Caution, High Voltage

Agility trials can be long (sometimes stressed out) days, espeically in the winter when you're spending anywhere from 9 to 12+ hours in a cold barn having gotten up at a unholy hour to be there and may be doing the same thing the next day (or alternatively, have done the same thing the day before.)

This post at The Other End of the Leash  blog was particularly interesting and insightful. It's not just the dogs getting tired and worn out by the long days at a trial, their handlers can be as well. Something that is important to keep in mind.

Trialing with a reactive/scared dog is it's very own unique experience. Spencer is still very much a reactive dog who has some issues with perceived personal space. He absolutely does not care if another dog is near by and is ignoring him completely, but it's when they stare or are interested in him that it is a problem. 

 

It's supposed to be just fun and games!

Since there are generally a significant number of herding breeds that are motion triggered to stare at fast moving things in agility, this can be a recipe for reactivity. He is small, so he mostly only poses a danger to himself, but that doesn't lessen my obligation to other competitors and their dogs to manage MY dog, so that we all have a good time.

Agility is about the fun of playing with your dog. No one needs the stress of a unwanted encounter or your dog getting stressed out and upset by another while waiting to run to overshadow that fun. Especially in a already potentially tense atmosphere. Be kind and courteous to your fellow competitors. Give everyone some space and go have fun with your dog!

Trial Weekend Review

Feb 16 & 17 was the the Calgary Agility Association's trial. We love this venue! CAA's trials are held at the Fez Dome. It's bright, warm and the footing is packed not loose, deep, dusty dirt. Benching is a little tight, but people tend to sit by their crates instead of hanging out upstairs away from the dogs and I like that better. Especially since Penny came both days to keep the boys company.

This weekend definitely started out a little rough. I blame the week of 10 hour days followed up with a 12 hour Friday for it. Hitting the agility trial with only 5 hours of sleep with a headache brought on by exhaustion is not a recipe for success.

I had such a hard time getting that feeling of connection with Baxter on Saturday. Lots of little things going just slightly wrong. Sloppy front crosses coupled with a dog fully intending to blind cross on you does not lead to pretty looking runs. We did have some lovely moments too though, his weaves were beautiful. I was able to plan good gamble paths to get the points we'd need to qualify if he got the final gamble (unlike the last trial where we got the final and didn't have enough points to Q.)

Baxter ended up with 3/8 Q's which seems to be our usual ratio. We got another Master Gamble on Sunday, which made the whole weekend worth while. He did an awesome job. So much in fact that I had to ad lib some obstacles on to the end of our opening because he finished 13 obstacles and the buzzer still hadn't gone! He was visibly tired (to me anyway) for the final Jumpers run on Sunday and still managed a very quick (for him) 4 yps. Very proud of my fuzzy one.

Spencer had a great weekend as well. He wasn't in for the full weekend, just 3 runs a day. He was looking quite sore the second day of the Jan trial so he won't be running full time in a trial for a while.

First run of the day was Jumpers. He was speedy and happy except for refusing the chute. I can't say that came as a surprise. After all of our work with strange chutes at Dignified Dogs and in class I was hoping would carry over to trialing but that was okay. As "usual" he did it after a refusal.

Our second run was Gamblers. He did awesome and qualified, giving him 2/3 Advanced Gambles, which is crazy - one more and he's in Masters Gamblers while still in Starter Standard! He also qualified in Advanced Snooker. Completing the teeter with the #7 flag sticking up right beside the pivot point which was worrying some dogs in starters and advanced.

Sunday the boys and I just clicked, Baxter got all 3 of his Q's on Sunday. But the shining moment was Spencer's Standard run. He was awesome and wanted to play. I was getting the dog I get at practice (not quite as fast and as unconcerned as when we practice in the yard, but he was actually driving to the obstacles.)

The chute was our first obstacle and he was worried about it. After a refusal he did it, but slowly. By the 3rd obstacle at the DW he was on! No more worries. His table was beautiful. On the way past the DW the second time to a tunnel under it he did flick away to take the DW, so I'll have to work on proofing that. Almost to the end of the run - just a jump left and I rear crossed to send him back into number 1 - the chute again. Not only did he read the cross nice, he hit the chute like he meant it and zipped right through it. We left to have a cookie party for the awesome chute.

I wasn't paying attention to the ring crew or judge at all but apparently they were very confused. He knows the chute, he isn't afraid of it. Rewarding directly after performing the obstacle the way I would like is the only way I can see to reward him for doing that obstacle. Right now ball and food rank higher than more agility obstacles so that's what I'm using! It was really awesome to have a couple of seasoned competitors tell me that doing the chute again and leaving was a great way to end the run.

Focus Forward

Since the last post we've had an agility trial on the weekend of Jan 12 & 13, Baxter finished another "big-dog" title, had a flyball practice for both boys and 2 agility classes, but I've got no time to blog.

I'll get to it sometime, or not. Maybe?

But I'll leave you with this:

Focus forward.

Not just agility jargon, although it is that too.

Another Year Older

As the years go on, it's hard to remember exactly how little they were. Or what they looked like. I'm biased, but he was a really cute puppy.















He's grown up just a little. Lightened and then greyed a lot. And exceeded my wildest dreams of what I thought we would do together when we brought him home. I still remember our first basic obedience class where I had worried about my "reactive" dog (who really isn't!) Or asking Kim (our instructor at Hyper Hounds) if he was doing okay with agility after each level of agility class, worried about taking up time and a class spot because he was never going to be able to compete since he's not a "agility dog." Hah! If I knew then what I know now.

He used to fit under the couch. Not so much anymore!  Same couch leg in both pictures. His head won't even fit under it anymore. Still loves to sleep under things though - like my bed at night, or the curtains in the living room during the day.

Happy 5th Birthday Fluffy-one!

I know 5 isn't actually old but he's gotten a lot greyer in this past year - it makes me mushy about him. Thank you for being my "first" dog and being so patient and forgiving with all my mistakes - in  training, agility and just in life in general. You're still the best little buddy ever.

Such a sweet little dog with his people, even as a puppy!

Failures in Dog Training

You shouldn't blog when you're sick and tired because then you fail just a little bit harder. Especially when you're working out a post about failure and somehow you hit publish prematurely and not save!

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I tend to freeze when something goes "wrong." If I haven't thought a scenario through before, if it occurs, I'm a little lost as to what my course of action in the heat of the moment should be. More so in the realm of behavior modification, than in the realm of teaching a skill/trick etc. That seems to just be the kind of person I am.

Positive ISN'T permissive, but sometimes it's hard to think on the fly as to what your consequence should be, and positive sometimes looks a little permissive to someone who isn't in your head.

Do I ignore the behavior, ask for a different (incompatible) behaviour, 

NRM (non reward marker), time out?! 

A combination of the above? NRM, refocus and perform a easier behavior?

Anyway, my failures as a dog trainer (and they are mine, not the dog's - despite my frustration/feelings about the dog's "bad" behavior) may make things a little more difficult to understand for the dog. 

But do you know what? That's okay. I'm a positive, reward based dog trainer. All the error does is force me to be a little more accurate the next time we work on a particular behavior or skill or whatever.

It may make it take a little longer to teach my dog what I want but it does not damage my dog. There isn't the unintended negative fall out that can occur with correction based or alpha theory approach to training. Moreover, it does not damage my relationship with my dog. They're not afraid of me and they're not afraid of trying for fear of making a mistake and being punished.

Even if my dog is rehearsing a behavior I do not want repeated, it just means that I need to be a little more on the ball next time and work a little harder to prevent that. Or practice a little more management because my dog does not yet have the skills to deal with that situation.

My dogs are a product of my training, both the good and the bad. They might jump up on my lap every time I sit down, because this is the behavior I've allowed and reinforced. They don't jump up because "They don't respect my authority." They jump up because I've allowed it 50 million times and they get pet when they do it. It is a rewarding behavior they have perfected through my reinforcement of that behavior. They wouldn't do it if they didn't get anything for it or find it rewarding in some way.

Constant physical management of your dog also gets you no where except for frustrated with the dog and the situation. You want to teach your dog to make the correct choice. In order for them to do that, as a dog trainer you have to break the behavior down into smaller pieces and set them up for success.

A plan to work on specific training is great - however, sometimes you need to be adaptable. Work with that your dog gives you. If they just don't have the focus for what you wanted to work on, work on the rehearsals of bad behavior that they are offering!

It's okay to fail sometimes. That's a conversation with your dog in which they're telling you what they don't yet understand or know how to deal with.

Train the behavior, build it, grow it, make it reinforcing. Then test it. Do you understand it in this situation, how about that one? It's a game, not a interrogation!

Not everyone is on the same journey or place in their journey that you are. That's okay too, work on yours and don't worry about everyone else.

2012 Year in Review

Ahh yes, New Years. Looking back at the last year and making plans and resolutions for the next.

It was a good year, dog wise.

Spencer was diagnosed with a luxating patella, but only a grade 1, so no where near as sever as it could have been. Otherwise health issues haven't been an issue as everyone is still pretty young (under 5.) I'm exceedingly thankful for this.

Lots of trialing this year and lots of progress with Baxter. So many firsts! It's very exciting with your first dog in your first sport!

We got 5 titles this year, moved from Starters up to Masters in everything and have gotten Qualifying runs in all his Masters classes (Snooker, Gamblers, Jumpers and Standard.)

We were inches from getting his MADC on Dec 28 at Training Troop's final Whee Wed (on a Friday) of the year, but missed it. Not over his weaves, or his dog walk contact, but on silly handling on my part. I think we might have gotten his first Steeplechase Q as well, but the SCT numbers look a little funny so we may not have.

We traveled for our first agility trial and stayed in a hotel over the weekend.

Sometimes you've gotta work for it.

Baxter also got his PEN as a Tibetan Spaniel so we can play in CKC agility now too. Now to hopefully get Spencer one so I can play with both boys. Opens up the door to more sports as well, like CKC Rally and Scent Hurdle.

Spencer had a amazing year as well, as I didn't really start his agility training until this spring. He's got many baby dog moments yet, but lots of potential and he tries very hard. He got his first Steeplechase Q on the 28th of Dec, and started/finished his Starters Games Dog title in 3 weekend trials only running partial days.

Spencer is doing very well learning to play Flyball as well, and it's been a lot of fun practicing with the Go All Out Dog Sports crew. I love that they aren't exclusively a Flyball club, it makes for a much better fit for the dogs and I, I think.

Life is a balancing act.

Goals for 2013? In no particular order:

Keep training random tricks and body awareness skills. Not only is it good for them, it's fun and it helps build the relationship that I have with each dog.

Distance skills for agility!

AAC Regional and National Championships are around Edmonton area this year. I'd like to try to go if we're ready. I think we are! Hopefully life cooperates and I can swing it with Baxter at least if not with both boys.

Baxter's ATChC.




Actually attend a seminar/workshop/camp this year. In person, instead of the distance/internet ones I've done so far.

Have fun with my dogs and love the time I spend with them, they're not going to be around forever. Cherish the moments with them. I'd like a better handle on Spencer's reactivity and snarky-ness but at the end of the day I love my naughty dogs. They make me laugh, rotten behavior and all.

Run a dog in a new sport, or 2. Like Flyball and Rally-O. Don't just think about it. Prep for it and do it!

Continue to grow as a dog trainer and a handler.

Sometimes to win, you've gotta pull with all you've got.

The best things in life are worth the effort.

Christmas Wishes

A rather late Merry Christmas to all! Hopefully everyone ended up on Santa's Nice List this year!