Operant Conditioning and Dog Training

So far I've gotten in 2 training sessions for NoseWork 2.0.

Not NoseWork! Just problem solving with treat puzzles

It's been interesting so far. One of the dogs is VERY quick to catch on with shaping and due to this it is easier to build the skill and duration. The other 2 dogs do not shape well, there was much luring done with their initial training and not much free thinking or problem solving.

Which leads me to think more on operant conditioning and free thinking, such as they are.

You've heard the phrase "Give a man a fish and he can feed himself for a day. Teach a man to fish and he can feed a village for years." (or other variants along those lines.)

Teaching your puppy to think and problem solve is, in my mind, one of the greatest things you can teach them. (Aside from confidence with new and novel situations.)

I think the single greatest thing I've learned from dog training is how to teach the dog how to think and problem solve. It's a skill to be able to break things down so that the dog can understand what I want.

I understand the lure of luring, pun intended. It gets you the behavior now. It also prevents the flailing about and frantic behavior often seen in dogs who are shaped poorly. The dog doesn't understand what the trainer wants and will run through their whole repertoire of "tricks" to try to find what you want. If you're not really careful in how you reward and mark, you build that frantic flinging of behaviors into anything shaped. 

But I digress. That isn't the soap box for today's post. Today is about an operant dog in the most general sense - a dog who cares about what their human thinks and is willing to try something for them for a reward that the human is controlling.

You can have either end of the spectrum.

Baxter is an operant dog who does not think well or problem solve for himself. He will however try what I ask him to do, and if confused by it still "stays in the game" so to speak. He doesn't leave. He just lays down, whines, paws at me because he wants the reward and does not understand how to earn it. He was never taught to "think" - just to try. So the thinking is my job. When he gets something wrong, I need to modify so he can get it right, because he is not going to change what he offers me. He lures very nicely and patterns well, so still very trainable. Just not a thinker.

Spencer is the opposite end of the spectrum from Baxter. He is a thinker. Still an operant dog, however, one who is fearful with some new situations and does not do well with any sort of pressure. He will try, think and problem solve until you apply pressure and then he is gone from the game. He is brilliant at picking up new tricks and behaviors, provided his human has thought this through and has broken the pieces down (splitting) during shaping sessions.

As long as a dog is operant, you can work with that. 

If your dog does not care about the human and the rewards the human controls, now you have a problem. That is my largest challenge. How do you teach that human to create an operant dog? Especially in this culture and age of pet parents and fur babies? 

He/she was abused/had a rough start. We're not home very much. 

Someone could look at Spencer, who I brought home at 8 wks of age and say that he must have been abused. I'm fairly confident he wasn't. He certainly wasn't neglected at 8 wks old. Don't make excuses. Regardless of their background, your dog can still be trained!

Your puppy who has no value in you, their human, does not need to go to the dog park daily. They do not need to run wild and practice ignoring you as an object of absolutely no value in their environment. It's not neglect not to go and it is certainly not mean to prevent access to situations in which you are teaching your puppy to ignore you.

Your dog/puppy should not be overweight or obese. Often that makes using food as a reward hard. 

Control access to fun things. To gain access to the thing they want, the dog needs to cooperate with you. 

Dog wants to go hang out in the yard? Then dog needs to sit and the door and remain sitting while I open it until say they can go. No bolting! Initially, sit for a few seconds, then make it harder.

Good things come from you! Maybe don't have very fun "free toys" in the house. Fun toys only come out when you play with the human. Puppy likes tug on things, like your pant legs? Perfect, teach them to play tug with toys. Tug is an incredibly powerful interactive game to play.

Build value in the human! Put aside 5 minutes every day to PLAY with your puppy/dog. Run around the backyard like a nut. Do puppy push-ups (sit/down/stand) with a handful of their dinner before you feed them. Practice recalls around the house with a handful of their dinner. Teach them self control (not to mob your hand for the food.) 

Start to build a positive relationship with your puppy/dog in which they do something for you and then they get something awesome that they want! Your relationship with your dog, and the ease at which you can teach them new things (even if it is "just" pet manners) will improve so much.

CAA Remembrance Day - Trial Review

CAA is one of my favorite clubs to trial with in our area. I like their venue. I really like their new ribbons and my dogs seem to do well at their trials!

Way back when, Baxter finally got his very first 2 Starters Gambles with this club ending our 6 month drought without a Gamble Q. Considering that this is when I used to trial every month, or even twice a month (thanks to TT's Wee Wed's) that's saying something!

Starters Games Dog of Canada Title

Then last year Spencer got his ATChC at this trial too!

ATChC!

I also really like that this trial is about Remembrance, both in the traditional sense of Nov 11th and in the sense that we should remember and be thankful for our old dogs who may be retired or no longer with us, as well as our veteran dogs still playing the game. Not always thinking about that new, "better" faster dog we want to get in the future.

Both boys did well. I did less well, especially on Sunday.

We didn't play in either of the 2 Snooker rounds offered on Friday night. I think people were there until after 10pm, Friday was a LATE night especially when you're back the next morning for 7:30.
It all made for a very long weekend.

2 runs of Team also made for a long weekend. It's hard to volunteer for Team since there isn't a definite split like regular & special/vets. It's also hard when you have 2 dogs in it and you need to have the dogs ready in time and still pretend attempt to volunteer.

I think Team is my least favorite game. I don't think it helps that it's an "all dogs" category much like Steeplechase. It means you run the risk of your Masters dog being partnered with a brand new Starters dog with their brand new to agility handler. Just to be clear, I'm not bashing the new people. I like them, the sport needs them and everyone started like they did at some point. I am very supportive of them at trials. I just think that the "game" of Team Relay is dumb. Dumber than Gamblers even!

We came away from this trial 0/4 for Qualifying runs in Team. Obviously just saying pick a random dog for my partner is not a recipe for success. I'll be setting this up better for my guys next time messaging other people with steady, consistent dogs. I had entered Spencer in both Team events since he needs 2 more for that title. If I pair Spencer with a veteran, especially a mini veteran time won't ever be a concern and it will be easier to finish that title off.

Spencer was awesome on Saturday. Only 3 runs, but he Q'd in 2/3 and the mistake in Team wasn't us. Standard was nice, he drove the DW really well. Happy for tunnels. Happy in the weaves. 3.5 yps. Gamblers he was a rock star and we got several compliments on his running DW. He also qualified with 70 points! No questions at all on the mini or the main.

Baxter took the wrong mouth for #3 for the mini

Sunday he was also a fantastic little dog. Little less drive than Saturday I think though? Maybe it's me. I have to push him and handle with a whole lot of energy. If he seems "off" I get stressed and I'm sure he picks up on that. He ran well in Team. Pulled it together better for a very nice Steeplechase that I was sure he should have Q'd in since he ran it at 3.55 yps WITH 2x 12 weaves. However he ended up with 0.16 over time.

Jumpers though, we fell apart. Or, I suppose I should say, I fell apart. Jumpers ran right after ribbons and 6" was the first height. Spencer was the second dog. So I left ribbons early so I could potty the dogs and warm up/jazz up Spencer. That went fine.

My ring side crate (for switching out my dogs with 4 in between them, since they are not okay with someone holding them) ended up in a crowded area and near a young dog who was barking and freaking out at everything past the pen - then to make it worse there were extra people around and someone else brought in 2 more dogs to crate just behind the ring side crate and they were freaking out barking as well.

Too many people, some of which were spectators milling around my crate, which upset me (just because it stresses Spencer out.) Reactive, barking dogs. A new ring steward who apparently couldn't hear me when I said I was there 4 times.

Spencer didn't want to do tricks in his crate. He didn't want to do anything - never a good sign. Then running the "gauntlet" into the ring was bad too. So I'm stressed and hoping that the tunnel as #3 would speed him up and get him into the game. It didn't. I also felt like my handling wasn't very good, maybe I should have blinded instead of front crossing in some places. We ended up with a refusal, but otherwise we would have been over time anyway

Then Baxter's turn to run. I'm still irritated with the ring steward, who apparently can't notice that I have 3 dogs in between my dogs and is wanting Baxter on the line "right now." Lady - I don't lead out. I don't have an elaborate start line routine. I get into the ring, ditch the leash and run from the gate, with pretty much both dogs. We aren't wasting time. Ultimately I don't care what you think, I'm not going out there early, thanks anyway. If you push me on it, especially if I have Spencer and not Baxter, you're not going to like the results. So lets just not, okay?

Anyway.

I'm still upset from Spencer's run and I'm a little stressed out and upset that Baxter is showing his age as the day wears on. My handling doesn't feel a whole lot prettier with Baxter (will have to set this up some other time and practice some alternate handling, I don't like how it handled at all.) Then I cross too flat in one spot and push Baxter onto the wrong side of the jump and that was that. We also completely missed a jump in the line of jumps driving to the finish line but I stopped caring after I buggered the run 5 obstacles earlier.

So we went out in the sunshine for a little bit until I could recenter and I just sat and cuddled the boys. I shouldn't have upset me that much, but it did. I don't know. Was just one of those days I suppose.

I want Spencer to be happy. As a bonus, when he is happy he performs well. But mainly it is about being happy and confident. When I can't make that happen so that he feels confident and secure enough in a situation, I don't deal well. Then he feeds off that and it becomes a big vicious cycle that I need to come up with a solution for.

Aside from my issues in Jumpers, Baxter did well this weekend. He Q'd in Standard 1 with 3.68 yps as well as in Standard 2 with 3.71 yps on Saturday and would have Q'd Gamblers as well if his handler had actually handled the last jump instead of assuming he would do it. He did understand the handling and would have gotten the main, but in the mini he wouldn't send out to the far tunnel mouth - we'll have to work on that. His tunnel sends (both the lateral and the straight) are getting a little funny.

I had a headache for Team on Sat, so I didn't push to have my steady dog run the more technical course. I just wanted to run both as the same course (white) Team on Sunday was our fault first, but the second dog also took off courses. Sunday's team run for white (the first side) was quite challenging. They changed the numbering for 9 and many big dogs went over that jump into the back tunnel mouth of 3. I made sure to handle it so that the line/approach was as flat as I could get it and I cued collection/wrap but Baxter still hit the tunnel mouth.

So, another drill/scenario to set up and work out!

For a new handler at their 2nd or 3rd trial, both of these are HARD!

Sunday's Standard had the teeter before the DW. Baxter was worried about the teeter and I just wasn't thinking. I cued the DW and ran, while Baxter stalled out 1/2 way up the up plank. By the time I realized he wasn't with me, he'd turned around and jumped off closer to the ground. I had to really help him get up the ramp, he was pretty spooked about it. So I guess we revisit some DW/teeter stuff at practice the next few weeks.

Baxter also picked up another Steeplechase Q on a course with 2 x12! I was very happy with his weaves for this one. He had been slowing down as the weekend progressed but I handled these ones with a little more intensity and remembered to pause at tunnel mouths to drive him to obstacles (in this case, the weaves.) 6" Specials had a SCT of 48 while 6" Vets had 58. Baxter ran it in 47.12, so he actually would have Q'd at 3.63 yps without the vets time bonus!

Speedy Chi wears her leash when we play at the field because the listening ears just don't work ...

Overall Spencer came home with 2/6 - Standard and Gamblers. Or 2/4 if you don't count Team (which I'm not going to do!)

Baxter was right around the same percentage, with 3/8 - Standard x2 and Steeplechase (or 3/6.) With the mistakes all being mine.

Barn Hunt Intro and Practice

When an opportunity came up a few weeks ago to take part in a Barn Hunt practice hosted by a local Earth Dog Club that my friend belongs to, I jumped at the chance.

Last year when a similar opportunity came up, I decided against it since I was worried that it might distract Spencer more and/or cause more undesirable issues with his prey drive. Spencer already loses his mind over critters, be they squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, deer or our very favorite; jack rabbits. At the time, I didn't think a game that just rewards that mindless hunting would really be a good plan.

To be honest, I'm still not sure it would be. But I decided that since he is an awesome little dog who tries to give me what I ask for in agility when he is overwhelmed by the environment and the worries, I would see if he would like to play Barn Hunt. Something he just finds rewarding. Something he loves.

Love this little dog. Need to find a dog sport that he loves!

I'm not sure if Barn Hunt is that. I know the practice wasn't for sure. Way too many amped up dogs in a small space. Not unlike Flyball that he is also very much not a fan of.

I was hoping he'd love the gerbils the way he loves gopher holes. It's a critter, you can poke it or bark at it and maybe it'll move. It smells like a critter. What isn't to like here?

Sure did not have this happy Spencer when learning to hunt gerbils!

Turns out, everything.

It's indoors. This was the first time he was allowed to harass a domestic critter that wasn't a cat. But there were so many other dogs around, and he was inside. He was just scared of the environment period and couldn't care less about the gerbils.

So all we jumped on some straw bales and went through straw tunnels for cookies. That was easy. We left it there for him. He was NOT HAPPY with the environment.

Baxter actually did much the same thing as Spencer, for all that he isn't as environmentally sensitive. Too many dogs. Way too amped up. Just too much. He was also pretty sure that the gerbil box was the devil.

Way to not set my dogs up to succeed. Might have gone a little better if I tried to introduce the concept of gerbils in a box at home. At least I didn't enter the Barn Hunt trial!

I think the boys and I have attended too many agility trials where people are very conscientious with their dogs. They try not to crowd other dogs. No dog-dog visiting. Generally, if a dog is out with their handler, that dog is the handlers focus. Maybe because there are more reactive dogs and dogs with issues playing agility? I don't really know!

So, the choice is. Give up on this idea, since the dogs are not innately bonkers for a gerbil in a box. Or get a gerbil and teach the hunting of it, not unlike Nose Work.

The gerbil plan doesn't really excite me. One more thing to take care of. I'm thinking if I have to train something like Nose Work, it might as well actually be Nose Work. At least I have the supplies and I don't need to feed/water/clean up after the scent oils!

Maybe in the Spring we'll see if I can find any Coursing Ability Tests for Spencer. He likes to chase moving stuff AND it's outdoors. Right up his alley.

Chase the happy!

So naked! Decent impression of a sight hound though!

Fabulous Flea

After not getting a puppy from the litter that I was (sort of) on the list for, I've been in a bit of a panic about dogs and agility.

I really want a puppy to teach all sorts of new stuff to. AND I want a puppy to start bringing along to be an agility performance dog as well. Baxter is getting older, Spencer has his issues. Even if I brought a puppy home tomorrow it's 18 months to 2 years before that puppy could potentially trial and lets face it, I don't know if both my boys (possibly EITHER of my boys) will still be competing then. I want a dog who wants to play the game with me!

I often ask a friend of mine about various sport type breeders while researching. She's been in the dog game a while now. Her Mom breeds, she breeds, she also plays sports and has lived out east. Long story short, she's got a lovely little Jack Russel Terrier who would be a good agility dog and has great structure that she isn't going to have time to train and run in agility. But she knows I was looking for a puppy and wondered if I'd be interested in playing with her.

It's a little weird training a dog you don't live with. The plus side is that Flea already is an adult, and has some foundation on her plus has other sport background already too. It'll take a little longer to get to competition ready, but half the fun is the journey (and I can re-learn how I want to teach things to a puppy - BEFORE I have that puppy!!)

She's such a fun little dog to play with! So far I really do like "terrorists" though she is quite mellow compared to most. I love how she bounces, can bend like she's made of rubber and has attitude. Not much hurts her feelings, which is a nice change! She's also the "right" height. Measuring about 13.5" which will put her into the 16" Regular category in AAC.

Good girly sitting like a dork!

September P'N'E Trial

One of my very favorite authors has a line he uses in most of his books about not handing the universe a line like that. An example would be saying "Could this day get any better?" (when everything is going wrong.) But it could also be saying "Wow, I'm glad that is done" (and then it won't be.)

Apparently I handed the universe a line like that with the last blog post, and while the Veterans class sure does have more time and needs less points - when you and your dog aren't quite connecting, it's not EZmode agility.

Good boys - pretty as a picture

Spencer was a rock star this trial!

I had happy, enthusiastic, best little black dog for our first 3 runs.

Jumpers rocked, he was fast and actually driving to obstacles. Challenge was also fast and happy, until he had a bobble at the weaves with having to sniff the pole. It was a weird issue, maybe another dog pee'd on them the day before? I also messed up his Challenge run after that, not making sure I had him with me when I said "Tunnel" - sending him into the wrong end. Like I did at Regionals. Something to work on, that.

He did great in Gamble, getting 2 minis and he would have had the main if his handler didn't assume he'd take a very flat angle jump (and I didn't support so he slid by it.)

Wasn't quite so "on" for the last run, Steeplechase. More weave sniffing and 3x restarts to get that right, which isn't like him. His weaves are one of his stronger obstacles - then he deke'd around a jump when I didn't babysit it.

So. No entering him in 4 runs a day. 3 is his max.

Baxter was AMPED for the first run, which was Jumpers. He just about bit a off course in the first 3 obstacles and then because I had to handle funny to save it, I was in the wrong place for the 4th obstacle, didn't blind like I wanted to and lost him to the off course "wrong" tunnel mouth. I'm happy with my choice to pretend that nothing went wrong though and keep "playing through."

Challenge was better, little more listening, but I have to really push him over flat jumps and I didn't, so again, despite the E we played through this too!

Gamble was good. 2x the same mini as Spencer, but he got sucked into the wrong tunnel mouth and then stayed in the tunnel vortex of doom for 2 or 3 repeats of the same tunnel. We need to practice this tunnel sending, and video it. Maybe body cues are messing him up and I am turning too much too fast before he's committed. At least he sent out, and he sent for the mini, so I'm happy with that.

By the time we were in Steeplechase he'd slowed down a bit. No single striding the weaves, and still wanting to drive lines. On the front cross after the frame to get him over the right jump he really tried to drive to the wrong one. Our connection was just a little off the whole weekend.

Also good boys - the bloopers (Baxter doesn't appreciate being that close to Spencer when he's barking)

Dog Days of Summer - Trial Review

Aug 8 & 9 was a big agility trial put on by 2 agility clubs/schools in the area. Hosted at Wet Noses, they ran 2 rings. One ran Masters all day, the other Starters/Advanced.

It was a really nice trial despite the swarms of mosquitoes and the 30°C heat both days.

Tired beasties after the trial during pack up (otherwise the 3 don't share a "kennel"

Very happy with my boys. Baxter only needed one more Standard to finish off his Expert Silver Standard to achieve his Silver Award of Merit after the Top Spot trial in Indus, so we finished those titles this weekend.

Smug Fluff

Due to the setup, they actually ran 10 Masters runs for the full weekend. 11 if you entered both Steeplechase! I thought that 11 might be a bit much to ask of Baxter, but did enter him in 9 runs - 4 on Saturday and then 5 on Sunday. What I should have done was flipped that - 5 on Sat and then 4 Sun. I could tell he was tired from the start on Sunday, which had the most runs.

I think I'll stick with my designation of Veterans being "EZMode" agility. Even being slow on Sunday AND knocking a bar in Steeplechase Baxter finished about 5 seconds under time and Q'd.

In fact, he qualified in 6/9 runs this weekend - where 2 of those NQ's were Gambles that nearly no one got. I am also sticking with my disgust with Gambles for "ruining" our Q rate. We'll keep entering them to stay in practice for Regionals, but ugh, donation runs! His only other mistake was really mine due to handling where I pushed him into a tunnel instead of up the DW on a discrimination in a Standard run.

Spencer ran really well in the heat all things considered. He ended up 3/7 runs. One of those runs was the most beautiful Standard. I wish I had video of it. We didn't Q, but I couldn't have been happier with my little dog!

Most people ran this and with DOL wrapped them around 19, either post turning or as a FC. I don't like wrapping my dogs. They do better in extension, and I actually liked the line better 19 to 20 on the path I drew on the course map above. The problem is it felt horrible awkward sending 19 as a throw back threadle. So I ran DOL 17-18-19 then sent the dogs over 19 from the take off side (at the X) and picked them up on a front cross so they stayed DOL to finish.

Both dogs read it nice, but Spencer was spot on perfect. It felt so good, despite the fact I had already messed him up and we E'd when he went back up the DW instead of into tunnel 14. Most beautiful E run ever! I actually want to set this up sometime where I can video and time it. I feel it's faster to stay in extension, and my dogs run my speed, so I think my handling was appropriate - but I wonder about other ways. It would be interesting to test!

Break!

Graceful Retirement

Last weekend was the last trial and last run for an agility dog belonging to one of our local agility instructors/judges. (We loosely take classes with him in Trial Applications.)

I hadn't really talked to the handler about it, but overheard that some health issues were discovered last week, - not enough to have to pull, but since heart issues coupled with high drive border collies aren't such a good combination this was the dogs retirement trial. They'd still play in the backyard and just jump 6" but this was the last trial.

I think I cried more than the handler did. Thank Dog for sunglasses!

It just makes you think. I hope I get that with my guys. A definite last run. A last goal completed or something. Something that makes you say "when."

It was just such a HUGE contrast to another dog I've seen running at a different trial. That dog is broken. Eye sight is going now, but more than that, the dog was running on Metcam. It slipped badly in a tunnel, but wasn't pulled. It was visiting chiro and massage after each run. It's back end/back looked so bad. It was to the point where I couldn't watch that dog run. It would stop dead as soon as it crossed the finish line and the handler stopped moving. Not looking at the handler. Not dancing around in happy anticipation of a reward. Just. Stopped. Dead.

I'll be honest. I cried then too. How do you do that to your dog? They do this for us. How do you repay that by giving them painkillers so that they CAN/WILL run?

Then you see the run this weekend. This old dog still has it. They were retired from Regionals and Nationals after 2014. They still ran a few runs in local trials. The handler would shape turns and angles so that they'd be loose and  loopy so the dog doesn't turn too tight with an old body and hurt themselves - because while the spirit is willing, the body is wearing out and the dog has no self preservation.

They played agility because she loved it. Not always full trials. No running at Regionals this year.

With Baxter slowing down a little this is on my mind more and more. We may never compete at Nationals again since we're not going to Burnaby this year. Next year is Quebec. By the time Nationals are back in the West he'll be 9.

So. We'll play because he likes it. Maybe we'll go for 6 runs a weekend like Spencer does instead of full trials.

My Fluff 08-Aug-2015, 7.5 years

When the day comes, my dog owes me nothing. He's played this game for me. He's taught me how to be a better trainer, handler and person. He has suffered though all those mistakes I made because he is my first sport dog.

When the day comes, I'm the one who owes HIM. I will retire him before he is broken and in constant pain from injuries. I will keep him happy and active doing things that aren't agility and I will love him to pieces for being my first! I owe that to him.

Top Spot Agility - Indus July Trial

Last weekend we had a "first" trial in the area for a new agility club that started up. I guess technically they did have a trial this winter as well, but another club donated ribbons. So this was the first time you could get a Top Spot title ribbon!

I have this thing. I like collecting (title) ribbons for agility clubs in the area.

We've got;
2x4 Agility
Paws'N'Effect (old ribbons, need the new)
Calgary Agility Association (old ribbons, need the new)
Fionavar K9 (old and new)
Training Troop
Flashing Canines (old and new)
Hyper Hounds
Go Dogs Go (only a Q ribbon with them, not a title)
Dynamo Dog Sports (only a Q, not a title)

Baxter actually earned his Expert Jumpers Silver title at Top Spot's last trial, but since it was sponsored by Fionavar, no new ribbon.

Not only was I excited about the venue (super close to my house with a stand of mature poplar trees with a carrigana hedge for shade to bench under) but both boys could also be up for titles! (Thus, ribbons from the new club!!)

Both boys ran really well this weekend and despite the massive hail storm at the end of the day on Saturday, weather was great. I had an absolutely fantastic time at this trial. I'm super happy with how consistent my dogs are performing and how much Spencer and I have come together as a team.

Baxter is loving Veteran's. It's taken a lot of the challenge out of qualifying since sometimes he'd be over time by a couple of seconds since he's "energy efficient" especially in the heat. He Q'd 7/8, with that one NQ (actually an E) my fault for not handling like I walked on Challenge. He did however get the Gamble, and also threadled on a part in Snooker that I was testing to see if we could do. What a good Fluff!

He was loving the 2 Jumpers runs we finished up with on Sunday. That last run was ALL about collection. I think I did 8 front crosses and a reverse spin? So much fun!! Jumpers is totally Baxter's game We've got 30 Q's in Jumpers alone now.

Spencer was the best baby black dog in the world this weekend going 5/6. Back to his "usual" 3 runs each day since he doesn't seem to do well with more than that. Sat he was happy and fast on his first run in Gamble - got the points but not the main, I think my handling may have been ambiguous. Then he Q'd in both Standard courses. Not super fast, but it was a little warm by that point in time and Spencer doesn't do heat. What Spencer did do though, was chutes. Without worrying! No chute refusals, yay.

Sunday he was smoking in Steeplechase. Little off on his Challenge, but was 1 of only 3 dogs out of 20 or 25 dogs to qualify! Then last run of the day he was back and had a fantastic Jumpers run where he was actually driving to the obstacles again and was a couple of seconds faster than Baxter giving me 4.6 yps!

With the 2 Standards on Saturday with the bonus of an actual Challenge Q on Sunday my baby bug pulled off his Expert Bronze Standard title. That finished his Bronze Award of Merit with a Q to spare!

Funny Story:

In 2013 a good friend of mine left Regionals early, or at least before the completion of the awards. I stayed for ribbons and *thought* she was called as qualifying for Nationals so picked up a Q ribbon for her. Either I didn't hear right, or they were called when they shouldn't have been, but after checking results the next day turns out they didn't qualify. I felt terrible.

This weekend she and her boy earned their ATChC! I asked her if she knew if he had gotten any of the Awards of Merit as well, since I  did not know when Baxter earned his until someone else told me. So I looked at the AAC dog stats page for her and yep, he did have his 10 Standard. I really didn't look at his Games though, since I was busy thinking about Baxter needing Standards to finish his Merit titles. I assured her he had his Bronze Award of Merit as well, so she hauled home 4 big, pretty ribbons.

Then I started second guessing myself on the way home when I couldn't check the AAC site. Her boy had to finish his MGDC (Masters Gamble title) and MSDC (Masters Snooker title) to earn the ATChC, so he only had 8 of those games. OMG did he have enough of the other games (you need 25) to earn the Merit title?! Did I just do it again?!? - Nope I get home, check and breath a sigh of relief. Thank doG!

Then on Sunday, I do it again, but with my own dog this time. Again, thinking about how Baxter just needs one more Standard for his Silver Merit, I knew Spencer needed 2 standards and was entered in 3. So when he got the Standards I put his name down and picked the ribbon up. Perfect! ... except then I was remembering how I was talking about how Spencer doesn't do full trials, how I pick and choose what to enter him in based on the titles I'm aiming for. So unlike Baxter, he doesn't have a slew of extraneous Games titles/legs, and he just finished his ATChC in Nov. OH. MY. GOD. Did my own dog actually have enough games titles to finish his Bronze?! Yes. He did. Barely! 28 Games Q's before this trial - 30 with the 2 Games Q's he picked up at it. Wow. Just wow.

That's what I get for not counting.

2015 AAC Regional Championships

This year the AAC Regionals were held just outside of Sherwood Park (east of Edmonton) and hosted by K9 Korruption. The format was changed up a little bit and it was turned into a 3 day event instead of the usual 2 day event.

Everyone came to Regionals!

I'm not sure how I ultimately feel about it being 3 days. 2 runs a day is a little easier on the dogs, not sure how much of an edge that gave Spencer. Only 2 rings ran at a time and people were split into 4 groups instead of the "usual" 3. Regular dogs all ran together in 2 groups and then Specials/Vets all ran together in the other 2 groups.

The nice thing was if the Regular dogs started first at 8:30, Specials/Vets didn't even start "their" open walk through until 12:00 (they had 2 sets of open walk throughs, you could attend both if you wanted to, or you could just go to the one right before you had to run.) So you didn't have to be at the trial site at the crack of dawn. However, all your runs were in the afternoon, where it would be hotter. It also felt kind of weird not to see half the people you usual compete with since the Regular dogs were split out.

Rock is SLIPPERY as all heck!

The bad thing of course is now you're hoteling or camping for at least 3 nights (maybe 4) and you're having to book more time off work, at least 2 days, likely 3 if you want Monday off to recover. So that isn't as nice.

Anyway. It was what it was. Some people decided not to go because of the format. Lots of us still did go. It was a nice venue, to be sure. Weather was a little hit and miss. Sunday I was really glad to find some heat pack warmers in my trial gear left over from winter, it was that cold (and rainy.) I got a jacket and a shirt this year and I am super impressed with them. SO NICE.

Front of Jacket and Welcome Bag/Backpack

Back of Jacket & The Shirt - I got pink, there were choices!

All in all, this was a good year I think. Weather was on, off and couldn't make up it's mind what it was doing - we got the full gamut of Alberta weather every day, but while my dogs were running weather wasn't that bad. At least the wind held off after the absolute gong show of Thursday's Steeplechase shenanigans (jumps falling EVERYWHERE.)

View to the right of my tent/benching

View to the left of my tent/benching

Schedule was; Jumpers and Gamblers 1 on Friday, Standard 1 & 2 on Saturday and then Jumpers 2 and Gamblers 2 on Sunday.

Thrilled with how my boys ran this weekend. (I'm still calling it a weekend!!)

Baxter's Results

This year I dropped Baxter into 6" Veterans.  This was actually a pretty competitive class this year with 3 dogs going neck and neck for the finish. He was in 1st place by 0.6 of a point going into Sunday!

Baxter was awesome this weekend, but I'm worried about him. He's definitely slowed down a lot from last winter. I had the canine body worker give him a massage on Thurs evening and then we had a chiro adjustment on Saturday as well. Have some stuff to work on to help him feel better. I don't think he should be slowing down this much at only 7!

Friday he was awesome. I ran essentially the same path I did with Spencer in Gamble, and he had a bit of a moment where he went out and took a obstacle farther away in the mini before taking the one I wanted, so we only got one set of mini points. He also couldn't see the weaves, but again, no 6" Vet dogs saw them either. He had a lovely and tight Jumpers run but was a little slower (it was hot.)

Saturday he did really well in the cool, running a nice clean Standard 2 and earning a first place in that run, but popping the weaves at pole 6 for some strange reason giving us 95 points instead of the 122.60 that we might have otherwise gotten in Standard 1.

Sunday again we were good in jumpers if a little slower. He doesn't run as fast as a Papillion! Gamblers I did the same path I had just run with Spencer, 6 dogs earlier, but Baxter bobbled the mini the second time through. Instead of just leaving it and continuing with my plan, I stepped in and didn't have any handling plan in mind. He took the weaves, at the 2nd pole in and wouldn't call out of them, so the buzzer went right after he completed them for no points. He ended up with only 23 opening points, but did get the final gamble! Good boy Fluff!! If I hadn't have messed that up, we might have had 10 more mini gamble points to add on!

Baxter placed second this year in the 6" Veterans division with 510.80 points, behind another All Canadian dog named Kenny who won with 529.53 points. Without the bobbles, we could have had 548.40 points and again may have ended up in first place - some of those mine, some of those his. Overall, proud of our performance and his gambling!

Baxter's Regional/National Stats:

2013 Regionals 6" Specials 1st Place: 448.50 points 3/6 clean runs, no gambles
2013 Nationals 6" Specials 2nd Place: 439.44 points 2/6 clean runs, no gambles
2014 Regionals 6" Specials 3rd Place: 405.79 points 3/6 clean runs, no gambles
2015 Regionals 6" Veterans 2nd Place: 510.80 points 4/6 clean runs, GOT A GAMBLE!!!

Exhausted - Sunday after we finished running while waiting to watch Steeplechase

Spencer's Results

Spencer was a rockstar! Especially considering I basically had to drag him out of his nice, warm, cozy kennel for each run. I'm glad I remembered to bring his winter jacket, he wore it most of Saturday and Sunday.

Friday he was a little off on Jumpers and I threw in some extraneous handling to keep him engaged with me. It worked well and I am proud of both of us. In Gamblers I only attemped one mini (the other had a teeter in it) but he got it! None of the 6" Specials dogs got the final gamble which was a jump, then switch out to the weaves layering that jump. Baby black dog placed first in his Gamble run though!

Saturday went very well and he was really trying for me. We had 2 really good runs, but on our first Standard I wanted to speed him up around the post turn on the jump before the last obstacle (a tunnel) and I told him tunnel too soon and didn't pick him up/connect with him after the jump so he took the wrong entrance. He did great. His handler not so much!

Sunday was really good too. We had jumpers first, then gamble. He had a nice and clean Jumpers (actually faster than Baxter) and placed first! Then in Gamble 2 he placed first as well! He got 3 mini gambles and ended up with 35 points. He would have had the main as well, but again his handler bobbled and I stopped supporting the tunnel he was sending to and he stopped for a second before taking it. The buzzer went when we were a couple steps away from clearing jump 4, less than a second over time. Oh well. In my mind I'm counting that as he got it!

Spencer ended up coming in second place in the 6" Specials division with 422.27 points, behind Slammer who won again this year with 474.42 points. IF his handler hadn't have messed up his runs Spencer could potentially have ended up with 490.45 points and first place!! So I'm very happy with our effort this year. A couple of little bobbles, but nothing major and he was such a brave little black dog for me!

Spencer's Regional/National Stats:

2013 Regionals 10" Regulars 4th Place: 398.66 points 2/6 clean runs, no gambles
2013 Nationals 10" Regulars 12th Place: 419.25 points 3/6 clean runs, no gambles
2014 Regionals 6" Specials 2nd Place: 434.79 points 3/6 clean runs, no gambles
2015 Regionals 6" Specials 2nd Place: 422.27 points, 4/6 clean runs, technically no gambles, SO CLOSE


Ultimately I'm thrilled with our performance this weekend, bobbles and all. Really happy with my mental game, loved my dog's heart and our team work out there. Happy with our connection on course. Most of the bobbles were mine, and I know exactly what I did wrong.

My very good boys!

Baxter: 2nd Place 6" Vets Aggregate - 1st place Standard 2, 2nd place Gamblers 2

Spencer: 2nd Place 6" Specials Aggregate - 1st place Gamblers 1, Gamblers 2 and Jumpers 2

(Yes - they did actually place in all their runs, but 6" Specials only had 4 dogs this year and 6" Vets wasn't much better with only 6!)