'm planning on entering Kaylee and Rocket in. Our club show on the 10/11th, and CCKC the following Friday and Saturday. I'm hoping that in those 4 shows both Kaylee and Rocket can earn their CDs and RNs. They have spent significant time in both of the venues, and I'm really going to be getting them used to having strangers follow us in a pattern and standing behind them in the next month. I want them to be as prepared as I can get them!
It looks like I'm adding a third dog to the Dobe rotation. Yesterday, Leah and I went and picked up Jadore - Bruda Jadore by Shadai - and brought her back to Casa Sizzle for a new experience. To help her get some Obed under her belt, I've added her to my training schedule. She's such a sweetheart, and an eternally happy dog. She is a littermate to Jayne, and Rocket's half sister. Tomorrow will be her first adventure with a clicker. I'm really hoping she enjoys it!
There are two shows in February that I'm planning on entering Kaylee and Rocket in. Our club show on the 10/11th, and CCKC the following Friday and Saturday. I'm hoping that in those 4 shows both Kaylee and Rocket can earn their CDs and RNs. They have spent significant time in both of the venues, and I'm really going to be getting them used to having strangers follow us in a pattern and standing behind them in the next month. I want them to be as prepared as I can get them!
It looks like I'm adding a third dog to the Dobe rotation. Yesterday, Leah and I went and picked up Jadore - Bruda Jadore by Shadai - and brought her back to Casa Sizzle for a new experience. To help her get some Obed under her belt, I've added her to my training schedule. She's such a sweetheart, and an eternally happy dog. She is a littermate to Jayne, and Rocket's half sister. Tomorrow will be her first adventure with a clicker. I'm really hoping she enjoys it!
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