Our first trail together running excellent courses. We started the day with a very nice, smooth JWW course, and we nailed it. A nice Q with a pretty blue ribbon. Game on!!!!
Our next run was a very technical STD course, and we nailed it again. He was such a good boy. My timing was spot on with my cues and Winston responded with wonderful enthusiasm. Our only fault was that he missed his striding in the weaves. Just pure baby dog stuff. His mind was going faster then his body. No reason for me to be concerned.
Our last run was T2B. We Q'd with a second place time. The first place dog that set the T2B was a world team sheltie. Kudos to Wisnton for holding his own.
I finally finished the book, "With Winning in Mind." by Lenny Bassham. One of my goals this year is to work on my mental game. The book presents itself with many exercises that are sure to help me. I will keep you all posted on my progress.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Saturday, December 24, 2011
December 24, 2011
Finally a training day for Zedd and Winston!!! Whoo Hoo and Yippee!
I set up a "crossing patterns" exercise from the May 2011 issue posted in Clean Run. The boys were both great. Zedd was jumping well and reading my pre-cues, and I was better with my Pre-cuing. I was really trying to pay attention to where Zedd was to start my my tuning cue, instead of trying to get myself into position and then cue a turn.
Winston did well also. He dropped a few bars, but I think he was trying to turn really tight. He also went around two jumps. One because I wasn't supporting it long enough , and two because I told him he was a "good boy" and he was coming into me for a cookie. I did finish up with healing Winston around equipment due to the fact that he likes to shoplift agility equipment. ;-)
I have noticed that I'm getting more handler focus from both dogs and I believe it is the result of the trick training I've been doing with them.
I just love working with my dogs. It's just getting started that's the hard part. Especially when it's cold outside.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I set up a "crossing patterns" exercise from the May 2011 issue posted in Clean Run. The boys were both great. Zedd was jumping well and reading my pre-cues, and I was better with my Pre-cuing. I was really trying to pay attention to where Zedd was to start my my tuning cue, instead of trying to get myself into position and then cue a turn.
Winston did well also. He dropped a few bars, but I think he was trying to turn really tight. He also went around two jumps. One because I wasn't supporting it long enough , and two because I told him he was a "good boy" and he was coming into me for a cookie. I did finish up with healing Winston around equipment due to the fact that he likes to shoplift agility equipment. ;-)
I have noticed that I'm getting more handler focus from both dogs and I believe it is the result of the trick training I've been doing with them.
I just love working with my dogs. It's just getting started that's the hard part. Especially when it's cold outside.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Dream Park September 11, 2011
I entered both Zedd and Winston, and much to my amazement, there were absolutely no conflicts. Yippee.
The first run of the day was EXC. JWW with the Z-man. He was such a good boy. We had one off course tunnel and it was my fault. He was suppose to go to the weaves, but I was facing and moving toward the tunnel. Of course saying, "WEAVE," but like we all know, motion trumps verbal!!! Into the tunnel he want.
Winston's STD Open run was next. I was very proud of him. Just one off course jump. He must have put on his big boy pants before we left the house. There was a 90 degree turn to a jump after the A-frame and he took the jump straight out from the A-frame. Young dog stuff, I knew it when it happened!
Next run was with Zeddicus in STD. I ran him aggressively and it paid off. I trusted him to do his job, and I cheered him all the way to the finish line. OMG, we Q'd. Our first Q in STD in months. Actually I gave up counting how long, because it just made me crazy. 4 more Q's to his MX.
The last run of the day was OPEN JWW with Winston. It was a great run with only one refusal at the weaves. We Q'd with a 3rd place. Our first Q in OPEN JWW.
Another fantastic weekend!
The first run of the day was EXC. JWW with the Z-man. He was such a good boy. We had one off course tunnel and it was my fault. He was suppose to go to the weaves, but I was facing and moving toward the tunnel. Of course saying, "WEAVE," but like we all know, motion trumps verbal!!! Into the tunnel he want.
Winston's STD Open run was next. I was very proud of him. Just one off course jump. He must have put on his big boy pants before we left the house. There was a 90 degree turn to a jump after the A-frame and he took the jump straight out from the A-frame. Young dog stuff, I knew it when it happened!
The last run of the day was OPEN JWW with Winston. It was a great run with only one refusal at the weaves. We Q'd with a 3rd place. Our first Q in OPEN JWW.
Another fantastic weekend!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Yellowstone National Park and The Grand Tetons 9-1-11/9-8-11
We had an outstanding time and it's a place I would recommend anyone to see! The sites are breathtaking, the air is cool, crisp, and clean. Elk, bison, and coyotes roam where ever they please.
We Spent 4 days in Yellowstone and we saw everything we could see in 4 days. We were out the door by 9:00 AM, and we didn't return to our hotel till 9:00 PM. We saw Old Faithful, and many other geysers. We saw several beautiful water falls. We spent the day at Mammoth hot Springs. We hiked, and hiked, and hiked till we could barley move our legs anymore. I loved it, and I felt like I was getting great conditioning.
We then drove down to the Grand Tetons, or as the natives day, "The Grand", and we spent 3 days exploring there. We took a scenic raft trip down the Snake river and saw several eagles. We hiked, and hiked, and did some more hiking till it was time to come home. Everything went well, the weather was gorgeous, and we truly enjoyed ourselves.
Would we go back again.................ABSOLUTELY!
We Spent 4 days in Yellowstone and we saw everything we could see in 4 days. We were out the door by 9:00 AM, and we didn't return to our hotel till 9:00 PM. We saw Old Faithful, and many other geysers. We saw several beautiful water falls. We spent the day at Mammoth hot Springs. We hiked, and hiked, and hiked till we could barley move our legs anymore. I loved it, and I felt like I was getting great conditioning.
Would we go back again.................ABSOLUTELY!
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Westminster July 23 and 24
Saturday I ran Winston and we got our last Q needed for his NAJ! Whoo Hoo. We also managed to get a second Q in open STD. He's such a good boy. Our only "R" was at the weaves, baby dog lack of collecting stuff. His 2on2off dog walk was spot on!!! Click, treat.
Sunday was the Z-man's turn. We Q'd in STD!!! Hip hip hooray. He dropped a bar in JWW, but otherwise it was a great run!
Westminster has old, and very worn turf that for Zedd and Winston is very slippery.
My guess it was why Zedd dropped the bar and was very wide turning. I had used water to wet his pads, but that seemed to make things worse. I ordered some Firm Grip and the next time I'm entered at Westminster I'll try it and see if it helps. If it doesn't help then I'll need to make a decision if I want to continue to show at this site.
Well, on to the cheer leading. I started out every one's run quiet and thinking about being focused. Well, everyone started out slow. I began to panic. Then I thought, "Cheer lead, keep the connection." So I did and winston and Zedd both began to pick up speed. I especially need to remember to cheer lead Winston. He is just learning and needs to know when he is doing great, even when I'm training. I did realize that I need to do a better job at judging when to bring my dogs ringside. That is something I really need to pay attention to.
On Sunday I watched the T2B runs, and cheered all my friends on. What fun. It was an open flowing course. It was a balls-to-the-wall run with your dog kind of course. What a change from all the tight, her key jerky, call your dog off obstacles that seems to be the norm for AKC courses. My dogs , being that they compete in the 16" class may not "set the time to beat", but it still would be nice to just full out run and push myself and dogs for speed. What a confidence builder for both of us!
Some things that I would recommend for the T2B class; allow, and strongly encourage cheering from the crowd, have the "hot seat" outrageously decorated.
I would gladly volunteer to make the above suggestions happen.
Till next time, trust your handling and trust your dog!
Sunday was the Z-man's turn. We Q'd in STD!!! Hip hip hooray. He dropped a bar in JWW, but otherwise it was a great run!
Westminster has old, and very worn turf that for Zedd and Winston is very slippery.
My guess it was why Zedd dropped the bar and was very wide turning. I had used water to wet his pads, but that seemed to make things worse. I ordered some Firm Grip and the next time I'm entered at Westminster I'll try it and see if it helps. If it doesn't help then I'll need to make a decision if I want to continue to show at this site.
Well, on to the cheer leading. I started out every one's run quiet and thinking about being focused. Well, everyone started out slow. I began to panic. Then I thought, "Cheer lead, keep the connection." So I did and winston and Zedd both began to pick up speed. I especially need to remember to cheer lead Winston. He is just learning and needs to know when he is doing great, even when I'm training. I did realize that I need to do a better job at judging when to bring my dogs ringside. That is something I really need to pay attention to.
On Sunday I watched the T2B runs, and cheered all my friends on. What fun. It was an open flowing course. It was a balls-to-the-wall run with your dog kind of course. What a change from all the tight, her key jerky, call your dog off obstacles that seems to be the norm for AKC courses. My dogs , being that they compete in the 16" class may not "set the time to beat", but it still would be nice to just full out run and push myself and dogs for speed. What a confidence builder for both of us!
Some things that I would recommend for the T2B class; allow, and strongly encourage cheering from the crowd, have the "hot seat" outrageously decorated.
I would gladly volunteer to make the above suggestions happen.
Till next time, trust your handling and trust your dog!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Bucksmount-Winston
Well, what a good boy Winston was today. we started our day out with his first open STD run. He was happy and fast and eager to please. I was worried about the off course chute. Not a problem, I got him to check in and he didn't venture off into the chute. I was worried about the A-frame back to the tunnel. Not a problem, he nailed it. I caused a wrong course, because I stopped rotating out of my front cross which made me flat footed, and put me behind, which sent him over the wrong jump. He did what my motion told him to do! Good Boy!!! More dogwalk training is in our future. I told him to touch which means, 2 on 2 off. I gave the command I believe a little too harsh because he just stopped on the yellow and sat. I moved forward, but he came off the end. More training to reinforce the 2 on 2 off behavior and a little less of a harsh command. We Q'd with a second place. WHOO HOO!
Our Novice JWW was a smokin run. It was a fun, great course. We could full out run. He kept all the bars up, read my blind cross out of the chute, read my rear cross towards the weaves. I stopped him to look for the entrance which he needs some work on, but once he was in, he did all 12 and I even moved slightly laterally away from the polls. We Q'd with 1st place. He was a lot of fun to run.
I had a wonderful weekend and talked with some great people.
Our Novice JWW was a smokin run. It was a fun, great course. We could full out run. He kept all the bars up, read my blind cross out of the chute, read my rear cross towards the weaves. I stopped him to look for the entrance which he needs some work on, but once he was in, he did all 12 and I even moved slightly laterally away from the polls. We Q'd with 1st place. He was a lot of fun to run.
I had a wonderful weekend and talked with some great people.
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