Smoked it!

Today was the first day of the Fionavar K9 - Cowboy Up and Cowgirls Don't Cry trial in Olds.

Despite, or maybe in spite of the horrid weather (it's April, stop with the snow already) and disgusting soggy, muddy parking/potty area - Baxter had a smokin' day. We only did 1 day of this trial but he Q'd in 3/4 events. Missing only Steeplechase by just 1 second due to a weave bobble with a wrong entry. His jumpers run he ran a phenomenal 4.47yps (yards per second) his fastest yps yet! That was faster than some Shelties - and he weighs quite a bit more with stubby little legs.

Even Masters Challenge was awesome with a very respectable 3.46 yps, a clean run and the judge cheering for us when we finished it. I love this dog! (and am now quite fond of that judge too!)

This has to have been one of the best trials we've had since hitting Masters level courses. 2 weekends ago the P'N'E Trial in Turner Valley was good and he was running really well (2/4Q's but one of those NQ's was really my fault) but this weekend brought it to a whole new level. Good, tight lines. Super responsive to cues. I had good course strategy. We just clicked.

More trial review later, with pics and video. Mostly - I just wanted to post this title on 4/20 for the play on words, but it worked so well =D

The Joys of Training a Fearful Dog

Oh baby dog. What am I going to do with you?!

I love pictures of Spencer. In photos I can capture the intensity and show some of the drive that this little dog has. He can be fun, so much fun. The key word there being CAN.







I want other people to be able to see that as well. I want for him to be able to reach his potential and be a crazy, fun little dog everywhere and not have to worry like he does. However, I also don't want to over face him with something that he just cannot handle just because I want him to do something. It's such a fine line.

Sometimes it's hard to tell what is shutting him down. We struggled at Flyball practice on Sunday. Spencer didn't want to play with a ball. Not Yellow Ball (his best, favorite toy) not one of the little tennis balls he's supposed to be getting from the box. Nothing. Not quite sure why, or what the issue might have been, but it gets frustrating sometimes. Then he'd tug with his hollee/tennis bungee toy, but again, wouldn't retrieve a toy. He's always retrieved but will often not tug in public, why the reversal?!

I'm good at identifying his triggers, and at breaking things down and working through steps with him. It's not his fault at all, I just wish sometimes that it wasn't 1 step forward and then 2 steps back.

Agility class on Monday night was a success though. He was happy and rotten and had good distance on obstacles, letting me layer a sequence.

I'm glad that even if we are struggling with one sport that we can be successful in other areas, be it dog sports or just in life in general.

He is doing better in agility. He's happy at practice in the barn. He was cute and excited at the March Fundraiser trial - one of the highlights of our Standard round was a woman saying what a fun little dog he is. Other competitors have commented on how far he has come. I have to try and focus on that a little bit more. He has come a long way. He is doing very well. Some things just take time, and with a worried, soft dog they take a little longer than they might otherwise. With the longer days and spring hopefully here we'll take the show on the road and practice playing/tugging and focusing in new places.

Patience, it is a virtue.

Sometimes it's just hard to remember that we don't always get the dog we want, but we do get the dog we need!

Bring on the Spring

I hate winter. The dogs hate winter. It's cold, and dark and depressing.

Bring on the Spring! - at least it is brighter and warmer.

I'm not sure that I like spring a whole lot better than winter- it's awesome that the days are longer, warmer and brighter, however it is a whole lot more work.

Slime water mustache

Me and my shadow

 We go out and play, and I let them be dogs, not little stuffed robots who only walk on dry sidewalks - so then they are disgusting.

Me and my shadow too!

THEN they get baths or at least washed off in the sink - which they are pretty sure is dog abuse and should not be allowed. Poor puppies.


Easter long weekend was beautiful weather! Saturday was fantastic and the dogs and I had a blast, which went a long way to off setting Sunday which was a whole lot less fantastic and a story for another post ...