Ups and downs

Nike and I have finished with the 6 week "confidence building agility class" and have had 3 brief experiences at agility trials.

It's been a bit of a roller coaster.

The nicest thing about the class is Nike already has these skills and it was a small class of only 3 dogs. So lots of working time. And we look like rockstars. Mostly because the other 2 people in the class are new to the sport and so are their dogs and also, because we already have these skills.

So often we get to demo the skill and go first in the working order - which is fine with me.

However, class is also helping uncover some things. Despite "knowing this" Nike is very, very soft and start lines are not happening right now. I resorted to putting down a mat to help her with the start line. Now she can do the "wait" behavior. Which I find interesting. Without a mat though, as soon as I leave, she leaves - either releasing over the jump or just wandering off and leaving work entirely.

Doesn't help that we usually have to set up that start line within a couple feet of a kenneled dog though - and then expect our dog not to have a problem with that, because Nike very much does have concerns with turning her back on the reactive dog and pretending it isn't there. I can't say that I blame her.

We're working on solidifying a start line routine and using that as a start button behavior. If I can't get it, then she isn't going to work well and I'll just end up skipping my turn - which hasn't happened yet since she is very good if I have rewards.

With the actual trials runs that she has done I've done many FEO runs, so I still have rewards, just not food - but it's a whole lot more difficult to get her to focus.

We're not "trialing" right now, but in small trials I am working on getting her ring exposure. Just one or 2 runs to work on confidence with no expectations.

The first trial felt so promising and her first run was a little out of control but still good. So it's a little disappointing that it feels like we're going backwards.

Agility training is going to take a bit of a back seat to some other classes I want to work on with her. Namely some relationship building Fenzi classes I have gathering dust in my library and possibly some group rally or trick classes taught at the facility I teach at.

Happiest little gang of dogs field running this summer. I find it interesting that they self sort into this arrangement since I didn't actually pose them.

Back on Track

I'm not sure who is more excited, the dogs or I. After almost a 4 month break from any formal agility we're shaking the rust off and getting back into the swing of things.

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.

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!

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!

Laters!

Magical Monday

Ahh yes, a return to looking forward to Mondays. It's a strange feeling. I'm sure agility Mondays have some special magic that non-agility Mondays are lacking!

Stop bothering us. This Monday sucks, there is no agility today!

With his leg issues still unresolved Spencer was benched this Monday, so I had to pull in my backup-alternate-Chihuahua. Well, I didn't "have to" but I thought it would be a decent opportunity to see what she does.

After her recent bout of attentiveness practicing at Wet Noses, and then at Wet Creek I was curious how Penny'd do in a class with even more distractions. Other dogs to bark at, people to wiggle at, a whole new environment. PLUS horse poop!

The idea is if she will actually work with me in a class I might think about training her enough to trial sometime (she has no weaves and not a whole lot of ground work foundation.) Especially if Spencer is eternally gimpy but isn't doing anymore damage to himself - I'll drop him to 6" so its easier on his leg. Then I could have "Team 6 Inch Specials" and we'd be pretty much the whole 6" class in a trial!

Chihuahua's (or at least Penny) aren't going to set any speed records, but it's pretty darn cute to watch those tiny dogs scramble up the A-frame and do agility like the "real" dogs. I like to think that if I can teach these guys to do agility I could do a really good job with a high drive agility breed, different challenges though, that's for sure.

Penny did pretty darn good in class for the amount of work I've put in with her (ie: not much since the foundation classes over a year ago ...) No chute bobbles. Mostly good on the jumps - she likes AAC's 6" MUCH better than CKC's 8" She had some troubles with the Aframe which is sanded. I don't think she's ever been on a sanded one before so she didn't get enough momentum and the slats are pretty far apart for a toy dog to get much traction. She was doing it after a couple of tries though!

Baxter was lovely again as well. Beautiful weaves in deep sand. Some start line issues, but then again in a trial I hardly ever ask him to hold a start line. We have been doing running starts for over a year. I started with them for enthusiasm and just kept it since I don't need much lead out to stay ahead of him. Good to practice them though, easier to do a LOP (lead out pivot) instead of doing it on the fly and risk sending them over the wrong obstacle. More a issue with larger dogs with a bigger stride, but still.

I am such a good, fluffy dog!

Our class is relatively small, which means lots of time to work on stuff. The other dogs in class are young/new as well, so I don't feel so out of place with Penny or Spencer. Sometimes it's hard feeling like you should still be in something with your unusual size or breed, especially if you're struggling.

They make me appreciate Baxter a whole lot for all the things he does right (and wrong even, since the wrong is pointing out my failings not his!) He should be fairly good at what we're practicing! We've been training in agility for over 3 years now and trialing for 1. We're still learning to work together, and I make noobie handler mistakes with him, but we're finally starting to click as a good team. I think I've finally got my mind wrapped around not being stressed, still running the course as best I can "competitively" It's fun to run, I don't worry what will motivate him or stress him out because we've kinda been there and done that. It's nice and fun, and sort of comfortable.

He's just a good dog who tries for me. I absolutely adore him, especially on cold days like to day when I'm home sick and he is snuggled up leaning against me.

I am a good dog laying on my bed hiding with the blankets.

Sometimes you have to hide somewhere else, but I am still a good dog!

Tomorrow is Spencer's vet appt and then this weekend is the CAA Remembrance Day trial, hopefully both go well. Our Flyball team has some other people who will be there on Sunday, so that is cool too! I might even bring my camera to the trial and get some pictures that don't suck.