Monday night classes started up in the barn again 2 weeks ago and have been a absolute riot.
First class was awesome - I almost face planted when I tripped in the sand and then almost impaled myself on a jump standard messing up a front cross. I wish I had video to post of what a gong show it was!
After that near disaster I figured I should probably hit the training field one more time before the snow flew. Just to work the kinks back out of my handling so I can run and tell my dog what to do at the same time! So out to Wet Noses we went. The boys were SO excited to be playing. Baxter especially is super enthusiastic and happy to play after some of the relationship and enthusiasm building things we've done on break.
Second class went much better. The boys also didn't play fetch for a hour during the day before class so Baxter actually ran, did single stride weaves and was pretty darn quick. Spencer is doing awesome as well. Still some odd baby dog moments but I'm doing all that I can to build enthusiasm and confidence with him. Currently out of the 3 runs we get in class, Spencer gets 2 - first and last. I've been starting him at 6" and then jumping him at 10" for his second run. He seems happier at 6"? I might just drop him to Specials and be done with it. There really is no reason to jump him 10" especially with his knee.
We FINALLY actually attended a trial as well! As a warm up before we get back into full weekend trials we hit the Oct Wee Wed at WetCreek, running Master Standard and Team Relay.
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| Happy boys |
Spencer was funny, but happy and confident running FEO at 6" Some more silliness on course where he didn't listen to handling and blind crossed me to take a off course a couple times. But I can work with that. I'd rather the confidence to take something of his own accord than for him to be worried that he's wrong.
Baxter tho, he was on fire! Such a happy boy! Standard was a nice, fast run, with single stride weaves 4.21 yps - WITH weaves. Fastest course/best yards per second yet!
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| Running goobers @ Summer Lake |
It was really nice to have people come up to me after and remark on how much faster he has gotten. Hopefully we can keep it up. He doesn't have the best structure for weaves with the longer back and short, stubby legs. But we've worked on speeding them up and making sure he has good core strength so that he hopefully doesn't hurt himself either.
Team relay was also really nice, although we didn't end up qualifying. Fun thing I haven't thought of before though - if the dogs have a huge height discrepancy (like 26" and 6") you shouldn't end up with the dogs taking off course jumps (hopefully!)
Getting excited for the CAA November trial next weekend!
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